As if to prove Darcy wrong, the figure of Riquer came striding towards them.
“Mrs. Darcy! So, you found him! Darcy, I see you and the Prince Regent are unharmed.”
They were interrupted by a shout, and a man pointed at them. “There they are! These are the man and the woman that were riding in the French balloon. I saw them get out. There were two others as well. There’s a reward for anyone who captures the Frenchies alive. Let’s get them.”
Several people surged towards them. They were armed with random object from the battered buildings around them – pieces of wood, fire pokers, pieces of glass. Darcy saw the murderous intention in their eyes.
“Get behind me, Elizabeth.” He pushed in front of her, putting his body between her and the crowd.
"Clear some space," he tried, but his voice was too raw. No one heard him. He drew on the tattered remains of his magic to augment his words. "These are Royal Mages coming to the rescue."
The crowd parted, watching curiously. They accepted the authority in his voice, but they were still suspicious of the balloon riders. Darcy sensed if he wasn't careful, the crowd could still turn on them.
"One of them is a spy for the Prince Regent,” he continued, “and the other is my wife, a Janus mage."
A lady in a mage cloak tapped him on the shoulder. "Mr. Darcy? I am sorry but I have to arrest those people." Darcy remembered her face. She had been an apprentice several years ago. "We have orders to capture anyone arriving in a balloon."
There were mutterings in the crowd. “Not fair.”
“We claimed them first.”
“Give us the reward.”
Elizabeth stepped forward. "You can try and arrest us," said Elizabeth, "but are you prepared to explain to the Council why you were preventing us from fighting the French mages?”
She looked like a fierce Valkyrie, ready to face the world. He wanted to embrace her, to feel her in his arms, to be sure it was really her and not an illusion sent to torment him. But the crowd was growing restive, eager for action.
As the mage hesitated, trying to decide what to do, Darcy remembered her name. "Langridge, this lady is my wife. I give you my word as a gentleman. You are wasting your time. We hadbetter turn our attention to the urgent matter of removing the Concealment charms."
Miss Langridge nodded. "Yes, sir. Tell me what I need to do."
"What is your Talent?"
"Illusion, sir."
"Perfect."
Darcy turned to Mary. "I assume you can see the balloons."
"Of course. I cannot believe that you are all so blind." She looked very pleased with herself.
"If you will point out the next one that comes in this direction, Miss Langridge here will help to reveal it so we can all see it."
Mary pointed to a point above Regent’s Park. "As it so happens, there is one coming towards us right now, and the mage is preparing to strike.”
Next to him, Elizabeth came to full alert. “Shield!” she cried, Bonding with him.
Just in time as a fireball hurtled towards them.
Miss Bingley appeared at their side, muttering a spell, and the balloon appeared in view. Everyone gasped.
From behind them, the soldiers fired, and an Elemental mage sent a pointed piece of wood like a spear to lodge itself in the balloon.
With a loud hiss of protest, the air rushed out of the balloon, and the balloon began to fall.
At one point, Elizabeth turned around and found herself looking at a mage with a bandage around his eye and nose.
She gave a start. “What are you doing here, Papa?”
