His already ancient frame seemed withered and bent almost double. The Sword Master slammed the door shut as soon as they entered and the hubbub from the corridors and chambers beyond subsided to nothing. A spell was at work there, Teclis realised.

‘I can tell from your expression you have heard the news,’ said Morelian.

Teclis said, ‘My brother was in Avelorn.’

‘Then he is most likely dead,’ said Belthania.

‘I would know if he was.’

‘Where have you been? No one has seen you for hours. I have had people searching,’ Morelian said.

‘Why?’

‘I had a peculiar dream concerning you.’

‘What was its import?’

‘The Archmage Caledor spoke to me. He told me you would be going on a journey, one very important to us all, and that I was to see you were prepared for it.’

‘I too had the same dream,’ said Belthania. ‘As did every other Loremaster in the tower.’

‘And all of those scattered across Ulthuan, for all we know,’ said Morelian.

‘I see,’ said Teclis. ‘If one Loremaster has a dream it may be meaningless. If all of them have the same dream – it is significant.’

‘It was more than a dream,’ said Morelian. ‘It felt extraordinarily real. I stood near the centre of the world and watched the ghosts of the Five enspell the Vortex. And they were failing.’

‘I saw the same thing,’ said Belthania.

‘When did this happen?’

‘In the small hours of the morning. After we last talked.’

Teclis nodded. ‘That would be after I cast the spell.’

‘What spell?’

‘I was lost in the Maze of Books. I found a chamber and in that chamber was an ancient spell. I was compelled to cast it by some force. I could not have stopped myself even if I had wanted to. I thought the spell affected only me but it seems that it reached out to all of you as well.’

‘Those of the Loremasters who were not asleep fell into a faint,’ said Morelian. ‘When they came out of it, they too had seen the same thing as the rest of us. That would explain it.’

‘It might mean nothing,’ said Teclis. ‘It might be the work of the enemy.’

‘No inimical power has ever reached into Hoeth.’

‘There is a first time for everything,’ said Teclis. His two fellow Loremasters looked disturbed by that prospect.

‘I do not believe it possible,’ said Morelian eventually. ‘And if it was, why afflict us with such a vision? Why not something that would be of more material assistance to our enemies?’

‘Indeed,’ said Belthania. ‘I am willing to believe this spell of yours contributed to the vision, but I doubt anything hostile was behind it. I am more likely to believe it was the spirit of the tower itself helping us in our time of need. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that this happened at the same time as Avelorn must have been attacked.’

‘Not just Avelorn,’ said the High Loremaster. ‘Lothern, Tor Yvresse, Mancastra and a dozen other places. All of Ulthuan is besieged by the dark elves and their Chaos-worshipping allies. The Everqueen is missing, presumed dead. There are rumours of treachery everywhere. Members of the Cult of Luxury have risen up to aid the invaders.