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ing with the prophecies； you understand； but people think that I have no interest in anything else。 I’d like to see the country around the palace … the woods； the hills。’
He twisted his fingers together。 ‘I’m afraid of big places。 The sky is so big。 That’s the other reason I stay down here； because it feels safe to me。 But I’m sick of living like a mole。 I would like to try going outside and seeing it。 Would you； well； show me the countryside？ You look to me like someone familiar with the out…of…doors。 I think I would feel safe if you went with me。’
Richard smiled warmly。 ‘You’ve e to the right person； Warren。 I was a woods guide； before all this started。 I don’t know all the country around the palace yet； but I surely intend to。 I’d really enjoy guiding you around。 It would be just like old times。’
Warren’s expression brightened。 ‘Thank you； Richard。 I look forward to seeing open places。 I need some adventure in my life。 I’ll start right away on the things you want； but the Sisters give me work； so I must search when I can find the time。 And I’m afraid that I must be honest； it will take a long time。 There are thousands of volumes here。 It will take months； just to get a good start。’
‘Warren； this may be the most important thing you ever studied。 You may be able to save time if you start by reading everything the Prelate has been reading。’
A sly smile came to Warren’s lips。 ‘I thought you said you weren’t good with riddles。 That is what I was thinking。’ His smile turned to a concerned frown。 ‘Why do you want to know these things？’
Richard studied the other’s blue eyes for a long moment。 ‘I am fuer grissa ost drauka。 Warren； I know what it means。’
Warren clutched his fingers to the sleeve of Richard’s red coat。 ‘You know？ You know which is the correct translation？’ His fingers trembled。 ‘Would you tell me？’
‘If you promise not to tell anyone else； for now。’ Warren nodded eagerly。 ‘No one has been able to figure out which one of the three is the true translation because in trying to justify one； they invalidate the whole。’ Warren frowned。 Richard leaned toward him。 They are all true； Warren。’
‘What？’ he whispered。 ‘How can that be？’
‘I have killed people with this sword。 I am the bringer of death in that sense。 That is the first meaning of drauka。
‘In order to prevail against otherwise impossible odds； such as defeating the mriswith； I use the sword’s magic to bring forth the spirits of those who have used it before me。 I have called the dead forth； called the past into the present。 In that way； I am the bringer of spirits。 That is the second meaning of drauka。
As for the third meaning； bringing forth the underworld； I have reason to believe that I may have somehow torn the veil。 That is the third meaning of drauka。’
Warren gasped。
‘It’s very important that you find out the information I asked you about。 I don’t think I have a lot of time。’
Warren nodded。 ‘I’ll try。 But I think you put too much faith in me。’
Richard lifted an eyebrow。 ‘I have faith in a man able to break Jedidiah’s leg。’
‘I did nothing to Jedidiah。 Jedidiah is a powerful wizard。 I would never dare to oppose one of his powers。’
‘Oh； e on； Warren。 There are ashes of the burned carpet on the shoulder of your robe。’
Warren brushed frantically at his shoulder。 There is no ash there。 I see no ash。’
Richard waited for Warren’s eyes to e up。 Then why are you brushing at your robes？’
‘Well； I 。。。 I was。。。 I just 。。。’
Richard put a reassuring hand on Warren’s back。 ‘It’s all right； Warren。 I’m a believer in justice。 I think Jedidiah got what he deserved。 I won’t tell anyone。 And you must not tell anyone about any of this。’
‘I must warn you； Richard； you did a very dangerous thing yesterday when you told all the Sisters that you were the bringer of death。 That is a well…known； and hotly debated； prophecy。 There are Sisters who believe it means you are one who kills。 They will try to fort you。 There are others who think it means you will bring forth the dead； call the spirits。 They will want to study you。’ He leaned a little closer。 There are others who think it means you will tear the veil； and bring the Nameless One to swallow us all。 They might try to kill you。’
‘I know； Warren。’
Then why would you let them know you are the one in the prophecy？’
