“What are you going to do?” Win asked.
“Lilith recognized me immediately. She has given me this,” he pulled out the royal token. “I will meet her in my old rooms at sunset.”
“You go through any castle gate, and you’ll die,” Win said, “token or not!”
Trevor shook his head. “I’ve never thought Lilith was my enemy. I don’t think she ever was, but Mother was her ally. I don’t think the queen is the princess regent’s ally anymore.”
They returned to their quarters and packed their things. Trevor loaded what little he had brought with him onto Snowflake and said goodbye to Win at the army stables.
“Take good care of Lissa if something happens.”
“Won’t she be the Duchess of Listenwell?” Win said. “She can take care of Siranda and me.”
“You have my permission to live in Listenwell,” Trevor said with a grin that he didn’t feel. “I can always teleport.”
“Don’t hesitate,” Win said. He turned and embraced Trevor. “Come back to us.”
Trevor was about to let him go. “Wait! Do you have an invisibility charm? Can I have it?”
Win blinked. “Sure, but we’ve killed off the Maskumite magicians.”
“All that were in the enclave,” Trevor said.
“Oh. You suspect something?” Win asked.
Trevor shrugged. “Where are irrational decisions being made in Tarviston? The possibility might exist. I have to be prepared.”
Trevor accepted the charm and put it in a pocket. Now he was ready. He made sure Win had left the practice field before he found a spot close to the back entrance to the castle that he had used hundreds of times in the past to wait for the sun to descend.
He was tempted to visit Lissa again, but that would only heighten his anxiety and hers. The few hours seemed like an eternity, but the sun finally began to dip behind the closest building. Trevor pulled out the token and stared at it before looking at the two guards manning the rear gate. What if Lilith had become her mother’s creature, and Trevor headed into a trap? He put the token back in his pocket and teleported to the secret castle passage that ran past his old rooms. He opened the peephole and looked at the empty room.
Chapter Thirty-Four
~
T revor waited while the light faded from the room. The door opened. Lilith, his mother, and two others, a man and a woman, entered the room. Lilith turned and locked the door behind her. The princess looked around the room. Was she searching for him?
“Why did you bring me to this odious place?” Queen Hyra said. The venom was still potent in her voice. “It still stinks of Trevor.”
“I wanted to talk to you alone,” Lilith said. “Where there was absolute privacy.”
Privacy? There were two other people in the room as the two women talked. Queen Hyra glanced in the couple’s direction, but Lilith ignored their existence. Trevor had suspected outside influence, but two Maskumite magicians? How long had these two been behind his mother’s actions? It was time to step out.
Trevor opened the panel-like door and stepped into the room.
“Trevor!” Queen Hyra said. She looked at the couple. “Kill him!”
Lilith looked confused. “I won’t!” she finally said.
The two magicians shot bolts of silver lightning at Trevor.
“You won’t be able to kill me with those,” Trevor said.
“Try again!” the queen said.
Lilith looked confused. “Who are you talking to?”
“Catch this,” Trevor said, tossing the invisibility charm to his sister. She clutched it, and her eyes grew. “Who are these people, mother?”
Queen Hyra narrowed her eyes at Trevor. “You and your charms!” She turned to Trevor and pointed to him. “I said kill him!”
Two more bolts of lightning splashed against Trevor. When Trevor pulled out the ancient rod, the female magician’s eyes went wide. “That is Gareeze Plissaki’s!”
“I killed him with it,” Trevor said as he shot two thin streams of bright red death into the wizards.
Trevor turned to his sister. “They have been manipulating Mother for years, I would imagine,” Trevor said. “Perhaps you too.”
Lilith stared at the two bodies and then at her mother.
“What have you done?” Queen Hyra hoarsely repeated her statement, looking at the two bodies in horror.
“You have been a willing tool of the Maskumites. The question should be, what have you done, Mother? I will tell you that Dryden will not be happy with you,” Trevor said.
