more of those creatures outside.”
“All I intend to do is inspect the perimeter,” Angelique lied. “I’ll move the starfire crystals into a more serviceable formation and put some herbs out to ward off evil.”
Marzell’s forehead wrinkled. “Can herbs actually do that?”
“Of course, they can!”
“But you said you can barely heal, and that’s the main focus of herb magic,” Marzell pointed out.
How is it that I had such terrible luck to be stuck with people who know more about herb wizards than I do?
Angelique puffed her chest with as much pride as she could muster. “It is. But when an herb wizard has as much passion and anger as I considering what we were put through tonight, it is possible to channel that feeling into magic!”
Marzell didn’t look convinced, but Fritz opened the door.
Angelique scurried through—her satchel thumping on her hip. “Thank you, Fritz!”
“Don’t wander too far,” Marzell warned her. “Stay within sight of the cottage.”
Angelique waved her now-drooping dill at the warriors’ leader as he poked his head outside. “Yes, yes. I’ll screech if I see so much as a suspicious squirrel. Besides, the starfire crystals are my possessions. I have more I can use if necessary. Now, leave this apprentice to her herb magic!”
Marzell frowned, but he shut the door, leaving Angelique outside in the chilly night air.
Between the bright moon, the still glowing starfires, and the white snow—or what parts hadn’t been marched into slush by the constructs—it was quite bright outside.
She glanced back at the cottage, then started to pick up a few starfire crystals and toss them closer to the wooded perimeter as she stretched her magical senses.
She felt nothing—not even a glimmer left from the constructs.
Drat. That means I can’t use a tracking spell—no easy fixes for me. But the mage likely dropped the spell holding the constructs together after we cleared out most of them. It wouldn’t have been worth the effort, particularly once we brought out the starfires. That doesn’t mean he—or she—isn’t skulking around, still. It hasn’t been that long. If I move fast enough…
Angelique bit her lip as she glanced back at the cottage. One of the windows had yet to be covered—Marzell and Aldelbert were starting to get to it, though.
She hurriedly bent over and picked up a few more starfires, chucking them so they landed in the outer perimeter, then slowly strolled up to them.
“Herbs of the forest—protect us this night! Poison the stomachs of any evil doers who might approach us so they cannot step even one foot near us without getting the worst case of stomach cramps ever,” Angelique shouted.
There was no reaction from the cottage. Sir Bossy didn’t even poke his head out to criticize her form or provide some other obscure detail about herb lore that she didn’t know. Instead, the light emitting from the cottage disappeared as he and Aldelbert put the last board in place.
Perfect!
Given the cleared area around the cottage, Angelique could see the dark sky—which shimmered with stars. Her eyes traced over the formations, pausing when she saw what she was looking for—Pegasus’ constellation.
Angelique pointed to it, wiggled her fingers, then scooped up a single starfire crystal and bounded into the forest.
She kept her magic close—she didn’t want to notify the black mage that she was coming for her or him—and ran for a good three minutes before she judged she was far enough away from the cottage that they wouldn’t hear Pegasus.
Just in case his return is more…explosive than usual.
“Pegasus! It is I—Enchantress-in-Training Angelique.” Angelique paused—she thought she heard a boom overhead.
Like a shooting star falling to the earth.
Oh, he’s really going to crash this time!
Hurrying, Angelique spoke so fast her words mushed together. “I summon you from the skies to carry me quietly across the lands. Come—with the softness of a mouse, please!”
She braced, clenching her eyes shut as she waited in anticipation.
Several moments passed, and she heard nothing.
Is he refusing to come because he’s mad at me?
Angelique was about to peel an eye open when something soft brushed her arm. She shrieked and jumped backwards, her eyes popping open.
Pegasus tossed his head and snorted. He pranced in a circle around her, each thump of his hoof growing closer to the volume of thunder.
“Sorry—I’m sorry.” Angelique held her hands out, trying to appeal to him. “I didn’t know you’d be that quiet!”
Pegasus tossed his head again and arched his neck.
“No, I’m not saying you’re incapable of being quiet. It’s just, you’re coming from the sky realm, and I assumed—that