Angelique poured cream into a saucer and absently set it in front of Roland. She was vaguely aware that he sniffed it and scrunched up his nose, but thankfully held hispeace.
Though her throat felt constricted, Angelique still managed a smile.I really want them to take this assignment. The princess needs someone trustworthy to guard her. I think they’re our best choice, and since Evariste agrees theymustbe.“I wish another enchanter or enchantress had been there to better modify the curse, but I did the best I could at the time.” When she sat down, Roland leaped from his stool and meandered over to her. He sat on the hem of her skirts and twitched his tail back and forth—his non-verbal version ofencouragement.
“Based on what I have heard, you pulled off a brilliant bit of magic,” Firra said. “It was a sound modification—one that Carabosso won’t be able tochange.”
Donaigh nodded and chimed in, “So what is theproblem?”
The smile eased off Evariste’s lips. “There have been…complications. Not with the curse—Mage Firra was right. Angel did a wonderfuljob.”
“I should say so!” Rolandsaid.
Angelique reached down to tickle her companion’s chin. In reflex, Roland started to purr and arch his back before he remembered the mages and forcibly regained his gravecomposure.
“The issue is with the princess herself,” Angelique said. “Her parents kept finding spindles in her bed and among her toys. The Magic Knights of Sole guarded her, but there were several close calls…so Princess Rosalinda was taken intohiding.”
Donaigh fussed with the brim of his straw hat. “I believe I recall hearing that. Didn’t your mother mention it in a letter to you,Firra?”
Firra nodded. “Rumor has it she was spirited off to Verglas so Carabosso and his minions couldn’t reach her, but Mother said she had also been told the princess was taken down to Ringsted. That was at least two or three yearsago.”
“Yes. False rumors were planted so no one would know where she really went,” Evariste said. “The princess has been safe, but the king is worried. It was easy to guarantee her safety when she was nothing more than a toddler and went no farther than her backyard. But she is growing up, and her cover story will be suspicious if she’s not allowed out of eyesight of her home—not to mention she would eventually strain under such rules, Iimagine.”
Angelique glanced from the mages to her master, and slowly said. “She needs to be guarded—discreetly.”
Evariste pressed his fingertips together, creating a steeple. “Exactly so.” He shifted his gaze to Firra and Donaigh. “I was hoping you two would take theassignment.”
The mages were understandably surprised by therequest.
Firra sat back in her chair and blinkedrapidly.
Donaigh whistled. “If I may be so bold—when you said long-term, you weren’tkidding.”
“Indeed,” Evariste said. “If all goes well, you would be a part of the princess’s life and guard her until she turns eighteen. That is over a decade fromnow.”
Donaigh scratched his chin and glanced at Firra. Firra rubbed her thumb and the tip of her pointer finger and slightly pursed herlips.
Several long moments passed as the fire mage and war mage seemed to exchange words with meaningfullooks.
“Why us?” Firra asked, breaking the silence. “We’re untried fledglingmages.”
“Yes, but that’s exactly why the pair of you came to mind.” Evariste leaned back in his chair, a smile back on hislips.
He picked up on something, he thinks they’re going to sayyes.
“The princess needs to be guarded, but the possibility of threats at this moment is quite low,” Evariste continued. “I imagine it will ramp up as the years pass, giving you two plenty of time to learn, improve, and gatherexperience.”
Donaigh leaned forward and rested his forearms on his knees. “But why areyougiving out this assignment…sir? Shouldn’t it be the Veneno Conclave’s job? It is for issues such as this one that it exists, afterall.”
“I’m afraid that’s my fault.” Angelique wanted to yank a lock of hair, but she suspected it would look unprofessional, so she settled for picking Roland upinstead.
“Stop this mistreatment—put me down!” hecomplained.
Angelique ignored his protests and petted him. “As I was the magic user who modified the curse, the managing of the issue would naturally fall to me. However, I’m afraid I lack the experience and expertise required, and this is an issue with which one cannot be toocareful.”
Evariste tapped his fingers on the arm of his chair. “The Veneno Conclave offered to handle the matter—I believe several mages were being considered for it—but Angel was so concerned, I decided we should handleit.”
Angelique smiled at her teacher as she hugged Roland closer to her chest. (The cat protested and tried to wiggle out of her grasp without luck.) “The Conclave resisted a little, but Princess Alessia and Prince Consort Filippo both said they would prefer Master Evariste and I be involved,” she explained. “And King Giuseppe made a direct request aswell.”
“And so here we are,” Evariste said. “If you like, I can give you two time to think it over, but I’m afraid we can’t spare you more than a day or two. If you aren’t interested, we need to find other suitablecandidates.”
