Free Trail Of The Torean (Book 2) by Ron Collins Page B

is a simple mage hunt, but it’s more. Much, much more.”
    “Let’s not go too far,” Garrick said.
    “I’m not going too far.” She glared at him. “The orders each have their own god-touched mages, and each of those lead their own armies amassed to the west. A week ago they began methodically marching. It’s clear the orders intend to wipe out the Torean order, and then take control of the entire plane.”
    “Why would they do that?” It was Darien. “The people of Adruin have always given the orders sway, why would they feel the need to go further?”
    “That attitude is the problem,” Suni said.
    “The average person thinks mages see things in the same straightforward ways they do. The average person does not understand that leaders of the orders are different. They move to their own rhythms. Do they seek power? Is it spite that moves them? Frustration? Pure dislike of Toreans? Sure. These leaders and the rest of their orders feel all of those things, but it’s mostly about control—with maybe a little sibling rivalry thrown in for good measure. The orders themselves even see things differently, differently enough to actually hate each other. And they both live by different structures, hierarchies in their approaches that are fundamentally different. What makes this so dangerous, though, is that they both believe are “right,” and if their way is “right,” it must be their way everywhere.”
    “I don’t believe that,” Garrick said. “Te orders are not that senseless. Of course they have hunted Toreans before and will do it again, but I don’t see that it would make sense to go so far as to kill each other off when instead they could just slice up Adruin and each take a piece. That’s how it’s always been. The plane is big enough for them both.”
    “I don’t know,” Darien replied. “I’ve seen it before. This need to control others can be quite powerful in some men.” He looked at Sunathri. “How do you know so much about these armies? I’ve heard nothing of them, and I tend to hear such news before most.”
    “The Freeborn have ties to common folk that the orders overlook. Such news can travel quite quickly through such collectives.”
    “I can see that,” Garrick said. He thought about the village of Sjesko and the warning that had arrived in their midst in enough time to save them, though it was not properly heeded.
    “Good,” Sunathri replied.
    “So, you’re telling us that Garrick is one of these mages?” Darien asked.
    “Isn’t it obvious?”
    “No,” Garrick replied. “Not only is it not obvious, it’s ridiculous.”
    “It’s not ridiculous at all. In fact, when I learned of the Koradictine and Lectodinian mages I wondered if we would find a Torean. When I heard of Garrick’s spell work in Caledena, I guessed you might be it. Seeing you last night confirmed it.”
    “That’s insanity,” Garrick snapped.
    She turned a powerful gaze to him.
    “Deny as you will, but you are the Torean god-touched. The only question is whether you’ll accept that before the orders destroy you. They are quite serious about this, and I suggest it’s in your best interest to be equally so.”
    Darien stepped up.
    “If this is all true, why did you lead the orders to Garrick? You had to know they would be following you.”
    “I didn’t think they would come out this far,” she snapped. “But it doesn’t really matter. It was only a factor of time before they would find him, anyway. You can’t throw magic around like Garrick has been and not draw attention.”
    She turned to Garrick again.
    “We need you.”
    He shook his head. It was all too much.
    His life force curled in upon itself and he knew the idea that he might be god-touched was not insanity at all. In fact, it would answer a lot of questions. But it would answer them in ways he did not want to hear.
    “I’m just an apprentice,” he said.
    Sunathri tightened her lips.
    “I can’t join an order,” Garrick