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    The Outlaw Adept
    The Outlaw Adept
    The Outlaw Adept
    Ebook119 pages1 hour

    The Outlaw Adept

    By Jonathan Moeller

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    About this ebook

    Thalia Kalarien is an Adept of the Conclave, one of mankind's defenders against the cruel demons of the astral world.

    But when an ancient blood sorcerer attacks the Conclave, Thalia must fight for her life, both against her foes and against her allies.

    For there are traitors within the Conclave of Adepts...

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherJonathan Moeller
    Release dateMar 19, 2013
    ISBN9781301597963
    The Outlaw Adept
    Author

    Jonathan Moeller

    Standing over six feet tall, Jonathan Moeller has the piercing blue eyes of a Conan of Cimmeria, the bronze-colored hair of a Visigothic warrior-king, and the stern visage of a captain of men, none of which are useful in his career as a computer repairman, alas.He has written the "Demonsouled" trilogy of sword-and-sorcery novels, and continues to write the "Ghosts" sequence about assassin and spy Caina Amalas, the "$0.99 Beginner's Guide" series of computer books, and numerous other works.Visit his website at:http://www.jonathanmoeller.comVisit his technology blog at:http://www.jonathanmoeller.com/screed

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      Book preview

      The Outlaw Adept - Jonathan Moeller

      THE OUTLAW ADEPT

      Jonathan Moeller

      ***

      Description

      Thalia Kalarien is an Adept of the Conclave, one of mankind's defenders against the cruel demons of the astral world.

      But when an ancient blood sorcerer attacks the Conclave, Thalia must fight for her life, both against her foes and against her allies.

      For there are traitors within the Conclave of Adepts...

      ***

      The Outlaw Adept

      Copyright 2013 by Jonathan Moeller

      Smashwords Edition

      Cover image copyright Bliznetsov | istockphoto.com

      All Rights Reserved

      This novel is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination, or, if real, used fictitiously. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the express written permission of the author or publisher, except where permitted by law.

      ***

      Chapter 1 - Departures

      Thalia Kalarien stood on the quay and watched the ship carrying her best friend and her older brother disappear over the horizon.

      All around her Araspan’s harbor teemed with activity. Ships maneuvered through the waters, sails billowing, oars lashing, captains and bosons shouting orders. Thalia saw ships from every nation under the sun – Saranian vessels carrying wine, peppers and spices from Orlanon, timber from Callia, gems and jewelry from the proud merchant princes of Annoc.

      And the slave galleys from Khauldun and Carth, of course. Slaves in orange tunics filled the docks, carrying barrels and crates of cargo from the ships. Others went about their masters’ errands, delivering messages or packages.

      Thalia felt her lips thin.

      Always and ever, the Conclave of Araspan relied upon its slaves.

      You look, said a man’s voice, deep and amused, as if you just took a bite out of a lemon.

      Thalia turned to face her eldest brother.

      Solthain Kalarien regarded with an easy smile. Like Thalia, he had thick black hair and bright green eyes. It was hard to look dashing while wearing the black-trimmed red robe of an Adept of the Conclave, but Solthain managed it. Yet Thalia had known him her entire life, and she spotted the faint hints of strain around his eyes.

      They never left him. But given that his soul had spent twelve years imprisoned within the traitorous First Magister Talvin’s crystal, Thalia was not surprised.

      I was just thinking, said Thalia, how much better off both the Conclave and the city of Araspan would be if we did not rely upon slaves.

      Ah, said Solthain. And not how you’ll miss Rachaelis and Corthain, then?

      They turned from quay and walked into Araspan’s dockside district. Slaves and freemen alike took one look at their red robes and hastened to get out of their way, which annoyed Thalia. Still, it was easier than forcing their way through the press.

      Of course I will miss them, said Thalia. She sighed. It has been quite a month, Solthain. One of my brothers was banished, and I thought the other dead. And then Corthain returned as a hero and you were restored to us.

      And now Corthain is leaving again, said Solthain.

      Thalia shot a look over her shoulder at the harbor. It is for the best. Corthain is the domn of Moiria. He has responsibilities elsewhere.

      And Rachaelis? said Solthain.

      Thalia blinked. She loved her brothers, but both of them had been absent from her life for over ten years. Rachaelis, though…she had Rachaelis had become friends during their time as Initiates. When Rachaelis had survived the Testing, Thalia had been overjoyed. She had hoped to have another woman of her own age in the College Liberia, the small group of Adepts dedicated to ending slavery.

      But then Corthain had returned, and First Magister Talvin had revealed himself for what he truly was.

      Rachaelis, said Thalia at last, would never be happy here. She doesn’t like to fight.

      And you do? said Solthain.

      Thalia grinned. Of course.

      He snorted. That would explain the constipated look Father gets whenever you draw near.

      Thalia laughed. Don’t let him hear you say that. The First Magister of the Conclave of Adepts would never conduct himself in such an undignified fashion.

      Fine, said Solthain. Let us say instead he looks…consternated whenever you come to harangue him about slavery.

      Would not the city and the Conclave be better off without slaves? said Thalia.

      Solthain shrugged. If we freed all the slaves, who would do all the work? I can hardly see you scrubbing your own floors, sister.

      His response both amused and annoyed her. He had never taken anything seriously, and was not a man prone to strong opinions. Yet he did love his family, and craved their approval.

      But if he had not desired their father’s approval so much, then perhaps he would not have led his men to disaster against the possessed Magister Paulus.

      Free men shall work for wages, said Thalia, as in the other kingdoms of the west.

      They have peasants and freeholders in Callia and Saranor and Orlanon, said Solthain. Surely that is not so different than slaves.

      But it is! said Thalia. They are free men, and not bought and sold like cattle. They own their possessions, and therefore can put hope in the future, rather than living in resigned despair. And men who live in resigned despair can put their hope in terrible things.

      They kept walking. Araspan rose up before them, the Ring of the Conclave looming over the city on its mountain spur. The poets liked to call Araspan the City of a Thousand Towers, and the towers of the Araspani nobility thrust from the mass of the city like stone fingers. Both the nobles and the Adepts competed to build the highest and most splendid towers.

      What do you mean? said Solthain.

      Why do you think, said Thalia, voice low, that Maerwulf and Thurvalda found so many willing followers among the slaves? Perhaps if the slaves were not treated so brutally, perhaps if they were not slaves at all, they would not turn so quickly to blood sorcery and the worship of demons.

      Solthain said nothing, his eyes wandering over the city. Thalia wondered if he had decided to ignore her, but instead she realized that he was gazing towards the towers.

      Towards the shattered ruin of the Magister Paulus’s tower, where his men had been slaughtered and his soul imprisoned.

      Maybe you are right, said Solthain, shaking his head. Ah, sister. It is a cruel world, is it not? There are so many hard choices to make, and sometimes we must decide between evils.

      That was profound, said Thalia.

      His smile returned. Surprised? Do not be fooled by my handsome face, Thalia. I am not quite as stupid as I seem.

      They both laughed.

      Enough grim talk, said Solthain. Let us return to the Ring. Not even you can save the world in a single day.

      "We

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