Asunder read-along: Chapter 16

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THE READ-A-LONG

What is this? The read-a-long is an opportunity to do a long distance book club with other Dragon Age fans, where once a week one chapter will be discussed in David Gaider's tie-in novel, Asunder

[Official book teaser blurb]The destruction of Kirkwall's Circle of Magi has brought chaos to the lives of mages and templars throughout Thedas. Some mages teeter on the bring of rebellion against their templar watchers, while others struggle to maintain order and stability amid the tides of change.

In the majestic White Spire, at the heart of templar power in Val Royeaux, tension have reached the boiling point. The actions of a few radicals draw the attention of the Seekers, a powerful and secret segment of the templars, who arrive to take command and restore order no matter the cost. To make matters worse, a mystical killer stalks the White Spire's halls, invisible to all save one lone mage.

As Rhys is the only one who can see the killer, all eyes turn to him as the prime suspect in the murder investigation. With little hope of proving his innocence, Rhys's future looks to be short and grim. But his skill with spirit magic earns him a reprieve, as he is drafted into an expedition traveling deep into the western wastelands of Orlais. There, his fate will become entwined with that of a beautiful templar, a tormented soul, and Wynne--heroine of the Blight. Together they will uncover a secrete far greater than they imagined. One that will change the fate of mages in Thedas forever.

If you've read it and have Thoughts or Feels, comment to discuss! Discussion can be serious or snarky, but please keep it constructive and not destructive.

- Chapter 1 (09-Sep)
- Chapter 2 (16-Sep)
- Chapter 3 (23-Sep)
- Chapter 4 (30-Sep)
- Chapter 5 (07-Oct)
- Chapter 6 (14-Oct)
- Chapter 7 (21-Oct)
- Chapter 8 (28-Oct)
- Chapter 9 (04-Nov)
- Chapter 10 (11-Nov)
- Chapter 11 (18-Nov)
- Chapter 12 (25-Nov)
- Chapter 13 (09-Dec)
- Chapter 14 (16-Dec)
- Chapter 15 (30-Dec)

(If the first person who gets to this post can start a comment thread entitled 'Serious Discussion' and a second one for 'Snarky Discussion', I would greatly appreciate it.)

[Chapter 16]Chapter 16 Synopsis

The party that went to Adamant (minus Shale) meet with the Divine at the Grand Cathedral. Rhys reflects on the first (and only other) time he was there, meeting the previous Divine, Beatrix, an old and querulous woman, and contrasts her with Justinia, a young, vibrant woman.

The meeting is fraught with tension. Justinia and Lambert clash first upon Justinia's recognition of Evangeline and bestowing honors on her for both saving her life previously and leading the group to Adamant, to the knowledge that Justinia authorized Pharamond's research, to what to do with that information. Until Wynne reveals that squashing it is useless, as every Circle shared in the Sending. Rhys speaks up just once, to note that just because Pharamond failed does not mean his research couldn't bear fruit, that Spirits may be the key.

The meeting ends with Justinia agreeing that a Conclave of mages would be called at the White Spire and to Lambert's three conditions: that the mages involved with Adamant would be confined until after the Conclave, Wynne on her own recognizance only as long as she's not a threat, that otherwise only First Enchanters would attend, and that Pharamond would undergo the Rite of Tranquility once more. The chapter closes on Pharamond keening at the realization of what he was about to face once more.