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sed … to add to their power； make them stronger。
‘You mean you have the power； the Han； of the other Sisters？’
She nodded as her eyes darted about。 ‘It gives me the power of all three。’ Her eyes came back to his。 ‘It could be that I have too much power to make it through。’ She clutched his shirt tighter and pulled him closer to her face。 ‘If I don’t make it； you must go on alone； try to make it on your own。’
‘What！ I don’t know how to make it through。 I don’t feel anything of the spells about us。’
‘Don’t argue with me！ You felt the lightning。 You felt that much of it。 One without the gift would not feel it until it was too late。 You must try。’
‘Sister； you will be all right。 You will sense the way。’
‘But if I don’t； you must try。 Ignore anything you see that tempts you。 Richard； if I die； you must try to make it through； to the Palace of the Prophets。’
‘If anything happens to you； I’ll try to make it back to the Midlands。 It’s closer。’
She gave a sharp tug on his shirt。 ‘No！ Must you always challenge what I tell you？’ She scowled at him a moment before letting her expression cool。 ‘Richard； if you don’t have a Sister to teach you to control the gift； you will die。 The collar alone will not save you。 You must have a sister for the Rada’Han to be of use。 Without a Sister； it would be like having lungs； but no air to fill them。 We are the air。 Some of us have already given our lives to help you。 Don’t let them die in vain。’
He took her hand from his shirt and gave it a gentle squeeze。 ‘You’re going to make it。 I promise you； you’ll make it。 If there is anything I can do to help； I’ll try。 Don’t be afraid。 Ignore what you’re seeing。 Isn’t that what you said？’
She released an exasperated breath and then took her hand back； turning away。 ‘You don’t know the things I see。’ She looked over her shoulder； squinting at him。 ‘Don’t test me； Richard； I’m not in the mood。 You do as you’re told。’
Richard heard the thunder of horse’s hooves as Sister Verna quickly led them ahead。 The darkness swirled around them as lightning crackled through it。 He found it difficult to accept the calmness of the horses。 Could it be that he really was using the gift to feel it？
To his left； the wall of dust lifted。 Light beyond shone through。 Richard stared at the sight。 It was the Hartland Woods； the woods he knew； longed to return to。 They were here before him。 He had only to step through。 The peace of the place he stared at made him ache with longing； as if stepping through to them would be his salvation。
But he knew it was an illusion； a spell of longing meant to trap him； and let him wander for all time in ensorcellment。 He wondered what would be so bad about that； even if it wasn’t real。 If it was a place he loved； and he would be happy there； what would be so bad about that？
He heard his name called again； again in a scream。 Horses’ hooves were almost upon him。 He spun around； realizing it was Chase’s voice screaming his name。
‘Ignore it； Richard；’ came the Sister’s growl。 ‘Keep moving。’
Richard longed for his friend as much as he longed for the Hartland Woods。 He walked backward； watching。
Chase was riding at a full gallop； his black cloak flying behind； his weapons glinting in the light of the merciless sun。 The horse was covered with lather。 Someone else was with him； in his lap。 Richard squinted； trying to see better； and realized it was Rachel。 That was natural； Rachel would be with Chase。 Rachel was screaming his name； too。 Richard watched the illusion as it bore down upon him。
Something about Rachel riveted his attention。 Something about her gave Richard the strong sense of Zedd’s presence。 His eyes were lured to an amber stone hanging by a gold chain about her neck。 The sight of the stone drew Richard’s interest as if it were Zedd himself calling to him。
‘Richard！’ Chase was screaming。 ‘Don’t go in there！ Don’t go in there！ Zedd needs you！ The veil is torn！ Richard！’
Chase suddenly drew the horse to a skidding stop。 Richard took slow； backward steps as he watched the illusion。 Chase had gone calm； and was no longer screaming。 With Rachel in his arms he dismounted； looking about in wonder。 The dust was passing between them again； and Richard was having difficulty seeing his old friend。 Chase set Rachel down and took her hand as they both turned about； staring off at nothing。 Richard thought that an odd thing for a vision to do； but then decided it must just be a way of trying to entice him to go see what they were looking at。
Richard turned to the Sister as she called his name。 ‘e on； or I’ll make you wish I had left you here！ You mustn’t stop！’ She surveyed each side as she moved ahead。 This opening is closing around us。 Hurry； before we’re trapped。’
Richard glanced behind。 The vision was disappearing beyond the swirling darkness。 Chase and Rachel appeared to be walking off toward something。 The roiling clouds passed between Richard and the vision of his friends； and they were gone。
Richard trotted to catch up with Sister Verna。 He wondered at the reason for such an odd vision。 Why would the magic pick those two from his mind to tempt him？ They had seemed so real。 It had felt as if he could have reached out and touched the two of them。 Perhaps the magic was trying to seduce him in to following someone he trusted with his life。 But it had seemed so real； Chase had looked so desperate。
He cautioned himself to pay attention。 Of course it seemed real to him。 That was the whole purpose of the magic： to appear real in order to fool you； to draw you in。 It wouldn’t be very effective magic if it didn’t seem real。
Richard put a hand to Jessup’s flanks as he came up behind him； to let him know he was there and keep from startling him。 He ran the hand along the length of the muscular horse as he trotted by； pulling Bonnie and Geraldine along by their lines in his other hand。
Richard gave Jessup a pat on the neck as he went past。 Jessup dropped his head and once again browsed at grass that wasn’t there；