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"Not yet But I will And before you ask, this has nothing to do with ation This is an entity unto itself"

"Tell me"

"Have you ever heard of the Fox and the Falcon?"

Aurora's whole face lit up "Of course! Soends center around the exploits Mr Scollard is a visionary of sorts He has the ht into the past or future Anyway, he's been sharing ical stories with me since I was a tot And the, brilliant The Falcon—precise, lethal The fearless way they e adventures Such as the ti fro the ship's probable course, stealing aboard by night, overtaking the stunned blackguards before daybreak Oh, and the time they embarked on that quest for the chest of jewels that had been sled from China to…" Aurora's brow furrowed

"Ceylon," Julian supplied

"Ceylon," Aurora breathed, staring at Julian in groonder "So those stories are true That's what you're saying, isn't it?" She scarcely paused, much less awaited an answer "Of course they're true Who better than you to know? You're an adventurer, just as they were You've traveled the world, heard dozens of incredible tales—and you know the authentic ones fro; Mr Scollard's yarns are far more than mere fairy tales They are, aren't they?" This ti at Julian like a hopeful puppy

She wouldn't be disappointed What he was about to divulge would send even Aurora's i

"Yes, Aurora, Mr Scollard's yarns about the Fox and the Falcon are much more than fairy tales" Julian seized her hands in his, his fervent grip conveying the i revelation "His stories are accurate but incomplete The Fox and the Falcon were indeed adventurers, but the purpose behind their various quests delved far deeper than a thirst for excitee II froh the year Seventeen Fifty-eight to handle various delicatestolen treasures, rescuing English ships—the stories are limitless They worked swiftly, brilliantly, and—as one would expect—anonymously, which is why no one ever learned the details of their dazzling exploits until now"

"Until now … and until you" Aurora's wonder was tempered by puzzlement "How is it you discovered all these undisclosed facts? And, fascinated though I am, what have the Fox and the Falcon to do with the black diamond?"

"I' ordered the Fox and the Falcon to go in search of the black diamond Their objective was not to turn the stone over to the Russian prince as offering a reward for its recovery, but to restore it to its rightful place in the sacred teo"

"That's very benevolent But ould King George involve them in such a land"

"Ah, but it did Consider as happening in India at the time A year earlier, Britain had reestablished its supreal at the Battle of Plassey Conflict was ra the natives that it was the English who had stolen the geo and that until the diaal"

"I see" Aurora nodded pensively "Then for all our sakes, I wish the Fox and the Falcon hadn't failed in their mission"

"They didn't fail," Julian refuted, watching Aurora's forehead wrinkle in confusion "At least not in finding what they sought What they failed in was conment"

"I'randfathers who found the black diamond"