smiled and said he would give them nothing less than his best。 He wondered to himself what he was mitting to。
Near the end of the meal； two attractive young women； one in a satiny pink dress； the other in yellow； rushed in； stopping at various tables； speaking in whispers to other young women。 They at last came to the corner where Richard and Pasha sat。
One bent close to Pasha。 ‘Have you heard？’ Pasha stared with a blank look。 ‘Jedidiah fell down a flight of stairs。’ Her eyes sparkled with the telling of the gossip。 She leaned closer with the titillation of what she had to tell next。 ‘Broke his leg。’
Pasha gasped。 ‘No！ When？ We just saw him a while ago。’
The woman giggled and nodded。 ‘Yes； it’s true。 It just happened； not but a few minutes ago。 The healers are with him now。 No need for concern； he’ll be back to good by morning。’
‘How did it happen？’
The woman shrugged。 ‘Just clumsy。 Tripped on the carpet and tumbled down。’ She lowered her voice。 ‘He was so furious he flamed the carpet to ash。’
‘Wizard’s fire！’ Pasha whispered incredulously。 ‘In the palace？ Such a high crime 。。。’
‘No； no； not wizard’s fire； of course not； silly girl。 Even Jedidiah is not that brazen。 Just simple fire。 But it was one of the oldest carpets in the palace。 The Sisters are not pleased at his display of temper。 They ordered the bone； and the pain； not be mended until morning； as punishment。’
Their gossip finally expended； the two young women’s eyes and smiles settled on Richard。 Pasha introduced them as two friends of hers； Celia and Dulcy； two novices with charges of their own。 Richard was polite； plimenting them on their pretty dresses； and the way their hair was curled。 Their smiles widened。
Taking his arm when they finally left； Pasha thanked him。
‘For what？’
‘I’ve never been permitted to eat with the Sisters； or with the novices who have a young man to train。 This is the first time I’ve ever been to dinner just like I was a Sister。 You were pleasant and considerate of everyone； I was so proud to have you with me。 And； you look very handsome in those clothes。’
‘In that dress； I would imagine you could easily get someone better bred than me as a dinner panion。’ Richard pulled open the fancy shirt collar。 ‘I’ve never worn a shirt this ruffled； or white。 Nor a coat this red。 I think I look foolish。’
A self…satisfied smile spread on Pasha’s face。 ‘I can promise you that Celia and Dulcy do not think you look foolish。 I’m surprised you couldn’t see them glowing green。 I thought maybe they might decide to sit right down on your lap。’
Richard thought that if Celia and Dulcy liked the red coat so much； they could have it； but he kept the thought to himself。 ‘Why doesn’t an important wizard like Jedidiah wear fancy clothes？’
‘Only beginning wizards wear clothes like this； and are permitted to go into the city。 At certain milestones in a wizard’s advancement； they change to a particular form of dress。 The further a wizard progress； the more modest his dress。 That’s why Jedidiah wears simple tan robes； because he has nearly reached the end of his training。’
‘What’s the purpose of such an odd rule？’
To teach humility。 Those with the nicest clothes； the most freedom； and unlimited money； are those with the least power。 No one respects them for these things。 It’s meant to teach the young men that mastery es from within； not from external trappings。’
Then； wearing these things is a demotion for me。 I was already wearing humble clothes。’
‘You are not yet entitled to wear humble robes。 You may wear your own clothes occasionally； if you wish。 If they were simple robes； though； it would not be allowed。
The people in the city know a wizard’s abilities and power by his dress。 No wizard who wears simple robes is permitted to go into the city。’ She smiled。 ‘Someday； when you have advanced enough； you will be permitted to wear the robes of a wizard。’
‘I don’t like robes。 I like the clothes I was wearing。’
‘When you have your collar off； and leave the palace； you may wear what you wish。 Of course； most e to respect the robes of their profession； and wear them the rest of their lives。’
Richard changed the subject。 ‘I want to go see Warren。 Tell me how to get down there。’
‘Now？ Tonight？ Richard； it’s been a long day； and I must give you your first lesson yet tonight。’
‘Just tell me how to get down there。 Will Warren be down there this late？’
‘I don’t know that he is ever seen anywhere else。 I think he must sleep on the books。 I was surprised to see him up in the palace today。 That in itself will be gossip for weeks。’
‘I don’t want him to think I forgot him。 Just tell me how to get down there。’
‘Well；’ she sighed； ‘if you insist on going； we will go together。 I’m supposed to escort you wherever you go in the Palace of the Prophets。 For now； anyway。’
CHAPTER 54
