She nodded weakly as she strode slowly across the room。 Her voice regained its control。 ‘What are your preferences； for food？ Your special requirements？’
‘I don’t eat meat。’
She stopped in her tracks。 ‘That’s one I’ve never heard before。’
‘And； I guess I don’t like cheese anymore； either。’
She considered a moment； and then walked on。 ‘I will tell the cooks your special requirements。’
A plan was forming in his head； and she wasn’t part of it。 He needed to get rid of her。
Pasha went to a tall； pickled…pine wardrobe。 It was filled with fine clothes。 There were trousers of a smooth weave； at least a dozen shirts； mostly white； some with ruffles； and coats of every color。
‘These are yours；’ she said。
‘If everyone was surprised I was grown； why are they a size of a grown man？’
She inspected the various items； feeling the fabric； taking some out and holding them up for a better look。 ‘Someone must have known。 Verna must have told them。’
‘Sister Verna。’
She put a black coat back。 ‘I’m sorry； Richard； but it is just Verna； now。’ She pulled out a white shirt。 ‘Do you like this？’
‘No。 I would look foolish wearing fancy things like that。’
She smiled coquettishly。 ‘I think you would look very handsome in it。 But if it doesn’t please you； there are coins on the table over there。 I’ll show you some shops in the city； and you may purchase whatever you like better。’
Richard glanced to the marble…topped table。 There was a silver bowl of silver coins； and next to it； a gold bowl heaped full with gold coins。 If he worked his whole life as a guide； he would never earn even half that much gold。
‘It’s not mine。’
‘Of course it is。 You’re a guest of the palace； and the palace provides whatever our guests require。 If you use that up； it will be replaced。’ She pulled out a red coat with gold brocade on the shoulders and cuffs。 Her eyes brightened。 ‘Richard； this would look simply grand on you。’
‘Even if you cover a collar with precious gems； it’s still a collar。’
This has nothing to do with your Rada’Han。 What you’re wearing is disgusting。 You look like some savage from the woods。’ She held the red coat open。 ‘Here； try this on。’
He snatched the coat from her hands and threw it on the bed。 Gripping her by the arm； he marched her to the door in the front room。
‘Richard！ Stop it！ What are you doing！’
He pulled the door open。 ‘I’m tired； it’s been a long day。 Good night； Pasha。’
‘Richard； I’m only trying to help you look better。 You look uncivilized in that outfit。 You look like some huge beast。’
He went calm as he took in her blue dress； blue the color of Kahlan’s wedding dress。
‘That color does not bee you；’ he said。 ‘Does not bee you at all。’
She stood in the hall； staring at him with big brown eyes。 He kicked the door shut。
He waited a few minutes； and then checked the hall。 There was no sign of her。 He went to his pack； beside the fireplace； and started taking things out。 He wouldn’t need everything。 No need carrying all his extra clothes。
As he was stretching the string to the bow； there was a soft rap at the door。 He crept across the carpets； listening。 Maybe she would go away if he didn’t answer it。 He didn’t need her hanging around； telling him what to wear。 He had important things to do。
The soft knock came again。 Maybe it wasn’t Pasha。 Richard pulled his knife。 He yanked the door open。
‘Sister Verna。’
‘I just saw Pasha； running down the hall in tears。 I’m surprised at you； Richard。’ She lifted an eyebrow to him。 ‘I didn’t think it would take you that long。 I’ve been hiding around a corner； afraid I would be caught while I waited。’ A shawl capped her curly hair and spread down over her shoulders。 ‘Did you have to make her cry？’
‘She is fortunate I didn’t make her bleed。’
She lifted the shawl from her head and settled it around her shoulders。 A small smile touched her lips。 ‘May I e in？’ He held out his arm in invitation。 And it is simply Verna；’ she said as she stepped through the threshold。 ‘I am not a Sister。’
He slipped the knife back into its sheath。 ‘I’m sorry； but I don’t think I could bring myself to call you anything else。 To me； you are Sister Verna。’
‘It is not proper to address me as Sister。’ She looked around the room as’lie closed the door。 ‘How are the acmodations？’
‘They would not embarrass a king。 Sister Verna； I know you won’t believe me； but I’m really sorry about what happened。 I didn’t mean to bring my troubles down on you。’
A broad grin spread on her face。 ‘You have been a constant trouble to me； Richard； but； for once； this trouble was not caused by you。 Another brought this trouble upon me。’
‘Sister； I know I caused you to be broken to a novice。 I didn’t intend that。 But the part about you being sent to work in the stables； that was your own doing。’
Things are not always as they seem； Richard。’ There was a twinkle in her eye。 ‘I hate scrubbing pots。 When I was a novice； when I was young； I hated that more than anything else。 I’m not happy in a kitchen； and less so with my hands in scalding water。
‘I like horses much better。 They don’t talk back； or argue with me。 I like being around horses。 More so； since you destroyed the bits and I became friends with Jessup。 Sister Maren thought she held the reins； as it were； but she was doing what I wished。’
