Apprentice of Magic by K. M. Shea

Author:K. M. Shea [Shea, K. M.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2019-02-12T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter 17

Enchanter Evariste did not come home that night, or the night after.

By dawn of the third day, Angelique was starting to grow nervous.

Why would he be gone that long? He was angry, but not mad enough to abandon me like an unwanted puppy. At least, I think not? Would he leave me in his house if he intended to break our oaths?

She finally shook her head and sprinkled sand on her paper to soak up the extra ink of the words she had just written. “No, I must be mistaken,” she dared to say aloud. “Unlike me, Enchanter Evariste is kind and righteous. Mostly. Though I need to be careful and do everything I can to impress him, I don’t think he would end my tutelage so easily.”

Angelique nodded, taking some relief in the thought, then studied her paper with a critical eye, looking for errors. (Because when Evariste finally did come home, she was going to make sure it was to spotless work!)

She felt a familiar wisp of magic and paused—her quill hovering over her paper. Did he just get back? I thought I felt a portal open, but he’s got them running all over the house, so it can be easy to mistake.

The front door opened, and even all the way up in the workshop, Angelique heard a cheerful call. “Angel? I’m back!”

Angelique abandoned her work and rushed down the stairs, steeling herself as she tugged her gown—a work of blue silk layered to look like a gushing wave—straight.

“Welcome home, Master Evariste!” Angelique said in a sing-song voice when she reached the second floor. She continued down the boxy staircase, a big smile forced on her lips.

Her smile turned sincere when she saw Evariste, standing near the base of the stairs, with several packages arranged around him. He was wearing his favorite cape—the black and dark blue one—but had tugged down his hood for the occasion.

“Thank you, it is good to finally be back.” He beamed as he unfolded his arms and held them open.

Angelique paused halfway down the last flight of stairs. What is he doing?

Evariste’s smile didn’t fade, and he kept his arms open, though he wriggled his right fingers at her in a summoning gesture.

He can’t really be inviting me…there? Angelique stared at Evariste’s chest, her eyebrows knitting together. (It was easier to think of it as Evariste inviting her to relocate to a position in front of his chest than a hug. A hug seemed…potentially embarrassing.)

Previously, Evariste had rested a hand on her back and placed his arm on her shoulders, but a hu—no—relocation to stand in front of his chest? Why the sudden graduation in physical expressions?

Angelique sucked her neck into her shoulders. Something happened. His relatively few addled actions are multiplying. I’ll have to get back to the Veneno Conclave and subtly request for a healer—a powerful healer—to come visit.

Evariste laughed. “Aren’t you going to greet me, Apprentice?”

“I was unaware that…our greetings, that is to say, were supposed to involve…such close…quarters,” Angelique finished lamely.

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