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and see what they could teach him。 Nothing would please him more than to be released from the collar without having to hurt anyone。
In the building that housed his room； Gillaume Hall； named after a prophet； Richard had learned； a young man came hesitantly out of the shadows on the lower level； before the wide marble stairs。 His head of curly blond hair was cut short at the sides。 His hands were stuck into the opposite sleeves of his violet robes。 Silver brocade circled the cuffs and neck。 He looked smaller than he was because of the way he hunched over。
His head bowed to Pasha while his blue eyes searched for a safe place to settle。 ‘Blessings on you； Pasha；’ he said softly。 ‘You look lovely tonight。 I pray you are well。’
Pasha squinted in thought。 ‘Warren； isn’t it？’ His head bobbed； surprised that she knew his name。 ‘I’m fine； Warren。 Thank you for asking。 This is Richard Cypher。’
Warren smiled shyly at Richard。 ‘Yes； I saw you before the Sisters； yesterday。’
‘I suppose you； too； want to know about the mriswith；’ Pasha said with a sigh。
‘Mriswith？’
‘Richard killed a mriswith。 Isn’t that what you wanted to ask about？’
‘Really？ A mriswith？ No 。。。’ He turned back to Richard。 ‘I wanted to ask if you would care to e down to the vaults sometime； and look at the prophecies with me。’
Richard didn’t want to embarrass the young man； but he had no interest in prophecies。 ‘I’m honored by the offer； Warren； but I’m afraid that I’m not much good with riddles。’
Warren diverted his eyes to the floor。 ‘Of course； I understand。 Not many of the others are much interested in the books； either。 I just thought that maybe； well； I just thought that since you mentioned that particular prophecy yesterday； that maybe you would want to talk about it。 It’s a unique piece of work。 But I understand。 I’m sorry to have bothered you。’
Richard frowned。 ‘What prophecy？’
‘The one you mentioned at the end。 About you being； well’ … Warren swallowed … ‘the bringer of death。 It’s just that I don’t think I’ve ever met anyone from the prophecies before。’ He blinked in awe。 ‘Since you are in the prophecies； I thought； well； I thought maybe 。。。’ His voice trailed off。 He looked down at the floor as he started to turn away。 ‘But I understand。 I’m sorry to have 。。。’
Richard gently caught hold of Warren’s arm and turned him back。 ‘Like I said； I’m not very good with riddles。 But maybe you could teach me something about them； so I wouldn’t be so ignorant。 I do like to learn。’
Warren’s face brightened。 His whole body seemed to swell。 When he straightened； he was almost as tall as Richard。
‘I’d like that。 I would really like to talk to you about that prophecy。 It’s a real conundrum。 To this day； the argument over it has never been settled。 Maybe with your help 。。。’
A broad…shouldered man in plain robes； and wearing a Rada’Han； slipped up silently； took a fistful of Warren’s robe at the shoulder； and moved him aside。 His eyes were locked on Pasha the whole time。 He gave her a smooth smile。
‘Good evening； Pasha。 It will be dinnertime soon。 I’ve decided to take you。’ His eyes glided down the length of her and then back up。 ‘If you can get yourself cleaned up。 And do something with your hair。 You look a mess。 You better get to it。’
He started to turn away。 Pasha put her arm through Richard’s。
‘I’m afraid I have other plans； Jedidiah。’
Jedidiah gave Richard a cursory glance。 ‘What； this country boy？ The two of you going to go chop wood； or maybe skin rabbits？’
‘You’re the one；’ Richard said。 ‘I remember your voice。 You’re the one who called down from the balcony； yesterday； asking； ‘All by yourself？’’
Jedidiah’s condescending smile looked to e easily to him。 ‘An appropriate question； don’t you think？’
Pasha lifted her chin。 ‘Richard killed a mriswith。’
Jedidiah’s eyebrows went up in mock wonder。 ‘Well； how brave of the country boy。’
‘You’ve never killed a mriswith；’ Warren spoke up。
Jedidiah slowly turned a withering glare on Warren。 Warren shrank away。 ‘What are you doing above ground； Mole？’ He turned back to Pasha。 ‘And did you see him kill it？ I would wager he was alone when he claimed to have killed it。 He probably found a mriswith that had died of old age； stabbed it with his sword； and then bragged to you； to try to impress you。’ He redirected a smirk to Richard。 ‘Isn’t that about the way it happened； country boy？’
Richard grinned。 ‘You’ve caught me cold。 You have it right。’
‘As I thought。’ He twitched a small smile to Pasha。 ‘e to me later； child； and I’ll show you some real magic。 A man’s magic。’
Jedidiah strode away imperiously and disappeared around a corner。 Pasha put her fists to her hips。
‘Why did you say that！ Why did you let him think that！’
‘I did it for you；’ Richard said。 ‘I thought you wanted me to stop causing trouble and act a gentleman。’
She folded her arms in a huff。 ‘Well； I do。’
Richard turned to Warren； still shrunk back against the marble newel post。 ‘If he does anything to you； Warren； I want you to e tell me。 It’s me that’s the thorn in his pants。 If he takes it out on you； you e tell me。’
Warren brightened。 ‘Really？ Thank you； Richard。 But I don’t think he would bother with me。 And I’ll be seeing you down in the vaults； when you have the time。’ He cast a shy smile at Pasha。 ‘Good night； Pasha。 So nice to see you again。 You look lovely tonight。 Good night。’
She smiled。 ‘Good night； Warren。’ She watched him scurry off down the hall。 ‘What a strange young man。 I almost couldn’t remember his real name。 Everyone calls him the Mole。 He almost never es up from the vaults under the palace。’
She glanced sideways to Richard。 ‘Well； you’ve made a friend tonight who can be of no help to you； and an enemy who can harm you。 You stay away from Jedidiah。 He’s an experienced wizard； close to being released。 Until you learn to defend yourself with your Han； he can hurt you。 He can kill you。’
‘I thought we were one big happy family。’
There is a pecking order among wizards。 Wizards with the strongest power vie for dominance。 It sometimes gets very dangerous。 Jedidiah is the pride of the palace； and does not take well to the idea that another may challenge his supremacy。’
‘I’m hardly a challenge to the power of a wizard。’
Pasha lifted an eyebrow。 ‘Jedidiah never killed a mriswith； and everyone knows that。’
Feeling decidedly unfortable in the red coat Pasha had selected； Richard tried to enjoy the lentil porridge they had prepared especially for him。 Pasha wore a stunning dark green dress that did more to reveal her figure than cover it。 Richard thought it revealed more of her breasts than was prudent。 The young men there as guests of Sisters or their novices did little eating； and a lot of watching。 None missed a move Pasha made。
Many of the young men in collars came by and introduced themselves to Richard； saying they wanted to get to know him