But, no. She must have been a warrior of some sort, as she wore a leather doublet, boots, and trousers. “Please,” she hiccupped as she held out a limp bundle of black and white fur. “Save my magiccat.”
Angelique started to reach for the bundle, then felt her heart stop when she recognized the cat’s face. “Roland?”
“You know him?” the beautiful girlsniffed.
“Yes.” Angelique scooped Roland up and started running her hands across his still body, checking for injuries. “Whathappened?”
“He was flung into a wall by anogre.”
What wasRolanddoing near an ogre? He barely ever left Evariste’s house and complained endlessly about the toils of traveling!Angelique grimaced as her magic told her what she had already guessed. “He has internal injuries—and some broken bones, Ithink.”
Roland’s lovely companion rubbed her eyes. “Will he make it?” she asked in a shakyvoice.
Her heart in her throat, Angelique stared down at her old friend. “Not if I don’t use healing magic onhim.”
“Then use it!” the young lady begged. “Please, I’ll pay anyprice.”
“I’m afraid I can’t.”At least not in sight of anyone. I’mnotgoing to let him die, but how do I play this so the Council doesn’t use it as an excuse to throw meout?
She tried to puzzle out a proper plan, but her thoughts couldn’t settle down. She needed to heal Roland, but how? Andhowdid it come to pass that the entire village seemed to know him? And what was he doing this far east inArcainia, the country where magic had beenoutlawed!
“But you must! Please, Lady Enchantress,” the female villager said. “We will offer you whatever price you desire. Master Puss has done somuch!”
“Not just for us but for all the northern villages of Arcainia,” the man holding the exhausted horserumbled.
“He’s routed bandits and killed man-eating snakes,” another villagersaid.
“And fought goblins and vanquished witches,” a young ladshouted.
“He and Lady Gabrielle got rid of the Lech riverpirates.”
“And they single-handedly stopped a fire from spreading to a hay barn inMuarg!”
Drat. I guess I should have chosen my words with more care, but I can’t let them think I’m going to break thelaw.
“Dear people,” Angelique started, “you misunderstood me. I am not unwilling, but as most kinds of magic are outlawed in Arcainia, healing magic among them, I amunable.”
“The border—it isn’t far from here,” Roland’s companionsaid.
“Ride straight north, and you’ll find yourself at the foot of Mullberg’s mountain range,” the man holding the horse directed. “You’ll have to go through Carabas lands,though.”
“Carabas is long from east to west. North to south, it’s quite stubby; the lady can reach the border in under an hour on a swift horse,” a villagersaid.
Really? We’re that close to the border?Angelique glanced north, where a mountain range divided Arcainia from Mullberg. Craggy peaks loomed on the horizon, but she had assumed they were farther away than they appeared to be.Maybe I won’t have to break the law to save Roland. He’ll last that short of a ride, and then I can really hit him hard with my magic instead of trying to be secretive aboutit.
“Please,” the beautiful young ladybegged.
Her mind made up long before (as soon as she saw the cat), Angelique nodded. “Of course,” she said. She glanced at Roland—who lay in her arms—then slightly tilted her head as she briefly studied the young lady.I do look forward to hearing Roland’s explanation for how he came to be here, traveling with a non-magical young lady for thatmatter.
“You can use my horse, Lady Enchantress,” a villager offered. “Gaffer is one of the fastest in thevillage.”
Angelique shook her head. “My coach will be faster.” Evariste owned only the fastest of horses and spelled all his coaches and wagons for durability and speed. The horses would have no problem pulling the coach through the wilds of Arcainia. They would be swift. “…But not faster thanhissteed.” Angelique paused next to her carriage and gazed at thesky.
Do I dare try it? If he gets it in his mind, he could kill me and ruin the village. But Pegasus is a constellation. Not even an elven steed can outpacehim.
“Please, Lady Enchantress,” Roland’s friendwhispered.
Angelique briefly shut her eyes.I failed Evariste in my cowardice, and I haven’t been able to find him. I cannot fail Roland as well. If I can get him to the border and heal him faster, I owe it tohim.
