The boy frowned at her. “What about ‘em?”
Angelique artfully clasped her hands at her belly, buying herself a moment to think. “You are such a brave little boy to stand here and watch these sheep,” she started. “It’s a very important role. Your uncleandthe villagers are counting on your courage and diligence to keep the sheepsafe.”
“Uh-huh,” was the boy’s ever-so-encouragingresponse.
“But I have heard that you have—on occasion—misled your fellow villagers.” Angelique let dismay color her voice and placed a hand over her heart. “That you have called out to them, claiming a wolf is attacking when there is not one anywhere near the villageorbothering yourflock!”
Wybert shrugged. “So?” He didn’t sound—or appear—at all repentant, sheepish, or guilty about the act. Instead, he planted his staff on the ground and leaned on it, eyeing Angelique as if she were a naggingschoolmarm.
Thegallof this child!Angelique didn’t let her irritation show and instead let her mouth droop slightly at thecorners.
“You cannot do such a thing, Wybert,” she said in an urgent tone. “If you continue to do so, not only will the villagers resent you, but no one will come to trust you. It is important to be honest and upright in all that youdo!”
She paused, but Wybert didn’treply.
I should keep going…I suppose? I don’t know how you’re supposed to lecture a child so they’lllisten!
“You must not lie or mislead others, Wybert,” she said finally. “It might seem funny for a time, but you will encounter consequences for your actions. And I wish with all my heart that you would come to learn this before you encounter pain for your lies. Stop with thefalsities.”
Wybert squinted ather.
Angelique took a few steps closer to him and crouched slightly so she could look him in the eyes. “I’m serious, dear boy. You must stop. Do you promise to doso?”
The stick-like boy shrugged. “Sure.”
I’m not sure I believe him. That seemed too easy, especially for a child bratty enough to lie in the firstplace.
Angelique forced a bright smile to her cheeks. “I am so happy to hear so.” She patted him on the cheek, then stood straight. “Stay truthful, Wybert, and you will enjoy a life of esteem and respect from your fellow villagers. Stayvigilant!”
Wybert chewed a grass stem and did notreply.
Angelique nodded at him, then trekked back across the meadow, making her way to the smudge of blue among the shadows that marked out Enchanter Evariste’sposition.
“How did it go?” the enchanter asked when Angelique joined him in the forest. They walked a few paces deeper so they would not be visible to Wybert or hissheep.
He is an unrepentant brat, and I hope a sheep biteshim.
“I’m not certain,” Angelique said when she was able to speak without sarcasm. “I tried to be reasonable and explain to him why he should not do such a thing again, but it was rathertricky.”
Enchanter Evariste nodded and flicked his blonde bangs from his eyes. “Morally guiding a person is often one of the trickiest tasks we can receive.” He started the journey back to Alabaster Forest. “Often, the recipient does not want our guidance—even if those around him or her know better—and it is difficult to know how your words might affectthem.”
“How do you go about it?” Angelique asked. She faked dismay and put a hand to her mouth when she saw a fallen logahead.
“The same way we improve at magic—practice.” He offered her his hand, which made Angelique inwardlycringe.
I hadn’t meant for my theatrics to move him—I just thought it was how a genteel lady might react. That goes to show me, Iguess.
But Angelique took his hand and let him guide her around thelog.
“Helping people requires patience and experience. The more you try, the more you learn about people—how they think, what moves them,” Enchanter Evariste continued. “You will fail, and sometimes you might make things worse—whether through words or magic—but you must accept your mistakes and keep trying, Apprentice. That iskey. Don’t giveup.”
Angelique nodded slowly. “I suppose you areright—”
“Wolf!”
Angelique spun around and ran back the way they had come—hopping over the log with the ease of acoyote.
“Wolf!”
