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collected him。
Pasha was screaming in a rage。 At first； her words were nothing but an incoherent buzz in his mind。 He pushed himself up with his hands。 Blood was running from his head。 A pool of it spread beneath him。 Reeling； he toppled to his side。
He managed to sit up and flop back against the railing。 ‘Pasha； what 。。。’
‘Keep your filthy mouth shut！ I won’t hear any of it！’
She was standing in the doorway； fists at her sides。 One fist held a dacra。 Tears streamed down her cheeks。
‘You’re the Keeper’s spawn！ You’re an obscene disciple of the Keeper！ You do nothing but hurt good people！’
Richard put his hands to his head。 They came away covered with blood。 He was so dizzy he had to fight the urge to be sick。
‘What are you talking about？’ he managed to mumble。
‘Sister Ulicia told me！ She told me you serve the Keeper！ She told me how you killed Sister Liliana！’
‘Pasha； Sister Ulicia is a Sister of the Dark 。。。’
‘She told me you would say that！ She told me how you used your vile magic to kill Sister Finella and the Prelate！ That’s why you were always wanting to go to the Prelate’s office！ So you could kill our leader in the Light！ You are filth！’
The world swam before his eyes。 He saw two of her； moving around and around each other。 ‘Pasha 。。。 that’s not true。’
‘Only the Keeper’s tricks saved you yesterday。 You gave someone else the coat I loved； to humiliate me！ Sister Ulicia told me how the Keeper whispers in your ear！
‘I should have killed you when I saw you on the bridge； then none of this would have happened。 But I foolishly thought I could save you from the Keeper’s clutches！ Those Sisters； and the Prelate； would be alive now had I finished the job。 I failed the Creator when you tricked me into killing Perry； but that will not save you again。 Your vile underworld tricks will not save you again！’
‘Pasha； please； just listen to me。 You’re being lied to。 Please listen。 The Prelate isn’t dead。 I can take you to her。’
‘You wish to kill me； too！ That’s all you ever talk of …killing！ You profane us all！ And to think I could have ever thought I loved you！’
She raised the dacra and； with a scream； ran for him。 Richard somehow managed to pull the sword； woozily wondering which image of her to try to stop。 The anger； the magic； of the sword brought strength to his arms。 He brought the sword up as she dove for him； dacra first。 The two images of her converged。
The sword never touched her。 With a shriek； she was propelled over the railing above him。 She screamed all the way down。 Richard’s eyes winced shut when he heard her scream terminate as she hit the stone。
Richard opened his eyes to see a stunned Warren standing in the doorway。 He remembered Jedidiah’s fall on the stairs。
‘Oh； dear spirits； no；’ Richard whispered。
He levered himself to his feet and took a quick glance over the edge。 People rushed from different directions toward the body。 Warren was shuffling woodenly toward the railing。 Richard stopped him halfway there。
‘No； Warren； don’t look。’
Tears welled up in Warren’s eyes。 Richard put his arms around his friend。 Why did you do that； he thought； I could have done it。 I was going to do it。 You didn’t have to。
Over Warren’s shoulder； Richard saw Sister Verna standing in the room。
‘She killed Perry；’ Warren said。 ‘I heard her admit it。 She was going to kill you。’
I could have done it； Richard thought； you didn’t need to。 But instead he said； ‘Thank you； Warren。 You saved my life。’
‘She was going to kill you；’ he cried against Richard’s shoulder。 ‘Why would she do that？’
Sister Verna put a forting hand to Warren’s back。 ‘She was lied to by the Sisters of the Dark。 The Keeper filled her mind with lies。 She heard the whispers of the darkness。 The Keeper can make even the good listen to his whispers。 You did a brave thing； Warren。’
‘Then why do I feel so ashamed？ I loved her； and I killed her。’
Richard simply held him as he wept。
Sister Verna pulled them back into the room。 She made Richard bend over as she examined his head。 Blood was dripping all over the floor。
‘This must be tended to。 I can’t fix this much damage。’
‘I can；’ Warren said。 ‘I’m fair at healing。 Let me do it。’
When Warren had finished； Sister Verna made Richard hold his head over the basin while she poured the ewer of water over him； washing off the blood。 Warren sat on the edge of a chair； his head in his hands。 Richard thought that he was going to need the basin。
Warren’s head came up when the Sister finished。 ‘I figured out the rule you told me about。 People will believe a lie because they want to believe it’s true； or because they are afraid it is。 Just like Pasha believed a lie。 Am I right？’
Richard smiled。 ‘You are； Warren。’
Warren managed a weak smile。 ‘Sister Verna； can you take this collar off me？’
Sister Verna hesitated。 ‘You would have to pass the test of pain； Warren。’
‘Sister；’ Richard said。 ‘What do you think he just did？’
‘What do you mean？’
The young wizards sent back through the valley are able to pass because they don’t have sufficient power to draw the spells to them； they are not full wizards。 Zedd told me that wizards have to pass a test of pain。
‘Over the millennia； the Sisters have convoluted that into making them endure physical pain。 I think they’re wrong。 I think the test Warren just passed is more pain than the Sisters could ever give。 Am I right； Warren？’
He nodded； his face going white again。 ‘Nothing they ever did hurt like this。’
‘Sister； remember when I told you how I turned the blade white； and killed that woman by loving her？ Maybe that； too； was a form of the test of pain。 I know how much that hurt。’
She spread her hands in dismay。 ‘Do you really think that one with the gift must kill someone they love to pass the test？ Richard； that can’t be。’
‘No； Sister； they don’t have to kill someone they love。 But they must prove they can make the right decision。 They must prove they have what it takes to choose the greater good。 Would one with the gift be a good servant to this Creator of yours； to the hope of life； if they could act only for selfish needs？
‘Giving someone pain； as the Sisters do； doesn’t prove anything except that the victim does not die。 Wouldn’t serving the light of life； and loving life； require that the person prove instead that of their own free will they would choose right； choose that light of life and love for all people？’
‘Dear Creator；’ she whispered； ‘have we had it wrong all this time？’ Her hand covered her mouth a moment。 ‘And we thought we were bringing the Creator’s Light to these boys。’
Sister Verna’s back straightened with resolve。 She stood before Warren； putting her hands to the sides of his Rada’Han。 As she stood with her eyes closed； her hands to the collar； there was a humming vibration in the air。 After a moment； silence settled over the room； and then Richard he