Asunder read-along: Chapter 20

[tersa]

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)
- Chapter 16 (06-Jan)
- Chapter 17 (13-Jan)
- Chapter 18 (20-Jan)
- Chapter 19 (27-Jan)

(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 20]Chapter 20 Synopsis

Cole leads Wynne and Evangeline back into the Tower via the sewers and the Pit. There are references that Wynne has somehow found Shale, returned from Montsimmard, and Leliana has since joined them, but that she and Cole have split off to find Rhys, while Wynne, Evangeline, and Shale make their way up the Spire, fearing to be found. Wynne conjures a spirit to cause a distraction in the mages' dormitory and they press onward, into the templars' quarters. There, they encounter a Tranquil who informs them that Lambert was called away by a summons from the Divine--an indication that Leliana managed to convince her to aid them--and despite knowing Evangeline has been declared an enemy of the Order, allows the party to pass. They press on to their destination--the phylactery room--where Evangeline talks to newbie guard to stand aside and raise the alarm, which he does with much suspicion and fear. Evangeline and Wynne, templar and mage, key open the door, nominally to find Rhys's phylactery, but Wynne changes her mind and asks Shale to destroy the place. She does, with great gusto.

Down in the dungeon, the clamor of the destruction upstairs pulls all but three templars up to investigate. Leliana is disappointed, as three makes it more difficult to prevent even one from raising the defenses, but Cole intervenes and offers to do it. Drawing on 'the darkness' within him, he exerts his power to not be noticed on the first two templars and slits their throats. This greatly drains him, and the third templar notices him, but to no avail. Cole evades the man's attack and slashes his throat as well. Adrian is in the first cell and insists that the Grand Enchanter be freed. Cole gives no shits and stretches out his senses to find Rhys weak and dying but alive in another cell, vowing to save him.