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

entire conversation is my business.” He whipped out his commission. “I represent Dryden. I have papers certifying that I am a duke in Brachia. The domain of Listenwell is mine to rule.”

“Anyone can forge papers,” the woman said.

Trevor tossed his messenger appointment in front of the officer. It wouldn’t do any good to have the woman touch it. The officer picked it up and read. He stopped a few times to stare at Trevor and read a little more.

“He holds the rank of a seer,” the man told the woman.

“Nonsense. There are no seers as young as this traitor,” the woman said.

Trevor had never read the appointment, and if he made it out of jail alive, reading that document would be the first thing he did.

“My mother never replaced Brother Yvan?” Trevor asked the woman.

“Of course not. She hasn’t made up her mind about installing a new one,” the woman said.

“Do you think you will be committing sacrilege if you kill me now that I am a seer?”

The woman narrowed her eyes at Trevor. “I don’t work for Dryden, young man. You can stop thinking that an ecclesiastical position will stop me from having you executed.”

The officer put his hand on the woman’s wrist. “It will stop you from killing him in Ginster,” the officer said. “Our relations with the seers aren’t the warmest, but we are a nation of Dryden followers.” He waved the appointment sheet before placing it in front of Trevor. “I know what the position of Dryden’s Messenger is. I went to a Dryden monastic school. The last messenger died in an assassination after saving the world hundreds of years ago. It is held in reserve until needed. This appointment removes Trevor Arcwin from any restrictions in Collet and in Ginster,” the officer said to the woman.

“Then I can leave?”

“I will be clear that there are Presidonians in Collet, and assassins can still reach out from Presidon. We believe that Queen Hyra has turned away from Dryden, and you’ll receive no protection in your home country, and you are exposed to whatever Presidon may try to do here.” The officer looked at the ambassador. “An assassination will be an illegal act, but you know that, don’t you?”

The ambassador grunted. “Then I have no further questions,” she said and left the room.

“I am free to go now?” Trevor asked.

“No. We go to visit the prime. I want to hear how you intend to save the world,” the man said.

Chapter Eight

~

T revor was still under guard with hands manacled as the officer, Trevor, and a squad of guards walked through the prime’s residence, the Ginsterian equivalent of a royal palace. The hostile stares from all they passed in the residence corridors made Trevor uneasy. He was sure he wasn’t out of danger.

They walked into a meeting room toward the back of the residence, where Trevor spent the next hour alone in the room. He opened the door a few times, but the guards outside never left.

Finally, the officer opened the door and stepped to the side of the open door. “Rise for the Prime of Ginster.”

A youngish woman walked through wearing a pale blue gown with a jeweled headband. She sat at the end of the table and tapped her finger on the mirror-finished wood. Trevor looked behind to see the door left open and guards standing ready and within hearing.

“You are the prince?” she asked without asking for an introduction.

“Former prince,” Trevor said. “I am currently the duke of Listenwell. Listenwell is a domain in Brachia.”

“I know where Listenwell is. Don’t you think I prepared for this meeting?” the woman snapped back. She moved her fingers and uttered a spell under her breath. Trevor had no idea what the spell did, but the officer moved a pace closer to the ruler. A dusky woman sauntered into the room. Neither the prime nor the officer acknowledged her. Trevor couldn’t help but raise his eyebrows at the arrogance of this Maskumite magician. The woman leaned against the wall and folded her arms. Trevor made sure he didn’t make eye contact. It was the same strategy Trevor had seen played out before, but the magician did not attempt to whisper in the prime’s ear.

Trevor, still standing, gave the prime a bow. “I don’t know what you know and what you don’t.”

The prime pursed her lips. It didn’t look like she was pleased with Trevor’s response. “You have an appointment from Dryden?”

The woman extended her hand. Trevor had to move to the head of the table and put the appointment letter in her hand. She made a show of reading every bit of it. The prime scowled when she read it.

“This puts me in a bad spot,” she said. “I have a treaty with Presidon that they haven’t honored. I should have annexed all of Presidon’s northern border, but Queen Hyra has been reluctant to pay her allies. Hyra’s ambassador demands your death, but I have no guarantee that will get me the land that is rightfully Ginster’s.”

Trevor would have said any Presidonian land wasn’t rightfully hers for betraying a neighbor, but he kept quiet. If he was to be messenger, he had to create an alliance, and with King Worto sniffing at Ginster’s western border, he couldn’t alienate the prime.

“Is Ginster more important than some mountain lands?” Trevor asked. “Even with their mineral wealth, if King Worto’s army invades, do you think my mother will hand over land that she could use to appease the Brachian king?”

The prime scowled. “You know your politics too well, and you intend to deal with King Worto?”

“I do. I’ve met him before, have you?”

“No, but he has a delegation in the city,” the prime said.

Trevor was certain this silent woman was one of them. “I will tell him