Clovicus tapped his fingers on the arm of the settee. “A likely outcome.”
Angelique squeezed her hands together. “Is there anything I can do to help find Carabosso?”
“I joined the initial search, but it was to no avail.” Clovicus sighed. “I think he has gone underground. I imagine our next best move is to try and capture any black mage we can possibly find.”
Angelique frowned as she listened to the Lord Enchanter. I guess this only proves how awful it was that I let the black mage get away. If only I had reacted faster! But overpowering him required the use of my core magic…
Angelique shivered.
She hated her core magic. She hated using it, and she feared that—given it gave her power over anything with a sharp edge, whether it was rock, glass, or most commonly a forged weapon—it reflected badly on who she was as a person.
She was greatly feared by other magic users because of her magic, but she wouldn’t have been quite as reluctant to bring it out if she had known Carabosso was going to escape, leaving her without a lead to Evariste. Again.
“Irritatingly, I haven’t been able to sniff out any Chosen spies hiding among our ranks,” Clovicus scowled. “I spoke with Lovelana recently—she hasn’t had any luck either.”
Lovelana was the enchantress charged by the Veneno Conclave to find Evariste. Unfortunately, she’d made no progress—besides discovering that there was almost certainly a Chosen spy among the Conclave forces.
“But you agree with her that there is a spy?” Angelique asked.
“Yes,” Clovicus said. “There’s too much evidence for one—or more—Chosen minions running around the Conclave. I’d prioritize finding them, but it seems like the Conclave is plenty incompetent even without the Chosen’s mucking about given how Carabosso so easily escaped.”
A yelp pierced the air.
Angelique stood and saw Clovicus’ smiling student hopping around the yard, flapping his left hand, which had three porcupine quills sticking out of it.
Clovicus remained seated, but he sat a little taller so he could see his student out the window. “Ah. He got a bit too inquisitive, I see. And to this young mind, the Luxi-Domus is teaching dangerous and potent magic. That won’t end poorly.”
“Shouldn’t we go help him?”
“He’s fine.” Clovicus looked Angelique over from head to toe. “I am far more concerned about you.”
“Me?” Angelique blinked in surprise. “Why?”
“You fought a black mage while protecting bystanders. That’s a tough order.”
“I wasn’t seriously injured in the fight,” Angelique said.
Clovicus narrowed his eyes. “As I can see. How did you beat him back?”
Angelique couldn’t hold in her wince.
“Ahh.” Clovicus nodded knowingly. “Sit down, Angelique.” He patted the cushion next to him in an invitation.
Instantly Angelique’s hackles rose. “You want me to do something.”
“What?”
“There’s something you want me to do,” Angelique predicted.
Clovicus furrowed his brow. “No.”
“I don’t believe you. Everyone wants me to do something for them.” Angelique suspiciously eyed the older enchanter.
“No. I merely wish to comfort you since I know how you dislike using your core magic,” he calmly said. “For land’s sake, we have overworked you too much,” he added under his breath.
Angelique reluctantly sat down next to him on the settee.
Clovicus patted the top of her head like one might do to a small child. “There, there,” he awkwardly said.
Angelique blinked, feeling not at all comforted, but—for the first time in a very long time—perhaps a little amused. “You’re quite bad at this.”
“Please submit a written report telling the Council you think so. Maybe then they’ll finally stop foisting brats upon me,” Clovicus said. “And stop criticizing. I’m doing this in Evariste’s place as a favor to him.”
“Evariste wouldn’t pat my head,” Angelique said.
Clovicus eyed her. “Oh?”
Angelique peered up at the ceiling as she rummaged through her memory. “No, he’d probably hug me.”
Clovicus slightly shook his head. “That’s because he’s a young fool who doesn’t control himself very well.”
“I don’t understand.”
“As you shouldn’t,” Clovicus said, confusing her more.
He patted her head a few more times, and Angelique minutely relaxed. “Lord Enchanter…do you think we’ll ever find him?”
Clovicus paused. “Carabosso?”
“No. Evariste.”
“Ah.” Clovicus dropped his hand and leaned back in the settee. “Officially speaking, yes.”
“And unofficially speaking?”
Clovicus waited until she met his gaze before he answered. “Absolutely,” he said. “Unfortunately, I think it’s going to take a full-on war with the Chosen before we can locate him.”
“But you think he’s still alive?”
“Yes. As long as those black mages keep using teleportation magic, I can guarantee it.”
Angelique exhaled and nodded. “Then I’ll just have to keep looking.”
“What will you do next?”
“Odette is due to make a shipment to the elves in a few weeks. I planned to join her in hopes that I can speak to King Themerysaldi and see what can be done to free the elves of their curse.”
“And in the meantime?”
Angelique was fairly certain that Prince Severin and Princess Elle of Loire could use her help. The alliance could use all the help it could get, after all.
But she was so tired.
Angelique couldn’t remember the last time she’d slept in her room for more than a handful of nights in a row. “I’ll use Evariste’s window to Farset to see if I can make any progress by myself, but I intend to spend my nights here,” she decided.
Clovicus nodded. “I think that’s a wise choice.” His eyes flicked to the front window. “If you need anything, send word. But unfortunately, I think it’s time the guppy and I leave. Wallace will soon be sniffing around the school for us if I stay much longer.”
When they made their way to the front entrance and opened the door, Clovicus’ student was sitting on the ground, trying to pull porcupine quills out of his hand as one of the ducks nested in the extra fabric of his robe.
He looked up at Angelique and Clovicus and sheepishly grinned. “Hello.”
Clovicus stared down at the young man. “I hope you learned something out of this?”
“I’d like to learn how to get porcupine quills out of my hand.”
“The tips of the quills are barbed,” Angelique said. “So you have to twist and pull them out.”
He peered down at his hand. “Really? No wonder it hurt.” He pinched a quill between his fingers, but when Clovicus made a “hmn” noise at the back of his throat, he let it go and guiltily looked up at the Lord Enchanter.
“I’ll treat your hand with healing magic—I don’t want anyone asking how you happened to get stabbed with porcupine quills during a mentoring session with me. I’m known to be fierce, but I don’t exactly have a past of conjuring up disgruntled and quilled rodents, so I’d rather not invite questions.” Clovicus wriggled his fingers. “Leave your duck friend behind and come here.”