“With the school life you’ve described, I suppose it’s not a surprise. But if she were any less cunning and even just alittledopey, she’d look at you as a hero, and not some poor sop she’s trying to swindle into thinking she’s good.” Enchanter Clovicus said. “Itwasa risk to take her on. If you were so concerned for her, you should have come to me—I could have requested her as my apprentice. Why didn’tyou?”
Evariste was silent. He had no answer for that—at least none that he wanted to explore, particularly with his old teacher.Any answer I have is purely selfish. And yet, I don’t regret it. And by the end of her apprenticeship, I’ll make certain Angelique is no longer afraid of her own shadow and has powerful allies to support her in whatever ventures she chooses tofollow.
“Regardless, she’s your responsibility now—which means you can’t go around doingstupidthings like storming the Headmaster’s office and shouting him down,” Enchanter Clovicussaid.
“Then what do I do?” Evariste asked, defeated. “How do I make her see her magic is a blessing, not a curse? That it’s something she shouldembrace?”
Enchanter Clovicus was silent for several minutes, his brow furrowed as he stared at an elaborate woven rug of vines andflowers.
Evariste waited patiently.He won’t suggest anything lightly, and I trust his judgement in this matter. He managed to make me a decent enchanter, when I could have easily turned into an entitled brat with the wrongmaster.
“Teach her with all the warmth you have. Spoil her, take her traveling, and show her that the world doesn’t think she’s a monster,” the enchanter said finally. “Don’t make her practice her core magic if she doesn’t want to. Give her as many books as she’ll read, and get her to try every kind of magic you can. If you can get her to love what she candowith her magic, it will eventually lead her to being grateful for having such strong core magic that lets her do all these wonderous things.But.” Enchanter Clovicus held up a finger and shook it. “You have to walk a fine line, Evariste. If she falls in love with you, it will only make things worse. She needs to learn to depend on herself, first, or she’ll stay stuntedforever.”
Evariste nodded slowly. “I’ve been trying to get her to warm up a bit, but you’re right about playing on her love of knowledge. She has a thirst for learning. Given the right tools, she’ll happily explore different magic-work.”
“Then push for that with everything you’ve got,” Enchanter Clovicussaid.
Evariste stood, feeling better now that his icy anger had eased—and he had a goal to work towards. “Thank you, for everything. You’ve given me some great ideas—and some new errands torun.”
Enchanter Clovicus chuckled. “Of course. You weremyapprentice—I’ll always watch out for you. Just be careful with her,” hewarned.
Evariste was at the salon door when he laughed. “Yes, yes, you got that point acrossclearly.”
“And Evariste,” Clovicus called after him. “Don’t you go falling for hereither.”
Evariste laughed. “I’ve never had a problem with romance before,master.”
“Maybe so,” Clovicus called after him as he stepped through the door. “But you’ve never met a girl who is more taken with your knowledge than your magic,either!”
Chapter 17
Enchanter Evariste did not comehome that night, or the nightafter.
By dawn of the third day, Angelique was starting to grownervous.
Why would he be gone that long? He was angry, but not mad enough to abandon me like an unwanted puppy. At least, I think not? Would he leave me in his house if he intended to break ouroaths?
She finally shook her head and sprinkled sand on her paper to soak up the extra ink of the words she had just written. “No, I must be mistaken,” she dared to say aloud. “Unlike me, Enchanter Evariste is kind and righteous. Mostly. Though I need to be careful and do everything I can to impress him, I don’t think he would end my tutelage soeasily.”
Angelique nodded, taking some relief in the thought, then studied her paper with a critical eye, looking for errors. (Because when Evariste finallydidcome home, she was going to make sure it was to spotlesswork!)
She felt a familiar wisp of magic and paused—her quill hovering over her paper.Did he just get back? I thought I felt a portal open, but he’s got them running all over the house, so it can be easy tomistake.
The front door opened, and even all the way up in the workshop, Angelique heard a cheerful call. “Angel? I’mback!”
Angelique abandoned her work and rushed down the stairs, steeling herself as she tugged her gown—a work of blue silk layered to look like a gushing wave—straight.
“Welcome home, Master Evariste!” Angelique said in a sing-song voice when she reached the second floor. She continued down the boxy staircase, a big smile forced on herlips.
Her smile turned sincere when she saw Evariste, standing near the base of the stairs, with several packages arranged around him. He was wearing his favorite cape—the black and dark blue one—but had tugged down his hood for theoccasion.
“Thank you, it is good tofinallybe back.” He beamed as he unfolded his arms and held themopen.
Angelique paused halfway down the last flight of stairs.What is hedoing?
Evariste’s smile didn’t fade, and he kept his arms open, though he wriggled his right fingers at her in a summoninggesture.
He can’t really be inviting me…there?Angelique stared at Evariste’s chest, her eyebrows knitting together. (It was easier to think of it as Evariste inviting her to relocate to a position in front of his chest than a hug. A hug seemed…potentiallyembarrassing.)
