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ak if bent too far。
Who could question？ Let them wonder where among them the fault lay。 It would keep them from digging too deeply； lest the blame fall on them。 As she blotted the paper； there was a soft rap at the door。
‘One moment； please。’ She touched the corner of the boy’s letter to the candle flame and； when it was nearly consumed； tossed it in the cold hearth。 The broken seal melted into a molten red puddle。 He would be writing no more letters。 ‘e。’
The heavy； round…topped door opened enough to admit a head。
‘Sister； it’s me；’ came a whisper from the shadow。
‘Don’t stand there like a novice； e in and close the door。’
The woman entered； closing the door quietly； after putting her head back out to check the hall。 She didn’t look down at the carpet。 ‘Sister 。。。’
With a finger across lips； and an angry scowl； she was silenced。 ‘No names when we are alone。 I’ve told you before。’
The other looked about at the walls； as if expecting someone to pop out。 ‘But surely you’ve shielded your room。’
‘Of course it’s shielded。 But it is always possible the breeze could carry words to the right ears。 If that ever happened； we wouldn’t want our names carried with the words； now would we。’
The other’s eyes flicked around at the walls again。 ‘Of course not。 Of course you are right。’ She scrubbed her hands together。 ‘Someday this won’t be necessary。 I hate that we must remain hidden。 Someday we will be able to 。。。’
‘What have you found out？’
She watched as the woman straightened her dress at the hips and then put her fingers to the desk； leaning over a little。 Her eyes had a fierce intensity。 They were strange eyes； pale； pale blue； with dark violet flecks。 She always found it hard not to stare at those eyes。
She leaned closer； and whispered。 They’ve found him。’
‘You saw the book？’
She nodded slowly。 ‘I saw it。 At dinnertime。 I waited until the others were at dinner。’ She gave an even look。 ‘He refused the first offer。’
She slapped her hand down on the desk。 ‘What！ Are you sure？’
That’s what the book said。 And not only that； there was more。 He’s grown。 Grown into a man。’
‘Grown！’ She took a heavy breath as she watched the Sister standing before her。 ‘Which Sister was it？’
‘What difference does it make？ They are all ours。’
‘No； they weren’t。 I wasn’t able to send three of our own。 Only two。 One is a Sister of the Light。’
The other’s eyes widened。 ‘How could you let that happen？ Something as important as this 。。。’
She slapped her hand down on the desk again。 ‘Silence！’
The other straightened； knitting her fingers together。 A small pout came to her face。 ‘It was Sister Grace。’
She closed her eyes and leaned back in the chair。 ‘Sister Grace was one of ours；’ she whispered。
The other leaned over the desk again。 Then； only one of the two remaining is ours。 Who is it？ Sister Elizabeth； or Sister Verna？’
‘That is not for you to know。’
‘Why not？ I hate never knowing。 I hate not knowing if the Sister I’m talking to is a Sister of the Light； or one of us； a Sister of the Dark。 。。。’
She slammed her fist on the desk and gritted her teeth。 ‘Don’t you ever say that out loud again；’ she hissed； ‘or I will send you to the Nameless One in pieces。’
This time the other stared down at the carpet as her face paled。 ‘Forgive me；’ she whispered。
There isn’t a Sister of the Light alive who believes we are anything but myth。 If that name ever reaches their ears； they could begin to wonder。 That name is never； ever； to be spoken aloud by you！ If the Sisters were to ever discover you； or who you serve； they would have a Rada’Han around your neck before you had a chance to scream。’
The other’s hands went to her throat as she let out a small gasp。 ‘But I 。。。’
‘You would claw your own eyes out； for fear of seeing them e to question you every day。 That is why you are not to know the names of the others： so you can’t give them over。 That is why they don’t know your name： so they can’t give you over。 It is to protect us all； so we may serve。 The only name you know is mine。’
‘But Sister 。。。 I would bite my own tongue off before I ever gave them your name。’
‘You say that now。 But were there a Rada’Han around your neck； you would be begging to give me up just to have it off 。。。 And it isn’t my forgiveness that matters。 If you fail us； the Nameless One will not be forgiving。 When you meet his eyes； it will make whatever could be done to you with the Rada’Han while you were alive seem a pleasant time at tea。’
‘But I serve 。。。 I am sworn 。。。 I have given the oath。’
Those who serve well will be rewarded when the Nameless One is free of the veil。 Those who fail him； or fight him； will have an eternity to regret their mistake。’
‘Of course； Sister。’ She was staring furiously at the carpet now。 ‘I live only to serve。’ She knitted her fingers back together。 ‘I will not fail our Master。 On my oath。’
‘On your soul。’
Her defiant； violet flecked eyes came up。 ‘I have given my oath。’
She nodded as she sank back in the chair。 ‘As have we all； Sister。 As have we all。’ She stared at the other’s eyes a moment。 ‘Did the book say anything else？’
‘I didn’t have time to search it thoroughly； but there were some other things I caught。 He is with the Mother Confessor。 He is promised as her mate。’
She frowned。 The Mother Confessor。’ She waved her hand。 That is no problem。 What else。’
‘He is the Seeker。’
She slapped her hand on the desk。 ‘Curse the Light！’ She let out a noisy breath。 The Seeker。 Well； we can deal with that。 Anything more？’
The other nodded slowly； leaning closer。 ‘He is strong； and grown； yet only two days after he triggered the gift the headaches made him unconscious。’
She rose slowly out of her chair。 This time it was her eyes that went wide。 Two days；’ she whispered。 ‘Are you sure？ Two days？’
The other shrugged。 ‘I am only telling you