“Michi says she left early, so it’s certain she’s already in Carabas—what is going on?” Roland skidded to a stop just before he crashed intoPegasus.
“I think Pegasus has changed his mind and is willing to take us?” Angelique studied the constellation with narrowed eyes, searching for a clue to hisintentions.
Pegasus blinked his liquid black eyes and remainedstill.
Roland’s tail formed the shape of a question mark before he nodded. “I’ll chance it.” He leaped onto the constellation’s back, his puffed tail betraying hisnerves.
Angelique sucked in a deep breath.Evariste might be beyond my reach right now, but we can still help Roland’s Gabrielle if we hurry.She studied Pegasus’ face, blinking when she thought she saw a comet streak across his forehead.I can risk getting tossed off if it’s forRoland.
Angelique slid onto Pegasus’ back. Roland climbed into her lap just before the equine rocked to his feet. “So,” she started. “Where do wego?”
“North,” Roland said as Pegasus started to trot, rapidly exiting the village. “And then east. ToCarabas.”
* * *
Pegasus borethem steadily and hastily to Carabas. Even when they tore through the abandoned city, his pace—fast enough to cloud Angelique’s gaze with tears—didn’tfalter.
Carabas—from its empty streets and battered gates to its quiet-as-death castle—made Angelique shiver. The sky was thick with clouds when Pegasus dropped them off in a courtyard. The castle feltdisconcerting.
Angelique had shivered upon seeing that the gray stone of the castle was covered by black moss which only added to the gloom of the place, but her fear shifted to irritation when she got stuck in awindow.
“You have adapted entirely too easily to the lifestyle of an adventurer,” she grumbled as she tried to wriggle through a busted windowframe.
“Do you have the location spell going?” Roland demanded as he waited inside the castle, nervously twitching histail.
On the way to Carabas—which Pegasus had blasted through fast enough to make both of them windswept and rumpled—Roland had proposed the idea of Angelique creating a tracking spell (as she had gainedgreatproficiency with them since beginning her quest to find Evariste) to locate the ogre, making it easier to creep through thecastle.
Angelique scowled as the spell curled around her like a cat. “Yes, I have it running. It can’t find theogre.”
“I thought you said you were good at tracking spells” Rolandhissed.
“Iam!” Angelique finally made it through the window and had to adjust her dress once inside the castle. She scowled at the dust-covered room. “It can’t find the beast at all. Maybe he has magicalprotection.”
“Unlikely. He’s bloody strong, but intellectual brilliance is not his strong suit.” Roland hustled across the room and reached up to bat the door handle with apaw.
“It was able to defeat you,” Angelique reminded him as she pulled the dooropen.
“Iknow that,” Roland hissed. “Which means Gabrielle is in grave danger!” Roland slipped into the hallway, his paws silent on the stoneflooring.
Angelique grimly reached for her magic.I’d better prepare for a fight—something to stun the ogre maybe. If I pack enough power in it, I should be able to make him passout.
Angelique caught up with Roland when he reached a door that appeared to lead into ahall.
“She’s through here,” the catsaid.
“How do youknow?”
“I can smell her—because I taught her everything she knows,” Rolandsaid.
Angelique furrowed her brow. “What?”
“Just blow the doorsdown!”
A bead of sweat dripped down Angelique’s back as she struggled to juggle the location spell and the stunning spell for the ogre. “Fine, fine, keep your clawson.”
Just when she was about to begin a third spell—to open the door—Roland hissed at the doors. “Never mind, you’re too slow! I’ll take care ofthis.”
Angelique blinked. “Really?”
