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

Brother Yvan pursed his lips. “Another week with the salve and Glynna’s potion at night. She needs to sleep as still as possible. Everything will heal, but the proper healing of burns takes a bit of time.”

“She’s not the one we worry about,” Reena said. “From what Yvan says, your biggest worry will be your mother and sister.”

“Not my sister,” Trevor said. “She is a reasonable person.” He related what he had learned about the regency and Lilith’s never-ending conflict with her mother. “The people can see she is trying to make their lives better.”

“Softening up?” Custik asked.

“I’ve always been soft,” Trevor said.

Everyone laughed.

“Watch yourself,” Brother Yvan said.

“No,” Trevor said. “I’ll be watching others.”

Glynna groaned at the joke. “Take care of Win, then.”

“As always,” Trevor said. “Perhaps we will be on our way back in a few days. The trip has already been worth it for Win, seeing his mother.”

Chapter Thirty-Three

~

T revor woke early and let Win sleep for a bit. He ran around the practice field along with twenty or so other contestants. He ate breakfast early before he returned to the room, observing Win rubbing his eyes.

“Get something to eat. We can get some more spear practice in before the tournament starts,” Trevor said, gathering his sword and bow and arrows. He doubted if he would be able to use his sword or arrows in the tournament, but he wanted to be ready for anything.

He warmed up using his Jarkanese sword. Other contestants watched him, and a few asked him about where he got the sword. He wore the cuirass underneath his Khartooian diving outfit. He figured the black would suit him. The soldiers wore their uniforms, and it was anything goes with the nonmilitary fighters.

Win showed up, and all they did was review what Trevor had taught his friend the previous day. Their work was interrupted by a blaring horn. The participants gathered around a stand erected by the armory.

An officer that Trevor recognized but couldn’t recall his name stood with his hands outstretched. “Participants. The order of the day is posted behind me. We will have preliminary matches, and the finals will be held on the jousting field. I have been told that Princess Lilith might attend, so make sure none of you bleed profusely.”

The officer waited for the laughter to settle down. “Every weapon will have blunted tips. This is not a tournament with matches to the death. Presidonian officers will monitor each match. Soldiers will receive commendations, and a few might get promotions. You nonmilitary participants may get offers to join our army with a commendation in your record to start. Winning isn’t everything in this tournament, but it will count a lot.” There was a bit more laughter. “You are encouraged to watch the matches since preliminaries won’t be held simultaneously. If you have any questions, find someone else to ask.”

The officer waved and stepped off the stand. Behind him stood the brackets. Trevor looked around and guessed there might be as many as two hundred participants. That would be a decent turnout for one of his father’s tournaments. What was missing were the crowds and festival atmosphere.

Trevor waited for the stand to clear before approaching and struggling through the crowd to see when he would participate. Sword preliminaries were last. Magic was first followed by archery, spears, and then swords. There were more swordsmen than any other category.

He stepped down, knowing when he could expect to be called and found Win fumbling with the charms at his neck. “I think I have enough,” he said.

Trevor looked at a group of magicians talking to each other. There were few charms in evidence. “You won’t be attacking anyone,” Trevor said.

“You never know. I can see you wore your chest piece.”

“I checked. Leather armor is permitted. Metal armor isn’t.”

Win nodded as the magicians were called. Trevor followed behind. The tournament tested the magical strength of the participants, not how they performed in a fight. Trevor was a little disappointed from a spectator point of view but relieved that some experienced battle magicians wouldn’t flummox his friend.

The preliminaries went quickly. Win had the opportunity to show his lightning, but he didn’t. He made it through the preliminary evaluations but lost to one involving how long it took to hit targets with flames and then use wind to blow the flames out.

“I could have used lightning, and there wouldn’t have been a flame to put out,” Win said. “I’ll do better with the spear.”

“You held back all the way through,” Trevor said to his friend.

Win sighed. “I can’t fool you. I was too nervous I would show everyone up, and I might have.”

Trevor clapped his hand on Win’s shoulder. “Try a little harder with the spear and use the three tricks that I taught you.”

The archery contest was easy for Trevor. He purposefully missed scoring on some attempts, but he still did well enough to get in the finals, despite not doing his best.

“I’ll do worse in the final,” Trevor said.

Win gave him a sideways look. “Had I known, I would have done better as a magician,” he said.

The spear competition was done in heats. Win breezed through the first two and was about to let his opponent beat him when the other man’s spear cracked, and he was disqualified. He made it into the final matches later in the day.

Trevor hefted the wooden sword he was given. They were all the same, and he was tempted to crack it before the match began. His first opponent was a junior officer whom he had sparred with before. Trevor had to use his left hand to disguise his style. The match was fierce, but Trevor’s superior ability couldn’t be denied.

“You remind me of a former opponent,” the soldier said.

“From Viksar?”