Enchanter Lazare grunted and leaned back in hischair.
“What kind of magic did you use?” Enchantress Galendraasked.
“Repair and construction spells.” Angelique tapped her lower lip and tried to appear deep in thought. “I repaired support beams and timbers—mostly important structural repairs that the people of Carabas would have a difficult timefixing.”
“That’s right. You were there when the new Marquise of Carabas defeated the ogre, were you not?” Enchantress Felicienneasked.
“I was near, but I was not present, Lady Enchantress,” Angelique said. “By the time I arrived, Lady Gabrielle had already outsmarted thebrute.”
“And what have you to say about meddling with Prince Severin of Loire?” Enchantress Felicienneasked.
Here’s the challenging part. If I’m careful enough, I can twist this to drag them into the matter as well. But I have to make them believe I’m asking this out of wonder, not spite. And I also need to make sure they don’t ask me why I was sashaying up to the palace right then!Angelique let her smile droop slightly. “I was in Noyers when Prince Severin was attacked. He had a curse placed on him, which gave him the mind and body of a beast and doomed hishousehold—”
“To fade away with him,” Enchanter Tristisim said. “Yes, we’re perfectly aware of the terms of thecurse.”
Thank you, sour grapes, you are as charming as ever.Angelique made herself nod. “Then you are likely also aware that Prince Severin was out of control, and it was only a matter of time before the soldiers would be forced to kill him for the safety of hisfamily?”
Enchanter Crest nodded. “In our report, Prince Lucien said as much,yes.”
Angelique waited a few spans, but no one spoke.Excellent, then here’s the trap.“But it seems my actions displeaseyou?”
“You—an apprentice—used magic without your master on a royal,” Enchantress Primrose furrowed her brow with sympathy. “It could easily be construed as a politicalmove.”
The other Council Members nodded inagreement.
And I’ve got them! Provided I don’t mess up my delivery, that is.Angelique slightly tilted her head and allowed her forehead to wrinkle with concern. “I see. I was unaware it would be considered less political if I were to let Prince Severindie.”
Enchantress Felicienne sat up. “I beg yourpardon?”
“I assumed that the Veneno Conclave would act to save a prince in danger becausenotextending help would show a lack of concern not only for the royal family, but it would also fail to meet our duty to protect the continent from dark magic—for it was an evil witch whocursedthe prince,” Angelique said, verbally twisting thedagger.
“Apprentice Angelique,” Enchanter Crest began gently. “That is not to say we did not wish for you to help him atall.”
“Then what would you have had me do?” Angelique asked, false earnestness bleeding through her voice. “I am a mere apprentice, so the only thing I could think of at the time was to alter his curse, as Lord Enchanter Evariste taught me to do when Princess Rosalinda of Sole faced a similarcrisis.”
The Council Members exchanged glances, and Angelique barely kept a satisfied smile off herface.
They might be able to punish me for my other instances of not toeing the line, but I’m not going to let them bully me over Prince Severin—not when Evariste had me do the same thing forRosalinda!
“It seems we can dismiss any charges for modifying Prince Severin’s curse,” Enchanter Tristisim rumbled with clearreluctance.
Angelique exhaled in relief—she didn’t know if they’d buy her “serene enchantress” act. She wanted to stick her tongue out at the Council for even bringing the bogus charge against her, but if she was to clear her name on the rest of the charges, she needed to actpleasing.
“I second the motion,” Enchantress Felicienne said finally. “Under the provision that it was an emergency situation involving blackmagic.”
“Yes, of course!” Primrose chimedin.
“And the other charges?” Enchantress Galendra timidlyasked.
Tristisim frowned. “I think her line about Carabas not being a part of Arcainia isuntrue.”
“I don’t know.” Enchantress Primrose looked thoughtfully down at her papers. “She spoke the truth that as long as the ogre was there, Carabas really was not acting as an Arcainiancity.”
Yes!Angelique smiled politely and didn’t allow her inner glee to show.Thankyou!
“And the time she was performing her magic, Lady Gabrielle was the new Marquise, oh, dear,” Enchantress Primrose looked dismayed, “which brought Carabas back into Arcainia, Isuppose.”
No, no, no!Angelique wanted to groan. Enchantress Primrose’s good will seemed to be a double-edged sword—if she’d just stopspeakingher thoughtsaloud!
