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out what she was discovering。 Richard could tell； from experience； when the Sister was touching her Han。 He recognized the shroud of it in her eyes。 She was touching it now。
In the gathering darkness； Du Chaillu turned abruptly from the wide forest trail； leading them on a narrow path through the thick； tangled growth。 Dark water holding dense thickets of reeds and broad…leafed plants with pink and yellow trumpet…shaped flowers lurked to the sides。 Richard’s eyes scanned the shadows among the trees。
Du Chaillu came to a halt at the edge of a sandy； open area。 She lifted the reins of her horse to Richard。 The others will join us in this place。 Wait here； magic man。’
The term she used to address him lifted his hackles。 He took the reins。 ‘Richard。 My name is Richard。 I’m the one who saved your neck。 Remember？’
Du Chaillu looked at him thoughtfully。 ‘Please don’t ever think I do not appreciate what you have done for me； for my people。 Your kindness will be always in my heart。’ Her eyes seemed to go out of focus； and her voice softened with regret。 ‘But you are still a magic man。’ Her back straightened。 ‘Wait here。’
She turned and disappeared into the forest around the clearing。 Richard stood watching her vanish as Sister Verna dismounted。 She took the reins to all three horses。
‘She is going to try to kill you now；’ she said； as if telling him that she thought it would rain tomorrow。
Richard glared at her。 ‘I saved her life。’
Sister Verna started leading the horses to the trees。 ‘You are a magic man to these people。 They kill magic men。’
Richard didn’t want to believe her； but he did。 Then use your Han to prevent it； Sister； to preserve life； as you told Du Chaillu she should do with her new child。’
Sister Verna stroked her horse’s chin。 ‘She has use of her Han； too。 That’s why the Sisters have always avoided these people； some of them can use their Han； but in a way we don’t understand。
‘I’ve tried little things on her； to test her。 The spells I send at her disappear like pebbles dropped down a well。 And they do not go unnoticed。 Du Chaillu knows what I try to do； and somehow is able to annul it。 I told you before； these people are dangerous。 I have fought every step of the way to prevent this。 I warned you not to swing the axe。 You saw my efforts as misguided。’
Richard gritted his teeth。 His left hand gripped the hilt of the sword。 He could feel the bumps of the word Truth woven into the wire； and through it the heat of its rage。
‘I have no intention of killing anyone。’
‘Good。 Keep the anger of the sword out。 You are going to need it if you’re to survive。 They are surrounding us as we speak； that much my Han can tell me。’
Richard felt as if things were suddenly spinning out of his control。 He didn’t want to hurt anyone。 He hadn’t saved Du Chaillu just to have to fight her people。 Then I suggest you call on your Han； Sister Verna。 I am the Seeker； not an assassin。 I’m not going to kill your enemies for you。’
She took a few strides toward him。 Her voice was tight and controlled。 ‘I told you； my Han is not going to be able to help。 I would end the threat if I could； but I can’t。 Du Chaillu has power against magic。 I’m begging you； Richard； defend yourself。’
His eyes narrowed。 ‘Perhaps you just don’t want to help。 You’re angry that I spoiled the arrangement the Sisters had with the Majendie。 You plan on watching； like you always do； just to see what I’ll do。’
She slowly shook her head in frustration。 ‘Do you really think； Richard； that I would spend half my life in my duty to find you and carry you safely to the Palace of the Prophets； only to watch you killed when we’re on the doorstep of my home？ Do you actually believe that I wouldn’t stop this if I could？ Is your opinion of me that low？’
His impulse was to argue with her； but instead he considered her words。 What she said made sense。 Richard gave an apologetic shake of his head； then quickly glanced into the shadows。 ‘How many are there？’
‘Perhaps thirty。’
‘Thirty。’ In frustration； he folded his arms。 ‘How am I to defend against thirty； by myself？’
She looked out into the darkness a moment； then cast her hands forward。 A wind rose； carrying a veil of sand and dirt outward into the blackness。 That will slow them for a short time； but not stop them。’
She turned her brown eyes on him once more。 ‘Richard； I have used my Han to seek an answer。 The only thing my Han tells me is that you must use the prophecy to survive。 You’ve named yourself the bringer of death； as the prophecy foretells。 The prophecy is about you。
‘You must use the prophecy if you are to defeat that many。 The prophecy says the holder of the sword is able to call the dead forth； call the past into the present。 Somehow； that’s what you must do in order to survive … call forth the dead； call the past into the present。’
Richard unfolded his arms。 ‘We’re about to be overrun by thirty people you say are going to try to kill me； and you give me riddles？ Sister； I told you before that I don’t know what it means。 If you want to help； then tell me something I can use。’
She turned away； walking back toward the horses。 ‘I have。 Sometimes prophecies are meant to give aid to the one named by sending help across time； providing a key that may open a door to enlightenment。 I believe this prophecy is such。 This prophecy is about you； you must find its use。 I don’t know its meaning。’
She stopped and turned to look back over her shoulder。 ‘You forget； I tried to keep us out of the hands of these people。 You said that in this matter； you were not my student； but the Seeker。 As the Seeker； you must use this prophecy。 You are the one who got us into this。 Only you can get us out。’
Richard stared after her as she gentled the nervous animals。 He had thought about this prophecy before； wondering； ever since she had told it to him； what it could mean。 Sometimes he had felt as if he was on the verge of insight； but the feeling always slipped away from him before ing to fruition。
He had used the sword many times； and knew its capabilities。 He also knew his own limitations。 Against one； the sword was virtually invincible； but he was flesh and blood。 He was no expert swordsman； in the past he had always depended on the sword’s magic to make the difference。 But he was only one man； and they were many。 The sword could only be in one place at one time。
‘Are they good fighters？’ he asked。
The Baka Ban Mana are without peer。 They have special fighters； blade masters； who train from sunup to sundown； every day。 And then they train by the light of the moon。 Fighting is almost a religion to them。
‘When I was young； I saw a Baka Ban Mana blade master who had gotten into the garrison in Tanimura kill nearly fifty well…armed soldiers before he was taken down。 They fight like they are invincible spirits。 Some people believe they are。’
That’s just great；’ he said under his breath。
‘Richard；’ she said； without looking to him； ‘I know we don’t get