She couldn’t even find a hint of black mages in the country, although she was convinced there had to be one hidingsomewherein the green land of Ringsted. (There was no explaining the storms,otherwise.)
Angelique tipped her head as she watched one of the storm lines. Though sunlight shone on land, out on the sea—in the deeper waters where boats would sail—angry black clouds dumped torrential rains and spat lightning strikes at an alarmingrate.
I should see if the Veneno Conclave has sent any weather mages to investigate the storms, Angelique thought. The wind tugged on a lock of her hair—today she had settled it into a copper hue—and the ocean lulled her with the steady crash of waves and saltyscent.
Ringsted—with its green lands, rocky sea cliffs, and plentiful beaches—was the kind of country that carved a spot in one’ssoul.
“Another time.” She opened her eyes and squared her shoulders. “I need to continue my search for Evariste…and these storms bearinvestigating.”
Angelique turned her back on the blue ocean accented with frothy white lines of cresting waves and made her way toPegasus.
The constellation stood at the tree line, sniffing greenery though he made no move to taste it. When he saw Angelique approaching, he tossed his head, making his bridle—one of his new accessories—jingle.
The bridle was made of leather dyed blue and accented with tiny glittering gems that reminded Angelique of stars. His other new accessory was a saddle—one Angelique felt hesitant to sit on given that the seat of the saddle displayed a silvery moon thatchangedwith respect to the real moon that hung in the sky. He had…Angelique hesitated to say it, but…createdthem after Angelique asked if he could get her across the Chronos Mountains that spring. (One moment he was bareback, the next he wore asaddle.)
“I think I’m ready to go. Evariste clearly isn’t here, though there is black magic at work in those storms.” She lifted her nose, as if she could scent out the perpetrator. “Twistedblack magic, though I suppose all kinds are.” She held in a shudder as she leaned into the constellation for comfort. “If I’m not mistaken, and there’s a large chance that I am, this one has a hint of blood magic init.”
Of all dark magic, blood magic was among the worst, for it required the sacrifice and blood of the innocent to manufacture power for itswielder.
Angelique shivered, until Pegasus dropped his head over her shoulder in the horse-y version of ahug.
She rested her head against his neck, then made herself pull away and swing onto hisback.
Pegasus started heading northwest, angling towards the mountain range they would spend the next few terrible weekscrossing.
As his hooves trod in a steady beat, Angelique continued to mull over recentevents.
There’s something going on. In the span of a few years, Evariste has been taken, Prince Severin was cursed, Arcainia was briefly taken over by a witch, and now thesestorms?
The world always had a history of fights and skirmishes with black mages. But this seemed like a lot in a very short span oftime.
And to top it off, this year Princess Rosalinda of Sole turns eighteen. Her modified curse will make her fall asleep. The timing of it seems very…providential given everythingelse.
She needed to return to Sole. In the latest report Angelique had received from Firra—before she left for Ringsted—the fire mage said Carabosso was slowly closing in on the woods where Princess Rosalinda—unaware of her birthright and raised as a commoner—lived.
If Carabosso killed Rosalinda instead of merely setting off her curse, the results would be catastrophic for Sole given she was the heir to a throne that prized—above all else—its lineage to a queen of the distantpast.
Angelique ducked a branch and frowned deeply.So much is going wrong. How am I supposed to decide what to dofirst?
It was moments like this when Angelique missedEvariste.
Four years had passed since Evariste was taken. Acceptance had finally settled in—Angelique was now more used to traveling alone and acting without looking to hermentor.
But, in a terrible twist, she seemed to feel his absence even more keenly. Early on, she had missed him because she worried she couldn’t do it alone, that she wasn’t skilled enough and possibly was toodangerous.
Now, I’ve learned that doesn’t matter at all, as often times, I’m the only available option, she thoughtwryly.
Now, with every bow she received and every smile of thanks she was given, Angelique missed his hidden jokes, easy warmth, and generalpresence.
Angelique snapped out of her pity party when Pegasus came to an abrupthalt.
He pricked his ears, listening. She kept quiet and also tried to listen for whatever had made him stop but heardnothing.
Pegasus, however, must have heardmore.
He tossed his head and pranced, taking a few steps south rather thannorth.
Angelique held the reins of the bridle loosely so the constellation was still the navigator in any situation, but it seemed like he wasn’t going to go back on course without some semblance of adiscussion.
