Dark Mirror (30 page)

It occurred to Tory that fresh air would be invigorating. She opened the window halfway and inhaled deeply before she subsided on the sofa cushion beside Jack. She took his hand and the energy flow between them increased. Wryly she said, “This isn’t fun anymore.”

“True, but I now have a better understanding of what it means to be a soldier.” He leaned wearily into the sofa. “Thanks for the extra energy, Tory. Maybe I’ll survive the next four hours after all.”

“You will. Allarde is in slightly better shape than the rest of us.” Reminding herself it was only for a few minutes, she managed to send Jack a bit more power. “You were splendid, Jack. I wouldn’t have thought a storm that size could be turned aside.”

“It couldn’t have been done if the weather brigade didn’t have so many powerful mages.” He squeezed her hand a little, his touch comradely, not romantic. “I was overconfident because the first two days were too easy. I forgot that no matter how powerful a weather mage, he has to work with the raw materials the world supplies.”

“And this time, the world supplied difficult weather.”

Jack rubbed his face with his other hand. “I feel like a beast for the way I shouted at poor Polly. She might have picked up on the storm a little sooner if she’d been more alert, but her range isn’t fully developed, and now she’s temporarily burned-out. You must have felt how hard she was working.”

“She was at her limit,” Tory agreed. “When she wakes up, she’ll realize you were shouting mostly because you were furious with yourself for not being able to work nonstop for days on end.”

He sighed. “You’re right, that was the real reason for my temper.”

“Of
course
I’m right,” she said loftily. “I’m a mage, you know.”

He laughed a little at that.

Allarde returned and extended a hand to Tory to help her from the sofa. She came up lightly with his help, feeling the tingling power of his touch. “I’ll take over now, Tory. Sleep well.”

She gave him a private smile. “You do the same when Nick comes on watch. Even you need rest sometimes.”

Jack said, “It’s a godsend that you have such reservoirs of power, Allarde. We couldn’t have moved that storm if you hadn’t been able to contribute so much.” He covered a yawn. “I always thought aristocrats were worthless, not knowing how to do anything but gamble away their fortunes and give orders to people like me.”

Allarde smiled. “A few of us have our uses.” He settled down on the sofa, stretching his long legs out in front of him. “Time to tweak your storm again?”

Tory left them to it, profoundly grateful to be heading to her bed. But as she climbed tiredly up the stairs, she wondered how long the weather brigade could keep up such a grueling pace.

CHAPTER 31

Wednesday morning, Tory went down to breakfast feeling halfway human again. The frayed weather brigade had made it through Tuesday, though Jack and Cynthia were hard-pressed to keep the waters of the channel reasonably calm. The other mages contributed as much power as they could manage, since they couldn’t afford to lose a second weather worker.

Most of the weather brigade was down for an early breakfast, and energy levels were near normal. Mrs. Rainford had scrambled up a very large pan of eggs with cheese, bread was ready for toasting, the eternal teapot was steaming hot, and the wireless was giving the latest news. By this time, Tory no longer marveled at the miracle of the wireless. She merely listened while she collected breakfast for herself.

She was shaking her head when she sat down between Nick and Elspeth. “They keep saying the same things over and over. The BEF is trapped on the coast, the Belgians are thought to be close to surrender, and disaster is imminent. Mrs. R., have you heard anything more promising through your scrying?”

“In fact, yes.” The teacher was seated at the table having a second cup of tea before heading to work. “I heard a discussion about Hitler’s Panzer tanks. Several days ago they stopped before sweeping into Dunkirk, apparently because of marshy ground.”

“A pity they didn’t go forward and get swallowed up by the marshes!” Nick said.

“Sadly, the Nazis aren’t fools.” Mrs. Rainford spread currant preserves on her toast. “They were about to move again on Dunkirk, but instead they’re heading south to join the fighting there. Bad for the Allies to the south, but good for the evacuation.”

“That’s good to know,” Allarde said as he took a second serving of eggs. “I’m glad we have our private line into Dover Castle.”

