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o it。’
He thought she might launch into a lecture； but she didn’t。 Her tone was sympathetic。
‘Richard； I’ve been talking to a few friends of mine。 None of us knows everything about the magic of the palace； and especially the Hagen Woods； but there is reason to believe that the Hagen Woods were placed there specifically for certain wizards。’
Richard studied her quiet expression； the creases in her face； the sincerity in her eyes。 ‘Are you saying； Sister； that if I need to pound my fist against the wall； maybe I should do so？’
She gave a slight lift to her eyebrows。 The Creator gave us hunger so we would eat； because eating is necessary。’
‘What would be the purpose of a hunger like mine？’
She shook her head。 ‘I don’t know。 For a second time in as many days； the Prelate has declined to grant me an audience。
But I’m going to try to find some answers。 In the meantime； just please don’t let the sun set on you in the Hagen Woods。’
‘Is this what you came to tell me； Sister？’
She looked away； and paused； rubbing her forehead with two fingers。 She looked uncertain。 He had never seen her like this。 ‘Richard； there are things going on that I don’t understand； and they are connected to you； events are not happening as they should。’ She saw his curious look。 ‘I can’t talk about them just yet。’
She cleared her throat。 ‘Richard； I don’t want you to trust every one of the Sisters。’
Richard lifted an eyebrow。 ‘Sister； I trust none of you。’
That brought a short…lived smile to her face。 ‘For now； that would be best。 That was what I wanted to tell you。 I’m going to find the answers； but…for now； well； let’s just say that I know you will do as you must to stay safe。’
After Sister Verna left； Richard thought about what she had said； and about the things Warren had told him。 Mostly； he thought about the Stone of Tears。
It puzzled him that the magic in the Valley of the Lost would present him with a vision of something he had never seen before； and put it around Rachel’s neck。 The other visions seemed to have been anchored in his longings and fears。 Maybe because he missed seeing his friend； Chase； he saw the vision of Rachel； too； she would be with Chase。 But why would the vision put around her neck something he had never seen before； which turned out to look like a drawing in a book？
Maybe they weren’t the same thing。 He told himself they couldn’t be； but an uneasy feeling inside said otherwise。
As much as he missed Chase and Rachel； it was the stone around Rachel’s neck that had captured his attention。 It was as if Rachel were bringing it to him for Zedd； and Zedd had been there with him； urging him to take the stone。
Pasha’s knock at the door brought him out of his brooding。 She was wearing a plain； brownish gray dress with small； pink cloth buttons up the front； all the way up to her neck。 Though it didn’t show the expanse of flesh the green dress had； it was tailored so that it revealed nearly every detail of her shape。 The fact that it covered everything only made what it covered all that much more intriguing。 The color somehow brought out the softness of her brown hair。
Pasha sat cross…legged on the floor； on the blue and yellow carpet in front of the fireplace。 She draped her dress carefully over her knees and then looked up。 ‘Here。 Sit like me； in front of me。’
Richard sat on the floor and folded his legs。 She motioned him to e closer until their knees touched。 She took his hands and held them lightly as they rested across both their knees。
‘Sister Verna didn’t do this when I practiced。’
‘That was because the Rada’Han had to be within the circle of influence of the magic of the palace before we could practice in this way。 Until now； when you have practiced touching your Han； it has been alone。 Most of the time from now on； I； or a Sister； will use our Han to assist you。’ She smiled。 ‘It will help you progress faster； Richard。’
‘All right。 What do you want me to do？’
‘She told you how to try to reach your Han？ How to concentrate on finding that place within yourself？’ Richard nodded。 That is what I want you to do。 While you search for that place； I will use my Han； through the Rada’Han； to try to guide you。’
Richard squirmed a little； getting more fortable。 Pasha took back a hand and fanned her face。 This dress seems so warm； after wearing the other。’ She unbuttoned the top five buttons of her dress and then took his hand up again。 Richard glanced at the fire； to check the logs； so he would know how long it had been when he opened his eyes again。 He could never seem to judge the time while he searched for his Han。 It always seemed like mere minutes； but it was usually at least an hour。
Richard closed his eyes。 He brought forth the image of the Sword of Truth on a plain background。 As the quiet settled over him； as he sought the peace within； his breathing slowed。 He took a long breath； and then let himself sink into the calm center。
He was aware of Pasha’s hands holding his； of her knees touching his； and of her even breathing ing into harmony with his。 It felt good to have her holding his hands。 He didn’t feel isolated the way he had always felt before。 He didn’t know if she really was using the magic of his collar to go with him； but he felt himself spiraling deeper than he had before。
He drifted in the timeless place without thinking； without effort or worry。 Whatever his Han was； he didn’t see or feel anything he hadn’t seen or felt before。 Other than feeling more relaxed than before； and the forting feeling of having Pasha with him； it was no different。 He was dimly aware of his body starting to feel cramped； and of the warmth from the fire。 The cold steel of the sword seemed to be a core of ice in the heat。
At last； he opened his eyes。 Pasha opened her eyes with him。 Richard glanced to the fire。 The logs had been reduced to glowing coals。 Two hours； he judged。
A trickle of sweat ran down Pasha’s neck。 ‘My； but it’s warm tonight。’
She unbuttoned buttons。 A lot of buttons。 More of her was showing than had shown in the green dress。 Richard made himself look back up into her soft eyes。 Pasha gave him a small； self…assured smile。
‘I didn’t feel anything；’ Richard said。 ‘I didn’t sense my Han。 Although； I don’t know what it is I’m supposed to sense。’
‘I didn’t； either； and I should have。 Strange。’ She sighed to herself with a puzzled expression。 Her face brightened。 ‘But it takes practice。 Did you feel my Han？ Was it any help？’
‘No；’ he admitted。 ‘I didn’t feel anything。’
She made a little quirk with her mouth as she frowned。 ‘You didn’t feel anything of me？’ He shook his head。 ‘Well； close your eyes and try again。’
It was late； and Richard didn’t want to practice anymore； it was tiring。 But he decided to do as she wished。 He closed his eyes。 He concentrated on trying to bring back the sword。
Suddenly he felt Pasha’s full lips against his。 His eyes opened as she pressed against him。 Her eyes were closed； her brow wrinkled。 She grasped his face with her hands。
Richard gripped her shoulders and pushed her away。 She opened her eyes and licked her lips。
She smiled coyly。 ‘Did you feel that？’
‘I felt it。’
She hooked an arm around his neck。 ‘Apparently； not enough。’
Richard gently put a hand against her as she tried to lean in。 He didn’t want to embarrass her； so he tried to keep his voice pleasant。 ‘Pasha； don’t。’
She rubbed her free hand around on his stomach。 ‘It’s late。 No one will be around。 If it will make you feel more fortable； I’ll shield the door。 You shouldn’t worry。’
‘I’m not worried。 I just 。。。 don’t want to。’
She looked a bit hurt。 ‘You do not think I am pretty enough？’
Richard didn’t want to offend her； and he didn’t want to make her angry。 But he didn’t want to encourage her； either。
‘It’s not that； Pasha。 You’re very attractive。 It’s just that 。。。’
She unbuttoned another little button。 Richard reached