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‘Join with us； Richard； and I will show you the glory that awaits those who serve him。 You can live forever。’
Richard leapt to the top of a rock。 ‘Never！’
She looked up with a cold detachment。 ‘I thought this would be pleasurable； but I find I am growing bored。’
Liliana swept a hand out。 Twisting； snaking lightning came from the hand； but it was not like any lightning he had ever seen before。
It was black lightning。
Instead of a bolt of light and heat； it was an undulating void； as dark as the night stone； as dark as the boxes of Orden； as dark as eternal death。 The dim； moonlit scene seemed a sunny day in parison。
Richard knew： he was seeing Subtractive Magic。
Liliana swept the black lightning across the rock beneath his feet。 It effortlessly sliced a smooth…edged void through the rock。 The remaining part he stood atop collapsed onto the half below。 Trees behind for a good distance； severed in the same way； by the same black bolt； crashed to the ground in a roar of noise。
Richard lost his footing and toppled backward onto the steep slope； tumbling down the hill。 He threw his arms out to stop himself when he hit the flat at the bottom； and immediately rolled over onto his back。 He looked up and gasped。
Liliana was standing right over him； her sword held high in both hands。 By where she was looking； he knew she intended to cut off his legs。 He froze at seeing her sword mence its descent。
What he was doing was not working。 He had to do something else； or he was going to die。
Her blade was a blur in the moonlight。 He released himself； gave sanction to his inner self； his gift。 He would surrender to whatever was there； or he would die。 It was his only chance。 He found the calm center within； and did its bidding。
He saw the Sword of Truth thrusting upward。 His knuckles were white with effort。 The sword was a white glow in the gloomy light。
With all his force； he drove the hissing white blade into Liliana； under her ribs。 When the tip severed her spine； ing out her back between her shoulder blades； she went limp。 Only his sword and strength held her upright。
Her mouth dropped open in a gasp。 Her sword fell； sticking in the ground to the side。 Her wide； pale eyes stared down at him。
‘I forgive you； Liliana；’ Richard whispered。
Her arms twitched in an uncoordinated manner。 Terror rilled her eyes。 She tried to speak； but only blood frothed forth。
There was an earsplitting crack； like a lightning strike； but instead of a flash of light； a ripple of total darkness swept through the forest。 Its touch made his heart skip a beat。 When it lifted； the moonlight seemed dazzling； and Liliana was dead。
Richard knew … the Keeper had taken her。
Before； he had called the sword’s white magic knowing full well what it meant。 This time； he had done as Nathan had told him； and let his instinct； his gift； call it forth。 It had been a surprise to him； both the instant calling of the white magic； and the fact that he had not consciously done it。
Something within had known that that was what was needed to counter the Keeper’s hate that rilled Liliana。 Richard was left stunned by what had happened。 He stared down at Liliana as he withdrew his sword。 He had confided in her。 He had trusted her。
He realized that he was still where he had started … with the collar around his neck； and no ideas of how to get it off。 Collar or no collar； he had to get through the barrier that kept him here。 He decided that he would go get his things from the palace； and then he would find a way through the invisible wall。
As he wiped the sword clean on her clothes； he recalled how it had been in the center of the clearing； a good distance from him。 He had somehow called it to him； along with the magic。 The sword had flown through the air； and e into his hand。
He set the sword on the ground； and experimentally called its magic。 The anger； the fury； filled him； as always。 He held his hand out and willed the blade to e to him。 It lay rock…solid on the ground。 Try as he might； it would not so much as twitch。
Frustrated； he returned it to its scabbard。 He pulled Liliana’s sword from the ground and broke the blade over his knee。 When he threw it aside； he noticed something white nearby。
White bones gleaming in the moonlight were mostly all that remained of the desiccated corpse。 Only the top half was there。 He assumed animals must have gotten the rest； but then he found the pelvis and legs； some distance away。 Tattered remains of a dress that matched the top half still surrounded the leg bones。
Richard knelt； inspecting the upper body。 Animals had not touched it。 There was not a single tooth mark on any bone。 It remained now as it had fallen。
With a frown； he saw that the bones of the lower spine were shattered。 He had never seen bones splintered in such a way。 It was as if this woman had been blown in half； while alive。
He knelt silently； staring； wondering。 Someone had killed this woman。 Somehow； he knew： magic had killed this woman。
‘Who did this to you？’ he whispered down at the corpse。
Slowly； a skeletal arm rose toward him in the moonlight。 The fingers uncurled。 A thin chain dropped down； dangling from the bones of a finger。
Richard； his hair feeling as if it were trying to stand on end； carefully took the chain from the fingers。 There was a single object on the chain。 He held it up in the moonlight and saw it was a lumpy piece of gold； formed into the letter J。
‘Jedidiah；’ Richard whispered； not knowing what made him do so。
CHAPTER 66
As Richard approached； he noticed a motion on the stone bridge。 A crowd lined one edge； everyone looking down to the river。 At the center； he eased his way through toward the low； walled railing。 As he did； he saw Pasha at the crown； too； leaning out over the stone； looking down。
‘What’s going on？’ he asked as he came up behind her。
Pasha spun at the sound of his voice。 She flinched when she saw him。 ‘Richard！ I thought 。。。’ She looked back over the railing； down to the river； and then back to him。
‘You thought what？’
She threw her arms around his middle。 ‘Oh； Richard！ I thought you were dead！ Thank the Creator！’
Richard pried her arms off and then leaned over； looking down to the dark river below。 Several small boats； each with a lantern； were towing a body tangled in their hand…casting nets。 In the flickering yellow light； he could see the red coat。
Richard ran over the bridge and down the banks； reaching the shore as the men were landing the boats。 Grabbing the nets from a man； he hauled them and their load up onto the grassy bank。
There was a small； round hole in the lower back of the red coat。 He rolled the body over and looked into Perry’s dead eyes。 Richard groaned。
Wizard’s Second Rule。 Perry had died because Richard had violated it。 He had tried to do something good； with the best of intentions； and it had brought harm。 It was Richard the dacra had been meant for。 It was he they thought they were killing。
Pasha was standing on the bank behind him。 ‘Richard； I was so afraid。 I thought it was you。’ She started crying。 ‘What was he doing in your red coat？’
‘I loaned it to him。’ He gave her a quick hug。 ‘I have to go； Pasha。’
‘You don’t mean the palace。 You didn’t really mean what you said about leaving。 I know you didn’t。 You can’t leave； Richard。’
‘I meant every word。 Good night； Pasha。’
He left the men to their grisly task and headed for his room。 Someone had meant to kill him； and it hadn’t been Liliana。 Someone else was trying to kill him。
As he was loading his things into his pack； he heard a knock at his door。 He froze； a shirt half…folded in his hands。 Then he heard Sister Verna’s voice beyond the door； asking if she could e in。
Richard yanked the door open； preparing to launch into a tirade； but the look on her face caught the words in his throat。 She stood woodenly； staring off at nothing。
‘Sister Verna； what’s wrong？’ He took her arm and led