The Spell of Rosette Read Online Free Page B

if something had happened to Jarrod too? What if the entire township of Lividica had been attacked? Could another war have started?
    She slipped a few feet before catching herself on a willow root. Steady. It’s a long way down.
    She reached the bottom of the gorge and jumped the last few feet to the white-pebbled beach where the creek danced over rock and stone, jabbering like an exuberant child. She dropped her boots, hurrying to reach the water’s edge. She sank her hands into the flow, washing them with white sand before drinking deeply.
    Water dripped down her chin as she stood pulling her sweater over her head. Her undershirt followed. She tossed both by her boots and stepped out of her long skirt and leggings.
    Gingerly, she walked into the stream, goose bumps rising up her arms and legs. You’re freezing today!
    At thigh depth she bent over and splashed her face and breasts and underarms, washing away the dried sweat and fear of the night before. Leaning back on her elbows, she submerged her whole body before jumping up, spluttering.
    Kalindi hopped around on the little beach, getting the colour back into her fingers and toes. Her breath came in gasps as she unbraided her hair, letting it fall in front of her face, where it hung past her belly in a sheet of black ripples. Combing out the leaves and twigs with her hands she gathered it together, twisting it into a long rope and knotting it on top of her head. She stood in a shaft of sunlight, dressing before whistling the kite call again, shrill and high.
    This time, she heard the rapid-chatter reply of a goshawk, ‘Ki ki ki’.
    ‘Jarrod!’ She grabbed her boots and scrabbled up the gorge, making her way towards the sound. Vines scratched her legs and branches swept her face before she finally heard the crunch of footfalls ahead.
    A smile lifted her face, crinkling her eyes when she spotted him. ‘Jarrod!’
    He came towards her with his familiar stride, a compound bow in one hand and a quiver of arrows at his back. He walked like a warrior, his eyes gleaming through a mass of dark brown curls that had escaped the tie at the back of his neck. His shoulders were broad, his body strong and his eyes a deep sea blue. He reached her, rising up on his toes to kiss her lips. He wasn’t a tall youth, but damn, he had presence. Kalindi melted into his arms.
    ‘What are you doing here, gorgeous one?’ he asked. ‘You said you wouldn’t hunt today.’ He squeezed her tight.
    ‘You haven’t heard?’ Kalindi pulled back to search his face.
    ‘Heard what?’
    ‘Don’t you know?’ She blanched at the memory. ‘They shot Assalo. No dogs anywhere and the house empty, except…in the kitchen…the blood…’ She started to shake, tears filling her eyes.
    ‘Whoa. Easy now.’ Jarrod put his hands on her shoulders, leading her to a fallen log. He eased her down beside him. ‘Have you been here all night?’
    She nodded, rubbing his hand with her thumb.
    ‘Hungry?’
    She nodded again.
    He dug into his pack and pulled out half a loaf of bread and a wedge of cheese. ‘Eat a bit first, then let it out slowly, one thing at a time.’
    She took a few bites before she spoke, telling him what happened when she got home last night.
    Jarrod gathered her up in his arms. ‘Dark demons, Kalindi. Your parents, Bethsay and John’ra? Even D’ran? They’re all dead?’
    ‘I don’t know, but I’m not going back.’ She wiped her cheek on his shoulder and shuddered.
    Jarrod shook his head. ‘You don’t have to. But just think for a moment: who would have done such a thing?’
    Kalindi swallowed her last bite. ‘John’ra’s been acting strangely ever since he decided to run for council.’ She packed up the remaining bread and cheese and handed it back to Jarrod. ‘He’s been very touchy.’
    ‘I remember. His last words to me were, Stay away from my daughter or I will run you out of town. ’
    She smiled, pushing his shoulder with the palm of her hand. ‘Not about