“Rumpelstiltskin is not our son,” Angelique tried to say as elegantly—and loudly—as shecould.
On her lap, Roland stirred. “Shout that a bit louder,” he grumbled as he stretched his white front legs. “I don’t think the griffin roosting on the roof heardyou.”
* * *
Yet,possibly the worst moment was in the summer of her twelfth year as Evariste’sapprentice.
“You’re doing well,” Evaristeremarked.
“Thank you, Master Evariste,” Angelique said as she stood up from the crouch she was tucked in and wiped sweat from her forehead. Behind her, the scarecrow dummy sagged at the base of the stick it was attachedto.
“I suppose she isacceptable,” Rolandsniffed.
Evariste thoughtfully rubbed his jaw as he considered the fallen dummy. “You’re more than skilled enough that I should teach you a few advancedattacks.”
“What do you mean by advanced?” Angeliqueasked.
“Sometimes, in dire need, the easiest way to face your foe is to hit them with magic in an unfiltered, pure form,” Evariste explained. “It’s a maneuver that will only work for you orme.”
“You mean enchantresses and enchanters?” Angeliqueasked.
“No,” Evariste said. “People with extraordinary amounts ofpower.”
Angelique scratched her forehead and frowned a little. “What do you mean—” Before she could further inquire, an explosion shuddered behind her, making the ground shiver and filling the air with pelting pebbles and clods ofdirt.
Instinctively, Angelique hopped closer to Evariste and whirledaround.
The dummy wasgone. Incinerated by Evariste’spower.
All that was left behind was a crater, and Evariste’s magic—which flickered like tongues of fire and enclosed a cottage-sizedsphere.
Angelique felt her eyesbulge.
She hadn’t seen Evariste display such devastation before—she hadn’t even thought himcapableof something likethis!
I guess there is more to him than I know or understand.Angelique stared at the display of hispower.
At her feet, Roland arched his back, his tail puffed up as he tried to keep fromhissing.
Evariste stared dispassionately at the example of his power. “Using techniques like this, you can swiftly stop a person. It’s not safe to use in populated areas, though, and it can be risky to use around other magicusers.”
“Why?” Rolandasked.
“It’s rather unstable,” Evaristesaid.
His magic flickered, and another explosion went off, rocking the ground with enough force to make Angeliquestagger.
She fell into Evariste, who slipped his arms around her back as he steadiedher.
“Perfectly exemplified.” Evariste coughed in the stirring of the dust and pressed Angelique’s head into his shoulder so she escaped the worst ofit.
“Entirely lacking finesse,” Rolandcomplained.
“Maybe, but it gets the job done,” Evaristesaid.
The ground finally settled again, and when Angelique peered over her shoulder, she saw the sphere of magic wasgone.
“This is something I should never attempt,” Angelique decided. She tried to take a step back, but Evariste still held hersecure.
