“Like the bossiness of an older sibling,” Pussadded.
“I see.” Angelique shrugged. “I didn’t think it was a very viable option anyway. Falling in love when your country is on the line seems impractical andsilly.”
Puss twitched his whiskers. “I’m not surprised to hearyousay so. You have the romantic sense of an angrybadger.”
“Normally, I might agree that being in such peril might not be an ideal time to fall in love,” Gabrielle poked the top of Puss’ head and gave him a warning look before she smiled at Angelique. “But it has been my experience that people can learn to love in all kinds of situations. However, given the…obstacles the princes face—for even if we ignore the two whomightsucceed if not for Steffen, that still leaves only an hour a day for the lads to remedy that—you might be correct that it is not a practical modification. But you said this wasn’t the best option; does that mean there is anotherpossibility?”
Puss smugly licked his chops. “You can be impressive with your intellect when properly focused,mistress.”
Gabrielle shot the cat a glare but folded her arms across her chest and leaned back against the wall as she turned her gaze toAngelique.
“The second option won’t directly be a part of the spell at all but rather will act as a counter-weight to Clotilde’s magical artifacts,” Angelique started. “The curse doesn’t come from Clotilde herself, but from the artifacts, and it is linked to them. If an act of great sacrifice born out of love is committed on behalf of the princes, it should shatter the curseentirely.”
Gabrielle tilted her head. “But if it’s not tied directly to the curse, how is thatpossible?”
Puss raised a paw and placed it on the table edge, digging his claws into the worn wood. “I think I see it. Clotilde’s artifacts are filled with a dark and evil power. Love and sacrifice are the exact opposite. Since the curse is still tied to the artifacts, an act of sacrifice would undermine that connection and destroyit.”
Angelique nodded. “Exactly.”
Puss’s tail twitched behind him. “It’s nothing to fret over, Gabrielle. Such a thing has long been proven and accepted in the magical community for centuries. There’re multiple acts of love and sacrifice that can be completed that have proven and recorded results—you could say they are almost natural modifications set into any curse caused by a magical artifact. They are practically considered a tradition or part of magical lore. It’s merely the matter of picking the rightone.”
Gabrielle warily brushed the hilt of her sword that hung from her belt. “What kind ofsacrifices?”
Angelique stared at the ceiling as she tried to remember some of the acceptable methods she had been taught as a student at Luxi-Domus. “There’s a long one where you have to travel to the east wind, west wind, then south wind, and north wind. It’s rather time consuming andblustery.”
“Collecting gold apples—they grow on the Isles of Mythos,” Pussadded.
“The one that will likely be the swiftest and least deadly—though it’s rather taxing—would be to sew or knit shirts of stinging nettles,” Angelique said. “Though the person sewing them cannot speak from when she first starts until she finishes the lastshirt.”
Gabrielle frowned. “I know a little of sewing. Hopefully it will beenough.”
Angelique glanced at Puss, and the twonodded.
“You won’t be breaking the curse, Gabrielle,” Pussannounced.
Gabrielle pushed off the wall and stalked over to her cat. “What do youmean?”
“You’re more useful here,” Pusssaid.
Angelique rolled her eyes. “You’reneededhere,” she said. “Whoever undertakes breaking the curse will have to remain with the princes. And Verglas is the safest place for them as long as Clotilde isalive.”
Gabrielle hesitated. “I promised Steffen when we married that I would guard Arcainia with him, that the country had to come beforeus.”
“Which is why you can’t go.” Puss gently nosed her hand until she stroked his head, eliciting a deep rumbling purr from his whitechest.
“You have Puss with you,” Angelique said. “He’s uniquely gifted to withstand Clotilde. And even if you asked him to remain behind—which would be rather cruel—no one has gone through the life and death situations you two have. No one will do as well with him as youwill.”
“Worry not, mistress.” Puss’s voice was soft and gentle with affection. “Together we can guard your country…and wait for the Bumpkin Head toreturn.”
Gabrielle picked Puss up and cradled him in her arms. She sniffed, and Angelique wondered if she would cry, until she saw the princess’ shoulderssettle.
Clotilde doesn’t know what she’s in for, Angelique realized as she watched Gabrielle lift herchin.
“We’ll stay,” Gabrielle said. “It means we’ll be dumping the sacrifice on Elise, though,” she said, referring to the princess/foster-sister of the seven Arcainianprinces.
“I don’t think she’ll mind,” Puss said. “I am of the opinion that she is even more stubborn than you are and will go at the curse just as doggedly as youwould.”
“At the very least, we can send her help—perhaps a soldier to help her stay safe.” A brief frown twitched across Gabrielle’s lips. “I feel bad, though, that we aren’t giving her achoice.”
