Lord Brother

Ryel Mirai, Lord Adept of the wysard-citadel Markul, has since the age of fourteen learned the Art at the side of his mentor Edris. Now, at twenty-six, his studies have come to an abrupt end. Edris is dead of unknown yet highly suspect causes, and Ryel has been urged by one of his Art-sisters, Lady Serah Dalkith, to learn the truth concerning Edris’ death from the wysardess Srin Yan Tai, who dwells in the far-off mountains overlooking the great city of Almancar. Ryel is reluctant to leave Markul, but is at last persuaded by an inner voice, unknown in origin, that has haunted his thoughts since Edris’ death. The mysterious voice at first seems sent for Ryel’s help, since it warns the young wysard of his mother’s life-endangering illness and protects Ryel during the dangerous healing-Art; but only too soon it becomes clear that the voice is that of Dagar, once the most powerful wysard of Markul’s rival City, Elecambron, now a disembodied voice emanating from the wraithworld of the Void, a place between life and death.

Seeking to avenge himself on the World that loathed and feared him in life, Dagar hopes to find the long-lost spell that will free his spirit from the imprisoning emptiness. To achieve his aim, Dagar has enlisted the help of Ryel’s unruly enemy in the Art, Lord Michael Essern, in whose hot blood runs daimon-bane that goads him to heedless cruelty. Dagar requires a human form in which to return to the World, but he scorns that of his henchman Michael, despite Michael’s wholehearted desire to be thus made use of. The form Dagar lusts for is none other than Ryel’s, and to achieve his purpose, Dagar has lured Ryel from Markul to the Inner Steppes seemingly out of concern for the young wysard and those dearest to him. But immediately afterward Dagar reveals his true—and horrific—intentions. Ryel learns not only that Dagar killed Edris, but that Edris, not his twin brother Yorganar, was Ryel’s father. Worse still, by torturing Diara, daughter of the Sovran and object of Ryel’s secret adoration, Dagar comp els the wysard to journey to Almancar.

Ryel succeeds in casting out Dagar from Diara’s helpless body, but later nearly dies from a sword-wound dealt by Diara’s brother Priamnor during a Dagar-instigated brawl in the Diamond Heaven, Almancar’s pleasure-district. Ryel is healed of his wound by Michael, who performs Dagar’s will reluctantly and with cruel anger. Escaping the city, Ryel seeks Lady Srin Yan Tai on the slopes of the great mountain Kalima, and finds the wysardess expecting him. Lady Srin possesses information crucial to Ryel’s quest, and divulges it without mercy. The young wysard must defeat Dagar for the World’s sake, and to that end must journey North to find Redbane and Starklander, both of whom are Foretold to play a part in the wars to come—wars that might prove to be Dagar’s triumph, and the World’s eternal affliction.

Chapter One

Ryel had thought that Lady Srin intended him to ride Northward, and had accordingly mentally prepared himself for a long stint on horseback despite Jinn’s Art-sped swiftness. As matters turned out he was mistaken, as he’d been with so many things since his return to the World.

"Time’s against you, lad," Srin Yan Tai yet again reminded him as they sat cross-legged on the yat-platform, warming their hands on their chal-bowls as their breath and the drink’s fragrant vapor mingled with the raw mists of dawn. "Days are as good as months, now, what with so much awork in the World. The Art must be your help."

Ryel wearily blew the steam from his chal. He hadn’t slept well the night before. "My Art isn’t that strong, Lady Srin."

"Of course it isn’t, whelp. But mine is."