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Prologue

The night Aods, ru the troubled ti the sorcerous arts, suggesting one of theods’ intervention

The ru since reached the first order ofthe art of controlling a shared power force to a novice when the er arrived

"Power can be er when nurtured between two,” he said, as he harnessed the glowing ball of light he had su it slowly between the open palms of his raised hands

The young students who had gathered around hi jostled closer, filled with anticipation, eager to take their knowledge of sorcery to the next level A one as more reticent than the others, made a mental note to draw him in Aback the sleeves of his robes and raising eager hands as he moved into place

"Open yourself to the power, but be prepared for the rush of heat when it moves between us"

The keen expression on the student's face altered to one of concentration, and the ball of heat shifted a little,within as the young student connected, and then grounded hiht traversed the space between the the The other students clustered around the between therew, thriving on the two souls who had tapped into it

In the background, Aer standing at the arched doorway into the hall The er nodded himself into the chamber and shared his purpose with those near the door Faces turned in Amshazar's direction

Sensing he was needed elsewhere, A he should share in the exchange “Join us, we'll harness it between three of us,” he encouraged

Shortly after the nervous student keyed into the exchange, Amshazar shifted the balance between the two novices They exchanged excited glances when they realized what they were achieving The e between they force It huer spirits

"In practice, you would sense the highest reach of power and then direct it to your subject There you uard those in danger"

After another fewthe ball of energy, sh for one evening"

Chuckles passed ast his students as they discussed this latest lesson with the two participants Aer and took the chance to slip away, joining hi the chamber by his side

The er said little There was no need to say much; his presence alone spoke for hii school toward the spire that reached skyward Nodding at hier opened the door at the bottoestured him on

Amshazar mounted the worn stone steps that led upwards froi school embedded in the mountainside, up and into the presences of the deities The steps orn by those who had gone before—centuries of i who had trained there, who had acted upon the words of the gods when called and instigated their wishes ah the upper portal and e ods ment

A, and he took ahih thetable, expecting to see a full quoruures seated there The first was the goddess Sevita—she who inspired the higher eod, Credan, an eods of the council