tg.stone of tears-第244章

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　‘I　have　been　busy。’
　
　‘So　have　I；’　Verna　snapped。　‘For　the　last　twenty…odd　years。’
　
　‘Apparently　not　busy　enough。　We　seem　to　be　having　difficulty　with　a　boy　you　collected；　who　you　should　have　taken　to　task　before　he　even　arrived。’
　
　Verna’s　face　turned　scarlet。　‘Had　you　not　forbidden　me　from　doing　my　duty；　using　my　skills；　I　would　have　done　so。’
　
　‘Oh？　Are　you　so　barren　of　resourcefulness；　Verna；　that　you　could　not　function　with　minor　restrictions？　Pasha；　a　mere　novice；　seems　to　be　having　better　success；　and　she　functions　under　the　same　restrictions。’
　
　‘You　think　so？　You　think　he　is　under　control？’
　
　‘He　has　not　killed　anyone　since　Pasha　took　over。’
　
　Verna　stiffened。　‘I　think　I　know　something　of　Richard。　I　would　advise　the　Prelate　caution　in　her　confidence。’
　
　Ann　looked　down；　moving　papers　about；　as　if　devoting　attention　to　words　she　was　not　seeing。　‘I　will　take　your　advice　under　consideration。　Thank　you　for　ing；　Verna。’
　
　‘I’m　not　finished！　I　haven’t　yet　begun！’
　
　Her　eyes　came　slowly　up。　‘If　you　raise　your　voice　to　me　again；　you　will　be；　Verna。’
　
　‘Prelate　Annalina；　please　forgive　my　tone；　but　there　are　matters　of　grave　importance　I　simply　must　raise。’
　
　Ann　sighed；　feigning　impatience。　‘Yes；　yes；　then　please　do　get　to　it。　I　have　much　work　to　do。’　She　folded　her　hands　on　the　desk　and　gave　Verna　a　blank　look。　‘Go　on　then。’
　
　‘Richard　grew　up　with　his　grandfather。　。。。’
　
　‘How　nice　for　him。’
　
　Verna　paused　in　annoyance　at　the　interruption。　‘His　grandfather　is　a　wizard。　A　wizard　of　the　First　Order。　His　grandfather　wanted　to　teach　him。’
　
　‘Well；　we　will　see　to　his　teaching。　Is　that　all？’
　
　Verna’s　eyes　narrowed。　‘I　do　not　need　to　remind　the　Prelate　that　it　is　a　direct　violation　of　the　truce　to　take　a　boy　from　a　wizard　who　would　teach　him。　I　was　told　that　there　were　no　wizards　left　in　the　New　World　to　teach　boys。　I　was　lied　to。　I　was　used。　We　have　been　stealing　boys。　You　made　me　a　part　of　that。’
　
　Ann　smiled　indulgently。　‘Sister；　we　serve　the　Creator；　so　all　may　learn　to　live　in　his　light。　Now；　in　view　of　our　duty　to　the　Creator；　what　is　a　truce　with　heathen　wizards？’
　
　Verna　was　struck　speechless。
　
　Dear　Creator；　I　like　this　woman　so。　Please　give　me　the　strength　to　break　her。　Nathan　had　added　his　snowflake；　she　had　to　add　hers。
　
　‘I　have　been　sent　on　a　twenty…year　chase；　without　knowing　the　reason；　I　have　been　deceived；　my　two　panions　died；　one　at　my　hand；　I　have　been　forbidden　use　of　my　power　to　do　my　job　。。。’
　
　‘Do　you　think　I　forbid　your　use　of　your　power　capriciously？　Is　that　what’s　bothering　you；　Verna？　Very　well　then；　if　you　must　know　the　reason；　it　was　to　save　your　life。’
　
　Verna　stiffened　in　caution。　‘If　I　remember　my　lessons　in　the　vaults；　there　is　only　one　reason　such　restriction　would　save　my　life。’
　
　Inwardly；　Ann　smiled。　Verna　wanted　it　spoken　aloud。　‘Indeed。　Richard　has　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　‘You　knew　that？　You　had　one　with　Subtractive　Magic　collared？　You　would　risk　that？　You　would　have　him　brought　here；　to　the　palace？’　Her　hands　unfolded　and　she　leaned　in　a　bit。　‘Why？’
　
　Ann　held　the　other’s　gaze。　‘Because　there　are　Sisters　of　the　Dark　in　the　palace。’
　
　She　didn’t　twitch。　She　knew。　At　least；　she　suspected。　Bless　you；　Verna；　you　are　a　bright　one。　Forgive　me　for　what　I　must　do。
　
　‘Is　this　room　shielded？’　Verna　asked　in　an　even　tone。
　
　‘Of　course。’　She　left　unsaid　that　her　shield　would　not　protect　against　these　Sisters。
　
　‘Do　you　have　proof　of　such　an　accusation；　Prelate？’
　
　‘I　do　not　need　proof；　right　now；　because　this　conversation　is　restricted。　You　will　not　speak　of　it。　Unless　you　plan　to　bring　charges。　If　you　do；　I　of　course　will　deny　it；　and　say　a　bitter　Sister　was　trying　to　accuse　the　Prelate　of　blasphemy　for　personal　gain。　And　then　we　would　have　to　hang　you。　Neither　of　us　wants　that；　now　do　we？’
　
　Verna　sat　stiff　and　still。　‘No；　Prelate。　But　what　does　that　have　to　do　with　bringing　Richard　here？’
　
