pile of crossbow bolts and a set of throwing axes, but frowned when she found a barrel that was overflowing with what looked like rolled-up painting canvasses.
“Are they art enthusiasts?” Angelique wondered. She prodded the canvas-filled barrel, then passed under the herbs again—which nearly covered up the dirty scent of the linens upstairs—when she found an empty easel and saw smears of paint that decorated the floor.
Apparently these warriors have genteel hobbies?
Snow White leaned against the bench by the fire, exhaustion making the dark circles under her eyes pop. “Who knows.”
“Hmm.” Angelique glanced at the wall that housed all the cooking implements, her eye twitching when she saw flickering blue flames outside the nearest window.
She squawked and smacked the window.
Pegasus sneered at her through the glass pane, and his mane briefly glowed brighter before he turned around and disappeared into the gloom of the forest.
Angelique glanced back at Snow White, but the princess thankfully had her eyes closed.
Good. Hopefully Pegasus realizes we’re staying for the night and goes back to the sky. If not, I’ll talk to him when I sneak out to notify Severin. I’ll keep the night watch, though. With black magic lurking in Queen Faina, there’s no telling if she’ll send someone after Snow White.
Angelique patted her herb-covered satchel, then went back to inspecting the weapons as she waited for the Seven Warriors to arrive or for the sun to rise.
Angelique glanced at the exhausted princess as she chewed on a carrot that was fairly sweet despite being quite shriveled.
The more I think about it, the more I see that this isn’t so bad. The Chosen have to be behind Queen Faina’s behavior. Working with Snow White, I might be able to capture one of them, and since they’d have to be stationed in Juwel, it seems to me that they would know where Evariste is. I can more safely find Evariste without having to call in Emerys and the elves, and we’ll get a black mage to question as a bonus—whom I will refuse to hand over to the Conclave until we’ve gotten all our questions answered.
She finished her carrot and fished another out of the “Seven Warriors’” supplies. Yes, I can be strategic enough to help Snow White and benefit from this as well. This isn’t a setback.
Angelique straightened when she saw movement outside. For a moment she thought Pegasus had come back, until she heard the muffled neighs of horses.
She crunched on the carrot and called out to Snow White, “Your Seven Warriors have arrived. Looks like they’re stabling their horses in a lean-to behind the cottage, and then they’ll be in.”
“What?” Snow White stirred from her spot by the fire like a cat.
Angelique peered from Snow White, to the “Seven Warriors” outside. All of them looked handsome, competent, and appropriately storybook-like. Perfect. I’ve done this enough times to know we can play to that. “No, no—you should stay there. If they find you sleeping by the fire, it will underline your innocence.” Angelique absently chewed on her carrot.
“What?” Snow White paused for a moment. “Are you eating their food?” She sounded scandalized—how adorable.
Angelique ambled away from the small window. “Just go back to sleep—or pretend to.”
Snow White ignored Angelique’s perfectly valid advice—a pity—and sat up just as the cottage door swung open.
Seven cloaked, brooding men crowded the cottage door—the very picture of an epic legend someone—not Angelique—would enjoy.
“Hello.” Angelique waved to them with her half-eaten, shriveled carrot. “Welcome home!”
One of the doubtlessly daring young noblemen elbowed his way to the front of the group, waving an unsheathed sword. “Who are you?” he demanded.
Chapter 19
Angelique pushed down her magic, which had perked with interest at the sight of his weapon. It had been restless since entering the cottage given all the blades the warriors hoarded.
Maybe I should have practiced my magic drills irregularly. It seems it has gotten cheeky from daily use.
“Never mind that.” Angelique bit off another hunk of carrot. “You lot are a bunch of pigs. You’re lucky it’s not summer, or your pigpen would have been irredeemably claimed by flies and bugs.”
“Angel!” The princess whisper-hissed from her spot by the fire, then shrank under the fierce gaze of Swordy.
Angelique chewed her carrot. “Oh, yeah. That’s your princess. You probably ought to bow or something.”
One of the warriors in the back of the pack asked, “Who is inside?”
“A mad woman.” Swordy took a step forward. Angelique could tell by the way he held himself he thought he was frightening.
Hah.
Angelique snorted to herself