“Ignore it?” heechoed.
“Yes. Could you pass the word along of my request?” Angeliqueasked.
The man nodded. “Sure I can. I wish you luck in your ventures, LadyEnchantress.”
Angelique grabbed fistfuls of her skirt, raising it slightly. “Thank you—and it’s enchantress-in-training.” She didn’t wait around for his reply but marched through the village, exiting out the other side and bearing down on Wybert with the anger of a ragingbull.
A plan was forming in her mind—one that skirted the edge of what would be an acceptable action from a mage, much less an enchantress. But Wybert had done enough damage, Angelique was willing to risk it if it meant finally getting through tohim.
It’s a good thing Enchanter Evariste will not be here to witness it, or I would not dare attemptthis.
Angelique grit her teeth when she saw the shepherd boy, who was still snickering to himself over his last prank as he picked a clover leaf off his shirt. “Wybert!” she barked, the glitz and gloss gone from hervoice.
The boy had the nerve tosmileas Angelique stomped up to him. “Back to give me more lectures of piety, lady—ACK!”
Wybert coughed when Angelique grabbed the boy by his shirt and yanked himcloser.
“Listen well, for this is thelast warningyou will receive. Stop calling wolf, and perhaps in the future you might be able to make things right,” Angeliquehissed.
“Let me go!” Wybertstruggled.
“Liars aren’t believed even when they speak the truth, Wybert,” Angelique said. “You will soon learn this foryourself.”
She abruptly released his shirt, making Wybert topple over. He scowled at her as he dusted his pantsoff.
I ought to give him the chance to agree—even though he won’t—for this next bit might be a jolly good time for me, but as forWybert…
“Do you understand?” Angelique asked, her voicehard.
“Sure,” Wybertsneered.
Pompouslittle—
Angelique forced a smile on her face, but she was so angry, she was aware it looked more sinister than it should have. “We shall see…” She drifted off to the woods, not bothering to look back at theimp.
When she reached the trees, she continued for several minutes until she couldn’t see the miscreant shepherd, but the faint bleats of his sheep still reachedher.
Angelique bit her lip for a moment in indecision, then took a deep breath and dredged up a glob of her core magic. It took her a moment to get the right amount before she mentally threw the locks back on her magic and shoved the rest down into hersoul.
She grimaced as she handled it, but she kept her mind focused as she twisted the magic this way and that, gradually spinning it into anillusion.
The Council would be horrified if they learned of what I am about to do. But as much as I try to deny myself and act how they would like me to, I can’t deny this method suits me much better. At the very least, it should fix Wybert—andno onewill doubt Master Evariste’s abilities! Best yet—he won’t even hear of it!Hopefully.
Angelique smiled as the first wolf illusion took shape, its bronze eyes glowing in the shadows of the forest. Cream, tan, and gray fur appeared next, wrapping around the beast’s wiryframe.
The wolf sniffed the ground as Angelique shaped a second one—this one with an all-blackcoat.
The ebony wolf gave an experimental yip as Angelique finished the puff of his tail. She narrowed her eyes as she watched the illusionary wolves sniff each other, then wag their tails and wiggle theirbutts.
I put too much dog in them. I’ll have to adjust that before we head out, Angelique thought as she wove together a third, all white, wolf. By the time she started to create a fourth wolf, Angelique could feel her magicstretching.
I guess four is all I’m going to get. I don’t fancy drawing more of my core magic, and this is about my limit of concentration anyway.She frowned as she poked a finger through the slightly transparent hindquarters of the final wolf—which was white and shale gray incolor.
All of the wolves were ever-so-slightly transparent, but it was only noticeable if one was close enough and reallystaredat the canines and realized that some of the patterns in their fur wasn’t due to color but the textures surrounding theanimals.
It will have to do. Besides, if I can scare Wybert enough, I don’t think he’llnotice.
Angelique groaned as she finally stood up straightagain.
