I am so glad. Angelique was unable to keep warm affection from her eyes as she watched Evariste laugh. We parted on such poor terms, I thought eventually things would be awkward. But we’ve settled into our usual banter—he hasn’t even blinked at my scathing words. It’s like…
It was that thing Angelique was still struggling to pinpoint—the one change in their relationship. What is it?
“If you don’t mind,” Evariste said when he finished laughing, “I’d like to come with you to Chanceux Chateau.”
“Of course,” Angelique said. “I was planning on it.”
He shook his head. “There is no ‘of course,’ Angel. As I lack magic, I’m practically a liability.”
“Never,” Angelique said. “You are still brilliant. And, I am a little paranoid that if I can’t see you, something may happen to you.” She shivered at the thought.
Evariste rested a hand on her shoulder and met her gaze—the expression in his eyes not quite readable. “I understand perfectly.” He waited until she nodded, then returned to watching the procession. “When shall we leave?”
“Probably in a day or two—I’d like to know where Verglas plans to house the Conclave and if plans will be made for a new fortress…”
Angelique trailed off as the difference in their relationship—not unpleasant, just not what it once was—finally clicked into place, like a key in a lock.
He’s not treating me like a student but as a fellow enchanter. He’s following my lead and letting me make the decisions, and instead of quivering in fright like I used to, I set the plan.
Angelique stared at Evariste, wondering what that meant for the long-term. I would have assumed once I was no longer his student, we wouldn’t be as close. But if he hadn’t offered to come with me to Chanceux, I was going to plead my case—because I wasn’t going to leave without him. But…what does that mean?
Evariste was seemingly oblivious to Angelique’s epiphany. He peered out at the procession, his shoulder casually brushing hers. “I know this isn’t the greatest time to bring it up,” Evariste said, “given that we have far greater concerns, but you ought to take the test to be made an enchantress.”
Angelique sucked in a breath of air. “You’re right,” she said. “Hopefully, in flushing out the Chosen, we’ve finally bought ourselves some time. After we talk with Severin, if we have time, I’ll start the process.”
“I suggest it only because it should be easy. I highly doubt the Council—whenever we get a new one put in place—will make you sit for the written exam. Really, you’ll probably just have to take the test out in the Aurum Desert.”
Angelique grimaced at the memory of the place. “Won’t that be fun.”
“Angel, Lord Enchanter Evariste!” Snow White (riding a gray gelding with Fritz, Oswald, and Rupert dawdling some paces behind her) made her way up the hill, waving to them when they turned to look at her.
Once she reached the crest of the hill, Snow White dismounted and patted her horse on the neck. “I hope I’m not interrupting anything, but I wanted to say my farewells. I imagine once you cross over into Verglas, you’ll be quite busy.”
“You aren’t entering Verglas?” Angelique asked.
Snow White shook her head. “I was formally invited, but I’d like to get back to the soldiers packing up all magic items at the fortress and establish contact with Prince Severin. I intend to head out tonight. My troops and I can cover some distance for a few hours more once we know the mages are secure in Verglas.”
“Please let me offer you our thanks on behalf of all mages,” Evariste said.
“Yes, I can’t thank you enough, Snow White.” Angelique flung her arms around Snow White’s shoulders and reeled her in for a hug.
Snow White patted Angelique on the back. “I’ve told you already, but it was my honor to help. Besides, all of this at least gave me one bit of hope.”
Angelique pulled back from the embrace so she could blink down at Snow White in confusion. “Hope? Out of the revelation that the Chosen made up a third of Conclave mages and were our top lawmakers? How?”
Snow White smiled archly. “I have hope because the Chosen themselves proved things are not as terrible as they seem.”
“In what way?” Evariste asked.
Snow White’s smile turned sharp. “Because they left. They didn’t even try to fight; they fled in total fear. Obviously, they knew they couldn’t stand against you.” She reached out and took Angelique’s hand. “We’ll defeat them, Angel. The whole continent will stand together and see it through.”
“I hope so,” Angelique said. “Because that’s the only way we’re going to win.”
Evariste stood with Pegasus and watched Angelique ramrod a group of Luxi-Domus instructors who were objecting to Clovicus’ temporary suspension of all classes.
Clovicus had made the announcement after the successful migration over the Verglas border and after the soldiers sent by King Toril and Queen Linnea of Verglas escorted them to their temporary lodgings for the evening.
The instructors had squawked like dying birds at the announcement, which had drawn Angelique’s initial attention—and now, her ire.
“Classes need to continue as they were,” one of the instructors declared as she gestured to her tent—the temporary housing for the evening as tomorrow they would march farther north. “Our students must keep to a schedule—for the good of their minds.”
“Naturally. It’d be good for my mind if you stopped caterwauling,” Angelique dryly said. “The students can begin classes again when we’re not in the middle of the greatest trial the Conclave has seen since the Snow Queen first beat the Chosen.”
Another teacher puffed his chest up. “We cannot stop centuries of tradition for common worries!”
“Common? Worries?” Angelique hooted in laughter. “I’m delighted to be the one to inform you that you are rather behind the times. The Chosen are not common, nor are they mere worries. Or did you think the Luxi-Domus headmaster was gone on a holiday instead of running off since he was actually a black mage?”
The instructors exchanged guilty looks.
One of them opened their mouth to argue.
“Be forewarned: I’m very short on patience. If you are about to say something stupid, I can’t promise my irritation won’t trigger my magic to summon all the squirrels from the nearby forest to attack you.” Angelique said.
Evariste smirked at the unusual but highly effective threat, which suitably cowed the complainers. “She’s come into her power,” Evariste observed to his companion.
Pegasus tossed his head, making his bridle jangle. Most likely it was a gesture of agreement.
Evariste glanced at him. Together, they stood on the edge of the camp where only the faintest orange light of the crackling campfires reached. “I’ve been meaning to ask: is there a particularly reason why you aren’t speaking your mind?”
Pegasus’ ears twitched.
“You’ve never been reluctant to voice your opinions before,” Evariste reminded him.