“Hello, Breeza.” Evariste gave the weather mage his full attention as he smiled ather.
“Hello,” Angeliqueadded.
“Sybilla was telling me about you, Angelique,” Breeza continued. “Have you ever been to Solebefore?”
“No,” Angelique shook herhead.
“We still have a few hours until the Christening. Come! We can show you around the palace,” Sybilladeclared.
The invitation surprised Angelique. She couldn’t remember the last time another mage had invited her to an event for the sake of company—she was not exactly in high demand as a friend.But this weather mage seems sincere. They usually give it away quickly if they find my magic…unsettling. Like Melody.She hesitated, “I’m not sure if Ishould.”
“We’ll have such fun! Yesterday Sybilla and I busted into the Magic Knight’s administrative building.” Breeza’s grin seemed mischievous. “It’s a shame, but they aren’t holding practice right now. Still, it’s fun to see theirgrounds.”
“We’ll have an enchantress with us. Maybe they’ll let us see more,” Sybillapondered.
Melody’s frown briefly deepened before she glanced atEvariste.
Concerned the legendary enchanter saw you scowling at his student, are you?Aloud, Angelique said, “In-training. I’m an enchantress-in-training.”
“To non-magical folk, that’s practically the same thing, Angelique.” Sybilla patted her hand, dismissing the correction. “What do you say, Enchanter Evariste? Can we deny you the presence of your pupil for a fewhours?”
“I don’t see why not—though I shall miss my cute student while she’s gone.” He smiled playfully down at Angelique, who felt her eyebrows furrow painfully at hiswords.
He’s lucky no one has misunderstood his meaning whenever he calls me Angel or his cute apprentice. Though if he got away with it during the interview with Madam Quarrellous without any repercussions, I guess that means he’sfine.
“Thank you, Master Evariste,” Angeliquesaid.
Evariste briefly leaned closer to her. “If you change your mind, call me with thebracelet.”
Angelique nodded, automatically raising her hand to feel the reassuring weight of the silver curled around the glassbead.
“Enjoy yourself, Angel,” Evariste ordered. “I’ll attempt to catch up with Finnr in themeantime.”
“Thatwill be a lonely conversation,” Sybillasnorted.
“We will stay with you, Lord Enchanter Evariste,” Melody brightlyvolunteered.
Enchanter Evariste offered Melody a courteous nod, then returned his attention to Sybilla. “He is a man of few words,” Evariste agreed. “Take care of myapprentice.”
“With pleasure,” Breezapromised.
“Come, children,” Sybilla beckoned as she started down the hallway. “We’ll have to take a different route to the Magic Knights’ grounds—I think they’re watching for us afteryesterday.”
“I thought all you did was enter their administrative building?” Angelique asked as she kept pace with the two shorter magicusers.
Breeza laughed. “We never said theywantedus in their administrativebuilding.”
Chapter 15
The christeningof Princess Rosalinda Talia d’Avalas of Sole was held in the early afternoon, with plans for a splendid feastafterwards.
Angelique watched the cooing princess, who happily gurgled in a cradle gilded with gold and stuffed her fat little hand in her mouth. Princess Alessia and Prince Consort Filippo stood behind the cradle, beaming withjoy.
Sybilla, the next one out of the six magic users who were to present magical gifts, approached the cradle. The plump woman smiled down at the adorable baby and patted her head. “She shall be liked by animals,” Sybilla said. White magic fell from her fingertips, blanketing the baby likestardust.
Melody frowned, slightly. (Not the dark look she had given Angelique whenever Enchanter Evariste wasn’t around—something more like disapproval.) “Liked by animals? That’s a uselessgift.”
Angelique glanced at the princess and prince consort to see if they had heard, but the magic users, lined up beneath royal banners and standards at the side of the room and a distance away from the royal babe, were out of earshot as long as they spoke in loweredtones.
