by K. M. Shea
Snow White—who had just fought an ugly battle to save her stepmother from an ancient artifact that neither she nor Faina should have been able to resist as long as they had—wrung her hands at her ignorance and self-perceived failure in aiding the rest of the alliance.
She still doesn’t know how brilliant she is—or just how much she’s done.
“Don’t worry, Snow White,” Angelique said. “Severin will understand. Rather, he’s going to be grateful for everything you’ve accomplished this spring.”
“I freed Faina, yes, but the mirror is gone,” Snow White said.
“Perhaps,” Angelique said. “But you stopped what would have been a major blow to the continent when you saved your stepmother and held your country together.”
If Mullberg had fallen…
“If you say so, Lady Enchant…” Snow White trailed off when she noticed Angelique was glaring at her.
“Snow White. I have already told you: I have lent you clothes, we have slept next to each other on the ground, and you have seen me at my scruffiest. There is no need for formalities between us. It’s just Angelique—or even Angel!” Angelique firmly said.
Evariste gave Angelique another mysterious look she couldn’t quite interpret and chuckled. “Thank you for your hospitality—and for mounting the attack that resulted in my freedom, Your Highness.”
“It was the least I could do, Lord Enchanter Evariste,” Snow White said. “I am sorry I did not move sooner or that I never saw you in the mirror. I might have done something earlier then.”
“I could only appear when dragged forward by the mirror—or by magic, as Angel showed. As the mirror was choosing to shield its presence from you, there is no way you could have known,” Evariste gently reminded her.
“Still, it’s rather disheartening.”
“And aggravating,” Evariste gave her a sunny smile that didn’t match his words. “But I am free now—even if I don’t yet have my magic back.”
“Yes, that is the one thing that would tempt me to stop by the Conclave first if it weren’t so important we update Severin.” Angelique grimaced. “Surely someone at the Veneno Conclave will be able to break the seal placed on you.”
We need to ask Clovicus about the strange way my magic has connected with Evariste, too. But I still don’t want to let them know that he’s out.
“We shall see,” Evariste said. “Your Highness, if you’ll excuse me, I’ll go summon our mount. Thank you again for all you have done.”
Angelique blinked in surprise—she’d forgotten. Pegasus was Evariste’s friend first. He’d been riding him long before Angelique became his apprentice, much less before she dared to summon him herself.
“Go with safety, Lord Enchanter. I hope your magic returns to you soon,” Snow White said.
Evariste slightly inclined his head, then strode off, his cloak swirling around him. When he brushed past Angelique, he winked, and she knew he was giving her a moment alone with Snow White on purpose.
She smiled. Although their relationship was still undefined, in some ways they had settled back into old habits as if they’d never been apart.
“He really is your master?” Snow White asked, her forehead wrinkling.
“Yes—though he’s been absent for six years. I never received my title, so I’m still an enchantress-in-training.”
Snow White hesitated. “You two don’t seem to be a…typical combination.”
“You mean because Master Evariste is barely older than I am?” Angelique asked.
Snow White nodded. “I thought generally an apprenticeship was when older magic users took on the younger generation to teach them.”
“You’re not wrong.” Angelique flipped her shorter hair over her shoulder. She hadn’t bothered to cast an illusion to change its dark color or shorter length—or even her silver eyes. She could no longer be bothered to care if her appearance made other mages nervous—though the vain part of her was strong enough to incite her to cast a spell that made her hair more silky. “It’s mostly due to Evariste. He was considered a prodigy and obtained the title of Enchanter when he was still a child. He only took me on out of pity.”
Didn’t he end up with more than he ever bargained for?
Angelique’s smile was a little wryer than she should have let it be, but there was something about Snow White that encouraged her raw emotions.
Snow White studied Angelique for several moments and proved she was not only intellectually brilliant, but emotionally smart as well. “When all of this is over, Angelique, I hope you will return to Mullberg and stay with me.” Snow White squeezed her hands together, appearing a little awkward as she made the offer. She had no way of knowing how deeply it touched Angelique. “That is, I should like to get to know more about you as I consider you a…”
“I would be delighted,” Angelique said. “After all, we are friends.”
