by K. M. Shea
Using her magic, Angelique lowered the rapier into her palm. “It’s probably worth practicing. Nefari implied he’s been making a lot of these necklaces. I imagine that means many of the Chosen already have them.”
Elle tapped her chin. “Yes. He seemed to imply we’d know where all of the pendants were going, which worries me, because it means they likely have something in store for us.”
“Unless they’re just outfitting all Chosen mages with such pendants,” Gabrielle said. “As an army. But I’m not sure I like that idea much more than an unpleasant surprise we don’t know about.”
“I didn’t see any hints in his logbook,” Quinn said. “Though, the code was too advanced for me to guess at for the brief time I saw it.”
“That’s understandable. It was just a lucky break that Nefari seemed to think we’d know what he was talking about.” Elle sighed deeply and hunched her shoulders. “There’s no getting around it. We’ll have to contact Severin with a magic mirror and tell him what we’ve found.”
Gabrielle tilted her head as Puss jumped onto her lap and settled in. “And that’s a bad thing?” she asked.
“Yes.” Elle scowled. “Because he’s definitely going to tell me that I need to return home to notify our allies about this development. Even though he’s off having adventures in Erlauf!”
“I don’t know that I’d call facing goblins an adventure,” Angelique said.
“I agree,” Elle said. “But it’s the only way I can think about it without starting to worry endlessly about him.”
Angelique slowly lowered the rapier so the point touched the ground.
That’s right. Even though it feels like I’ve done so much, I’m not the only one racing across the continent trying to stop conflicts.
“I think we put Angelique’s satchel over near the fireplace.” Quinn trotted across the room to retrieve the bag.
“We should probably eat, too—while the food is hot.” Gabrielle awkwardly reached across the table, stretching her fingers so she could tug a covered tray closer without disturbing Puss on her lap.
The food—roasted venison sprinkled with mouth-watering herbs, fresh bread, and more—smelled tantalizing, but Angelique wasn’t all that eager to sit down and eat. She didn’t want to relax. Relaxing made her think of her dreams-that-weren’t-really-dreams, and she’d been avoiding pondering them—and what happened in them—ever since Acri was revealed to be a legitimate person.
Using her magic, Angelique returned the rapiers to their ornamental stand, then scooped up the pouch of pins and shook it for the sheer satisfaction.
Maneuvering the pins into pictures was slightly frustrating—it took a great deal of concentration and mental work despite the little power she expelled.
Puss is right. I need to practice with my core magic. I’m as clumsy as a student, and I’ve been an apprentice enchantress for roughly two decades.
“Perhaps I could offer to notify our allies when Puss and I return,” Gabrielle offered as she sliced into a meat pasty that steamed and smelled of cloves. “We’ll have to depart soon anyway—though I imagine the rest of the alliance would prefer to hear it directly from you or Severin, given you’re the leaders of our association.”
Elle choked on the breadstick she’d torn into. “Me? Lead? Nonsense. That’s entirely Severin’s line of work.”
“You are more the type to run on rooftops than lead,” Puss said.
“Precisely! I am touched—Master Puss—that you understand me so deeply.” Elle said. “Just for that, Gabrielle, next time you visit Chanceux Chateau, I will teach you how to run on rooftops should you so desire!”
Gabrielle thoughtfully pursed her lips.
“Don’t you dare,” Puss declared. “I am the only one in our partnership who has the abilities required for such a feat.”
“But if Elle teaches me, I can develop such abilities, as well!”
“Your Bumpkin Head husband would die from an explosive heart if you took up such a pastime!”
Gabrielle placed a hand over her heart. “You’re worried about Steffen? That’s so delightful. I knew your relationship with him was improving!”
“No! There is no such improvement. Stop telling silly tales,” Puss sputtered.
Angelique grinned as she adjusted a few of her pins, attempting to use them to create a replica of Puss.
“Here is your satchel, Angelique.” Quinn held out the pack.
“Thank you.” Angelique set the bag on the bench and then pawed through it, feeling through the vast insides for the cold metal of the mirror.
