“Besides,” Evariste continued, ignoring the cat’s observation. “She’s completed a number of assignments since those two with a stunning success rate! Her reputation isblooming.”
“Into a beautiful weed,” Rolandmuttered.
Feeling the need to change the subject—she didn’t need Evariste cooing to build up her confidence while Roland actively sharpened his claws in it—Angelique set an eager smile on her lips. “You said we leave for Baris tomorrow morning. Is there anything I need to do inpreparation?”
“We’ll review boon-granting tonight—after dinner. Besides that, pack a satchel, perhaps?” Evariste suggested. “And a pillow for your assistant, should he choose tocome.”
“I. Will. Not!” Roland carefully enunciated everyword.
Evariste chuckled. “As you wish, MasterRoland.”
Angelique stood and dusted dirt off her practice clothes. “I will begin preparations as soon as possible.” She swiped up Roland, making him squawk. “Thank you, MasterEvariste.”
“Of course!” Evariste waved them off as Angelique hurried for the pondbridge.
“Why the hurry?” Roland complained as Angelique jostled him in her arms. “You aren’t leaving untiltomorrow.”
“Yes, but while I pack, I intend to dump you into the library with a few books onboons.”
“Aiming to get an edge on yourstudies?”
“Yes.”
“How intelligent of you. There may be hope for you yet! You’ll never be as smart as a cat, of course, but at least you are proving you canlearn.”
Angelique purposely bounced a few steps, jostling him again. “Thank you, dear Roland,” she said with realsincerity.
I am grateful for his help. Boons are tricky business, as they require imbedding a spell in a person. Baris is going to be difficult, and I’ll need every trick I can learn to get me through this, or my magic might do more harm thangood.
Chapter 18
The following morning,Angelique stepped out of the dreary autumn rains that drowned Torrens into the bright and warm sunshine ofBaris.
She squinted and shielded her eyes as a gust of wind made her light-and-breezy gown puff. “Is that Fillia?” she asked, pointing to a giant city sprawled across thehorizon.
Evariste closed the portal. “Yes, in all its beauty andsplendor.”
Angelique couldn’t see much of the city itself—it was hidden behind protective stone walls. But the palace—a giant edifice that towered above everything else—wasvisible.
The palace was a giant cylinder, topped with a royal purple dome that possessed only a slight curve—like a sea turtle’s shell. Gold shapes and swirls were painted across the dome, glittering in the sun, and three similarly shaped and decorated cylindrical buildings were arranged in front of it in a triangularformation.
The famous Aurum Desert was quite a bit south of Fillia, but even here the dirt had a fair amount of sand in it, and much of the countryside was scrubby grass, except for brilliant plumes of greenery that marked lakes and ponds. Giant statues nearly as tall as Evariste’s house marked the winding path to thecapital.
“But we aren’t going to Fillia right away,” Evariste said. “The King and his family aren’t expecting us until tonight. Instead, we—or you, rather—are first going to practice boon-granting in this littlevillage.”
Evariste put his back to the capital and gestured to the smaller village built around the edge of a blue-greenlake.
Palm trees and scrappy, leafed trees encircled the pond and defiantly sprouted up in the middle of village roads and lanes. Most of the houses and buildings were constructed out of plaster and stone and were square- or rectangular-shaped, with rooftops that were only barely pitched for water drainage. Pots of tilting plants and unlit braziers decorated the area, many of them serving as resting perches forbirds.
Angelique watched a young lady lead a prancing white horse up to the lake to sample the water. “Is there a specific reason why you chose this village?” sheasked.
“Mostly because it is a convenient distance from Fillia,” Evariste admitted. “But also because while it is not a poor village, its people are not wealthy. Can you tell me why thatmatters?”
Angelique thought for a minute, watching a shepherd boy herd his goats up to the lake and another man wade through the bleating herd, leading a camel and a placid ox. “Because boon-granting is most often given to peasant folk?” sheasked.
“Exactly. Gift-giving, like we granted Princess Rosalinda, is almost exclusively done for royals only.” Evariste tilted his head as he studied the village, making his silky blond ponytail slip over his shoulder. “Explain the process, please,Angel.”
Angelique shifted her gaze from the animals to the lake and struggled to focus. It wasn’t that she was so taken by Baris—though the country was beautiful. It was the sensation of latent magic that pressed against her senses.It’s everywhere! I knew Baris has historically been the most magic-friendly country, but it even dusts theair!