Snow White’s grin was infectious. “Yes.”
Laughing, Angelique scooped Snow White into an embrace. “Stay safe, Snow White—though I am certain your dark guardian will allow no harm to come to you.” She stepped back and winked.
Snow White stared at Angelique for a moment before turning bright red and peered behind her where lover-boy Fritz guarded her from the shadows.
They’re love-sick enough to deserve a ballad written about them.
“Um, yes. Of course,” Snow White muttered to her feet.
I wonder if this is how older siblings feel about the children that come after them? Angelique chuckled and ruffled Snow White’s curls. “The pair of you are quite adorable. I wish you happiness there, as well.” Angelique twitched her skirts around her—which hadn’t settled on a color at the moment and were rainbow hued. “You can expect a courier from Severin as soon as I relay your words to him. Watch for one.”
“Indeed,” Snow White said. “I wish you well during your time in Loire and at the Veneno Conclave.”
“Thank you,” Angelique grimaced. “I am sure I shall need it.” One last playful wink at Snow White, and Angelique slipped from the hall.
It’s sad, really. I would have liked to stay longer, but I want to avoid that Conclave mage. Also, it is imperative that Evariste talk to Severin, and once that is over, I will be eager to take him to the Conclave in hopes that someone might be able to unseal him. Clovicus should be farther along in his research by then.
Angelique swept through the intimidating main entrance to the palace, which had a high vaulted ceiling and entire murals constructed out of gems.
That was the intimidating part: Mullberg wasn’t even trying to show off its wealth in the design. It just had that many gemstone mines that it thought such a display was commonplace.
Angelique smiled at the pair of guards that opened the doors for her, then stepped outside, squinting in the brilliant spring sunlight that half blinded her until she shaded her eyes with her hand.
It does bother me that Evariste seems to believe we won’t be able to remove the seal on his magic. Is there something he’s not saying, or is it that he witnessed firsthand the brutality of black magic and thinks we cannot fight against it?
She marched down the steps that were made of some polished white rock (that was also likely shockingly expensive in other parts of the world).
Evariste’s sealed magic is a problem. Not just strategically for the continent, but politically in the Conclave. Will they give him the same kind of respect and pomp that they used to if he can’t use his magic? I’d like to think so, but the Council is fussy. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tristisim or Felicienne dug up some ancient law about sealed enchanters just out of spite.
However, even without his magic, Angelique knew Evariste would make a difference. He could offer them information, yes, but he’d always been a beacon of hope among mages. Even if the Council complained, the other mages would listen.
Which was more than Angelique had been able to accomplish.
I’m so glad that he’s back. Angelique saw Evaris
te standing in the courtyard, gazing up at the sky. It’s like I can breathe again because he’s here.
“Are you ready to call Pegasus?” Angelique asked.
There was a slight furrow to his brow as he lowered his gaze to her. “Actually, I have already tried.”
Angelique’s eyes flicked to the cloudless sky. “And he has not come?”
“There’s no sign of him.” Evariste shook his head, the corners of his mouth turning down.
Fear grabbed Angelique by the heart and squeezed.
Have the Chosen somehow gotten Pegasus? But how? He thoroughly smote the black mage—Acri—that fought me.
“No,” Angelique said aloud to stop the growing storm of worry. “Perhaps he didn’t hear you.” Angelique thrust her hand up to the sky. “Pegasus! It is I—Enchantress-in-Training Angelique—”
A familiar boom rolled across the mountains, and Angelique’s spiking anxiety eased.
Pegasus, a smudge of black on the bright blue sky, streaked across the heavens, his immense black wings stark and stretched to their full size.
When he hit the ground with a crackle that rattled Glitzern Palace (and perhaps scorched the courtyard’s stone a little), his wings exploded into thousands of black feathers.
