“Stop lying, Wybert,” Angelique advised. “For the consequences of lying are a far higher price than you are willing topay.”
Angelique stepped around the boy and walked towards thewoods.
Her wolf illusions growled and circled the shepherd boy for a few extra moments before they turned and slowly stalked after her, occasionally pausing to snarl back atWybert.
When Angelique reached the forest she stepped behind a tree. Her wolves loped past her, hopefully disappearing from the boy’s sight. Cautiously, Angelique leaned around the trunk and peered back at themeadow.
Wybert had fallen to his knees and was visiblytrembling.
Yep, that ought to fix the littlerunt.
At Angelique’s inattention, the wolves had degenerated back to their more dog-likebehavior.
One of them sniffed her skirts, while the black wolf and white wolf busied themselves with sniffing each other’shindquarters.
Angelique cringed at their behavior.It’s a good thing Wybert wasn’t lookingtooclosely. They are definitely more transparent than when I first madethem.
She smiled as she held out her hand to the inquisitive wolf.But…I never dreamed I’d be able to make something like this withmymagic.
She watched Wybert take a shuddering breath, then stand on unsteady feet. He tottered after his wayward sheep, glancing back over his shoulder every fewsteps.
Angelique smirked and poked at her illusions. All four of the wolves raised their heads and howled soulfully to thesky.
Wybert turned ashen and fled, sprinting toBoyne.
Angelique chortled to herself. “Oh, that was fun,” she said. “Giving just desserts warms the cockles of my heart,” she informed the wolves as they peered up at her. “Though I probably shouldn’t tell anyone that. Regardless, thank you for thehelp.”
A flick of her fingers, and the wolf illusions faded away, leaving Angelique alone. She checked on Wybert—he had made it safely to the edge of Boyne and was gathering up the sheepagain.
Yep, he’ll be fine, she concluded.And I suspect this has fixed him for good—though Master Evariste should follow up with him tomorrow.That thought made her pause.Maybe I can convince him to speak to Wybert’s mother, instead? I’d rather not let him know that I got through to the little troll by traumatizinghim.
Angelique trudged through the forest, enjoying the cheerful cheeps of song birds mixed with the occasional high-pitched screech from ahawk.
She was so gleeful, she nearly hummed under her breath as she clambered over a fallen tree trunk.Master Evariste said we would stay in Sideralis for a few more days, but we’ll have to go home soon, I expect. The Council will be expecting their monthly report on myprogress.
Angelique grimaced at the thought, which was unpleasant enough to make her walk faster, anxious to reach Alabaster Forest so she could tell her teacher the goodnews.
She wasn’t far from the elven woods when she felt her magic stir withinher.
Cautiously, Angelique slowed to a stop. She frowned as she shoved her magic down but looked around.My magic—as terrible as it is—usually doesn’t stir without a reason—or a strong emotional reaction from me. But I’m fine, so what causedit?
She looked left and right, but saw nothing—just greenery andbrush.
…Just greenery and brush? What about the birds and other forestcreatures?
Angelique turned in a slow circle as she listened for any sound of animal life, but not even a crow cawed. The wind stirred the branches of the trees overhead, making their leaves snap in a thunderousapplause.
Angelique held a hand out and brushed the branch of a pine tree as her magic shiftedagain.
Yep, time to get out of here.She hurried towards Alabaster Forest, almost jogging.I don’t know what’s going on, but whatever it is, I don’t want to behere.
She heard branches moving and turned just in time to see the tree trunk tossed herway.
Chapter 10
Angelique dove to the ground,and the trunk whistled over her head, colliding with two oak trees in an explosion of splinters andbark.
Angelique held her hands over her head as woodchips struck her back. She waited for the debris to settle before she dared to peel her face from theground.
