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leaving Richard and Warren in silence。
Warren stared at the metal plate。 ‘How did you do that？ You are just a beginning wizard。 You should not be able to effect a shield with your Han for a very long time yet。’
Richard didn’t have an answer for the question； and so he ignored it。 Tell me what you meant about knowing what the Sisters would do to you if they caught you telling that kind of lie。’
Warren’s hand went to his collar。 ‘Well； they would hurt me。’
‘You mean they would use the collar’s magic to give you pain？’
Warren nodded as he took a knot of his robes in his fists。
‘Do they do that often？ Give us pain with the collar？’
Warren twisted the knot of robe。 ‘No； not often。 But to be a wizard； you must pass a test of pain。 They e from time to time and give you pain with the Rada’Han； to see if you have learned enough to pass the test of pain。’
‘And how do you pass the test？’
‘Well； I can only imagine that when you can endure the pain without begging them to stop； you pass。 They never tell me what must be done to pass。’ His face had gone ashen。 ‘I’ve never been able to keep from begging them to stop。 Once you learn to endure what they give； they give more。’
‘I thought it might be something like that。 Thanks for telling me。’ Richard stroked his beard。 ‘Warren； I need your help。’
Warren lifted the sleeve of his robes and wiped it at his wet eyes。 ‘What help can I give？’
‘You said there are prophecies about me。 I want you to study everything about me you can find。 And about the Towers of Perdition； the Valley of the Lost。 I also need to know everything I can about the veil。’ Richard pointed at the book on the table。 There was a drawing a few pages before you stopped on the prophecy。 It was a teardrop shape。 Do you know what it is？’
Warren went to the book and turned the pages back。 This？’
‘Yes。 That’s it。’ He remembered seeing it around Rachel’s neck； in his vision of her and Chase in the Valley of the Lost。 An image of Zedd came into Richard’s mind。 His heart thumped faster。 That looks like the thing I saw。 What is it？’
Warren gave him a puzzled look。 The Stone of Tears。 What do you mean you saw it？’
‘What is the Stone of Tears？’
‘Well； I’m not sure。 I’d have to study about it； but I think it might have something to do with the veil； if drauka could be interpreted to have something to do with the underworld。 What do you mean you saw it？’
Richard ignored the question for a second time。 ‘Warren； I also need to know about the Stone of Tears； and everything you can find about the people who used to live in the Valley of the Lost。 The Baka Ban Mana。 Their name means ‘those without masters。’ And about one they call the Caharin。’
Warren stared dumbly at him。 This is all a lot of work。’
‘Will you help me； Warren？’
Warren looked down； picking at his robes。 ‘On a condition。 I never get out of this place。 Not that I don’t like working with the prophecies； you understand； but people think that I have no interest in anything else。 I’d like to see the country around the palace … the woods； the hills。’
He twisted his fingers together。 ‘I’m afraid of big places。 The sky is so big。 That’s the other reason I stay down here； because it feels safe to me。 But I’m sick of living like a mole。 I would like to try going outside and seeing it。 Would you； well； show me the countryside？ You look to me like someone familiar with the out…of…doors。 I think I would feel safe if you went with me。’
Richard smiled warmly。 ‘You’ve e to the right person； Warren。 I was a woods guide； before all this started。 I don’t know all the country around the palace yet； but I surely intend to。 I’d really enjoy guiding you around。 It would be just like old times。’
Warren’s expression brightened。 ‘Thank you； Richard。 I look forward to seeing open places。 I need some adventure in my life。 I’ll start right away on the things you want； but the Sisters give me work； so I must search when I can find the time。 And I’m afraid that I must be honest； it will take a long time。 There are thousands of volumes here。 It will take months； just to get a good start。’
‘Warren； this may be the most important thing you ever studied。 You may be able to save time if you start by reading everything the Prelate has been reading。’
A sly smile came to Warren’s lips。 ‘I thought you said you weren’t good with riddles。 That is what I was thinking。’ His smile turned to a concerned frown。 ‘Why do you want to know these things？’
Richard studied the other’s blue eyes for a long moment。 ‘I am fuer grissa ost drauka。 Warren； I know what it means。’
Warren clutched his fingers to the sleeve of Richard’s red coat。 ‘You know？ You know which is the correct translation？’ His fingers trembled。 ‘Would you tell me？’
‘If you promise not to tell anyone else； for now。’ Warren nodded eagerly。 ‘No one has been able to figure out which one of the three is the true translation because in trying to justify one； they invalidate the whole。’ Warren frowned。 Richard leaned toward him。 They are all true； Warren。’
‘What？’ he whispered。 ‘How can that be？’
‘I have killed people with this sword。 I am the bringer of death in that sense。 That is the first meaning of drauka。
‘In order to prevail against otherwise impossible odds； such as defeating the mriswith； I use the sword’s magic to bring forth the spirits of those who have used it before me。 I have called the dead forth； called the past into the present。 In that way； I am the bringer of spirits。 That is the second meaning of drauka。
As for the third meaning； bringing forth the underworld； I have reason to believe that I may have somehow torn the veil。 That is the third meaning of drauka。’
Warren gasped。
‘It’s very important that you find out the information I asked you about。 I don’t think I have a lot of time。’
Warren nodded。 ‘I’ll try。 But I think you put too much faith in me。’
Richard lifted an eyebrow。 ‘I have faith in a man able to break Jedidiah’s leg。’
‘I did nothing to Jedidiah。 Jedidiah is a powerful wizard。 I would never dare to oppose one of his powers。’
‘Oh； e on； Warren。 There are ashes of the burned carpet on the shoulder of your robe。’
Warren brushed frantically at his shoulder。 There is no ash there。 I see no ash。’
Richard waited for Warren’s eyes to e up。 Then why are you brushing at your robes？’
‘Well； I 。。。 I was。。。 I just 。。。’
Richard put a reassuring hand on Warren’s back。 ‘It’s all right； Warren。 I’m a believer in justice。 I think Jedidiah got what he deserved。 I won’t tell anyone。 And you must not tell anyone about any of this。’
‘I must warn you； Richard； you did a very dangerous thing yesterday when you told all the Sisters that you were the bringer of death。 That is a well…known； and hotly debated； prophecy。 There are Sisters who believe it means you are one who kills。 They will try to fort you。 There are others who think it means you wil