Soul of the Fire

"The Prelate says the chimes are loose," Sister Georgia put in. Everyone gasped. "She believes it."

The clear implication was that Sister Georgia didn't believe it, that it was impossible, and anyone would have to be a fool to think it was so.

"Now, listen to me, all of you." A

"Sister Amelia-"

"She's sworn to the Keeper!" several Sisters in the back gasped aloud.

"I know," A

"Richard was able to use his power to stop the plague."

There were astonished looks all around, accompanied by whispering. A

"Richard contracted the plague, and in order to save his life, the Mother Confessor used magic." A

"The chimes are here. She called them into this world. I have personal knowledge of this. I have seen them, and I have seen them kill."

This time, there were no protests. Even Sister Georgia seemed convinced. A

"As you all know, the chimes being loose has the potential to bring about an unprecedented cataclysm. It has begun. Magic is failing. All our magic is diminished to the point where it is useless. However, in the meantime Jagang's magic is useless, too.

"While this is so, we can get you all out of here."

"But what difference do the chimes make?" someone asked.

A

Sister Georgia stared in disbelief for a moment. "But what if the chimes go back to the underworld? That could happen unexpectedly at any time. Jagang would be back in our heads. You can't tell he's there, Prelate. You can't tell.

"The chimes could already have fled back to the world of the dead. They may not have succeeded in gaining a soul. They may have fled to the protection of the Nameless One. The dream walker could be back in my head, watching me, as we speak."

A

"But we aren't allowed to use our gift without permission," a Sister to the right said. "We couldn't tell when our power returned to know the chimes had fled this world."

"I will know immediately," A

Sister Kerena stepped forward. "But if the chimes do go back, then His Excellency will return to-"

"No. Listen. There is a way to prevent the dream walker from ever again entering your mind."

"That's not possible." Sister Cherna's eyes darted about, as if Jagang might be hiding in the shadows, watching them. "Prelate, you must get out of here. You're going to be caught. Someone might have seen you. They could be telling Jagang as we speak."

"Please, get away," Sister Fionola said. "We are lost. Forget about us and get away. It can come to no good end, you being here."

A

Sister Georgia was back to disbelieving. "But I don't see how-"

"How do you think he doesn't enter my mind? Don't you think he would want me? The Prelate herself? Wouldn't he get me if he could?"

They were all silent as they considered.

"Well, I guess he would." Sister Aubrey's brow drew down. "How is it he isn't able to take you, too?"

"I'm protected. That's what I'm trying to tell you. Richard is a war wizard. You all know what that means: he has both sides of the gift."

The Sisters blinked in astonishment, and then they all fell to whispering to one another.

"Furthermore," A

"What difference does that make?" Sister Fionola asked.

"The dream walkers are from the time of the great war. A wizard of that time, a war wizard named Rahl, an ancestor of Richard's, conjured a bond to protect his people from them. Gifted descendants of the House of Rahl are born with this bond with his people that protects them from dream walkers.

"The people of Richard's land are all bonded to him as their Lord Rahl. Because of that, and because of the magic of it passed down to him, they are all protected from the dream walker. That keeps Jagang from their minds. A dream walker can't enter the mind of anyone bonded to the Lord Rahl."

"But we are not his people," women all around were saying.

A

She passed a finger before their eyes. "I have long been sworn to Richard. He leads us in our fight against this monster, Jagang, who would end magic in this world. My faith in Richard, my bond to him, my being sworn to him in my heart, protects me from Jagang entering my mind."

"But if what you say about the chimes being here in this world is true," a Sister in the back said in a whine, "then the magic of the bond will fail, too, so we would have no protection."

A

"But the two cancel each other, don't you see."

A

"When the chimes are banished, and if you are Sworn to Richard, then his bond keeps Jagang from your mind. Either one or the other protects you.

"Do you all see? You must only swear to Richard, who leads the fight against Jagang, fights for our cause-the cause of the Light-and you never again need fear the dream walker being able to reach you.

"Sisters, we can get away. Tonight. Right now. Do you at last see? You can be free."

They all stared dumbly. Finally, Sister Rochelle spoke up. "But, we aren't all here."

A

Again, the women retreated into frightened silence. A

Every woman in the room cast her eyes down. The gold rings through their lower lips shone in the candlelight. "What do you mean, the tents?"

Sister Rochelle cleared her throat, trying to keep the tears struggling to break through from doing so.

"Jagang, when one of us displeases him, or he is angry with us, or he wants to punish us, or teach us a lesson, or simply wishes to be cruel, sends us to the tents. The soldiers use us. They pass us around."