Angelique waved her hand at them and set her mug back down. “I’ll do that, thank you. Do you know where sheis?”
“She’ll be coming through Erlauf this summer.” Clovicus bemusedly stared at the puddle of his drink until Angelique swiped a rag off a nearby table and tossed it to him. “Thankyou.”
“No, it is I who must thank you,” Angelique said. “I shall follow your advice and track downSybilla.”
He nodded. “Wise of you. I think that covers everything. Except for the regular platitudes—be careful, watch yourself, and all of that.” He waved his hand to express the general nebula of farewells, then furrowed his brow. “How much does a drink cost here? I only have gold coins onme.”
“I’ll pay,” Angelique said dryly. “They aren’t going to have change for that.” She tossed the necessary coins on the table as she stood, nodding to the soldiers who leaped to their feet and bowed slightly toher.
Clovicus prowled after her, chuckling. “It’s interesting what you can tell about a person by the places that make them comfortable.” He lazily stretched his arms above his head as they left thepub.
It was raining, so Angelique scooted to the side so they could stay under the overhang of the pub’s roof. “What do you mean by that?” She mentally reviewed the contents of the pub, before freezing. “If you think I chose this place because it had bladedweapons—”
“I think no such thing,” Clovicus snorted. “You chose that place because you are rather like a soldieryourself.”
“My father was a soldier,” Angeliquecorrected.
“Mmhmm, and you are certainly your father’s daughter.” He winked and smiledroguishly.
Angelique expressionlessly stared at him.I guess Clovicus not only taught Evariste magic but also the charm he uses on ladies of all ages. How enlightening.I wonder if he is the reason Evariste is so keen onembraces?
“Why do I get the feeling you are judging me?” Clovicusasked.
“I would never presume, Lord Enchanter,” Angeliquesaid.
“Mmhmm.” The enchanter peered up at the cloudysky.
Angelique studied him as she carefully selected her words. Strictly speaking, there was nothing more they needed to discuss, and she was almost afraid to ask what she really wanted to know… “Have you been able to find anything that might help the search for Evariste? I’m aware you might not have had much time given the situation Icaused.”
Clovicus sighed. “It doesn’t look good,” hesaid.
Angelique’s heart fell. “In whatway?”
“According to what little information I’ve been able to scare up, sealing someone inside a mirror takes a great deal of power. Getting Evariste out is going to be difficult. Even worse, as long as he is stranded, whoever put him there can use him as they will—most commonly the victim is milked for their magic, but it can also be a method of…torture.”
Angelique’s heart plummeted to her feet. “No.”
Clovicus shifted his weight and stared out into the street. “There is one thing that might helpus.”
Angelique could barely lift her head. “And thatis?”
“No normal mirror can be used for this purpose,” Clovicus said. “It has to be a mirror capable of holding or usingmagic.”
“So…a magic mirror, like the one Prince Severin of Loire owns,” Angeliquesaid.
Clovicus nodded. “Or something similar. Magic mirrors that can be used to find or watch a person are not the only kind of enchanted looking glass thereis.”
“I see. That does narrow the target quite a bit,” Angelique agreed. “Thank you for researchingit.”
Clovicus nodded. “Since you’ll be in Erlauf searching for Sybilla, you might want to investigate a rumor I heard about magicglass.”
Angelique blinked. “Magicglass?”
“Yes—I’m not sure if it means there is a magic looking-glass or just glass capable of holding enchantments, but I’ve heard a few rumors of such an item coming out of Trieux—or what used to be Trieux, I guess, but is now Erlauf territory.” Clovicus gave her a sharp look. “It’s just a rumor. I wouldn’t put much stock in it, but even if it’s only a store that produces glass capable of holding magic, they may be able to tell you other craftsmen who can build similarthings.”
“I agree; it is a helpful start,” Angelique said.Far better than wandering about like a lost bard, asking after magical mirrors. That practically shouts to the world my intensions and makes it easy to set a trap for me.She tried to think practically about it, but a smile threatened to bloom on hercheeks.
Finally, she had alead!
