No, I—I can’t do this myself! He must be wrong—this can’t be the end of magic. At least, I won’t let it go without a fight. Fine, so the Conclave is a dead-end, but I know there are other mages that can help!“Severin,” Angelique started. “I cannot be your sole magical support. I am already stretched past my abilities. I cannot handle much more.Ineedhelp.”
“And you think there are other mages who will offer theirhelp?”
“Yes,” Angelique said. “You just need to reach out to them on an individualbasis.”
“You say I need to reach out?” Severin asked. “You won’t include yourself on theinvitation?”
Angelique laughed outright. “No, I’m afraid if we did so, they would be more likely to refuse you. But I am good friends with a particularly popular and well-connected fairy godmother. I will approach her—I’m certain she will know whom we should invite, and who will be most sympathetic to thecause.”
“Very well,” Severin said. “If I might impose upon you, please contacther.”
“It will be my pleasure!” Angelique almost bounced on the saddle in her joy.Sybilla will know whom to ask. I can put up with their disdain and fear if it means I don’t have to do this aloneanymore!
A small part of Angelique also rejoiced for magic itself.This is one last opportunity for us to prove ourselves. To show we will not fade quietly into the pages of history, but that we will stand our watch and protect this land. This is not the end of magic—not by a longshot!
Pegasus, picking up on her good mood, pranced a few steps. Angelique tried to cling to his back in as stately a manner as she could. “I think it would be best if I took several invitations that outline the purpose of the Summit when I call onSybilla.”
“Of course,” Severin said. “I mean to return to Chanceux tomorrow. Please allow me to invite you to return with me. Elle will be pleased to see you again, and I will write out as may invitations as youdesire.”
“I don’t wish toimpose.”
Severin made a noise that sounded an awful lot like a cat’s short growl. “Believe me, it is not an imposition at all. Your presence might distract her for a week or so, which means I won’t have to have triple the usual guard on her to make sure she doesn’t get it into her foolish mind to run off on some self-assigned Rangermission.”
Angelique laughed as she recalled the last time she had come across the unusual princess—who had dressed up as a beggar woman and proceeded to beat senseless a man peddling black magic charms. “Can even a triple guard keep her from heradventures?”
Severin scowled darkly, but the light in his eyes made him seem happier than he had since the start of their conversation. “I imagine we’ll find out when wereturn.”
* * *
Angelique stayedat Chanceux Chateau for a week—partially because she enjoyed her time with the prince and princess, partially because it took Severin longer than expected to write out all the necessary papers,andpartially because it took Angelique some time to hear word of Sybilla’s most recent location: southernSole.
But with the fairy godmother’s location confirmed, Angelique set out…because theyneededto recruit more mages. (And all the delicious food and beautiful flowers of Chanceux weren’t enough to dispel Angelique’s worry that if they didn’t recruit more, she might be crushed under the weight ofexpectations.)
Even with her newfound competence in tracking spells, it took Angelique days to trail Sybilla, and she was more than a little bewildered when she found the fairy godmother crouched behind a massive bush that encroached on the shore of a smalllake.
She appeared to be watching a clandestine meeting of a man and woman dressed in nondescript clothes. The couple was settled farther down the lakeshore and spoke in lowered, murmuredtones.
Unsure of what she was walking into, Angelique cautiously settled an invisibility charm over her shoulders before she approached the older woman. “Sybilla?” shewhispered.
“Hello, dearie!” Sybilla didn’t turn to address Angelique or even seem surprised to hear her. (Given Sybilla was particularly gifted at sensing magic, this was expected. Probably.) She beckoned Angelique closer as she nudged a bush branch aside. “Fancy seeing you here! What’s brought you toSole?”
Angelique crouched down next to her before letting her spell drop. “You,actually.”
“In that case, take a seat. You’ll be here a bit.” Sybilla invitingly patted the ground next to her, then peered back in the direction from which Angelique had come. “Where’s that overgrown star ofyours?”
“Pegasus returned to the sky for the night.” Angelique glanced up at the sky—which was a swirl of blush pink and a fathomless blue. Only the brightest stars were out…and Pegasus’ constellation. (Tonight he didn’t bob around, but it seemed to Angelique he was not in the exact place he should be,either.)
“I see.” Sybilla pushed aside a branch, going back to watching the man and woman, who were conversing with seriousexpressions.
“What are you doing here?” Angelique asked, more than a little curious. “Helping with a loveconfession?”
“Nothing nearly so romantic—but it’s at least twice as fun! I’m here to uncover and punish an illegal trade route of stolen magical artifacts.” Sybilla adjusted her spectacles with a cheerful smile that made the wrinkles around her eyes evendeeper.
“I beg your pardon?” Angelique said after several moments of stunnedsilence.
“There’s always been a black market for illegal or stolen magical artifacts,” Sybilla said. “But it’s gotten worse over the years, to the point where it has become downrighttroubling.”
“Yes, I’ve heard asmuch.”