Richard smiled with one side of his mouth。 ‘You are a very devious woman； Sister Verna。 I’m proud of you。 But I’m still sorry you are put back to novice because of me。’
She shrugged。 ‘I am here to serve the Creator。 It matters not how。 And this is not your doing； the Prelate’s orders are what caused me to be broken to a novice。’
‘You mean the orders she wrote in the book？ She forbade you from using your power on me； didn’t she？’
‘How do you know that？’
‘I figured it out。 You were often angry enough to spit fire at me； but you never used your power to stop me。 I don’t think that would have happened unless you were under orders to watch but not to interfere。 After all； if the Ra…da’Han is used to control； why else would you not use that control？’
She shook her head to herself。 ‘You are a very devious person yourself； Richard。 How long have you known？’
‘Since I read the book in the tower。 Why are you here； Sister？’
‘I wanted to see if you were all right。 Starting tomorrow； I won’t get the chance again。 At least not for a very long time … not until I’m raised to Sister of the Light again。 First…rank novices aren’t allowed to have anything to do with young wizards。 The penalty is quite severe。’
‘Your first day as a novice； and already you’re breaking the rules。 You shouldn’t be here。 You’ll be up to your elbows in scalding water and dirty pots if they catch you。’
She shrugged。 ‘Some things are more important than rules。’
Richard frowned at the distant look in her eyes。 ‘Why don’t you sit？’
‘I don’t have time。 I only came to keep a promise。’ She pulled something from a pocket。 And to bring you this。’
She lifted his hand and placed something in it； then closed his fingers around it。
‘When Richard opened his fingers and looked； his knees almost buckled。
‘It was the lock of Kahlan’s hair he had thrown away。
Sister Verna clasped her hands together。 The first night； the first night we were together； I found that。’
Without looking up； he whispered； ‘What do you mean； you found it？’
She leaned back and looked up at the ceiling。 After you fell asleep； after you decided not to kill me； I went for a walk； and I found it。’
His eyes slid closed。 ‘I can’t take this；’ he managed to make himself say。 ‘I have set her free。’
‘Kahlan made a great sacrifice to save your life。 I promised her that I would not let you forget that she loves you。’
Richard’s strength had vanished。 The muscles in his legs quivered。 His hand shook。
‘I can’t take this。 She sent me away。 I have set her free。’
Sister Verna spoke softly。 ‘She loves you； Richard。 Please； as a favor to me； take it。 I have violated the rules to bring this to you。 I made a promise to Kahlan to make sure you know she loves you。 I was reminded again today what a rare thing real love is。’
Richard felt as if the whole weight of the palace had fallen down on him。
All right； Sister。 As a favor to you。 But I know she doesn’t want me。 If you love someone； you don’t ask them to put a collar around their neck； you don’t send them away。 She wishes to be free。 I love her； and so I have set her free。’
‘Someday； Richard； I hope you will realize how much she has sacrificed； and the truth of her love。 Love is a precious thing； and should not be forgotten。 I don’t know what your life holds in store； but someday you will find love again。
‘But； I think you need a friend more than anything else right now。 I’m sincere in my offer； Richard。’
‘Will you take this collar off me？’
She was silent a moment。 Her voice came heavy with regret。 ‘I cannot； Richard。 It would bring you to harm。 I have a duty to preserve your life。 The collar must stay on。’
He nodded。 ‘I have no friends。 I am in enemy territory； in enemy hands。’
‘That’s not true。 But I’m afraid that； as a novice； I won’t have the chance to convince you otherwise。 Pasha looks like a nice young woman。 Try to make friends with her； Richard。 You need a friend。’
‘I can’t make friends with someone I may have to kill。 I meant every word I said today； Sister。’
‘I know； Richard；’ she whispered。 ‘I know。 But Pasha is almost your age。 Sometimes； it’s easier to make friends with those your own age。 I think she would like to be your friend。
‘For a novice； this is as important a time as it is for a young wizard。 The relationship between a novice and the wizard she is assigned is unique。 The bond that will grow is very special； and will last the lifetime of each。
‘She； too； is frightened。 Her whole life； she has been a student； a novice。 Now； for the first time； she is the teacher。 Not only the boy learns； but the girl； too。 They both are entering a new life。 It is a very special thing； for both。’
‘Slave and master。 That is the only bond。’
She sighed。 ‘I doubt any novice has ever faced a task like the one Pasha will have。 Try to be understanding of her； Richard。 Pasha is going to have her hands full with you。 The Creator knows the Prelate herself would have her hands full with you。’
Richard stared off at nothing。 ‘Have you ever killed anyone you loved； Sister？’
‘Well； no 。。。’
Richard lifted the Agiel in his fist。 ‘Denna held me by my magic； as do the Sisters。 She kept a collar around my neck； as do the Sisters。
They had tortured her until she was mad enough to do the same to me。 I understood how she could do it； because I would have done anything she said； to keep from being hurt anymore。’
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