ht exist。
Despite being there against his will； Richard found himself fascinated by the city； by all the people and all the sights it must hold。 He had never seen such a place。 He imagined a person could probably walk around for days and days； and not begin to see it all。
Beyond； shimmering with golden sparkles and reflections； lay the sea； stretching to a knife’s…edge line at the horizon。
Dominating the city； near the center； rising up on an island of its own； stood a vast palace； its imposing； crenellated west wall bathed in the sun’s golden rays。 Baileys and ramparts and towers and sections and roofs； all of grand design； joined together into a plex structure that held labyrinthine courtyards with trees； or grass； or ponds。 The palace seemed to be stretching its stone arms； jealously trying to enclose the whole of the island atop which it sat。
Seen from this distance； with the thread…thin streets radiating out from the the island at the core of the city； and strandlike bridges spanning the river all around； the palace reminded Richard of nothing as much as a fat spider sitting in the center of its web。
‘The Palace of the Prophets；’ Sister Verna said。
‘Prison；’ Richard said without looking to her。
She ignored the ment。 The city is Tanimura； and through it； the River Kern。 The palace itself sits on Halsband Island。’
‘Halsband。’ His hackles rose。 ‘Is that some kind of sardonic joke？’
‘What do you mean？ Does Halsband have significance？’
Richard raised an eyebrow。 ‘A halsband is a collar used to launch a hunting hawk on an attack。’
She shrugged dismissively。 ‘You read too much into things。’
‘Do I？ We shall see。’
She let out a small sigh as she lifted her hips； starting her horse down the hill； and changed the subject。 ‘It’s been many years since I was home； but it looks as it always has。’
The two Baka Ban Mana men who had guided them through the swampy； trackless forest for the last two days had left them that morning； once Sister Verna was at last in familiar territory。 Although he never lost his sense of direction； Richard could easily see how people could bee disoriented there。 But he was at home in such places of vast desolation； and was more likely to bee lost in a building than in dense woods。
The two men had spoken little over those two days。 Though they were swordsmen as fierce as those Richard had fought； they were in awe of him。 Richard had to shout before they would stop all the bowing。 No amount of shouting； though； could make them stop calling him Caharin。
One night； before he went to stand his usual watch； Sister Verna had told him； in a quiet tone； that she was sorry that he had had to kill those thirty people。 A little surprised by her sincerity and the seeming lack of meaning other than that stated； and haunted by the memory； he had thanked her for understanding。
Richard scanned the fertile hills and valleys。 ‘Why isn’t this land farmed？ With all those people； they must need to plant food。’
Sister Verna lifted a hand holding the reins and indicated the land on the other side of the city。 ‘Farms cover the land on that side of the river。 On this side； it’s not safe for man nor beast。’ Tilting her head back； she indicated the land behind。 ‘The Baka Ban Mana are always a threat。’
‘So they don’t farm here because they’re afraid of the Baka Ban Mana？’
She cast a glance to her left。 ‘Do you see that dark forest？’ She watched him as he took in the fringe of the dense tangle in the next valley。 Huge； old； gnarled trees were packed close together； covered with vines and moss； and harboring gloomy shadows。 ‘This edge runs for miles more toward the city。 It’s the Hagen Woods。 Stay far away from it。 All who let the sun set on them in the Hagen Woods die。 Many who set foot there die before they have a chance to wait for the sun to go down。 It’s a place of vile magic。’
As they rode； he kept glancing toward the Hagen Woods。 He felt a longing for that gloomy place； as if it plemented his dark mood； as if he belonged in there。 He found it hard to draw his eyes away。
Up close； the streets of Tanimura were not the orderly place they appeared from a distance。 The fringes of the city were a confusion of squalor。 Men pushing or pulling carts laden with loads of rice sacks； or carpets； or firewood； or hides； or even garbage； wove around and past each other； sometimes clogging the way。 Lining the road were hawkers of every sort； selling everything from fruits and vegetables and strips of meat cooked on little sticks over tiny smoky fires in impromptu stone hearths； to herbs and fortunes； to boots and beads。 At least the cooking gave spotty relief from the reeking stench of tanneries。
Huddled groups of men in worn； dirty clothes shouted with excitement or burst into laughter around games of cards and dice。 Side streets and narrow alleyways were clogged with people and lined with ramshackle huts of tarp and tin。 Naked children ran and played among the flimsy shelters； splashing in muddy puddles and chasing each other in games of catch…the…fox。 Women squatted around buckets； washing clothes and chatting among themselves。
Sister Verna muttered to herself that she didn’t remember the squalor and the unhoused multitudes。 Richard thought that； despite their condition； they looked happier than they had a right to。
Despite having lived out…of…doors； and being a little dirty and rumpled； Sister Verna； pared to these people； looked like royalty。 Anyone ing close bowed in reverence to the Sister； and she prayed for the Creator’s blessing on them in return。
The timeworn buildings； some faced with faded； crumbling plaster； some with age…darkened wood； were just as packed as the streets。 Colorful wash hung from the rusty iron railings of nearly every tiny balcony。 A few held pots of flowers or herbs。 Laughter and the hum of conversation came from taverns and inns。 A butcher shop displayed fly…covered carcasses on the street out front。 Other shops sold dried fish； or grain； or oils。
The farther he and the Sister went； the cleaner the city became。 The road widened； even the side streets were wider； and none had huts leaning against the buildings。 The shops had bigger windows with painted shutters； and better…looking wares； many displaying colorful； locally woven carpets。 By the time the wide road became lined with trees； the buildings were grand。 The inns looked elegant； with doormen standing in red uniforms before them。
On the stone bridge over the Kern； men were lighting lamps hung on poles to show the way in the gathering darkness。 In the river； below the bridge； fishermen in small boats with lanterns rowed through the dark water。 Soldiers in ornate uniforms with gold…trimmed white shirts and red tunics； and carrying polearms； patrolled each side of the river。 As the horses’ hooves clopped along the cobblestone； Sister Verna finally spoke。
‘It’s a great day； at the palace； when a new one with the gift arrives。’ She cast him a brief； sideways glance。 ‘It’s a rare and joyous event。 They will be happy to see you； Richard； please remember that。 To them； this is an event of note in their calling。 Though you feel differently； their hearts will be warmed by the sight of you。 They will want you to feel wele。’
Richard thought otherwise。 ‘Make your point。’
‘I just did。 They will be delighted。’
‘What you are saying； in other words； is you would like me not to horrify them right off。’
‘I didn’t say that。’ She glanced with a small frown at the soldiers guarding the bridge。 She finally looked back to him。 ‘I am simply asking you to realize that these women live for this very thing。’
Richard stared ahead as he rode past more guards in dress uniforms。 A wise person； a person I love； told me once that we all can only be who we are； no more； and no less。’ His gaze swept the top of the wall ahead； noting the soldiers there； and what arms they carried。 ‘I’m the bringer of death； and I have nothing to live for。’
‘That’s not true； Richard；’ she said in a quiet tone。 ‘You’