takeaway one could conclude from this knowledge,” Themerysaldi said.
“What’s that?”
“If they aren’t using Evariste’s magic to forge curses anymore, they’ve got another trick they’re planning,” Themerysaldi said. “There’s no possible way that the Chosen—organized and prepared to an extent we can’t fathom—are letting him sit around uselessly. They must be using his magic to further their nefarious purposes in one way or another.”
“Probably, yes.” Angelique tried to swallow, but couldn’t. “We have to find him,” she whispered.
“We do,” Themerysaldi agreed. “If you and Quinn haven’t found him by the time I recover my soldiers, and my forces have enough time to regenerate their magic, I will ride with you. We will find him—even if we have to uncover the entire continent stone by stone.”
“Thank you, Themerysaldi.”
“Please. You are a friend to my people—finally. Call me Emerys.”
When they returned to Sideralis, Angelique looked in on the still-unconscious Quinn long enough to confirm she was improving and to renew the healing spells she’d placed on her. Emerys came in and made a big show of insisting on staying with Quinn, so Angelique willingly surrendered her to his loving—if not overly-protective—care, and returned to her room where she promptly passed out.
When she awoke, the sky was gold with sunset, the air was so crisp it blew out the haze left over from Angelique’s nap, and the courtyard was swimming with Farset troops.
Angelique leaned an elbow on her wooden windowsill and scrunched her nose. “Well. This is both a welcome and burdensome sight. I’ve managed to avoid visiting King Dirth and Queen Orsina even though they knew I was in the area, but with this many of their people around, I don’t think I’ll be able to keep that record going.”
She drummed her fingers on the windowsill and glanced down at her glowing, color changing dress—which, even among the beauty of the elves—would make her stick out.
But Evariste had this dress made for me as a gift. And for some reason that makes me reluctant to change it out just for a selfish desire to avoid a royal who is more-than-likely going to ask me to run magical errands for him.
Angelique pushed away from the window, crossed her room, and slipped outside into the hallway.
She was in her usual rooms in the guest wing—which was unfortunately on the other side of the palace from where Quinn was staying in Emerys’s rooms.
As she swept down the hallway, she considered putting on an invisibility charm to make it easier to sneak her way across the palace.
Unfortunately, she hadn’t made up her mind by the time she ambled down the stairs, popped out into the large atrium that made up the heart of the elven palace, and almost ran down a woman who was carrying a satchel filled with papers.
“I say!” The woman—who had to be a representative of King Dirth given the royal emblem emblazoned on her satchel—adjusted the glasses perched at the end of her nose and scowled. “I beg your pardon…” She trailed off as she looked Angelique up and down from head to toe. “Lady Enchantress Angelique?”
Angelique forced a smile. “Correct—a very good guess.”
The woman’s face shifted from fussy to delighted. “Not at all—King Dirth personally gave me your description! Since receiving reports that you were staying with the elves, he was hoping I might see you!” She unbuttoned her satchel and started pawing through her papers as rocks started to fill Angelique’s belly.
Oh, no.
“He has several requests that you might see to whilst you’re in the country,” the official continued. “Foremost, he asks that you visit him at Navia so he might explain those requests in greater detail.”
Angelique gripped the top layer of her skirt so tightly her knuckles turned white. No, no, no! I’m finally free—I finally get the chance to go search Mullberg for Evariste, not play solo mage for the continent again!
Oblivious to Angelique’s swelling emotions, the official rattled on. “But in short, we require assistance with an outbreak of wraiths, trolls, and goblins—though it seems like those have mostly been handled.”
Angelique tried to swallow, but her throat felt like someone was squeezing it so tightly she could barely breathe.
“The King also requests a thorough investigation into the curse, naturally,” the official continued. “And he requires—”
“I’m afraid I must behave most rudely and intrude upon this conversation, but it must be said that the Lady Enchantress will be unable to help because she has tasks to see to outside of Farset that are extremely pressing.”
Angelique and the official turned