A Clash of Magics by Guy Antibes (read this if txt) 📕

“I wouldn’t use that term,” Trevor said. “Replaced is better. She did nothing wrong and left her position as a better focus than when she started.”

“Trevor is right. Reena didn’t leave Jarkan in disgrace. I asked her to accompany me to Collet since the Order has the opportunity to understand the role of focus better than they ever have,” Brother Yvan said.

The Okoran seer cleared her throat. “I accept the gentle reproof,” she said with a smile. “I will ensure that is clear with King Bingador if it doesn’t come up during your audience. You won’t have long.”

They approached a huge lobby as large as a cathedral nave littered with chairs. Trevor guessed a thousand or more supplicants could be seated in the room. There were food carts against three of the walls and huge double doors filled up most of the wall of the third. For a small capital, there were no shortage of those seeking the king’s favor.

“We won’t have to wait long, so come this way,” the seer said as Deepen showed them through a guarded door, much more modest in size.

The guard nodded to Seer Deepen as the five of them slipped inside and walked through a passageway lit with magic light. They emerged into a normal-sized foyer, but the intricately carved wood paneling told Trevor that King Bingador probably used this passageway to enter the throne room.

“In here. This is our conference room,” Deepen said. “I haven’t met with the king in ten days, and that is also a recent development.”

Trevor looked around the windowless conference room. There was room for ten people around a sumptuous table inlaid in a complex design. A large chair, presumably for the king, was at one end.

“I’ll fetch some refreshments,” the seer said, but the door flew open, and two people entered the conference room.

Trevor looked at the king wearing a crown and the other man, a Maskumite from his appearance, followed at his side. Did the Maskumite magicians learn how to whisper into their victim’s ear at some academy of dark learning?

King Bingador motioned for all to sit. “I don’t have much time,” he said. He walked behind Reena’s chair and put his hands on her shoulders. “You don’t feel any differently than any other person.”

She turned and looked up at the Okoran monarch. “Have you ever put your hands on Seer Deepen’s shoulders?”

The seer smiled and nodded. “He has. My king didn’t find whatever he was looking for then either.”

Reena seemed to relax. Trevor looked at Brother Yvan who seemed amused by it all. The king took his chair and steepled his fingers. He looked at Reena. “You were exiled from Jarkan?”

Reena shook her head. “If someone told you that, you are misinformed. King Turgul had known the previous focus, Mino Kawis, for years and felt more comfortable with him as focus. I was released from my duties and am free to come and go from Jarkan as I please. Brother Yvan, the former seer of Presidon,” she took Brother Yvan’s hand, an act that made the cleric blush, “has asked me to consult with the Order of Seers in Collet.”

“You seem to be good friends.”

“A looked-forward-to happenstance of my release.” She gave the king a brilliant smile.

“She speaks the unvarnished truth, Morra?”

The Okoran seer nodded.

Trevor saw the magician whisper something in the king’s ear. He turned to Trevor. “You are the exiled prince of Presidon?”

The magician looked at Trevor and was shocked that Trevor met his gaze. “I am. You are correct that I am exiled. Any release from Presidon was implicit with the promise that it would be my life should I return. This is Lissa Caspur, the daughter of Seer Caspur of Viksar.”

The king nodded to Lissa. “Morra told me that you are a gold-level magician.”

“Not quite,” Lissa said. “I lack formal recognition.”

Another whisper was uttered into the king’s ear.

“Your father approves of a high-ranking magician in the family?” the king asked.

“He has told me not to get my hopes up, but my father believes in me,” Lissa said.

“Good, good,” the king said.

“And will you introduce us to your court wizard?” Trevor said.

The king looked puzzled. “What? I have no court wizard.”

“He is at your right side.”

Bingador turned to look right and put his hand out. “There is no one—” His hand brushed against the magician’s robe. “There is someone here!”

Trevor rose from his chair and got between the magician and the door. He pulled off Lissa’s filmy cape and threw it over the magician. As the cape settled on the magician, it disappeared. A bolt of lightning shot out at Trevor who, lacking a sword, tackled the magician and pummeled his face until he fainted. The body gradually appeared.

The king backed up as he stood, knocking his chair over. “No!” He covered his mouth and looked at Morra Deepen. “I thought he was my father’s ghost!” The king’s face was white with shock.

Trevor set the king’s chair upright and let the man sit.

“Brother Yvan can tell you what is happening in the world,” Trevor said.

The cleric presented the king with a summary of the story in a short time.

King Bingador stared at the inert figure on the floor and then he looked at Trevor. “How were you able to see him? I’ll have your charm while you get another made. I thought you would die from that awful bolt.”

“I have a single magical talent, your majesty,” Trevor said. “I’m immune to magic. The magician spelled himself invisible, and the spell doesn’t fool me. Magical fire, lightning, wind, magic-propelled arrows — all have no affect.”

“I’ll have some of that immunity, then.”

“I’m afraid I don’t know how to do that, but I learned something right now. An invisible watcher can be detected