Sybilla stood and smiled, looking much like a cheerygrandmother.
Madam Quarrellous gaped at the fairygodmother.
Evariste rose from the settee. “Of course, Sybilla. I will construct a portal for you and a portal for Madam Quarrellous. But I’ll need to do thisoutside.”
Angelique hurriedly followed suit, dissipating the illusion so the hummingbirddisappeared.
“Naturally.” Sybilla sailed towards the door, leaving Quarrellous to hurry after the strongwoman.
They trooped outside—shutting the door so the unicorn filly could not follow—then crossed the pondbridge.
“Madam Quarrellous, where would you like to go?” Enchanter Evaristeasked.
“The Veneno Conclave, if you will,” Quarrellous said. “I should spread the word of the troll as swiftly aspossibly.”
“Very well, I can manage that.” Enchanter Evariste strode ahead and began to summon hismagic.
Angelique watched him with longing as his blue magic rippled around him—she wishedshecould be so comfortable with letting her magic drift around, but that was something she could neverdo.
She nearly jumped out of her skin when Sybilla patted her on the shoulder. “Yes,ma’am?”
“Try not to mind Quarrellous,” Sybilla said. “She means well, but even she can see you are a good girl.” the fairy godmother paused. “It’s not your war magic she’s concerned about, I think. It’s the sheer amount of magic you canchannel.”
Angelique could not help the wry edge to her smile. “Of course. I’ve been told at my highest strength, I could kill anarmy.”
“Or several,” Sybilla cheerfully agreed. “You could mold nations for centuries to come with that kind of strength. Power often corrupts—as the ethics instructor, Quarrellous knows this. Unfortunately, it seems she does not see the nobility of your character that will keep you fromthat.”
Thinking of the wolves and the way she had harmed Evariste, Angelique lowered her eyes. “Despite what Evariste has said, I don’t know that I am reallygood.”
Sybilla tugged her wire-framed spectacles down her nose and studied Angelique with the intensity of a wolf. “With all your teachers squawking and carrying on, they’ve made you doubt not just your magic, but your very self, haven’t they?” Not waiting for an answer, she continued, “Dear, do you know how to tell if someone is evil—trulyevil?”
Angelique shook herhead.
“Theyenjoythe pain they create. They revel in the bloodstains of battle, in the hunger of the starved, and in the suffering they inflict. They are concerned only with themselves and would gladly see the world topple around them—or conquer it themselves. They thirst for power and areneversatisfied, and they love to harm and bully the weak—the ones who cannot protect themselves. Now tell me, Angelique, doesanyof that sound likeyou?”
“No,” Angelique slowlysaid.
Sybilla nodded in satisfaction. “That is what I think as well. Keep your chin up. With every monthly progress report, you prove yourself. And one day, people will see your vast power as ablessing.”
Sybilla smiled, then marched up to Enchanter Evariste as Madam Quarrellous walked through the portal he had created forher.
Angelique adjusted one of her glittering hair pins and smiled when the older woman waved toher.
It’s nice to know someone doesn’t abhor me, however idealistic she mayseem.
Everyone feared her magic—her ability tokill.
Although…no one treated me like a killer until it was revealed howmuchmagic I have. Is it really just the depth of mymagic?
Angelique shivered, remembering the numbing horror that had nearly stopped her heart when she had injured EnchanterEvariste.
No. It’s everything. There isn’t one good thing about my core magic. It cannot beredeemed.
Chapter 13
“Mirror,”Angelique started. “Show me Wistful Thicket—top view,please.”
Angelique watched the surface of the mirror ripple like apond.
