Page 111 of Triumph at Pemberley

Dragon auras enveloped her as she entered the chamber. Powerful sorrow from the Eldest, and a combination of regret and defiance from Cerridwen, who stood just inside the entrance archway. So her dragon had been called here, too.

The Eldest rose. “Companion Elizabeth. Not two years ago you stood before me and promised to protect this Nest as your family. We gave you only one instruction in that time, an admonition against using your Forbidden Power. Now a new Gate is open, proof you have put all of us at risk. I await your explanation.”

Elizabeth swallowed the instinct to defend herself, which would only cast blame on Cerridwen. “It is true. You have been nothing but kind to me, and I disobeyed your counsel.”

“It is not her fault!” Cerridwen burst out. “I made her do it, and her other Eldest said she must.”

“Clearly it was a mistake to think any dragon could be part of two Nests, but that is a separate matter. Whatever you told her, Companion Elizabeth could have come to me for advice. She chose not to do so.”

Elizabeth had never even considered that option. Should she have? Best to acknowledge the hit. She bowed her head. “I heeded the Foresight of my dragon over the needs of this Nest. I wish I could have seen a different choice.”

“You make no excuses, which I honor in you, Companion Elizabeth. You and your husband have done us some service, too, which makes this even harder. You and Cerridwen have left us no choice but to expel you from this Nest. You may not turn to us for aid or assistance again.”

“What?” cried Cerridwen, waves of shock rolling through her aura. “You will give me the same punishment as a mad dragon, all because I am a Seer and cannot ignore my visions?”

The Eldest simply looked at her sadly. “You were not raised in this Nest. We took you in anyway, even knowing you had been punished for disobedience to your first Nest. You lived among us only a short time, and then you chose to join the Pemberley Nest.”

Cerridwen’s chest swelled with resentment. “You took me in, yes, but I was never welcomed here. No one wanted a Seer, and half this Nest refuses to believe my visions. I was not even allowed to attend the last conclave! Rana Akshaya considers it an honor to have a Seer in her Nest.”

“Nestling, you are an untested Seer with a history of disobedience. I hoped you would prove me right when I said you were young and could change. Many here say I should never have given you a chance, much less assisted you and your companion so much. If I had not, our Nest would never have come to the attention of either the Wicked King or the mad dragon emperor. I can no longer defend that decision.” Her grief was clear, as was her determination.

“But—”

The Eldest held up a foreleg to stop Cerriwen’s protest. “I was hatched during the Concealment. My elders told me wonderful stories of the days when they took part in the world, but I was of the last generation who heard them. Most of this Nest has never met a dragon who knew anything but the Concealment. Since Hornbeam was attacked by his companion, they have feared humans, too. I had hoped your presence might be the lever which could move us beyond cowering in the Nest, but with this setback, the Nest has chosen a different path. After today, I will be stepping down as Eldest, making room for one who represents the sentiments of the Nest more closely. Telling you of this expulsion is my last action in speaking for the Nest. I did not wish you to hear it from an unsympathetic dragon.”

Elizabeth could not believe her ears. She had never imagined there could be a different Eldest in her lifetime – and it was because of Cerridwen and her. Quickthorn had told her, though, how many young dragons left for other Nests where they could have more freedom, and the few remaining dragons who felt that way had joined the Pemberley Nest.

She hated the thought of the Dark Peak Nest going back into hiding.

The aura from Cerridwen was still heated, so Elizabeth stepped in. “Eldest, I will always be grateful for the help you have given us. My family would not have survived without the wards you agreed to set around Pemberley. I admire the steps you have taken to be more active among the mortals here even as I deeply regret the danger it has brought you.”

Cerridwen burst out, “What will happen to the other Dark Peak dragons in the new Pemberley Nest?”

“Juniper and Quickthorn will no longer be part of our Nest, but they would be welcome to return, should they choose. Or if the new Nest does not succeed.”

Cerridwen muttered resentfully, “If the Pemberley Nest falls, none of this will matter. We will all be dead or enslaved.”

“So you have prophesied, I am told, but your prophesies are as untested as your visions.” She swung her huge head towards Elizabeth. “Companion Elizabeth, I urge you to take the greatest of care with your Forbidden Talents. Opening a Gate is not to be undertaken lightly or without every possible precaution. Gates are a great convenience, but not worth a single life. The dragons and companions from Rana Akshaya’s Nest in India could have easily boarded a ship to come here. Was it worth the immense risk merely to save them a long journey?”

Was it possible the Eldest thought a Gate to India was their goal, rather than a step to using one to destroy Napoleon? If so, no wonder she was angry! But it was not up to Elizabeth to share Cerridwen’s vision. “I agree a Gate would not be worth a single life, but it is more complicated than that. I urge you to ask Cerridwen why I agreed to it.”

The inner lids slowly lowered and raised over the dragon’s enormous golden eyes. “I will do so, but it will change nothing. For what it is worth, Companion Elizabeth, this decision only affects your participation in this Nest. You may encounter Dark Peak dragons at our nursery or elsewhere in the area, and I have no wish for us to be on ill terms. Despite the Nest’s decision, I understand a companion’s instincts are to obey their dragon’s wishes.”

It was a good thing humans had no aura for dragons to read, because Elizabeth was suddenly furious with the entire Nest. Still, she would act as the mistress of Pemberley ought, not as a companion indignant on her dragon’s behalf. “The dragons of the Dark Peak have always been good friends to the people of Pemberley, and I hope it will always be so.”

“Good. You may go now, Companion Elizabeth. I will speak further to Cerridwen.”

Elizabeth, now freed from the need to obey the Eldest’s commands, sent to Cerridwen, I will await you outside the Nest. I believe in you, and I always will.

“How dare they?” Cerridwen fumed. “Do they think I want all these horrible visions? Everything I have done, everything, has been to prevent the disaster!”

Elizabeth patted the dragon’s flank. “I have met many people who refuse to believe things simply because they are unpalatable. Perhaps dragons are the same.”

“Old sticks-in-the-mud! They all are! You are the one who can save them, but no, they must send us away like criminals!”

Poor Cerridwen! “I am so sorry, dearest. It is unfair of them to expel you.” And it must hurt, especially after her original Nest had done almost the same thing by excluding her with the Silence. “I think the Eldest may not have agreed with the decision, even if she was the one to tell us.” It was a comfort to her, at least.

“I never liked any of them much, you know. Do you remember at the beginning when they refused to speak to me and told you to break your bond to me?”