Magician In Battle (Power of Poses Book 4)

by Guy Antibes

  “Then leave Trak alone.”

  Gastal narrowed his eyes. “Do you two have a relationship, niece?”

  Lia laughed, lightly. “What do you think? We traveled together from Kizru. Do you think I would bring an undeserving person into the castle?” That comment was delivered in full Pullia style.

  The king looked back down at Trak, who bowed his head.

  The person next to Trak said, “Where did you learn your tricks?”

  “In Bennin. They were quite useful in taking down the government. I did much the same in Warish, saving King Marom’s kingdom for him.” And getting Valanna stolen from him as a reward, he said in his mind.

  “That’s not what I hear,” Berin said. “You merely shielded the king’s party, while the Ferezan warriors fought for their king.”

  “You were misinformed. I killed every Yellow Fox Vashtan that stood in King Marom’s Throne Room and burned all the traitors to cinders. Don’t you think otherwise.” Trak glared at Berin, but kept his voice as even as possible. “You make a mistake in underestimating me.” Trak then looked at the two Vashtans, who had been silent the entire time. “You two shouldn’t either.” Both of the Yellow Foxes flinched at Trak’s threat.

  Trak took a deep breath as dinner was served. “I am sorry for monopolizing the conversation.” He bowed his head to the Colcanans and the Vashtans and the astonished courtiers a few places away on each side that overheard his conversation with Berin, and then concentrated on eating.

  Trak found himself rather hungry, but was careful to spell away anything inedible in the food.

  ~

  Lia laughed. “I can’t believe you were so bold. That is out of character for you.”

  Trak smiled, taking a sip of wine while the pair of them sat in Lia’s large sitting room. “I didn’t want to play their game. I’m not a spy, so I can afford to be direct. They suspect I have extraordinary power, and now they can worry about what they have seen.”

  “Direct? Uncle nearly had apoplexy when he saw that flame changing colors going up and down your arm. That is extremely difficult, even for a master magician changing poses.”

  “You know I can do just about anything I want.”

  She came over and sat down next to him on the plush sofa and snuggled up to him. “I know,” she giggled. “But I think you’ve shown enough of your talent. No one in Uncle’s court will forget.”

  Trak put his hand over hers. “Do you want to learn the basics of poseless magic?”

  She smiled at him and shook her head. “Not tonight. I just want to look deeply into the eyes of my protector.”

  Trak grinned and squeezed her hand. “Look away.”

  ~

  Any worries about Princess Pullia taking over Lia were thoroughly dispelled by Lia’s behavior the next few days; however, the princess did demand a new wardrobe. Trak agreed that she needed more dresses. One suitable for court was not enough.

  He sat for two full days while women came and went measuring and spreading out fabrics. At least Lia had a good time.

  “I’d rather be buying ready-made dresses in that town on the Lizanti Road.” She took his arm and led him to her balcony. They faced the river gorge that had nearly cost them their lives. “I liked myself the most those few days,” she said. “More than now. The dresses are nice, and I’m catching up on court gossip. It’s not boring, but—”

  “But what?”

  She squeezed his arm and look up at him with concern on her face. “This will end. I’ll become Queen, and I’m not sure what will happen.”

  “What about now? Don’t people suspect that we are involved?” Trak said.

  “You talked about being blunt after our first dinner in the castle. It is not proper for our relationship to be directly addressed. When it is, the king and the court will have to make a decision about it. You are still three-quarters non-Toryan. For many of my people, that is intolerable. If we just hint about it, no one can do anything.”

  Trak nodded. “I’ll not be a kept man.”

  Lia laughed. “A kept man. I’ve never heard that term before, but I can guess it’s like a pet on a leash, am I right?”

  “It is.” Trak patted her arm, still threaded through his. “I suppose we enjoy what we have together for as long as we can.”

  “I can always refuse to be Queen.”

  “Do you honestly think we could live in Western Torya after that?”

  “What about Pestle? There are remote places there. Or Bennin?”

  “Or Santasia?” Trak said.

  “Or Borland? Or Vashta? Or Sesta?” Lia said. She put her hand to her mouth, laughing.

