Dark Passage by M. J. Putney

Author:M. J. Putney [Putney, M. J.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Romance, Fantasy, Fiction, General, Historical, Juvenile Fiction, Fantasy & Magic
ISBN: 9780312622855
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Published: 2011-09-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 20

Tory landed on an unfamiliar stony floor in total darkness. Not the chalk tunnels of Lackland. She groaned as she pushed herself to a sitting position and wondered where and when she was.

“Tory, are you here?” It was Allarde’s voice, tense with concern.

“Justin?” she asked in disbelief.

She created a wavery mage light that showed that he had also come through the mirror and landed about a yard away. He was leaning on one arm and looking around. When he saw Tory, he scooped her onto his lap, crushing her close. “Thank God you’re all right! What just happened?”

She clung to his familiar strong, lean body. This was not the time to remember that they were no longer a couple. His warm embrace was the surest thing in a scrambled world. “Nick found the portal he was looking for, and his excitement triggered the mirror so we were drawn through,” she explained. “How did you get here?”

“When I saw the mirror shimmer into sight, I grabbed your arm to pull you back,” he said ruefully. “Instead, I was yanked through with you.”

She made herself pull away, wishing he hadn’t tried to catch her. Knowing that he could never be less than protective. Glad he was here. In his eyes, she saw a similar jumble of feelings as he released her.

“Where is Nick?” She looked around and saw irregular stone walls with moisture dripping in several places. They were in a natural cave whose floor had been smoothed for safe walking. A faint draft suggested that there was an exit not far away.

At the edge of the ring of mage light, Nick was sprawled on the ground, his face as pale as death. “Nick!”

She pulled away from Allarde and crawled over to Nick. His skin was cold and clammy, but she felt a pulse in his throat. “He’s alive,” she said. “But taking a second trip through the mirror so soon has been a tremendous strain.”

Allarde straightened Nick out so he was lying on his back. “Can you manage some hearth witchery to warm him?”

“I’ll see if I have any power left.” She took Nick’s hand and concentrated on warming him. It took most of her available energy, but she managed to channel heat into him and also warm a bubble of air around her and Allarde. Nick regained color and his breathing grew stronger, though he didn’t awaken.

“The warmth feels good.” Allarde rolled up his coat and tucked it under Nick’s head. “Do you have any idea where we are? And when?”

“My best guess would be northern France in 1940 since Nick became excited when he found the portal. But I don’t really know,” she admitted. “We could be at that portal in our time, or a different portal altogether.”

“Can you take us back where we came from?”

She closed her eyes and tried to recall every detail of the passage that had brought them here. “I think so, but we can’t go through the mirror again until Nick has had time to recover.

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