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

been surprised had one not appeared.” Trevor turned. “Shall I arrange a shipment to you, first, your majesty?”

“You didn’t bring any samples with you?” the queen said after the magician whispered in her ear.

“No, but I might be able to make a small batch for you.”

“You are a brewer?”

“I have been called stranger things by Maskumite magicians,” Trevor said. He looked directly at the woman, who gasped as she made eye contact. “Were you aware there is a Maskumite magician at your side?”

Queen Marta stood. “How could you know that?”

“One of my stranger talents,” Trevor said. He turned to the rest of the court. “A Maskumite magician advises the queen. She knows a secret invisibility spell and has the queen under her power. Have you all wondered why the queen suddenly changed?” Trevor turned quickly and pointed at the female magician. “You should leave Sirland immediately, or I shall have my troops invade the country!”

Queen Marta stamped her foot as the man with the halberd pointed the blade at Trevor’s throat. “How dare you! How can a Brachian duke wage war on Sirland?” the queen said.

“I am more than a duke,” Trevor said. “I am Dryden’s Messenger.”

The queen laughed. “I object to Dryden worship in all its forms.”

The court hushed. Evidently, the queen had never admitted her feelings publicly.

“More proof that she has been under Maskum’s spell. The Maskumite magicians don’t believe in Dryden and have convinced your queen that Dryden doesn’t exist,” Trevor said.

The queen lifted her hands and bathed Trevor in fire.

Trevor took a step forward. “You’ll have to do better than that.”

The magician must have had enough and threw a spear of white lightning at Trevor. He brushed off his court clothes.

“Impossible!” the Maskumite said.

“Another’s voice!” the man with the halberd said, lowering his weapon. Another bolt shot through the man.

The court gasped, but Trevor took the halberd and threw it at the Maskumite magician. The blade hit the woman in the neck, and she fell back off the dais, clutching the curtain as she fell to the floor behind.

“There is a woman!” more voices cried out. Trevor ignored the queen continuing to pummel him with magic and stepped behind the throne. He hadn’t lost his ability with a spear, and what was a halberd but an unbalanced spear? The magician’s dead eyes stared at the ceiling with her hands clutching the mortal wound to her throat.

“There she is. I didn’t believe it, but…”

Two of the courtiers pointed to guards in the room who took the queen away after binding her hands. They approached Trevor. “Are you really a duke?” one of them asked.

“I am many things, and the duke of Listenwell is one of them. I am also Dryden’s messenger. You may have noticed I am immune to magic,” Trevor said. “A blessing from Dryden.” Trevor didn’t like having to say that, but Coosin stood next to him, and Trevor had to justify his actions.

“I don’t know who Dryden’s messenger is, but you were the only one who saw the magician who ensorcelled our queen.”

“What will happen to her?” Coosin asked the courtier.

“That is for the council of nobles to decide, those that are still alive, that is. Queen Marta has much accounting to do now that we know the reason she abruptly changed. I thank you, Duke Trevor.”

“My full name is Trevor Arcwin.”

“Henry’s son? I thought you looked a bit like him despite your height. I learned you had survived, but I would have never expected you to show up here,” the courtier said.

Trevor looked up from kneeling next to the dead magician. “You knew my father?”

“He was born with his anger,” the man said. “Queen Marta acquired hers. I will admit I thought your father got what he deserved. Sirland and Presidon were allies once, but Henry couldn’t maintain the alliance.”

“I’m looking for allies,” Trevor said. “Maskum is behind King Worto’s visions of conquest. He was taken in just like Queen Marta was. I scared off the Maskumite magician who influenced him. Maskum has pursued the same strategy in more countries than you would imagine.”

“And you can vouch for him, seer?” the courtier said to Coosin.

“You know who I am?” the seer asked.

“Of course. I wondered what brought you to court walking behind this boy. Is what he told the truth?”

“It is.”

The courtier nodded. “Let me take you out of the castle immediately. I know where I can find you.” The courtier looked at Coosin Escarik.

Trevor sighed with relief. He didn’t know what would happen after throwing the halberd at the magician. There were other guards in the room, but they didn’t attack Trevor.

The courtier led them quickly out the door they used to gain entrance. The guard bowed deeply. “Prime Minister,” he said.

Trevor had figured their escort ranked high in Sirland.

“If you can find a way to get out of Wistfall for a few days, that might be good. I think the city is going to be unsettled more when the queen’s current allies find out their queen isn’t queen anymore.”

“She will be deposed?” Trevor asked.

“Probably. For now, I’m sure we will tell the people she is sick, and that is the truth, in a way.”

“Thank you,” the seer said.

“Go now.”

Trevor didn’t look back as they walked quickly through the streets of Wistfall. The city hadn’t heard the news, and Trevor knew just the place to go.

“If your magic is strong enough, we will go to the Maskumite border with Jarkan.”

“For a few days?” Coosin asked.

“I have a talent I didn’t tell you about. I’m the only one in the world who can use the cuirass I wear under my clothes.”

“It is old magic. It would have to be,” the seer said.

Trevor nodded. “My magical