  “Northern Santasia,” Trak said. “I liked the soldiers from Northeastern Santasia the best of all. I think I mentioned them before.”

  Lia looked up at him. “You might have. Northern Santasia then, after whatever happens here, but I want to leave a stable country as penance for my immature behavior before my father sold me to Bennin.”

  Valanna’s face flashed briefly in his mind, only to be replaced by the utter beauty of the woman in front of him. “Let’s move away from the window.”

  Lia’s eyes flashed. “Let’s.” After they stood in the center of the room, Lia took Trak’s hands in hers and kissed them.

  ~

  Trak looked into Tembul’s room. The Toryan had been sequestered in the Healer’s Wing, a modest extension of the castle that acted like a hospital.

  “How are you?”

  “Trak! You are the talk of Zamiel, at least of the castle. I only became aware of it today. The Healers kept me drugged for days.”

  “You were on death’s doorstep, much more severely injured than we thought.”

  Tembul nodded. “I know. I never had a chance to tell you what happened.”

  “Well, we have a lot of information to share, I guess.”

  “We do, we do.” Tembul said. “What is up between you and Lia?”

  “Nothing much different that what we were to each other on our trip here.”

  Tembul smiled a bit. “I seem to remember you represented your relationship as husband and wife.”

  Trak put out his hands. “Nothing like that. Well, a bit like that. We definitely have an affinity for each other.”

  “I’ll say. Until you came along, the woman was insufferable. Sirul couldn’t believe the difference in her when we met you on the Lizanti Road. He used the term ‘tamed’ to describe her.”

  “Not tamed. The real Pullia came out. She acted a part for so long, that she became someone who wasn’t really her.”

  “That won’t last, you know.”

  “We’ve talked about it enough times. We will let circumstances play out a bit more. There may come a time when we part, or not,” Trak said.

  “You’ll be happier with ‘or not’ if you can take her away from Torya on both sides of the mountains.”

  Trak couldn’t help but feel a bit melancholy. “I know.” He rubbed his hands. “Enough of that. What did you learn?”

  “I was set up on by Eastern Toryans or those in their employ. I think they were my fellow countrymen.” Tembul spit on the floor in disgust. “They called me a traitor and a fool.”

  “Did they really leave you for dead?”

  Tembul nodded his head. “They were certain enough to mention Lord Namiul by name. He hired them to kill me.”

  “They probably did the same to me, except Namiul hired a local magistrate to put us in a coach and roll us into the river.”

  “It’s a long drop down the gorge. How did you escape?”

  Trak smiled. “Lia and I had been caught listening to a speaker in Maker’s Market along with most of the crowd. Someone in the magistrate’s office recognized Lia or a description of me. At that time, the Magistrate took over and bundled us into a coach and locked the doors. I will say that poseless magic is a wonderful thing. We teleported to the edge of the gorge, and then we teleported again back to the inn.”

  Tembul’s eyes took on an
unfocused look. “Enemies surround us, it seems.”

  “They were all there at the state dinner…” Trak relayed his experience in court and at the dinner to Tembul in detail.

  “I’d give anything to see the look on the Western Toryan ambassador. I don’t know who he is, but,” Tembul shook his head gently, “when you demonstrated poseless magic, he must have feared for his life.”

