“Do you want to come with us?” Donaigh asked. Though he tried to nonchalantly adjust his straw hat, his grin was deeper thanusual.
“I’d like to, but I think I’m going to outmaneuver the Veneno Conclave and go there before the Council can send me a summons,” Angeliquesaid.
Firra winced. “I’msorry.”
Angelique sighed. “As amI.”
Donaigh squinted at the sky. “Any news on Lord EnchanterEvariste?”
“Not since I’ve uncovered that he’s somewhere in a mirror, no.” Angelique twisted uncomfortably so she could look east.No sense putting it off. I might as well face my doom. And if I get there fast enough, I can ask Clovicus forhelp.
“Is there any way we could help, Lady Enchantress?” Firraasked.
“We could come with you before we begin our hunt for Carabosso and speak on your behalf,” Donaighsaid.
Angelique tried to smile at the pair, but it was tough given her stomach flopped in her insides like a fish. “Thank you. I am grateful, but I don’t think it will make a difference to the Council. Only Evariste could…” She stopped herself before she could say anything that sounded too much like self-pity or would flood her with another wave ofbitterness.
She shook her head. “It doesn’t matter, but thank you for thesupport.”
“We stand with you—if not physically, then in the heart,” Firra called afterher.
Angelique waved, but when Pegasus chose a path between grass fields surrounding Ciane, she let herself wiltagain.
All this meddling with magic. I only hope it pays off. But even if I did the spells right, in a way it still feels like a failure that we had to resort to such a measure. I’ve been casting so much magic, but it seems like nothing is truly resolved, and I’m just waiting for the next fire that I have to putout.
Chapter 27
Though Angelique choseto face her bleak future head-on, she couldn’t bring herself to go to Torrens and use Evariste’s office portal to reach the Conclave quickly. Pegasus gladly carried her to the Conclave fortress, but as she expected, while riding through Loire and on her way north to Mullberg, a black crow dropped a letter in Angelique’s lap, ordering her to present herself immediately before the Council, or they would put a warrant out forher.
Which is why, in mid-fall, Angelique trooped down the long hallway that led into Hallowed Hall, Clovicus strolling withher.
“Relax, Angelique,” Clovicussaid.
Angelique snorted. “Relax. Yes. That seems perfectly easy to do when I know they will punish me forthis.”
“They can’t punish you for anything without Evariste unless you do something terrible—like black magic,” Clovicus remindedher.
“That’s not going to stop them from trying,” Angelique grimlysaid.
“Yes, well, we need to work on your tendency to self-judge,” Clovicus said. “You cower quite a bit whenever they put you on the stand, which is what makes them think they can bullyyou.”
Angelique shot the lord enchanter a glare when they paused outside the door and waited for the war mage on guard to open the doors fromthem.
Clovicus rolled his eyes. “Looking at me like that doesn’t mean it’s nottrue.”
Angelique smiled at the war mage. “Thank you,” she said before she hurried into HallowedHall.
Clovicus, however, wasn’t done. “Do you think Evariste would be happy watching you troop before them every few months? Let me answer in case you doubt him: no.” He spoke in a whispering hiss as he trailedAngelique.
Angelique stopped several steps short of the hateful, lit dais that was waiting for her and turned her back to the waiting Council so she could address Clovicus. “I’m trying to do what Evariste taught me to—I’m trying to be a valiantenchantress!”
“And you are!” Clovicus said. “You’re the best blazing enchantress alive even though you’re still an apprentice—and not just because you’re powerful but because you’regood. But it seems you haven’t figured it out yet, so I’m going to tell you straight: the Veneno Conclave doesn’t want outstanding mages that the populace adores and celebrates as heroes. They want an organized machine that they can count on to fall in line and follow therules.”
“Lord Enchanter Clovicus,” Lord Enchanter Crest called, sounding amused. “Why do I get the feeling that whatever you’re whispering into Apprentice Angelique’s ear, it isn’t complimentary tous?”
Clovicus met Angelique’s gaze and nodded, then backed up. “Surely you’re joking, Crest. Everyone knows I have thehighestregard for thelaw.”
Lord Enchanter Tristisim scowled. “Only so you can figure out how to get around it. Apprentice, step onto the dais sometime this century, if it pleases you,” hegrowled.
