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cause he had gathered white roses there； and had been up on the wall； to ‘look out at the sea。’ He also knew all the guards。 They were frequent visitors to the prostitutes he provided。
He didn’t slow at the outer gate； but simply gave a nod to the wink the guards gave him。 The guards at the rampart were considerably more reticent； stammering and holding out a hand to halt him。 He shook the hand； pretending that he thought that was what was meant by it。 They finally sighed and resumed their post as he marched away； his mris…with cape billowing open。
At the end of the rampart was a small colonnade； and at the end of that； winding stairs that led down to the Prophet’s quarters。 The guards at the door he wanted were the two he had had trouble winning over at first； and the first to receive his gift of female pany。 They stiffened when they saw him。
Richard casually made for the door between them。 ‘Walsh； Bollesdun； how you doing？’
They crossed their pikes over the door。 ‘Richard； what are you doing down here？ The roses grow up top。’
‘Look； Walsh； I have to go see the Prophet。’
‘Richard； don’t put us in this spot。 You know we can’t let you in。 The Sisters would skin us alive。’
Richard shrugged。 ‘I won’t tell them you let me in。 I’ll say I tricked you。 If anyone finds out； which they won’t； just tell them I snuck by； and you didn’t know until I was on my way out。 I’ll back your story。’
‘Richard； you’re really 。。。’
‘Have I ever done anything to cause trouble？ Have I ever done anything but help all you men？ I buy you drinks； I loan you money when you need it； I let you have free access to the girls； and it never costs you a copper。 Have I ever asked for anything in return？’
Richard had his hand on the hilt of the sword。 One way； or another； he was going through that door。
Walsh pushed a stone chip with his boot。 With a heavy sigh； first one； and then the other； pulled their pikes up。 ‘Bollesdun； go make your rounds。 I’m going to the privy for a sit。’
Richard took his hand from his sword and gave the man a pat on the shoulder。 ‘Thanks； Walsh。 I appreciate it。’
Halfway down the inner hall； Richard felt layers of resistance； shields； like the ones that were outside the Prelate’s door； but they only slowed him a bit。 The room inside was as spacious as his own； but perhaps more elegantly appointed。 One wall held large tapestries； and another expansive bookshelves。 Most of the books； though； seemed to be scattered about the room； on chairs and couches and covering the blue…and…yellow carpets on the floor。
Richard could see the back of a man in the chair beside the cold hearth。
‘You must tell me how you do that；’ the man said in a deep； powerful voice。 ‘I would be most interested in learning the trick。’
‘Do what？’ Richard asked。
‘Walk through shields as if they weren’t there。 Burns the flesh right off me if I try。’
‘If I ever figure it out myself； I’ll let you know。 My name is Richard。 If you’re not busy； I would like to speak with you。’
‘Busy！’ The man’s shoulders shook with his hearty laugh。 When he stood； Richard was a little surprised at how big he was。 His long white hair had made Richard think he might be old and shriveled。 Old； he was； shriveled he was not。 He looked strong and full of vitality。 His smile was weling and threatening at the same time。 He wore a Rada’Han； the same as Richard。
‘My name is Nathan； Richard。 I’ve been looking forward to meeting you。 I didn’t expect you would find your way in alone。’
‘I wanted to e alone so we could talk freely。’
‘And do you know that I am a prophet？’
‘I didn’t e here to learn to bake bread。’
Nathan’s smile widened； but he didn’t laugh。 His brows pulled together like a hawk’s。 His voice took on a hiss。 ‘Would you like me to tell you of your death； Richard？ How you are to die？’
Richard flopped down on the couch and plunked his feet up on a table。 He returned the hawklike glare and threatening smile in kind。 ‘Sure。 I’d love to hear all about it。 And then when you’re done； I will tell you how you are to die。’
Nathan lifted an eyebrow。 ‘And are you a prophet？’
‘Enough of one to tell you how you are to die。’
The frown turned curious。 ‘Really。 Tell me then。’
Richard took a pear from a bowl on the table； polished it on his pant leg； and took a bite。 He spoke as he chewed。 ‘You are going to die right here； in these rooms； of old age； without ever seeing the outside world again。’
The creases in Nathan’s face deepened as his expression sagged。 ‘Seems you are a prophet； my boy。’
‘Unless you help me。 Maybe if you help me； I’ll be able to e back here and help you get out； too。’
‘And what is it you want？’
‘I want this collar off。’
A sly grin spread on Nathan’s face。 ‘Seems we share a mon interest； Richard。’
‘But the Sisters say I will die without it。’
The sly grin widened。 They demand truthfulness from others； but rarely inconvenience themselves with it。 The Sisters have their own agenda； Richard。 There is more than one path through the woods。’
‘The Sisters say I must learn to use my Han； in order to get it off。 They don’t seem to be helping much in that。’
‘It would be easier to teach a stump to sing than for a mere Sister to teach you to use your Han。 You have Subtractive Magic。 They can’t help you。’
‘Can you help me； Nathan？’
‘Perhaps。’ Nathan sat down in his chair； leaning forward intently。 ‘Tell me； Richard； have you ever read The Adventures of Bonnie Day？’
‘Read it？ It’s my favorite book。 I read it until my eyes nearly wore the words off the pages。 I’d love to meet the person who wrote it； and tell him how much I liked the book。’
A broad； childlike grin stole onto Nathan’s face。 ‘You just have； my boy。 You just have。’
Richard came forward from the back of the couch。 ‘You！ You wrote The Adventures of Bonnie Day？’
Nathan quoted a few passages； to prove his intimate knowledge。 ‘I gave the b