Temple of the Winds tsot-4

by Terry Goodkind

  Nadine lifted her bag before Richard. “Can I leave this here, then? It’s heavy to carry if we’re coming back here anyway.”

  “Of course,” Richard said, his voice a dead monotone.

  Kahlan was made to walk behind Richard and beside Drefan as they returned to the horses. Nadine touched Richard’s back as she walked beside him. She was doing a fair job of restraining her joy over her triumph, yet it was a touch meant to send a message: he belonged to her, now.

  At the bottom of the Keep road, as they turned away from the city, Kahlan could hear the men with the dead-carts, calling out for people to bring out their dead. Soon, that would be ended, as the suffering and death of the plague was ended. Only in that did she find any solace. The children, their parents, would live.

  If only it had come in time for Raina. Berdine hadn’t said that, but Kahlan knew that that thought was screaming in her head.

  Richard had ordered all their guards to remain. When Ulic and Egan had seen the look on his face, they hadn’t argued. Only Richard and Nadine, Kahlan and Drefan, Cara, the legate, and his six wives rode out for Mount Kymerrmosst.

  Kahlan didn’t know how any of it was going to work, getting into the Temple of the Winds, nor did Richard. She didn’t have the slightest curiosity about it. The only thing she could think about was Richard marrying Nadine. Kahlan was sure that Richard could think of nothing but her marrying Drefan.

  As they rode, Drefan told stories, trying to keep everyone entertained, trying to lift their spirits. Kahlan didn’t hear much of it. She watched Richard’s back; her only need was to be looking when he glanced back at her, as he did from time to time.

  She couldn’t bear not to look at him, yet meeting his eyes was like a hot knife searing into her heart.

  She took no joy in the mountainous country they rode into, the greening grass, unfurling ferns, budding trees. The day was warm, compared to what the weather had been for spring, so far, but the sky brooded with dark clouds. Before the day was out, she expected they would encounter a storm. The Andolians cringed every time their eyes turned up.

  Kahlan pulled her cloak tighter around herself. She thought about her blue wedding dress back in her room that she had planned to wear when she married Richard.

  She felt herself getting angry at him. He had seduced her into thinking she could have love, could have happiness. Seduced her into forgetting she had only duty. Seduced her into loving him.

  When she realized she was angry at him, the tears came again, running down her face in a silent torrent. This wasn’t happening just to her, it was happening to him, too. They shared this torment.

  She thought about the first time she saw him. It seemed so long ago that she had been running from Darken Rahl’s assassins, and Richard had helped her. She thought about all the things they had done together, all the times she stood watch while he slept, and she gazed at him, imagining being just a normal woman who could fall in love, instead of a Confessor who had to keep her feelings secret and live a loveless life of duty.

  Richard had found a way, though, found a way that she, a Confessor, could have love. And now it was in ashes.

  Why would the spirits do this to them? The answer came when she remembered her talk with Shota, and with the spirit. There were not only good spirits, but evil spirits, too. Those evil spirits had a hand in this. They were the ones who wanted this, who demanded it as the price of the path.

  The spirits who demanded that price were worse than evil.

  Late in the morning, they stopped to rest the horses and eat. Nadine and Drefan talked with their mouths full. The legate sat back as his wives fed him. He had a hard time, what with his cut lip. They rubbed their legs against his, giggling as he took food from their fingers. They ate between offering him bites. Cara ate in silence. Kahlan didn’t notice what any of them had to eat.

  She and Richard didn’t eat. They both sat on the sunny rocks like deadwood, silent, sullen, staring at nothing.

  When the others had finished with their meal, Richard watched as they all mounted up again. Even though none of the others noticed it, Kahlan could see the smoldering rage in his eyes. The spirits had chosen Drefan to wound him. They could have done nothing worse.

  “How’s the arm?” Nadine asked Drefan as they all started out again.

  Drefan held it up and flexed his fingers in demonstration. “Nearly good as new.”

  Kahlan ignored their conversation. All morning, they had chattered. In her silent world, it was barely noticed.

