Naked Empire

One hand on a hip, the other tracing invisible lines in the air, Nathan paced the small room as he talked. "This new link alludes to things I've never seen before, branches that I've always known must be there, but were missing. These branches are exceedingly dangerous prophecies that have been kept here, in secret. I can see why. Even I, had I seen them years ago, might have misinterpreted them. These new branches refer to voids of some sort. Since they are voids, their nature can't be known; such a contradiction can't exist.

"Richard has gone into this area of void, where prophecy can't see him, can't help him, and worse, can't help us. But more than not seeing him with prophecy, it's as if where he is and what he is doing do not exist.

"Richard is dealing in something that is capable of ending everything we know."

Ann knew that Nathan would not exaggerate about something of this nature. While she was in the dark about precisely what he was talking about, the essence of it gave her the cold sweats.

"What can we do about it?"

Nathan threw up his arms. "We have to go in there and get him. We have to bring him back into the world that exists."

"You mean, the world that prophecy says exists."

Nathan's scowl was back. "That's what I said, isn't it? We have to somehow get him back on the thread of prophecy where he shows up."

Ann cleared her throat. "Or?"

Nathan snatched up the lamp, then her pack. "Or, he will cease to be part of viable lines of prophecy, never to be involved with matters of this world again."

"You mean, if we don't get him back from wherever his is, he will die?"

Nathan gave her a curious look. "Have I been talking to the walls? Of course he will die! If that boy isn't in prophecy, if he breaks all the links to prophecy where he plays a role, then he voids all those lines of prophecy where he exists. If he does that, then they become false prophecy and those branches with word of him will never come to pass. None of the other links contain any reference to him-because in the origin of those links, he dies, first."

"And what happens on those links that don't contain him?"

Nathan took up her hand as he pulled her toward the door. "On those links, a shadow falls over everyone. Everyone who lives, anyway. It will be a very long and very dark age."

"Wait," Ann said, pulling him to a halt.

She returned to the stone bench and placed the Rada'Han in the center.

"I don't have the power to destroy this. I think maybe it should be locked away."

Nathan nodded his approval. "We will lock the doors and instruct the guards that it is to remain in here, behind the shields, for all time."

Ann held a warning finger up before him. "Don't get the idea that just because you're not wearing a collar I will tolerate misbehavior."

Nathan's grin returned. He didn't come right out and agree. Before he went through the door, he turned back to her.

"By the way, have you been talking to Verna through your journey book?"

"Yes, a little. She's with the army and pretty busy, right now. They're defending the passes into D'Hara. Jagang has begun his siege."

"Well, from what I've been able to gather from military commanders here, at the palace, the passes are formidable and will hold for a while, at least." He leaned toward her. "You have to send a message to her, though.

Tell her that when an empty wagon rolls into their line, to let it through."

Ann made a face. "What does that mean?"

"Prophecy is not meant for the unenlightened. Just tell her."

"All right," Ann said with breathless difficulty as Nathan pulled her through the tight doorway. "But I'd best not tell her you're the one who said it, or she will likely ignore the advice. She thinks you're daft, you know."

"She just never got a chance to come to know me very well, that's all."

He glanced back. "What with me being unjustly locked away, and all."

Ann wanted to say that perhaps Verna knew Nathan all too well, but decided better of it right then. As Nathan started to turn toward the outer door, Ann snatched his sleeve.

"Nathan, what else about this prophecy you found aren't you telling me?

This prophecy where Richard disappears into oblivion."

She knew Nathan well enough to know by his agitation that he hadn't told her everything, that he thought he was being gallant by sparing her worry. With a sober expression, he gazed into her eyes for a time before he finally spoke.

"There is a Slide on that fork of prophecy."

Ann frowned as she turned her eyes up in thought. "A Slide. A Slide,"

she muttered to herself, trying to recall the name. It sounded familiar. "A Slide. ." She snapped her fingers. "A Slide." Her eyes went wide. "Dear Creator."

"I don't think the Creator had anything to do with this."

Ann impatiently waved in protest. "That can't be. There has to be something wrong with this new prophecy you found. It has to be defective.