“I believe I’ve figured out why I’m able to eavesdrop there so well,” Mrs. Rainford said. “A cousin of mine works in the naval headquarters. She and I grew up together, and I suspect she has some magical ability herself. Everyone from Admiral Ramsay on down is working nonstop, so as long as she’s there, I can connect through her.” She took a bite of toast. “The evacuation code name is Operation Dynamo.”

“Any news about the small boats they’ve been organizing?” Nick asked.

“I almost forgot to mention that. The first convoy of small ships should leave Ramsgate this evening, with more to follow from the other ports. Most of the evacuees will go to Dover, Ramsgate, Folkestone, and Margate,” his mother said. “But there are Lackland boats in the volunteer armada.”

Nick was about to ask more when Polly appeared in the kitchen door, her face ghostly pale. Conversation stopped. It was her first appearance since her collapse after the storm circle.

“Polly, I’m so glad you’re up!” Tory greeted her. “How are you feeling?”

The girl’s face twisted. “My magic is gone! There’s nothing left!”

Her words evoked gasps of shock and sympathy. Elspeth cut through the other reactions by saying firmly, “Your magic isn’t gone permanently. Intense magical work is known to cause temporary paralysis, but the power does come back. It just takes time.”

Polly caught her breath, hardly daring to hope. “How much time?”

“It varies,” Elspeth said. “Probably several days. Perhaps longer.”

“Too long for me to be able to help during the evacuation,” Polly said glumly. “I suppose I should go to school.”

“The whole southeast coast is in turmoil because of the evacuation, so classes aren’t covering much,” her mother said. “Though it’s not a glamorous job, you could stay home and run the household. I would if I were here, but I’m not, so if you’re willing…”

“Of course I am!” Polly said, her expression brightening. “You get on to work, Mum. I’ll make sure everyone is fed properly and the house doesn’t become a sty.”

Tory guessed that Polly was grateful to continue as part of the weather brigade even if she couldn’t join in the magic. Exhausting though the work was, the Irregulars shared a warm camaraderie unlike anything Tory had ever experienced.

“That’s settled then.” Mrs. Rainford stood. “I’m off now. Rule, Britannia!” She hugged Polly on her way outside.

Tory glanced at the clock. “Time I got to work. Cynthia, you’re on watch with me, aren’t you?”

“For my sins,” the other girl said, but her insults no longer carried any sting.

Jack had been working his watch while having breakfast and listening to the news. With the weather steady and his energy recovering, he could do two things at once, at least for a short time. “Shall we hand over the watch in the sitting room?”

Cynthia nodded, but before they could move from the kitchen, Nick said, “Tory, Cynthia, after this watch, I’ll drive you into Dover. I’ll do another run later in the day. We all need some fresh air, a change of scenery, and a chance to see the results of our work at first hand.”

“Will you buy me some fish and chips while we’re out?” Tory asked.

He grinned. “It’s a deal.”

Tory went off to her watch feeling cheerful at the prospect of getting out for a bit. But by the time the watch ended, she was in need of a real break because they’d had to ride the weather hard. Despite their best efforts, sharp winds were blowing over the channel, causing more surf on the Dunkirk beaches and blowing smoke away from the town so the Luftwaffe could see to bomb the beach.

But they were able to keep the water calmer than usual for this time of year, which counted as success under these conditions. Tory had given up striving for perfection and was willing to settle for “the best we can manage.”

Jack and Allarde replaced Cynthia and Tory. Tory had to fight the desire to wrap her arms around Allarde whenever they were in the same room, and from the light in his eyes, he felt the same, so probably it was just as well they wouldn’t be confined in Nick’s Morris Oxford for the expedition into Dover.

Cynthia claimed the backseat so she could doze on the drive into Dover. Tory sat in front with Nick, too interested in the journey to nap. The road was busy, with great lumbering army trucks moving in both directions as well as the usual autos and lorries.