  “What is wrong with your arm, master Drefan?” one of the six sisters asked.

  “Oh, some miscreant didn’t like the way I try to purge the world of sickness.”

  Big black eyes blinked at him. “What did he do to you?”

  Drefan straightened haughtily in his saddle. “Cut me with his knife. Tried to kill me, the filthy scum.”

  “Why did he not succeed?”

  Drefan dismissed the incident with an arrogant wave. “Once I showed him some steel, he ran for his life.”

  “I sewed his wound,” Nadine told the amazed sisters. “And a deep one it was, too.”

  Drefan cast a glance at Nadine that seemed to make her shrink in her saddle. “I told you, Nadine, it’s nothing. I don’t want sympathy. A lot of people are in much greater need than I.”

  He relented when he saw the sheepish look on her face. “But you did a good job. As fine as any of my healers would have done. You did a fine job, and I appreciate it.”

  Nadine smiled as they rode on.

  Drefan pulled up the broad hood of his flaxen cloak. Dear spirits, she thought, that is to be my husband. For the rest of my life, this is to be my partner in life. Until she could die, and be with Richard again. Sweet death could not come soon enough.

  Clarissa wiped her sweaty palms together as she peered through the keyhole and listened to Nathan speaking with the Sisters in the other room.

  “I’m sure you can understand, Lord Rahl,” Sister Jodelle said. “This is for your own safety, too.”

  Nathan chuckled. “How good of the emperor to consider my well-being.”

  “If, as you say, Richard Rahl will be eliminated tonight, then you have nothing to be concerned about. We will bring it afterwards. Surely, this would be satisfactory.”

  Nathan shot them a hot glare. “I told you, Jagang’s plan has worked. Richard Rahl will be eradicated tonight. You will learn not to question me after tonight, I pray.”

  Clarissa had to strain to see Nathan through the keyhole as he turned away from the two Sisters while he considered.

  He turned back to them. “And he has agreed to everything else?”

  “Everything,” Sister Willamina assured him. “He looks forward to having you as his plenipotentiary in D’Hara, and is most agreeable to your offer of aid with the books of prophecy he has collected over the years.”

  Nathan grunted. “Where are they? I don’t know that I’m amenable to traveling all over the Old World just to have a look at worthless volumes. I have business in D’Hara, after all. As the new Lord Rahl, I will need to consolidate my authority.”

  “His Excellency has anticipated that this would be inconvenient for you, and so has suggested that he will have his wizards pull out things of interest and have them sent to you for your analysis.”

  Clarissa knew what the Sister was talking about. Before they had arrived, Nathan had told her that he probably wouldn’t be allowed to have a look at the prophecies Jagang possessed, much less be told where they all were. Jagang would want Nathan to see only selected volumes that had been screened by others, first.

  Nathan finally turned his full attention to the two Sisters. “In due time, in due time. Once we have worked together and brought the New World to task, and have come to fully trust one another’s word, then I will happily accept visits by Jagang’s lapdogs, but until then, I’m sure our emperor understands that I am leery of allowing those with the gift to know exactly where I am. That is why I will be lea
ving at once.”

  Sister Jodelle sighed. “As I said, he would be happy to have it brought to you. But you can understand that he would have cause for concern to have a wizard of your power, whose mind is a mystery to him, approach too closely. While he is eager for this arrangement, he is a man who takes precautions.”

  “As am I,” Nathan said. “That is why I can’t allow the book to be brought to me. Having you meet me here again today is the last risk I intend to take. In the meantime, I want that book. Until I have it, I have no way of knowing if it’s safe for me to go to D’Hara.”

  “His Excellency understands, and has no disagreement with your request. His objective will soon be complete, and he therefore has no further need of the book. Besides, a world without people to work for him would be of little value.

  “The book only works for Sister Amelia, since she was the one who went to the Temple of the Winds to recover it. He has offered to let you have either the book, or Sister Amelia. If you wish, we will send her to you.”

  “So Jagang will know where I am? I don’t think so, Sister. I’ll take the book.”

