up and tapped the empty bottle on his thigh. “I think the humans will be able to take care of those forces, but send scouts to observe and help if necessary—and tell Cynbryn I’m sending him as an official envoy to King Dirth and Queen Orsina to explain what has happened.”
“Is that necessary?” The jerkin-wearing elf asked. “A number of important human officials were cursed with us—since the curse was broken, I imagine they will explain the situation. They were leaving for Navia when we elves left Brandy Crest to fight the goblins.”
“Perhaps, but given that the King’s twelve daughters were all cursed with us, I’d like to clean up any misunderstandings before they can form rather than let them fester,” Themerysaldi grimly said.
Smart. I know who I’m going to vote for to deal with all the stupid politicking in the alliance in the future. Hopefully it will annoy him, too!
Angelique stepped back and shook her hand out. “There—you can get started cleaning her wound. I’ll place another slow-burn healing spell on her once you finish.”
“Yes, Lady Enchantress!” The female elf dipped a soft cloth in the warm water and began to dab at the sticky blood on Quinn’s shoulder.
The male elf offered Angelique a hot, moist towel to wipe her hands on. She took it and gratefully cleaned her hands as she turned around to watch Themerysaldi and his scout.
“What other forces are near Alabaster Forest?” Themerysaldi asked. “Any wraiths or trolls?”
The scout shook her head. “No. But there is a second goblin army to the south—almost as large as the force Lady Angelique conquered.”
Themerysaldi narrowed his eyes. “We’ll have to gather a defensive force and ride out to fight them. Using ambush tactics, we should be able to pick off some of the forces before they reach us.”
The scout fidgeted nervously. “And what, then, after they reach us?”
Themerysaldi set Angelique’s empty bottle on a wooden dresser that was carved with an ivy design. “Then we hope that the red rider and the human forces can come south fast enough to help us. Begin preparing our force—”
“That won’t be necessary.” Angelique smoothed her skirts—more to sooth herself than because she at all cared about how she looked at the moment. “I’ll take care of the goblin forces.”
Themerysaldi flicked his dark eyes in her direction and inspected her from head to toe. “Can you wield that much magic so soon after already using such force?”
Angelique shrugged. “My price is uncomfortable to experience, but once I pay it, I recover quickly. Besides—do we really have a choice?”
Themerysaldi mashed his lips together, then nodded. “I thank you, Lady Enchantress Angelique. The elves will owe you a great debt for your aid this evening, and you will be marked as an elf-friend of the highest caliber.”
“Thank you.” Angelique barely refrained from pointing out how much of this drama could have been spared if he hadn’t been such a pest about criticizing her during her years of apprenticeship to Evariste and had named her an elf-friend years ago.
Angelique glanced back at Quinn—the two elves were judiciously wrapping her shoulder. This is it, I guess. I may as well ride out and kill some more. Alone. Again.
She sucked in a breath of air and prepared to duck out of the room when Themerysaldi got in the way and stood in the doorframe, talking to the scout.
“Gather a small band of archers—the best we have here in Sideralis,” Themerysaldi said. “Tell the stables to prepare fresh horses—we’ll ride out with the Lady Enchantress.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” The scout bowed and slipped around the Elf King, darting out of view.
Angelique stared dumbly at Themerysaldi. “You’re sending elves to come with me?”
Themerysaldi stalked up to the bedside and studied the unconscious Quinn with an intensity that furrowed his brows. “Of course. We’re not going to send you off by yourself. And I’d be a shoddy king if I didn’t at least try to help you.”
“You’re coming with me?” Angelique asked.
Themerysaldi looked away from Quinn just long enough to scoff. “Obviously.”
“What about Quinn?”
Themerysaldi grimaced. “While I would prefer to stay with her, there is little point at the moment as my magic hasn’t recovered enough for me to perform even the most basic healing spell.” He narrowed his eyes as he studied Quinn—she was still pale, but Angelique thought a touch of her color might have returned.
“Besides,” Themerysaldi continued. He gently brushed a loose lock of hair off Quinn’s forehead. “I have the suspicion that if Quinn awoke and found