“Pegasus,” Angelique started as she tightened her legs around the horse. “We haveto—”
Pegasus shot off without further instructions, pounding across theturf.
Angelique hurriedly changed her spell, spinning it into something that could kill the mountainhag.
The mountain hag had picked up speed and was now only two horse lengths from theboy.
The boy struggled to rise, but he must have hurt himself in the fall, for he collapsed before he could fullystand.
Angelique blinked, and Pegasus shot forward faster than ever, coming between the mountain hag and her prey. He had to lock his legs to skid to a stop, then reared and screamed in anger—a sound that made the treesshake.
Angelique wove her spell around her fingers and clung to Pegasus, waiting for him to stop so she could get a clearshot.
The mountain hag’s cloudy eyes went from the injured boy to Angelique, and she cackled. “Amaiden! How fortunate! You will become my—wait—not you!” the mountain hagshrieked.
“Yes, me. Farewell.” Angelique pushed her hand forward, and a giant icicle as sharp as a blade shot out of the ground, piercing the hag through theheart.
The mountain hag screamed like an animal. Her body turned into ashen snow and swirled away in the relentlesswind.
Angelique frowned as she watched the mountain hag’s remains fade.What did she mean by “not you”? I’m not famous in the magical community—or rather, I’m infamous. But I don’t think my dubious reputation would proceed me among twisted magicalbeings.
Resolving to ponder it later—and perhaps even ask Enchanter Clovicus or Sybilla, a fairy godmother—Angelique turned her attention to the mountain hag’s intendedvictim.
She smiled at him—or was it a her? She still couldn’t tell—and gripped the hood of her cloak to keep the wind from ripping it off her head. “Did the mountain hag hurtyou?”
“It’s you!” the child shouted in a distinctly boyishvoice.
Angelique blinked in surprise. “I beg yourpardon?”
“You’re the Lady Enchantress who altered His Highness’scurse!”
“Enchantress-in-Training,” Angelique automaticallycorrected.
The boy tried to stand again, but when he put weight on his left leg, it collapsed underhim.
“Allow me to help you.” Angelique slipped off Pegasus’ back and crouched next to the boy. She gave Pegasus a smile when he moved so he stood between them and the wind, acting as a partial block. With a deep breath, she grabbed a glob of her magic, twisting it into a healingspell.
“I finally found you! I’ve been searching for you fordays! Though that mountain hag almost did me in. Could you not tell His Highness about the mountain hag? He’ll sigh at me, and if Elle finds out, she’ll box my ears for sure,” the boy chattered away, words tumbling endlessly from hismouth.
Angelique did her best to listen as she used her magic to probe his leg. Finding bruising in his ankle, she set about fixingit.
“We haven’t any time to waste, either, because Elle said she was going on a long trip, and His Highness needs to know that she really loves him! He doesn’t believe her, but if you tell ‘im, he’llunderstand!”
I haven’t the faintest clue what this boy is talking about.Who is His Highness?She needed more healing magic, so she tried to tug on a small flicker of her magic. Unfortunately, her tug seemed to loosen a gushing river of her powers that smacked her with enough force it almost pushed herover.
Angelique clenched her teeth and breathed out whispered curses about irrational magic while half-listening to the boy continue hisstory.
“She broke his curse, but everyone’s real upset because she’s not a villager like she said she was—I don’t understand why that matters, though. And even though Elle saved His Highness, Emele tells me I can’t talk to her.Rot that. I’m still talking to Elle no matter what bossy Emele says,” he complained. “But I think Elle is in danger, and His Highness needs to help her, but hewon’tbecause he doesn’t believeher!”
Angelique squinted at the boy’s leg and nodded in satisfaction. “Your ankle should be better, now. It’s not all healed—so you need to be careful with it—but I placed a slow healing spell on you, so it will be better by this evening. You may nowstand.”
“Thank you, Lady Enchantress!” The boy hopped to his feet with the spryness of a rabbit, testing hisfoot.
Angelique stood and smoothed the skirts of her gown. “Now, who is HisHighness?”
“Prince Severin of Loire, of course!” The boy pushed his scarves down long enough to give Angelique a look that clearly communicated he thought she was dense for not knowingthat.
Angelique frowned. “Prince Severin? Is something wrong?”But if there were, I would have thought it would be Prince Lucien chasing after me given his loyalty to his brother.“Was there a change in hiscurse?”
