Trial of Magic

by K. M. Shea

  The forest sat between Hurra and Juwel (though slightly to the east) and sprawled over acres and acres of land, making it an ideal spot to hide tree-happy elves until they left.

  “Thank you—for your help in all of this,” Angelique said. “I couldn’t have created such a convincing cover on my own.”

  Elle brushed hair off Angelique’s shoulders. “I’m glad my hobbies have come in handy.” She ignored Angelique’s snort of disbelief and circled around in front of her. “But are you really going to be fine on your own?”

  “Yes,” Angelique said with a sureness she felt in her bones. “This is within my abilities.”

  Elle snipped another lock of Angelique’s hair. “I could ask Lucien to send some rangers when I return to Loire,” she offered.

  Angelique shook her head. “Thank you, but it’s not yet necessary. Once I find out more information—hopefully where they are keeping Evariste, or at least narrow it down to the city block they’ve got him in—I will reach out with the magic mirror and ask for help. I’ll better know what I’m facing then and whether rangers, elves, or mages will be the most appropriate back up.”

  “I understand.” Elle set her hands on Angelique’s shoulders and squeezed them. “But be careful. And don’t hesitate to ask for backup—please.”

  Angelique laughed. “You have nothing to worry about. I am too vested in the outcome of this venture. I’m not going to do anything to jeopardize it.”

  Elle pressed her lips together, then nodded and backed up. “I believe you. Be careful.” She blinked, and her serious expression was swapped for a bright grin. “And I believe you are ready—Angel, the herb wizard’s apprentice!”

  Angelique stood and brushed her clothes off before eagerly settling her cloak on her shoulders. It was late in the afternoon, but even though spring poked through the snow here and there, the evenings were still icy. “Thank you. Let’s show Quinn your handywork. I expect Emerys will have a commentary, too, however unwelcome it may be.” Angelique pointed herself in the direction of the mounts—the elves’ horses in their bright tack were more visible than the elves in the dense forest.

  “Wait, your bag!” Elle swiped up Angelique’s enchanted satchel and passed it over to Angelique.

  While Angelique had changed clothes, Elle had bullied several of the elves into finding herbs in both the wild and among their supplies.

  Because apparently the elves were so enthusiastic about plant life they traveled with fresh herbs.

  In winter!

  Angelique shook her head as she studied the foreign sprigs of herbs that hung from her satchel, secured by bits of string. Elves. “Thank you.”

  “And here’s this.” Elle passed over a gold coin. “Stil made it for you. It should make your features a little less pronounced—it’ll plump up your cheeks, make your face a little more heart-shaped, that sort of thing. He said you have to keep it on you, though. There’s an inner pocket of your tunic you can store it in.”

  Angelique felt the minor charm activate when she rubbed her thumb across it. It sank into her skin as she found the pocket Elle had mentioned and secured the gold coin there.

  “Excellent. Please pass my thanks along to Stil.”

  “Of course! He’ll be glad you could use it. Now, let’s find Quinn!”

  Angelique slipped her satchel’s strap over her shoulder, then followed Elle to the elven horses.

  Quinn was there—securing a bag to Fluffy and helping the elves tear down the camp they’d established to cook lunch. (They’d brought out the herbs at lunch time when creating the best meal Angelique had eaten since she’d left Loire.)

  Quinn laughed when she saw Angelique. “It’s perfect! It really is a transformation—and I’d had my doubts. I didn’t think anyone as regal as Angelique could look so…”

  “Disheveled?” Emerys suggested as he strolled around Pookie and joined Quinn, placing his arm around her waist.

  Angelique plucked at the extra fabric of her tunic. “It is an excellent disguise—even more convincing than if I were to pose as a guard. Thank you, Elle, for your aid. You’ve outdone yourself.”

  Elle rubbed her nose—which was red with the cold. “It was my pleasure! I’ve always wanted to pose as a mage, but I’m too smart to go through with it. It’d be too dangerous. But this? It’s perfect.” She folded her arms across her chest and smirked as she looked Angelique up and down.

