Slightly alarmed, Angelique stood straighter. “I hadn’t thought of that. I, too, must beleaving.”
Sybilla fixed her glasses. “Off to see that Arcainianprincess?”
Angelique nodded. “Yes. If she can overtake Clotilde, it would be wisest to make our move as swiftly aspossible.”
“Smart.”
“Perhaps.” Angelique gave Cinderella an apologetic smile. “I will stay in the area with Sybilla until midnight, but on a night as suitable as this for my mount, I really should ride. When I fall out of range, my magic will fade as well. I apologize, but I cannot staylonger.”
Cinderella gestured to her clothes and the carriage. “There is nothing to apologize for. I cannot repay you forthis.”
“It was our delight,” Angelique said. “I wish you all the luck I canspare.”
Cinderella smiled shakily. “Thankyou.”
Sybilla narrowed her eyes at Cinderella. “Do not be afraid, dearie. Your good cheer has more power than you know. Even your animals know you labor for them. Now, run along. You are fashionably late, but you haven’t much time tospare.”
“Thank you.” Cinderella accepted the goat-footgirl’s help into the round carriage. The door closed after her, and as the duchess pushed aside an orange, velvet curtain to wave at them, the mice-horses jolted forward, pulling the carriage away from theduchy.
“What a lovely girl.” Sybilla waved back to the duchess until the golden carriage was a smear of gold. “Well, then, dearie. What willyoudo next?” She turned her back to the faint speck that was the carriage and fixed her sharp gaze onAngelique.
Angelique scratched the back of her neck, then made herself hold her arms loosely at waist height. “I think I’ll ask Pegasus to take me back to Verglas and check on Princess Elise. She should be close to freeing her brothers from their curse. With that matter out of the way, we can discuss what to do aboutClotilde.”
“And as forEvariste?”
“I’d appreciate it if you kept your ears open for any rumors of magical mirrors or looking glasses, but I think I’m back to combing different countries to search for any evidence of him,” Angeliquesaid.
“You’ve searched Erlauf and Trieux. Once you take care of the witch-queen of Arcainia, where will you gonext?”
“Sole, perhaps. OrRingsted.”
“Excellent. You’ll stay in touch, dearie, I know it.” Sybilla winked and took one of Angelique’s hands so she could pat it. “Now, what do you say about getting us somedinner?”
“As long as we stay away from the palace,” Angeliquesaid.
“They were that insistent in their invitations,hmm?”
Angelique laughed. “Indeed. It’s rather strange to be so popular among royalty even though I am infamous amongmages.”
“Sometimes it is the non-magical folk who use their eyes.” Sybilla ruined the effect of her wise words by rolling her eyes. “Though heaven help us, it’s rarely the royals who do. Come, now. I’m feeling a bitpeckish.”
Chapter 18
Angelique startedfor Verglas at a relaxed pace. She didn’t have a solid plan for taking on Clotilde, but Pegasus’ trot covered more ground than an average horse could achieve in a day, so they made goodtime.
She traveled north through Farset, stopping at Alabaster Forest in the vain hope that the elves would leave their forest home to greet her. (Theydidn’t.)
It was there that she felt the Arcainian Princes’ curseshatter.
She hadn’t expected to be able to feel it or sense it, so it came as something of a surprise to her and nearly knocked her clear off Pegasus’ back before she was able to rightherself.
She altered her course, intending to follow the river that formed part of the border between Kozlovka and Loire and head east toVerglas.
With Pegasus galloping freely once more, the miles flew by. In fact, just north of the border Verglas shared with Loire, Angelique and Pegasus almost collided with one of the Arcainianprinces.
Once she had calmed Pegasus and gotten him settled enough that he wouldn’t paw the ground, she smiled at the bunch. The princes looked hale—no worse for the wear due to their curse, which was a blessing—and they must have acquired mounts somehow, for all of them were riding. She noticed there was an addition to their number, a woman who held herself like a guard.An Arcainian soldier, perhaps? When we were plotting against Clotilde, Gabrielle mentioned sending Elisehelp.
“Lady Enchantress,” Steffen called. He rode near Elise, in the middle of the pack of princes and was easy to pick out as Angelique knew him as Gabrielle’shusband.
