Magician In Battle (Power of Poses Book 4)

by Guy Antibes

  “Worry,” Honor said to him.

  Trak smiled. “I don’t think compulsion spells work on me anymore.”

  “I can believe that,” Honor said. She looked over at Rasia and then at Ben. “Poor woman. I wonder how long she’s been ensorcelled? And Ben? At his age, I only hope he can survive the release of the compulsion?”

  “Ask Rasia when she wakes. Most people know who did the spell. Lia knew exactly when Leaf Gougepenny ensorcelled her.” His throat constricted a bit at his mention of Lia’s name.

  “Compulsion is a scourge and should be outlawed,” Misson said.

  “Not now.” Honor sat next to Ben and picked up his hand, rubbing it. “As long as ‘worry’ works to stop those spells. There are too many people who know how to lay compulsions on innocent people. Most Guild members do, the Vashtans, and now the Colcanans apparently have become experts at it.”

  Trak noticed that she didn’t refer to herself as a Colcanan. Rasia began to stir and put her hand to her head when she saw Ben’s body on the floor. “Ben was under their control like me.” She looked up at Trak. “I’m sorry. You must have thought I had turned on you. I assure you that I haven’t. I think it is time to round up the Colcanan spies in Espozia, Misson.”

  Honor brought her some wine. “This will help.”

  “Thank you.” Rasia took a few sips and looked at Trak. “I am sorry. A countryman sent me a message that he had important news from Colcan. Before telling me about Bitrium, he ensorcelled me. He must have suspected that you might be heading here. I am not a supporter of my former country. Though I have long heard rumors of a mighty magician-warrior, I didn’t know that Riotro was his brother and that Riotro leads a Colcanan army until this morning. What happened to Ben? Did you kill his son, too?”

  “Honor used the ‘worry’ spell on Ben. I didn’t kill Willing Nomia. I left him in an army camp in Western Torya. A linked pair or more had to have survived at the camp, so by the time I arrived in Bitrium, most of the city had been evacuated. I admit I was relieved to see them leave. The towers had to go, though. They represent arrogance and evil in my mind. Colcanans were part of the group who plotted the assassination of Zamiel’s new queen.”

  “The princess you went to Bennin for?” Rasia said.

  Trak nodded.

  “I am glad of the warning, too,” Rasia said. “But I agree with destroying the towers. They were always an affront to people like me, people without magical talent.” She shook her head. “You know, I had every intent on killing you when I entered this house.”

  “It’s a good thing you didn’t try,” Misson said. “Trak is more powerful than you think.”

  “You could never pose before I ran you through,” Rasia said. She didn’t say it in a threatening way but as a matter of fact.

  “Brace yourself. I don’t need to pose. I protected the Queen of Western Torya, but I didn’t expect treachery from a man who had once been a friend. If I had known how Sirul felt, Lia would be alive.” Trak had finally said it. He had wanted to ever since he arrived at Honor’s doorstep. “I failed her, and I admit that I might not have reacted quickly enough if you attacked me.” Trak didn’t really believe that, but he really wanted Rasia on his side. That would make at least two Colcanans who wouldn’t despise him.

  “No posing?” Rasia said.

  Trak shook his head. “Watch.” He lifted himself up from his seat without making a move and twirled twice in the air and lowered back into his chair. “Did you see a pose?”

  Honor looked astounded. “The shark in the harbor.”

