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

them join their companion in Dryden’s fields,” Crater said. He looked at Coosin and Trevor. “I thought everything had settled down.”

“They waited for the right time. I’m sure they would have eventually killed me,” Coosin said. “It was a close thing as it was. I had to use a little magic to keep a knife-wielding guard away. If you need to incarcerate me, I’ll go willingly, but don’t put me into the same cell as those two.” He looked at the backs of the two magicians being escorted back inside the castle.

“No need. You were the victim,” Crater said. “I need your services as a seer, anyway. Come with me.”

Crater took them and his guards through the front gate of the castle. “Their guards had locked the gate,” the prime minister said, shaking his head. “I don’t know what they expected to accomplish.”

“How is the queen?” Coosin asked.

“Ready to abdicate in favor of her daughter. She is very distraught and not thinking very clearly after a year and a half under the spell of that woman,” Crater said. “Who rules is not settled yet, but I have been voted in as the interim regent by the queen’s council and have already started unraveling the mess the queen made.”

They followed Crater to his prime minister’s office. “Sit. I’ll have a healer and refreshments brought. You all look like you’ve rolled down a mountain. Except for the lady, whom I haven’t had the privilege of meeting.”

“Lissa Caspur, daughter of the Seer of Viksar and a traveling companion of mine,” Trevor said. He wanted to say they had a chaste relationship but kept his tongue in his head.

“I returned with Seer Escarik to conclude our business,” Trevor said.

The prime minister opened a drawer and pulled out a small bag. He opened it and dropped a charm on the desk. “These are familiar? They arrived in Wistfall a few days ago. They came to you, but the bishop read the message that came with them and thought I needed them immediately.”

“I helped develop them a month ago,” Lissa said. “If the queen wore one, all this would have never happened.”

“A month ago, the queen would have refused to wear it. I suppose that is why the supply went to you, Escarik,” the prime minister said. “I’ll make sure I write to the heads of state to the north and east of Sirland with an endorsement of them.” He looked at Lissa. “You are sure they work?”

Lissa nodded. “We’ve tested them.”

“And a perilous test that must have been.”

“It was,” Trevor said. “King Worto participated in the first field test. It was under a little bit of duress, but that was what changed his mind. He has troops headed for the Maskumite border with Jarkan.”

“Reinforcements?” the prime minister said. “If we don’t have to worry about the Maskumites fighting our neighbors to the northwest, then we can do a better job defending Sirland.”

“The mountains on one side, a large force to the north, the sea to the south, and you to the east. If you can increase your presence on the border, we can bottle Maskum up and put a stop to their aggression,” Trevor said.

“Even as regent, I can’t decide to put Sirland on a war footing, but I will discuss it with the council.” Crater turned to the seer. “You will help me in all this?”

“As you can see, I’m not much of a fighter,” Coosin said, “but I am well-qualified to give you input in all political matters that might affect the followers of Dryden.”

“Who is most of us in Sirland. Consider yourself hired to help me.”

“I don’t get ‘hired,’” the seer said with a smile. “Appointed is the proper term.”

After Lissa helped interrogate the captured magicians, it was time to leave Wistfall. The two surviving magicians had done little to create a network of spies in the country, relying on their female counterpart’s domination of the queen. The three were from a different cabal than Gareeze Plissaki and took their directions from the female magician.

Trevor was fascinated that they weren’t in Gareeze Plissaki’s cabal. Various cabals had carved up the world’s leaders, and the Maskumites threatened the world with their duplicity. In Trevor’s estimation, the enclave at Khartoo was infested with vermin that needed to be eradicated.

The pair of them said goodbye to Coosin and Prime Minister Crater before they left Wistfall. Each of them achieved membership in the highest valor society of Sirland, represented by a handsome golden brooch.

“I don’t need this,” Trevor said when they appeared at the front gate to Henkari’s garrison, still clutching his reward.

Lissa leaned against him. “It will look stunning along with all your other badges of valor when you are holding court in Listenwell.”

Trevor laughed. “That is the farthest thing from my mind.”

She clutched his arm. “Not from my mind. I look forward to when we can spend a calmer time together.”

“I agree,” he put his hand over hers, “but I’m afraid we have a way to go.”

The others wouldn’t be returning to Henkari’s headquarters for days yet. “Shall we make a detour to Collet?” Trevor asked Lissa.

“Why not?” she said.

~

They appeared in the ancient room that Trevor used as his landing spot and climbed the stairs, seeking out the head seer.

“Trevor!” Brother Yvan called out as Trevor and Lissa walked across the large entrance hall to seer headquarters.

Trevor grinned, but he wiped it off when he saw Brother Yvan’s face. “Your ring isn’t working,” the cleric said.

Trevor put his hand in a pocket. “I left it at the border,” he admitted, feeling guilty.

“At least you are here. Trouble in Viksar. Assassins murdered Azar Zutterak.”

“Win?” Trevor asked.

“He is injured, as is his wife, but alive.” Brother Yvan looked at Lissa. “Your father was attacked as well, but