The queen pointed her finger at Trevor and shook it. “You have twisted Lilith’s mind! She is mine and mine alone!” She pulled on the jeweled handle of a knife at her waist and drew it. Trevor’s mother advanced on her son, murder in her eyes. “I will kill you with my own hands,” she said. The woman’s eyes were filled with unreasoning rage.
“You will not!” Lilith said.
The queen turned on her daughter. “I am tired of you defying me!” She raised the knife and struck out at Lilith, barely cutting her forearm. The princess grabbed her mother’s wrist, and the two women fought. Lilith battled for her life while her mother was caught up in a murderous frenzy.
Trevor took a step closer to stop the fight when Lilith finally overcame her mother’s strength, and the knife turned. The two women closed, and the queen fell to the floor, her knife hilt deep into her chest.
Lilith backed away. “I didn’t mean to,” she said, clutching her hands to her chest.
Trevor took her in his arms. “You didn’t do anything wrong.” He dragged the two magicians’ bodies, took the hand of the man, and wiped it on the queen’s dress, leaving the bloody hand close to the queen’s body. “The story will be your mother brought along her two Maskumite advisors, and when she revealed them to you, one of the Maskumite magicians killed her for revealing their secret.”
“Who will believe that?” Lilith asked.
“Who will want to disbelieve it?” Trevor said. “Let’s call it Dryden’s will. It is as good as. You will be a better ruler than either of our parents.”
“And what of you? That magic that you suddenly have could kill me as well, and you can restore the Arcwin dynasty.”
“Why?” Trevor said. “I’m no king, and I’d rather be friends than enemies.”
Lilith stared at her mother’s body. She nodded. “I think you made a huge step to make that happen.”
“I thought my disguise would work.”
Lilith laughed. “It might fool Mother, but you are such a unique creature. I followed your moves when you trained with the military. No one draws a bow like you do or shoots with your confidence.”
“It would have too. You are too bold. What prompted you to come to Tarviston after so many months?” Lilith said, still staring at her mother’s body.
“To stop the next assassination attempt. I married a week ago, and assassin-magicians attacked me on my wedding night. My wife was injured.”
Lilith closed her eyes as she worked to control her anger. “Mother, how could you do such a thing!”
“Believe me when I say I don’t seek to regain the throne for the Arcwins,” Trevor said.
“Why should you, Duke of Listenwell?” Lilith said. “I have kept track of your exploits. I would have never guessed my brother would be Dryden’s messenger.”
“You also know about that?” Trevor asked.
“I am the head of state until Mother decides to do something stupid. You have been an interesting person to follow as Des Boxster and as Trevor Arcwin. I lost you for a while until you reunited with Brother Yvan in Jarkan. I never did figure out how you got there. I don’t know much detail other than occasional reports from those I trust in the army.”
“All I want is to live in peace. If you know of Listenwell, it is far away from Presidon.”
“I know,” Lilith said.
“What about Ginster
’s payment for helping Mother depose my father?”
Lilith took a deep breath. “That is a matter that has been discussed many times. It is outside the regency agreement,” she said.
“It is time to put all the provisions of the regency agreement aside,” Trevor said.
“Is that Dryden speaking?” Lilith said, almost sarcastically.
“It is me speaking on behalf of your people. Everyone knows what the queen does and what the princess does afterward.”
Trevor hugged his sister. “Call the guards. I’ll leave by the secret passage. No one will know I ever appeared. I’ll try to make it to your coronation. Make sure you take care of Ginster. They are thinking of taking what they earned by helping Mother. It would be better if you gave it to them first. Another thing, I’d appreciate it if you could hire Marin Fenton back as the head cook. Consider that a message from Dryden.” Trevor gave his sister a smile and another hug. “Be strong,” he said as he disappeared back into the secret passage.
After waiting for a bit, Trevor teleported to the hallway in front of Marin Fenton’s flat.
“Time to leave,” he said to Win. “I have to get Snowflake back to Jilgrath, and I think we will both get invitations to a coronation.
