More irrefutable evidence that what I thought was a dream was real. But that means I connected with Evariste somehow while sleeping. How did that happen? Can I reproduce it? And what does that mean about Evariste and the way he nearly kissed me? Perhaps he has experienced mental instability? After all, who knows what the Chosen have done to him?
“I imagine you’re right, Severin.” Elle’s voice brought Angelique back to the present with a jolt as she continued, “If she gave orders she must have some power. Suzu and Carabosso never gave orders as far as we can tell, they only received them.”
“Perhaps, but the Chosen have shown that we cannot trust any assumptions about them that we might normally make.” Severin rubbed his forehead and frowned. “Elle, you are free to continue with Angelique, but Lucien and I hoped you’d stay in the area to help the rangers.”
“Understandable. I’ll be able to point out which mage is Nefari, and I can draw layouts of the place so it’s not second-hand information.” She tapped her chin as she thought. “I’ll think about it—and see what Quinn and Angelique want to do next.”
Severin nodded. “Very well. If you wish to make contact, the rangers will gather in the trading city in Arcainia you stayed in. The Arcainian troops will remain farther south and will march the night before their presence is needed so we don’t alert the enemy.”
“Very well.” Elle started to lean away from the mirror, then hesitated. “Be safe, Severin.”
“You, too, Elle.” For a brief moment, Severin’s countenance thawed, and his yellow eyes were soft and golden with love as he gazed at his wife through the mirror.
When she ducked out of view, his staunch manners returned to him, and he bowed his head to Angelique. “Good luck with your search, Angelique. I hope you keep me apprised so if there is any way the continent can be of assistance, we can give it.”
“Of course, Severin. Thank you.”
Severin nodded. “Farewell.”
“Farewell.”
Angelique severed the connection and lowered the mirror.
“So.” Gabrielle leaned back against the table, resting her arms on the edge. “What now?”
Several days later—over a month after Quinn and Angelique first left Chanceux Chateau—the party gathered in a courtyard to see the duo off.
“You swear you will remember to test her in all the drills?” Puss demanded. He was crouched on Quinn’s shoulder, peering down so he could watch her tighten the girth of Fluffy’s saddle. “Even the power switches?”
“You had me write down the entire list of drills—with explanations,” Quinn patiently said. “I will make certain to consult that list frequently so I don’t miss any.”
Puss flicked his tail. “Excellent. I know I can count on you—Angelique needs to be drilled. She does better when nagged. I can make her produce the best results, of course, but as I cannot come with her, then you must stand in my place.”
“It is an honor, Master Puss,” Quinn said with true sincerity.
“Yes. Well. Just make sure she does them out in the country—where you won’t encounter any Chosen mages to carry off tales that she’s in Mullberg. Oh—and have her vary the amount of magic she uses on weapons to refine it, so she can cut through rotten Nefari’s shield with one strike!”
Quinn pulled a stirrup down and brushed snow off her saddle. “Understood.”
Angelique smiled at the conversation and rested a hand on Pegasus’ shoulder as she listened.
It was a sunny day, but the temperatures were still freezing, and snow was piled up to Angelique’s shin. The courtyard had been shoveled, though, and when Pegasus stamped a hoof, he shed enough heat and sparks that Angelique felt it even through her heat-charmed cloak.
“Are you certain about this?” Elle yanked the hood of her cloak down and shivered in the icy breeze. “I could still come with you. It wouldn’t take me long to pack up.”
Angelique patted Pegasus when he leaned into her, seemingly disturbed by the cooing noises Gabrielle was making as she studied him.
“No, you should stay,” Angelique said. “The rangers need your help more. We need to stop Nefari, and the mission has a higher chance of success if you’re there to ferret him out.”
Elle frowned. “Yes, but I can’t shake the feeling that I’m abandoning you.”
“You aren’t,” Angelique assured her. “You’re needed more here, and I’ll be able to use my magic in Mullberg as long as I’m subtle.”
Elle didn’t look convinced.
Feeling daring, Angelique reached out and clasped Elle’s shoulder. “It’s fine, Elle. I’m thankful for all you’ve done. If we need your help, we’ll send word. You’ll be close to the border while you dismantle Nefari’s store. You’re not far away.”
Elle nodded reluctantly, but didn’t move away from Angelique’s hand, which shifted her feelings from bold to downright gleeful.
I have friends. Real friends. Sybilla, Clovicus, Firra, and Donaigh have always been kind to me, but they’re mages. This is different.
“I wish Puss and I didn’t have to head back to Arcainia as well.” Gabrielle sighed as she strolled around Pegasus to stand with Angelique and Elle. “It feels like we’re leaving before our quest has finished.” She leaned close so her shoulder brushed Angelique’s.
Friendship!
Angelique twitched the gleeful mantra aside and attempted to focus. “But we did finish, in a way. I was hoping for information on Evariste, and we found it.”
Elle snorted. “One line of it!”
“And a map that will allow Quinn and me to track down even more information,” Angelique pointed out.
“I guess.” Gabrielle frowned, which gave her startling beauty a thoughtful and almost disappointed cast. “It’s silly to admit, but I was really hoping we’d be able to swoop in and gain some ground for you. We’ve been neglecting you for too long, I wanted to help you in a big way.”
Angelique smiled. “You have. Just not in the way you were imagining.”
Gabrielle blinked. “Huh?”
“I believe we’re ready to leave, Angelique.” Quinn tugged on Fluffy’s reins, leading her black furred mount around Pegasus. As Fluffy moved, snowflakes settled in his thick fur and on his antlers. “We should leave while the weather is still nice if we want to get to Mullberg’s border tonight.”
Elle heaved a giant sigh. “She’s right. Even Pegasus and Fluffy will have trouble running in deep snow—and Mullberg has plenty of it. You’ll need extra travel time once you reach the border, and we can’t have you getting stuck in a snow storm or some such thing.” She shifted away from Angelique’s hand so she could step closer and hug her. “Be careful. I’ll be waiting to hear from you.”
Puss crouched on Quinn’s shoulder and stretched a paw in front of him, as if he could mentally drag Gabrielle closer so as to jump directly onto her and avoid dropping down into the freshly fallen snow—something he had voiced a great disdain for nearly every day of their adventure. “Indeed. We should also enjoy receiving an update directly from you, instead of hearing second-hand through that stone-faced Loire prince as if we were strangers!” he said.