Apprentice Angelique, Enchantress-in-Training:
You are to report in to the Veneno Conclave Council at your earliest convenience to discuss your recentactions.
Angelique groaned and trudged back to the house. “It’s been almost a month. I thought maybe they hadn’t noticed my work in Carabas. But it’s been too long for them to be upset about my modification to Prince Severin’s curse. Unless they’re disturbed that I’m running around withoutsupervision?”
Angelique locked the door when she entered the house, gulping at the thought.I haven’t done anything wrong, really. But given how little they like me, it’s possible they might punish me for any of theabove.
Angelique rubbed her brow as she climbed the stairs, making her way to Evariste’s quarters—where he had a portal that connected to his office in the Veneno Conclavefortress.
Dread filled Angelique, turning her fingers cold as she opened the door to hisbedroom.
The portal to the Conclave was still active. It glowed a crimson red and was framed by goldwork and foreign scripts. She could see the massive wooden desk and the plain white walls of his Conclave office through thegate.
She took a breath and stepped through. The strange-ness of portal magic surrounded her—oddly enough, it actually seemed to spool tighter around her than usual. But she stepped through, and the feeling of Evariste’s rare portal magicevaporated.
She straightened her dress and double checked that the illusion spell she used to change the unusual hue of her silver-colored eyes was active, then decided to make her hair an ashy blonde color for the occasion—for she might as well try to appear as bright and innocent as possible for this trial—before leaving Evariste’soffice.
She wandered through the Veneno Conclave fortress, leaving behind the workshops and offices of the mages and magic users who lived and worked in the Conclave, and instead entered the wing of the fortress that held the rooms for the conclave’s governing body—meeting rooms, offices for the various heads of the different departments within the Conclave and, of course, Hallowed Hall: the large hall where the Councilmet.
Two men were posted outside the doorway to Hallowed Hall—a war mage and his apprentice, it appeared. The war mage was taller, broad shouldered, and held two sabers, while his apprentice—a youthful and wide-eyed teenage boy—gripped astaff.
“Good afternoon—I have a summons from the Council.” Angelique held her letter up forinspection.
The war mage waved it off. “I am aware of who you are, Lady Enchantress Angelique.” He bowed, giving her far more respect that shedeserved.
His apprentice bowed even deeper, but he craned his neck so he could still watch, gawking at her with a mixture of awe anddelight.
While I am thankful for my fellow war mages’ support, it is a bit awkward to have them look at me with stars in their eyes when a day of using construction-based spells is enough to mentally fatigue me.Angelique awkwardly cleared her throat. “I’m afraid I’m only an Enchantress-in-Training.”
The war mage quirked a brow and smiled handsomely at her. “Soon, Lady Enchantress,” he said as he motioned for his apprentice to help him open the door. “Soon.”
Angelique pressed her lips together but stepped into the darkened HallowedHall.
She had no fondness for the hall. The only good memory involving the place was the day Evariste stepped in to take her on as his apprentice, blocking the Council from sealing hermagic.
It was still as dark as ever. The only light sources fell on the high desks that belonged to the CouncilMembers.
Angelique squinted in the dimness, but she couldn’t make out anyone sitting in the poorly lit seating section available for mages to sit and observe the Council’s rulings andjudgements.
“Ahh, Apprentice Angelique,” a cheery voice called. “You are quiteprompt!”
“Approach us,” ordered a much deeper, malevoice.
Angelique followed the orders and stopped on the threshold of the intense light. She had to look up to see the Council Members—three enchanters and three enchantresses—but made her curtsey low out of respect. “I used one of Lord Enchanter Evariste’s permanent portals to gethere.”
“We see,” Enchantress Felicienne said icily. (As the enchantress was Angelique’s most outspoken critic, Angelique was not surprised at the cold reception. None of the Council Members liked her very much—except perhaps cheerful Primrose and fun-loving Crest who toleratedher.)
“Where does the portal drop you off?” Enchanter Crest asked, leaning forward. He gave her a slight smile that made him look even more handsome than usual. (As he appeared to be in his late thirties, he was the youngest member of the Council, but given the slow aging process of powerful magic users, he was likely old enough to be Angelique’s father orgrandfather.)
Angelique, already on guard, slightly bowed her head. “The Conclave side of the portal is located in Lord Enchanter Evariste’soffice.”
Enchantress Galendra—a quiet, mousy-looking woman—frowned. “Is it appropriate for her to use what is obviously supposed to be Evariste’s personal method oftransportation?”
She and Felicienne frowned in Angelique’sdirection.
Angelique fought to swallow as the familiar—and bitter—taste of defeat filled her mouth. “Enchanter Evariste frequently took me through that particular portal before he was…taken.”
The enchantresses didn’t look satisfied with theanswer.
