Hamar walked fast behind him, addled, and with his forehead throbbing, unsure if he should try to dab it with spit.
As they passed more rooms and corridors the adept explained that the abilities within any Master were now nearly lethal to contain, as each Master Majician had bequeathed his store of empowerments to the next leader when their long time of service was done, and the build-up of majic energy was now too much for a normal human body.
The man looked back at Hamar, “Our present Master nearly died in his thirties when he received the full load for his task” Hamar paled.
“For that reason the dealers in lesser levels, however ambitious, will stay content within their own course, no challenges, – your coming along to fill the position has marked you as even greater.”
Hamar couldn’t help saying, “But I never found my way here. And no one came and got me.” Then he realized creating doubts about himself wasn’t smart.
The adept wasn’t fazed. “The Master gave orders for the colony to be looking for you, the heir, someone who’d be young enough and special enough to start on the knowledge from the time he got here. No one is ever granted to know who it will be or exactly when he’ll arrive; it’s a thing decreed by age-old destiny that outworks among our kind wherever we’ve been scattered among the nations. It took its own path in getting you to us.
Apparently your father had unwittingly done the right naming, activating its start. Priest Aktiarh was the one best able to discern your time getting near. You are just turning into manhood, it would seem.
On time.
Nevertheless,” he assured him, “for months everyone has been comparing omens and signs, debating over dreams.” He stopped abruptly and turned to a design on the wall, then made rapid hand moves at it and said strange words. A heat radiated from the stonework that smelled like burning rock, before the stone melted like wax and a hole widened in its midst! When the hole was as big as a door the man stepped through and took Hamar with him into a twilight chamber smelling of musty water. Quickly Hamar checked behind to make sure the strange hole hadn’t closed up again!
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