Blood of the Fold

Holly searched, too, but stayed close. Zedd wandered off toward an open, flat place. Guided by the way the branches and brush were bent and broken, he was looking near the center of the node, where the power would have been concentrated. As she stooped to look among the low places in the rocks, Zedd called out to her.

Ann took Holly's hand and hurried to the old wizard. "What is it?"

He pointed. Standing up, so they couldn't miss it, stuck in a crack in a round hump of granite, was something round. Ann wiggled it free.

She stared incredulously. "It's Nathan's Rada'Han."

Holly gasped. "Oh, Ann, maybe he was killed. Maybe Nathan was killed by the magic."

Ann turned it around. It was locked closed. "No, Holly." She stroked a comforting hand down the child's hair. "He wasn't killed, or there would be some trace of him. But dear Creator, what does this mean?"

"What does it mean?" Zedd chuckled. "It means he got free. He stuck it in that rock so you would be sure to see it, as if to thumb his nose at you. Nathan wanted us to know he got the collar off on his own. He must have linked the power of the node to it, or something." Zedd sighed. "Well, he's gone. Now, get mine off."

Ann's hand holding the Rada'Han lowered as she looked out into the night. "We have to find him."

"Take my collar off, as you promised, and then you can gad off after him. Without me, I might add."

Ann felt her anger heating. "You're coming with me."

"With you? Bags, I'm doing no such thing!"

"You're coming."

"You intend to break your word!"

“No, I intend to keep it, just as soon as we find that troublesome prophet. You have no idea of the complications thai man can cause."

"What do you need me for!"

She shook her finger at him. "You're coming with me whether you like it or not, and that's all there is to it. When we find him, then I take that collar off. Not before."

He shook his fists in a sputtering fit while Ann strode off to collect the horses. Her gaze wandered to the moonlit hill in the distance. She saw the band of Sisters heading north. When Ann reached the horses, she squatted down before Holly.

"Holly, as your first assignment as a novice to be a Sister of the Light, I have a very important, urgent duty for you."

Holly nodded seriously. "What is it, Ann?"

"It's critical that Zedd and I go find Nathan. I hope it won't be long, but we must hurry before he gets away."

"Before he gets away!" Zedd howled behind her. "He's had hours. He's got a huge lead. There's no telling where that man went. He's already 'gotten away, »

Ann glanced back over her shoulder. "We have to find him." She turned back to Holly. "We need to hurry, and I don't have time to go catch up with Sisters of the Light over on that hill there. I need you to go to them and tell Sister Verna everything you know about what's happened."

"What should I tell her?"

"Whatever you know about what you've seen and heard while you've been with us. Tell her the truth, and don't make anything up. It's important that she know what's going on. Tell her that Zedd and I are going after Nathan, and that when we can we will join up with them, but our first priority is finding the Prophet. Tell her to head north, as they're doing, to escape the Order."

"I can do that."

"It's not far, and the road right over here will take you to the road they will be riding up, so you won't miss them. Your horse knows and likes you, so she'll take good care of you. You'll be there in just an hour or two, and. then you'll have all the Sisters to keep you safe, and love you. Sister Verna will know what to do."

"I'll miss you until you catch up with us," Holly said, her voice choked with tears.

Ann hugged the little girl. "Oh, chiid, I'll miss you so much, too. I wish I could take you with us, you've been such a help, but we must hurry if we're to catch Nathan. The Sisters, especially Prelate Verna, need to know what's happened. It's important; that's why I must send you."

Holly bravely snuffled back the tears. "I understand. You can count on me, Prelate."

Ann helped the girl up into the saddle and kissed her hand as she put the reins in them. Ann watched and waved farewell as Holly trotted off toward the Sisters of the Light.

She turned to the fuming wizard. "We'd best be going if we're to catch Nathan. ' She patted his bony shoulder. "It won't be long. Just as soon as we catch him, I'll have that collar off your neck, I promise."

CHAPTER 52

The Hagen Woods were as dark and uninviting as ever, but Richard was sure that the mriswith were gone. In their journey through the gloomy wood he hadn't sensed even one of them. The place, though forbidding, was deserted; the mriswith had all left for Aydindril. He shuddered to think what that meant.