“You might find the war mage has a…different reaction to you,” hesaid.
Angelique wrinkled her forehead. “Do I need to beworried?”
Evariste laughed. “Not at all. It is more that I don’t think you are aware of just how popular you are with warmages.”
Angelique pressed her lips together. “Whoever your source of information is, they’re starting to lose theirtouch.”
“You’re going to be the first war enchantressever,” Evariste said gently. “They are a group of mages who have long lacked high level representation. That makes you a hero tothem.”
Angelique waited until he was down the hallway before she scoffed.A hero? HAH! I’m closer to avillain!
“You ought to use your popularity with the war mages,” Roland advised. There was a pop, and he appeared at her feet, shaking off the invisibility charm he had recently mastered—and taken to using whenever possible to preen over his success. “If you had more mages at your back I imagine those in the Conclave wouldn’t pick on you quite somuch.”
“Yes, because organizing a bunch of war mages to personally support me doesn’t at all sound like the maneuverings of a budding tyrant,” Angelique said flatly. She cocked her head as she finished preparing the tea tray, listening to Evariste greet themages.
Roland sniffed. “You haven’t the backbone to be atyrant.”
“That’s agoodthing,” Angeliquesaid.
“I suppose,” Roland said with obviousreluctance.
“Thank you for coming today, Mage Donaigh and Mage Firra,” Evariste’s muffled voice meandered down the hallway. “Welcome to my home. Please, join us in thesalon.”
Evariste and the mages were quiet for a moment as the sound of footstepsprevailed.
“You have a beautiful home,” a warm, feminine voicesaid.
That must be Firra,Angelique thought as she set the last teapot on the tray. She took a breath to set her shoulders, then picked up the tray and started down thehallway.
“Thank you!” Evariste said. “I’m rather fond of it myself, though I find I enjoy it more now that I’m not the only one rattling aboutit.”
“This house has never rattled,” Angelique said from thehallway.
“Indeed, or I shouldn’t be willing to stay in it!” Roland complained as he sauntered afterher.
Cat! We need to be putting our best foot forward! We have to convince them to take this assignment!“Roland,domind your manners.” Angelique grimaced at him before she swept into the sitting room, the tea tray inhand.
Evariste beamed at her. “Ah, I don’t recall if either of you have had the pleasure of meeting my lovely apprentice, Enchantress Angelique. Angel, this is Fire Mage Firra and War MageDonaigh.”
Donaigh, the war mage, was a tall, stick-like man. His unruly blond hair was topped by a straw hat, which only added to the relaxed aura he gave off with his half smile. However, Angelique didn’t miss the sharpness in his gaze, or the callouses on his hands that attested to long hours of weaponpractice.
The fire mage, Firra, was drastically different. Her olive complexion gave her a warmer aura, but both her sleek black hair and her dark eyes held hidden flickers of blue—like the hottest offlames.
Angelique wore her smile like a shield, so she wasn’t tempted to retreat and take a few steps backwards under the mage’s intense gazes. Instead she fixed her grip on the tea tray so she could curtsey without dropping it. “Greetings. I am honored to meetyou.”
Firra and Donaigh were seated together on the blue settee, though Donaigh leaped off his cushion and bowed deeply. “The honor is all ours.” When he straightened up, he offered Angelique a bright smile, his eyes eagerly studyingher.
Angelique tried not to stare.Oh my. Evariste might be right about warmages.
“Ahem,” Rolandcoughed.
“Oh, yes,” Evariste said with his trademark easy smile. “May I also present to you Angel’s pet cat,Roland.”
Angelique glanced down at her snobby companion, already anticipating his acidicreply.
“I, rude sir, am not apet!” Roland sneered. “I am amagiccat—I serve as a guide and reference for Lady EnchantressAngelique.”
Evariste took the tea tray from Angelique and set it on a low end table. “He does that, too,” he acknowledged as he seated himself in a straight-backed, wooden chair accented with clawedfeet.
