“Now, dearie, what is it that needsright?”
As they walked, Angelique explained her tale of the cursed princes, Elise, and attackingClotilde.
The fairy godmother was a soothing audience to have—she made sounds of encouragement at the right spots and patted Angelique’s shoulder during the difficultbits.
“So you’re wondering if Princess Elise has the power to defeat Clotilde?” Sybilla guessed once the story wasover.
“Yes.” Angelique gazed around, blinking as they approached a magnificent and austere chateau perched on ahill.
“Hmm, I’m afraid I can’t say for certain without testing her,” Sybillasaid.
“Is there a test I can carry out? A spell of some sort?” Angeliqueasked.
Sybilla shook her head. “Not one that will test her strength—which will be necessary to defeat this Clotilde. If she has only a trickle of magic, it’s not going to do muchdamage.”
“She has to have a good amount given that she reflected a curse,” Angelique pointedout.
“Yes, but reflecting a single curse is entirely different than facing off against two evil artifacts,” Sybilla said. “I can tell on sight—it’s part of my magic. I’d offer to come take a look, but I’m afraid I have a few important assignments I can’t set aside quite yet.” Sybilla said. “If it’s not resolved by winter, I’ll be free bythen.”
Angelique wanted to groan at the delay—for she’d heard the news coming out of Arcainia, and none of it was good. (She could only imagine how terrible it would be if Gabrielle and Puss were not working to counter thewitch.)
“I’m not entirely certain the situation can wait that long,” Angelique said.“If we wait much longer, I don’t know that Arcainia will be able to recover, and I’m afraid Clotilde will only grow morepowerful.”
“You should have dropped your ethics and attacked her with your regular magic—regulations or not,” Sybilla cheerfully said. She gestured for Angelique to follow her in making a circuit around the chateau’sexterior.
“I’m already in trouble for using magic in Arcainia. The last thing I need is another broken rule for the Conclave to wave in my face,” Angelique ruefullysaid.
“Yes, but that wretched queen would be safely dead, and the princes wouldn’t be flapping about as barnyard fowl.” Sybilla brandished her finger in the air foremphasis.
“But I didn’t, so our hope rests in Princess Elise.” Angelique glanced at her. “You are sure there is no easy test I can use to sense the strength of hermagic?”
“Not with that magic type, dearie. It would take a powerful enchanter to probe her limitations. Your master could doit.”
Angelique blinked hard. “Sybilla.”
“I know, I know.” She paused in the middle of the gravel lane and turned to face Angelique, her hands on her hips. “Well, here is how I see it: send Elise to face this Queen Clotilde and stand in reserve. If it looks like she will lose, step in, and use your real magic. Sooner or later, you will have to face itanyway.”
Sybilla’s suggestion tasted like ash in Angelique’s mouth. “As you say,” she managed to reply.I guess I can go back to Verglas—so much time has passed, it’s possible Elise has freed the princes by now.Rather than voice her thoughts, Angelique looked around the lovely land, her eyes lingering on the immense and lovely home—that strangely had its windows boarded up. “What are we doinghere?”
Properly distracted, Sybilla continued to march down the path that wove around the house, likely looking for the kitchen entrance. “We’re here to see a girl. My sources tell me the lady of the house had a nasty run in with amage.”
Wrinkles spread across Angelique’s forehead, and a faint headache started to brew at her temples. “A blackmage?”
“You betcha. I would like to question her to see what more we can learn.” Sybilla led the way around the corner of ahedge.
A young lady with short hair a stunning shade of bright red stood in the middle of the path, gawking at them with widened gray eyes. Though she wore faded clothes in the style of servants, she held herself with grace, her posture perfect, even as she gaped at Sybilla andAngelique.
It took Angelique a moment to match the young lady’s scarlet red hair, with her obvious elegance and servants’ clothes, with the rumors she had heard while searching for the glassshoes.
She could only be Cinderella Lacreux—the destitute duchess the cobbler’s apprentice had referredto.
“Hello there, dearie,” Sybilla greeted her with the flap of ahand.
Angelique followed Sybilla as she marched up to the young lady. “You did not tell me you were here to see DuchessLacreux.”
Sybilla looked quizzically at her. “I am. How did youknow?”
“The duchess is famous for her scarlet-coloredhair.”
