“Then I guess we must leave Angelique under Evariste’s care?” Enchantress Galendra asked as she sank deeper in herchair.
“Unless!” This time, Clovicus turned to the Council with such energy, Angelique suspected this was the point he had been aiming to drive home the entire time. “You give her apprenticeship tome. As Evariste’s old teacher, my claim on Angelique is exempt from the waiting period. It would benatural, in fact, to take her under mywing.”
Enchanter Lazare scratched his beard, making a dry, crackling sound. “That’s very true, and law-abiding to boot!” he said, sounding like he was considering thematter.
Every other member of the Council scrunched their faceup.
Felicienne scowled at her desk in a mixture of disdain and horror—as if Clovicus had just presented her with a hairyspider.
Tristisim was busy mashing his fingers into his forehead, and even Enchantress Primrose looked a little green at theidea.
“No, no,” Primrose laughed uneasily. “I think Angelique will manage quite well on herown.”
“But you were soeagerto let her seek help from another master.” Clovicus smiled like a wolf. “And here Iam!”
“You would make her into the most crooked magic user to ever grace these halls,” Felicienne flatlysaid.
“Lady Enchantress, how you wound me! Evariste is ever the law-abiding enchanter,” Clovicussaid.
“With all too much of a streak of justice thatyoutaught him,” Tristisimgrumbled.
Enchanter Crest scratched his jaw. “It is probable he never would have requested Angelique as his apprentice if not for yourtutelage.”
A newfound fondness for Clovicus surged through Angelique with that epiphany.I am so glad he’s Evariste’s master. And not just because he seems like he would be an unpleasantopponent!
Tristisim clenched his right hand into a fist and lightly rapped the surface of his desk. “It is apparent this conversation isn’t going to produce anything fruitful. You are free to go, Apprentice Angelique, but be aware you are on thin ice. Next time, the Council will not be sounderstanding.”
Angelique bit her tongue to hold in the sharp words that wanted to burst from her, but she managed a curtsey before she trooped down the few steps of the dais and followed Clovicus into thehallway.
Angelique smiled and nodded at the enthusiastic war mage who bowed to her. “Thank you, Enchanter Clovicus, for yourhelp.”
Clovicus shrugged as he sauntered down the hallway. “You’re doing all the heavy lifting in the search for Evariste. The least I can do is keep the Council from sealing you out of spite. You know, if you threw Evariste’s name around a bit more, they wouldn’t drag you in here so often. They summon you because theyknowyou fearthem.”
“I doubt that,” Angelique said dourly. “They feel too sanctified in theiractions.”
Clovicus shrugged. “It’s your choice, I suppose. What will you do now that the conflict in Arcainia isresolved?”
“I need to return to Torrens to check in on Evariste’s house,” Angelique said. “But I’m back to combing the continent in search of him. I’ll do some research before I pick the next country I mean tovisit.”
“Very well, keep in touch. Let me know if you find anything—or plan to break more magical laws,” hesaid.
Angelique’s smile lessened to a frown. “I don’t mean to break them out of a desire to makehavoc.”
Enchanter Clovicus rested a brief hand on her shoulder. “I know,” he said. “You have acted with honor. I meant for it to be a joke—obviously one that is poor in taste if you could not tell that. Don’t let them make you doubt yourself, Angelique. You’ll be an excellent enchantress if you can manage that.” He winked and set off, beckoning her to follow. “Come, I’ll walk you to Evariste’soffice.”
Finally,Angelique thought as she glided after the Lord Enchanter,I can finally get back to focusing on my search for Evariste. If only I could domore.
* * *
Winter passed,and in early spring, Angelique set out forRingsted.
Unfortunately, the storms surrounding the shipping giant had only worsened over the winter, cutting the country off from all outside contact (its northern border that attached it to the continent was made up of the nearly impassable ChronosMountains).
The mountain range was treacherous and impossible for armies or merchant caravans to pass through, but one determined Enchantress-in-Training with a starry steed could—and did—makeit.
Unfortunately, she had very little to show forit.
Angelique had been hopeful that the country’s isolated state meant Evariste was present, and the black mages were covering their tracks. She found no sign, however, of her instructor—or a magicalmirror.
