He reminded her a little of her father: kind, honorable, and valiant. She had seen him around the fortress numerous times and had learned he was one of the top war mages in the Conclave.
Angelique pressed her lips together. “Why did you believe me when I said Primrose, Crest, and the others were with the Chosen?” She was half afraid, half hopeful of his answer as she fidgeted, scratching her elbow.
Javed tilted his head. “You are referring to the night of the betrayal?”
“Yes.”
Javed smiled, shifting his thick mustache. “That is an easy question to answer. It’s because we war mages have watched you, Lady Enchantress. We have always watched you because of what you mean to us as the first enchantress with war magic as her core. Because of that, we saw everything you have done.”
He gestured to the green hills. “Princess Snow White comes not out of loyalty to the Conclave but because you helped her free Queen Faina. I don’t know that there is a country you haven’t aided directly or indirectly, except for Zancara in its endless isolation. And we’ve seen all of it.”
Angelique went lax in her surprise. She took a step back, then—unable to face the earnestness in Javed’s dark eyes—looked away. “I-I didn’t know anyone was aware of what I did.”
“We knew,” Javed said. “Which is why when you said they were Chosen, we knew you were being truthful. You acted, sacrificed, and served when the Conclave locked itself up and ignored the pending threat. Our magic is made to protect, Lady Enchantress. We are meant to fight and protect others—it is the very core of our magic. And it is all you have done, from the time Lord Enchanter Evariste was taken. We will follow you, whether that means departing from the Veneno Conclave or staying to strengthen it and to rebuild what was lost.”
Angelique suddenly found it hard to swallow as her eyes misted up.
I was so ashamed of my magic; I didn’t even like looking at war mages because they reminded me of what I was. That was a grave disservice to them.
“Thank you. For believing,” Angelique said.
Javed bowed his head. “Thank you—for fighting.”
Angelique waited in silence with the war mages—a silence filled with understanding.
When no more than a handful of minutes later, Angelique heard a horse neigh, she stiffened, then grinned. She cupped her hands to her mouth and shouted, “Snow White!”
Snow White, mounted on a horse—her black hair gleaming in the afternoon light—emerged from the woods at the foot of the hills. She waved, and mounted soldiers dressed in their glittering uniforms joined her.
She turned back to speak to a few familiar figures—the Seven Warriors no doubt.
As they drew closer, Angelique could hear Aldelbert’s distinctive laughter roll up the hill as the warrior (easy to spot with his sunshine-yellow hair) turned his horse in a circle. Wendel strummed a harp on the back of his horse, then bowed over his arm to Snow White before the pair redirected their horses, heading off to one side of the forces Snow White had brought.
More and more soldiers marched out of the woods, and something in Angelique sagged with relief as she realized her wise friend had brought a veritable army with her.
Snow White spoke to Oswald and Rupert next, who rode off to the opposite side of the army—seemingly trying to kick one another from the backs of their horses.
Marzell and Gregory were the last to head out, riding back to talk to the mounted leaders of the army as Snow White and her taciturn Fritz continued to lead at the front.
Once the warriors reached the soldiers, there was some shouting, and the forces came to a halt. Several soldiers planted poles decorated with flags that depicted the Mullberg ram.
Angelique couldn’t tell quite how many soldiers Snow White had brought—some of the forces had stopped in the shadow of the forest. But based on the way her core magic all but purred as it drifted down to the foothills and sauntered into the forest…and kept going…Angelique bet the battalion was immense.
Javed stood at Angelique’s side and thoughtfully watched the entire process. “Are Council Member Tristisim and Council Member Felicienne aware Snow White is bringing an army?”
Angelique grinned unrepentantly. “Nope. Lord Enchanter Clovicus and Evariste know, though.”
Javed made an amused sound in the back of his throat. “I see.”
“Angelique!” Snow White waved from the back of her horse, standing up in her stirrups to make herself taller.
Rather than wait, Angelique ran down the hill. She laughed when Snow White launched herself from her horse and—thick skirt and all—sprinted up the slope to meet her.
Snow White flung herself at Angelique, who hugged the shorter girl.
The thread of tension that had been growing within Angelique snapped as Snow White patted her back.
In my heart of hearts, I was afraid it was going to fall on me to do everything by myself—like I felt before Quinn and Snow White. But I’m not alone. I have friends who will help me.
Angelique squeezed the Mullberg princess perhaps a little too tightly, but Snow White gently patted her back until Angelique released her.
“You have no idea how happy I am to see you,” Angelique said.
Snow White pushed her black curls over her shoulder. “I wish it was for a happier occasion. I had to read your missive three times before I could believe what I was seeing.” She pursed her lips as she studied the Conclave walls like a general sizing up the enemy. “Though I was not as shocked as I would have been before the Conclave proved to be absolutely useless in freeing Faina of that foul mirror’s influence. Clearly, that was done intentionally.”
Angelique grimaced. “Yes, I imagine you are right.” She stood at Snow White’s side and joined her in studying the Conclave walls—although Angelique’s gaze was more baleful. “In fair warning, your arrival is going to bring very…mixed feelings.”
“Oh?”
“The two remaining Council Members are under the impression that this is something we need to solve ourselves—and that we should not allow any country to interfere.”
Snow White scowled. “Because that’s worked so well for the Veneno Conclave recently.”
“Thankfully, their opinions are in the minority.” Angelique slapped her hands on her thighs. “And I don’t really care for their opinion anyway. They worked closely with four Chosen mages for years and were never suspicious?” Angelique shook her head. “We’ll do what needs to be done—whether they agree with it or not.”
“Mullberg will help,” Snow White said. “Because this is bigger than mages.”
“Agreed.” Angelique started back up the hill, trudging toward the Conclave entrance. “It’s about the future of the continent.”
Chapter 38
Angelique led Snow White—and Fritz—to the purple tent that was still being used as a headquarters of sorts. Pieces of the city had been repaired, but fearing traps or listening charms, Clovicus and Sybilla had opted to keep the headquarters mobile and move it around on a daily basis.
As predicted, there was a very polarized response to their introduction—Clovicus and Sybilla were delighted, while Tristisim and Felicienne were almost frosty.