  Trak nodded. “No pose, and I didn’t kill myself.” He didn’t care to give them details of the destruction of Bitrium and his fight in the Colcanan camp. He looked at the others. “I’m hungry. Is dinner ready? I don’t think we will be able wait on Ben, I’m afraid.”

  ~~~

  Chapter Thirty

  ~

  Valanna entered the back gallery and sat down at the University of Pestle’s Assembly Hall, the largest public meeting room in Pestledown. People sitting on the main floor below looked up at her, having to twist their heads. Some waved nervously, and Valanna smiled and waved back. Soon most of those sitting below stood and waved and eventually began to clap. She stood up and put her hands on the railing.

  “I am happy that the citizens of Pestle are interested in their civic duty,” she said. “Today we have the unpleasant task of judging our King Harl. I will admit that I have no love for the man. He was instrumental in the deaths of my father and my mother.” She paused and let the crowd gasp in surprise. Some men raised their fists. Valanna lifted her hands to calm the audience down. “Let the magistrates hear the arguments in favor and in opposition to the King. I will abide by their judgments, as I trust you will, as well. If we are to rebuild Pestle, let’s do it as honorably as we can.”

  She sat down to more applause. Luckily, seven magistrates began to file in, causing everyone to stand, so silence overtook the hall. Valanna felt like she belonged to the Pestlans for the first time. Her people. It made her feel proud of what they had just done. She remembered the innkeeper and farmers that she met in western Pestle when she fled from King Harl for the first time. In her mind, she had committed to protect them all.

  Harl came in. His bonds were gone, and he stood straight with his counsel while the charges were read. Valanna listened to all of them, surprised that Coffun Cricket and Snively could document so many violations of Pestlan law that the King had violated. People were roughed up and killed by his thugs. Property had been confiscated. He had colluded with enemies of the state. Valanna had come from one of those enemies, but she had fought for Pestlan independence. The Vashtans were brought up in the course of the proceedings, and it was duly noted that Pestlans had eradicated the pests from Pestledown.

  Coffun finally identified Colcan as the primary enemy, and Valanna was surprised that he mentioned the magician-warrior that she had killed. His name was Hero Lessia. With a prosaic first name like that, he must have been high up in the Colcan hierarchy, perhaps higher than Honor and on a par with Berin or Leaf. Hero. What hubris! And Valanna felt fortunate for putting an end to Hero’s life.

  Horsent Beanmouth stood. She thought his name had been brought forward as a joke, but Trak’s former lawyer made an attempt to counter the charges. From her point of view, he had succeeded on some of the accusations, but had nothing to say about others.

  The trial continued with the magistrates interrogating Coffun Cricket and Beanmouth. Coffun often made an amusing comment, keeping the crowd interested in the proceedings. He seemed to be getting the better of his adversary in court.

  The sun had moved across the hall, changing the morning shadows into afternoon shadows, when the magistrates finished for the day. They would deliberate in a room that was locked until morning. Valanna hoped they had bedding and food.

  While the crowd began to file out, Neel suggested that Valanna stay seated until the Hall emptied. When no one was present, he teleported her to rooms in the palace.

  “That was tiring,” she said.

  Neel had a worried look on his face. “I wouldn’t be too attached to a guilty verdict,” he said.

  “Coffun performed well. He had me smiling for much of the time.”

  “Did you notice the magistrates? I didn’t see many of them laughing along with the crowd,” Neel said. “Harl must have some of them in his pocket.”

  “Can he do that?” Valanna said.

  He gave her a look. She shrank back. “He can.”

  Neel nodded. “He is the king, and I can see him promising anything to keep his head.”

  “Then someone should monitor their deliberations,” Valanna said.

  “Perhaps. My only hope is that if Harl is acquitted, the people will tear him apart.”

  Valanna worried about that. If the people became a mob and killed their King, what would keep them from doing the same to her? Neel left her, and she had a hard time sleeping.

  Kulara c
ame with fresh clothes in the morning. Kulara had spent the night with her husband, still recuperating. She put the clothes on a chair and sat on Valanna’s bed.

  “Did the trial go well yesterday?” she said. Today, Kulara would sit beside Valanna in the gallery.

  “Neel thinks that Harl might have rigged the decision by promising rewards for the magistrates.”

  Kulara nodded. “Asem told me about that happening, even in Balbaam. He wants me to stand behind and shield you when the decision is made. Anything can happen today.”

  “So I wear a buckler today as well?”

  “Asem said it is in one of your closets.” Kulara rummaged around in the closets and pulled out the same buckler that saved her life just a few days ago.

  “At least it has been cleaned up,” Valanna said.

  “It might not stop an arrow, but it might keep it from doing lethal damage.”

  “Very well. I assume those clothes that you brought are a bit larger than my normal size?” She smiled at Kulara.

  “Your Majesty is very astute.”

  ~

  Valanna played queen again for the crowd. She demurred from giving a speech, but welcomed all to the proceedings. The magistrates were announced, silencing the audience. Harl strutted in. He must have been confident that he would prevail.

  As she looked over the faces of the magistrates, they all looked directly at the king. That might indicate they would rule in Harl’s favor.

  “We have come to a decision,” the magistrate in the center said. They all rose in their seats.

  Harl looked back at Valanna and sneered.

  “King Harl is innocent…”

  The crowd rose to their feet, protesting the verdict. The magistrate raised his hands. “Will you let me finish? There are many charges. I will have to clear the hall if you don’t quiet down.”

  Murmurings continued as the attendees sat down.

