Though Enchanter Evariste had promised the more she practiced, the faster she’d be able to work her magic, Angelique guessed her illusions had taken roughly a quarter of an hour tospin.
But I needed them to be my best, most convincing work, or this won’t work.Frowning at the thought, Angelique made an extra twist to the magic in the illusion, so the white wolf’s muzzle was flecked withblood.
She wiped the bit of sweat she had worked up off her brow and nodded at the wolves. “Let’s go terrorize a deviant,” shesuggested.
The wolves very unwolfishly wagged their tails andbarked.
Yes,fartoo muchdog.
Angelique crept to the edge of the woods, staying down low to avoiddetection.
Wybert stood, oblivious, in the middle of the meadow. His back was to her, as he used the butt of his staff to prod a grazingsheep.
Though Madam Quarrellous might argue it’s a sign of my evil soul…I’m going to enjoythis.
Angelique dug her fingers into the wolves’ transparent bodies as she adjusted and shaped her illusions, so the wolves stopped wagging their tails and instead growled and peeled back their lips—showing bone-whiteteeth.
Perfect!
Angelique grinned in satisfaction as she dropped to her knees and began to crawl her way towards Wybert. The grass and alfalfa only hid her somewhat, but as long as Wybert had his back to her, she was probably safe. He was—hopefully—going to be otherwise occupied when he finallydidturnaround.
She twisted uncomfortably to peer behind her. The wolves stayed in the shadows of the forest, as she had spelled them to.Good.
Angelique hoped the spells Evariste had placed on her clothes held strong as she crawled adjacent toWybert.
Once satisfied with her position, Angelique crouched in the grass and tugged the strands of her illusionspell.
The four wolves slunk from the forest, guttural snarls leaking from their throats as they stalked across themeadow.
Wybert scratched his side as he slowly turned around to investigate the noise. When he saw the wolves, he emitted a choked yelp as he stumbledbackwards.
“W-wolves!” he shouted. “Wolves!”
Angelique held her breath, hoping the carver had gotten around toeveryone.
“Wolves—in the meadow!” Wybertyelled.
The village of Boyne wassilent.
The wolves fanned out. They ignored the sheep—which scattered and ran for the village—and instead formed a half-circle aroundWybert.
Wybert held his staff out in front of him. “Wolves! I mean it—wolves!” He shouted so loudly his voicecracked.
Nothing stirred inBoyne.
Wybert trembled as he started backingup.
The white wolf growled and lunged athim.
Wybert screamed. He tripped on his own feet and fell to the ground. As he scrambled to stand, Angelique crawled around behindhim.
The wolves flattened their ears and licked their chops as they stared at Wybert, their white teeth flashing with everysnarl.
“Wolves! Why…why is no one coming!” Wybertsobbed.
When Angelique was directly behind him, she stood up. She drew as close to him as she dared, then whispered. “Because, Wybert,no one believes a liar—even when he’s telling thetruth.”
Wybert whirled around, his face scrunched in terror. “H-h-help me!” hebegged.
