He’s long gone. However, I might be able to pick up his trail. He could lead me toEvariste…
She groaned as she rolled her shoulders back, then glanced curiously at Pegasus. “How did you know where to findme?”
Pegasus swished histail.
“Er, okay, obviously you’ve always been able to find me, but why did you come? I didn’t call for you…did I?” Angelique frowned in thought.I suppose it’s possible I might have called for him when I passed out, but I’m pretty sure Pegasus is what scared the mageoff.
Pegasus snorted at Angelique’s injured forearm with enough force he wetted herclothes.
“You knew I was injured so you just…came?” Angeliqueasked.
Pegasus pressed his muzzle to her temple for several sweet moments, then hepushedher hard enough to make herstumble.
“Hey,” Angelique protested as she staggered a fewsteps.
Pegasus stared at her with fathomless eyes, and Angelique could have sworn he quirked an eye ather.
“Well, I…that mage found me and…he was a war mage, you know, so I couldn’t beat the snot out of him like Puss—that is, Roland—would want me to and so,um…”
I’m babbling to a constellation, trying to make an excuse for my injuries, she dimly realized.And this is probably the least surprising part of myweek.
Pegasus pawed the ground—spawning a blue flame despite the dusting of snow, then turned in acircle.
Angelique rubbed the back of her neck and watched him, more than a littleconfused.
The constellation looked at her over his shoulder and stamped a hoof, then lipped a stirrup of hissaddle.
“I don’t want to go just yet,” Angelique said. “I’d like to use a few spells and see if I can pick up the black mage’s tracks. He mentioned Evariste—I think. If he’s with the mages who have him captured, he’s our bestlead.”
Angelique couldn’t say exactly how Pegasus did it, but something dark brushed hermind.
ONE.
The impression was both strong and ancient, and it ran through her wholebody.
Angelique’s breath was shaky, and her legs trembled alittle.
However he had accomplished it, Pegasus had been clear. He would allow her to cast one spell, and then they would ride to the nearest city to get her injuries seento.
“Okay.” Angelique cleared her throat and tottered back toward theriver.
She shivered in the cold air—it was even cooler in Kozlovka than in inland Zancara. She tried to tug her ripped clothes closer before recalling she was officially out of the no-magiczone.
“Of course!” A few twists and turns of her magic, and a heat charm settled over Angelique, warming her from the inside out. She sighed in relief, wriggling her toes in her boots until Pegasus shifted. “I’mhurrying!”
Angelique frowned in concentration as she carefully sifted her magic through her fingers, swirling it into the most powerful spell she couldmuster.
Perhaps Pegasus is right to have us leave, Angelique thought as sweat beaded on her forehead.I believe my injuries lost more blood than I thought—I feel lightheaded and just a bit…strange.
Her magic flowed easily enough, but Angelique had to shake her head and peel her eyes open wide to keep her vision fromblurring.
It was a good thing she was so skilled at tracking spells—but by the time she finished, she had to sit down. She flicked the silver orb, sending it off on its way, then staggered back to Pegasus and his prominently flattenedears.
“There. We just have to wait for it to ferret out information.” Angelique slipped her foot into the saddle stirrup and tried to boost herself onto Pegasus’ back, but her leg gave out and she collapsed, slamming into the ground. “Ouch!”
Pegasus grumbled under his breath and lowered himself to theground.
Angelique slipped into the saddle and clung to him as he rocked to his feet. Once they were stabilized, she patted his neck. “Thank you. If you like—” She stopped talking when she felt the spark of the tracking spell fizzle. “It…died?” she saiddumbly.
