Free Arrows of Time by Kim Falconer

come with me,’ Selene said. The words were not an invitation.
    ‘As I mentioned earlier,’ Jarrod replied, slowly standing up as he spoke. He brushed the dust from his hands while looking her in the eye. ‘I’m waiting for my friends. I don’t want to abandon them.’
    ‘You said you had one companion.’
    ‘Yes, I did, but it’s actually one, plus one other.’ Jarrod shot another mental thought to Drayco. Where are you two? Again there was no reply. They’d either not arrived yet, or had arrived elsewhere. Accept it, Cossica, and move on. It’s not going to solve itself in this moment.
    ‘He’ll wait for them,’ Selene said, tilting her head towards Shane. The other man stiffened, his face contorting as he stared back at her. It was obvious he didn’t like the idea at all, but the look in Selene’s eyes didn’t change. ‘I’m sure it won’t be long,’ she added.
    ‘What if it is?’ Shane asked.
    ‘You can practise one of those instruments you always have with you.’ Her tone was dismissive.
    ‘How long have you been waiting?’ he asked Jarrod.
    ‘A few days.’
    ‘So it couldn’t be much longer,’ she said. ‘Good news.’
    Shane stood firm for a moment before sheathing his sword. The scowl on his face didn’t lift. He was not Jarrod’s first pick for Rosette’s welcoming party.
    ‘We need you now,’ Selene said to Jarrod. ‘Follow me.’
    Jarrod had no desire to leave this man waiting for Rosette. She’d probably carve him to shreds before they’d exchanged two words—not that she would understand his language, or he hers. Still, he did look like he could handle himself, and Selene had a sense of urgency. He made a decision instantly from an infinite array of possibilities. ‘I’d like to leave a token for my companion, unless either of you have a notepad and pen?’
    Neither did.
    ‘Her name is Rosette and she’ll be coming out of that cave some time soon. Her, and her familiar.’
    Shane looked quizzical. ‘Familiar?’ He said the word as if it prickled his mouth. ‘What’s that?’
    ‘A temple cat…a large one.’
    Shane shook his head.
    ‘I think he means tabby cat ,’ Selene replied, her voice softening with the last word.
    Jarrod smiled. ‘Yes, a tabby, more or less. More, really. He has no stripes, though. All black,’ Jarrod said. He held his hand hip-high. ‘And larger.’
    ‘Larger?’
    ‘A big beast.’
    Shane wrinkled his nose.
    ‘Not a cat lover?’ Jarrod rubbed the back of his neck. Good luck. ‘Take this. It’ll help,’ Jarrod said, untying his pendant. He looked at it briefly. It was a silver falcon, wings outstretched and inlaid with turquoise. The wingtips curved upward, forming a semicircle topped by a brilliant ruby sun.
    Handing it to Shane, he said, ‘It will persuade her to come with you, assuring her that you’ll know where I am. I don’t think you’ll be able to communicate, unless she can hit your frequency.’
    ‘Frequency?’ Shane said, looking at the small falcon and rubbing his thumb over the face of the sun.
    ‘Your mind speech.’
    Shane shrugged before slipping the charm into his breast pocket. ‘I don’t have a mind speech.’
    ‘Then the pendant will help, as long as she doesn’t think you took it from me by force.’
    Shane spun around to Selene, about to speak.
    ‘Let’s go,’ she said, avoiding eye contact with either of them. She adjusted her belt and headed out into the swamp, not looking to see if Jarrod followed.
    Shane stared after them as they waded into the fog. It hovered knee-deep above the swamp, rising in wisps that dissipated before touching the misshapen branches and clouds of gnats and flies. If he could bore holes into them with his eyes, he would. He didn’t look away until they’d disappeared.
    Perfect. Now I’m to be doorman to some foreigner who’s most likely going to attack before I speak my name. And what did he mean, ‘larger’ tabby? He brushed the flies away from his face—a