68. Good News For Clive

In the pre-dawn at Jason’s inn, Rick Geller eagerly debriefs their mirage battle. Rather than resentful, Rick is impressed by Jason’s psychological warfare and admits the recording shows Jason as a terrifying, unseen threat. They discuss teammates’ reactions—Hannah’s admiration, Henry’s fear, Claire’s fury, and Jonah’s earned respect—while Jason acknowledges he may have overindulged a dark persona and worries he alarmed Humphrey.

Rick advises Jason to let Humphrey process things and later seek him out. Before parting, Rick presses for a rematch, underscoring his relentless training focus.

Jason then meets Clive Standish in the common room. On receiving an amended contract, Clive learns he has been assigned alongside Jason to hunt a mangrove snatcher menacing delta villages. To justify his wariness of Clive’s inquiries, Jason reveals he is an outworlder and insists Clive accompany him. Clive agrees, provided they stop by the Magic Society to arrange duties and transport.

They depart on a Magic Society airboat, with Clive piloting via a magic control and his familiar, the rune tortoise Onslow, riding at the bow. En route, Jason notes Clive’s practical gear, oasis bracelet, and wand. Clive uses the opportunity to question Jason extensively about outworlder abilities.

At the first village, they find clear attack signs but effective defenses; villagers barricaded inside mud-brick homes survived repeated daily assaults. Jason instructs them to stay secured while he and Clive check other villages. As they travel on, Jason mentions his personal map ability. Clive probes further—confirming Jason killed Landemere Vane and Vane’s mother—and presses to study Jason, which Jason declines, promising to introduce him to Farrah instead.