  “King Harl is innocent of the charges of hiring thugs. It is in his purview as monarch to use whatever means he judges necessary to keep order in his kingdom. He is innocent in the charge of killing his cousin to secure his throne. The evidence of such an act is no longer in existence.”

  That was the bulk of the charges against him.

  “We find fifteen counts of property seizure to be overreaching and illegal seizures by the king.”

  Neel leaned over to Valanna. “Minor offenses.”

  “As for colluding with outside powers, King Harl has been proven derelict in his duties to the people of Pestle, and those charges stand against him.”

  Harl began to talk into Beanmouth’s ear. His face had turned red with anger. Perhaps all things wouldn’t go King Harl’s way.

  “The final charge that we find King Harl guilty of is the confiscation of the Pestlan treasury. His program of excessive taxes did not go into the treasury of Pestle. This charge was introduced to us during our deliberations last night. Before we make our final decision, King Harl’s counsel has the right to plead a rebuttal to the charges of misappropriation of State funds. The charges were delivered to him early this morning.

  Harl stood and raised his fist at the magistrates. “You are not to find me guilty of anything! I am innocent of all charges since I am the King of Pestle. No one stands higher than I do, and I will not accept your decision.”

  “Did you or did you not approve of the new taxes levied on Pestlan citizens in the last three years?”

  “It doesn’t matter if I approved of them or not. I am King. You have no standing in this court, only I do. Of course I approved them. I needed the money for my own purposes.”

  “I take it that the defendant has admitted to misappropriating funds of the Pestlan treasury?”

  Beanmouth covered his face with his hands and nodded.

  The magistrate in the center of the seven looked at the others who gravely nodded to him.

  “We find King Harl of Pestle guilty of stealing from the citizens of Pestle for his own personal gain. This is in direct violation of the King’s Charter with the People. That document gives you your right to be King and specifies that violation of the charter will result in your dismissal in office. We duly constituted Magistrates of Pestle hereby strip you of your title of King.”

  “I won’t stand for it!” Harl jumped up on the table that he had sat behind and pointed a finger at Valanna. “You will never rule Pestle.” He made a fist and jerked it down.

  An arrow came from the left hand side of the gallery and clattered against Valanna’s chest. Kulara and Neel immediately posed shields while four sheets of flame converged on Valanna, one from the gallery and three from the audience below.

  Neel changed his pose to lightning and took care of three assailants. The last one ran to Harl and teleported. “More Colcanans,” he said.

  Neel disappeared while Kulara teleported Valanna back to the palace.

  She paced back and forth in her rooms until Neel returned. His hair was disheveled and he had a few smoking burn marks on his body.

  “Harl is dead. Ferikan or Derit killed him.” Neel shook his head, breathing heavily. He hadn’t calmed down from his quick action. “I took care of the Colcanan who teleported him to a flat in Pestledown.”

  “Not before taking a large risk.”

  Neel ran his hand through his singed hair. “It appears my bravery exceeded my good sense, but I had to run and catch the Colcanan before he teleported away. Only Harl had the amulet that Beanmouth had planted on his clothes.” He knelt. “Long live Pestle’s Queen!” He bowed his head.

  “I’m not coronated yet,” Valanna said. “Until then, I am still Valanna.”

  “Princess Valanna, fifth wife of the King of Warish,” Kulara said.

  “Yes, I am definitely that until I am queen.”

  ~

  Esmera insisted on a coronation before they all headed to fight the Colcanans. The Throne Room filled up with people from all walks of life; as stipulated by the charter that King Harl had pointedly ignored. The ceremony itself took only a few minutes.

  Coffun located a traditional crown of the Queen of Pestle, a simple, yet elegant, golden ring that now sat on her brow. The Chief Magistrate, who had sat in the center of Harl’s judges, requested proof of her lineage. He examined the papers that Asem presented, and then he administered the Royal Oath. Pestle had a new queen.

  Valanna, now Queen Valanna, had to attend a Royal Ball, held under tents in the courtyard. She shivered in the cold and sat on a throne, moved out onto the cobbled space. Large braziers stood just outside the canopy, which barely kept her from freezing.

  She danced with Neel, Coffun, a dashing Danson Axlewood, and a few of his officers. Snively even showed up for a few steps, but his liveliness hadn’t yet returned.

  Asem and Kulara had already bid her farewell and had taken the flyer, along with Derit and Ferikan back to Balbaam, but she smiled when she saw Esmera and Able Bluntwithe dancing a number of dances together.

  Valanna sat back on her throne and looked at Neel dancing with Mori. The Benninese woman had worked tirelessly to cater the affair. She could see that Mori had entranced Neel. The ever-present sadness in his eyes seemed to be banished from his face.

  She enjoyed seeing these people, toiling for so long in pursuit of a free Pestle, now enjoying themselves in public. Valanna wished she could have danced with Trak, but that wish would not be fulfilled. She heard from Neel that there were rumors that he had disappeared with the Toryan princess, and those rumors were weeks old.

  Could a queen feel jealousy with such sketchy information? Valanna realized that indeed she could. A fit of melancholy hit her. The excitement of becoming Queen of Pestle had faded during the Royal Ball. She suddenly felt the desire to talk to Kulara, but she had left her alone among the Pestlans.

  What would Marom think? How would she rate now, among Marom’s other wives? Now there were two queens among his five wives. Valanna clenched a fist. Not for long. Asem had talked her into delaying her declaration that her
marriage to Marom was annulled until after the coming war with Colcan. She easily accepted the wisdom in that, but Marom’s temper still frightened her.

