Behind her, Pegasus tossed his head as Gemma added a few more supplies to the saddlebag attached to histack.
After delivering the shocking development—that their nameless enemy was, in fact, theChosen—Stil and Gemma had ignored her protests and forcibly packed Pegasus up, telling her shehadto return toLoire.
It was clear they meant to drive her out if necessary, but by no means was Angelique going to be satisfied with their half-cooked explanation. She didn’t care—or put much stock in—the idea that the enemy was targetingher. But the Chosen were an ancient enemy that was supposed to have been stomped out long ago. How, then, could they beback?
Stil must have sensed her potential mutiny as she glared at hisback.
He sighed and kicked the pebbles that covered the lakeshore. “It goes deep, Angel. Prince Lucien thinks the Chosen have been around for centuries. They’ve had ample opportunity to study the countries, note standard military operations, and see how they could manipulate events and our own cultures against us. The Chosen are well-informed, highly skilled—as seen by the way they took Evariste and have somehow isolated the elves—and given their use of arcane magic, they’ve got to have books and reading materials we thought were destroyed centuries ago. They’re in the middle of leading a full-on assault on the continent in a war they’ve been waging against us foryears.”
Angelique stared at the ground, barely noticing when Hvit meandered past her so he could sit in front of Pegasus and look up at the constellation, his curled tail wiggling in joy. “But what proof do we have of this?” sheasked.
“Do you really need to ask?” Gemma frowned. “You havelivedit.”
“They’ve been strategically targeting individual countries, trying to further weaken them.” Stil waved cheerfully at Odile, who waited for them on the castle bridge where Angelique had said her farewells. “And Gemma’s right—nearly every attempt they’ve made, you have witnessed. And stopped. It started with PrincessRosalinda.”
“The Knights of Sole are the perfect troops to pit against rogue magic users.” Gemma couched down and buried her hands in Hvit’s snow-white fur. “With their anti-magic armor, enchanted weapons, and specific training and fighting methods, they could take out black mages with ease. Except theycan’t.”
“Because Princess Rosalinda was cursed.” Stil said. “Even before she fell asleep and you were forced to put all of the capital under a sleeping spell, King Giuseppe would never have agreed to send out Magic Knights to investigate the activity of black mages. He was too concerned with Rosalinda. As a result, the country—which normally would have been the first to investigate rogue mages—was sidelined and eventually made entirelyuseless.”
“I can see that—and obviously Evariste’s kidnapping and the disappearance of the elves,” Angeliquesaid.
Stil groaned. “Right! See the tactics behind it? The storms that would have isolated Ringsted and would have kept their fast ships from coming to the continent’s aid, the beast-curse placed on Severin that would have crippled Loire’s military, the attempt Clotilde made at wiping out all the Arcainian princes and princesses, which would have given the Chosen an entire kingdom—which was bad enough—but Arcainia is also the economic seat of the continent. If they managed to take it, they would have had enough money to buy legions ofmercenaries.”
Angelique chewed on her lip. “The increase of goblins in Erlauf kept them busy, too. If the Erlauf Prince hadn’t married Cinderella and the two healed some of the rift between their countries, the goblins would have been farworse.”
“Yes.” Gemma stood again and approached Angelique, peering into her eyes with a sharp look that made Angelique feel like she could see into hersoul.
Stil scratched his black hair and sighed. “As part of their efforts, they seem to be attacking individuals that they feel bear a strong resemblance to those who helped the Snow Queen. There was a mage who could make transportation gates—that would be Evariste’scounterpart.”
“A few elves helped the Snow Queen, as well,” Angelique said. “It would explain why they were among the firsttargeted.”
“Precisely, yes. And, er…the first recorded craftmage helped the Snow Queen, too. People seem to think that’s why the rider targeted me.” Stil briefly turned away so he could throw a pebble into the lake. The plopping noise of the water was nearly covered by the rustling leaves from the encroaching trees in the surroundingforest.
“Yes. It’s fair obvious.” Only now did Gemma finally look away from Angelique. She retreated back to Stil, and the two held hands before facing Angeliquetogether.
Angelique quirked an eyebrow. “You don’t need to present a united front to me. It’s a lot to take in, but I understand. A little, anyway. I suspect I’ll have to talk to Severin for the true gravity to sink in.” She took a step backwards, then started to turn, intending to heave herself onto Pegasus’back.
“Angelique,” Stilcalled.
“Yes?” Angelique turnedback.
“There’s one more person they’ve targeted.” Stil licked his lips. “Above all, the Chosen would most fear the person—the mage—whom they believe most resembles the Snow Queen in thisgeneration.”
Angelique nodded slowly. “That would be Evariste, I’dexpect?”
Gemma shook his head. “He isn’t the most powerful user ofmagic.”
Angelique frowned, her brow furrowing. “You can’tmean…?”
“It’s you, Angelique,” Stil blurted out. “You’re the Snow Queen of our time. You can save us and destroy them. At every turn, you’ve been the only one to resist them—the only oneableto resist them.” He spoke so fast and tightly, this was obviously what he’d been working up to saying the wholetime.
Angelique shook her head. “You’rewrong.”
“You can’t deny you’re the most powerful,” Gemmasaid.
“I can, in fact,” Angelique snarled. “Because no one—not even me—knows how much magic I reallyhave.”
“Because you’re so powerful, it can’t be tested!” Stil burst out. “Because every gauge that has been developed, you’ve broken! Angelique, you’restrongerthan the Snow Queen! You could take down legions withoutrestriction.”
