to think about that,” Angelique said.
“Me, either,” Clovicus admitted. “Except to say obviously you are correct: this dark mage is targeting Snow White, though I don’t know why they waited until she was gone to make their move.”
“Perhaps it has something to do with Faina and ruling?” Angelique suggested.
“It could be.” Clovicus rubbed his forehead. “I’ll see about sending you some back up, but I’m afraid it may take a while.”
“The fight against goblins in Erlauf is going that poorly, is it?” Angelique asked.
“Yes. Though Sole is sending a troop of Magic Knights—which are expected to be a huge help in the fight. With them there, Severin ought to be able to spare you some help. Unless you wish to call back the elf king and his bride?”
Angelique shook her head. “No. It wouldn’t be odd for an extra mage or two to wander around Mullberg, but the newly freed King Themerysaldi? There’d be no hiding that. And it would turn the Veneno Conclave upside down; they’d be trying to send emissaries to talk to him all the time.”
“You’re not wrong,” Clovicus said. “But I thought we could offer it—you deserve the best back-up after all you have done.”
Angelique grinned. “I can face a few constructs if it means finding out more about Evariste. Those things had nothing on a wyvern or basilisk.”
Pegasus snorted, and Angelique looked up from the mirror and could see the shimmering white light shed by the starfires through the trees. “I need to go, but I have one last question—and a favor to ask.”
“Name it,” Clovicus said.
“Would you tell Prince Severin of all I’ve told you? He needs to know that Mullberg is experiencing more trouble than Quinn and I estimated if their queen is being spelled.”
“Consider it done. And your question?”
“Do you think it’s likely that the black mage doing this is siphoning Evariste’s magic from him, and that he’s nearby?” Angelique asked.
Clovicus’ good humor fell away, and he rubbed his eyes with a weariness Angelique felt. “It’s difficult to say. You said yourself you still don’t know for certain if he is in Juwel. Without any evidence, we could suppose all we want. But whether he’s being used or not, I don’t know that it will make a difference in what you need to do.”
Angelique sighed. “You’re right. I’m just being impatient.”
“Understandably so,” Clovicus said, his voice soothing. “You want him back—we all want him back.”
“Yes. But I can’t let my hope make me act rashly.” Angelique leaned forward, resting on Pegasus’ shoulders so his withers uncomfortably poked her stomach. She got some of his flaming mane in her face, which made her sputter and push it out of the way with a glare.
“Gaping gawpfish—you’re riding Pegasus right now, aren’t you?” Clovicus asked.
Angelique blinked, surprised by his surprise. “Yes?”
“I take it all back. You’re worse than Evariste! At least he had the self-respect to own up to his trouble! But you go ahead and charm a constellation so it carries you around like a cart pony, and you don’t even question it! You naïve enchantress!”
Angelique sat up. “But Pegasus doesn’t mind.”
“That’s what makes it even more concerning!” Clovicus shouted through the mirror. “You’re going to give me indigestion. I vow it! Between you and those horrible students I am plagued with, I am going to die young. I lost years teaching Evariste and now I have to deal with your unmatched powers of obliviousness!”
“How can I give you indigestion when you’ve not been eating, but sleeping?” Angelique said.
“Ugh. It’s too late for me to deal with your impudence. Goodnight, Angelique.”
Angelique grinned archly. “Goodnight, Clovicus. Pegasus says goodnight, too.”
“You!” Clovicus made some more sputtered sounds of irritation, then cut off the connection to the mirror.
Angelique cackled as she opened her satchel and dropped the mirror inside, then slipped from Pegasus’ back. “Thank you for the help, my friend. I am thankful that you never fail to answer my call.” She circled around to his head and scratched his forehead for him.
Pegasus delicately took the collar of her cloak in his teeth and chewed it for a moment.
Angelique ran her hand down his neck and smiled. “I expect I won’t be able to call you for a while, sadly.”
Pegasus spat out her cloak collar and tossed his head.
“I’ll steal outside to talk to the sky when I can,” Angelique said.
Truthfully, I don’t know if he can hear me when I talk to him like that, but he hears me whenever I call his name, so