Page 20 of Triumph at Pemberley

Jack dropped his hands. “You think I will be able to do this?”

“More than this,” Roderick said, weariness heavy in his voice. “There are limits to what can be done with borrowed power. Could you sense how I did it?”

“I think so, but I find it hard to believe.” Jack rubbed his arms, suddenly cold. This was not a power any man should have.

Roderick seemed to muster what strength he had left. “Are you ready to try it? With something rather smaller the first time, I think.”

Did he have any choice, with Napoleon about to invade? Jack straightened. “I suppose I must.”

Chapter 8

Rana Akshaya finally called for Elizabeth a week after her first attempt at opening the Gate to India. Elizabeth would have been grateful for an even longer reprieve.

At least this time she was more confident that it would not kill her. When she laid her hand on the stone arch, a residual tingle of magic tickled her palm. Did it somehow remember what she had done?

She focused once more on the image of the Indian Nest as she drew on the foundations. This time, when the sparkles rose before her, she concentrated on keeping them there.

Then a man with a falcon on his wrist appeared through the Gate in mid-stride. He raced past her, dressed in a long, multi-buttoned coat. The power before her wobbled, and she fought to hold the Gate as small things flew threw it – not rocks, since some were completely flat – but Elizabeth did not let herself look at them. Someone must be throwing them through the Gate. One thumped against her leg. Was it an attack or some strange Indian tradition?

Then something sharp struck her forehead. She flinched and lost control. The foundations drained the Gate away abruptly. The objects stopped appearing.

At least the Gate had not closed on someone half-way through it.

Elizabeth turned to face Rana Akshaya and gasped. The floor around them was scattered with gems, scrolls, gold chains, and platters. And the young Indian man was bowing low to Rana Akshaya, his hands pressed together in front of his chest. The strange falcon on his shoulder had jumped down and transformed into a bronze dragon with patterned scales.

Warm liquid trickled down her face. She touched it with a fingertip. Blood. There must be a cut, given the throbbing on her brow. She hoped it would not leave a scar. Did she dare use her abilities to heal it when she was already drained?

“Companion Elizabeth, come here,” Rana Akshaya said imperiously. As if she ever said anything in a different way! Yes, Elizabeth was definitely becoming giddy. She had used too much power.

Elizabeth stepped towards her on legs weaker than they should be, picking her way between the treasures and papers. Were all Indian Nests so wealthy that they could throw away their treasures? And why would they?

Finally she made it the short distance.

Rana Akshaya touched the cut on her face, and Elizabeth could feel the tingling of Talent through it. Replenishing her energy, yes, but also doing something to the wound. That was odd, though. Rana Akshaya never used her healing abilities lightly, not even for a slight cut. But at least Elizabeth was no longer in danger of toppling over at any moment.

The great dragon studied Elizabeth and then looked around at the riches scattered on the ground. She pointed at a gem lying near Elizabeth’s feet, and the new arrival scurried to collect it.

Rana Akshaya pressed it into Elizabeth’s hand, sounding displeased. “It is yours now.” A reward, perhaps?

She stared down at the ruby cabochon, larger than her fingernail. “This is far too valuable for me to take.” Even handling something so valuable made her nervous.

“You have no choice. It tasted your blood, so it is bonded to you now. You must keep it with you always.”

Carry around a king’s ransom? Ridiculous! “What do you mean? How is it bonded to me?”

“Look closely at it, Companion Elizabeth.”

With great care, Elizabeth took it between her thumb and forefinger and held it up to the sunlight. As she turned it, a starburst appeared inside, and a rush of magic heated her fingers.

A jewel and an Artifact? Before she could ask what it did, Rana Akshaya said, “Cerridwen, take Companion Elizabeth back to Pemberley now. And remember, she must carry that with her.”

Elizabeth shook her head. How was she supposed to explain to William and the others where this enormous ruby had come from, and why she was wearing it every day instead of locking it up? No one knew about her experiments with the Gates, and even if they did, it would hardly explain this. “But—”

“Go now!” Rana Akshaya snapped. She turned back to the man from India and began speaking in a language Elizabeth did not recognize.

Cerridwen’s nervousness was palpable, so this time she obeyed.

The little sack in which Elizabeth had hidden the ruby lay heavily in her hand as her maid Chandrika began to unfasten the back of her dress. Elizabeth said, “I have a problem I would like your help with.”