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"Well," she said at last, "There is one thing we could check. I could have Verna send a messenger to the Wizard's Keep in Aydindril. Zedd is there protecting the place so that it can't fall into Jagang's hands. We could have Verna send a messenger and ask that Zedd check specific-places in his copies of books we have here and see if they are missing the same text."
"That's a good idea," Nathan said.
"With the extent of the libraries at the Keep, he's bound to have a number of the classic books on prophecy that we recognize and have here."
Nathan's face brightened. "As a matter of fact, it would be even better if we could have Verna send someone to the People's Palace in D'Hara. While I was there I spent a lot of time in the palace libraries. I clearly remember seeing copies of a number of these books. If we had someone check them, that would tell us if the books here are spelled, as you suggested, and the problem is confined to these editions, or if it's some kind of wider phenomenon. We need to have Verna send someone to the People's Palace at once."
"That should be easy enough. Verna is just about to depart for the south. On their way they will no doubt be traveling near the People's Palace."
Nathan frowned down at her. "You heard from Verna? And she said she is heading south? Why?"
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"And what did our young prelate have to say? Why is she traveling south?"
In resignation, A
The blood drained from Nathan's face.
"What did you say?" he whispered.
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She didn't think it was possible, but the prophet's face went even more ashen.
"Dear spirits preserve us," he whispered. "It's too soon. We're not ready."
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He turned and frantically searched the spines of the books stacked all over the tables. He finally found what he wanted in the middle of a pile and yanked it out, letting the rest of the stack topple over. He hurriedly leafed through the book, muttering to himself as he searched.
"Here it is," he said as he pressed a finger to a page. "There are any number of prophecies down here that I've found in books I've never seen before. These prophecies surrounding the final battle are veiled to me-I ca
He bent close and in the candlelight read to her from the book. " 'In the year of the cicadas, when the champion of sacrifice and suffering, under the ba
Fuer grissa ost drauka was one of the prophetic names for Richard, It was from a well-known prophecy in the ancient language of High D'Haran. Its translation was the bringer of death. To here call him by that name in this prophecy was a means of linking the two prophecies in a conjugate fork.
"If the cicadas should come this year," Nathan said, "then that will verify that this prophecy is not just authentic but active."
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Nathan stared down at her like the Creator Himself pronouncing judgment. "Then the chronology is fixed. The prophecies have all tumbled into place. Events are marked. The end is upon us."
"Dear Creator protect us," A
Nathan slipped the book into his pocket. "We must get to Richard."
She was already nodding. "Yes, you're right. There is no time to lose."
Nathan glanced about. "We certainly can't take all these books with us and there is no time to read them. We must seal this place back up, like it was, and leave immediately."
Before A
"Come on," he said.
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The prophet rushed into the narrow stairwell, the light fu
"Yes, and we will have to make sure that he is there to complete the word of prophecy."
"We are in agreement, then," he said as he turned and rushed onward up the stairs. The tu
At the top, they burst out into the night, to the shrill, buzzing song of the cicadas. Nathan called out for Tom and Je
"What is it?" Je
The dark shadow of Tom towered at her side. "Is there trouble?"
"Grave trouble," Nathan confirmed.
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"Tell me what this says." he commanded, holding it out to Je
She frowned at him. "What it says? Nathan, it's blank."
He grumbled his discontent. "That means Subtractive was somehow involved. Subtractive is underworld magic, the power of death, so it affects her the same as us."
Nathan turned back to Je
Je
"Do you know where he is?" Nathan asked.
Without hesitation, Tom turned a little and lifted an arm to point off into the night. His bond told him what their gift could not. "He is that way. Not a great distance, but not close, either."
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"He's on the move," Tom said. "I doubt you will find him there in that spot by the time you get there."
Nathan cursed under his breath. "There's no telling where that boy is heading."
"I'd guess that he is headed back to Altur'Rang," A
"Yes, but what if he doesn't stay there?" He laid a hand on Tom's shoulder. "We will need you to come with us. You are one of the covert protectors to the Lord Rahl. This is important."