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‘Richard！’
‘Good morning； Pasha。’ He opened his eyes。 ‘Beautiful day； isn’t it？’
She held her long； brown skirt up a little in her hands。 Her white blouse was damp with sweat。 Her hair had burrs in it。
Pasha blew a strand of hair from her face。 ‘You have to get out of here at once。 Richard； this is the Hagen Woods。’
‘I know。 Sister Verna told me。 Interesting place； I rather like it。’
She blinked at him。 ‘Richard； this place is dangerous！ What are you doing here！’
Richard smiled to her。 ‘Waiting for you。’
She peered around at trees and dark shadows。 ‘Something smells awful in here；’ she muttered。
Pasha squatted down in front of him； smiling a little smile as a person might to a child； or to someone she thought was insane。 ‘Richard； you’ve had your fun； your nice walk in the country； now； give me your hand and let’s get out of here。’
‘I’m not leaving until Verna is restored to Sister again。’
Pasha shot to her feet。 ‘What！’
Richard took his sword in hand and rose in front of her。 ‘I’m not leaving here until Verna is restored to the rank of Sister； the same as she was before。 The palace must choose what’s more important to them … my life； or keeping Sister Verna a novice。’
Pasha’s mouth fell open。 ‘But the only one who can remove Verna’s sanction is Sister Maren！’
‘I know。’ He touched his finger to her nose。 That’s why you’re going to go and tell Sister Maren she must e here； in person； and give me her solemn pledge that Verna is once again a Sister； and agree to my terms。’
‘You can’t be serious。 Sister Maren will not do that。’
‘I’m not leaving this spot unless she does。’
‘Richard； we’ll go back and see if Sister Maren will discuss this； but you can’t stay here。 It’s not worth dying for！’
He regarded her with a cool expression。 ‘It is to me。’
Her tongue wet her lips。 ‘Richard； you don’t know what you’re doing。 This is a dangerous place。 I’m responsible for you。 I cannot allow you to stay here！
‘If you won’t e away with me； then I will have to use the collar and make you e with me； and I know you don’t want that。’
Richard’s grip tightened on the sword’s hilt。 ‘Sister Verna is being punished in retaliation against me。 I have made a vow to myself to restore Verna to Sister。 I can’t allow the sanction to stand。 I’ll do whatever I must； die here if I have to。
‘If you use the collar to hurt me； or drag me off； I’ll fight you； with everything I have。 I don’t know who will win； but if that happens； I am sure of one thing： one of us will die。 If it’s you； then the war will have started。 If I die； then your test to bee a Sister will end on the first day。 Sister Verna will still be a novice； but that is where she stands now。 At least I will have done my best。’
‘You would be willing to die？ For this？’
‘Yes。 It’s that important to me。 I will not allow Sister Verna to be punished because of what I have done。 It was unjust。’
Her brow wrinkled。 ‘But 。。。 Sister Maren is the headmistress of the novices。 I’m a novice。 I can’t go to her and tell her she must reverse the order … she’ll skin me alive！’
‘I am the cause of the trouble； you are simply the messenger。 If she punishes you； I would not stand for it； any more than I will stand for what was done to Sister Verna。 If Sister Maren wishes to start a war； then let it start。 If she wishes to keep my truce； then she will have to e to me； here； and agree to my terms。’
Pasha stared at him。 ‘Richard； if you are here when the sun goes down； you will die。’
‘Then I would suggest you hurry。’
She turned； holding her arm out toward the city。 ‘But 。。。 I must go all the way back。 It took me hours to get here。 It will take me hours to go back； and then I must find Sister Maren； and then convince her that you’re serious； and even if I could get her to agree to return with me； we must still get back here。’
‘You should have ridden a horse。’
‘But I ran here as soon as I realized where you were！ I wasn’t thinking about a horse； or anything else！ I knew there was trouble and just came after you！’
He gave her an even look。 ‘Then you made a mistake； Pasha。 You should have thought before you acted。 Next time； maybe you will think first。’
Pasha put a hand to her chest as she gulped air。 ‘Richard； there is hardly time 。。。’
‘Then you had better hurry； or your new charge will be sitting here； in Hagen Woods； when the sun goes down。’
Her eyes moistened with frustration and concern。 ‘Richard； please； you don’t understand。 This is no game。 This place is dangerous。’
He turned a little and pointed with the sword。 ‘Yes； I know。’
Pasha peered around him； to the shadows； and gasped。 Hesitantly； she stepped to the thing by the trees。 Richard didn’t follow。 He knew what was there； two halves of a creature from a nightmare； its guts spilled across the ground。
Its sinuous head； like a man’s half melted into a snake； or lizard； was a picture of wickedness itself； covered in a glossy； tight； black skin； smooth down to the base of the thick neck where it began welting up into pliable scales。 The lithe body was shaped much like a man’s。 The whole of the creature seemed made for fluid speed； deadly quick grace。
It wore hides covered with short； black hair； and a full…length； black； hooded cape。 What Richard had taken for claws were not claws； but three…bladed knives； one in each webbed hand； with crosswise handles held in the fist。 Steel extensions went up each side of the wrist for support when a strike was made。
Pasha stood dumbstruck。 Richard finally went to stand by her； looking down at the two halves of the thing。 Whatever it was； it bled； the same as any other creature。 And it smelled； like fish guts rotting in the hot sun。
Pasha stood trembling as she stared at the thing。 ‘Dear Creator；’ she whispered。 ‘It’s a mriswith。’ She took a step back。 ‘What happened to it？’
‘What happened to it？ I killed it； that’s what happened to it。 What s