The boy eyed Angelique but kept his mouthshut.
“I suppose I’ll have to consider that progress,” Clovicus sourly said. A prod with his magic, and the icy water evaporated from the student’s clothes with a puff ofsteam.
The student looked like he wanted to renew the argument, so Angelique was quick to draw Clovicus’ attention back to her. “How did you know it was me when you calledout?”
Clovicus scratched his chin. “As there is only one equine constellation in any realm that I know of, and only one woman capable of riding him, it was not a mentally taxing guess.” Clovicus peered in Pegasus’ direction. “You seemed to be on your way toMullberg?”
Shenodded.
“The Council hasn’t called you in for anything,” he stated more thanasked.
“No.”
“Then you’re going to the Conclave of your own freewill?”
“I was actually hoping to speak to you or Sybilla.” Angelique paused when she felt the students’ curious gazes onher.
“Practice your magic,” Clovicus told thestudents.
“We’re traveling in Verglas for a history and ethics lecture, not magic practice,” the wry girl, Hart,said.
“Ask me if I care,” Clovicussaid.
The bright boy brandished a finger in the air. “Do youcare—”
“That was a rhetorical question,” Clovicus said. “Shoo. OrI’llpractice my magic onyou.”
The students grumbled, but they set about doing as Clovicusinstructed.
Once they were properly distracted, Clovicus turned his sharp gaze back to Angelique and raised hiseyebrows.
“I just parted with Rumpelstiltskin,” Angelique began. “He was being tracked by a nightmare and rider. We chased it off, and he means to travel to Chanceux Chateau while it recovers, but it’s been after him formonths.”
“That long?” Clovicus’ lips twisted into a slight frown. “That means its more than mere happenstance or that the rider and nightmare merely stumbled uponhim.”
“I think it’s possible he’s being targeted by the same dark mages who took Evariste,” Angeliquesaid.
Clovicus’ expression turned unreadable. “Why?”
“Stil has made a new acquaintance who made the remarkable observation that, if given enough time, Stil could outfit an army with spelled and charmedweapons.”
“The Veneno Conclave would never allow a country to purchase enchanted weapons in order to war with another country,” Clovicuscountered.
“Yes,” Angelique agreed. “However, if it was human armies facing off against goblins, trolls, or any of the other creatures that have been plaguing the continent, they will have no such objection. And suddenly his abilities become much moreprized.”
Clovicus leaned back on his heels. “You think we’re going towar?”
Now it was Angelique’s turn to frown. “Yes. I can’t claim to know the scale, but after everything we’ve seen in just a handful of years, I don’t know that anyone can doubt that there is a something or someone behind all the darkness we’veseen.”
“I agree,” Clovicus said. “But the idea of a war against dark magic is going to have the upper echelon of the Conclave running around like a flock of headlesschickens.”
“Perhaps, but with the nightmare and rider chasing Stil, we can’t afford to tip-toe around the idea anymore. There may be other mages that will soon be targeted. We have to protect the countriesandourselves before we lose more than Evariste,” Angelique said. Her cheek twitched when Evariste’s name fell from her lips, but otherwise she managed to keep her expressionbland.
“Naturally.” Clovicus sighed deeply. “I suppose you’d rather have me deliver this delightful news to the Conclave than tell themyourself?”
“I highly doubt they’d hear it if I was the one to explainit.”
“Rather likely.” Clovicus pulled his eyebrows together, creating a V of wrinkles on his brow. “You do realize thatyoumight be among those who are targeted next? The spell that hit Evariste was originally aimed at you, afterall.”
