129

You don’t say anything, but your grip tightens on your sword. You notice that Ashur and Tarquin are walking much closer together than they were in the catacombs, shoulders brushing against one another with every step. Only Mae looks calm and collected.

But the darkspawn are as good as their word and your journey in the Deep Roads is short, with no more dangerous foes than a few deepstalkers and giant spiders. When you finally resurface, you’re not out in the streets, but inside a building. The darkspawn retreat immediately, shying away from the building’s lamplight and disappearing back into the darkness of the tunnels before you can utter so much as a word of thanks.

Mae recognizes it instantly. “This is the Grand Proving Arena. Young mages are tested here.”

“The original designs are dwarven,” Ashur muses. “It must connect to tunnels all over Minrathous.”

“I know where we are,” says Mae. “There’s a quick route through the main halls to the arena from here—or we could take the private route up to the magisters’ box and surprise whoever is waiting for us from above.”

• To go via the main halls, turn to page 135.
• To use Mae’s private route, turn to page 142.