A pause of emptiness filled the air for the space of several heartbeats. Finally, the Brother answered. *We have not.*
“Well, that is why I am contacting you. I have at least two tasks for you.”
*You cannot ‘assign’ tasks to the Brotherhood.*
“I am assigning them to you, as one of my mentors and friends. Listen carefully, and do what you will. There is not one new mind out there. There are at least five working in conjunction with each other. One of them is the leader.”
*We have not heard that there is more than one.*
“The insane leader controls them. They perform his killing for him. They have killed my father, the one known to you and his dragon.”
Gareth felt the shift in the Brother’s mind. It was as if a student in school suddenly sat up straight in his chair and began paying attention to the teacher.
*You said there are tasks for me to perform. I can do nothing to violate my vows, and all I learn from you must be passed on to my Brotherhood. Do not put me in a position of choosing, because I choose my kind.*
“I would never do such a thing. The first task is to pass on to the Brotherhood what I have told you. All of it. Also, tell them that this evil mind is intent on destroying me, the Brotherhood, the Sisterhood, and the King, as well as most of the people.”
*You believe this is true, Gareth?*
“Look into my mind and see the truth. I will prevent you from seeing nothing. I will hide nothing.”
*That is not needed. I sense your truth. You said there are two tasks, or more,* The Brother told him.
“The second task is to relay all of this conversation to the Sisterhood. A Sister named Ann is with me and has asked that you tell any Sisters you encounter of this danger and that she has called for the entire Sisterhood to help in defeating this evil in any way possible.”
Another pause, and then the Brother said, *I will pass on the message. I have seen two of the Sisters on the road today, so would expect to see more tomorrow. What is the third thing you ask of me?*
“Only that you communicate back with me tomorrow with the response of the Brotherhood, and hopefully the King.”
*Are you near the place where the evil minds exist?*
“I should keep some information to myself, and then you do not have to share it with your Brothers.”
*If you do happen to encounter the one you seek, be careful my friend. Our world would be a lesser place without you.*
The link was broken. Gareth was sitting with his back to a cedar tree, the stream chuckling beside him, the fire snapping and spitting in the darkness, and Ann watching over all three of the men. He said, “Your message should go out to your Sisters tomorrow.”
“I’m not sure I’ll ever get used to you just up and telling me something like that. It’s as if you just made it up in your mind.”
“I’ve been talking to Tad’s mother, my dragon, my wife, and a Brother, who helped raise me. That Brother will pass on your message to any Sisters who are on the road.”
“He will know us how? It’s not like we wear tattoos on our foreheads.”
Gareth said, “That’s a good question, now that you bring it up. He also said there were two Sisters who passed his watch post today.”
“How could he know that? We often dress alike in the field, but that’s almost for ease of travel, not identification.”
“This particular Brother never quite fit into the Brotherhood. Now and then he would act on his own. Once he consoled me as a father. Another time I caught him smiling at me when he shouldn’t have. They never smile.”
“Now that you mention it, they don’t. No laughing or any indication of humor. I’ve always envied them their powers, but if they have to sacrifice the joys in life, I’ll stick with what I have. But that does not answer the question.”
“It would be simpler to just ask him. I can do that.”
“He would answer?”
“Perhaps not, but he may. All I can say is that he has never lied to me that I know of, but there were many times he didn’t provide answers because of his vows. There is a difference.”
“Do it.”
Gareth reached out with his mind and touched the Brother. In essence, he gave the Brother a mental tap on the shoulder and asked if he could ask a question.
*Of course.*
“How will you recognize Sisters when you see them?”
*I require time to consider your question.*
“I’ll be here,” Gareth said and pulled away. He turned to Ann. “He is considering the question. It may take time, the Brother said.”
“What does that mean?”
Gareth shrugged and smiled as if he found it funny. “I asked him how he knows Sisters when he sees them. He answered that he would need time to consider the question. Understand?”
“No.” Ann crossed her arms over her chest and set the scowl on her face.
“He neither confirmed nor denied the ability. He was not surprised at the question, so that tell us he must consider how to split the hair, and both conceal information while telling the truth.”
“That’s so convoluted for me to follow.”
“It is speaking without lying in a logical progression, something he taught me to do. He could have said that he didn’t recognize them when he saw them and ended the subject. But that would be a lie and therefore against his principles. He didn’t do that, so there must be more to consider, and it will take time. The full answer is probably that the Brotherhood has a method to determine who are Sisters that you know nothing about, but saying so would betray his Brotherhood.”
She stood and glanced to her bedroll. “I have to warn the Sisterhood.”
“No need. He told me that he would relay the conversation between us to the first Sisters he sees. He is a man of his word. He cannot do less than reveal the entire conversation.”
“How do you know he will?”
“Again, he gave me his word, and he had never lied to me.”
“He has also made promises to his Brotherhood. What about that?” Ann demanded.
“He will break no vows. None.”
Ann settled back down. “Will he tell you what information he passed on?”
“If I ask. Tomorrow, if you wish, I’ll make sure he passed on the information that he can tell who is in the Sisterhood. He will not tell them if others can do the same if indeed they can.”
“He might be the only one?”
“I would think not, but who knows?”
Ann stepped directly in front of Gareth and asked, “Do you ever get the feeling this is all evolving into something we cannot control?”
“I have the feeling it is out of control, but not that we cannot control it. Two different things.”
She stepped away and turned to check on the boys. She said, “You and your Brother friend are beginning to sound a lot alike.”
“Thank you,” he said, trying to turn away before she could cast her scowl at him.
But she was right. The Brother had been his teacher and mentor. Gareth had learned how to examine information from different angles and approach solutions differently. He learned to tell the truth, but not all of it, all of the time. He answered what people asked with their words, not with their hearts. He didn’t insult them by telling them a project was doomed to failure.