Blood of the Fold

“He has no power, beyond that of an ordinary man, except his ability as a dream walker." Leoma's voice trembled, but she went on. "He uses others, especially those with the gift, to accomplish what he wishes. He is going to use our knowledge to reveal the forks on the prophecies that will bring him victory, and then see to it that the correct action is taken in order to carry the world down that fork.

"He is a very patient man. It took him fifteen years to conquer the Old World, all the time perfecting his ability, probing the minds of others, and gathering the information he needed.

"He not only intends to use the prophecies in the vaults, but he intends to make the Palace of the Prophets his home. He knows about the spell; he has stationed men here as a test to make sure that it works for those without the gift, and that there is no harmful effect. He is going to live here and direct the conquest of the rest of the world, with the help of the prophecies, from this place.

"Once all lands fall to him, he will hold dominion over the world for hundreds upon hundreds of years, enjoying the spoils of his tyranny. To his mind, nothing so great has ever been dreamed, much less accomplished. It will be as near as a ruler can come to immortality."

"What else can you tell me?"

Leoma rung her hands. "Nothing. I've told you all. Let me go, Verna?"

"Kiss your ring finger, and beg the Creator's forgiveness."

"What?"

"Forsake the Keeper. It's your only hope, Leoma."

Leoma shook her head. "I can't do that, Verna. I won't."

Verna had no time to waste. Without further word or argument, she seized her Han. Light seemed to come from within Leoma's eyes and she crashed to the floor, dead.

Verna slipped silently down to the end of the empty hall, to Sister Simona's room. Feeling the joy of being able to manipulate her Han at will, she brought down the shield. Carefully, so as not to startle her, she knocked and then opened the door, hearing Simona scurry for the far corner.

"Simona, it's Verna. Don't be afraid, dear."

Simona let out a shuddering cry. "He comes! He comes!"

Verna lit a genlle glow of Han in her palm. "I know. You're not crazy. Sister Simona. He does come."

"We must escape! We must get away," she cried. "Oh, please, we must get away before he gets here. He comes in my dreams and taunts me, I'm so afraid." She fell to kissing her ring finger.

Verna gathered the trembling woman in her arms. "Simona, listen carefully to me. I have a way to save you from the dream walker. I can make you safe. We can get away."

The woman stilled, blinking up at Verna. "You believe me?"

"Yes. I know you're telling the truth. But you must believe me, too, when I tell you the truth that I know a magic that will protect you from the dream walker."

Simona wiped the tears from her filthy cheek, "Is it truly possible? How can it be done?"

"You remember Richard? The young man I brought back?"

Simona nodded with a smile as she cuddled in Verna's arms. "Who could forget Richard? Trouble and wonder in one package."

"Listen, now. Besides the gift, Richard has a magic which was passed down from his ancestors who fought the original dream walkers. It's a magic that protects him, too, from the dream walkers. It also protects anyone who swears fidelity to him, who is loyal to him in every way. That was the reason the spell was originally cast — to fight the dream walkers."

Her eyes widened. "That can't be possible — mere loyalty conferring magic."

"Leoma has had me locked in a room down the hall. She put a collar around my neck and used the test of pain to try to break my will and make me renounce Richard. She told me that the dream walker wanted to come to me in my dreams, like he does you, but my fidelity to Richard prevented it. It works, Simona. I don't know how, but it does. I'm protected from the dream walker. You can be, too."

Sister Simona wiped wisps of gray hair back from her face. "Verna, I'm not crazy. I want this collar off my neck. I want to escape the dream walker. We must escape. What would you have me do?"

Verna gripped the small woman tighter. "Will you help us? Will you help the rest of the Sisters of the Light escape, too?"

Simona put her cracked lips to her ring finger. "On my oath to the Creator."

"Then swear an oath to Richard, too. You must be bonded to him."

Simona pushed away and knelt with her forehead to the floor. "I swear fidelity to Richard. I swear my life to him on my hope to be sheltered by the Creator in the next world."

Verna urged Simona to sit up. She put her hands to the side of the Rada'Han, letting her Han flow into it, join with it, the room droning with the effort. The collar snapped and fell away.

Simona let out a joyful cry as she hugged Verna. Verna embraced her tightly; she knew the joy of having the Rada'Han off her neck.

"Simona, we must be going. We have much work to do, and not much time. I need your help."

Simona wiped away her tears. "I'm ready. Thank you. Prelate."