  “That, too, is agreeable with His Excellency. We can send it, or have someone meet you, to deliver it to you. He objects only to you, yourself, coming to get it, for safety reasons, as I’ve already explained.”

  Nathan rubbed his jaw as he thought. “What if I sent someone back with you? A representative, someone with my interests in mind? Someone loyal to me, so I had no need to fear that Jagang would delve into their mind and find where I was to be? Someone without the gift? He would have no need to tear them.”

  “Without the gift?” Sister Jodelle thought a moment. “And we could test them, without your shields around them, to insure that they in fact did not have the gift?”

  “Of course. I want this relationship with Jagang to work for both of us. I wouldn’t jeopardize it by trying to deceive him. I want to build trust, not destroy it.” Nathan hesitated, clearing his throat. “But you understand, though, that this person is . . . valued, to me. If anything were to happen to her, I would view it in the harshest light.”

  Both Sisters smiled.

  “Her. Of course,” Sister Willamina said.

  “Why, Nathan”—Sister Jodelle rocked on her heels as she smiled—“you really have been enjoying your freedom.”

  “I mean it,” Nathan said in a level tone. “Anything happens to her, and the entire agreement is ended. I’m sending her as a show of my faith in Jagang, in our agreement. I’m taking the first step of trust, so that the emperor will see that I am sincere.”

  “We understand, Nathan.” Sister Jodelle said, more serious now. “No harm will come to her.”

  “When she leaves with the book, I want her escorted to safety, beyond Jagang’s troops, and then left to be on her way. If she is followed, I will know it. If she is followed, I will view it in the most unfavorable light—as a sign of hostility toward me, and an attempt on my life.”

  Sister Jodelle nodded. “Understood, and very reasonable. She comes with us, gets the book, and returns safely to you, without being followed, and we are all happy.”

  “Good,” Nathan said decisively, as if closing the deal. “After tonight, Jagang will be rid of Richard Rahl. When I have the book safely in hand, then I will have the southern army surrender to Jagang’s expeditionary force, as my part of the bargain.”

  Sister Jodelle bowed. “We have an agreement, Lord Rahl. His Excellency wishes to welcome you to the empire as his second.”

  Nathan turned toward the door Clarissa was kneeling behind. Clarissa jumped up and rushed to the far window. She drew back the drapes with a hand and pretended to be gazing out when she heard the door open. “Clarissa,” Nathan called.

  She turned to see him standing in the doorway, holding the doorknob. Beyond him, she could see the two Sisters watching. “Yes, Nathan? You wish something?”

  “Yes, Clarissa. I would like you to go on a small journey for me—a bit of business. I need you to go with my friends out here.”

  Clarissa guided her full skirts around the writing table and followed him out into the other room. Nathan introduced her to the two Sisters.

  The two women wore knowing, smug smiles. They glanced to her cleavage and then at each other. Clarissa had that feeling of being judged as a whore, again.

  “Clarissa, you will leave at once, with these ladies. When you reach your destination, they will give you a book. You will then return with it. You remember where I told you we would be off to, tomorrow?”

  “Yes, Nathan.”

  “You will meet me there, after you have the book. No one, no one at all, is to know where it is you will be meeting me. Do you understand?”

  “Yes, Nathan.”

  “I’ll go see to getting her a horse,” Sister Willamina said.

  “A horse?” Clarissa gasped. “I’ve never ridden a horse in my life. I can’t ride a horse.”

  Nathan waved patience at the sudden hitch in their plans. “I have a carriage. I’ll have it brought around, and Clarissa can take that. There, is that satisfactory to all?”

  Sister Jodelle shrugged. “Horse, carriage, it makes no difference to us, as long as we can test her for the gift, first.”

  “Test her all you want. I will order the carriage while you test her, and then Clarissa can pack a few things.”

  “Agreed.”

  “Good. That’s settled then.”

