That was why Angelique was secreted away in the cottage, clutching her magical hand mirror as she waited for the spell to connect with Prince Severin. She hadn’t had a chance to inform the general of all that had happened, and she badly needed his advice.
“Angelique?” Severin’s voice was muffled and confused.
Angelique backed away from the open window and crouched down on the lowest stair of the rickety staircase before she peeled her hand mirror away from her cloak. “Severin, hello,” she whispered.
Deep frown lines wrinkled Severin’s image on her mirror. “Is something wrong? Why are you whispering?”
“I’m afraid my companions could find me in this rather…epiphany-inducing situation, and I don’t want them to find out. But I need to hear your thoughts on some rather important matters, so I knew I had to risk it.” Angelique glanced at the sunshine that drifted in through the windows and sat sideways on the stair so she could press her back into the wall.
“Were you attacked again?”
“Stil got word to you about the first attack?”
“Indeed.”
“Good. Then I won’t waste words—yes, it happened again. But this time I maybe, perhaps had an…er…encounter with the black mage controlling Faina and Evariste.”
Angelique proceeded to tell Severin—in a hissed whisper—all that had happened during the second construct attack, including her mental grapple with the rogue mage.
The Loire prince was silent as he listened to her, though some of the wrinkles on his forehead became more pronounced.
“Did you suffer any injuries?” Severin asked once she finished.
“From the black mage? No. Though one of the constructs walloped me pretty hard.” Angelique sheepishly scratched her side.
“And your morale?”
Angelique cocked her head. “I don’t think I understand what you mean.”
Severin squinted slightly, his expression taking on a somewhat pained look. “That is to say…emotionally, how are you feeling?”
Angelique stared at Severin’s image in surprise.
How am I feeling? He sincerely wants to know?
The prince’s awkward expression was swapped for a more stoic one. “It seems appropriate to ask,” he said when she didn’t say anything. “Such an experience sounds difficult to say the least.”
Angelique cracked a small smile. “It was, but I am delighted you are concerned enough to ask.”
Severin slanted his lips in a scowl. “You’ve been through enough; concern seems a given.”
“But it’s not,” Angelique said happily. “Thank you, Severin.”
While she’d long-respected the strategic-minded prince, they’d bucked heads on more than one occasion when Severin was forever sending her out on missions and errands. He’d mended that behavior, but it was nice to know he saw her as a person—not just as a Lady Enchantress whose magic he could use for his strategic ends.
“Yes, but you have yet to answer my question,” Severin dryly said.
“Ah.” Angelique mashed her lips together and raised her eyes to stare unseeingly at the dried clusters of garlic that hung from a rafter above her head.
Outside, Oswald and Rupert exchanges shouts—they were probably fighting again.
“I’m angry,” she finally said. “I can’t believe I was nearly bested so easily. But I’m also concerned. That black mage…the being I felt was terrifying in so many ways. Their skill—the fathomless stretch of their power—but mostly in the way they were so unfeeling and inhuman. They were far beyond the likes of Carabosso.”
Far beyond the likes of me. And they have Evariste.
Angelique clutched her hand mirror so hard, some of the silvery swirls etched into the stem bit into her palm.
No. No matter how powerful that being is, I’ll free Evariste. Even if I have to use every bladed weapon in Juwel to do it.
“I see. Well, given you’re whispering, I assume you’d like me to pass on news of this enemy to Stil and Lord Enchanter Clovicus?” Severin asked. “Clovicus recently left the Conclave and is due to arrive in Chanceux shortly to converse with Stil. I can notify the two of them at once.”
“Yes, please.” Angelique dropped her gaze back to Severin’s image. “But that wasn’t why I wanted to speak to you.”
“Oh?”
“Yes. Snow White is sending a message to the Veneno Conclave, telling them all that has happened, and her suspicions that a rogue mage is controlling Faina.” Angelique gnawed on her lip. “I haven’t told Snow White or the Seven Warriors about the spell that warded the constructs against me. Or that the other mage attacked me.”
“Do you not trust them?”
“No, I trust them. Snow White in particular is incredibly intelligent—she’d understand what all of that meant. The problem is that I’m all too aware they have no idea how bad things really are. I’ve tried to explain it, but I don’t think they can comprehend it. Mullberg has been isolated in its problems; Snow White didn’t even find the invitation to the Summit until recently.”
“And in their ignorance, they might make a mistake,” Severin said.
“In their ignorance, they might trust in the Veneno Conclave—who act ineffective at best and unhelpful at worst, given how they lost Carabosso.” Angelique clenched her jaw. She was still angry about that blatant misstep and example of just how ill-prepared the Conclave would be for the magical war that was swiftly bearing down on them.
Severin shifted, slightly changing the view of his hand mirror so Angelique could see stone pillars behind him—for once he wasn’t in a tent. “I wouldn’t say their ignorance is surprising. Although the Veneno Conclave officially states there is no favoritism among countries, it would be impossible for any organization to be entirely neutral when that country’s government provides supplies and grants them land rights. The Conclave’s presence in Mullberg has perks. Many of which I imagine the average Mullberg citizen assumes is the same for all people of the continent.”
“You don’t think it’s wrong to keep it from them?”
Severin rested his chin on his fist. “It’s a tricky position. Strategically I’d say you’re correct, but you seem fond of Princess Snow White. I can’t imagine it delights you to keep such information from her.”
“No.” Angelique sighed. “But in this case, I think I need to remain hidden. There is too much riding on this. Evariste is…” She trailed off…half afraid to voice her hopes.
“If the princess is half as intelligent as she is rumored to be, she will understand and respect your decision,” Severin said.
Angelique grimaced. “Yes, it’s actually her kind disposition—not her intelligence—that makes me feel horrible about it. She’s too dratted sweet, despite her terrible circumstances.”
“How horrible of her.”
“Exactly!”
Severin slightly shook his head. “If it will ease your guilt, I can send an envoy north to make contact with Snow White—to try and explain to her just how dire the situation is.”
Angelique relaxed. “That would help, actually. I think we’re going to march on Juwel in a week or two. Snow White is pretty emphatic that we must move now, or her grandfather will make a move and attack Queen Faina. I doubt your envoy could arrive before then, but I’d appreciate having another source besides me try to explain.”