She dug through both the man’s and woman’s pockets, making a triumphant “ah-hah!” when she found the man’s skein ofwater.
“Thank you for the invitation,” Angelique distractedly said. “Might I ask what you aredoing?”
“Leaving a message.” Elle dumped the water out on a patch of dirt and used her fingers to massage the hard dirt until it softened from the water into a mud consistency. “The soldiers Severin sent to shadow me will figure out where I am soon. We’ll be gone by then, of course, but at least they can clean up thismess.”
Using her muddy fingers, Elle spelled out the word “BAD” on the forehead of first the man, then the woman. She wiped her fingers off on her dress and nodded in satisfaction. “There! They’ll recognize my handiwork and take them in. Shall we beoff?”
“If you are satisfied.” Angelique twisted briefly to glance back at Pegasus. “Would you like to ride withme?”
“No—good heavens,no!” Elle shivered at the thought, then marched into the forest, rustling through underbrush. “It’s all very good for a lady enchantress to ride the stars, but I’m just a merchant’s daughter. No, thankyou!”
“You’re a princess, Elle. And please, just call me Angelique. I don’t have a title yet.” Angelique slowly made her way back to Pegasus, who lipped her hair as theywaited.
“Regardless, Rosemerry suits me just fine.” Elle emerged from the forest, holding the reins to a round pony with bright eyes, a reddish chestnut coat, and a white star on hisforehead.
Seeing Pegasus, the pony pricked his ears and nickered in greeting. Elle kissed the pony’s muzzle before she scrambled onto his back. “Don’t mind him. Ever since Severin befriended him in his beast form, he thinks unusual magical beings means treats. He just about ran down a unicorn lastweek.”
Angelique swung up onto Pegasus’ back. “There was a unicorn in Loire? They don’t often leave the woods ofFarset.”
“No, we were in Farset. Please don’t tell Severin about that either—though that one he might know about, as he sent an annoyingly determined squad of soldiers after me.” Elle grinned winningly. “Shall we beoff?”
Angelique nodded, and Pegasus started for the road they had left behind, moving at a steady walk that Rosemerry trotted to keep pacewith.
“If I am interpreting you correctly, it seems that Severin frequently sends soldiers after you?” Angeliqueasked.
Elle laughed. “Yes. He needlessly worries I’m going to run off and get myself introuble.”
Given that Angelique had just watched Elle beat a man senseless, she wasn’t sure the prince’s concerns wereunjustified.
“But it’s unfair because now the soldiers see it as some kind of badge of courage if they manage to follow me when I’m off on…errands. It makes them irritatingly resolute and much harder to shake.” Elle morosely shook her head andsighed.
“What sort oferrandbrought you to encounter peddlers of black magic?” Angelique glanced back—she could still see the lumps where Elle’s victims were plopped—before Pegasus and Rosemerry turned down the forest lane, stepping into the dappled shadows of leafytrees.
“Heard that, did you?” Elle glanced up at Angelique—who was a great deal higher given Pegasus’ height compared to the chubby pony’s. “I unearthed rumors that someone was peddling harmful spells around Noyers and tracked it down to those two. I’ve heard of this pattern—peddlers doling out gray-but-not-fully-illegal magic sniffing around a city to test its receptivity, and then opening up a shop for blackmagic.”
Angelique raised her eyebrows.King Solon of Baris spoke of a similar model when Evariste and I visited him years ago. It seems he was correct in thinking Baris was not their only target.She carefully measured her words before venturing to ask, “Have you seen this happen often inLoire?”
“This is the first time I witnessed it myself. I heard of a few other cases in other countries, though,” Ellesaid.
“I did not know royals shared such information—though it isencouraging.”
“I’m afraid to say they don’t,” Elle said. “I justhappeneduponit.”
Given Elle’s history as an excessively talented intelligencer Ranger, it was safe to say she had “happened upon it” probably while rifling through several monarchs’ personalbelongings.
At least this is not necessarily a new model the black mages have recently adopted, given that King Solon was already aware of it. I know the committee charged with finding the black mages who took Evariste has been searching for similarpatterns.
“You don’t seem surprised,” Ellesaid.
“I heard similar reports some years ago,” Angelique said. “Though it’s still not welcome, particularly given the unusual number of curses and black magic activity that has poppedup.”
Elle ripped the kerchief off her head, freeing her ink-black hair, and abruptly changed conversation topics. “You never responded to my earlier invitation. Please say you’ll join Severin and me this evening atChanceux.”
Angelique was about to agree, but she paused and glanced at the princess. “You intend to use me as a diversion when we arrive, so you can slip off before Severin sees the garb you are dressed in, don’tyou?”
Elle smirked, utterly unrepentant. “Yes, but if you come, you’ll also be able to point out to Severin what you just said to me. And isn’t that moreimportant?”
Angelique wanted to smile, but the princess’ observation struck too close to the truth. “Itis.”
