A quick peek at the sky confirmed Odette and the others were circling overhead.Good—I don’t want them caught up in thecrossfire.
She peered over Pegasus’ shoulder to glance at the ground, considered sliding from the saddle, then looked back at the village just in time to see Carabosso emerge from thesmoke.
His skin was still as pale as it was the day Angelique saw him curse baby Princess Rosalinda, though the perfection of his complexion was no longer ruined solely by the puckered red brand of exile burned into his skin, but also by faint wrinkles around his mouth. Time had also made its stamp in the threads of silver that glinted in his shiny blackhair.
“Carabosso!” Angelique shouted. “Standdown!”
He curled his upper lip back and sneered. “You again, Apprentice Angelique? You have the tenacity of acockroach.”
“Stand down!” Angeliquerepeated.
Carabosso rolled his eyes, then whipped a hand in front of him and made a graspingmotion.
Smoke from the fire churned and separated from the blackened ruins, slowly taking on the shape of a skull. It dropped ash as it raced toward Angelique, its lower jaw gapingopen.
Pegasus snorted, and Angelique felt his shoulder blades move oddly beneath her. “Steady,” she murmured as she hurriedly wove a newspell.
I can handle this—particularly while riding Pegasus. I just might be able to beathim!
A horse-length before the smoke skull was on them, Angelique loosened her newest bit of magic, summoning a gust of wind so strong it made her eyes tearup.
The wind screamed as it ripped the smoke apart, dispersing it harmlessly into theair.
Angelique flicked her wrist, calling up the spell she had prepared earlier. She was just about to throw it at the rogue mage when two more figures emerged from thesmoke.
The first was a woman with dark hair, thin lips, and purple robes. She held a ball of flames, which brought to mind the description Prince Severin had given Angelique of SorceressSuzu.
Is thather?
“Apprentice Angelique.” The sorceress gave Angelique a snake-like smile. “What a pleasure it will be to endyou.”
“Indeed—we can put that sniveling brat in his place,” the other male mage chuckled. “Unless, you choose to forsake your vows to help those in need and instead run?” He raised a blackeyebrow.
The sorceress chucked the fireball atAngelique.
Pegasus screamed and leaped forward, his teeth bared, but Angelique whisked a defensive shield intoplace.
Carabosso smiled. “Needless to say, I willnotbe standing down. Rather, you are too late. I’ve already destroyed five other villages besides this one. And you’re not nearly enough to stopme.”
Angelique’s mind raced.I want to throw every spell I have at the sorceress, because if she reallyisSuzu that means—no. I can’t dwell on this, now is hardly the ideal time to catch her when I’m so severely outnumbered likethis.
“If you peacefully surrender to us, we won’t make your capturetoopainful—though I can’t say anything about yourhorse,” Carabossocontinued.
Angelique ignoredhim.
Carabosso—who is confirmed to be talented and somehow sly enough to un-seal his magic—possibly Suzu—a powerful sorceress—and a third black mage. These are terribleodds.
“New plan, Pegasus.” Angelique kept her voice to a low murmur as she hastily started twisting additional copies of her prepared spell. “We have torun.”
Pegasus shook hishead.
“I don’t like it either. We—no—Idon’t stand a chance against three black mages without back up.” She was vaguely aware Carabosso was still droning on during her hushed, one-sided conversation. “I can stun them, and then we’ll need to find Magic Knights to serve as reinforcement. We have to capture the femalealive!”
Pegasus swished his tail and flattened hisears.
“However,” Angelique leaned low over his neck. “We’re not giving up entirely. Let’s give ‘em the scare of their life and see if we can goad them into chasing after us,okay?”
Pegasus slowly exhaled—which she chose to interpret as anagreement.
