“If I must,” he said. “I’ve already heard this lecture. Twice.” He reluctantly sauntered after her, one hand tucked into a pocket of histunic.
“I imagine hearing it a third time is still better than going back to Wallace,” Angelique dryly said. She waited until Clovicus laughed before adding, “And it wouldn’t be a bad thing for you and I to start discussing what sorts of spells you think we’llneed.”
“Yes, of course. We probably ought to go inspect the start of the mountain range to get a feel for what we’re dealing with before we make any concrete plans,” hesaid.
“We can go with the Black Swan Smugglers and see them off at Fresler’s Helm,” Angelique suggested. “Isn’t the easiest entrance to the range nearit?”
“I believe so—though we can ask King Toril for confirmation. I like the way you think,Apprentice.”
Angelique’s smile faded a little. “I had an excellentteacher.”
Chapter 22
“Three kinds of magic,”Clovicus announced. “Rock—or earth, perhaps—snow, andfire.”
Angelique glanced up at the lord enchanter. “Fire to melt the snow? Won’t that make the valleys muddymesses?”
“If we used it to the extent you’re thinking, we’d probably bring a flash flood down on us,” Clovicus said wryly. “I intended to use it to help us with the temperature. Having floating globes of fire is an easier spell to hold onto than a weather spell to control the temperature around us. It’s more passive and doesn’t need to scale up anddown.”
A cool breeze ruffled Angelique’s hair. “You think the weather will be thatfrigid?”
“The northern mountains are unnaturally cold,” Clovicus shrugged. “Legend says it’s because there is a land north of our continent, but no one knows because these mountains are impossible topass.”
“Yes, but as you said, that’s a legend,” Angelique pointedout.
“Don’t be so sure,” Clovicus said. “There is something in these mountains—something besides the Snow Queen’smagic.”
The wind whistled as it tore through the narrow valley between Fresler’s Helm and its neighboringpeaks.
Though it was summer, the wind brought a blast of cold air with it, tugging on Angelique’strousers.
“We’ll have to move things bit by bit, then?” Angeliqueasked.
Clovicus sighed and flicked a lock of his copper hair. “Unless you want to go around blasting off power,yep.”
“That probably wouldn’t make Severin happy,” Angelique said. “He already gave me a lecture about beingdiscreet.”
Clovicus grunted and peered up at thesky.
The setting sun was blocked by the mountains, so the sky had a halo-like glow where the mountain peaks pierced theheavens.
“I’m heading back to the camp,” Clovicus announced. “They were preparing dinner when we left, and I don’t mean to miss it. Are youcoming?”
“I’ll be along shortly,” Angelique said. “Odette said they’d avoid spending the night in the mountains if they could, so they should returnsoon.”
Clovicus shrugged. “Do what you will.” He patted her shoulder then began to make his way back to the camp, where a mixture of guards and mountain guides had pitched elaborate tents lined with animal skins to block out the cold nip of the mountainair.
Angelique waited until she no longer heard his footsteps before she sat, reveling in wearing her plain but sturdytrousers.
Given that they would soon be mountain climbing—provided all went well—Angelique had opted to set aside her dress from Evariste and instead wear more practical clothing: trousers and a cotton shirt, with warmer clothes packed for the coolertemperatures.
I love my dress, but there is something very freeing about pants. They’re a lot easier to scramble aroundin.
She hugged her knees to her chest and stared at the golden sky. Birds chirped cheerfully in the trees, but it was too cool for bugs this close to the cold radiating off themountains.
Angelique heard the approach of footsteps and considered getting up.It must be Clovicus, and I don’t think he’d care if he found me rolling in the dirt as long as I didn’t try to make him do morepaperwork.
“Forget something?” Angelique peeled her gaze from the beautiful sky and peered over her shoulder, blanching when she saw it was not Clovicus picking his way toward her, but Lady EnchantressLovelana.
