“Is that bad?” Gabrielleasked.
Puss twitched his tail back and forth. “For Angelique? Yes,verybad.” His bronze eyes glowed as he stared unblinkingly at her. “I apologize, Angelique. It seems we have caused a great deal of trouble foryou.”
Angelique snorted. “A witch has cursed the seven princes and brainwashed King Henrik. You have done no such thing—it is merely because the Conclave hasn’t yet learned all the details of the situation.”Ihope.
“Evariste is still absent,” Pusssaid.
Angelique glanced at her old friend, puzzled by the statement.What does Evariste have to do with me beingpunished?
“We can sneak you out of Castle Brandis,” Gabrielle said. “This place has a million passages, and once you get out to that…horse…of yours, no one can catch up withyou.”
Angelique glanced down at the crumpled letter. “First, I need to get word back toClovicus.”
“What, did he ask for your opinion on his stationary?” Pussdrawled.
“No, but I need to make arrangements tomeetwith him so I can explain what’s happened,” Angeliquesnapped.
“Oh.” Puss blinked. “I suppose that’sacceptable.”
“No, it’s not,” Gabrielle unsheathed her sword—though Angelique suspected it was more for personal comfort than any plans to hack something to pieces. “You need to leave,now!”
“You said yourself: nothing can outrun Pegasus,” Angelique said. “And Clovicus is our best bet for help, as itstands.”
Gabrielle groaned and slid her sword back in its scabbard. “Fine! I’ll get you paper and ink.” She stomped across the room and kicked open a few supply crates before she found what she was lookingfor.
It only took Angelique a few moments to scrawl out her reply—a request for Lord Enchanter Clovicus to meet her in Erlauf—and they were out the door, Puss leading the way with his tail extended straight up like a flagpole.
“I’ll ride north to Verglas and explain the situation to Fürstin Elise,” Angeliquesaid.
“Thank you,” Gabrielle said, the relief evident in her voice. “Foreverything.”
“I am glad I was on hand to offer aid,” Angelique said.Even if it means I’ll be dodging messages for the next fewmonths.
Gabrielle motioned for Angelique to follow her down a spiral staircase. “I don’t know what we would have done if you weren’there.”
“Do you want me to tell Steffen anything?” Angeliqueasked.
Gabrielle hesitated at the base of the stairs. It took Puss rubbing against her legs to prod her into motion so she strode down the hallway. “No, I spoke to him before they left. And he’s not going to take this situation very well.” She smiled wryly. “He hates it when things spiral out of hiscontrol.”
“A common worry of the unprepared,” Pussmuttered.
Gabrielle rolled her eyes as they ducked outside. “If he wasn’t worried, you would accuse him of being stupid and unaware of the danger we’rein.”
“Naturally,” Puss said. “I retain the right to criticize your husband no matter what circumstance, or there will be a terrible imbalance to his ego.” He almost skidded when the hallway opened up into the stable courtyard, making all three of them squint in thesunlight.
Angelique’s shoulder twinged again as she swept down the three stairs that separated the hallway from the courtyard. She pushed off the sensation and turned around to offer one last smile to the Prinzessin. “Thank you…” she started, then trailed off at the worry that stole over Gabrielle’s face. “What isit?”
Gabrielle slowly tipped her head. “Are those twomages?”
Chapter 14
Angelique turned aroundand saw two males. One was short and stout, the other tall and blankfaced.
It took Angelique a second to place where she had seen the taller one—he was a mage who had been present at Princess Rosalinda’s christening in Sole, and his name was Finnr, if she rememberedcorrectly.
“Falling stars,” she muttered. “I bet he’s not here to admire thecastle.”
“This way, Angelique.” Puss leaped outside and started around the castle, moving in the opposite direction. “Can you dampen yourpresence?”