  Angelique grinned, but her eyes skated to the elven horses—who were saddled and ready to ride out. “It is time for you to leave?”

  Emerys glanced at the sky—which was barely visible through the tall evergreens and the thin branches of the skeletal trees that had dropped their leaves last autumn. “Almost,” he agreed. “But it is not quite sunset just yet. What will you do tonight?”

  “Say my farewells to Pegasus—I can’t ride him into Hurra, after all.” Angelique shoved her hands in the sleeves of her tunic and looked around the dim forest, but the constellation was nowhere to be seen. “Then I’ll walk to Hurra as Quinn and I planned and spend the night there. I’ll circle around it and enter from the south, so when I head north to Juwel in the morning, it won’t be out of place.”

  Quinn nodded. “Efficient and simple.”

  “The best way for infiltration,” Elle added.

  “Do you have enough provisions?” Emerys asked.

  “Yes. My satchel is fairly stuffed, but it doesn’t matter. I won’t be staying in the wilds for this mission,” Angelique said.

  “Then do you have enough money?”

  Bewildered and suspicious of the elf king’s concern, Angelique sucked her neck into her shoulders. “You’re being too nice.”

  “Am I not allowed to be concerned about my comrade’s finances?” Emerys asked.

  “You don’t even like me!”

  “That is patently false,” he said, sternly. “I didn’t like it when you pretended to be a syrup-y sweet girl with no more than three intelligent thoughts in her head,” Emerys countered.

  “Hmph,” Angelique grunted. “It still feels strange. What do my finances have to do with you? Do you even have human money?”

  Emerys scoffed. “Of course—”

  One of the elven warriors who was standing in a guard position a short distance behind Emerys cleared his throat.

  Emerys turned around, and the elven warrior shook his head.

  “What? Why don’t we have any?” Emerys demanded. “We sold a number of elven bows to Prince Severin!”

  “And then you made us dump the money before riding north to Mullberg because you insisted the extra weight would fatigue the horses,” the warrior reminded him.

  “Oh.” Emerys thought for a moment. “Yes. That seems reasonable.”

  “I should travel with you elves as much as possible,” Elle said. “It’s fun.”

  Quinn ignored the chaos and reached out to squeeze Angelique’s hands. “I know we were prepared, so I cannot think of anything else you would need before you journey to Hurra. However…be careful.” She tugged Angelique’s hands, pulling her into a warm embrace.

  “I will. Thank you—for coming with me.” Angelique let herself bask in the warmth of Quinn’s hug. “I’m sorry, but I don’t think I’ll be able to make it to your wedding.”

  When they stepped apart, Quinn shook her head. “Don’t be. More than anything, I look forward to meeting Evariste.”

  Angelique tilted her head. “Really? Why?”

  “Because he’s important to both my fiancé and my closest friend.” Quinn’s smile was gentle like a sunrise.

  Hot tears burned Angelique’s eyes, and she pulled Quinn in for a second—unexpected—embrace.

  I never dreamed friendship could be like this. I never understood just how precious it is.

  She didn’t know what to say but was spared when Elle catapulted herself at them, draping her arms over each of them. “Please take my impediment of your embrace as a token of my affection, too!”

  Angelique la
ughed and almost knocked heads with Elle as Quinn shifted to include her in the hug.

  They leaned in together, and when Angelique saw their smiles, she realized she didn’t have to say anything.

  They knew.

  “I feel left out,” Emerys announced, breaking the moment.

  “Good,” Angelique said.

  After a moment of laughter, the embrace was broken up.

  “This is farewell, then,” Angelique said.

  “For now,” Elle said.

  “Be careful,” Quinn said. “But be brave.”

  “And send for us if you need help,” Elle added.

  “I will. Safe travels.”

  Elle and Quinn nodded, then returned to the horses—Quinn helping Elle store the scissors for the ride.

  “I must echo Princess Elle and insist that you call for us should you need aid.” Emerys dropped a hand on her shoulder. “And thank you for searching for him.”

  Angelique nodded. “I give you all my wishes of happiness for your nuptials.”

