But Snow White is shy. It’s probably embarrassment. Though she and Fritz have looked quite cozy together on numerous occasions. Hmmm.
Snow White peered up at Angelique and clutched her pillow-belly, waiting for a response.
“I’m sure he’ll be a wonderful father,” Angelique offered.
Snow White’s cheeks turned from a light pink to a shade that bordered on red.
She is recklessly intelligent, but charmingly adorable when it comes to relationships.
Snow White delicately coughed. “The important thing is that our disguise holds long enough for us to reach the meeting place with the local lords.”
That’s what they were preparing for: a meeting with some of the local gentry, where Snow White—speaking through Marzell—would ask for troops so they could launch a surprise attack on Glitzern Palace in Juwel.
In general, Angelique was uninterested in any sort of politicking, and she certainly had no plans to involve herself in this political campaign.
But the plan was hatched by Snow White and the warriors after Oswald and Wendal spied on Faina and discovered that all traces of the Queen’s personality had left. She was now enraged at all times and spent most of her time in her quarters, refusing to see anyone.
The mage that has her in their power must have some connection to her room. Either they can reach it easily, or they’ve left some kind of vile magic object there to reinforce their control over her.
Angelique glanced down at Snow White and carefully studied the princess, who smiled brightly in return.
“Are you certain about this?” Angelique jutted her chin at the disguised warriors. “You’re taking a risk in riding out like this. Wendal and Oswald were very clear that the Queen—or more correctly, whoever is controlling her—is obsessed with you. Out of everyone involved in this quest, you are the one in the most danger: you’re the one the constructs were targeting.”
Snow White stopped fidgeting with her pillow belly and stood up straight. “Maybe, but it’s a risk I’ll take to save my stepmother.”
“And you still insist on using Marzell to speak to these lords?” Angelique asked.
The question flirted with bureaucratic issues Angelique intended to stay out of—she was here solely to find out about whatever magic controlled Faina and to stop it, after all. But she liked Snow White well enough to ask the question anyway.
“I’ve already told you—I’m not an inspiring leader,” Snow White said. “We need to convince these local lords so we can strike Glitzern while Faina is unaware. And if I were to ask my grandfather for aid, I don’t believe that he would follow my goal to save Faina and contain her until the arrival of a mage strong enough to break whatever hold black magic has on her.”
“You think your grandfather would have her killed because she attacked you and is a threat to you,” Angelique said.
“I know he would—he would wish to respect Faina’s wishes to keep me safe at all cost,” Snow White said.
“Yes, I understand all of that. But I can’t help but think that having Marzell speak on your behalf is going to hinder you in the future,” Angelique said. “You’re the princess. The power rests with you—not him.”
“I must respectfully disagree with you. Faina’s wellbeing is most important—not my power as a princess.” Snow White’s dark eyebrows lowered, giving her a stubborn look to match the storm in her blue eyes.
“If you think it’s best,” Angelique reluctantly said.
“I do.” Snow White coughed delicately and looked away. “I ought to go over with Marzell which of the local lords we are speaking with today. Please excuse me, Angel.”
Angelique tapped her fingers on her satchel as she watched Snow White approach the Seven Warriors with a confidence brought on by the comradery Angelique had seen in the group since the attack by the constructs.
She’ll be a wonderful queen. She’s intelligent and loyal, and she’ll put her subjects before herself. But she needs to understand that her difficulties—her stutter and problems with public speaking—do not make her less worthy.
She shrugged a little. That’s a lesson she must learn for herself. But I’ll stand by her when that time comes. Angelique tilted her head. I’m not sure I would have seen the issue or understood that Snow White needs support before Quinn offered to help me, and before Elle and Gabrielle joined us.
The harsh caw of a crow broke Angelique’s musings. She glanced up and saw the massive black bird circling above them.
She narrowed her eyes at the bird, but it didn’t have even a brush of magic on it—it must have been a normal bird.
“A loud, normal bird,” Angelique muttered as it settled on a wooden fence post a horse length away from her.
It rotated its body so it faced her, then cawed at her with enough force to make Angelique squeeze one eye shut.
Puzzled by its odd conduct, Angelique ruffled her cloak and pulled up one of her sagging boots.
The crow violently flapped its wings, then hopped off the fence and approached her.
“It seems you’ve gained an admirer,” Marzell called across the clearing as he adjusted his horse’s saddle.
“Oh, I wouldn’t say that.” Angelique took a large step to the side.
The crow followed her.
“Really?” Wendal casually inspected the sharpened edge of a dagger. “Because it seems to be quite intent on you.”
“Hahah, don’t be silly!” Angelique forced herself to laugh. “I’m sure it’s just looking for food. Watch—shoo!” Angelique flapped her hand at the strangely behaving bird.
This did nothing to dissuade the crow; it merely hopped closer—inspiring Angelique to back up. “It must be diseased,” she said.
Angelique never would have thought a crow could caw indignantly, but somehow it did.
All of the warriors paused to watch Angelique and the crow—Oswald and Rupert had even stopped arguing so they could watch the crow chase her around the cleared lawn.
“Perhaps it senses my magic powers—however small they are,” Angelique finally suggested.
Fritz tilted his head. “Do herb wizards usually attract animals?”
Angelique laughed and got ready to lie through her teeth. Unfortunately, Snow White proved to be a lamentable source of magic knowledge.
“Not that I know of,” she said.
The crow flapped its wings again, launching itself at Angelique so it landed on her boot, where it promptly held a leg out.
Chapter 22
With the bird this close, Angelique could see the tiny roll of paper secured to the bird’s leg.
Who in the wide green world am I acquainted with enough that they would send me letters but are also capable of taming animals? If this is a summons from the Council, I’m going to ask Pegasus to crash through the roof of their precious Hallowed Hall.
When Angelique did nothing, the crow cawed and waved its little leg at her again.
Whoever it is, I’m going to give them a piece of my mind for endangering my disguise.
With Snow White and the Seven Warriors closely watching her, Angelique desperately grabbed one of the herbs hanging from her satchel and yanked it free.