“Her hands will take months to heal, even if I purchase the best creams and plants to make pastes for her. She cannot do a thing more.” That came from the goldenrod-haired prince—the one who spoke stiffly but eyed Elise withconcern.
“Elise has done more than her fair share,” piped in the youngestprince.
“I agree with what you say,” said the brother with glasses. (He faintly reminded her of Sybilla, not just because of the spectacles, but because of the sharp mind that gleamed in the shadows of his eyes.) “But perhaps we should hear out the Lady Enchantressfirst.”
The brothers quieted down and expectantly stared atAngelique.
She waited for a moment of silence before continuing. “As I mentioned, after I left you, I called on my friend in Erlauf. She is a fairy godmother and seeks out young boys and girls who are gifted with magicaltalents.”
That’s a vast oversimplification, for she does far more than that, but it would do me no good to break out into a lesson on the duties of a fairy godparent at thistime.
“I discussed with her the oddity that the curse worked on every Arcainian royal—Gabrielle excluded—except for you,” she continued, looking at Elise. “After conversing further, we concluded that the only logical explanation is you have the ability to use magic, aswell.”
Elise shook her head and shifted so she sat on the edge of the settee. “I’m sorry, but that’s impossible. There would have been signs. I wouldn’t be the royal family’s foster child,” she said. “Magic is not something a person can hide. Furthermore, I would know! There’s no possible way I could be ignorant of an ability likethat.”
Angelique shook her head as she picked up her teacup, inhaling the minty scent of the tea. “You are ignorant because of the way your powers manifest.Observe.”
She drew her fingers together and tugged on her magic, making a glittering ball of light. A flick of her fingers released the ball, rolling it lazily in Elise’s direction. Angelique held her breath—she wasn’t entirely certain Elise had this kind of magic.And if I’m wrong, we have no way to attack Clotilde that won’t involve weeks or months ofwaiting.
She swallowed and watched the ball roll closer to the princess. When it touched Elise, it bounced off her and faded away likesmoke.
Angelique relaxed.Finally, something has gone right for a change! Clotilde will have no power over Elise, making her far easier to defeat.She looked expectantly to the princes, but they were all watching her with varying levels ofsuspicion.
I guess another example is necessary to illustrate thedifference.
Once again, Angelique created a ball of light. This one, she flung at the prince with eyeglasses. The blob of light stuck to him like a thorny plant until the prince crushed it with hisfingers.
Elise’s crinkled her brown eyes as she thoughtfully pursed her lips. “What does thismean?”
Angelique cleared her throat and folded her hands to keep from clapping them in glee.“It means your powers, probably as a result of the country you live in, lie in magic cancelation. Magic cannot survive around you. Thus, a curse, even one as powerful as the one Clotilde used against you, will not work,” she said. “The curse couldn’t hit you, but it was powerful enough to survive contact with you, so it bounced back and hitClotilde.”
“It is my understanding that it is difficult for other magic users to hide their powers from each other. How could no one have discovered Elise before now?” Prince Glassesasked.
Angelique rearranged the tea tray, just to give herself something to do. “Probably because Elise’s magic doesn’t feel like magic. I didn’t notice it myself until I touched her and felt my powers go mute.” She glanced at the princess. “Elise does not give off the aura of magic because, to put it simply, her presence devours all traces ofmagic.”
Another prince—one of the twins, based on the nearly identical face he sat next to—rubbed his chin. “And ourcurse?”
“Yeah, how was Elise able to break our curse if her touch cancels magic?” the other twin asked. (Though they were identical, it was easy to tell them apart given that the one who smiled more and wriggled his eyebrows at inopportune times had a crooked nose that looked like it had been broken. Multipletimes.)
Angelique mulled over the prince’s question for a few moments. “Breaking a curse is an entirely different matter than human-made magic. It deals with a deeper power that would easily override Elise’smagic.”
Now it was Elise’s turn to frown. “I still don’tunderstand.”
Angelique tilted her head.What’s the easiest way to describe something as complex and diverse as magic without launching into confusing details?“The magic I use—the magic any enchanter or enchantresses uses, Elise included—is a sort of surface magic. It is using your personal powers to change things. The magic that went into breaking your curse was a far deeper and older kind of magic that existed long before any enchanter walked these lands. Using love to conquer darkness is a power as old as the oceans. It is not surprising that Elise’s powers would have no effect on such potent magic. Once the steps are taken,no onecan stop the consequences of a sacrifice made fromlove.”
This explanation seemed to satisfy Elise, for a steely expression settled on her face. “So how can I destroy her? Do you mean for me to wake Father from his stupor?” sheasked.
Angelique sipped her tea. “I’m afraid the task before you is much greater than that. You must cut her off from her power source. Clotilde’s powers are nothing special, but if you cancel the magic of the artifacts she uses to prepare her big curses, she willexpire.”
“Why?” Prince Glassesasked.
“Clotilde has put her life into those artifacts. If you destroy them, you destroy her,” Angeliquesaid.
Steffen pressed his fingertips together. “Can you guarantee Elise’ssafety?”
Ah yes, this is the tricky part that they aren’t going to like. Not that I blame them after what she has been throughalready.
Angelique took a deep breath before replying. “No. We know nothing about Elise’s abilities. There may be limitations, but I do not know how to properly test a magic student—I’m still an apprentice. Additionally, the testing process is a lengthy one. Based on the news I heard in Erlauf, I’m not certain Arcainia can hold out muchlonger.”