In the core of the Palace of the Prophets； they began their descent down into the vaults。 The stairways on the upper levels were elegant。 Lower down； the stairs became utilitarian stone； with their leading edges worn round and smooth。 The maidservants he had seen on the upper levels were nowhere to be seen。
Paneled walls gave way to stone。 In some places he had to duck under huge beams。 Lamps were no longer stationed on the walls； but； instead； widely spaced torches lit the way。 Sounds of palace life were left far behind； to be replaced by dead silence。 Some of the hallways were wet with leaking water。
‘What’s in these vaults？’ Richard asked。
‘The books of prophecy。 Books of history； and records of the palace are also kept there。’
‘Why are they way down here？’
‘For protection。 Prophecies are dangerous to the untrained mind。 All novices study books of prophecy； but only certain Sisters are permitted to read them all； and work with them。 Young wizards who show that their gift gives them an aptitude for prophecy are taught by these Sisters。
‘There are a few young men who work and study in the vaults； but Warren is to the vaults what Jedidiah is to other forms of magic。 Every wizard has a specialty。 We will work with you to discover what your innate ability is。 Until we can learn this； it will be hard to take your training very far。’
‘Sister Verna told me something about that。 So； what do you think my talent is？’
‘Usually； we can tell by the personality of the boy。 Some like to work with their hands； and end up making things of magic。 Some like to help the sick or injured； and bee healers。 Things like that。 We can usually tell。’
‘So what about me？’
She glanced briefly in his direction。 ‘None of us has ever seen anyone like you before。 We have no idea； yet。’ Pasha’s face brightened。 ‘But we will。’
A huge； round stone door； as thick as Richard was tall； stood open in the gloom。 Beyond it were rooms carved from the bedrock that the palace sat atop。 Lamps did little to brighten the place。 There were a number of long； timeworn tables with books and papers scattered about on them； and shelves in rows that extended into the distance to each side。 Two women sat at the tables； taking notes as they read by the light of candles set close。
One of them peered up and addressed Pasha。 ‘What are you doing down here； child？’
Pasha curtsied。 ‘We came to see Warren； Sister。’
‘Warren？ Why？’
Just then； Warren came scurrying out of the darkness。 ‘It’s all right； Sister Becky。 I asked them to e。’
‘Well； the next time； please let someone know in advance。’
‘Yes； Sister； I will。’
Warren burrowed between the two of them and took their arms； leading them into the shelves。 When he realized he was touching Pasha he jerked his hand away and turned red。
‘You look 。。。 dazzling； Pasha。’
‘Why； thank you； Mole。’ She flushed red herself。 She put a hand to his shoulder。 ‘I’m sorry； Warren 。。。 I didn’t mean anything by that。 I meant to call you Warren。’
He smiled。 ‘It’s all right； Pasha。 I know people call me the Mole。 They think it a pejorative； but I take it as a pliment。 You see； a mole can find its way in the dark； where others are blind。 That is much like what I do； I find the way where others see nothing。’
Pasha sighed in relief。 ‘I’m glad； Warren。 Mole； did you hear that Jedidiah fell down a flight of stairs and broke his leg？’
‘Really？’ He searched her eyes。 ‘Maybe the Creator was trying to teach him that when you hold your nose so high in the air； you can’t see where you are going。’
‘I don’t think Jedidiah paid any heed to the Creator’s lessons；’ Pasha said。 ‘I heard tell that he was so angry he burned a prized carpet to ash。’
Warren still held her eyes。 ‘You are the one who should be angry； not Jedidiah。 He said cruel things to you。 No one should say cruel things to you。’
‘He is usually kind to me； but I admit； I did look a mess。’
‘Some of these books look a mess to people； but it is what’s inside that matters； not the dust on their covers。’
Pasha blushed。 ‘Why； thank you； Mole 。。。 I think。’
Warren looked to Richard。 ‘I didn’t know if you would really e。 Most people say they will； but they never do。 I’m so pleased you did。 e this way。 Pasha； I’m afraid you must wait here。’
‘What！’ She leaned forward； and Richard thought that maybe her breasts might spill out if she didn’t straighten up。 ‘I’m going； too。’
Warren’s eyes widened。 ‘But I must take him into one of the back rooms。 You are a novice。 Novices are not allowed。’
She smiled warmly as she did straighten up。 ‘Mole； if a novice is not allowed； how could a new student be allowed？’
Warren’s eyes narrowed。 ‘He is in the prophecies。 If the prophets saw fit to write about him； they could hardly intend he not see it。’
Warren seemed considerably more confident down here in his element than he had been up in the palace。 He stood his ground with confidence。 Pasha rubbed his shoulder。 He glanced down at th