Chapter Thirty-Five
~
“W
e think the two Maskumite magicians had been secretly advising your mother before the transfer of power, but it appears the invisibility spell was recent,” Lilith’s personal minister said to Trevor before Lilith’s installation. “It is a nasty development, but Presidon will gain much, much more with the new queen than the one it just lost.”
Lissa held Trevor’s hand as they looked on from the front row of the Tarviston Cathedral as the bishop of Tarviston crowned Lilith as Queen of Presidon. It had been two weeks since the death of Trevor’s mother. He was glad that Lilith had handled the transition well. As Trevor heard more about the misdeeds of Queen Hyra, he could imagine that her mother’s noxious activities mitigated Lilith’s heartbreak.
The new queen presented Trevor as her brother and prince of Presidon to the assemblage.
Can I now come and go as I please?” Trevor asked Queen Lilith at the reception following her coronation.
“I will clean up your room in the tower and give that to you as permanent guest quarters. I will never want to use that tower again,” Lilith said.
“I can understand,” Brother Yvan said, who Trevor had teleported to Tarviston from Collet. “I recommend interviewing for another seer. Some good ones are waiting for assignments.”
“What about you?” Lilith asked.
“Reena and I have decided to impose on Trevor and spend a few seasons in Listenwell. I suggest you find someone you can develop your own history with.”
Lilith laughed. “I do understand what you mean. I wish you all the best.”
Brother Yvan gave Lilith a bow worthy of a queen.
“We will be leaving,” Trevor said. “I can always come here at a moment’s notice. I suggest that you follow Brother Yvan’s advice and get a seer as soon as you can. You’ll be able to communicate with me much more quickly that way.”
Queen Lilith took Trevor’s hand and squeezed. “I will follow your advice, little brother.” She put her hand to her mouth, her eyes getting a little misty. “I didn’t think I’d ever call you that again.”
“I’ll give you more opportunities in the future,” Trevor said with a smile that he really felt.
Lissa bumped him. “I think I’m ready to go.”
Trevor gave his sister a bow. “My wife has had enough excitement for her healing body.” Trevor turned to Win and Siranda, who had traveled to Tarviston via Trevor’s teleportation skill, and Marin Fenton, the newly rehired royal cook. “I’ll be back in two days to get you back to Jiksara.”
The couple teleported to the house on the square in Jilgrath.
Glynna and Custik had moved to their own dwelling and gave the newlyweds the house to use as their own until Lissa was well enough to travel overland to Listenwell.
After Trevor had returned to Presidon and took Brother Yvan and Reena back to Collet, he returned to Jilgrath, where he and Lissa finally sat together in the sitting room where Trevor had tried to solve the ancient dog case.
“Is it finally over?” Lissa said, holding Trevor’s hand.
“The Desolation Boxster part of my life has finally ended,” Trevor said. “The Duchess and Duke of Listenwell phase has just begun.”
The End of A Clash of Magics,
the last installment of the Desolation Boxster series.