  “Thank you. I wish Evariste could…” He shook his head. “We’ll get him back—and crush the Chosen.”

  “We will,” Angelique agreed.

  And for the first time in years, it felt possible.

  She could find Evariste, and the united continent would defeat the Chosen.

  Emerys patted her shoulder, looking downright ungraceful for an elf as he craned his neck, awkward in their unusual moment of comradery. “We should ride out,” he said. “May blessings shine upon your endeavor.” His smile was more of a lopsided grimace, but before Angelique could laugh he beat a hasty retreat to the attendant holding the reins of his mount.

  Within a few minutes, all the elves were mounted and ready to leave. Standing at the eastern edge of the forest, Angelique could see the sun farther down the horizon had turned a blazing scarlet red as it prepared to set.

  The elves pointed their horses south and twisted in their saddles to call back to Angelique.

  “Farewell.”

  “Be safe!”

  “Do something illegal!” Elle—it could only be Elle—crowed.

  Angelique laughed and waved until the horses were smudges traveling on the edge of the forest.

  She dropped her hand and sighed.

  Now, what shall I do?

  She drew her shoulders back. “I go to Hurra, that’s what. Though first, I need to find Peg—ack!” Angelique shrieked when she turned around and found the giant constellation right behind her.

  She slapped a hand over her pounding heart and scowled. “Must you be so silent?”

  Pegasus wrinkled his muzzle in a smug manner.

  Angelique wrinkled her nose at him but couldn’t help but stroke his glossy neck. The stars in his unfathomable coat seemed to shine brighter in the dim light. “There’s been a change in plans. Quinn left with Emerys, Elle, and the elves. They need to get back to Alabaster Forest so their magic can regenerate faster, and frankly I didn’t want them sticking around me, being all elven and beautiful and attracting unwanted attention.”

  Angelique glanced at the sun, pointed herself so she would be traveling approximately southwest—Hurra’s location from Luster Forest—then plunged back into the trees.

  Pegasus snorted in agreement as he followed Angelique around an enormous pine tree that was so tall, she couldn’t see the top of it.

  “As a result, I’m the only one going to Juwel. I’ll be spending the night in Hurra and heading out in the morning.” Angelique ducked under a branch, then paused and remembered the way Pegasus had set fire to a shrub that had the unfortunate luck to be in his way, spun around, and yanked the branch back so he could pass through unhindered.

  Pegasus shook his head and snorted.

  “Yes, I’m going alone. Without you.” Angelique picked up her march again, plunging deeper into the rapidly darkening forest. “You think the elves are eye catching? You’re a horse with flames for a mane and tail!”

  Pegasus flared his nostrils so they glowed red like embers.

  “It’s true!” Angelique considered squeezing between two evergreens, but decided she didn’t feel like getting scratched up, so she shuffled around them instead, tripping on an exposed root in the process. “Once we get out of the forest, you’ll have to return to the sky.”

  Pegasus trumpeted at Angelique—a blast of noise that almost blew her off her feet.

  “I’m supposed to be an herb wizard’s apprentice. No one is going to believe me if you’re leering over my shoulder like a spirit of starry revenge,” Angelique complained.

  Pegasus pinned his ears and a star twinkled on his cheek.

  “I can too take care of myself,” Angelique argued.

  She couldn’t say for certain that Pegasus’ body language implied she was unable to be self-responsible, but she’d spent enough time with the constellation to have a general read on him. If that wasn’t his exact complaint, she was fairly certain it was close enough.

  “You know what I’m capable of when I use my core magic. Plus, now I’ve been drilled so much, I am sharp! Nothing could threaten me!”

  Angelique crashed through a line of scratchy evergreens and popped out into a dim little clearing, which was primarily filled with a small cottage, a tiny wooden paddock, and what appeared to be a lean-to for horses.

  The cottage was suspiciously sturdy. The walls were constructed of stones that were covered with moss that somehow managed to survive despite the cold temperatures. The roof was steeply pitched at the center, and then spilled out as if whoever had made the building got bored halfway through construction.

