Angelique did as instructed, keeping herself lax as Evariste used his free hand to adjust her hand so she held it in a manner similar to afalconer.
A tip of his arm, and the phoenix obligingly hopped onto Angelique’s arm, greeting her with a littlecoo.
Evariste observed them for a moment, watching as the phoenix happily clicked his black beak at Angelique. “You’re coming along quite well in yourstudies.”
“Thank you, Master Evariste,” Angeliquesmiled.
“I think at this point, we can run off on a fieldtrip.” Evariste sat on the edge of his desk, plucking up a tiny jade statue of awolf.
“Is there an assignment to complete from the Veneno Conclave?” Angelique asked, delicately rubbing the phoenix on the top of itshead.
“No, but there’s a close friend of mine I’d like to visit, and it will be a good experience for you,” Evaristesaid.
“Where are wegoing?”
“Farset. To see the Alabaster Forest,” he saidnonchalantly.
Angelique almost dropped the phoenix in her shock. “Alabaster Forest? Home to the elves?” she asked in a squeakyvoice.
“Yes, the Elf King is my particular friend,” Evariste said in the same tone he used to inform Angelique they were having scones withlunch.
Angelique was grateful when he briefly turned his back to her, so she could give him an appropriate expression of crazy.The Elf King? He’s friends with the Elf King—and he wants me to go to the elven forest?! That’s it; I’m going to die. He’ll ask me to do some magic, then my wretched war magic will slip, and I’ll die with an elven arrow to the heart. Farewell, my brief time in this world—at least it will be a truly momentous way to passon.
“You didn’t travel much as a student in Luxi-Domus, did you?” Evaristeasked.
Angelique tried to clear her throat but found it difficult, as her mouth felt like it was stuffed with cotton. “No,” she said. “I went to Verglas several times, but we didn’t visit any cities, just camped on theborder.”
“That’s what I thought,” Evariste said. His tone was a bit darker than usual, and his lips briefly tightened in a miniscule frown before he flashed a smile at her. “Which is why I think you will enjoythis.”
Angelique stared at the phoenix, which climbed off her hand and onto her wrist. “You don’t think the elves will beupset?”
“Why would theybe?”
“Because of my magic?” Angeliqueasked.
“No,” Evariste said immediately. “The elves value a good warrior. And with their long lives, they have seen enough ages pass by to know folly when they see it. Your magic, my apprentice, isfine.”
Angelique wasn’t entirely certain she believed him, but she trusted him. Or rather, she trusted him enough to know he wouldn’t take her into a land that was potentiallydangerous.
“But youwillneed a new wardrobe,” Evaristeadded.
When Angelique slowly lifted her gaze to his, he gave her his most charming and brilliant smile. “We will be spending the majority of our time with elven royalty, after all,” hesaid.
Angelique stared at him, a thoughtful frown threatening to tug on her lips.When he first took me on as his apprentice, I thought he was mad. But I was mistaken, she mused.He is not crazy—just incredibly crafty. He waited to talk about this until I had the phoenix on me, which means I cannot react with as much passion as I would like to or run off to end theargument.
As if agreeing with her, the phoenix chirped and rustled itswings.
But his argument is not invalid. I can’t really meet the Elf King in my school clothes—it would reflect poorly on Enchanter Evariste and the Veneno Conclave.“Perhaps one new dress,” Angelique saidreluctantly.
“Mmm,” Evariste said, notcommitting.
“Or two,” Angelique said as an olivebranch.
Evariste smiled brightly. “We won’t leave for a week, but I’ll see to it that we’re packed when the time comes. Now which would you rather do: break for lunch or practice your illusiontechnique?”
“Illusions!”
“That’s what I thought. Pass me our little phoenix, and then try your hand at copying this wolf statue. Pay special attention to the way the light bounces on the stone—that will help with making it appear moresolid.”
