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

in their journey to say such a thing. It was clear that Reena was used to doing things her way, but then the usefulness of a Jarkanese focus wasn’t based on tact.

Bartell walked over to Brother Yvan and Trevor, looking at Lissa and Reena adjusting the bags on their horses. “Do they know how to take care of themselves?” he said with a bit of bravado.

“I think so,” Brother Yvan said. “Have you ever heard of the Viksaran magician classification? I would rate both of those ladies as gold-level magicians.”

“Both?” Bartell’s eyes grew.

Trevor nodded. “And both have been through enough fights to know how to handle themselves.”

Brother Yvan skipped a breath. Trevor didn’t think Bartell would catch it, but Trevor did. “I am battle-tested and have run off brigands plenty of times. Brother Yvan is a Dryden cleric and is an expert healer, ready to help anyone with their wounds.”

“I hadn’t realized you were all so capable,” he said in a smaller voice.

Brother Yvan chuckled, which seemed to reduce the tension that Trevor felt. “We don’t need guards, we were thinking that we could help guard others on the Northern Road.”

“Be sure your presence will be appreciated. If you will excuse me, I’ll consult with Oliva on getting all our group mounted and on the road.”

Trevor watched Bartell talk with Oliva, who shot them a glance and gave them a quick, tight smile.

“Am I wrong to guess that something was up with those two?” Trevor asked.

“Not wrong to suspect, but wrong to conclude,” Brother Yvan said.

Trevor lifted the Jarkanese sword at his back up an inch, and then he let it settle back into the scabbard. “We will travel a bit behind them on the road.”

“There is nothing wrong with that,” Brother Yvan said as he mounted.

Trevor followed and they waited for Oliva’s group to leave the stable yard and followed fifty paces or so behind.

“We aren’t going to mingle with them?” Lissa asked. “I’ll bet you can swap some exciting stories with the guards. They look like battle-hardened soldiers.”

“Battle-hardened, but I’m not so sure they were soldiers. If you get a chance, talk to Oliva or Bartell about their cargo, and I’ll ask the guards what they are protecting. I’m interested to see if their stories are the same.” Trevor looked at the two wagons. The covers over their goods were very tight and secure. He wished that one of his companions could use their magic to see through things.

Once outside the town, they proceeded east on the Northern Road. There were other travelers, some going faster and some slower, but Trevor could see that most were moving in groups like theirs. As they continued, the road became emptier and as they passed the last village before the town where they would spend the night, there were no others on the road when they rode through a forested section.

The guards began to steal glances more often in the twilight and Trevor’s uncertainty began to solidify into waiting for the people up ahead to make a move.

“Be ready,” Trevor said. “Pushing on to the next town was a ruse to get us alone on the road.”

“A conclusion?” Brother Yvan asked.

Trevor nodded. “It might be approaching time to conclude. Get prepared for a battle,” Trevor said as he tightened up the cuirass and put on the helmet he usually never used.

Reena looked at Trevor. “You are the only one protected.”

“We all have our own defenses,” Lissa said.

“True,” Reena said. She untied the cord holding her sword tight to the saddle and eased the weapon out of its sheath.

The wagons and horses stopped ahead. Trevor called a halt to his group.

Oliva, flanked by the four guards, rode toward them. She had no weapon in her hand.

“Drop your weapons, and we will let you live,” she said after halting ten paces away and raising her hands.

“We will keep our weapons, thank you,” Brother Yvan said. “I think you underestimate us.”

A sizzling, brilliant white light exited from Oliva’s hands, but before it reached Trevor, Lissa attacked Oliva, forcing the woman to back up her horse, her hand splayed on her chest with smoke curling from her fingers.

“One more dose should do it,” Lissa said.

The four guards advanced at once, but their charms didn’t match the flailing streams of power moving back and forth between them. Oliva was the only person left. Reena used the tip of her sword to shoot a bolt of flame at Oliva’s horse as it headed south off the road and disappeared into the darkness. Trevor heard a scream and then nothing.

The closest refuge was ahead, and they had three more people to go through.

“No need for violence,” Brother Yvan called out to Bartell and the two drivers, sitting on the wagons’ bench seats.

Another stream of fire flowed from ahead and splashed harmlessly on Trevor’s chest.

“Perhaps I was wrong,” Brother Yvan said with a sigh.

Trevor galloped ahead, closing the distance in seconds. Both drivers were magicians, and in a moment, they were off the wagons, facing Trevor. Bartell ran to his horse while Trevor fought the magicians, and began to gallop down the road.

Arrows flew from either side. Reena was nicked by an arrow, but Lissa was able to dodge another in the dark. Reena slid along the road and took refuge in the roadside ditch, holding onto her wound. Lissa crouched down and ran toward the archers while Trevor took the other side.

Trevor found his assailant restringing a bow. He didn’t give the man a chance and dragged the body to the road while he heard Lissa taunting the other archer. It was dark enough that he could only see well enough to avoid running into a tree. A flash lit up the air followed by a short scream.

Trevor ran