Mythborn: Rise of the Adepts Read Free Page A

the rank of Master, having progressed quickly. Next to Silbane or the lore father, she was perhaps the most powerful adept in the room. And Kisan killed Magehunters on sight, a dangerous reality he would have to balance when even hinting of coming to the aid of Bara’cor.
    Themun thought for a moment and then directed a more careful answer to the listening adepts. “King Bara was as old as the rock around him and as wise. This rift was nothing new or special. Its existence had been known since the fortress’s forging by the first
builders,
but its purpose remained a mystery. I believe Bara waited for the Old Lords to return from battle, to determine what to do next. Bara’cor is dwarven-made, naturally resistant to magic, so I doubt it overly concerned him. That is, until no one returned.”
    Themun looked down for a moment, gathering his thoughts. He began haltingly, almost speaking to himself, “A moment ago I wished this problem had fallen to others, a childish thought.” He raised his head and looked at the assembled adepts, his gaze hardening, his voice finally finding the strength to become firm once again, “This task falls to us, and we carry the burden.”
    When none responded, he shook his head and said simply, “Indulge me.”
    He gestured with his runestaff and the middle of the chamber’s floor glowed in response, a pulsing blue spreading outward from the center. Slowly, a featureless expanse of sand and desolation became visible, as if seen from high above.
    “You know the Altan Wastes... roughly circular, and at each cardinal point—” Themun pointed at a miniature castle, no bigger than his thumb, which rose on his map—“lies one of the great strongholds. The middle area is barren, deadly to those not desert bred.”
    Kisan said, “The nomads are the only people known to be able to survive there. They have little regard for outsiders.”
    “It is not just Bara’cor that lies besieged,” Themun went on, “but some force has attacked and destroyed the other fortresses of the desert.” He turned on the shocked faces surrounding him. “Shornhelm, Dawnlight, now EvenSea,
gone.
Something has overcome inconceivable odds, a fact I find both frightening, and hard to comprehend. By chance or design, Bara’cor stands alone.”
    The council chamber fell silent, each adept weighing this new information. They knew Themun had the ability to see things happening elsewhere in the world. It was this power that had saved so many, bringing them to Meridian Isle. Now he used the same Sight to warn them of a danger they could not have seen themselves. To have Bara’cor under siege was believable. To hear something had destroyed the other ancient guardians of the desert was unimaginable.
    Giridian leaned back, a question in his eyes. “You believe whatever force this is, it seeks the Gate hidden within Bara’cor? But what does Silbane’s apprentice have to do with this?”
    “If this were an isolated incident, with one fortress under attack, I would likely ignore it. The Galadine line seems to enjoy waging war whenever the outcome favors the royal black and gold. The siege of Dawnlight not even twenty years is testament to that.”
    Giridian countered Themun with, “Bara’cor is a natural target, as it defends the one pass to the lower, fertile plains, and the capital city.” He waited, but the lore father did not say anything in reply.
    In the silence, Kisan asked, “You’re suggesting we aid Bara’cor, home of the Magehunters and their filth? And assuming we are successful, how do we close this Gate?” She took a moment to make sure she had everyone’s attention, then said, “Instead of risking an apprentice, why not infiltrate the nomad encampment and kill their leaders? Two of us could do this and escape, unseen and unscathed.” Her indifferent proclamation of death hung in the air, a task that could be accomplished as easily as saying the words.
    Themun remained silent, leaving the rest of