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

I might be back with something bigger and better. What will you do then?” King Worto asked.

“Circumstances change,” Trevor said. “You might end up sending your army elsewhere to fight another foe.”

King Worto merely nodded. “Where will you go now?”

“Back to Collet,” Lissa said.

“From there probably to Jarkan,” Trevor said. “Doesn’t it seem that Maskum is fomenting all the unrest?”

“And I haven’t seen it,” King Worto said.

“Circumstances change, and when they do, our perceptions do as well. I read about that in the Presidonian army.”

“Keep reading.” King Worto put the charm back in the bag. “If I need more of these?”

“Just ask,” Trevor said. “If your seer can communicate with seer headquarters, we can get more sent to you.”

“Do you want to join me on my way to Bassington?” King Worto asked.

Trevor thought for a moment. “I will go as far as Parkintown,” he said.

“Don’t we need to get back?” Volst asked Trevor as they took up a spot just in front of the rear guards.

“We will follow the king for a bit and then head cross country to Listenwell.”

The king gave them a tent to spend the night. Lissa would have to join them.

When Trevor woke in the morning, a soldier brought a tray with breakfast.

“I’m from Parkintown,” the young man said. “I know who you are, and I was wondering if I could ride with you?”

“I don’t have an objection. We will be moving fast once we split from King Worto’s entourage.”

“The army is already losing men. We have the option of leaving and not getting paid or traveling to Bassington. I’d say those heading home make up half the army, especially the Fulerians.”

“Then you can join us. Are you an officer?” Volst asked.

“At a low level,” the young man said. “I was wondering if you ran into my father in Parkintown.”

“His name?” Trevor asked.

“Jacob Stoolage. He used to be the mayor until the regent deposed him.”

“You have a wife and child waiting for you.”

“How did you know?”

“I’ve been to your house,” Trevor said. “Jacob was instrumental in getting my domain.”

“Ha! I knew I needed to catch up with you,” the young man said.

As they ate their breakfast, Trevor asked Stoolage’s son-in-law about life in Parkintown. It wasn’t as good a place once Regent Summer took over. A bugle sounded, and it was time to leave. Trevor said goodbye to the king and apologized he wouldn’t be going to Bassington but heading to Argara from Listenwell.

Trevor could tell the King was relieved to let Trevor go. Former enemies, Trevor thought, had a struggle getting used to the lack of hostility.

~

The first stop in Parkintown was the son-in-law’s house. Trevor knocked on the door.

“Duke Trevor,” Stoolage’s daughter said. “I didn’t think you would be back so soon.”

“I helped end the military buildup in Fuleria and brought something along with me that I thought you might like.” Trevor stepped aside to watch a very tearful reunion. “I’ll be heading to the city residence. If you see Jacob, tell him that I won’t be in Parkintown more than a day.”

Lissa wiped away a few tears, and so did Volst, surprisingly. Trevor maintained control of his emotions, but he felt good when presenting one of his subjects to the soldier’s wife.

They rode to the residence. There were still renovations going on, but Keith Garman was in his office.

“You are back? That was quick,” Keith said, getting to his feet.

Trevor told him to sit and introduced him to Volst. “We will be leaving tomorrow. I don’t have time to do anything other than rest for a bit.”

“I’ll have my wife fix some dinner and bring it to the residence. You can tell me what has kept you busy for the last weeks,” Keith said.

“That would be nice. Volst would like to try out Parkintown ale. He is more of an aficionado than I am.”

“Indeed,” Volst said.

Dinner was a pleasant affair made more so by the arrival of Jacob Stoolage. There were some problems getting the citizens to accept Keith as the new regent, but both Jacob and Keith claimed that they were making headway.

Trevor left a few charms behind, and they left early in the morning before most of the city had risen. They traveled for most of the day until they reached Trevor’s mansion. The place looked unkempt, and that brought a frown to Trevor. The door was locked, but as they looked through the windows, Trevor could see that the steward had cleared out the furniture.

Volst was able to open a locked window, and they toured the place. Not all the rooms were stripped of furniture, but what remained had little value. They found enough beds to spend the night. In the morning, they stopped a carriage heading to Parkintown and sent a message to Keith, telling him he had a little more work to do, and that included pursuing the caretaker and the missing staff.

The ride to the Okoran border wasn’t the happiest trip Trevor had ever taken. Trevor had wanted to trust the steward, but that was a wrong decision. They retraced the route that Lissa, Mara, and Trevor had taken on the first trip to Brachia. Okora seemed unaffected by it all.

Trevor and Lissa showed Volst the monastery. There was quite a bit of work done to clear the site, and workers had planted stakes to outline the new monastery’s shape. Building materials blocked off the ancient room, so they continued into Jarkan.

“I’m not so sure I like this spiced beer,” Volst said at their first inn.

“I tolerate it,” Trevor said. “What about you?” he said, turning to Lissa.

“I’ve always liked it,” she said matter-of-factly.

The rest of the ride into Jarkan was very familiar. Lissa and Volst filled their travel time