“Please, Alastryn,” Enchanter Evariste asked. “I would consider this as a particular favor to me—and I do believe Angelique will enjoyit.”
When the elf lady glanced in her direction, Angelique nodded. “I would,” she said—truthfully. “I have not traveled much in my life, and I am astounded by the beauty of yourcity.”
The Elf King whistled sharply. “I apologize, Evariste, and take back my previous judgement. She’s not stupid—she’s cunning with herwords.”
The observation made Angelique flinch.That’s the exact sort of description I want to avoid! I’d rather if I was thought to be empty-headed.
Alastryn slightly tipped her chin up and studied Angelique carefully. She smiled, and whatever she was pondering she must have made up her mind. “Very well, child. This way, to the palace.Wecan partake of our luncheon in a civilized manner inside thecastle.”
Angelique took a step towards her, then hesitated and looked back at her teacher. “Master Evariste, is it really a good idea for me to goalone?”
Enchanter Evariste smiled. “You’re in fine hands, Apprentice. Alastryn is a wonderful hostess; I imagine you’ll enjoy yourmeal.”
“Doubtful,” King Themerysaldi coughed. “Unless you enjoy being bored totears.”
Angelique paused another moment.Master Evariste seems to trust that I’ll be fine. So I will have to be.She kept her eyes downcast as she discreetly checked her magic—making sure she had shoved it deep enough that it wouldn’t unexpectedly stir—then curtsied. “Good day, Your Majesty, MasterEvariste.”
Enchanter Evariste waved merrily, and the Elf Kingyawned.
“Right, Alastryn is distracted. Let’s go have some fun,” King Themerysaldisaid.
“Actually, before we see to our game, I was hoping you could help me with something,” Enchanter Evariste said, right before he fell out of Angelique’s hearing range. “I’m wondering if you know of any troubledyouths…”
Angelique took a deep breath and fixed her practiced smile on her face as she followed after Alastryn, taking in everything shecould.
As I need to be a model enchantress to keep suspicion off me, I couldn’t do better than to pattern myself off the refined and polished manners of the elves. Yes, I’ll be fine. And hopefully I’ll learn a great deal besides what Master Evariste hadplanned.
* * *
Two days later,a slightly confused Angelique found herself tramping through the forest with EnchanterEvariste.
They had left the boundaries of Alabaster Forest nearly half an hour ago, but they traveled parallel with it and often trekked away from it only to come rightback.
Are we lost?Angeliquewondered.
Ahead of her, Enchanter Evariste glanced at the map once again, then set off away from the border of the elven woods, headingwest.
No, she scolded herself.Enchanter Evariste wouldn’t getlost. He has portal magic—he must know exactly where we aregoing.
“Tell me, Apprentice, what is the duty of a magic user?” Evariste asked. He started down what looked like a deer trail that wound around the edges of a giant rock the size of smallcottage.
“To protect people from the misuse of magic,” Angelique recited as she had a thousand times during her time as astudent.
“Correct,” Evariste agreed. “But it’s more than justthat.”
Angelique almost tripped on a tree root but caught herself by slapping a hand on the big rock. “Is that so, Master Evariste?” she askedpolitely.
“Yes. I know as a general rule the Veneno Conclave teaches us to be reactive—to act only when magic or foul magical creatures are interfering with the lives of folk. But mages with as much power as we do have a duty tohelpthe weak aswell.”
“Help?” Angelique furrowed her forehead as she tested the word. “In whatway?”
“However we can.” A fallen tree blocked the path, so Evariste turned and started traveling south again. “It means something different for every situation—though of course you must not act against your morals, and many times you’ll find that helping a person doesnotmean giving them what they mostdesire.”
Evariste looked around the woods for a moment, then continued. “It might, however, mean bringing rain to a village experiencing a drought or helping a child lost in the woods. It can be more difficult if a royal is involved—anything political tends to make our honorable leaders skittish, but understandably. They don’t want any mage mucking around with politics, believing they can forcechange.”
“That’s something we’re told to wardagainst,” Angeliqueadded.
“Yes, and it is an important principle to uphold. But a family on the brink of starving, or a poor town plagued by wolves:thatis something we can help that won’t change the continent politically, but will change the world for a few people,” Evariste said as they started to drift back to the Alabasterwoods.