Angelique got a face full of them. They were softer than silk, but one of them tickled her nostrils and incited a sneezing fit that didn’t pass until the feathers defied the laws of nature and floated up into the sky.
Pegasus trumpeted at an ear-ringing volume that shook the ground.
Relieved—and knocked off balance—Angelique toddled a few steps, then collapsed to her knees. “Thank goodness, you’re okay. Oof!” She was almost knocked face-first into the cobblestone when Pegasus smacked his head into her back and scratched his forehead on her shoulder blade.
“Yes, I’m happy to finally see you again, too.” Angelique batted him away and then struggled to her feet. She had just enough time to fluff her skirts before Pegasus grabbed her by the neckline of her dress and tugged.
Given that a tug from the constellation was approximately equal to the strength of a grown man pulling with all his strength, she was nearly hauled off her feet.
“Pegasus, stop,” she said in exasperation.
Pegasus snorted in her face, filling her nose with the ticklish scent of ash and fire.
“He seems in good health,” Evariste said.
Angelique froze and peered in Evariste’s direction.
Pegasus and Evariste had an agreement—Angelique had never been privy to the terms—that allowed Evariste to summon the constellation when he needed a ride. The rides had been fairly infrequent, given Evariste’s core magic, and Evariste had always warned Angelique that Pegasus was to be respected and somewhat feared.
Angelique had only summoned Pegasus out of desperation when Puss had gotten badly hurt, and she needed fast transportation. It had shocked her when Pegasus opted to stay with her and let her ride him as much as she wished.
As they’d gotten closer—she slept and drooled on him before he’d gotten his penchant for being brushed—Angelique had just…forgotten that the starry steed wasn’t actually her companion.
Evariste didn’t seem to mind. The worry was gone from his brow, replaced by a curious tilt to his head.
Pegasus turned toward the enchanter, then moved in his direction—the blue flames that engulfed his hooves growing larger.
Pegasus circled around Evariste, then thrust his muzzle close to Evariste’s head and inhaled deeply.
Evariste bowed to Pegasus. “It is good to see you again.”
Pegasus flicked his tail, then twitched his head down in an almost bow. He held his head in the lowered position for a moment, then struck his front right hoof on the ground, shedding sparks while he once more trumpeted—this time in a more musical tone.
“I think he’s welcoming you back,” Angelique said.
Pegasus snorted.
Evariste smiled. “He appears to be in high spirits.”
Pegasus nodded his head again, then grabbed for Angelique’s hair—his teeth making a clicking noise as he snapped them.
“Perhaps he’s in too high of spirits.” Angelique yanked her hair from his teeth and fled across the courtyard, but he followed after her, wiping his muzzle and starry spit off on her skirts. “Pegasus, ew!”
“It seems Pegasus has decided you are his…I’d say rider, but that doesn’t properly allude to the dynamic given that he is far more powerful than you or I. Pet, perhaps?”
“Maid is closer to the truth.” Angelique scowled at Pegasus, who bumped her with his hindquarters and almost sent her sprawling.
“You’ve been riding him a lot,” Evariste said. “It greatly infuriated Liliane—though I was surprised when I heard her complaining about it, given that Pegasus has an arrangement with me, but not you. Unless…did you make one with him?”
Angelique shook her head as Pegasus finally stopped bumping and spitting on her. “No. I told him what happened to you, and he…stayed with me.” She patted his neck, admiring the glowing stars that defined his muscles. “He’s saved me on more than one occasion.”
Pegasus sweetly pressed his muzzle to her left temple.
“When Emerys took Quinn and left for Farset, I knew I had to send him back to the sky for the sake of secrecy. It’s been a few weeks since I last saw him.” Angelique grinned as Pegasus peered down at her, his unfathomable eyes swirling. “That might account for some of his good mood. I imagine he’s celebrating that he gets to be brushed again.”
“I beg your pardon?” Evariste said.
“I said he’s probably celebrating that he gets to be brushed again,” Angelique said.
