“In short,” concluded Darcy, “Elizabeth managed to prevent the attack. If she had not stopped the sphere, there would have been much more damage than what you are seeing now.”
Darcy was still stunned that she had been able to accomplish such an incredible feat.
Matlock turned an intense gaze on her.
“You did? How?”
Elizabeth was beginning to regain some color. She brushed away the crumbs from her clothes and set her plate on the floor.
“I did not do it alone. I formed a link with three of the Warders: Mr. Bingley, Mr. Waldon, and someone else. It was a female mage, but I did not recognize her.”
“You should have seen the way the fireball disintegrated,” said Darcy, still eager to communicate how difficult the task had been. “I could do nothing to stop it. It was her quick thinking that saved us.”
“You linked with the Warders?”
She nodded.
Matlock hardly seemed to be listening.
“How many mages are out there, would you say?”
“It is difficult to tell. They were heavily Cloaked.”
“I sorted out five distinct signatures,” said Elizabeth, “once they had removed the spells. But there could have been others.”
Matlock sighed heavily. “We will speak about this in more detail. But for now, you had better take up positions quickly, if you are able to do so. We do not know if they will attack again. It is very odd that no one inside the Hall sensed the fireball or felt the attack. It was only when the fires came down that the alarm was raised. Are you prepared to fight again?”
Darcy stood up. The food had given him the energy to continue.
“I am. Elizabeth?”
She nodded. She was still weak. He wished he could let her rest, but she already knew how to stop the fireball. They needed her.
As the two of them made their way in the direction of the stairs, Caroline Bingley came running towards them, her face and clothes full of soot.
“Help me, someone. I need a Healer. I cannot sense my brother’s magic.” Her eyes were full of panic. “I think he might be dead.”