　‘When　your　house　is　overrun　with　rats；　the　only　thing　you　can　do　is　bring　in　a　cat。’
　
　This　cat　sees　us　all　as　rats。　Maybe　with　good　reason。　Some　might　say　that　perhaps　you　were　not　bringing　in　a　cat　for　your　rats；　but　bait。　Richard　is　a　good　person。　I　would　not　like　to　think　he　is　being　sacrificed。’
　
　‘Do　you　know　why　you　were　selected　to　go　after　Richard？’
　
　‘I　had　thought　it　was　your　vote　of　confidence。’
　
　Ann　shrugged。　‘In　a　way；　it　was。　Although　I’m　not　sure　that　there　are　Sisters　of　the　Dark　in　the　palace；　and　I　have　no　idea　who　they　are　if　it’s　true；　I　had　to　assume　that　if　it　is　true；　then　since　Grace　and　Elizabeth　were　at　the　top　of　the　list；　they　would　be　Sisters　of　the　Dark。　I　knew　from　prophecy；　that　only　my　eyes　have　seen；　that　Richard　probably　has　Sub…tractive　Magic；　and　further；　that　he　would　refuse　the　first　two　offers。　I　knew　the　first　two　sisters　would　die。
　
　‘If　the　Nameless　One’s　disciples　knew　any　of　this；　they　would　want　the　third　name　on　the　list　to　be　one　of　theirs；　too。　I　used　my　prerogative　as　Prelate　to　pick　the　third　Sister。’
　
　‘You　chose　me；　because　you　had　faith　that　I　was　not　one　of　them？’
　
　What　Ann　wanted　to　say　was　I　have　known　you　since　you　were　a　child；　Verna。　I　know　your　quick　mind；　your　heart；　and　your　soul。　You；　of　all　the　Sisters；　were　the　one　I　trusted　with　the　fate　of　the　world。　I　knew　Richard　would　be　safe　in　your　hands。
　
　But　she　could　not　say　that。
　
　‘I　chose　you；　Verna；　because　you　were　far　down　on　the　list；　and　because；　all　in　all；　you　are　quite　unremarkable。’
　
　The　room　rang　with　silence　for　a　long　moment。　Verna　swallowed。　‘I　see。’
　
　Ann　affected　dispassionate　objectivity。　Inside；　her　heart　was　breaking。
　
　‘I　doubted　you　were　one　of　them。　You　are　a　person　of　little　note。　I’m　sure　Grace　and　Elizabeth　made　their　way　to　the　top　of　the　list　because　whoever　directs　the　Sisters　of　the　Dark　considered　them　expendable。　I　direct　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。　I　chose　you　for　the　same　reason。
　
　‘There　are　Sisters　who　are　valuable　to　our　cause；　I　could　not　risk　one　of　them　on　such　a　task。　The　boy　may　prove　a　value　to　us；　but　he　is　not　as　important　as　other　matters　at　the　palace。　He　may　be　a　help。　It　was　simply　an　opportunity　I　thought　to　take。
　
　‘If　there　had　been　trouble；　and　none　of　you　made　it　back；　well；　I’m　sure　you　can　understand　that　a　general　would　not　want　to　lose　his　best　troops　on　a　low…priority　mission。’
　
　Verna’s　breathing　looked　forced。　Her　voice　sounded　it。　‘Of　course；　Prelate　Annalina。’
　
　Ann　shuffled　her　papers　impatiently。　‘I　have　important　matters　to　get　back　to。　Is　there　anything　else；　Sister？’
　
　‘No；　Prelate。’
　
　When　the　door　closed；　Ann　lowered　her　face　into　her　shaking　hands。　Tears　dripped　onto　her　papers。
　
　
　She　appraised　his　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　Richard　didn’t　know　if　she　would　say　yes　or　not；　but　he　had　had　to　tell　her　much　of　what　he　had　learned　just　to　get　her　to　agree　to　listen　to　his　plea。　He　couldn’t　afford　to　fail。　He　needed　help。　He　had　to　trust　someone。
　
　‘All　right；　Richard。　I　will　help　you。　If　half　of　what　you　say　is　true；　I　must　help　you。’
　
　Richard　sighed　as　he　closed　his　eyes　in　relief。　Thank　you；　Liliana。　I’ll　never　forget　you　for　this。　You’re　the　only　one　around　here　who　will　listen　to　reason。　Can　we　do　it　now？　Time　is　critical。’
　
　‘Now？’　she　whispered　harshly。　‘Here？　Richard；　if　what　you　say　about　you　having　Subtractive　Magic　is　true；　it　won’t　be　a　simple　matter　to　remove　your　Rada’Han。　I　will　need　to　retrieve　an　object　of　magic　that　the　Sisters　keep　guarded。　It’s　an　aid；　used　to　amplify　power。　Maybe　through　that；　and　with　your　help；　it　will　be　enough　to　get　the　collar　off。
　
　‘Not　only　that；　but　if　the　Nameless　One　is　involved；　there　is　no　telling　what　ears；　or　Han；　might　be　paying　attention。’
　
　Then；　when？　Where？　It　has　to　be　soon。’
　
　She　wiped　her　fingers　over　her　eyes　as　she　considered。　‘Well；　I　think　I　can　retrieve　the　object　before　tonight；　so　we　could　try　tonight。　But　where？　It　can’t　be　in　the　palace。　It　would　be　too　dangerous。