Delanna made a scoffing noise and stared Rein down as if he were a miscreant stableboy.
Angelique looked from the weather mages to the others, worry plucking at her eyebrow.While this is somewhat gratifying to know that others outside the mage community notice my work and value it, it’s also a bit dangerous. I don’t want Sole—or any other country for that matter—rubbing the Veneno Conclave the wrong way. The Conclave still has a great number of honorable mages, and we could use their help, as much as the Conclave’s overall attitude frustratesme.
“Rein.” Blanche set a hand on her companion’s shoulder and shook her head. “We are in the wrong. We arrived late and—as the knights said—the Conclave has relied solely on Angelique and previously Evariste to look after Sole when it seems the situation was a much bigger problem than one roguemage.”
The knights nodded and settled down alittle.
“Regardless,” Blanche turned to face Rosalinda. “All we can do is give our condolences and ask for the opportunity to right thesituation.”
Rosalinda eyed her. “And take Carabosso to the Veneno Conclave fortrial?”
Blanche bowed her head. “Exactlyso.”
Rosalinda looked from Blanche to the four war mages. “Are six mages enough to safely escort Carabosso back? His associates fled. They might try to freehim.”
“We came prepared, Your Highness,” Rein assured her. “We have equipment that will seal Carabosso’s powers, and the war mages who will accompany us are skilled in the art of stealth and battle. Carabosso’s allies won’t be able to find us as long as the war mages keep their magicgoing.”
The war mages bowed deeply. “If it pleases Your Highness to know,” the woman war mage stated, “we belong to the Council’s personal guard and are among the top-ranked war mages. There is only one war mage who ranks higher than the Council’sguard.”
Angelique couldfeeltheir puppy-like gaze—most war mages seemed to bestow it upon her whenever she was in their proximity. She fidgeted her feet—safely hidden beneath the skirts of her dress—but kept her slight smileon.
I feel like an imposter whenever they look at me likethat.
“Very well,” Rosalinda finally said. She glanced at the Legendary Knights. “I’m not wholly certain what we would do with Carabosso in Ciane,anyway.”
The knights reluctantlynodded.
“However,” Rosalinda added. “I request a detailed report once you arrive at the Veneno Conclave and again after he is put on trial. My grandfather will begreatlyinterested to hear how your justice system works, and as I know the Conclave will punish Carabosso with all due diligence, perhaps it will restore his faith in theorganization.”
Donaigh whistled at the princess’ daring, and Angelique glanced at Firra—who was smirkingopenly.
Blanche glanced at Rein and raised her eyebrows. He frowned before the lines around his lips softened. “That is a fair request,” he admitted. “We will fulfillit.”
Rosalinda’s smile was back. “Excellent! I must thank you inadvance.”
Blanche folded her hands in front of her and shifted to Firra and Donaigh. “I assume you both will journey back withus?”
Donaigh shook his head, but it was Firra who nonchalantly said, “Nope.”
Blanche blinked. “No? But your assignment is over—Rosalinda has both fallen asleep and awoken, and Carabosso has beencaptured.”
Firra smiled, and Angelique could almost feel the heat of fire radiating off the mage. “We’ll be staying here in the interim, untilLady EnchantressAngelique dismisses us. Unless, she will be traveling with you back to theConclave?”
Blanche’s expression lost some of her benevolence and was replaced with embarrassed surprise. “Um, that is tosay…”
Angelique frowned slightly as she weighed thepossibilities.
If I go with them, I might be able to learn more about Carabosso—maybe.Or maybe the Council will block me out of spite due to my little tirade last year. But Carabosso is the most valuable asset we’ve retrieved inyears.
She nodded.I’ll send word to Clovicus. He’ll not only be able to get whatever information they pry out of Carabosso, but he’ll be able to put forth his own questions. The Veneno Conclave also wants to find Evariste; they won’t fight him onthis.
Though she was able to defend her answer, a part of Angelique couldn’t help but wonder if she was being a coward. Carabosso was a chance to find Evariste, and that’s all she had wanted for the past fiveyears.
But she was smart enough to know that her abilities didn’t lie with information extraction—or rather she couldn’t stomach the kinds of spells and charms that would be used on Carabosso to get him totalk.
We have him, she thought.He’s not going anywhere. And there are better uses of my time. Winter isn’t too far off, and Odette will make a delivery to the elvesthen.
“Unfortunately, I have other duties that I must see to that make me unavailable for the journey. Sorry.” She used an apologetic smile, but it was a bit hard to keep up the farce when she could see Blanche’s relief—though the war mages looked a littledisappointed.
