Trial of Magic (The Fairy Tale Enchantress #4) - K. M. Shea Page 0,44

to Evariste, which—in his defense—it would be pretty obvious you’d never hurt anyone, so he’d never think it would even be necessary to break it down for you. Annoying prodigy—most geniuses are a pain that way, you know?” Themerysaldi started to scoff, then froze.

Judging by the brief look of pain that flashed across his face, Angelique guessed the Elf King finally remembered that Evariste was missing.

She looked away from him, giving him a moment to grieve as she studied the goblin force. They were now close enough that their torches lit up the woods, showing that Themerysaldi’s guess of approximately thirty goblins was correct.

I guess it’s time to act.

“Let’s have an experiment,” Themerysaldi said abruptly.

“Huh?” Angelique peered over her shoulder to scowl at the Elf King.

He removed his nocked arrow from his bow and slid it back into his belt quiver. “I’ll go out there in the goblin force. You let your magic run wild—if it’s as dangerous as you say it is, it will try to harm me. If I’m right, it’ll be harmless.”

“Are you insane?” Angelique scoffed. “Did the curse finally break that thin thread of sanity you’ve been holding onto for most of your life?”

Themerysaldi clicked his tongue. “Temper, temper. And no—but I’m the best shot you’ve got at answering this question. I’m an elf, after all. Your magic won’t be able to keep up.”

“Maybe, except for, oh, I don’t know—the part where you don’t have any magic!” Angelique hissed, her shoulders hunching like an angry cat.

The goblins were almost on them, now. A few of the creatures leading the charge flicked their enormous bat-like ears—probably hearing Angelique’s raised voice.

“I don’t have any magic, but I still have my speed and strength,” Themerysaldi pointed out.

“I don’t care! I don’t want to be known as the Elf King slayer!”

He smirked. “Now you’re getting a big head. Do you really think an enchantress could kill an Elf King?”

“One that doesn’t have magic at the moment, clearly lacks intelligence, is currently doe-eyed over a human soldier, and is generally insufferable? Yes. I think one could.”

One of the goblins left the front line—which had slowed now that the elven archers were no longer driving them—and was about two trees away from Angelique.

I’ve run out of time. I’ll have to address these goblins before I give Themerysaldi a detailed analysis of all the reasons why his plan is stupid.

Angelique gathered up her core magic. Whether it was because she’d used it so much over the past few hours, or because it was just that eager, it encased her body in a silvery light. She flung her magic at the goblins—heaving it like a fisherman throwing a net. But of course her magic had to be deceptive, so rather than looking as frightening as it was, it fell on the goblins like starlight, dusting them as it dripped down their bodies and pooled around their crude weapons.

She grimaced as her magic stretched her awareness across the blades, spears, and arrows. The goblins made curious noises as they tried to brush the silvery magic off the weapons and failed.

Ignoring their panicked yelps, Angelique yanked a finger up, and the weapons pulled free from the goblins’ grasp, hovering above their heads.

Before the goblins had a chance to react, she twisted her magic, flinging the weapons back at the goblins, finishing them off with a frightening efficiency.

The sour scent of bile and blood assaulted Angelique’s senses. She gritted her teeth and hefted the weapons back up in the air, repositioning them before sending the second attack at the few goblins that had survived the first.

Angelique squeezed her eyes shut as the goblins died with gurgles. She relinquished the grip her magic had over the weapons and shivered.

It’s done. For now.

Her stomach twinged, but otherwise she felt no discomfort—besides the persistent nagging sensation that it shouldn’t be this easy for her. Magic shouldn’t be dangerous—

“See? What did I tell you? I’m completely unharmed.”

Chapter 7

Angelique snapped her eyes open, and she finally noticed the lone figure standing among the slaughtered goblins—King Themerysaldi the Idiot.

“Though in standing here, I must be forced to admit that you have the aim of an elf,” Themerysaldi said. “That was exceptional all around.”

Angelique slapped her hand on a nearby tree trunk—both to steady herself and to keep from storming out to the king. “You really are insane!” The rough bark of the barren tree dug into her palm. “Why did you do that?”

“To prove my point,” Themerysaldi said. “You’re not going to hurt