for her, then stepped outside, squinting in the brilliant spring sunlight that half blinded her until she shaded her eyes with her hand.
It does bother me that Evariste seems to believe we won’t be able to remove the seal on his magic. Is there something he’s not saying, or is it that he witnessed firsthand the brutality of black magic and thinks we cannot fight against it?
She marched down the steps that were made of some polished white rock (that was also likely shockingly expensive in other parts of the world).
Evariste’s sealed magic is a problem. Not just strategically for the continent, but politically in the Conclave. Will they give him the same kind of respect and pomp that they used to if he can’t use his magic? I’d like to think so, but the Council is fussy. I wouldn’t be surprised if Tristisim or Felicienne dug up some ancient law about sealed enchanters just out of spite.
However, even without his magic, Angelique knew Evariste would make a difference. He could offer them information, yes, but he’d always been a beacon of hope among mages. Even if the Council complained, the other mages would listen.
Which was more than Angelique had been able to accomplish.
I’m so glad that he’s back. Angelique saw Evariste standing in the courtyard, gazing up at the sky. It’s like I can breathe again because he’s here.
“Are you ready to call Pegasus?” Angelique asked.
There was a slight furrow to his brow as he lowered his gaze to her. “Actually, I have already tried.”
Angelique’s eyes flicked to the cloudless sky. “And he has not come?”
“There’s no sign of him.” Evariste shook his head, the corners of his mouth turning down.
Fear grabbed Angelique by the heart and squeezed.
Have the Chosen somehow gotten Pegasus? But how? He thoroughly smote the black mage—Acri—that fought me.
“No,” Angelique said aloud to stop the growing storm of worry. “Perhaps he didn’t hear you.” Angelique thrust her hand up to the sky. “Pegasus! It is I—Enchantress-in-Training Angelique—”
A familiar boom rolled across the mountains, and Angelique’s spiking anxiety eased.
Pegasus, a smudge of black on the bright blue sky, streaked across the heavens, his immense black wings stark and stretched to their full size.
When he hit the ground with a crackle that rattled Glitzern Palace (and perhaps scorched the courtyard’s stone a little), his wings exploded into thousands of black feathers.
Angelique got a face full of them. They were softer than silk, but one of them tickled her nostrils and incited a sneezing fit that didn’t pass until the feathers defied the laws of nature and floated up into the sky.
Pegasus trumpeted at an ear-ringing volume that shook the ground.
Relieved—and knocked off balance—Angelique toddled a few steps, then collapsed to her knees. “Thank goodness, you’re okay. Oof!” She was almost knocked face-first into the cobblestone when Pegasus smacked his head into her back and scratched his forehead on her shoulder blade.
“Yes, I’m happy to finally see you again, too.” Angelique batted him away and then struggled to her feet. She had just enough time to fluff her skirts before Pegasus grabbed her by the neckline of her dress and tugged.
Given that a tug from the constellation was approximately equal to the strength of a grown man pulling with all his strength, she was nearly hauled off her feet.
“Pegasus, stop,” she said in exasperation.
Pegasus snorted in her face, filling her nose with the ticklish scent of ash and fire.
“He seems in good health,” Evariste said.
Angelique froze and peered in Evariste’s direction.
Pegasus and Evariste had an agreement—Angelique had never been privy to the terms—that allowed Evariste to summon the constellation when he needed a ride. The rides had been fairly infrequent, given Evariste’s core magic, and Evariste had always warned Angelique that Pegasus was to be respected and somewhat feared.
Angelique had only summoned Pegasus out of desperation when Puss had gotten badly hurt, and she needed fast transportation. It had shocked her when Pegasus opted to stay with her and let her ride him as much as she wished.
As they’d gotten closer—she slept and drooled on him before he’d gotten his penchant for being brushed—Angelique had just…forgotten that the starry steed wasn’t actually her companion.
Evariste didn’t seem to mind. The worry was gone from his brow, replaced by a curious tilt to his head.
Pegasus turned toward the enchanter, then moved in his direction—the blue flames that engulfed his hooves growing larger.
Pegasus circled around Evariste, then thrust his muzzle close to Evariste’s head and inhaled deeply.
Evariste bowed to Pegasus. “It