“I’ll just put your gifts in my room for now, then we can review a few spells that might help with the puppet. Something with fire,perhaps?”
Angelique’s mouth warred between frowning and smiling when Roland settled against her with a sigh. “Don’t you think the puppet would shriek the whole time we burnedhim?”
“A solid point. We’ll have to reconsider,” Evariste said. “But first, your gift. Why don’t you find your new assistant a cushion or something to sleep on, and we’ll reconvene in theworkshop?”
Angelique nodded and trotted off to her bedroom, intending to snag one of her tasseledpillows.
When he left for the Veneno Conclave, I thought he was furious with me. But he comes back, giving me an expensive cat and orders for magical missions? I don’t know what to think anymore, but I hope I can survive his newestschemes.
When she ducked into her room, she released the sigh she’d been holding.At least it seems he’s given up on making me use my core magic, for now. All I can do is hope it stays thatway.
* * *
Angelique exhaled white puffs,and leaves crackled under her feet as she slowly prowled around a practice dummy. Fall was settling over the woods, and a brisk breeze made the thicket cooler thanusual.
Angelique clenched her teeth as she felt her magic—sharp and cold—try to push against the walls she had placed around it. Carefully she pulled more magic, twisting it as she waited forRoland.
The black and white cat—who had left kittenhood behind him years ago and was now a large and handsome cat—sat on a stack of books, reading one Angelique had opened forhim.
Over four years had passed since Evariste had brought the magic cat home. And as the enchanter had predicted, Roland had picked up on the workings of magic—and could even perform some charms and defensive spells himself. He was a great help to Angelique and was not afraid to challenge her more than Evaristewould.
Roland cleared his throat. “I am prepared; we may begin. Your opponent approaches youwith—”
Angelique blew a fireball at the dummy, encasing its head inflames.
Roland scowled at her. “You may be an enchantress-in-training, but you are an unculturedbrute.”
“Better to defeat a confirmed enemy before they attack than risk injuring bystanders,” Angeliquecountered.
Roland’s long black tail twitched back and forth, betraying his irritation with her. “Fine. You attacked with fire. Your opponent retaliates with a poison rope flicked at yourhead.”
Angelique had started to sprint towards the dummy but dropped to her knees and leaned back, skidding the last few feet. She tapped the ground as she slid past the dummy. A crack opened up in the earth, and the dummy fell in up to its neck before the ground clamped shut aroundit.
“Well done,” Roland sourly said. “You have just ruined a city street, costing the taxpayers a lot ofmoney.”
“You never said we were in a city,” Angeliqueargued.
Roland sniffed, and his tail quirked into a question mark shape. “You neverasked!”
Angelique rolled her eyes as she made the earth spit the dummy back up and settled him into a standingposition.
Roland is a wonderful resource and a challenging tutor, yes, but he’s also incredibly bossy and smug to go with it. The littletyrant!
Roland swatted at the book with a white paw. He twitched his whiskers and must have used a charm or one of the minor spells he was capable of casting, for a page turned in the book. “For this next match, use an opening attack that willdistractyour opponent—not instantly draw the attention of the entirestreet.”
“Why?” Angeliqueasked.
“Because at times you might rely onstealthinstead of banging around like an ogre loosened upon acastle!”
Angelique considered first the cat then the dummy. “Ready,” shesaid.
Roland graciously bowed his head. “You maybegin.”
Angelique made a flicking motion with her finger, and the dummy was swallowed up by a monstrosity of a gown—pink with enough bows, ruffles, and skirts to choke the tackiest of dressmakers. As an afterthought, Angelique added a pink headdress, aswell.
Roland narrowed his bronze eyes and scowled at Angelique. “And what isthatsupposed toaccomplish?”
“You said to distract him. I assure you he’s quite distracted now,” Angelique said. “I put a hoop skirt in that dress. Those things arehorrific.”
