Angelique frowned. “But Alabaster Forest isn’t the source of your magic.”
“No, but we elves have spent centuries shaping it to fit our needs and desires,” Emerys explained. “It’s designed to suit us and our magic; hence, it can help us recover at a much faster rate.”
“I see. Did you send all the warriors on to the forest, then?” Angelique asked.
“About half of them,” Emerys said. “The other half are camped in Loire, waiting for our return. But I can easily send word to them of the change in our plans.”
“Have the goblin and troll attacks subsided in Farset?” Quinn asked.
“They’ve gotten much better,” Emerys confirmed. “However, when this is over, the elves will be greatly indebted to your sister, Bridget the Red Rider. She and her horses have almost single-handedly held Alabaster Forest’s border against wraiths, trolls, and other monsters. Hopefully now that a number of the warriors have returned, their magic will rapidly replenish, and we’ll be able to reinforce our magical barriers.”
Quinn nodded, but there was a wrinkle on her forehead, and Angelique noticed Elle was being careful not to meet her gaze.
They’re making dear sacrifices to be here.
Angelique sighed and scratched her head, then peered up at the sky. “Let’s be realistic about this. You’re elves. You can’t do magic while here in Mullberg. You’re more eye-catching than an enchanter, and your home is still being attacked.”
She lowered her gaze so she could look Emerys in the eyes. “I appreciate your offer of help more than you know, but the best choice would be for you to return to Alabaster Woods and get your magic back.”
Emerys shook his head. “You’ve been forced to search alone for too long, Angelique.”
“Yes. But as much as I would appreciate help—or even company—we have to be logical about this and consider the ramifications. You’re elves. Being here in Mullberg is enough to make the Chosen know we’re up to something. Staying with me is only going to make your magic recovery take longer, and I don’t think Elle could disguise you well enough to get any of you into the city to help me anyway. It really is better if you return to Alabaster Forest.”
Rather than feel depressed with this epiphany, Angelique found herself standing straighter.
Quinn rubbed her thumb on her glossy wooden bow. “But it doesn’t seem fair.”
“I don’t care about what’s fair right now,” Angelique said. “I care about finding Evariste—and making certain they don’t move him!” She tilted her head as she studied Emerys. “I fully intend to ask for help when it comes time to break him out—that is when I may need your aid, and it will be vital that you are at full capacity. Even beyond that, given what’s going on in the continent, we will all need the elves to have full command of their magic. That’s why I can handle this stealth mission alone.”
Emerys rested his hand on the guard of his sword and squeezed it. He briefly shut his eyes, then sighed deeply. He was quiet for several long moments, and when he peered at her, Angelique could see the inner war in his eyes. “Very well. I’m trusting you on this. Evariste is…”
“Yes,” Angelique said.
A somber silence settled on the party.
It was Elle who broke it by throwing an arm around Angelique’s waist. “We might not be able to stay with you, but! You’re going to go on a stealth mission, which happens to be my expertise. I will be more than happy to help you prepare.”
“Ahh, yes.” Quinn winced. “We’ll need to rethink your disguise since you’ll be going alone, now.”
“What were you planning to do?” Elle asked.
“A rich lady and her guard,” Angelique said.
Elle circled Angelique, studying her with an appraising eye as she rubbed her chin. “Not a bad choice. But since you’ll be alone, we’ll need something a little more…special. A role that will let you be overlooked, but you’ll easily settle into so it’s fully believable—which is a requirement. It’s easier to be convincing with a partner. But since you’re solo, you’ll need to so naturally fit your image, no one thinks to question it.”
Angelique stood straighter under Elle’s gaze. “What sort of role could I possibly fit that would be natural? I haven’t learned any kind of trade—I’ve only learned magic since I was a child.”
A mischievous gleam that didn’t bode well for Angelique glimmered in Elle’s eyes. “That’s your answer, then,” Elle said.
Angelique and Quinn exchanged puzzled looks.
“What?” Angelique asked.
Elle spun around on her heels and waved to the still mounted elves. “Yoo-hoo! Hello! Which of you took my pack of clothes—and do any of you have special knowledge about herbs, or is that in general a basic-elven-knowledge sort of thing?” There was a spring in her step as she bounced away, looking back over her shoulder just long enough to wink at Angelique. “Don’t worry—I have an idea!”
Emerys squinted. “Why do I have the distinct feeling that we should worry because she has an idea?”
“Self-preservation,” Angelique suggested.
“Elle is brilliant. I’m sure it will be an excellent disguise,” Quinn said.
“I need a tunic that is at least two sizes too big for Angelique!” Elle shouted.
Quinn didn’t even wince. “Probably.”
Angelique retreated so she was closer to Pegasus. “Yeah, it’s that ‘probably’ that has me worried.”
She leaned into the constellation and was surprised when a smile surfaced on her lips as she watched Elle terrorize the elves.
This is the right choice. I’m not sad. I actually feel better about this decision. Besides, soon—tomorrow!—I’ll get to start searching for Evariste’s location!
Evariste laid on his side and tried to muster the strength to do something. Anything.
The gnawing pain of the mirror forcibly dragging his magic out of his soul had become all he knew.
He moved only whenever the pain was too much to bear and his body twitched against his control.
The agony had so deeply invaded that he didn’t notice anymore when the mirror whispered mockingly to him—it was too consuming.
The only thing that occasionally pierced the haze of his pain was Queen Faina’s shrieks of rage and howls of pain. As it did now.
She’d been crying—howling in her tears—for a while. Evariste hadn’t really noticed when she started. The noise faintly trickled through the mirror on and off.
She lost, Evariste dimly thought. The mirror has her entirely in its grasp. Through her, it will kill Princess Snow White, and then the Chosen will have Mullberg.
More pain wracked his body, stealing the stale, iron-scented air from his lungs and making his torn throat ache.
Evariste wasn’t sure how many moments passed before he could function enough to have another thought. It could have been a minute or an hour.
Queen Faina was still crying. But that could mean anything.
I just want this pain to stop.
Even Evariste’s eyelids hurt as he tried to inhale in a way that only produced a dull throbbing instead of the hot, searing pain that currently knifed through his lungs.