“Can’t you find it?” Quinn asked.
Angelique scrunched her forehead as she concentrated on the sensations that brushed at her fingers. “No, it’s rather that I packed a great deal for our excursion. There’s a dress. I think that’s a food pack, my large cast iron skillet, my small cast iron skillet—ah!” She felt something hard with grooves and etchings, and unearthed it. “Here it is.”
Angelique tugged it out of the pack by its silver ribbon. Its decorative flourishes caught some of the firelight to a charming effect, and the reflective surface was perfectly clean despite being tossed around in her pack for weeks.
Angelique studied the glowing magic that encircled the mirror’s face, giving it the power to reach out to any of the several dozen mirrors Severin had circulated among the royal families and the leaders in each country’s military.
“It’s a tidy bit of spellwork,” Angelique said.
“Stil insisted on enchanting yours himself,” Elle said.
Angelique smiled fondly. “That was kind of him.” Able to see the spellwork, Angelique easily activated the segment of the spell she was looking for.
It was easy enough to picture the handsome but slightly dour Prince Severin, and within moments, she felt the spell reach his mirror.
The face of her mirror shimmied and shone black for several moments. She heard muffled noises before light abruptly pierced the darkness as whatever covered Severin’s mirror was peeled back.
“Greetings, Angelique.” The prince peered at his mirror—judging from the maroon fabric behind him and the audible howling of the wind, he was inside a tent. Most likely one provided by the Erlauf army, given the color. “I hope it is a good occasion that has inspired you to contact me?”
“We went to the location the ranger found,” Angelique said. “And we managed to get some information—some of which I thought might interest you.”
“One moment, please.”
Severin’s face disappeared from the scope of the mirror, which jostled around for a bit before he set it on a table, propping it up with something Angelique couldn’t see.
He reappeared when he pulled up a rickety chair and sat down at the table. Severin then opened a record book and readied his quill before expectantly looking at the mirror. “I am ready for your report.”
Angelique told him everything they’d discovered—from the map of suppliers and the information Quinn had gleamed from the logbook, to observations on Nefari’s shield spell and the worrisome allusion he’d made to needing to send out large amounts of the shields.
Severin wrote diligently—able to keep up with the jumble of words Angelique spilled out. He occasionally asked for clarification on a point, but he never interrupted or questioned Angelique’s conclusions.
He trusts my findings, Angelique thought as she remained quiet and waited for the prince to finish writing. Which, I guess I’ve known for a while, but for once, I’m not so frantic to run off to a new location that I can actually appreciate it. There are mages that don’t question me—like Sybilla and Clovicus, obviously. But I guess I’ve gotten so used to being treated with suspicion by other mages I never realized how nice it is to be trusted.
Severin finally looked up from his record book, but he didn’t put his quill aside just yet. “Well done. It seems you have unearthed a great deal—and I am especially glad for your sake you were able to find information about Evariste.�
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“I think we have,” Angelique stressed.
Severin curtly nodded. “I can understand why you do not want to assume. But I believe it’s safe to say you will find additional information as you and Quinn of Midnight Lake expand your search in Mullberg.”
The commanding general sprinkled sand on his notes to soak up the extra ink. “Would you please tell Elle that Lucien has commissioned a group of rangers to travel north to Nefari’s base to conduct a raid?”
“Oh,” Angelique weakly said. “Um.”
“Of course, she can probably hear me given that I assume she is in the room with you.”
Elle jumped off the bench, jostling close to Angelique so she could view her husband through the spell. “Naturally I’m here! You practically told me to come!”
Severin raised his eyebrows. “I am a smart enough man that I would never presume to tell you to do anything. All I did was note that your skills would be immensely helpful to Angelique and Quinn at this juncture.”
Elle laughed. “Indeed. And it was such a lark.”
Back at the table, Gabrielle made a slightly pained noise. “If this is your idea of fun, I hate to see what’s a dire situation.”
“Crown Princess Gabrielle is correct,” Severin said.
“How did you know that was Gabrielle?” Elle squawked.
