Clovicus raised an eyebrow. “You haven’t told heryet?”
Evariste’s lips briefly turned down. “I was getting to it, before you interruptedus.”
Enchanter Clovicus shrugged. “Carry on,then.”
Evariste nodded, then motioned for Angelique to step out on the thin peninsula she had noticedbefore.
The walkway was narrow—she could not have walked shoulder-to-shoulder with Evariste—and she had the dizzying feeling that if she looked down into the craggy depths of the canyon, she might lose her balance. The gorge wasn’t terribly deep—it seemed like it was only a little deeper than the tallest peak of Evariste’s house—but she’d likely still die from thedrop.
“You’ll stand in the circle at the end of this path,” Evariste explained. He walked behind her—closer than necessary. (And closer than Angelique wanted. The last thing she needed was to trip and fall and take him over the side with her!) “But the other enchanters and I will be seated at a viewing area on the closestmountain.”
Angelique almost swung around to face him with that unexpected revelation. “On themountain?” Her voice warbled withworry.
“Yes.”
“Is it thatunsafe?”
“No, no,” Evariste said in the same soothing tone he used on young animals and crying children. “Rather, it is to give us a better view. Given the amount of magic you possess, we need to see just how far itgoes.”
“It’s also unsafe, isn’t it?” Angelique askedflatly.
When she finally reached the end of the peninsula—which opened up into a circle she could have safely skipped across—she turned around to face her instructor, watching his reaction with a criticaleye.
Evariste hesitated. “There are a few records of evaluations that resulted in injury—but there are less than a dozen cases of this happening over the past twocenturies.”
Angelique shook her head. “I shouldn’t do this. It’s toorisky.”
“Not at all,” Evariste promised. “If a candidate fumbles and loses control of their magic, the magic in the rocks have safeguards in place. You’ll beunharmed.”
Angelique pressed her fingers against her eyes. “It’s not me I’m worriedabout!”
“Angel.” Evariste took her hands and tugged on them for emphasis. “You can do this. I know you are capable of it. And this is only the practice round—it’s held togiveyou the opportunity to make a mistake and learn how to properly channel your magic for the real evaluation. The other enchanters and I are on hand in case something goes wrong,but it won’t. Raw magic is not directed at anything or channeled into a spell. It’sharmless.”
Angelique sucked in a deep breath of air and glanced at the shadowygorge.
The sides of the canyons were the same jagged red rock of the plateau, though it was painted a purple hue from the shadows. She could see more of the jade crystals sprouting from the walls like sharpflowers.
I have to do this.If I ever want to become an enchantress—if I ever want to prove that I can take my bloody magic and spin it into something good—I have to dothis.
Slowly, reluctantly, Angelique nodded. “Very well, Master Evariste.” She barely managed to croak the words, and her fear was so potent it made her lungs shrink in her chest.However little I like this test, I’ll try to do it with dignity so I don’t shameEvariste.
Evariste’s blue and green eyes were lit with an inner warmth as he released her hands. “You’ll know when to start—the magic circle etched in the ground will light up. Don’t doubt yourself, and please let your magic flow freely for once.Breathe.” He gave her another smile then turned around and sauntered back across the peninsula to Enchanter Clovicus, who was waiting with his arms folded across his chest and his foot tapping theground.
Angelique watched the two men set out at a jog, hurrying to meet up with Enchantress Lovelana—who had given chase after the Enchanter Lazare. (Though the elderly Council member seemed to be ignoringher.)
She rolled her neck and idly swung her arms, trying to loosen up her shoulders, then settled down towait.
* * *
“Thank you for coming,”Evariste said. Though he and Clovicus were walking so fast it was almost a jog, he managed to speak without soundingwinded.
“Of course,” Clovicus said. “I thought you might be overreacting, but that a Council Member was sent to watch her practice test? Even if it is ol’ Lazare, it’s a courtesy they’ve never paid any candidateI’veheardof.”
Evariste nodded. “Once I get her made into an Enchantress, I don’t think the day-to-day outcry will be as bad—the war mages will rise up to back herthen.”
“Yes, but the key is she still has to make Enchantress,” Clovicus said. “And I have to add, I am most displeased with you. I told you not to fall in love with her, but whether you’re just stubborn or you love to be impudent, you went and did the very thing I told younottodo!”
Evariste laughed at his old master’s sour tone. “I don’t love her,” hesaid.
