She fought the urge to wince. As it twined around her, her powers scraped her magical sensesraw.
Just another reason to hateit.
She glanced down into the gorge—which was easier to see now as it was illuminated by the silver glow of her magic. Her magic made the jade crystals—previously blocked from the sun—glitter.
But there’s no singing—or any sound at all. I’m not going fastenough.
Reluctantly, Angelique loosened her hold on her magic, letting a fraction more rushthrough.
Her magic beat against her hold, unsatisfied, but Angelique refused to let anymore through.I have to becareful.
Sweat beaded across her forehead and a drop or two trickled down her temple as her shoulders burned from the physical and mentalstrain.
She glanced at the crystals, which were stillsilent.
Horse apples, Angelique mentally groaned.Why couldn’t I have less magic? That would make this taskeasier.
Again, she painstakingly released another channel in her magic, to the point where silver churned at her fingertips like a frothy river, and the gorge was almost a fourthfull.
She thought she heard a cracklingsound.
Immediately, her eyes went to the stones. They were glowing now—not silver from her power or golden from the sun, but a minty green that swirled with the magic trapped within the crystallinedepths.
Angelique held her breath and listened to therocks.
She thought she heard a high-pitched noise—which was really more of a ringing sound than singing.It doesn’t matter. The rocks are singing—who am I to criticize their sense ofmusic?
Angelique let herself relax slightly, pleased she had reached the proper speed.I can do this. I’m shocked it’s working, but I can dothis!
That was when all hell brokeloose.
Chapter 26
Evariste helda spyglass to his blue eye, watching Angelique as she channeled her magic into the darkened gorge. After a moment, he removed the contraption, letting him view the gorge as a whole—which now glowed silver and looked almostheavenly.
Enchanter Lazare grunted and wiped off the end of his hand-held telescope on his robe. “Can’t see a danged thing,” hesaid.
Clovicus joined Evariste at the edge of the viewing lounge—which was little more than a flat section cut into the mountainside spotted with dried logs for seating. “She’s releasing magic at a rate that is about on par with the lowest level of enchanters and enchantresses. It’s no surprise she’s not going fastenough.”
Evariste shut his green eye as he once again peered down the spyglass. “She sped up.” He was aware his voice was tight as he watched her magic speed up, but he couldn’t help the worry that made him ill atease.
It’s not enough. I don’t know the limits of her power, but I know she’s got to go faster—muchfaster—thanthis.
Clovicus grunted. “Looks like that’s aboutaverage.”
“What are the rocks doing?” Lazare asked as he used his spyglass to scratch the top of his head, having, apparently, given up onwatching.
“Nothing,” Enchantress Lovelana said. “She has not yet achieved the necessaryratio.”
“Oh—there she goes, another increase in pace,” Clovicus announced. “This pace puts her above average in terms ofpower.”
Evariste clenched his jaw as he adjusted his spyglass to focus on one of the rocks. Nothing. Until he saw the sign he was dreading—the stones started to glow minty green, and even this far up the mountain he could heard the faint, keening noise theymade.
“What’s happening?” Lazaredemanded.
Lovelana almost dropped her spyglass. “The crystals are preparing to yank more of her magic out—shestillisn’t going fast enough!” She wrinkled her brow and sounded bewildered as she gaped at the gorge. “Evariste, just how much power does shehave?”
Evariste didn’t respond. He focused his spyglass on Angelique, internally cursing when he saw herrelax.