‘Because I am fuer grissa ost drauka。 When the time es； I will kill any of them I must in order to get this collar off。 I had to give them fair warning first； give them the chance to live。’
Warren touched his fingers to his lower lip。 ‘But you wouldn’t hurt Pasha。 Not Pasha。’
‘I hope to hurt no one； Warren。 Maybe with the information you help me with； I won’t have to hurt anyone。 I hate being fuer grissa ost drauka； but that is who I am。’
Warren’s eyes teared。 ‘Please； you wouldn’t hurt Pasha。’
‘Warren； I like her。 I think she is a lovely person； inside； like you said。 I only kill to protect my life； or the lives of innocent people。 I don’t believe Pasha would ever give me cause； but you must understand that if I am right； and the veil is torn； then more is at stake than any one person’s life。 Mine； yours； or Pasha’s。’
Warren nodded。 ‘I have read the prophecies。 I understand。 I will search for the things you need。’
Richard tried to reassure him with a warm smile。 ‘It will be all right； Warren。 I’m the Seeker； I’ll do my best。 I don’t want to harm anyone。’
‘Seeker？ What is the Seeker？’
Richard slapped his hand to the metal plate。 ‘I’ll tell you about it later。’
Warren glanced down at the plate as the door slid opened。 ‘How are you able to do that？’
Pasha was standing calmly； waiting； her face making a good effort at not showing her anger。
‘And just what was that all about？’
Richard stepped through the doorway。 ‘Boy talk。’
Pasha stopped him with a hand to his arm。 ‘What do you mean； boy talk？’
Richard looked into her warm brown eyes。 ‘I was twisting Warren’s arm； making him tell me about the test of pain。 You failed to mention it； so I had to ask him about it。 Or were you planning on waiting until you came to do it； before you told me？’
Pasha rubbed her bare arms； as if to warm them。 ‘I do not do that； Richard。 I’m only a novice。 Full Sisters must do it。’
‘Why didn’t you tell me about it？’
Tears welled up in her eyes。 ‘I don’t like to see people hurt。 I didn’t want to frighten you about what may not e for a long time。 Sometimes the waiting can be worse than the actual experience。 I didn’t want you to have to wait in fear。’
‘Oh。’ Richard let out a long breath。 ‘Well； I guess that’s a good reason。 I apologize； Pasha； for what I was thinking of you。’
She forced a smile。 ‘Shall we go start your lessons？’
Above ground again； they passed down halls and through several buildings until they finally reached Gillaume Hall； where his room was。 The fabric of Pasha’s dress made a swishing sound as they climbed the wide marble stairway。 The walls and columns were a matching tan； variegated marble。
It was a beautiful place with elegant rooms； but it was not as impressive as the People’s Palace； in D’Hara。 Before he had seen that magnificent edifice； he would have been astonished by the opulence of this place。 Now； he simply noted its layout in reference to everything else。 Upstairs； as they went down another wide； carpeted hall； he saw several other young men wearing Rada’Han。 At last they reached his room。
Richard caught her wrist as she reached for the door handle。 She looked up in puzzlement。
There’s someone inside；’ he said。
CHAPTER 55
‘It is my job to watch over you；’ Pasha said。
She used her Han； breaking his hold on her wrist and throwing him aside as if with an invisible hand； and then charged through the door。 Richard rolled； finishing on his feet； drew his sword； and flew in after her。 Only the small flames from the hearth gave light to the otherwise dark room。 They both stumbled to a halt in the near darkness。
A voice came from a chair beside the fire。 ‘Expecting a mriswith； Richard？’
‘Sister Verna！’ Richard slid his sword back into its scabbard。 ‘What are you doing here？’
She rose to her feet and swept her hand in the direction of a lamp； bringing the wick to flame。 ‘I didn’t know if you heard。’ Her face was unreadable。 ‘I’m once again a Sister of the Light。’
‘Really？’ Richard said。 That’s great news。’
Sister Verna clasped her hands in a relaxed manner。 ‘Since I’m a Sister； again； I wanted to e and speak privately to you for a moment。’ She glanced to Pasha。 ‘About same unfinished business Richard and I have。’
Pasha looked from the Sister to Richard。 ‘Well； I guess this dress is； well； not the most fortable thing to give lessons in。 Why don’t I go change。’ She curtsied to Sister Verna。 ‘Good night； Sister。 I’m so happy for you； you should be a Sister。 And Richard； thank you for