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xt week； or next year for that matter。’
‘I have no prophecy to give。’
Her anger rose。 ‘You have called me from my bed for pany？’
A broad smile spread on his lips。 ‘Would you object？ It’s a beautiful night。 You are a handsome enough woman； if a little tightly wound。’ He cocked his head to the side。 ‘No？ Well； since you have e； and must have a prophecy； would you like me to tell you of your death？’
The Creator will take me when He chooses。 I will leave it to Him。’
He nodded； staring off over her head。 ‘Sister Margaret； would you have a woman sent to visit me？ I find I am lonely of late。’
‘It is not the task of the Sisters to procure harlots for you。’
‘But they have seen to a courtesan for me in the past； when I have given prophecies。’
With deliberate care； she set the pen on the desk。 ‘And the last one left before we could talk to her。 She ran back half naked and half mad。 How she got through the guards； we still don’t know。
‘You promised not to speak prophecies to her。 You promised； Nathan。 Before we could find her she had repeated what you had told her。 It spread like a wild fire。 It started a civil war。 Nearly six thousand people died because of what you told that young woman。’
His worried； white eyebrows went up。 ‘Really？ I never knew。’
She took a deep breath and spoke in a soft voice to control her anger。 ‘Nathan； I myself have told you this three times now。’
He looked down with sad eyes。 ‘I’m sorry； Margaret。’
‘Sister Margaret。’
‘Sister？ You？ You are far too young and attractive to be a Sister。 Surely you are but a novice。’
She stood。 ‘Good night； Nathan。’ She closed the cover on the book and started to pick it up。
‘Sit down； Sister Margaret；’ came his voice； again full of power and menace。
‘You have nothing to tell me。 I am returning to my bed。’
‘I did not say I had nothing to tell you。 I said I had no prophecy to give。’
‘If you have had no vision and have no prophecy； what could you possibly have to tell me？’
He withdrew his hands from his sleeves and placed his knuckles on the desk； leaning close to her face。 ‘Sit down； or I won’t tell you。’
Margaret contemplated using her power； but decided that it was easier； and quicker； to simply make him happy and sit down。 ‘All right； I’m sitting。 What is it？’
He leaned over even more； his eyes going wide。 There has been a fork in the prophecies；’ he whispered。
She felt herself rising out of the chair。 ‘When？’
‘Just today。 This very day。’
Then why have you called me in the middle of the night？’
‘I called out as soon as it came to me。’
‘And why have you not waited until the morning to tell us this？ There have been forks before。’
He slowly shook his head as he smiled。 ‘Not like this one。’
She didn’t relish telling the others。 No one was going to be happy about this。 No one but Warren； that is。 He would be in a state of glee to have a piece to fit into the puzzle of the prophecies。 The others； though； would not be pleased。 This meant years of work。
Some prophecies were ‘if and ‘then’ prophecies； bifurcating into several possibilities。 There were prophecies that followed each branch； prophecies to foretell events of each fork； since not even the prophecies always knew which events would e to pass。
Once one of these kind of prophecies came to pass and resolved which fork was to be true； and one of the alternatives took place； a prophecy had forked； as it was called。 All the prophecies that followed down the path that had been voided now became false prophecies。 These themselves multiplied； like the branches of a tree； clogging the sacred prophecies with confusing； contradicting； and false information。 Once a fork had occurred； the prophecies they now knew to be false had to be followed as far as could be traced； and pulled out。
It was a formidable task。 The further the event in question was from the fork； the more difficult it was to know if it was of the false fork； or of the true。 Worse； it was difficult to tell if two prophecies； one following another； belonged together。 or if they were to happen a thousand years apart。 Sometimes the events themselves helped them to decipher where it was to be placed chronologically； but only sometimes。 The further in time from the fork； the more difficult was the task of relating them。
The effort would take years； and even then； they could be sure only of acplishing part of it。 To this day； they could not know with confidence if they were reading a true prophecy； or the descendant of a false fork in the past。 For this reason； some considered the prophecies unreliable at best； useless at worst。 But if they now’knew of a fork； and more importantly； knew the true and the false branches； they would have a valuable guide。
She sank back into the chair。 ‘How important is the prophecy that forked？’
‘It is a core prophecy。 There could be none more important。’
Decades。 It wouldn’t take years； it would take decades。 A core prophecy touched almost everything。 Her insides fluttered。 This was like going blind。 Until the tainted fruit of the false fork could be culled； they couldn’t trust anything。
She looked up into his eyes。 ‘You do know which it was that forked？’
He smiled proudly。 ‘I know the false fork； and the true。 I know what has e to pass。’
Well； at least there was that。 She felt a ripple of excitement。 If Nathan could tell her which fork was true； and which was false； and the nature of each branch； it would be valuable information indeed。 Since the prophecies were not in chronological order； there was no way to simply follow a branch； but this would be a very good start： they would know right where to begin。 Better yet； they had learned of it as it happened； and not years later。
‘You have done well； Nathan。’ He grinned like a child who had pleased his mother。 ‘Bring a chair close； and tell me of the fork。’
Nathan seemed drawn up in the excitement as he pulled a chair to the side of the desk。 He