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

“Arguing against?” Trevor asked.

The seer looked disgusted with himself. “Of course!” He pulled a bag of charms from his desk. “I kept these in the drawer, but Viksar also sent a messenger with charms to the king, who distributed all of his. So the Maskumites turned to me, who didn’t take the charms seriously.”

Trevor nodded. “As long as you recognize what happened, we will visit the king. I suggest you come with us and tell the king what you have done so he can take steps to mitigate your actions.”

“Of course,” the seer said dejectedly.

~

Trevor’s next stop was Okora. He had wanted to wait for the Viksaran army, but they were a few days away from the capital of Kyria before turning southwest toward the Sirland–Maskumite border.

Trevor failed in convincing King Bingador to join in the fight. The Okoran monarch was adamant about being neutral, even when the Okoran seer, Morra Deepen, tried to get the king to provide a small force, but Trevor was able to get the king to provide food and supplies to the armies. Trevor was disappointed the king was stingy with his men, but the provisions were needed as much as men were.

Morra Deepen asked Trevor to communicate with the head seer to ask for more charms. At least King Bingador believed in the power of the charms. The head seer had received reports from Dorwick and East and West Moreton about the charms detecting Maskumite magicians. Although the fight was too far away for them to join in, they all had executed any Maskumite magicians as spies. No one had heard anything from Presidon, but Trevor had ignored them and never expected any help from his former country.

At last, Trevor and Lissa returned to Argara in Jarkan and met with King Turgul. The plainsmen army was reactivated, with a large fighting force headed south. The Brachian army approached the Maskumite border after skirting the capital. Trevor gave them as much information as he could before teleporting to General Henkari’s garrison.

The Maskumites had finally caught on that they were in a fight for their lives. The border skirmishes increased in intensity, and dispatch riders began circuits from the coastal border around to the mountain outposts west of General Henkari’s garrison.

The Brachian army had arrived at the border before the war started. Viksaran and Kyrian troops were still more than a week away from Sirland when Trevor and Henkari met with the Brachian general and Prince Akku, who would be the titular head of the plainsmen forces.

“Dauntless Brightwork,” the Brachian general introduced himself to Trevor when they met at a conference room inside Henkari’s garrison.

“A name of valor,” General Henkari said. “We don’t adhere to the custom in Jarkan, but I must admit, sometimes I think I’d like it. Right, Desolation?”

“Dauntless,” the general said, thinking to correct Henkari.

“No. He means me,” Trevor said. “I went by the name of Desolation Boxster when General Henkari and I met. It is my old mentor’s name. I went by Des, but that was until I became the duke of Listenwell. I’m now called by my given name of Trevor Arcwin.”

“I’ve heard of your story. A few of my officers and a contingent of soldiers are from Listenwell. Their version is a bit different from the one circulating in Bassington,” Brightwork said.

“You will have to introduce me to the Listenwell soldiers,” Trevor said.

General Brightwork nodded. “Once we find out where we will end up on the border.”

“And that is why we are meeting,” Henkari said.

Trevor traced his finger along the border on a large map of Maskum. “There are three armies on the northern edge of Maskum, and there will be three on the eastern side.” He ran his finger along the mountainous west. “The west is undefended since the mountains are an effective barrier between Maskum and Ternus.”

“Without a naval force, we can’t stop the Maskumites from sailing away,” General Brightwork said.

“Sirland has ships,” Trevor said. “All we need to do is block Khartoo.” He put his finger on the capital. “The Maskumite enclave is our goal. I don’t care about the rest of Maskum.”

“That might be doable,” Henkari said. “The harbor often has more ships from foreign countries than it does its own. Most are from Sirland and Ternus.”

Trevor pursed his lips. He was back to thinking about the invasion as a game. “And where is Ternus? Are they an ally or an enemy?”

“You’ll have to ask the Sirlandians,” Henkari said.

“I will. I haven’t been west of Jarkan’s capital, but I can visit Prime Minister Crater,” Trevor said. He bit his lip in frustration since he hadn’t thought about closing off the sea sooner.

“You are thinnest in the mountains,” General Brightwork said. “Why don’t I move through the mountain region toward Khartoo. I have soldiers enough to leave pockets of men if the Maskumites attempt to head west.”

“That will also eliminate any chain of command issues,” Trevor said. “I suggest we use Potur Lott as the liaison between the two armies.”

Henkari nodded his head. “That is an excellent choice, but let’s have him select other scouts with mountain experience in Jarkan to help with the units left behind.”

Brightwork squinted at the map. “Then I can start moving my people?”

“No,” Trevor said. He had built a model in his head. They needed to be more strategic in assembling their forces. “If we don’t time our invasion right, we might leave some of our units exposed.”

“Of course,” Henkari said. “We will need more information from the eastern forces.” He looked at Trevor. “Brightwork, Akku, and I will set up the three Jarkanese border armies while you do the same with Sirland, Viksar, and Kyria.”

Trevor nodded. He wanted to fight with the Brachians, but he might still be able to do