Temple of the Winds

Verna hoped that Janet had already told Amelia about the bond to Richard so that she wouldn't have to waste time with that, too. As soon as Amelia was sworn to Richard, the bond would protect her, too, from the dream walker. Then they could escape.

Verna dearly wanted to rescue the rest of the Sisters, but she knew that presumption was a road to ruin. On her twenty-year journey away from the cloistered life of the Palace of the Prophets, Verna had learned that out in the world, a Sister had to do her work with care if there was to be any hope of success. Rescuing the rest of the Sisters would be worse than tricky, and it would do them no good if Verna got herself caught while trying to rescue them all at once. Best be aware of your limitations and take it one step at a time. She would get the rest of the Sisters safely away from the dream walker, in due time.

Right now, it was most important to get her two friends out, get information from them that would help her to rescue the rest, and get Warren some help. Without Warren, their cause would be jeopardized; Warren was a prophet, just beginning to come into his talent-if that talent didn't kill him before they could get him the help he needed.

One step at a time, she reminded herself. Use care, use your head, and you have the best chance of success.

A knock came at the door. Verna cracked it open and peeked out as Warren called out like a guard for them to announce themselves. "Two of His Excellency's slaves, Sister Janet and Sister Amelia." Verna pulled open the door, reached out, snatching the cloak of one, yanked her in, and then the other. Verna flattened them both against the wall so they couldn't be seen from the windows.

"Thank the Creator," Verna said with a sigh. "I thought you two would never get here."

Both women stood with wide eyes, trembling like frightened rabbits. Sister Amelia's face was bruised, cut, and swollen.

Warren moved close to Verna. She took his hand as she looked from one white face to the other. Her heart ached for Amelia's obvious pain. But there was something more in her eyes: terror. "What's wrong?" she whispered. "You lied to us," Janet said in a pained whisper. "What are you talking about?"

"The bond. The bond to protect us from His Excellency. I told Amelia about it. She swore the oath to Richard, as you told it to me."

Verna frowned and leaned closer. "What in Creation are you saying? I told you, it will keep Jagang from entering your mind."

Janet slowly shook her head. "No, Verna, it won't. Not from my mind, not from Amelia's. . not from Warren's. . not from yours."

Verna laid a comforting hand on Janet's arm, trying to calm the frightened woman. "Yes, it will. Janet. You must only believe, and you will be protected."

Janet slowly shook her head again. "Before I swore the oath to Richard, Jagang was in my mind. He knew my thoughts. He knew what you told me. He knew it all."

Verna covered her mouth in horror. She hadn't considered that possibility. "But you swore the oath. That protects you, now."

Again, Janet slowly shook her head. "It did, for the first day, but four days ago, on the night of the full moon. His Excellency returned to my mind. I didn't know it. I told Amelia about the oath. She swore, us had I. We thought we were safe. We thought that when you came back, we would escape with you." "You will," Verna assured her. "We all will escape right now." "None of us is going to escape, Verna. Jagang has you. He has Warren. He told us that he slipped into the cracks of your minds while you slept, the first night after the full moon." Tears filled Janet's eyes. "I'm sorry. Verna. You should never have come here to rescue me. It is to cost you both your freedom."

Verna smiled through her rising panic. "Janet, that just isn't possible. The bond protects us."

"It would." Janet said in a suddenly gruff, suddenly sinister voice, "were Richard Rahl still alive. But Richard Rahl departed the world of the living four nights ago. on the night of the full moon."

Janet laughed a hearty belly laugh, even as tears ran down her face. Verna couldn't draw a breath. "Richard. — is. . dead?" Warren slapped his hands to the sides of his head as he let out a cry of anguish. "No! No!"

Verna clutched at him as he sank toward the floor. "Warren! What is it?" "His Excellency. . His Excellency has tasks for me." "Tasks? Warren, what's wrong? What's happening?"

"His Excellency has a new prophet!" Warren cried out. "Please, stop the pain! I will serve! I will serve as I am commanded!" Verna crouched over him. "Warren!"

It felt as if a white-hot steel rod slammed through her skull. Verna cried out as she clamped her hands to her head. Nothing in her entire life of one hundred fifty-six years had prepared her for the fount of pain erupting in her mind. The room went black. She felt the floor smack her face. Her arms and legs twitched with the agony.