Consensus Breaking (The Auran Chronicles Book 2) Read Online Free PDF Page B

demand a response.
    ‘I don’t know, treat them, try and see what’s causing this?’
    Sedaris’ eyes fluttered and he let out a loud snort, as if Seb had made some kind of joke.
    ‘No, no. You’re an idealist Seb, I like that. But no, we simply do not have the time for that. Do you know what kind of damage these people can do to reality if they’re left unchecked?’
    ‘Perhaps it’s not a bad thing. Perhaps it’s time we just let the Aware emerge naturally, not controlling it.’
    Sedaris cocked his head to one side as if Seb had just spoken a foreign language.
    ‘You really believe that?’
    ‘Not necessarily. Just wondering.’
    ‘Well don’t wonder. Not anymore. The Magistry’s time is over, the Brotherhood are gone. It now falls back to us to deal with this. That is why I created the coteries.’
    ‘Coteries?’ Seb plucked the memory out, one from months before, when Marek was just about to launch his attack on Skelwith. Cian had told Seb to fight with Cade and not the other magi as he hadn’t trained in a coterie .
    ‘Yes, groups of magi, bonded together. As one unit our powers are greater, much abler to deal with this threat. With our greater resources we are able to put people on the street, not magi, but our own trained Aware, helping us find these newly awoken and dealing with them before they can hurt themselves or others.’
    ‘So, you rip their minds.’
    ‘No, Seb. We are not barbarians. We cleanse them, removing the corruption of the Weave before it can do irreparable damage to reality.’
    Seb frowned. ‘What else is there? You said this was an opportunity for us.’
    Sedaris smiled, mistaking Seb’s question as a sign of ambition. ‘Indeed it is, Seb. Very much indeed. With these restraints removed, we are no longer held back. As you can see from the building around you, we are not unsuccessful in what we do. With our abilities we excel at business. We can influence people, predict certain events before they happen. Imagine what rewards this can yield in a world like this?
    ‘But now we don’t need to stop there. We shouldn’t stop there. Before us, the Unaware were like sheep, layering this reality with their science , hardening it to such a degree that our kind was being starved of the very lifeblood that sustained us. Not now though. We can insert ourselves into their power structures, bringing our influence and abilities to bear on a much wider scale. We can save them from the oblivion of the mundane, and instead direct them to the truth about reality, about the Weave.’
    Sedaris was in full flow now. He leant forwards, an almost imperceptible nod moving his head up and down. He believed all this, that much was obvious. His words were convincing, and Seb couldn’t help but feel a certain logic in his words. The Unaware were vulnerable. They were susceptible. With the Consensus breaking like it was, did they not need the magi to help them, to steer them back to the truth? So what if magi were suddenly inserted into the governments of this world.
    It’s not like they were doing a good job without the magi, was it?
    A knock at the door shook both men from their thoughts. Seb felt a tug on the Weave as Sedaris glanced past him. The Archmage rolled his eyes and smiled.
    ‘Forgive me, Seb, but we are out of time. I have an urgent meeting that cannot be moved.’ Sedaris looked past him, towards the door. ‘Come in, Alain.
    The door opened and one of the guards from outside stepped in.
    ‘Sorry for the interruption, Archmage-’
    ‘It is fine, Alain, thank you for reminding me of the time. Seb was just leaving.’ Sedaris turned back. ‘Alain here will show you to somewhere more comfortable. I can imagine it’s been a trying time, both for you and your comrades. You can rest easy here, have comfort in that.’
    This conversation was over. Sedaris was already making his way out of the room. Seb had more questions, but for now, they could wait. He was eager to get back to Cade