Desolation Boxster Characters
Prince on the Run
The Royal Family
Trevor Arcwin - Third son of Henry Arcwin, 19 years old
Henry Arcwin - Seventh king of Presidon
Hyra Arcwin - Queen and wife of Henry Arcwin, princess of Dorwick
Bering Arcwin - Oldest son of Henry Arcwin and crown prince, 28 years old
Owen Arcwin - Second son of Henry Arcwin, 26 years old
Lilith Arcwin - Oldest daughter of Hyra by a Dorwickian noble, 30 years old
Wynn Arcwin - Second daughter of Henry and Hyra, 21 years old
Renald (Renny) Arcwin - Fourth son of Henry Arcwin and youngest child, 16 years old
Tarviston Castle Staff and Courtiers
Brother Yvan - Royal cleric of Dryden, from the country of Ginster
Marin Denton - Head cook of Tarviston Castle
Windon Denton - Stable boy (Marin’s son)
Virtue Underton - Minister of war
Patience Sorryn - General of the Presidon army
In the Army plus Mercenaries
Desolation Boxster - Master sergeant in the Presidon army and Trevor’s trainer
General Greenwood - Commander of Red Forest Garrison
Liftson - Master soldier
Washkin - Master soldier
Angry Sender - A sergeant in the royal army
Commander Periwinkle - Leader of West Moretons in Presidon
Captain Harpy - West Moreton officer
Captain Handleton - Mercenary officer
Karn Kissel - Boxster’s mercenary camp name
Bill Denton - Trevor’s mercenary camp name
Breda Jackwin - Female mercenary
Corey Crackle - Mercenary squad leader
The Brachians
Mara - Brachian troubadour, 20 years old
Hanna - Brachian troubadour, 32 years old
Tork - Brachian troubadour, 42 years old
Duke Worto - Usurper and ruler of Brachia
Theft of an Ancient Dog
Jilgrath in Viksar
Grantak Poket - Sr. Professor at Jilgrath Magic Academy
Manwell Arcwin - Underemployed green magician
Jeruld Kantak - Jilgrath’s second-best impresario.
Glynna Bostik - Antique bookshop proprietor
Lord Noran Rorsik - Victim of theft
Lady Ophie Rorsik - Noran’s sister
Raszak Gwent - Mayor of Jilgrath
Raszak Gwent - Son of the mayor with the same name
Linny Volst - Leader of the Two Points dueling club
Siranda Zutterak - Daughter of the chief trustee
Orloff Henkor - Grocer and Two Points club member
Azar Zutterak - Chief trustee
Petter Kuykel - Wagon driver for Brewery
Eila - Tour guide at the brewery
Torgan Kantak - Nephew of Jeruld
Waller Volst - Father of Linny Volst
The Blue Tower
Redwitzel & Jiksara and Environs in Viksar
Gorian Custik - The Blue Tower magician
Bentor Harkel - Mayor of Redwitzel Town
Sigman Jopper - Chief guard of Redwitzel
Seer Caspur - Chief cleric in Viksar
Hamel Rorsik - Ordermaster of the Order of Gold
Mona Akbrit - Owner of an orchard
Adeera Porkit - A mysterious fixer in Redwitzel
Penta Fastil - Adeera’s aide
Hester Blisek - Premier of Viksar
Lissa Caspur - Daughter of Seer Caspur
Motra Phogel- Hester Blisek’s assistant
The Swordmaker’s Secret
Jarkan
Turgul Manusa - Headman of plains tribe
Akku Manusa - Plainsman, son of a headman
Mino Kawis-Former focus of Selara
Reena Corulu - Focus of Selara
Queen Puri - Ruler of Jarkan
Azu Gindu - Captain of the focus’s guard
General Tarkan Henkari – General in Jarkanese army
Baku Banjee - Lord of Banjee
General Erdu - Jarkanese Minister of Defense
Roju Abradu - Assistant to Captain Gindu
Commander Simol - A plainsman leader
Brachia
Garson Boxster - Pierce’s original mentor
Keith Garman - Heir to the Duchy of Upperville
Anton Day - Owner of the Black Swan
Gareeze Plissaki - Chief Magician to King Worto
Jacob Stoolage - Boxster’s original regent
Lord Summer - Regent of Listenwell
A Clash of Magics
Lister Vale - Head Seer in Ginster
Potur Lott - Retired officer in Jarkanese army
Morra Deepen - Seer of Okora
King Bingador - King of Okora
Mak - Drug dealer in Khartoo
Captain Muranna Bookend - Cargo ship captain
Coosin Escarik - Seer of Sirland
Queen Marta - Ruler of Sirland
Dirk Crater - Prime Minister of Sirland
Dauntless Brightwork -Brachian General
Samar Doford - Leader of Sirlandian navy
Merik Bandeford - Seer of Maskum
Excerpt from Chapter One
~
The Mud Elf
Book One of
The Augur’s Eye