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

arrived and asked if he could locate Gorian Custik or Glynna Bostik for them.

“Does this bring back memories of Eila?” Trevor said as the four of them toured the brewery after checking in just before lunch. Zutterak had written out passes to the brewery dining room before they said a final goodbye to the premier, Win, and Siranda.

Trevor looked forward to the food. It couldn’t have changed since he had last visited the place. He’d never been to an inn or tavern that did such a good job of serving common room food.

“How fares the world travelers?” a familiar voice called out from a table set for seven.

“Volst!” Trevor almost shouted. It was so good to see his friend after weeks traveling in the west.

They sat down, and Brother Yvan introduced Reena to Volst who nodded to the cleric.

“A better choice?” Volst asked.

“It would be diplomatic to say different, but better works,” Brother Yvan said with a grin.

Volst held out his hands. “Don’t tell me anything. I contacted Glynna and her mad magician husband to join us. They should be here soon.”

“Husband!” Brother Yvan said.

“It is a very recent thing. Glynna convinced Custik to marry her once they reached Jilgrath,” Volst said. “I don’t see why you can’t reacquaint yourself with the best ale in the world.”

Trevor smiled, but he didn’t tell him about the Parkintown brew. He’d save that for the story he’d be telling.

“I have started to split my time between helping my father run Jilgrath and teaching at the academy,” Volst said. “The dueling club hasn’t been resurrected yet.”

“Will it ever?” Lissa asked.

Trevor thought she might have picked up something with her talent.

“Maybe not, but I don’t think I’m ready to hang my sword on a wall, either” Volst gave Trevor a look that said his friend’s traveling days might not be over.

“Do you know anything about advanced charms?” Lissa asked.

“I know they exist, but it isn’t my expertise,” Volst said. “Wait for Custik.”

As Volst said it, Custik and Glynna walked in hand-in-hand. Somehow, they looked odd as a couple to Trevor, but then if Lissa and he did the same, Volst might think them as odd.

They sat down, and Trevor made sure everyone had a mug of ale before he started. The only interruptions to his story were ordering their food and a short period where Trevor wolfed down as much food as he could before continuing. Since he was among his closest friends, he didn’t leave out a thing.

“I knew the cuirass was old and magical, but I had no idea it held so much significance,” Custik said.

“I’ll know more when we reach Collet,” Trevor said.

“Duke Arcwin sounds almost as good as King Arcwin,” Glynna said.

“Duke is more than enough for me.”

“And for me,” Lissa said, grabbing Trevor’s hand. He had mentioned their growing relationship as part of his story.

“And the fate of the world is up to me?” Gorian Custik said with a twinkle in his eye.

“I have my money on Hamel Rorsik,” Volst said. He pursed his lips to pretend he withheld a smile. “Gorian and I should consult with the academy. It would be fun to beat the Order of Gold to the charm.”

“If there are two different charms, all the better,” Trevor said. “One might work better than another or something. I’m not a charm-maker so I don’t know.”

“You are right,” Glynna said. “I’ve made plenty of charms in my day. I saved a few books on charms that might be of use to Gorian and the academy.”

“I’ll speak to the current Chief Trustee of the academy,” Volst said. “I work with the trustee all the time. We can come up with something.”

“But will it work?” Custik asked.

“You can be the one to tell us,” Volst said.

Custik’s gaze turned to Lissa. “I understand that Lissa knows a camouflage spell or two, but they don’t work that well in the light.”

“I can work with Lissa,” Glynna said.

“Make it three of us,” Reena said. Brother Yvan gave her a surprised look. She made a face at him. “I can contribute. My magic is almost as good as anyone’s.”

“A Dryden cleric wouldn’t have said that,” Volst said.

“I’m not a Dryden cleric or didn’t you notice?” Reena said.

Volst just smiled and lifted his mug to her.

“Glynna, Lissa, and Reena will work on evaluating spells,” Trevor began. “Volst will get a distinguished fellow at the academy to help Custik. I’m sure we can get something figured out before Hamel Rorsik tells us he has created a working charm.”

“We can’t wait here that long,” Brother Yvan said.

“And that is why Brother Yvan and I will continue on to Collet while the process gets started. We will return and see if we can help finish the task,” Trevor said.

“I’ll join you, if you don’t mind,” Volst said. “We won’t be gone that long, and all I’m needed for here is to make an introduction or two. There is a possibility that Custik already knows the right person.”

“We will see,” Gorian said. “But we won’t need your magic, Volst. I hope you don’t mind.”

The man grinned. “Not if I can ride next to Des and Snowflake.”

“I have reverted to Trevor.”

“I don’t care what you call yourself.” Volst lifted his mug to start a toast.

Trevor lifted his own mug and enjoyed being back among his friends again. The only one missing was Win, but Trevor was okay with that, and he knew Win was too.

“I have a few things to discuss with you,” Gorian said to Trevor as they walked out of the pub’s dining room. “Invite Glynna and me to dinner, and we can talk tonight. I suggest you spend the afternoon getting the academy to talk to me. They aren’t as