Chapter 5
To Angelique’s surprise—andpuzzlement—Pegasus did choose to spend the night with Roland and her, and the following day, he took them back to the village of Jagst at a brisktrot.
The pair blew into the inn The Turtle & Doves, run by a kind, elderly couple, who informed them that Gabrielle had left early in the morning and headed north. (The couple had also added that a little, orange cat had left with her, though Angelique didn’t understand the significance ofthis.)
“Perhaps she meant to meet up with us?” Angelique asked as they left the inn. (She was surprised to see Pegasus was still there, arching his neck and looking dark and intimidating in the bright and cheerfulvillage.)
“No, she didn’t, that little idiot!” Roland growled, and his back seemed to arch against his will. “That impulsive little brat went toCarabas!”
“To face the ogre?” Angelique frowned. “Byherself?”
“I said I love and admire Gabrielle; I never said she was smart,” Roland growled. “We have to go afterher.”
“Obviously.” Angelique said. “We can use mycoach.”
“Will it be fast enough? How long has she been gone?” Roland twitched his tail back and forth and worriedly lookednorth.
This Gabrielle girl really is special to him, Angelique realized as she watched the cat fret. She sucked in a breath of air and eyedPegasus.
He was the fastest option, but Angelique frankly didn’t know how much longer his good—or perhaps apathetic was a better description—mood wouldlast.
Her palms were a little sweaty as she approached the equine. “Pegasus, er, I’m aware I’m imposing on you, but, could you—um—possibly give Puss and me a ride toCarabas?”
Pegasus snorted, making his nostrils glow red, and pawed at the ground with a hoof, eliciting a deafeningthunderclap.
Roland flattened himself against the ground. “That didn’t make himhappy.”
“Oh, didn’t it?” Sarcasm dripped from Angelique’s voice as she rubbed herears.
Roland stood and started stalking in a circle. “We need to leave now to catch up with her. Don’t you have any speed-boostingspells?”
“I don’t have that kind of war magic,” Angeliquesaid.
Roland growled. “Stay here, I’m going to see if I can get a more precise estimate of when she left.” He bounded back into the inn, forgoing his usual saunter in hisanxiety.
Angelique sighed and scratched her head—until she noticed a little girl watching her, then she pushed her arms to her side and did her best to look serene. She watched the girl run off, then allowed herself todroop.
She scrunched her eyes shut and leaned against the hitching post just outside theinn.
I don’t know what to feel anymore. I’m sad Roland is leaving me but happy for him that he found Gabrielle. But now Gabrielle is in danger, and I need to keep up my search for Evariste, but Gabrielle means so much to Roland, I can’t just leavehim.
Her shoulders shook briefly, until she took in a big gulp of air and shook her head. She didn’t open her eyes, however, until she felt something press into hershoulders.
Swiveling to see the source of the weight, Angelique almost jerked backwards when she found Pegasus’s muzzle migrating from her shoulder to herhair.
“Um, hello. Er, greetings.” Angelique stiffened automatically, but she didn’t dare shyaway.
Pegasus shook his head, tossing his flaming mane into theair.
“Um, you may leave whenever you wish,” Angelique said. “I’m just waiting on Roland, or rather for more information.” She frowned slightly as she let the hitching post take more of her weight. “It seems that his friend—or his mistress, really, since he has chosen to follow her—has gone to Carabas to fight the ogre. She and Roland tried attacking it earlier—that’s how he got hurt. She must have gone back to avengehim…”
Angelique trailedoff.
Though Roland was obviously angry with Gabrielle, in a way, Angelique could understand her actions.I feel similarly, I guess, though I’ll admit guilt is part of my motivation. Not only did Evariste take the spell aimed at me, but I never apologized for ourdisagreement.
Pegasus shifted next to her, and it took Angelique several long moments before she realized he was lowering himself to theground.
Angelique’s eyes bulged slightly as she stared at the equine, but before she could ask him anything, Roland came tearing out of theinn.
