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e all atwitter at the sight of Sister Verna。 Sister Verna was a head shorter than he； and none of these three women were as tall as she。 They smoothed their full； pastel skirts； and tugged at the white bodices。
‘Sister Verna！’ one cried out as the three rushed up。 ‘Oh； dear Sister Verna； it’s so good to see you at last。’
A tear or two ran down their rosy faces。 Their smiles looked about to burst their cheeks。 Each looked a good deal younger than Sister Verna。 She surveyed the big； wet eyes。
Sister Verna tenderly stroked the sniffling face before her。 ‘Sister Phoebe。’ She touched another’s hand。 ‘And Sister Amelia； and Sister Janet。 It’s so good to see you again。 It has been a long time indeed。’
The three giggled with excitement； at last posing themselves。 Sister Phoebe’s round face looked about； past Richard。
‘Where is he？ Why haven’t you brought him in with you？’
Sister Verna lifted her hand toward Richard。 This is he。 Richard； these are friends of mine。 Sisters Phoebe； Amelia； and Janet。’
The smiles transformed into astonished looks。 They blinked as they took in his size and age。 They stared in open amazement before finally sputtering over each other’s words about how glad they were to meet him。 They tore their eyes from him at last and returned their attention to Sister Verna。
‘Better than half the palace is waiting to greet you both；’ Sister Phoebe said。 ‘Everyone has been so excited since we received word that you would arrive today。’
Sister Amelia smoothed back her fine； light brown hair； flipping back the ends that barely brushed her shoulders。 ‘No other has been brought in since you left for Richard。 All those years； and no other。 Everyone is so eager to meet him。 I guess they are in for a ‘big’ surprise；’ she said as she blushed； glancing sideways at him。 ‘Some of the younger Sisters； especially。 A pleasant surprise； I would say。 My； but he is big。’
Richard remembered a time； when he was little； when he had been imprisoned in his house by a pouring rain。 His mother had some women friends visiting to help in the making of a quilt； and to pass the time in conversation。 As they sat and sewed while he played on the floor； they discussed him as if he weren’t there； talking about how he was growing； and his mother had told how much he ate； and how good he was at reading。 In similar disfort； now； Richard shifted his pack up higher on his shoulder。
Sister Phoebe turned to him and just beamed。 She reached out and touched his arm。 ‘Listen to us go on！ We shouldn’t talk about you like you weren’t here。 Wele； Richard。 Wele to the Palace of the Prophets。’
Richard silently watched the three Sisters blinking up at him。 Sister Amelia giggled； and said to Sister Verna； ‘He doesn’t talk much； does he。’
‘He talks enough；’ Sister Verna said。 Under her breath； she added； Thank the Creator he is quiet for now。’
‘Well；’ Sister Phoebe said； in a bright voice。 ‘Shall we go？’
Sister Verna frowned at her。 ‘Sister Phoebe； who are the troops I saw； the ones in the strange uniforms？’
Sister Phoebe’s brow wrinkled in thought a moment； then her eyebrows lifted。 ‘Oh； those troops。’ She dismissed it with a wave。 The government was overthrown； a few years back。 I guess it must have been while you were away。 The Old World has a new government； again。 We have an emperor； now； instead of all those kings。’ She looked to Sister Janet。 ‘What is it they call themselves？’
Her brow creased in thought； Sister Janet’s eyes turned toward the ceiling。 ‘Oh； yes；’ she said in a demure voice。 The Imperial Order。 And you are quite right； Sister Phoebe； they have an emperor。’ She nodded。 ‘Yes； the Imperial Order； led by an emperor。’
Sister Phoebe shook her head in wonder。 ‘Such foolishness。 Governments e； and governments go； but the Palace of the Prophets always remains。 The Creator’s hand shelters us。 Shall we go greet the others？’
Following behind the three； they passed through warmly decorated passageways and halls。 As far as Richard was concerned； he was in hostile territory。 Threat always caused the magic of the Sword of Truth to try to seep into him； to protect him。 He let in a trickle； keeping the anger on a slow burn。 Sister Verna glanced sideways occasionally； as if measuring the growth of his glower。
At last； they went through a pair of thick walnut doors that opened into a vast chamber。 They had to pass under a low ceiling and between white columns with gold capitals； before entering under a huge； vaulted dome painted with immense scenes of people in robes surrounding a glowing figure。 Two levels of balconies with； ornate stone railings ringed the circular room。 Stained…glass windows lit the top balcony from behind。 The floor of the room was made up of small； light and dark wood squares laid out in a zigzag pattern。 The hum of well over a hundred voices echoed around the chamber。
Women stood in bunches around the floor and more lined the balconies。 Scattered among the women on the second level were some men and boys。 The women； all Sisters of the Light； he presumed； were dressed in finery。 There seemed to be no pattern； their dresses were of every color； with designs ranging from conservative to revealing。 The boys and men were dressed in everything from plain robes to coats as elaborate as Richard imagined any lord or prince would wear。
The buzz of talking died out as everyone began turning to the new arrivals。 As the room fell to silence； applause started； swelling into a roar。
Sister Phoebe took a few steps toward the center of the room； raising her hand； calling for silence。 The applause died out in spurts。
‘Sisters；’ Sister Phoebe said； her voice trembling with excitement； ‘please wele Sister Verna home。’ The applause roared again and； after a few moments； the hand brought it to silence once more。 ‘And may I present our newest student； our newest child of the Creator； our newest charge。’ She turned； holding her hand out； wiggling her fingers； indicating she wanted Richard to step forward。 He took three strides to her； Sister Verna going with him。
Sister Phoebe leaned close and whispered。 ‘Richard 。。。？ Do you have any more to your name？’
Richard hesitated a moment。 ‘Cypher。’
She turned back to the crowd。 ‘Please wele Richard Cypher to the Palace of the Prophets。’
The clapping started again。 Richard glowered as every face watched him。 Women near pressed closer； to get a better look at him。 There were women of all ages and descriptions in the crowd； ranging from some who looked old enough to be kindly grandmothers to some hardly old enough to be called women； with those of every age in between。 They ranged from plump to skinny； with hair as different as their dress； with every color from blonde to black。 Their eyes； too； were of every color。
He noticed one woman who stood near him。 She had a warm smile on her reed…thin lips； and strange； pale blue eyes with violet flecks through them。 She was looking at him as if he were an old； dear friend； whom she loved； and hadn’t seen in years。 She was