He tossed her a bright red apple, then a hunk ofcheese.
Angelique smiled. “Thank you.” She took a bite out of the tart apple. “We won’t be toolong.”
Pegasus snorted and pulled away from the group, barely giving Angelique enough time to toss her snack in the saddlebag and cling to him before he was off like a comet, the fire of his mane and tail blazing whitehot.
The cooling air stung Angelique’s face as the constellation thundered along. They had just rounded a thicket of trees when the potent smell of smoke clogged theair.
Angelique tugged on Pegasus reins, slowing himdown.
“Do you smell that?” she asked when she could speak without needing toshout.
Pegasus flared his nostrils and sniffed the air—acting more like a wolf than an equine. He adjusted their course, then picked up the pace again, and within moments, Angelique could make out the thick clouds of smoke flooding the sky. Pegasus wove around a plowed field and hurdled up a slight hill, pausing when he reached thetop.
Flames slowly consumed a village, choking the area in ashy gray smog, but above the hungry crackle of the fire, she could hear the guttural snarls ofgoblins.
It’s Carabosso. He’shere!
Chapter 28
Angelique’s gutreaction was to scream for Pegasus to fly forward, but she made herself take inventory of the situation, recalling that for once she wasn’talone.
Unfortunately, it seemed Carabosso had added to his allies aswell.
Goblins, barely visible through the haze of smoke, ran through the streets. A few villagers fled their onslaught, escaping the fire-ruined village and runningaway.
To the west of the village were four chimera—vile monsters with the body of a lion and three distinct heads: that of a lion, a goat, and aserpent.
Angelique thought she saw Carabosso—his pale skin and dark hair making him rather distinctive compared to the sun-worn villagers—but he disappeared in the swirl of smoke funneled around the village. She saw three other figures. One was the woman whom Angelique was certain was Suzu—for the flames eating the buildings and wooden fences grew higher under her ministrations—the other Angelique recognized as the male black mage that had previously accompanied Suzu and Carabosso, but the last was a new addition—a female black mage who smiled like asnake.
The two unknown black mages disappeared in the smoke, hustling after Carabosso, but Suzu stayed at the edge of the village, fanning theflames.
Yes. That’s Suzu alright. And if she’s with Carabosso, it’s likely they—or their companions—should know where Evaristeis.
Suzu raised her arms, feeding the fire’sfrenzy.
Angelique growled—everything in her wanted to rip away and descend onSuzu.
If I can capture any one of them, I can find Evariste!Her muscles tensed, and her magic stirred at her fingers, but she forcefully turned her gaze to the burning buildings.However, first we have to save the villagers.It was torture, but she turned Pegasus back toward their companions. “Fly, Pegasus! We have to tell theothers!”
Pegasus took Angelique at her word, for she could have sworn she saw black feathers in her peripheral vision—but it was hard to tell since Pegasus was moving so fast, her eyes teared up and the cold wind froze her nose andfingers.
He reached Rosalinda’s company in a few short minutes, spraying dirt and tufts of grass when hehalted.
“It’s Carabosso,” Angelique managed to say around a gasp as she tried to breathe again. “He’shere.”
Firra jumped up and flames crackled in her eyes. “What?”
Angelique coughed and sat upright when she was able to straighten her fingers after the strain of clinging to Pegasus’ back. “He’s attacking a nearbyvillage.”
“That’d be Tavo.” Sir Isaia mounted his hot-tempered horse and looked to Princess Rosalinda. “Do weengage?”
“Yes, but we can’t beat them. He has three black mages with him, four chimera, and, somewhere, he acquired a bunch of goblins.” Angelique stretched her fingers and tried to hold off the impulse to direct Pegasus back to the village. “There are too many ofthem.”
“But if you used your core magic…” Firra trailed off and at least had the decency to look a littleguilty.
Angelique shook her head.No, Firra, I’ll let you talk me into breaking all kinds of laws and will save your country, but I will not risk my soul to doso.
“We cannot ask that of her,” Donaigh said firmly. “Particularly as she has already done so much to help us that will displease theConclave.”