“Because Princess Astra of Baris would never be able to head north fast enough to join in this expedition and you’d want another person to round your group out,” Severin said.
“I can’t tell if it’s disappointing I’m that predictable or romantic that you know me so well,” Elle said.
Severin slightly tilted his head in what was an extremely playful manner for the taciturn general. “Regardless of how you compliment me, we’re still not purchasing any war elephants from Baris, my fearless wife.”
Elle waffled between laughing and scoffing. “You are such a beast!”
“At least I’m a better-looking one than when you first met me.” Severin finally set his quill aside and leaned back in his chair. “The rangers will receive support from a squad of Arcainian soldiers that are traveling to the border as we speak. Originally, I was hoping to focus on the collection of information, but it seems our primary target should be capturing this Nefari if his shield spells are in such high demand among the Chosen.”
“That might be best,” Angelique agreed. “If you can get him to talk I imagine he’ll also prove to be a mine of information.”
Severin nodded. “We have precious little news to share from the Erlauf front—though the fight against the goblins is proceeding well enough.” He drummed his fingers on the table. “I can also finally confirm a rumor you brought us.”
“Oh?”
“Yes—Liliane. She exists, and she is a powerful Chosen mage. We think she might be behind some of the goblins’ odd behaviors. In a surprise ambush on a goblin camp, we found written orders a goblin was supposed to carry to a black mage in Erlauf that mentioned her. Though I have no proof, I suspect she must be quite esteemed in the Chosen hierarchy, though that is only my instinct.”
Angelique’s stomach rolled—not the unpleasant, nausea-inducing sensation the price of her magic inspired, but more like a frothy mixture of joy and nerves.
More irrefutable evidence that what I thought was a dream was real. But that means I connected with Evariste somehow while sleeping. How did that happen? Can I reproduce it? And what does that mean about Evariste and the way he nearly kissed me? Perhaps he has experienced mental instability? After all, who knows what the Chosen have done to him?
“I imagine you’re right, Severin.” Elle’s voice brought Angelique back to the present with a jolt as she continued, “If she gave orders she must have some power. Suzu and Carabosso never gave orders as far as we can tell, they only received them.”
“Perhaps, but the Chosen have shown that we cannot trust any assumptions about them that we might normally make.” Severin rubbed his forehead and frowned. “Elle, you are free to continue with Angelique, but Lucien and I hoped you’d stay in the area to help the rangers.”
“Understandable. I’ll be able to point out which mage is Nefari, and I can draw layouts of the place so it’s not second-hand information.” She tapped her chin as she thought. “I’ll think about it—and see what Quinn and Angelique want to do next.”
Severin nodded. “Very well. If you wish to make contact, the rangers will gather in the trading city in Arcainia you stayed in. The Arcainian troops will remain farther south and will march the night before their presence is needed so we don’t alert the enemy.”
“Very well.” Elle started to lean away from the mirror, then hesitated. “Be safe, Severin.”
“You, too, Elle.” For a brief moment, Severin’s countenance thawed, and his yellow eyes were soft and golden with love as he gazed at his wife through the mirror.
When she ducked out of view, his staunch manners returned to him, and he bowed his head to Angelique. “Good luck with your search, Angelique. I hope you keep me apprised so if there is any way the continent can be of assistance, we can give it.”
“Of course, Severin. Thank you.”
Severin nodded. “Farewell.”
“Farewell.”
Angelique severed the connection and lowered the mirror.
“So.” Gabrielle leaned back against the table, resting her arms on the edge. “What now?”
Several days later—over a month after Quinn and Angelique first left Chanceux Chateau—the party gathered in a courtyard to see the duo off.
“You swear you will remember to test her in all the drills?” Puss demanded. He was crouched on Quinn’s shoulder, peering down so he could watch her tighten the girth of Fluffy’s saddle. “Even the power switches?”
“You had me write down the entire list of drills—with explanations,” Quinn patiently said. “I will make certain to consult that list frequently so I don’t miss any.”
