Sybilla scowled at the golden cradle, where Princess Rosalinda now cried. “So much for his magic beingsealed.”
“It, that, that’s impossible,” Melody stammered. Her blossom pink dress was wrinkled, and her eyes were pinched with fear. “He was publicly banned and sealed. No one is strong enough to undo such abinding!”
“It seems that someone is,” Evariste saidgrimly.
“What do we do?” Melodyasked.
Sybilla rolled up the sleeves of her powder-blue dress like a mother preparing to clean her cottage. “We undo the curse, that’swhat.”
“But we can’t!” Melody clenched her hands over her heart. “We’re allowed to give only one gifteach.”
Princess Alessia stood shakily, her eyes wet with tears as she retrieved her beloved baby—heronly child—from the cradle. “Please, you must dosomething!”
Prince Consort Filippo was at her side in an instant. “We’ll give you whatever you want—but please, saveher!”
King Giuseppe strode towards his daughter and son-in-law. “I want that creature captured and dragged back here!” His voice was quiet and low, but it sent more guards scrambling. He turned to address the magic users with the same quiet intensity. “Money, jewels, wealth—no expense will be spared for the one who removes thecurse.”
“But we can’t help—six magic users are already far more than usually allowed. We’ll upset the balance if we use such powerful magic to help. We’ll have to call for another magic user from the Conclave,” Melodysaid.
“Pish-posh.” Sybilla rubbed her hands together. “We have taken vows to help those inneed.”
“But the other countries will say it is favoritism,” Melodywarned.
King Giuseppe frowned, making his angular face sharp and stormy. “My granddaughter was just cursed in front of me by a rogue mage, and you claim you can do nothing tohelp?”
“We will send for help from the Conclave—Evariste can use his magic and open a gate for us!” Melodysaid.
“It will take him time to secure a safe enough space as long as Carabosso is roaming around, and we haven’t hours to spare,” Sybilla snapped. “We have to modify the curse now, while it is stillfresh.”
“But we have already given hergifts!”
“Both of you are correct,” Evaristesaid.
Melody blinked. “Weare?”
“Stop with your puzzling words, Evariste, and spit it out,” Sybillasaid.
“The curse must be modified as quickly as possible, but if we who have already given her a gift grant her another, it will have political repercussions. Unfortunately, it will also endanger the princess.” Evariste turned to face Princess Alessia and Prince Consort Filippo, who cradled their crying daughter between them. “Did you hear the wording Carabosso used? He tied it to the blessings we gave her. If we try to give her another, it is likely that the curse, layered into our magic as it is, will killher.”
Princess Alessia turned white. “No!” she cried, caught halfway between hysterics and a swoon. “Rosalinda!”
The prince consort handed the baby off to the King of Sole—who rocked her with surprising expertise—then guided his wife away from the magic users. The king followedthem.
“But,” Evariste continued, his voice gentle once again as he spoke to the mages. “It doesn’t matter, because there is one more magic user who can grant agift.”
Sybilla and Melody stared atEvariste.
Finnr moved, reminding everyone he was still there. “Who?” heasked.
Angelique scanned the crowd of nobles and gentry, looking for the mage Evariste had alluded to. She was shocked when he placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “Angel.”
“Me?” shesqueaked.
“You cannot be serious, Lord Enchanter!” Melody said. “She is green and untrained—not to mentiondangerous. You cannot possibly think of letting her alter thecurse.”
“It is true that enchanters and enchantresses-in-training generally do not learn curse modification until they near the end of their apprenticeship, but Angel is a clever girl. She can handle it.” Evariste smiled down at Angelique with gentle affection, but at that moment Angelique did not feel pleased. She was instead filled with the desire to grab him by his fancy cloak and shakehim.
Why does it seem like whenever something dire happens, he takes leave of his sensibilities regarding mypowers?!
