Faith of the Fallen

"She said something about it being inherited from his ancestor. She claimed that we had but to swear loyalty to him, loyalty in our hearts-or some such nonsense. To tell the truth, it was so preposterous I wasn't really paying that much attention. She claimed that was why Jagang couldn't enter her mind."

Nicci was staggered. Of course. .

She had always wondered why Jagang didn't capture the rest of the Sisters. There were many more still free. They were protected by this bond to Richard. It had to be true. It made sense. Her own leader, sister Ulicia, and Richard's other teachers had escaped, too. But that didn't seem to make sense; they were Sisters of the Dark-like Nicci-they would have had to swear loyalty to Richard. Nicci couldn't imagine such a thing.

But then, Jagang was often unable to enter Nicci's mind.

"You said Sister Alessandra has vanished."

Sister Georgia fussed with the collar of her scruffy dress. "She and Ann both vanished."

"Jagang doesn't bother to inform you of his actions. Perhaps he simply had them put to death."

Georgia glanced at her companions. "Well. . maybe. But Sister Alessandra was one of yours. . a Sister of the Dark. She was caring for Ann-"

"Why weren't you caring for her? You are her Sisters."

Sister Georgia cleared her throat. "She threw such a fit about us that His Excellency assigned Sister Alessandra to look after her."

Nicci could only imagine that it must have been quite a fit. But after being betrayed by her own Sisters, it was understandable. Jagang would have thought the woman valuable enough that he wanted to keep her alive.

"As we marched into the city, the wagon with Ann's cage never showed up," Sister Georgia went on. "One of the drivers finally came around with a bloody head and reported that the last thing he saw before the world went dark was Sister Alessandra. Now the two of them are gone."

Nicci felt her fingernails digging into her palms. She made herself relax her fists. "So, Ann offered you all freedom, and you chose instead to continue to be slaves."

The three women lifted their noses. "We did what is best for everyone,"

Sister Georgia said. "We are Sisters of the Light. Our duty is not to ourselves, but to relieve the suffering of others-not cause it."

"Besides," Sister Aubrey added, "we don't see you leaving. Seems you've been free of His Excellency from time to time, and you don't go."

Nicci frowned. "How do you know that?"

"Well, I, I mean. ." Sister Aubrey stammered.

Nicci seized the woman by the throat. "I asked you a question. Answer it."

Sister Aubrey's face reddened as Nicci added the force of her gift to the grip. The tendons in her wrist stood out with the strain. The woman's eyes showed white all around as Nicci's power began squeezing the life from her. Unlike Nicci, Jagang possessed their minds, and they were prohibited from using their power except at his direction.

Sister Georgia gently placed a hand on Nicci's forearm. "His Excellency questioned us about it, that's all, Sister. Let her go. Please?"

Nicci released the woman but turned her glare on Sister Georgia.

"Questioned you? What do you mean? What did he say?"

"He simply wanted to know if we knew why he was from time to time blocked from your mind."

"He hurt us," Sister Rochelle said. "He hurt us with his questions, because we had no answer. We don't understand it."

For the first time, Nicci did.

Sister Aubrey comforted her throat. "What is it with you, Sister Nicci?

Why is it His Excellency is so curious about you? Why is it you can resist him?"

Nicci turned and walked away. "Thank you for the help, Sisters."

"If you can be free of him, why do you not leave?" Sister Georgia called out.

Nicci turned back from the doorway. "I enjoy seeing Jagang torment you Witches of the Light. I stay around so that I might watch."

They were unmoved by her insolence-they were accustomed to it.

"Sister Nicci," Rochelle said, smoothing back her frizz of hair. "What did you do that made His Excellency so angry?"

"What? Oh, that. Nothing of importance. I just had the men tie Commander Kardeef to a pole and roast him over a fire."

The three of them gasped as they straightened as one. They reminded Nicci of three owls on a branch.

Sister Georgia fixed Nicci with a grim glare, a rare blaze of authority born of seniority.

"You deserve everything Jagang does to you, Sister-and what the Keeper will do to you, too."

Nicci smiled and said, "Yes, I do," before ducking through the tent opening.

CHAPTER 10