"Hardly, There were days and days of testimony and evidence presented. So much, in fact, that your trial has taken nearly two weeks; we wanted to make sure, in the interest of justice, and considering the seriousness of the charges, that we were completely fair and thorough. A great number of witnesses came forth to reveal the extent of your nefarious work."

Verna threw her hands up. "What are you talking about?"

"You have been methodically destroying the work of the palace. Thousands of years of tradition and effort have been overturned in your effort to bring the work of the Sisters of the Light to ruin. The problems you caused were extensive.

“The people in the city rioted because you had ordered the palace to halt payments to women who become pregnant by our young wizards. Those children are one of our main sources of boys with the gift. You wished to strangle that source. You stopped our young men from going to the city to see to their needs, and produce those offspring with the gift.

"It came to a head last week when we had a riot that had to be put down by the guards. The people were about to storm the palace, because of our cruelty in letting those young women and their children starve. Many of our young men joined in the uprising because you cut off their right to palace gold."

Verna wondered just what the true nature of the «uprising» had been, considering that young wizards were involved. But she didn't think Leoma would be forthcoming with the truth of it. Verna knew that there were good men among those young wizards, and feared their fate.

"Our gold corrupts the morals of everyone it touches," Verna said. She knew it was a waste to try to defend herself; this woman was not amenable to reason, or the truth.

"It has worked for thousands of years. But of course you would not want the benefits of this design to come to fruit in order to aid the Creator. These orders have been reversed, as have others of your ruinous directives.

"You would not want us to be able to determine if young men were prepared to face the world — you want them to fail — and so you disallowed the test of pain. That order, too, has been reversed.

"You have been defiling palace doctrine since the day you became Prelate. You yourself are the one responsible for the Prelate's death, and then you use your underworld tricks to install yourself as Prelate so you may destroy us.

"You never listened to the advice of your advisors, because you never had any intent of preserving the palace. You no longer even bother to look at reports, but instead burden inexperienced administrators with your work while you lock yourself in your sanctuary to confer with the Keeper."

Verna sighed. "That's it, then? My administrators don't like having to work? Some avaricious people are unhappy because I refuse to hand out gold from the palace treasury simply because they choose to get pregnant rather than establish their own families to bring children into the world? Some Sisters are disgruntled because I won't allow our young men to indulge in unrestrained self-gratification? The words of six Sisters who flee rather than stay to be questioned are suddenly taken seriously? And you even name one of them Prelate! AH without so much as a single piece of hard evidence?"

A smile finally came to leoma's lips. "Oh, we have hard evidence, Verna. We do indeed."

With a smug expression, she reached into a pocket and pulled out a piece of paper. "We had some very hard, very condemning evidence, Verna." She solemnly unfurled the paper as her austere gaze again settled on Verna. "And one other witness. Warren."

Verna flinched as if she had been struck across the face. She recalled the messages she had received from the Prelate and Nathan. Nathan had been in a panic that Warren must get away from the palace. Ann had been emphatic that Verna make sure Warren left at once.

"Do you know what this is, Verna?" Verna dared not speak, or even blink. "I think you do. It's a prophecy. Only a Sister of the Dark would be so arrogant as to leave such an incriminating document lying about. We found it down in the vaults, stuffed in a book, Perhaps you've forgotten all about it? Let me read it, then.

"When the Prelate and the Prophet are given to the Light in the sacred rite, the flames will bring to boil a cauldron of guile and give ascension to a false Prelate, who will reign over the death of the Palace of the Prophets."

Leoma folded the paper and slipped it back into her pocket. "You knew Warren was a prophet, and you took off his collar. You let a prophet roam free — a grievous offense in itself."

"And what makes you think Warren gave this prophecy, ' Verna asked cautiously.

"Warren testified that he did. It took a while for him to decide to speak his guilt in giving prophecy."

Verna's voice heated. "What did you do to him?"

"We used his Rada'Han, as is our duty, to elicit the truth. In the end, he confessed that the prophecy was his."

"His Rada'Han? You put a collar back on him!"

"Of course. A prophet must be collared. As Prelate, it was your duty to see it done. Warren is back in a collar, and under shields and guard at the prophet's quarters, where he belongs.

“The Palace of the Prophets has once again been set back to the way it is meant to be. This prophecy was the final, condemning piece of evidence. It proved the duplicity in your actions, and revealed your true intent. Fortunately, we were able to act before you could bring the prophecy to fruition. You have failed."

"You know none of that is true."

"Warren's prophecy proves your guilt. It names you a false Prelate, and reveals your plans to destroy the Palace of the Prophets." Her smile returned. "It created quite a stir when it was read before the tribunal. Quite a condemning piece of 'hard evidence, I would say."

"You vile beast. I will see you dead."

“I would expect no less from one such as you. Fortunately, you are in no position to make good on your threats."

Looking up into Leoma's eyes, Verna kissed her ring finger. "Why don't you kiss your finger, Sister Leoma, and beseech the Creator's help in this time of trouble for the Palace of the Prophets?"

Wearing a mocking smile, Leoma spread her hands. "The palace has no trouble, now, Verna."

"Kiss your finger, Leoma, and show the beloved Creator your solicitude for the well-being of the Sisters of the Light."

Leoma didn't bring her hand to her lips. She couldn't, and Verna knew it. "I have not come here to pray to the Creator."

"Of course not, Leoma. You and I both know that you're a Sister of the Dark, as is the new Prelate. Ulicia is the false Prelate in the prophecy."

Leoma shrugged. "You, Verna, are the first Sister ever to be convicted of such a high crime. There is no longer any doubt. The conviction cannot be overturned."

"We're alone, Leoma. No one can hear us behind all those shields, except, of course, one with Subtractive Magic, and you've no need to fear those ears. None of the true Sisters of the Light can hear anything we say. If I tried to tell anyone anything you might have to say, no one would believe me.

"So let's drop the pretense, Leoma; we both know the truth."

A small smile spread onto Leoma's lips. "Go on."

Verna took a calming breath and folded her hands in her lap. "You haven't killed me, as Ulicia killed Prelate Annalina. You wouldn't have bothered to go through this whole sham if you intended to kill me; you could have killed me in my office. You obviously want something. What is it?"

Leoma chuckled. "Ah, Verna, you always were one to cut right to the heart of the matter. You're not very old, but I must admit, you are a smart one."

"Yes, I'm just brilliant; that's why I'm sitting here. What is it your master, the Keeper, wants you to get from me?"