Cinderella sniffed. “Yes, but what can Ido?”
Sybilla adjusted her eye glasses, switching over to her instructor mode. “My dear lady, forgive me for being blunt, but whatcan’tyou do?” she kindly asked. “Every person in your beloved country is born with potential to change the world. But you, who desire to spark the change, have been dealt an incredible hand to play. You are aduchess. I have been in Erlauf for just a few days, and even I have heard how you string the Erlauf First Regiment along like a girl leading alamb.”
“I suspect you are thinking of firepower, Duchess Lacreux,” Angelique added. “You believe you don’t have the power to fight back because you haven’t an army to your name or magic to shield those youlove?”
Cinderella nodded eagerly. “There are things I can do—things that will affect Aveyron and perhaps Werra. But how can I extend my reach?Allof Trieux festers withhate.”
A warm smile—atruesmile—crept across Angelique’s lips.Cinderella is a very rare kind of lady.But what in the blazes am I supposed to say to that?Angelique cast desperately around her mind for a moment before recalling something Evariste had once told her on a day when she had been particularly bitter about her magic. “I believe, Your Grace,” Angelique started, “you underestimate the power of kindness. A gentle word, a smile, an act of compassion, these are the things that can turn hate tolove.”
A mercenary gleam twinkled in Sybilla’s eyes. “Or, if that is your worry, ally yourself with someone whocanreach all corners of thecountry.”
“Who?” Cinderellaasked.
Sybilla adjusted her eyeglasses. “Queen Freja, ofcourse.”
A shadow of a frown flashed across Cinderella’s face. “And how will I win Queen Freja to myside?”
Sybilla patted her hand, as if she could soften the blow she was about to deliver the lady. “Dear, it might not be a matter of ‘winning’ her. Have any of you nobles from Trieux tried to talk withher?”
Cinderella wassilent.
“Speak to her. She is a brilliant queen, not a tyrant,” Sybillarecommended.
“Buthow?”
Sybilla clapped her hands. “There is no time like the present. Isn’t there a ball coming up? I nearly drowned in the invitations when the queen learned I washere.”
“It is tonight,” Angeliqueconfirmed.
“Perfect! There you have it—a ball is a public party. You will be able to approach the queen,” Sybilla said. “Or at least a member of the royalfamily.”
“Yes,” Cinderella thoughtfullysaid.
Sybilla watched her for a moment, almost waiting for her to scurry off. When the duchess didn’t move, she helpfully added, “If the ball is being held now, you ought to go change so you may leave as soon aspossible.”
Cinderella blinked. “I haven’t any dresses suitable for the occasion. My stepsister said I could borrow something of hers—though she is taller than I am.” She frowned in thought. “I know—I can walk to Werra and borrow something fromMarie.”
“Borrow?Borrow? Goodness,no. There will benoborrowing of ball gowns tonight,” Sybilla shivered as if the word wasforbidden.
“Then what am I towear?”
Sybilla looked expectantly toAngelique.
That would be my cue. And for once this is a task easily completed.Angelique stood, her skirts easing back into proper place as they faded from a periwinkle blue to a blue-green color. “I can help you. I am a little skilled in alteration magic. If you do not mind the wait, I should have something suitable in a minute ortwo.”
“In that case, please excuse me, so I may wash.” Cinderella rose and hurried off to the well to washup.
Angelique began spinning her core powers into alteration magic, some of the weight lifting from her shoulders as she began to picture what kind of dress would look fetching on theduchess.
“I thought you were going to talk to her about the black mage?” Angeliqueasked.
“After seeing her beauty? No. It’s not necessary,” Sybilla said. “She’s known for having a close relationship with the Colonel of the First Regiment, and surely you must know whoheis.”
Angelique wracked her brain to think of what was important and noteworthy in the Erlauf army. “Oh,” she said when she properly recalled. “Yes, that would makesense.”
“Particularly given that the royal family has been attacked by several black mages since their invasion of Trieux,” Sybilla said. “I suspect our dear duchess has been added to the mages’ list of powerful people toeradicate.”
Angelique froze, and for a moment her powers that had twisted into alteration magic threatened to revert to her core magic. “What?” She asked, her voice sharp, before she remembered herself. “That is to say, there have been attacks on the Erlauf royalfamily?”
