Page 121 of Triumph at Pemberley

“I do not trouble myself with such things,” Rana Akshaya said with just a hint of scorn. “Mortals are easy enough to fool without magic.”

The emperor tilted his head to one side, looking oddly bird-like. “Interesting. What do you think you can offer me?”

“In the future, when you take command of the British possessions, I can help you understand India and the dragons there. For now, I offer some knowledge of the British dragons, as I have been in their counsels of late. To show my good faith, I have brought you a gift.” She gestured to her Indian servant. “Bring in the prisoner.”

Frederica blinked to bring herself out of the vision. “Be ready,” she said in a hoarse voice. “Your sister is coming in.” She paused to share the image of the room with Elizabeth again before she slipped back into the sending.

“Another dragon, I assume,” Napoleon said.

“You can find those on your own. No, I bring you something better. I am acquainted with your enemy Fitzwilliam Darcy and his wife, the companion to the Seer dragon.” Rana Akshaya's voice dripped scorn. “They were too well defended to capture, but I brought you Mrs. Darcy's beloved sister as a negotiating chip.”

Jane stumbled forward and fell to her knees. “Your Imperial Majesty, pray have mercy!” she cried in English. “I am not your enemy. I have no mage powers; I am but a simple woman with a trace of land Talent. I do not care who rules England, only that we live in peace.” Through the sending in Rana Akshaya's sharp vision, Frederica could make out the shining tears in Jane's eyes, making her delicate beauty transcendent.

Frederica held her breath. Would it work?

The emperor's expression softened. “There, there, my dear.” He reached down to take her hand and raise her to her feet. “A lovely lady like you may always rely on my mercy.”

Jane gave a luminous smile as her hand tightened on his. “Your Majesty is all graciousness.”

Frederica pulled herself away from the far-away scene. “Now!” she shouted.

And the world trembled under her feet.

Elizabeth’s heart pounded as she floundered through the foundations, struggling to find Rana Akshaya’s anchor. She had done it easily last night when they tested her ability, but today it seemed much fainter, almost as if it had somehow broken in two. Could something have happened to Rana Akshaya, despite what Frederica said?

She had to find a target or she would never manage to open the Gate. Trying to use the image of the room was even worse. Once she thought she had grasped it, and then sudden holes appeared in her mental vision.

Fear rose in her throat. She would have to rely on drawing Jane through to open the Gate, something she had never done before. And her poor sister would be in terrible danger if she failed.

Everything depended on this. On her. If she failed….

There. She could sense the light coming from Jane. Elizabeth folded her energy around it, holding as tight as she could.

And when Frederica’s cry of ‘Now!’ pierced Elizabeth’s hearing, she pulled. With every ounce of Talent she had.

The prickling sensation of a Gate opening, of strange air coming through, dragged her senses back in the clearing. Back to Jane, who was already kilting up her skirts to flee – thank heavens she was safely through the Gate!

Then Elizabeth’s stomach lurched.

Napoleon looked just like the engravings from the papers that had haunted her dreams. His blue-gray eyes, the ones that could steal a man’s soul or sell a dragon into perpetual torment, were fixed on her.

She could not afford to meet them, so she shifted her gaze just over Napoleon’s shoulder where a guard had come through with him. A guard who was drawing a pistol and cocking it.

She froze. Was this the end for her? Or would the soldier be burnt when Napoleon burst into flames?

Except there was no fire.

Fear stole her breath away.

Napoleon’s narrowed eyes studied his suddenly changed environment. “What treachery is this?” he demanded of her in French. “What have you done?”

Something had gone very wrong. He should have died by now if he had been Gated before.

It was time for the backup plan, trapping him with Ysmeina’s Cuff. Elizabeth’s hands shook as she pulled at her wrist, trying to dislodge the cuff.

It would not budge.

What had happened? It had come off without a problem only yesterday! She fought to slip her right fingertips under the edge to pry it off, but the cuff tightened painfully on her wrist. It was fighting back, refusing to let her remove it.