  “Don’t forget the bowman in the Throne Room. I hope that there are plenty of people who fear for their lives. The longer they fear, the longer our lives,” Trak said. “I made sure that Berin and Leaf Titrius noticed. I don’t trust Colcanans at all, and with those two here in Zamiel walking in with Yellow Fox Vashtans, something bad is brewing,” Trak said.

  ~~~

  Chapter Twenty-One

  ~

  Valanna remained in Danson’s office after the rest of the meeting participants left. The room had become stuffy, and it was too cold outside to open a window, so the door had been left open.

  “Your thoughts, Princess?” Danson said, sitting after pouring both of them a goblet of wine.

  “I’m not comfortable just walking up to the palace and demanding to be let in.” Valanna raised her hand to keep Danson from objecting. “I know sometimes the simple way is the best way, but this time we still lack something. If we only had more magicians. Just a few more would make a difference. Without the ability to get a sizable force behind the palace walls, King Harl and the Vashtans can just pick us off when we get close, and there are too many of Harl’s thugs inside. It seems like he thinks we are the ones under siege.”

  “But we can starve them out,” Danson said.

  “How?” Valanna put her head in her hands and looked up at the General. “The Vashtans can teleport in and out of the palace at will and get whatever supplies they need.”

  Danson colored, and he should have. Valanna and he had had this part of the conversation before.

  “It gets down to needing more magicians to take care of the Vashtans, just like I said.” She wouldn’t have to worry if Trak were here. Why did Marom have to force him out of Warish? Valanna sighed. Trak might become his most dangerous enemy, but if he were in Pestle, she would feel much better about deposing Harl.

  “Thinking about your Trak again?”

  It was Valanna’s turn to blush. “He’s not mine, but I was thinking about him. We wouldn’t be having this discussion if Trak appeared.”

  “Will his father do?” Neel Cardswallow walked into Danson Axlewood’s office.

  “Neel!” they both said simultaneously.

  “I return to Pestle, and I think at a better time than when I left.” Neel looked at Danson. “I’m impressed! Your recruiting efforts have finally been stepped up.” He walked over to Danson and gave him a big hug and then took Valanna’s hand.

  “Did you hear our conversation?”

  Neel shook his head. “Just the last exchange between you two. Why don’t you fill me in? My group is currently being escorted to Beltfeeler’s Inn. It won’t be the first time I’ve stayed there.” He looked around the room and sat down next to Valanna. “This was under construction the last time I came through Darkpuddle. That was just before I left to fight in Santasia. It’s been a year and a half, but it seems much longer.”

  “What about Trak?” Valanna said.

  Neel patted her hand. “We can talk about my son at Beltfeeler’s. Let’s discuss what has transpired in Pestle.” He looked up at Danson. “Now, I have brought three more Blue Swan Vashtans with me, so that is four more magicians to add to your forces, plus Able is a good fighter and Mori is, well, Mori.”

  “Who is Mori?” Valanna asked.

  Neel smiled. “She is a Benninese woman and a cousin of the man who now runs Bennin.” Neel laughed. “She told me that Bennin wasn’t big enough for the both of them, now that he has taken over.”

  “You seem quite taken by her,” Danson said.

  Neel colored a bit. “I like her, won’t deny that. She is independent and feisty. Just about the opposite of Trak’s mother.”

  Valanna didn’t have to wonder why Neel compared this Mori woman to his first wife. It seemed that at long last, another woman had entered into Neel’s life.

  “Four more magicians for your force, Valanna?”

  She nodded and grinned, since she judged Neel as powerful as she.

  ~

  Neel brought an exotic-looking woman into the dining room. She looked to be about Kulara’s age, but her bearing was quite different. If Valanna could mix Kulara and Nullia together, the woman might be like Mori, but there was no denying the unique beauty Mori wore. She just didn’t possess the sheer sexual power that Kulara did.

  “I am no good with Pestlan,” Mori said. “They do their best to teach.” She shrugged and sat down.

  “Sit here,” Valanna invited her to sit with her. Neel and Able took the other two seats at the table.

  “Ferikan, one of the Blue Swans Trak met in Beniko, has been teaching her. He knows Benninese and has been teaching me a bit of that,” Neel said.

  Derit walked in with a handsome Blue Swan. They made a striking couple, brightening up Asem’s table.

