I cannot let Enchanter Evariste ever regret taking me in or decide the Council may be right. If I mess up, I’ll besealed.
She had come to the conclusion before, but she had thought it mockingly. Now, for the first time in years, Angelique could feel her determinationunfurl.
Long had her primary concern been being as harmless as possible and avoiding as much attention as possible in hopes of escaping the endless whispers, the dark looks, and the predictions told to her face that she was a monster for her magic and would one day kill because ofit.
But Enchanter Evariste—to all appearances—seemed to believe the opposite. For now,anyway.
I’ll do everything in my power to prove him right. No matter how I have to suffocate my own magic or how sugary I have to act. If my teachers thought my sarcasm and so-called willfulness were signs of my evil temper, fine. I’ll hide it. I won’t use my dangerous magic, and I will notstray or ever harm asoul.
I can’t mess up this lastchance.
Chapter 4
As it tookAngelique longer than expected to unpack—not because she had much to put away, but because she spent some minutes in front of the mirror trying to practice less-guarded smiles that didn’t make her look like a snarling wolf—Enchanter Evariste took her straight downstairs for dinner, so it wasn’t until the following day that she got to see theworkshop.
“The purpose of a workshop varies greatly from mage to mage,” Enchanter Evariste explained as they climbed the staircase. “For instance, the Council Members predominantly use theirs for paperwork. But every high-ranked mage has one. When you make Enchantress, you’ll get to settle your own home and make a workshop for yourself, aswell.”
“I understand,” Angelique said, her voice as bright as she could makeit.
Evariste paused long enough to twist around and raise an eyebrow at her, then took the last few stairs two at a time. He spun around with the grace of a swordsman and threw his arms wide. “Welcome to your newclassroom.”
There was a glittering globe, which was not a map of the continent and the countries beyond, but rather a representation of the night sky. Something glittered in the center—either magic or a candle—and light escaped through the little holes in the globe and dotted the workshop with the constellations of the nightsky.
Stacked maps and charts and at least four different compasses and spyglasses were placed on a sturdy table. Above the table were two shelves of oddly shaped bottles that sparkled and glowed with differentcolors.
Drapes of crushed blue velvet were scooped to the side, letting the two giant circular windows that decorated the two peaks of the house filter light inside. There were several chairs in different sizes that were laden with blue silk and satincushions.
But despite the finery, the workshop had hidden signs ofwear.
There were a few spots on the walls where the white plaster had crumbled, letting patches of stone peekthrough.
Elaborate, standing candelabras were strategically placed to lighten the room—their metal frames flourished with little trees, deer, and occasionally a fox or rabbit. But underneath every stand were pools of dried wax in swirls of different colors, a testament to the hours Enchanter Evariste submerged himself in hiswork.
“I mostly use my workshop for experiments.” Evariste meandered over to a massive table that was cluttered with papers and knickknacks. “I tinker with new spells and magic, but most of my work is calculating potential locations for portals—both temporary and permanent. We’ll hold most of your lessons here. The rest we’ll do in the librarydownstairs.”
He grinned ruefully and continued. “When I was an apprentice, my master told me a magic user’s workshop should not be near his library, lest a spell combusts and he lose his workshopandhis books. But I keep most trinkets from my travelshere.”
Angelique nodded as she turned in a circle, spying an elven bow hanging from the rafters, a polished lyre that had to be from Torrens, a polished helm placed on the mantle of a giant fireplace, a tiny model ship, and a glass ball that swirled with snowflakes. “It’s a very nice workshop,” Angelique sincerelysaid.
“I’m glad you think so. Here, our desks are at this end.” Evariste ducked into a sort of indoor gazebo. It was made of pillars of white rock veined with gold, though it had a plaster roof painted blue with gold stars. Two desks were arranged inside of it, and the same fancy velvet curtains that were pinned to the side of the windows were tied to the pillars and would provide a sort of privacy screen when tuggedloose.
Angelique hesitantly approached the smaller of the two desks, assuming the handful of books, stacks of papers, and bottles of different-colored inks were forher.
Enchanter Evariste patted her desk. “We’ll get started with your lessons this morning, but first we ought to take our oaths and seal our bond as master andapprentice.”
Angelique could have shouted in glee.Wonderful! Once we take our oaths, he’ll have a much harder time getting rid of me!Despite her delight, Angelique kept her smile controlled and her nod slight. “Of course. What do you need me to do?” she asked, her voicepleasant.
“Here, this is your part.” Enchanter Evariste handed her a thick piece of parchment paper, emblazoned with a short speech written in blue ink. “Sign it first, then read it after me.” He was already scratching his signature across the bottom of his paper with a peacock feather. Once he finished, he passed it to her and waited for her to finish before he startedreading.
“I, Lord Enchanter Evariste of the Fire Gates, claim Angelique—student of Luxi-Domus—as my apprentice,” he read. “I vow to teach her well, to school her in the ways of magic, and to show her the world and her place in it. I will protect and provide for her, and I will instruct her to the best of myabilities.”
Angelique licked her lips and waited for him to nod to her before she began. “I, Angelique—student of magic and Luxi-Domus—hold Lord Enchanter Evariste of the Fire Gates as my instructor. I promise to listen to his wisdom, heed his words, and apply myself to my studies of magic and my role as an enchantress-in-training. I will watch, learn from, and work for my master to the best of myabilities.”
The blue ink on Angelique’s paper started toglow.
“Perfect, now summon a bit of your magic to your thumb, like this.” Enchanter Evariste held up his right thumb, and blue magic flared at thepad.
Angelique hesitated. “But…mymagic…”
