Sybilla grunted. “I see what is happening here. You—Quarrellous—are on a sorceress hunt after this poorgirl.”
“The Council agrees that she is a potential liability,” Madam Quarrellous primly slipped Enchanter Evariste’s report into a leather satchel shecarried.
“That was before Evariste took her on as his apprentice. The Council wouldn’t have agreed to let him take her if they thought she was a real threat,” Sybilla rolled her eyes. “It is beyond me why they let you waste time and resources on the unnecessary—particularly whenIhave a difficult time wheedling any money into the budget for us First Appraised Isolator Rank Yellow—and we’re findingstudents! The future of the VenenoConclave!”
Angelique smiled slightly. It was a familiar complaint. Master Narclay, the non-magic-possessing Luxi-Domus instructor who had taught her swordplay and always treated her well, had complained about the department budget. (When students were sloppy during practice, he threatened to sell them off for departmentfunds.)
“The Council requested a demonstration of what she has learned,” Quarrellous said, ignoringSybilla.
“Of course. I think Angelique could whip something up for you,” Evariste smiled guilelessly—as if he hadnotwarned Angelique two weeks prior that she would likely be asked for ademonstration.
Angelique inhaled and nodded. Carefully, she pulled a few additional strands of magic from her stores. It wrapped around her fingers, dusting her nails with silver sparkles as the illusiongrew.
I have to make thisgood.
The illusion shimmered to life much faster than the wolves she had woven for Wybert. Not because it was any less difficult—in fact, though the creature she was molding was smaller than a wolf’s muzzle, the illusion was intricately more difficult—but because she had practiced so much, her magic twisted easily into theillusion.
Angelique licked her lips and added a final twist to her magic before releasingit.
The illusion—a ruby-throated hummingbird—buzzed into existence. Its tiny wings flapped so quickly they were blurs, and the miniscule feathers on its head and back glowed iridescentgreen.
The hummingbird shot forward and tapped Evariste on his brightly colored coat before zooming through theroom.
Sybilla laughed. “Howbeautiful!”
“Well done, Angelique!” Evaristepraised.
Quarrellous was silent as the hummingbird investigated Sybilla’s teacup.
Angelique beamed for one radiant moment. “Thank you.” She watched the little bird land on Sybilla’sfinger.
The fairy godmother admired it. “Why, you can’t even see through it—this is some solidwork!”
“Angelique has done quite well with illusions,” Enchanter Evariste said. “I mean to start her on alteration magic next because ofit.”
“I’d say that’s a good plan. Birds are notoriously difficult to capture with their feathers and ability to fly—an ability we don’t have and would find hard to fathom,” Sybillasaid.
Angelique leaned into the cushioned back of the settee, and the sensation of walking on needles decreasedslightly.
It’s easy enough to keep the illusion going: the difficult part is creating it. But I was more concerned that Quarrellous might feel me access my magic stores and growupset.
“It seems, Lord Enchanter Evariste, that you are as brilliant a teacher as you are a mage.” Madam Quarrellous tapped her fingers on Enchanter Evariste’sreport.
“Not at all—my student makes me appear better than I am,” Evaristelaughed.
Quarrellous pursed her lips. “It seems Angelique continues to progress, particularly as you have not lodged notice of any sort of mishaps ortroubles.”
Angelique gulped but didn’t dare look at herteacher.
“There is nothing to lodge,” Evariste said with his easy, charmingsmile.
“That is good to hear,” Madam Quarrellous said. “However, Apprentice Angelique, the Council charged me with reminding you that should you fail to listen to Enchanter Evariste—oruse your core magic without his supervision—you will be exiled from the Veneno Conclave, and your magic will besealed.”
“Did the Council really tell you to remind her of that, or have you simply chosen to take advantage of the situation to preach your own beliefs?” Sybilla wrylyasked.
Madam Quarrellous sniffed. “Do you wish to make a formal complaint againstme?”
Sybilla shook her head. “Madam, use the head you were blessed with and recall that you are inLord Enchanter Evariste’s home. You just finished lecturinghislovely student when she has done nothing to cause concern. And—in case you have forgotten—I am a fairy godmother, which means I greatly outrank you. And I say this meeting is over. Evariste, if you would be a dear and open a portal gate for me in the yard? I should like to be dropped off inKozlovka.”
