按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
Sister Verna took a step forward。 The air between the desks； before the door beyond； shimmered suddenly with a powerful shield that hissed and crackled in warning。
‘The Prelate is busy；’ Sister Ulicia said。 ‘If she deems your return of consequence； she will send for you。’ She pulled a candle closer and bent back to her book。 ‘Just put the journey book on my desk。 I will see that it’s returned to her。’
Sister Verna controlled her voice as she gritted her teeth。 ‘I have been broken down to novice。’ They both glanced up。 ‘Broken to novice； because I followed the orders of that woman。 Despite my pleas and appeals； she forbade me to do my job； my duty； and because of that； I am to be punished！ Punished for doing as the Prelate ordered me to do！ I will at least hear the reasons！’
Sister Ulicia leaned back in her chair and then turned to the other woman。 ‘Sister Finella； please send a report to the headmistress of the novices。 Inform her that novice Verna Sauventreen came to the Prelate’s office without authorization or invitation； and further； she carried on in a tirade unbeing of a novice hoping one day to be a Sister of the Light。’
Sister Finella shifted herself in annoyance as she glared up at Sister Verna。 ‘My； my； novice Verna； your first day in your pursuit of higher calling； and already you’ve earned a letter of reprimand。’ She clicked her tongue。 ‘I do so hope you learn to behave yourself； if you ever hope to be a Sister of the Light。’
That will be all； novice；’ Sister Ulicia said。 ‘You are dismissed。’
Sister Verna turned on her heel。 She heard the snap of fingers。 She looked back over her shoulder to see Sister Ulicia tapping the corner of her desk。
‘The journey book。 And I don’t believe that is the way a novice departs when she is dismissed by a Sister。 Is it； novice？’
Sister Verna pried the small black book from behind her belt and gently set it on the corner of the desk。
‘No； Sister； it is not。’ She curtsied。 ‘Thank you； Sisters； for your time。’
Sister Verna sighed to herself as she closed the door against her back。 She stood for a moment； considering。
Eyes to the floor before her； she made her way back through the palace； down halls both opened and closed； both stone and paneled； across floors carpeted and tiled。 Rounding a corner； she came suddenly upon someone。 She looked up into a face she had been hoping not to see。
He smiled in a familiar manner。 ‘Verna！ How good to see you！’
His young； square…jawed face looked unchanged。 His wavy brown hair was worn a little longer over his ears than before； and his shoulders were broader than she remembered。 She had to restrain herself from touching his cheek； from falling into his arms。
She bowed her head。 ‘Jedidiah。’ She gazed up into his brown eyes。 ‘You look fit。 You look 。。。 the same as you have always looked。 You wear the time well。’
‘You look 。。。 I guess 。。。’
‘The word you are searching for is old。 I look old。’
‘Ah； Verna。 A few wrinkles …’ He glanced down her body。’ … a few pounds； do not diminish a beauty such as yours。’
‘I see your tongue is still in good form around women。’ She glanced to his plain； tan robes。 ‘And I can see you’ve been a good student； as always； and have managed to advance yourself。 I’m proud of you； Jedidiah。’
He shrugged off the pliment and pressed his fingers together。 Tell me about the new one you brought in。’
Her eyes narrowed。 ‘You’ve not seen me in twenty…odd years； since I rose from your bed to go on my journey； and that is your question for me？ Not； how have I fared？ Not； how do I feel about you after all this time？ Not； has your heart found another？ Well； I guess the shock of seeing how I’ve aged has made those questions fly right from your head。’
The sly smile stayed on his lips。 ‘Verna； you’re not a silly girl。 Surely you must realize that in the passing of so much time； neither of us could be expected to 。。。’
‘Of course I know that！ I had no delusions of us。 I had simply hoped to return and be treated with a little tact and sensitivity。’
He shrugged again。 ‘I’m sorry； Verna。 I always thought of you as a woman who appreciated candor； one who had no use for word sports。’ His eyes went out of focus。 ‘I guess I’ve learned so much about 。。。 life 。。。 since back then； when I was so young。’
She removed her glare from his handsome face and started away。 ‘Good night； Jedidiah。’
‘What of my question？’ His voice had an unpleasant edge to in。 He softened it。 ‘What’s the new one like？’
She halted； but didn’t turn。 ‘You were there。 I saw you。 What you saw of Richard is what he is。’
‘I also saw what happened to you。 I’m gaining a little influence among some of the Sisters。 Maybe I can do something to help you with your situation。’ He gestured vaguely with a hand。 ‘If you’re open with me； and satisfy my curiosity； maybe I can help you out of your unfortunate predicament。’
She started out again。 ‘Good night； Jedidiah。’
‘I’ll be seeing you around the palace； Verna。 Think on it。’
She couldn’t believe how ignorant she had been all those years ago。 She remembered Jedidiah as caring and sincere。 Maybe her memory was addled。
Maybe she was just thinking of herself； and hadn’t given him the chance to be kinder。 She must look a mess。 She should have cleaned herself up； put on a nice dress； at least fixed her unruly hair； before she saw Jedidiah。 But she had not had the chance。
Maybe if she had touched his cheek； he would have remembered the spark of something； maybe remembered the tears he shed the day she left； and the promises he had made。 Promises she knew the moment they left his lips would be broken before their echo faded； so long ago。
She came to the hall that led to the novices’ apartments。 She stood looking down at the doors。 She was tired。 Sunup to sundown in the stables was going to be exhausting。 She turned the other way； instead。 She had one other thing to do before she slept。
Pasha came to a stop before a doorway with a