“Enchanter Clovicus came at my request.” Evariste offered his hand to the other man, who raised an eyebrow at him but shook hishand.
Evariste’s old master is here?Why?
Enchanter Lazare smacked the end of his cane on the unforgiving plateau rock. “If I had known another Enchanter was coming, I would have refused to come, but no, you had to be impudent and keep it a secret.” He squinted in the bright sunlight, his mouth screwed up in a scowl. “Rude of the Council to send me as it is! I’m a frail old man—why should I have to bake in the sunlight? And I’m half blind—I won’t even be able to see the girl’s magic.Foolishness!”
Enchantress Lovelana unfurled a silk fan. “Lord Enchanter Lazare, I cannot believe anything you say. You are a valued member of the Council—they likely elected you due to yourexperience.”
“Hogwash!” Lazare limped closer to Angelique, his back bent so he was shorter than he should have been. “They elected me because I fell asleep when they were voting on the matter!” He leaned close to Angelique and peered up at her face. “Who areyou?”
“Angelique, Lord Enchanter,” she said. “Apprentice to Lord EnchanterEvariste.”
Enchanter Lazare screwed up his face so it resembled a wrinkledprune.
“I appeared before the Council with Madam Quarrellous,” Angeliquesaid.
Enchanter Lazare grunted. “Must have been asleep for that, too. What are we waiting for? I’m going to fry in this heat—get a move on, girl!” He limped away, heading for themountains.
“Enchanter Lazare, we have to explain to her how this works,” Enchantress Lovelana called afterhim.
“You do it!” the old enchanter ordered. “Speaking to people ruins my goodmood!”
“I was unaware he was in high spirits,” Enchanter Clovicus said, a quirk of a smile playing at hislips.
Enchantress Lovelana sighed, then drew herself up, a regal smile placed on her lips. “Welcome, Apprentice Angelique, to your pre-evaluation. This is not an examination, but a chance for you to experience the magic of this area, so you will be comfortable with it when you complete it as the final step before you are made Lady Enchantress. Do youunderstand?”
“Yes, Enchantress Lovelana,” Angeliquesaid.
The enchantress nodded once, then gestured to the black gorge that yawned open behind her. “As your master has likely told you, your task is to release your magic in its rawest form and fill the gorge. The lowest amount of power an enchanter or enchantress can have and pass the evaluation is to fill the gorge to the rim. Most, however, spill over. For example, Lord Enchanter Evariste’s magic streaked out past the village of Izmar you can see at theoasis.”
Enchantress Lovelana pointed out a tiny village huddled around an aqua-blue pool located several leagues east of theplateau.
“He almost reached Fillia,” sheadded.
“That’s hardly impressive,” Enchanter Evariste said. “Several enchanters and enchantresses have passed Filliabefore.”
Enchantress Lovelana shook her head. “All of those with such power have long since passed on. You are too modest, Evariste.” She placed a hand on Evariste’sarm.
Behind her, Enchanter Clovicus rolled his eyes and slightly shook hishead.
Evariste chuckled at Enchantress Lovelana’s obvious praise. “You are tookind.”
Lovelana smiled. “Not at all,” she murmured. Her cheeks blushed fetchingly as she kept her hand on Evariste’sarm.
While Lovelana flirted with Evariste, Clovicus edged closer toAngelique.
“How can you stomach listening to others fawn over him?” heasked.
Angelique blinked, slightly confused. “I’m not certain what youmean.”
Clovicus nodded at Lovelana. “Isn’t it irritating to witness this?” heasked.
Angelique briefly considered the matter before shaking her head. “Not at all. It’s quitepleasant.”
“Pleasant?”
The incredulous tone to Clovicus voice made Angelique hastily add, “If they focus on Master Evariste, they are less likely to notice me—or speak tome.”
“And that would beunpleasant?”