Along the way, Nick pointed out a train racing along a track in the distance. “Southern Railway is running as many extra trains as they can put together to get the evacuees out of Dover. I think everyone in Britain is helping, or wishing they could.”

She nodded. “It’s fortunate that we’re a seafaring nation and so many people have boats that can be used in the evacuation.”

“I wish I could take
Annie’s Dream
over,” Nick said wistfully. “I keep thinking that if I was there, I’d be able to find my father. I do have finder talent, though I haven’t had the time to develop it.”

“Many people can sail boats to Dunkirk, but we’re the only ones who can keep the weather tamed,” Tory pointed out.

His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I wish I could do both.”

As they neared Dover, Tory remembered that Elspeth thought Tory might be able to connect with the other members of the weather brigade over a distance. The time was right to test the theory, so Tory closed her eyes, centered her mind, then reached out, visualizing a golden line stretching out to her friend.
Elspeth? Elspeth?

She felt as if she were trying to identify fabrics by touch while blindfolded, but after several mental calls, she felt a surprised response from her friend. Nothing as clear as words, but a distinct sense of pleased recognition coming from Elspeth.

Delicately, Tory imagined drawing healing energy toward herself. After a moment, Elspeth began to help. Not wanting to tire the other girl, Tory closed that off and offered power in return. Elspeth accepted some, then politely ended it when they were in balance. Grinning, Tory thought,
Farewell,
and withdrew. This ability to send or receive power over a distance could prove useful.

“Why are you smiling like you were just handed a cream cake?” Nick asked.

“Elspeth thought that with my connecting talent, I might be able to connect with people over a distance. So I just tried and was able to reach Elspeth,” Tory explained. “We couldn’t actually talk, but we could identify each other and I was able to send and receive energy. I don’t know if it would work over longer distances, but I was able to manage these few miles.”

“We’re all learning so much about what we can do!” Nick said. “These last days have been like a university course in mage craft.”

Tory chuckled. “I used to wish I could go to Oxford or Cambridge, but of course girls can’t, so this will have to be my university experience.”

“Girls can go to Oxbridge now,” Nick said. “Mum went to Lady Margaret Hall in Oxford.”

“She
did
?” Tory asked with delight. “I must talk to her about it.”

Since they were heading down into Dover, Nick said, “The harbor is going to be berserk, but I know a place to park that’s high enough to give us an overall view of the port, plus I have two pairs of binoculars in the boot.”

“Binoculars? Boot? I really need a 1940 dictionary!” Tory said.

“Binoculars are like…” He thought. “Two spyglasses bound together so you see for long distances. The boot is a compartment in the back of the motorcar to carry things.”

“Are we there?” Yawning, Cynthia sat up and looked around.

Dover was electric with excitement, anxiety, and purpose. Tory felt it powerfully and guessed her companions did, too. The eyes of the world were on Dunkirk and Dover this week.

The side street Nick parked on led right down to the harbor, which was jammed with vessels and people. As she climbed from the motorcar, Tory glanced up at Dover Castle, which loomed over the town from the cliff. It was ancient, she knew, close to a thousand years old. “Strange to think that Admiral Ramsay and his staff, including your mother’s cousin, are working away in the tunnels up there.”

“And probably getting even less sleep than the weather brigade,” Nick said.

“I hope the admiral’s tunnels are more comfortable than the ones at Lackland.” Cynthia shaded her eyes with one hand as she looked down at the harbor. Tory thought rather waspishly that it wasn’t fair that Cynthia managed to look elegant even in the oversized clothing of a middle-aged schoolteacher.

Turning her attention to the harbor, Tory exclaimed, “You weren’t joking about the craziness! Ships are parked three deep at the quay.”

“Unloading as fast as they can so they can cross back again. The newspaper says they can’t take the shortest route across the Straits of Dover because Nazi artillery along the French coast are shelling our ships.” Nick opened the back of the motorcar and drew out two devices. “Here are the binoculars.”