Clash (The Arinthian Line Book 4) by Sever Bronny Page A

cleaning.”
    Augum did as he was told, seething all the while. As he washed the cursed hairpiece in the stream, fantasizing about setting it on fire and placing it in a dung catapult, he kept asking himself what they could do. Nothing came to mind, other than hoping for Mrs. Stone to return. Yet if she didn’t return for some time? They still had to learn their first summoning spell, and they still had to get to the Antioc library and figure out a way to use the Agonex against his father.
    The more he thought about it, the more absurd it all sounded. Harvus was right again—they stood no chance, none. It was obvious now that the man was in it for the money and that was all. If only they had found out sooner! He didn’t care one lick about them or the quest or anything. All he wanted was gold—gold and some twisted sense of control …
    Augum suddenly realized something—he had been in this position before. The Pendersons; Dap; Vion Rames; The Blade of Sorrows; Erika Scarson and her vile nephew, Robin Scarson; even his own father—all wanted something from him, and all had failed. He had never let anyone triumph over him.
    And he was not about to start now. A plan began to form …
    “Here you go, Mr. Harvus,” Augum said, handing over the freshly-washed hairpiece. “I am sorry I did that. I regret it now.”
    Harvus frowned, no doubt suspecting some trick. “Well then I am most glad to hear it, my boy. An apology is the first step to redemption. Now run off to supper, there’s a good lad.”
    Augum strode off, not looking back, feeling better for some reason. So what if he can’t kiss Leera or hold her hand? So what if the loaf of a man had the Agonex and the Orb of Orion in his possession? So what if Mrs. Stone might not be able to come to their rescue?
    None of that mattered, because he vowed to find a way to fix it all.
    * * *
    By the time Augum got to the Okeke cabin, everyone was gone except for Mr. Okeke, who kindly re-warmed a generous portion of stew. Augum sat at the table without a word, mind racing with ideas, none of which proved practical as of yet—retrieving the Orb of Orion and the Agonex without Mrs. Stone would be risky at best. And how were they to get to the Antioc library without Harvus? Horses could prove very dangerous in these times. What about appealing to a higher authority? No, there was no higher authority, except, ironically, the Legion here in town. Mr. Haroun was not a warlock, nor was anyone else in Milham—
    “Augum?” Mr. Okeke was sitting across from him, hands folded neatly. He was wearing a linen long-sleeved shirt decorated with woodblock-printed Sierran desert animals.
    “Yes, Mr. Okeke?”
    “Your food.”
    “Oh. Right.” Augum absently picked up the wooden spoon, slightly unnerved by the way Mr. Okeke was looking at him with those perpetually bloodshot eyes. He must think him a lecherous fiend now. How disappointed was he in him, and what other stories had Harvus concocted for the man?
    Augum tentatively spooned some soup, quickly realizing how hungry he was. He resisted the urge to rush. “Where is everyone?” he asked between mouthfuls, glad to be tasting something other than tallow soap.
    “There is a meeting in town between Mr. Haroun, the townsfolk, and the Legion. After which, we will go and hastily construct a cabin for you and Mr. Harvus, though I cannot fathom why it must be done in such short order.”
    Augum could think of a few reasons. He noticed Bridget and Leera’s royal blue robes folded neatly on a chair in the living area. His heart panged. Suddenly he felt alone. He missed Leera terribly. He missed Bridget’s smiling face, her level head, her friendship.
    “Augum, is there perhaps something you would like to tell me?”
    Augum felt the blood drain from his face. Great, Mr. Okeke did think the worst of him. “No, Mr. Okeke,” he said meekly. He returned to his soup, keeping his eyes low, mind once again racing with ideas. They could tie