  ~~~

  Chapter Thirty-One

  ~

  Trak had no illusions about General Niamo welcoming him with open arms. He certainly would use the ‘worry’ spell on the man since Rasia had been so adamant about Niamo wanting him out of Espozia. That could have easily been a bluff to send him out of the city, but Trak knew he had no friend in the General.

  Misson felt it would be better to meet the General at his home. They walked up to Niamo’s door and Misson knocked. A uniformed servant answered the door.

  “Assemblyman Misson Dalistro and Trak Bluntwithe to see the General,” Misson said.

  The servant nodded. “You are expected.” He led them to a room filled with military memorabilia.

  Adolphus Niamo entered dressed as a civilian. The man still maintained the same bearing he had when Trak worked with him in the Santasian civil war.

  “You’ve grown,” Adolphus said. He put his hand out. Trak took it. “I am assuming this is a visit, and you aren’t going to settle in Santasia.”

  Trak smiled and sighed. “I can’t say that I haven’t thought about it. I had a girlfriend…”

  “That Valanna Almond? I just heard she married the King of Warish.”

  Trak nodded. “She isn’t the girlfriend, but I was there when her marriage occurred.”

  Adophus’s bushy eyebrows shot up. “So that really was you. I heard you single-handedly saved Marom’s hide.”

  “I did. There were others present who also had a hand in it.”

  The General pointed at Trak. “Knowing you, they were in the rear.”

  “They were.”

  Misson made a sound to interrupt.

  “You keep quiet, Misson. I’ll do the interrogating. Where is your girlfriend?” He looked at Trak and raised his eyebrows again, beckoning Trak to answer.

  “She died. Very recently.”

  Niamo looked genuinely surprised. “I’m sorry. You were going to bring her to Santasia, then?”