Dagger Magic

"No, the proper custody of these texts belongs to Tseten Rinpoche. If they can be destroyed, he'll know how to do it; and if they can't, I can think of no one I'd trust more, to negate their dark powers and see that they don't fall into the wrong hands again. As for the diamonds," he continued, "count them lost along with so many other treasures. Except for this."

Digging into a soggy trouser pocket, he dragged out a sparkling blue-white gemstone. Rainbow fire winked behind its facets as he handed it into Peregrine's shrinking palm. The artist's eyes went wide as he lifted it closer to his astonished gaze.

"Adam, this thing must be five or six carats!" he exclaimed. ''Where did you get it?"

Adam smiled wearily. "I felt it roll under my foot as we were heading off up the deck to retrieve the chest full of texts. It must have come from the crate that Noel shot. It seemed wasteful to leave it, so I scooped it up as I went past. Give it to Julia as a wedding present from the Hunting Lodge - though I shouldn't call it that, if I were you. Maybe it will be some compensation for her having so many interruptions on her honeymoon."

Peregrine looked at the diamond again. "It's glorious," he said, "but I don't really think I ought to accept it. Even if it wasn't such a valuable stone, I don't think I'd feel right giving Julia a Nazi diamond to wear."

Adam smiled inwardly. It was a worthy sentiment.

"In that case, let me suggest that you sell it and use the proceeds as a down payment on your first home. As I recall, there's a lovely little chapel just a few miles from Strathmourne that's just been made redundant. I'm not eager to kick you out of the gate lodge, by any means," he added, at Peregrine's almost hurt glance. "You're welcome to stay as long as you like, but you and Julia will want some privacy to start out your marriage; and I'm thinking the chapel would convert to a splendid residence for an up-and-coming portrait artist who'll be wanting to start a family. I doubt the church commissioners would want much for it - and the work involved in restoring and converting it would provide a lot of local employment."

"I don't know," Peregrine said doubtfully. "I'm not sure it would be right."

"Let's consider the other options, then," Adam said, easing his back and trying to find a more comfortable position. "If we toss that diamond overboard with the rest, nobody benefits. Or it might be appropriate if at least part of the proceeds went to Tseten, to further the work on Holy Island."

"It seems like if anyone's entitled, he is," Peregrine allowed.

"In a sense, perhaps," Adam agreed. "However, Tseten will receive guardianship of the false Termas - which is worth far more than any financial consideration, for however good a cause. And while he gave me the teaching that enabled us to effect the capture of the Termas, we were the ones to put our lives on the line."

"That's true enough, I suppose."

"There's no 'I suppose' about it," Adam declared. "It isn't often that we benefit financially from one of our operations; and when we do, I prefer that we take care of our own. You're just newly married. You could have been killed here today. I know you took the risk willingly, and I can only be thankful for your courage and commitment, but I'd like to know that Julia has been provided for, if you're someday called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice - and we've all pledged our willingness to do so, if it should ever come to that. You might ask Lady Julian about it, if you'd like another perspective."

Peregrine found himself rolling the diamond against the engraved band of his Adept ring - the ring that had belonged to Julian's husband, fallen in the service of the Hunting Lodge many years before - and he closed the diamond in his hand, bringing his fist to his lips.

"I understand what you're saying," he whispered. "It's just that - "

"I know," Adam said quietly. "It's something you've never had to think about before. It's something I'll have to consider, if ever Ximena consents to be my wife. Why don't you give yourself a day or two to get used to the idea? It isn't charity, and it isn't plunder. The stone can finance a lot of worthy objectives for a lot of people, but there's no reason why you and Julia shouldn't be among those who benefit. You can still make a handsome donation to the Holy Island Project, if you like.

"But when we get back home and you've had a chance to catch your breath, take Julia out to see the chapel. See if it appeals to you. If the pair of you decide it's what you'd like, I'll be happy to speak with the bishop on your behalf…."

AFTERWORD

The Holy Island of this novel is, of course, fictional, as are Lama Tseten Rinpoche and Jigme-la (though one might wish they were real), but readers interested in the ongoing work of the Samye Ling Tibetan Centre in Scotland, including its conservation work on the real-world Holy Island (you can sponsor a tree!), may write to:

Mr. Thorn McCarthy