“Regardless, I think you ought to try once more,” Alastryn said. “You are the apprentice to Lord Enchanter Evariste—one of the most powerful enchanters on the continent. And he choseyou,” Alastrynsaid.
Angelique judged that this was not the time to explain Enchanter Evariste had acted only to save her from gettingsealed.
“You are an intelligent and clever mage,” Alastryn continued. “I think you will figure out a way to bring this shepherd boy toheel.”
“Thank you for your kind words, Lady Alastryn,” Angeliquesaid.
“Of course,” Alastryn’s smile turned sly. “I wish my dear cousin shared some of your sense of decorum. Perhaps you and Evariste might teach himsome.”
Maybe refraining from serving spiked drinks would help? Though I expect if this is what they frequently consume, they must have high tolerance for it.“I don’t know that I could ever teach theElf Kinganything,” sheconfessed.
“It’s not so farfetched,” Alastryn said. “As an Enchantress, you will share a similar lifespan with us, and you have a greater knowledge and understanding of the world—or you will. Give it some time, Lady Apprentice. You will find your place in theworld.”
Alastryn lovingly patted Angelique’s cheek, then stood. “If you’ll excuse me, I ought to check on the rest of the guests and the next course. Enjoy yourself,Apprentice.”
“Thank you, Lady Alastryn,” Angelique said. “I will.” She bowed her head in respect as the elven lady driftedaway.
A female servant whisked Angelique’s quail away and set down in its place glazed turkey, which—judging by the smell—was baked in some sort ofalcohol.
A very high tolerance indeed. Angelique smiled, but after a moment or two, her thoughtful frown returned.Perhaps Alastryn is right.Maybe I should give Wybert anothertry.
* * *
The following day,Angelique made her way through the village of Boyne,alone.
She had managed to convince Enchanter Evariste to give her one last chance at helping Wybert fix his ways. Even better, she had convinced him to remain behind in Sideralis. (She didn’t think she could stand him witnessing her failure athirdtime.)
If she couldn’t get through to Wybert, they had agreed that Enchanter Evariste would come the following day, and Angelique would remain hidden in the woods toobserve.
The scent of sawdust tickled Angelique’s nose as she wandered past a woodcarver’s store. She had been hoping something in the village might provide inspiration or give her a better idea of how to approach Wybert. Instead, as she neared the far side of Boyne, she found a mob of angry villagers re-entering the village, carrying bows, pitchforks, hammers, and thelike.
She cleared her throat and tried to make her voice smooth yet elegant—like an elf’s—when she approached a rather purple-faced man who seemed to be contemplating murder with his chisel. “Excuse me good sir,” she started, “Could you tell me what hashappened?”
“What?” the man rumbled. Angelique was afraid, for a moment, that he might jab her with his chisel. But his scowl faded when he got a look at her, and he made himself stand upright with his shoulders back. “Ahh, beggin’ your pardon, you’re the Lady Enchantress who travels with Lord Enchanter Evariste,yes?”
“I’m afraid I’m only an enchantress-in-training,” Angelique smiled. “But has something happened? You appeartroubled.”
“Aye, I’m troubled,” the man growled, a vein throbbing in his neck. “All of Boyne is troubled! It’s that fool Wybert. He called us saying there was a wolfagain.”
Angelique tilted her head. “He called justnow?”
The man nodded. “Used to be a rare joke he’d play, you know? But now he calls most every day—sometimes more thanonce.”
Angelique felt her smile turn brittle. “Does he,now?”
“It’s a nuisance, and his mother can’t seem to make him mind himself.” Another dark frown twisted the man’s lips. “I thought Lord Enchanter Evariste might be able to talk some sense into him, but it seems I wasmistaken.”
Angelique’s skin-deep veneer of sweetness and good cheer started to flake.That little rat. It’s not enough that he makes his whole village angry, now he’s dirtying Enchanter Evariste’s reputation? Enough. If he can’t be reasoned with, I’ll teach Wybert a lesson he won’t soon forget.“How unfortunate,” she said, aware there was a hint of frost to her words. “I was sent here by Lord Enchanter Evariste to try to talk to the boy one last time. Perhaps I will finally succeed in making him see the errors of hisways.”
The villager snorted but had the good manners to grimace guiltily afterwards. “Excuse me, lady; that was no judgement on you. It’s just I don’t knowwhatwould get through to Wybert now. Lord Enchanter Evaristecan’t.”
Chapter 9
Angelique hadto physically force her lips to remain in a smile. Even if she wasn’t completely sold on Enchanter Evariste’s motivation for helping her, he was a great enchanter whose reputationshouldhave been unreproachable. “I am certain Master Evariste could, for it was I he charged withWybert.”
The man cleared his throat with a loud harrumph and scratched his beard. “If you sayso.”
“I do,” Angelique said in a hardened tone. She cleared her throat and elegantly folded her hands together. “I shall make my last attempt, but as I do so—good sir—I must ask that if Wybert cries ‘wolf’ in the next hour, I want you andallthe villagers to ignoreit.”
