that much more eager to march on the city—but I can’t very well be a one-woman army, particularly when I’m facing a black mage secreted in a city full of innocents.
Angelique’s fingers shook with impatience as she kept folding the letter.
She hoped she’d be able to contact Stil by mirror before the message finally arrived, but the missive was her back-up plan in case all of the boring politicking grew larger, and she couldn’t send a message out.
Her heart throbbed so strongly, it ached in her chest. She was close to saving Evariste. Finally, she might be able to free him after roughly six years!
Steady. I need to be steady. I can’t lose Evariste from impatience. Contacting Stil is the first step.
Angelique stared at the kite-like shape she’d folded the paper into. All it needed was one last fold down the center, and then she could set it loose outside. Hopefully she’d have a chance to send it off tonight, once Snow White and the Warriors retired.
Though that Fritz sleeps like a cat.
Angelique glanced at the quietest of the warriors. He and Snow White were exchanging shy smiles. They’d been downright lovey-dovey since Snow White had posed as Fritz’ pregnant wife on the ride to see the lords.
Ahhh, yes. Another love connection has formed. Disgusting.
Angelique didn’t even attempt to hold back her shudder of revulsion.
I respect the two of them a lot. But really, now happens to be a convenient time to fall in love? After such a short amount of time?
She shook her head and felt that she better understood the elderly grannies in her childhood village who were constantly clucking and shaking their fingers at younger generations.
Angelique had started to flip her letter over in her hands, then paused.
Those grannies would all be gone by now. Wouldn’t the children I grew up with be grandparents by now? No, not yet, but soon…
Angelique scowled at the letter and felt grouchy.
She wanted to go to Evariste, but she couldn’t.
She wanted to blast whatever mage had him until they were addled, but she couldn’t.
She couldn’t do anything she wanted!
Before Angelique could even attempt to reign in her raging emotions, Snow White sat down next to where she was sprawled out on the warm floor in front of the crackling fireplace.
“How are you feeling this evening?”
Angelique blinked in utter confusion. “Fine? Why do you ask?”
“Right before we left yesterday morning, you seemed…shaken,” Snow White said. “It wasn’t until we started riding that you seemed back to your usual self.”
“Oh.” Angelique nervously tapped her letter against her fingers as she invented a reason for her reaction. “I apologize. It was simply because I was unable to commune with herbs as I wished because many of them were still dormant from the cold.”
I can’t very well tell her what I found out about Evariste—even if it would better explain why I was so stunned.
“It didn’t have anything to do with your missing master?” Snow White asked.
It was only because Angelique had a great deal of practice schooling her face as part of her “ethereal enchantress” act she used to wear that she didn’t bulge her eyes in shock at Snow White’s very accurate guess. “Hmm?” she asked, desperately hoping she sounded casual.
“Because you’ve been helping me with my attempt to save Faina, you haven’t been able to search for your master,” Snow White said. “I can’t exactly imagine how it feels, but given my experience with Faina, I know it must be a misery.”
Angelique stared at Snow White, her nervousness melting away under the sweetness of the princess’s personality as she recognized just how much she cared.
“I know it doesn’t mean much right now, but I vow to you that once this is over, I will do everything in my power to help you find your master,” Snow White blithely continued, unaware of Angelique’s scrutiny.
“That’s a dangerous offer,” Angelique said.
Snow White tipped her head. “I don’t think it is. You aren’t going to take advantage of my power as a princess. I imagine I’m going to have to do my best to force my help upon you. Ah—yes. I wanted to ask you your master’s name. We could inquire with the lords who are lending us troops if they’ve heard of him. Gregori could also get the word out to his contacts now so at least we could perhaps get a small start on your search.” She smiled at Angelique as she pushed a lock of her inky black hair out of her pale