Evariste looked from her to Pegasus, then back to her. “What?”
“He likes getting brushed,” Angelique said. “I don’t know that it really does anything for him since he doesn’t have a coat.” She prodded his side for emphasis and felt warmth and muscle, but it didn’t have the same silken sensation as a regular horse would.
Evariste put a hand on his hip and stared at Pegasus. “It seems much has changed since my capture.”
“It’s perhaps a little odd that a constellation likes to be brushed,” Angelique said. “But surely it can’t be that shocking.”
“Angelique,” Evariste laughed. “Pegasus is far more—”
He was cut off when Pegasus slammed into Evariste. He would have knocked the enchanter over, except he clamped his teeth down on Evariste’s cloak and snapped him upright so Evariste only wobbled, then pitched into Pegasus’ side and bounced off.
“Pegasus!” Angelique strode across the courtyard, shaking a finger. “You’re acting rude!”
“No, he’s merely expressing his wishes.” Evariste righted himself, the coins sewn to his cloak clinking with his movements. “In a multitude of ways.”
“I don’t understand,” Angelique said.
Evariste grinned at her. “Which is just how he wants it.” He playfully tapped the tip of her nose. “We’d best mount up and leave—that is, if Pegasus deigns to carry me as well as you.”
“Of course, he will.” Angelique put her hands on her hips and frowned at the horse. “Won’t you, Pegasus?”
Pegasus elegantly lowered himself to the ground, an image of innocence as he tucked his head and let out a pleased sounding, bell-toll-like nicker.
Angelique hopped on first—dropping onto his back with a little more force than necessary since he’d been so rude to Evariste.
Evariste was slower to climb on—and he did so only after bowing to Pegasus again.
Angelique tried not to squirm when Evariste threaded his arms around her waist. “Will you be warm enough? Do you need a heat charm?”
“You gave me one yesterday—it’s still active,” Evariste said.
“Good. Very good.” Angelique braced herself as Pegasus rocked to a standing position with a graceful ease no normal horse could have had—particularly not with two grown adults on its
back.
“We’ll have to stop to get something to eat in a few hours—so no pushing through, Pegasus.” Angelique gently pressed her knees into Pegasus’ sides.
Pegasus snorted.
Angelique smiled as Evariste leaned closer so his chest brushed her back. “To Loire?” he asked.
“To Loire!” Angelique agreed.
Pegasus, surprisingly, covered ground at a slower-than-usual pace. Angelique suspected it was out of concern for Evariste, as she caught the constellation sniffing him several times when Evariste was preoccupied—typically with writing notes on everything he’d observed during his time with the Chosen.
As a result, several days passed before they nearly reached the area where Mullberg’s border mingled with both Arcainia to the south and Verglas to the west.
Angelique peered up at the clouds that glowed ominously in the rising sun’s orange light. The warm spring temperatures had cooled overnight, and a strong wind tugged on Angelique’s dress.
“Smells like rain,” Angelique said.
“It’s a beautiful scent,” Evariste said wistfully. He glanced at the cloudy sky, then finished securing Angelique’s enchanted satchel to Pegasus—they’d spent the night camping and had only just called Pegasus to begin the day’s journey.
“Just wait until we get to Chanceux Chateau.” Angelique patted Pegasus’ muscled neck. “It has the most beautiful gardens. I swear to you Prince Severin must have a tiny bit of plant magic because flowers bloom there in seasons that they shouldn’t. It’s wonderous!”
Evariste smiled. “I look forward to seeing it—and to meeting Severin and Elle, since you talk about them so much.”
“Hopefully Severin is at Chanceux. He was in Erlauf with the Loire army for some time.” A flash of black and purple caught Angelique’s eye, distracting her.
She shifted, her magic automatically flowing to her fingertips as she warily watched what appeared to be a butterfly. It had gorgeous purple wings with black swirls and an elaborate tail to its lower wings that trailed behind it as it flapped up to her, moving faster than a normal butterfly.