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

He shook his head before putting his forehead on Snowflake. He needed some advice from Brother Yvan after he made sure someone took care of Snowflake. He found Brother Yvan in discussion with Gorian Custik, Volst, and Win.

“Where are Lissa and Glynna?” Trevor asked.

“Finding a remote stream to do a little bathing,” Gorian said, grinning. “For some reason, I wasn’t invited.”

“What are you three talking about?” Trevor asked.

Viksaran stuff, mostly, if you should know,” Volst said. “We think you should come with us to Viksar and then get things straightened out with your mother and sister.”

“And by straightened out?”

“Retake your throne,” Win said. “My mother would like that.”

“I’m sure she would,” Trevor said, knowing that was probably true. “But I told you I don’t have any designs on the throne.”

“But you would have a Viksaran army behind you and Ginster, too, Brother Yvan says.”

“This is true?” Trevor asked.

Brother Yvan nodded. “Your mother has reneged on most of the provisions of the promises she made with Ginster regarding the usurpation. You should at least think about it. In my mind, the kingdom of Presidon is much better than Listenwell.”

Trevor sat down with them. “I’m not so sure.” He didn’t think retaking Presidon for the Arcwin line would be successful without a great deal of bloodshed. “I’ll talk to them when this is over,” he said. “That is all I can promise.”

“Are you afraid of Lilith?” Win asked.

“No,” Trevor said. “I’ve never been afraid of her like I have of my mother. It isn’t pleasant to know that your mother is actively pursuing your death.”

“And you don’t want to stop that?” Gorian asked.

“Of course I do,” Trevor said, “but I don’t think I could plunge my sword into her.”

“I can do that,” Win said. “Maybe Lilith, too, if you asked me nicely.”

Trevor gave his friend a tiny smile. “I’ll let you know. Maybe we can talk it over a lot of Zinkel’s ale in Jilgrath.”

“Oh, I’m for that,” Volst said. Custik grinned and nodded vigorously. “You will consider it? Your future depends on stopping all the attempts on your life. It finally caught up with your friend Boxster.”

Trevor nodded sadly at the mention of Desolation Boxster’s name. King Worto’s spies had taken the opportunity during a crisis, making Trevor think of the situations he had to face and realize that the same thing could happen to him. It could happen this evening or tomorrow. “I will give it serious thought,” he said.

He had wanted to ignore Presidon, but his friends had just reminded him that he really couldn’t forget the past like he wanted to. If he wanted to live the easy life as the duke of a Brachian domain, looking over his shoulder all the time would make his living less easy. And with that, he realized that he had answered his own question. He had gone soft, and it had nothing to do with being Dryden’s messenger. He was looking too far ahead and ignoring the risks he had to face before he reached his goal.

Lilith and his mother were barriers to his future. Lissa shouldn’t have to worry about active assassins, and she would be in constant danger too. Trevor took a deep breath. “You’ve convinced me, but we can bring this up after we have wiped out the Maskumite vermin nest.”

Brother Yvan rose from the camp table. “Walk with me,” he said.

It was a pleasant twilight. The night would be warm if the fog didn’t roll in from the sea, Trevor thought. The pair of them strolled out of camp and through a dense thicket into a small meadow. A few fallen trees provided a place to sit facing each other.

“Something is bothering you,” Brother Yvan asked. “I could see it painted on your face when you joined us.”

“I was wondering if I’ve been tough enough. It seems that I’ve relied on others’ honesty a bit too much,” Trevor said. “I thought that being Dryden’s messenger has addled my mind.”

“Perhaps it has, but do you still feel the same way? I sensed a change while we talked.”

Trevor smiled. “A seer’s second sight?”

“Not a seer’s, mine,” Brother Yvan said.

After a pause, Trevor shared his misgivings with his long-time mentor.

“I suppose Doford’s capture is the cause for all this angst?” Brother Yvan asked.

“It is,” Trevor said, “but I think I have been looking too far forward.”

Brother Yvan nodded knowingly. “Retiring to Listenwell to a life of luxury?”

“A peaceful life,” Trevor said. “When Win mentioned Boxster, I realized that I couldn’t attain that peace while my mother and Lilith keep sending assassins. It hasn’t been that long since the last attempt on my life.”

“And there will be others. A little luck on their part, and you join Desolation,” Brother Yvan said. “That is the only reason I agreed with their suggestion. You have to come to terms with your mother and sister.”

Trevor shook his head. “It won’t be possible,” he said. “My mother hates me. It is an irrational hate, and that can’t be talked away.”

“I think you are right, but Lilith has a good head on her shoulders,” Brother Yvan said.

“You are defending her?” Trevor asked.

“Why shouldn’t I? She let us go after we were captured, and Lilith didn’t renege on her promise to leave you alone. Your mother did.”

“And that proves my point,” Trevor said. “I think I’ll only do my talking to Lilith, then.”

Brother Yvan’s face brightened. “You do that. Ask her to make good on the promises she and her mother made to Ginster, but remember you will have to confront your mother before this is all over.”

“And have Lilith fulfill any other agreements that my mother broke. That is more of what a messenger does, isn’t it?” Trevor asked.

“I’m not