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‘No 。。。 That must be frightening for them … to have the power awakened without guidance from us。’
‘Indeed。 And fear can make them troublesome； as I have said。 I have even seen an old report of one who refused the collar on the first offer。’
Pasha’s fingers covered her mouth as she gasped。 She took them away。 ‘But。。。 that means。。。 one of the Sisters 。。。’
She nodded solemnly。 ‘It is a price we are all prepared to pay。 We bear a heavy responsibility。’
‘But why wouldn’t the parents make him accept the offer？’
She leaned closer； lowering her voice。 Tn the report I saw； the one with the gift was grown。 A man。’
Pasha stared in wide…eyed disbelief。 A man 。。。？’ she whispered。 ‘If a boy can be difficult to control 。。。 what of a grown man？’
She gave the novice an even look。 ‘We are here to serve in the Creator’s work。 You can never tell what the Creator has in His plan； why you are given what you have。 A novice in charge of a new one must use whatever the Creator has given her。 The collar is not always enough。 You can never tell what you might need to do。 The rules don’t always work。
‘Do you still want to be a Sister of the Light？ Even knowing you may be given a new one who could be more difficult than any other novice has ever been given？’
‘Oh； yes！ Yes； Sister！ If the new one is difficult； I know it is a test from the Creator himself； to see if I am truly worthy。 I will not fail。 I will do whatever must be done。 I will use everything I have learned； everything the Creator has given me。 I will be on guard that he may be from a strange land； or have strange customs； and be afraid； or troublesome； or difficult。 And that I may have to make my own rules to succeed。’ She hesitated。 ‘And if you are so kind as to mean what you said about helping me； then I know I will have your wisdom backing me； and I will not fail。’
She nodded with a smile。 ‘I have given my word。 It holds； no matter the difficulty。’ She frowned in thought。 ‘Perhaps； it could be that you are graced with your looks so a new one might see the beauty of the Creator through you； through his work。 Perhaps； this is how you are to show a new one the way。’
‘It would be an honor； in any way； to show a new one the light of the Creator’s hand。’
‘You are right in that； my dear。’ She straightened； clasping her hands。 ‘Now。 I want you to go to the mistress of the novices； and tell her that you have too much free time； and that starting tomorrow； you need to be assigned some chores。 Tell her you have been spending too much of your time looking out windows。’
Pasha bowed her head and curtsied again。 ‘Yes； Sister；’ she said meekly。
She smiled when the novice looked up。 ‘I too； have heard that three of the Sisters are searching for one with the gift。 I think it will be a while before they return with him； if at all； but when they return； and if they bring him； I will remind the Prelate that you are next in line； and are ready for the task。’
‘Oh； thank you； Sister！ Thank you！’
‘You are a fine young woman； Pasha。 The Creator has truly shown the beauty of his work in you。’
Thank you； Sister；’ she said without blushing。
Thank the Creator。’
‘I will； Sister。 Sister？ Before the new one is brought in； could you teach me more about what the Creator has intended for me？ Help me to understand？’
‘If you wish。’
‘Oh； I do。 I really do。’
She patted Pasha’s cheek。 ‘Of course； my dear。 Of course。’ She stood up straight。 ‘Now； off to the mistress of the novices with you。 I won’t have soon…to…be…Sisters with nothing better to do than stare out windows。’
‘Yes； Sister。’ Pasha curtsied with a smile and rushed off down the hall。 She stopped and turned。 ‘Sister 。。。 I am afraid I don’t know your name。’
‘Go！’
Pasha flinched。 ‘Yes； Sister。’
She watched the swell of Pasha’s hips sway as she walked quickly off down the hall； kicking the rolled edges of carpets back down as she went。 The girl had exquisite ankles。
Grown into a man。
She collected her thoughts and started off again； down the halls and stairs。 As she descended； the wooden stairs changed to stone。 The heat lessened； although not the stuffiness； or the smell of the tide flats。 The warm glow of lamps was replaced by the flickering shadows of widely spaced torches。 The cowering palace staff diminished in number until she saw no one。 She continued down to the lowest floors； below dusty storerooms； down below the servants’ quarters and workshops。 The torches became more widely spaced until there were no more。 She ignited a ball of flame in her palm； and held it up to see by as she continued on。
When she reached the proper door； she sent the flame into a cold torch set in a bracket next to the doorway。 The stonewalled room was small； an abandoned cellar of some sort； empty except for moldy straw on the floor； a lit torch； and the two wizards。 The smell was unpleasant： burning pitch and damp mold。
At her entrance； the two stood； swaying slightly。 Both wore the plain robes befitting their high rank。 Each had a stupid half grin on his face。 They weren’t cocky； she realized； they had been drinking。 Probably celebrating their last night in the Palace of the Prophets。 Their last night with the Sisters of the Light。 Their last night wearing the Rada’Han。
The two men had been friends since they had been brought to the palace as boys； almost at the same time。 Sam Weber was a plain man of average height； with curly； light brown hair and a clean…shaven jaw that seemed too big for the rest of his soft face。 Neville Ranson was slightly taller； with straight black hair cut short and smoothed neatly down。 He wore a short； well…kept beard that was just beginning to show flecks of gray。 His eyes were almost as dark as his hair。 His features seemed all the more sharply formed； standing next to his soft friend。
She had always thought he had grown into a handsome man。 She had known him since he had e to the palace as a small boy。 She had been a novice then； and he had been the one assigned to her； put in her care； her final test before being a Sister of the Light。 That had been a long time ago。
Wizard Ranson swept his arm across his middle and gave a dramatic； although wobbly； bow。 He came back up with a widening grin。 His grin always made his face look boyish； despite his years and the beginnings of gray。
‘A good evening to you； Sister 。。。’
Hard as she could； she backhanded him across the face with her rod。 She could feel his cheekbone break。 He fell back to the floor with a cry。
‘I have told you before；’ she hissed through gritted teeth； ‘never to use my name when we are alone。 Being drunk does not excuse the order。’
Wizard Weber stood stone still； his eyes wide； his face white； his grin gone。 Ranson rolled over on the ground with his hands to his face； leaving blood on the straw。
The color came back to Weber’s face in a red rush。 ‘How dare you do this？ We have passed all the tests！ We are wizards！’
She sent a cord of power into the Rada’Han。 The impact threw him back against the wall； where the collar stuck to the stone like a nail to a magnet。 ‘Passed the tests！’ she screamed。 ‘Passed the tests！ You have not passed my tests！’ She twisted on the pain until Weber was choking in agony。 ‘Is this how you address a Sister！ Is this the way you show respect！’
She snipped off the cord and he fell to the floor； grunting when he hit。 He pushed himself up on his knees with an effort。
‘Forgive me； Sister；’ he said in a pained； hoarse voice。 ‘I beg you forgive our disrespect。’ His eyes rose cautiously to meet her glare。 ‘It was only the drink speaking。 Forgive us？ Please？’
With her fists on her hips； she stood watching him。 She pointed with the rod at the one rolling and moaning on the floor。 ‘Heal him。 I don’t have time for this nonsense。 I have e to give you both your test； not to watch him whine and plain about a little slap。’
Weber bent to his friend； rolling him gently over on his back。 ‘Neville； it’s