Asunder read-along: Chapter 1

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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.

(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 1--Synopsis]Chapter 1 Synopsis

We meet Cole, a mage brought to the tower at some point and then...vanished from sight, after praying to the Maker that it would be. He comes upon two mages, a human female and an elven male, talking about the Ghost in the Spire, with the suggest that this is he--but even though he stands right next to them, look right at him, they don't see him.

After they return to their rooms, deep in the night, he creeps into the darkest bowels of the Tower, areas very well known to him, and into the dungeon. There are two templars there mocking a sobbing voice, and as they pass right by Cole, who is unseen still, he lifts the jail keys from them. He sneaks into the cell with the crying person, an abused woman, who can see him. After wallowing in that precious moment, he kills her, he says to keep himself from slipping away entirely, although with it is her salvation from the hell her life has become. But not before she admits that she enjoyed the magic fire that killed her family.