Angelique frowned in herconfusion.
“No, no. Gemma Kielland is too valuable to lose. I don’t know how she’s spinning flax into gold, but she’ll fill my coffers and get me out of debt to festeringArcainia.” The king snarled the name of the smaller country with such ferocity, hespit.
Stil! You spun gold for her—and you didn’t think to tell me? You love-addledfool!
“She is a citizen of Verglas.” Angelique’s voice was perhaps a little too hard for the unbothered/serene aura she was trying to give off, but his actions were unforgivable as a royal—whoshouldrule with a conduct as strict as the Veneno Conclave’s many regulations. “You cannot abuse her likethis.”
“I am king. I can do whatever I wish within the borders of my own country.” King Torgen cracked another smile, his lips curling back in an unsettling grin. “Do you mean to try and stopme?”
Chapter 6
“Doesthat mean you will not listen to my words alone?” Angelique boldlyasked.
“Don’t cross me,Enchantress,” the king said in a voice of ice. “Or you will learn just how unforgiving Verglas truly is.” Another twitch of his fingers, and Angelique heard the scrape of swords being drawn and the rattle ofspears.
He wouldn’t try to kill an enchantress-in-training. He can’t bethatmad. But Angelique had to clench her hands to hide the way they shook. “Is that athreat?”
His smile grew even larger, revealing his gums. “Yes.” He stood and sauntered down the stairs, his hands tucked behind his back. “All of you mages are a bunch of pacifists. You’re useless. The Veneno Conclave spends most of its time mewling about its glory days in the past. You may have cowed all the other countries for centuries, butIwill not be deceived. As such, I will do whatever Idesire.”
Though the last sentence was particularly concerning, Angelique didn’t dare address it head-on.I have to think my words through carefully, she thought,because only an unhinged man would dare to utter such insults to a mage.“Your censure of the Conclave is both harsh and untrue,” Angelique said. “Mages dedicate their lives to help those inneed.”
The King sneered. “If that is so then explain to me,Enchantress-In-Training, why it is thatyouare the only magic user involving herself withroyalty?”
Angelique warily tilted her head. “What do youmean?”
“I know all about your little trail across the continent. Besides helping those ratty princes and the princess of Arcainia, you put all of Ciane under a sleep spell and got yourself involved with the cursed prince in Loire. I don’t need a spy network to hear of your exploits. I thought I might be excused a visit from your…vigilance…given Verglas’ natural defenses, but obviously I waswrong.”
Again, he didn’t stop his saunter until he invaded her personal space, standing so close to her that Angelique could smell the rotten stink of his breath. He narrowed his eyes as he leaned even closer. “Whatever it is you’re fighting, your precious Conclave isterrifiedof it. You might try, but you haven’t the power to stop the countries from doing whatever they wish—or Erlauf wouldn’t have so effortlessly conquered Trieux. The age of mages is ending, littleenchantress.”
Something snapped in Angelique. Her magic curled around her, putting iron in her spine so it wasshewho leaned into King Torgen. “I don’t care,” she hissed. “I don’t care about power balances. I don’t care what the Conclave says or does. What Idocare about is doing what’s right. Release Gemma Kielland. Or it isyouwho will be forced to payrestitution.”
The soldiers closest gulped audibly and rattled their weapons—though Angelique wasn’t sure if it was for fear of her or fear of theirking.
King Torgen retreated a step, his eyes skittering back and forth from Angelique to the guards who were slowly edging around the perimeter of the room. He licked his lips, and Angelique couldseehis desire to shed her blood as it bloomed in his yellow-yeyes.
For him, I would use my war magic, she decided.I hate it, and I hate using it even more. But evil like this cannot be allowed to run freely. If he dares to attackme…
Angelique smiled, raised an eyebrow, then made a show of staring at the closest guard’ssword.
Dim recognition twisted his face. “Leave!” King Torgen snapped. “You have delivered your baseless warning. I will not surrender Gemma Kielland, and if you try to interfere, you will pay. My guards will see yououtof Ostfold. Do not try toreturn.”
Angelique smoothed her face, not allowing her inner cringe to show.I hope I didn’t just mess things up for Stil.She rolled her shoulders back and nodded to the guards who slowly approached her, allowing them to lead her from theroom.
As she left, King Torgen shouted. “Your time has ended, Enchantress! You’re too late now! You will loseeverything!”
The doors to the throne room slammed shut, cutting off the rest of histirade.
She couldn’t entirely disguise the shiver that wracked her shoulders as she heard the mad king’s babbling shouts through thedoor.
He can’t be right.Mages are still powerful. We can stop whatever enemy is trying to attack the continent. We’re not toolate.
And yet, something inside Angelique whispered that perhaps the king was more right than sheknew…
* * *
An unnecessarily largesquadron of soldiers marched Angelique out of the palace and through the quiet streets of Ostfold. (The city was unnaturally still. Angelique wasn’t certain if it was because the citizens were collectively holding their breath for the king’s wedding or if it wasalwayslikethis.)
The soldiers respectfully bowed to Angelique again once they escorted her outside the city gates, then stood at attention at the sides of thegates.