Puss flicked his tail. “Excellent. I know I can count on you—Angelique needs to be drilled. She does better when nagged. I can make her produce the best results, of course, but as I cannot come with her, then you must stand in my place.”
“It is an honor, Master Puss,” Quinn said with true sincerity.
“Yes. Well. Just make sure she does them out in the country—where you won’t encounter any Chosen mages to carry off tales that she’s in Mullberg. Oh—and have her vary the amount of magic she uses on weapons to refine it, so she can cut through rotten Nefari’s shield with one strike!”
Quinn pulled a stirrup down and brushed snow off her saddle. “Understood.”
Angelique smiled at the conversation and rested a hand on Pegasus’ shoulder as she listened.
It was a sunny day, but the temperatures were still freezing, and snow was piled up to Angelique’s shin. The courtyard had been shoveled, though, and when Pegasus stamped a hoof, he shed enough heat and sparks that Angelique felt it even through her heat-charmed cloak.
“Are you certain about this?” Elle yanked the hood of her cloak down and shivered in the icy breeze. “I could still come with you. It wouldn’t take me long to pack up.”
Angelique patted Pegasus when he leaned into her, seemingly disturbed by the cooing noises Gabrielle was making as she studied him.
“No, you should stay,” Angelique said. “The rangers need your help more. We need to stop Nefari, and the mission has a higher chance of success if you’re there to ferret him out.”
Elle frowned. “Yes, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m abandoning you.”
“You aren’t,” Angelique assured her. “You’re needed more here, and I’ll be able to use my magic in Mullberg as long as I’m subtle.”
Elle didn’t look convinced.
Feeling daring, Angelique reached out and clasped Elle’s shoulder. “It’s fine, Elle. I’m thankful for all you’ve done. If we need your help, we’ll send word. You’ll be close to the border while you dismantle Nefari’s s
tore. You’re not far away.”
Elle nodded reluctantly, but didn’t move away from Angelique’s hand, which shifted her feelings from bold to downright gleeful.
I have friends. Real friends. Sybilla, Clovicus, Firra, and Donaigh have always been kind to me, but they’re mages. This is different.
“I wish Puss and I didn’t have to head back to Arcainia as well.” Gabrielle sighed as she strolled around Pegasus to stand with Angelique and Elle. “It feels like we’re leaving before our quest has finished.” She leaned close so her shoulder brushed Angelique’s.
Friendship!
Angelique twitched the gleeful mantra aside and attempted to focus. “But we did finish, in a way. I was hoping for information on Evariste, and we found it.”
Elle snorted. “One line of it!”
“And a map that will allow Quinn and me to track down even more information,” Angelique pointed out.
“I guess.” Gabrielle frowned, which gave her startling beauty a thoughtful and almost disappointed cast. “It’s silly to admit, but I was really hoping we’d be able to swoop in and gain some ground for you. We’ve been neglecting you for too long, I wanted to help you in a big way.”
Angelique smiled. “You have. Just not in the way you were imagining.”
Gabrielle blinked. “Huh?”
“I believe we’re ready to leave, Angelique.” Quinn tugged on Fluffy’s reins, leading her black furred mount around Pegasus. As Fluffy moved, snowflakes settled in his thick fur and on his antlers. “We should leave while the weather is still nice if we want to get to Mullberg’s border tonight.”
Elle heaved a giant sigh. “She’s right. Even Pegasus and Fluffy will have trouble running in deep snow—and Mullberg has plenty of it. You’ll need extra travel time once you reach the border, and we can’t have you getting stuck in a snow storm or some such thing.” She shifted away from Angelique’s hand so she could step closer and hug her. “Be careful. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
Puss crouched on Quinn’s shoulder and stretched a paw in front of him, as if he could mentally drag Gabrielle closer so as to jump directly onto her and avoid dropping down into the freshly fallen snow—something he had voiced a great disdain for nearly every day of their adventure. “Indeed. We should also enjoy receiving an update directly from you, instead of hearing second-hand through that stone-faced Loire prince as if we were strangers!” he said.