Chapter 2
Thankfully, Darcy didnot doubt her instincts. He reacted with well-honed reflexes, ordering the carriage to stop just as she jumped out. Elizabeth stumbled as her feet hit the ground, her petticoats tangling in her legs. Darcy leapt behind her and caught her elbow, steadying her as she stumbled, then turned to the coachman.
“Drive on! Cross the river and take our belongings to the closest inn, then send word.”
Without them in the carriage, the driver should be safe.
Lifting her skirts, she ran for the shelter of the trees, muting her magic so no one would detect her. Cautiously, she reached out a few magical tendrils to search the trees for traces of magic. There was no immediate threat of danger.
“Those trees should be safe for now.”
Darcy took her hand, pulling her along with him as she wrestled with her dratted clothes. No one attacked as they reached the safety of the trees.
“I hope I am right about this.” She leaned against a tree trunk, trying to catch her breath. “It is a long walk to Founder’s Hall.”
“You enjoy walking. And I would far rather you were wrong.” He sent her a quick grin. “Besides, I enjoyed catching a few glimpses of a well-turned ankle.”
“Are you sure this is the right time to flirt with me?”
“You have bought us some extra time before we return. We are alone in the deep dark woods. I can think of several ways we can occupy ourselves.”
The prickle of unease returned, and with it, an instinct that told her to run. “Unfortunately, we are still in danger.”
Her unease made her sound distant, but trying to hide her magic and search for enemy mages at the same time was taking all her effort.
“What are you sensing? I feel like someone without magic.” He sounded frustrated.
She shook her head, trying to puzzle it out. “I cannot explain it. All my instincts are telling me there is danger, I cannot locate the source. The French mages must be using some new kind of Warding this time. Do you think it would be safe to set up a Bond?”
“If we do, they will become aware of us and attack. Out here in the open, we cannot defend ourselves against several mages, even with a Bond. Besides, our Bond is untested. I would say it is too risky.”
The hairs on the back of her neck stood up. She could sense someone drawing closer.
“We need to set up Cloaking spells. Quickly.”
Her heart beating and her hands trembling, she grappled with the threads of her magic to weave a screen between her and the world. Beside her, Darcy did the same. Her anxiety hindered her, and she kept dropping the threads and having to redo them. Slowly, painfully slowly, the muting effect of the Cloaking spell formed around each of them. It would hide them from prying eyes, and conceal most of their magic, but not all of it.
It was a Conjuring spell. It depleted some of her strength and she swayed as the ground shifted under her feet. Darcy reached out to steady her. The impression of peril increased threefold.
An icy dread gripped her. “They are here,” she whispered.
Darcy pulled her down between a tree and a clump of ferns just as a group of French voltigeurs came into view, clearly visible in their blue uniforms and green plumes. The voltigeurs usually accompanied the French Imperial Mages in their attacks, protecting them physically while the mages were busy with their spells.
Elizabeth held her breath. She dared not move. The slightest noise would give away their position.
Twigs snapped and leaves rustled. Someone coughed.
She prepared for an attack, her mind picking out spells she could use. Her muscles were screaming with tension. She looked to Darcy, who mouthed the name of a spell. She blinked in response, not daring to nod.
