“They’re stunning.” Angelique tapped the toe of one with her finger. “Your master must be very skilled to makethem.”
The apprentice shifted slightly. “Y-yes…”
“I never thought mankind was capable of making such a thing—it clearly does have magic encased in it, though I’m not sure how.” Angelique lifted up one of the shoes to further inspectit.
The apprentice bit her lip. “Are you a mage, Mademoiselle?” When Angelique glanced at the girl, she gestured to Angelique’s dress—which was changing from a light green to a bright aqua. “It is merely yourgown…”
Angelique smiled and set the shoe down. “Yes, I am an Enchantress-in-Training.”
The girl’s eyes widened. “Enchantress?”
“Indeed. I am in search of magic glass—or perhaps someone capable of producing magic glass—so I hope you are able to helpme.”
The apprentice scratched the back of her neck. “Ah, my master will not be willing to part with any trade secrets, I am sorry tosay.”
“Could you tell me your supplier of the glass?” Angelique asked. “I’m not seeking to make goods of my own; rather, I’m trying to track down a particularmirror.”
The apprentice bit her lip, then glanced over her shoulder at the old cobbler. Keeping her voice lowered, she leaned across the counter so she could murmur, “Then you should know, Lady Enchantress, my master did not make theseshoes.”
“Oh,” Angelique said. “Then could you tell me whodid?”
The apprentice shook her head. “I’m afraid not—because we don’tknow.”
Angelique blinked. “What.”
“One evening, we closed up shop and went to bed, and when we woke up the next day, these slippers were in the shop,” the apprentice said. “There were no signs of forced entry, and nothing wastaken.”
Angelique frowned so deeply her forehead wrinkled. “Nothing?”
“Not even a crumb of food.” The apprentice shook her head. “It’s the strangestthing.”
“Yes,” Angelique agreed.It can’t be a black mage’s work, Angelique pondered as she set the slipper down.But who—besides a mage—has the magic to go around making shoes like these? I’d say it resembles elf work, but they haven’t left Alabaster Forest since Evariste was captured.Regardless, it doesn’t seem like whoever did it had any malicious intent. It seems this is a dead end—albeit a rather strange one. But just incase…
“How much for the slippers?” Angeliqueasked.
* * *
Asmall fortune later,Angelique was the owner of a pair of magic glass slippers. She spent two days in her inn room trying to uncover the magic used in the shoes, but it seemed that the slippers were not forged with real glass but were made entirely out of magic that was tempered to make the shoes strong andcomfortable.
“So, yet another dead end.” Angelique sighed as she trudged along a dirt road, trying to make it a safe distance from Werra before she called Pegasus from thesky.
The sun was sinking on the horizon, already starting to turn the blue sky a swirl of gold. Soon, the first stars would bevisible.
At least Pegasus will be glad to travel atdusk.
“I say, is that you,Angelique?”
Squinting, Angelique turned around, then straightened so quickly her spine cracked. “Sybilla?”
The older woman pushed her glasses up her nose as she marched up to Angelique, a sweet smile brightening her grandmotherly face. “Hello, dear. How are you holdingup?”
Chapter 17
The questionalmost made Angelique cry, but she cleared her throat and settled a smile on her lips. “As well as could be expected. I was actually hoping to find you. I have a few matters I need to discuss withyou.”
“Of course, I’m off to seek out a young lady I need to speak to—she lives a bit farther out in the country. Would you walk withme?”
Angelique nodded and fell in step with the fairygodmother.
