Read Rite of Exile: The Silent Tempest, Book 1 for Free Online Page A

respect doesn’t mean I won’t trip over my words again.”
    She nodded. “Good point.”
    Caleb fumed, but he willed himself quiet and listened.
    “I’ll start with the basics,” she said. “The goal of every Raén, as demanded by their Oath, is to eliminate any threat to Ada. This includes the greatest threat of all, Kseleksten—the first of two ancient weapons called the Lor’yentréi that once inflicted great suffering on our people.”
    “I remember now, believe it or not.” Caleb sped through his memories, determined to regain her respect. “It was that Grondolos fellow who broke one of those weapons and overthrew that sorceress … um … what was her name?”
    “Heradnora. It was the fulfillment of a very old prophecy that predicted her fall. The weapon she used has an official name just like Kseleksten, but most people refer to it as the Broken Lor’yentré—a sort of homage to Grondolos. It was hidden long ago in a remote island called Graxmoar, in a lake near the western sea. But we still don’t know where its mate is, or even who wielded it. The Prophets only left a hint of its existence.”
    They walked steadily on, Warren between the adults, each end of the passage only a bright gleam of converging lights. “Has anyone been to this Graxmoar?” Caleb asked after a while.
    “No, but not because we haven’t tried. To the west of the island stand towering sea cliffs; to the south some of the tallest mountains in Ada; to the east and north a vast, primeval forest, all surrounded by a barrier that strikes madness and despair in anyone who approaches. Those with the strength of will to break through never return.”
    “The power of Kseleksten?”
    “I don’t think so. My instincts tell me something else is at work, a presence of some kind. And it’s possible that the Lor’yentréi weren’t inherently evil—just dangerous to have around.” She shook her head quickly. “I shouldn’t have said that. It’s a controversial interpretation.”
    “I don’t see why. Absolute power corrupts absolutely ,” he translated.
    “Exactly!” she said, and the proud glance she cast his way did wonders for his confidence. “Evil begins in fear, not the tools that empower it. That is why the destruction of Kseleksten remains our highest calling, reserved exclusively for our soldiers.”
    “The Raéni?”
    “Yes. Once you take the Oath of the Raéni, there’s no turning back.”
    She entertained him with other ancient tales, until at last their journey ended at another flight of steps. Glints of gold and silver at the top marked a set of tall doors between bright lanterns; the doorkeeper stood at attention, a tall boy close to manhood looking a bit too proud of his assigned duty.
    Caleb paused on the first step, Warren beside him. “This is it?”
    “This is Larientur,” Telai confirmed. She climbed the steps, compelling him to follow. “The Hodyn discovered it back when it was only a rough cave. Since then we’ve honored Larientur with the skills of the same artisans who built Wsaytchen. But we share our enemy’s belief that the spirit of Hendra is strongest here, and aids our search for knowledge.” She pointed at the high lintel, where strange letters or runes were deeply engraved:
     
    Oti va freda gidos yoné erth yra kyalé gáid kya.
     
    “It’s written in Urmanayan, the ancient language of our ancestors. Translated, it says: Here the truth cannot hide from those who seek it . ”
    A shiver of premonition ran down Caleb’s back as they crossed the wide landing. Telai offered Warren her hand, adding a wink to reassure him. The boy looked up at his father.
    “It’s right, Warren,” he said. “Telai will take care of you.”
    She smiled. “Good luck.”
    Caleb tried to copy her smile, but failed. He nodded once at the young warden, who then faced the doors to herald his arrival.
    ♦
    A multitude of silver-adorned lanterns, each hanging from walls inlaid with onyx, encircled the