Donaigh snapped his attention to her and stood. “Yeah? Well she’s done more than the lot of you put together—I’d say that makes herbetterthan a LadyEnchantress.”
Several mages frowned, and a handful of them exchanged dark glances while Glaze visiblybristled.
And that went a bit too far. I want help—I don’t want to alienate them.“Donaigh,” Angelique called, her voice quiet with a mask ofcalm.
Donaigh plopped back down in his chair, his posture once againlax.
“Such a war mage,” Glazemuttered.
Thankfully, Donaigh didn’t rise to the bait. Instead, he tipped his straw hat andwinked.
Angelique shoved her hands under the table, then swept her gaze across the mages crowded around the table. “A general announcement was made earlier in the Summit to be on guard for black mages, but I wish to present an official warning to those here—particularly the Master and GrandMaster Mages who possess greatpower.”
Sano sighed deeply. “Yes, I started making a greater effort to travel with others once I heard how Stil had beenattacked.”
“I was also attacked recently,” Angelique carefully began. “By a black mage with war magic. I was in Kozlovka, near Zancara’s border wall. I wrote a report on it, but I don’t know that the Conclave released ityet.”
It’s a bit of a fib, but unless it’s unavoidable, I don’t think it would be wise to admit I went to Zancara. That will get them all set offagain.
The weather mage scratched his chin. “I haven’t seen your report, but I am more than a bit behind with Conclave paperwork. You got away,obviously?”
“Were you hurt?” Firra asked as she inspected Angelique with a furrowedbrow.
“I was injured, but my wounds have long healed,” Angeliquesaid.
“You killed the black mage?” Finnrasked.
Angelique frowned. “He fled,” she flatly said. “Pegasus arrived just as I was about to succumb to my injuries. He chased himoff.”
“I’m sorry to hear that,” Sano said. “But I guess it proves we need to keep our guardup.”
Finnr drummed his fingers on the table. “It also shows the black mages must have attained a certain level of bravado and no longer feel they need to hide tosurvive.”
His astute observation made several magesgrimace.
“They can’t be that numerous and well equipped,” Glaze objected. “Surely the Veneno Conclave would have learned about them far beforenow.”
“The Conclavedidlearn about them far before now,” Angelique said. “When Lord Enchanter Evariste wastaken.”
“Black mages don’t typically work together,” the weather mage pointed out. “Just because one was stupid enough to attack Apprentice Angelique doesn’t mean there’s a legion outthere.”
“Possibly,” Angelique said. “Except I believe the black mage knew where Lord Enchanter Evariste is, for he mentionedhim.”
“And you let him go?” Glazeasked.
“It seems you are bad at listening, dear,” Sybilla dryly said. “Allow me to repeat what Angelique said moments ago—she nearly succumbed to her injuries. Unless you like to go galivanting around while leaking blood every whichway?”
Glaze lowered her eyes to the table andfrowned.
Angelique ignored the exchange. “If a black mage attempts to attack a Conclave member, all efforts should be put into containing and capturing the blackmage.”
“So he or she can be questioned?” Stilasked.
“Exactly,” Angeliquesaid.
“Thank you for the information, Apprentice Angelique,” Sybilla winked—obviously knowing the full story. “We are glad you were not gravelyhurt.”
The magic users nodded, and the topic was seemingly over—which came as a bit of a surprise to Angelique.I thought they would be more upset that a black mage attacked someone. But perhaps it is a sign that they are just aware how bad things have become… Or maybe they don’t care as much because it’s me. Hopefully it’s the former. Iprayit’s theformer.