  Angelique narrowed her eyes as she studied the well-maintained cottage and the meticulously cared for fence and barn. “This place looks quaint and charming.”

  Pegasus snorted.

  “Quite adorable, even,” Angelique said.

  Pegasus tossed his head.

  “It must be cursed. Come—we need to leave before we’re noticed!” Angelique hustled back through the trees.

  Pegasus followed behind her, keeping close enough that he bumped his muzzle against her temple as they fled. “I’ve gone an entire season without running into anyone cursed. That means we’re about due. I’m not putting my search aside to deal with another curse!”

  The sad thing is, I’m only half-joking.

  Luster Forest was not inhabited, which made the cottage suspicious.

  It’s possible it could be home to a mage, but that is hardly a better situation considering what I’m attempting to do.

  Angelique picked up her pace and traipsed through the trees. “We agree, then?” She twisted around to address Pegasus. “When we get out of these woods, you’ll head home to the sky?”

  Pegasus’ mane flared brighter, and he snapped his teeth, creating a click so loud it made Angelique’s spine shiver.

  That’s a refusal.

  “But it’s necessary.”

  Pegasus flicked his tail, creating a hiss of steam when the flames brushed against the slushy forest floor.

  Angelique stopped, planted her hands on her knees, and laughed.

  I can’t believe this. Last summer I felt so alone and valued only for what I could do. Now I have so many companions, I have to pry them off me.

  It was such a delightful problem to have. Angelique looked at Pegasus with eyes that she knew were soft with warmth, even though she should have tried looking “stern.”

  But I can’t help it. I finally have friendship and companionship. However, that doesn’t mean I’m going to let Pegasus come with me.

  Angelique scratched her nose as she considered the constellation.

  How could she possibly get him to listen to her? He was a constellation. She couldn’t make him do anything.

  I guess my best option is trickery.

  Angelique sighed. “You know, Pegasus—what was that?” She paused, bulging her eyes as she stared at the empty space behind Pegasus.

  When Pegasus turned around to see what she wa
s looking at, Angelique began her crafty master plan…and ran.

  It took Pegasus a few moments to figure out there was nothing there, and then he raced after her.

  Angelique crashed through the forest with the subtlety of a boulder rolling downhill. She zigzagged back and forth, trying to lose Pegasus as she fled.

  He easily kept pace behind her—and his pinned ears said he didn’t find her plan at all amusing.

  At one point, he clamped his teeth onto her cloak.

  Angelique yanked it from his grasp, honked in laughter, and then sprinted blindly through the darkened forest.

  Her glee was at a high point, until she hurtled between two trees and saw a young lady standing in the woods.

  Angelique tried to dart around her, but she wasn’t fast enough, and collided with her instead, ricocheting off the young lady and smacking into a tree before hitting the slush-covered forest floor with a splat.

  As slush soaked her cloak, Angelique’s high spirits crashed. A young lady wandering around a forest near dusk. This doesn’t bode well for me.

  She groaned and peeled herself off the ground. “That hurt. I hate trees. And forests.” She boosted herself to her feet and flicked dead leaves off her clothes. Forests always, always, always hold cursed people. You never find a cursed prince or princess in a desert. Or on a…plateau or something.

  When she finished tidying up her appearance, Angelique remembered the unfortunate—and perhaps unintelligent—young lady. “Sorry about that. I didn’t mean to scare you—though you must already be off your rocker if you’re wandering around a forest this close to nightfall.” She scratched her ear as she warily looked around.

  Pegasus was nowhere to be seen—apparently he at least had the decency to remain hidden. But the young lady was silent as she peered at Angelique.

  She’d gotten up faster than Angelique had and was clutching a thick branch like a club. As Angelique watched, some of the tension in her stance faded, and the branch fell from her loosened fingers.

  Angelique cocked her head. “Are you hurt or something? Or do you just not talk?”

  Stars above, I hope it’s not the latter. That’s a sure sign she’s cursed—and given that she’s alone, wandering in the woods at night, my chances that she’s a normal peasant girl are already very slim. Unless…is she a Chosen? No, I’d be able to sense if she had magic.