As if to highlight her anger, Pegasus pawed at the ground, and the black of his coat almost seemed toexpand.
Angelique released the tension she was holding in her shoulders and marched past the constellation—though she patted him on theback.
She was relieved to see Odette was nodding slowly in understanding, and Nadia and Misha didn’t look shocked by her refusaleither.
(The refusalwaswarranted—right? As an Apprentice, it would have been overstepping herboundaries!)
Firra, however, looked crestfallen and crumpled in on herself alittle.
“What about Carabosso?” Donaighasked.
Angelique shifted her gaze to him and warningly raised her eyebrows. “What abouthim?”
“Carabosso is sacking towns, and all of Ciane is awake again,” Donaigh said. “King Giuseppe can send Magic Knights out to fighthim.”
Angelique hesitated.He has me, and he knows it.She took a deep breath. “Yes…Carabosso must be dealt with. I was planning to mount some sort of attack against him, but if Ciane is restored, that does changethings.”
Firra’s smile returned, and she clapped her hands, her fingers briefly crackling with flickers of fire. “You’re coming toCiane?”
“We were going to Ciane anyway.” Angelique nodded to the smugglers, including them in the directive. “Prince Severin of Loire has asked us to research a legend: Foedus, the magical dagger used by the Robber Maiden during the Snow Queen’srule.”
Donaigh squinted. “I thought it was amyth.”
“Apparently not.” Angelique started to scratch her elbow, then quickly corrected herself. “The prince has found references to it multiple times in the continent’shistory.”
“I am reluctant to say this, lest you decide not to come to Ciane after all, but why does the prince have you chasing magical artifacts if the Chosen are on the move?” Firraasked.
“He feels we might need it—as leverage,” Angelique said. “Because the Chosen have the mirror the Snow Queen tried and failed todestroy.”
The tiny flames Firra had been playing with leaped into roaring fireballs that took her several moments toextinguish.
“But that’s impossible—it’s in Verglas!” Donaigh almost shook his straw hatloose.
“I inspected the area myself—with Lord Enchanter Clovicus,” Angelique said. “And Odette, Misha, and Nadia scouted from the sky. I promise you, the mirror isgone.”
Donaigh sagged against his horse, his eyeswidened.
Firra shoved the fringe of her black bangs from her face, then nodded. “I see. Right. So, you are searching for Foedus,then?”
“Just information on it,” Angelique said. “Which is why we were traveling to Ciane. The royal library apparently has one of the most complete collections of references to it. The plan was that I would make copies of the information, and Odette, Nadia, and Misha would take it back toSeverin.”
Donaigh rubbed his face. “In that case, Ciane’s revival is going to complicate things. The library is guarded again, and with his foul mood, King Giuseppe isn’t likely to let youin.”
Wonderful. I’ll have to use a less-than-honest-and-upfront method to get in, then. Invisibility is always anoption…
“We’ll get you in,” Firrasaid.
Angelique blinked. “Huh?”
When Firra met Angelique’s gaze, her eyes burned with determination. “No matter what, we’ll get you into thelibrary.”
“But if I anger King Giuseppe regarding the library, it’s unlikely he’ll listen to anything I say about Carbosso,” Angeliquesaid.
“It doesn’t matter,” Firra said. “Our priorities have changed. Getting you that information is now our most importanttask.”
Something in Angelique loosened. “I’m grateful for the help—and for your support—but I have to admit, Firra, I’m surprised you aren’t pushing me to set the research aside in favor of helpingSole.”
Firra’s smile took on a pained edge. “Because if the Chosen have the mirror and we can’t stop them, the entire continent will bedestroyed.”