  “That is Ferikan?” Valanna nodded to Derit. “No wonder Derit left us in Balbaam.”

  “I agree,” Able said. “I don’t believe we’ve actually met. I’m Able Bluntwithe, Trak’s uncle.”

  “Not adoptive father?” Valanna said.

  Able colored in a cute way. He blinked a few times. “Well, I’m that too.”

  “Trak always talked of his two fathers, once he knew about you, Neel.” Valanna patted Neel’s hand.

  “You still like him, don’t you?” Able said.

  It was Valanna’s turn to blush. “I do. Under other circumstances—”

  “You would be our daughter-in-law,” Able said.

  Valanna nodded, feeling a shock of intense sadness. “Something like that.”

  “I wouldn’t give up on Trak yet, but Princess Pullia is a shockingly beautiful woman,” Neel said. “I don’t think I’ve seen anyone more beautiful.”

  Mori nodded and smiled. “Lia’s beauty shines like the sun.”

  The older woman did a bit of shining herself when she smiled. Maybe she was prettier than Kulara, after all.

  “But Trak’s love for you goes deep,” Mori continued.

  Valanna could only sigh. “Trak mentioned you while we were together in Balbaam. You saved his life?”

  Mori sat for a moment, probably trying to make sense of her words. “He saved mine, too.”

  Valanna put her hand on Mori’s, feeling the strength the woman had. “I am glad you are in Pestle.” She smiled at Neel. “And I am glad that Trak’s fathers are here, now that we are nearly ready to act.”

  “I’ve waited twenty years,” Neel said. “This is the closest we have come. I could never get the people stirred up like Harl has done.”

  “The King has alienated just about everybody,” she said. “I only found out recently about my legacy.”

  “Trak doesn’t know,” Neel said, “about your connection to the King.”

  Mori looked confused. “King’s connection?”

  Neel gazed into Valanna’s eyes while he said, “Valanna is second in line to the throne of Pestle. You could say she is a princess.”

  “Royalty?” Mori said.

  Neel nodded. “I pledge my life to my true sovereign.” He placed his hand over his heart and bowed to Valanna. Able did the same.

  She felt her eyes well and her heart swelling with emotion. She used her napkin to dab at the wetness. “That’s unfair, you know, to make a lady tear up at dinner.”

  Neel grinned and ran a finger under one of his eyes. “I hadn’t known myself for sure until Asem told me this afternoon. There were rumors,” he shrugged, “but rumors are rumors. I always wondered what would happen once I succeed in toppling King Harl. Now I know, and I am glad of it.”

  “We haven’t succeeded yet,” Valanna said after t
aking a deep breath to get her emotions in check. “We haven’t even gotten to the dangerous part.”

  “I wish Trak had come with us, but he wasn’t ready to return.”

  “Asem told me of his conversation with him right after my marriage announcement. I don’t know if I would come back to this continent,” Valanna said.

  Able nodded in agreement. “He won’t stick around Kizru for very long. Lenis’s father is rising in influence. They act like Yellow Fox Vashtans.”

  “So what of the princess and him?” Valanna said, not really wanting to know the answer.

  “He will have already taken her away, if I know my son,” Neel said. “I suspect they are in Zamiel. That’s where I would go, to put her with her people.”

  “That is the capital of Western Torya?” Kulara said.

  Able nodded. “It is. I’m afraid it is not a very stable place with the Kandannans, the Eastern and Western Toryans, plus the Vashtans stirring up trouble wherever they can.”

  “It’s too bad Leaf Gougepenny left for Colcan. We could know a bit more of what is going on.”

  “Leaf left Pestle?” Neel said, somewhat alarmed.

  “She did. Berin came to pick her up.”

  Neel looked away, perplexed. “That doesn’t make sense. She was the only Colcanan in Pestle.” He narrowed his eyes. “She wouldn’t have left unless her life was threatened or if there were replacements.”

  “I know Leaf didn’t feel comfortable,” Valanna said.

  Neel rubbed his chin. “There is more to it than that. King Harl knows who she is. He looked at her as a way to contact Colcan, if he ever needed to. The Vashtans wouldn’t dare touch her.”

  Snively hobbled into the room, causing Neel to turn to him. “Snively, sit here for a bit.” Neel shifted his chair and Able did the same to make a space for Snively at the corner of the table.

  “Leaf left Pestledown? Did you know about it?”

  Snively glanced at Valanna and Mori, nodded and turned to Neel. “I thought it strange that her husband would come to escort her back to Pestle. Things were… unpredictable in Pestledown at the time.”

  “But Harl knows who she is. Would the Vashtans ever threaten her?”