  Nathan turned to Clarissa, putting his back to the two Sisters. “It won’t be long, my dear, and we’ll be together again.” He adjusted the locket hanging from a fine gold chain, straightening it for her. He looked into her eyes. “I will be waiting for you. I’ve told these friends of mine that if anything happens to you, I will be more than unhappy.”

  Clarissa stared into his wonderful eyes. “Thank you, Nathan. I will bring the book, as you ask.”

  Nathan kissed her cheek. “Thank you, my dear. That’s good of you. Safe journey, then.”

  Chapter 57

  Even with the gathering dark, brooding clouds, an eerie calm hung over the summit of Mount Kymermosst. The Andolians cast uneasy glances skyward. As Kahlan watched Richard dismount, his golden cloak hung limp in the unnaturally still air. Drefan offered her his hand to help her down. Kahlan pretended not to see it.

  In the fading light, the ruins were only ghostly shapes, the bones of some long extinct monster, waiting to come back to life and swallow her up. Though this was the night of the full moon, the leaden clouds would totally obscure it. When the last of the daylight soon left, it would be black as death atop the forsaken peak.

  Nadine stood close to Richard as he stared off toward the edge of the cliff. Drefan stood nearby, not wanting to look too forward to the woman who would shortly be his wife, but not wanting to ignore her, either. Like Nadine, he didn’t seem to view this as the end of his happiness.

  After the horses were secured, the legate and Cara ushered the brides and bridegrooms to a crumbling, circular garden structure made up of curved stone benches on one side and broken columns on the other. The top piece, connecting the columns, was mostly missing, joining only four of the ten stone columns.

  In the distance, in the fading light, Kahlan could still see the knife edge of the cliff, and the black swath of mountains beyond. Somewhere out there was the Temple of the Winds.

  Kahlan was directed to sit on a curved stone bench beside Drefan, and Richard, two benches away, was told to sit beside Nadine. Kahlan glanced over, and saw Richard looking back, but then Drefan leaned forward and blocked her view of Richard. She turned her attention to the legate and Cara standing before them. The six sisters stood behind their husband.

  “We are gathered here,” the legate and Cara said as one, “to wed Richard Rahl and Nadine Brighton, and to wed Kahlan Amnell and Drefan Rahl. This is the most solemn of rites; it binds in the most earnest of vows, and commits these mates for life. This marriage is sanctioned and witnessed by the spirits themselves.”

&n
bsp; Kahlan stared at the weeds sprouting from the cracks in the disintegrating stone floor as she only partly listened to the words about loyalty, fidelity, and obligation. It was so warm and muggy that she could hardly breathe. Her white Mother Confessor’s dress was sticking to her back. Sweat trickled down between her breasts.

  Kahlan’s head came up when Drefan started lifting her with a hand under her arm. “What? What is it?”

  “It is time,” he said. “Come.”

  And then she was standing before the legate and Cara, with Drefan beside her, and three of the legate’s wives at her other side as her attendants. She looked past Drefan to see Richard standing beside Nadine, with the other three Andolians serving as her attendants. Nadine wore a smile.

  “If anyone has any objections to the wedding of these people, they must speak now, for once it is done, it cannot be undone.”

  “I have an objection,” Richard said.

  “What is it?” the legate asked.

  “The winds said that this had to be of our own free will. It is not. We are being coerced into this. We are being told that people will die if we don’t do this. I don’t do this of my own free will; I do this only to save lives.”

  “Do you wish to save the lives of the people who will die if the magic stolen from the Temple of the Winds is not stopped?” the legate asked.

  “Of course I do.”

  “This wedding is part of that attempt. If you do not go through with it, then they will die. You wish to save them. This qualifies as your free will as far as the spirits involved are concerned.

  “If you wish to withdraw your agreement to this, then it must be now, before the vows. Afterwards, you may not change your mind.”

  Muggy silence hung in the air.

  She was plummeting helpless into the inky depths. It was all happening too fast. Too fast for her to get a breath.

  “I wish to speak with Richard, if I am to do this. Before I do this,” Kahlan said. “Alone.”

  The legate and Cara stared at her a moment. “Then hurry,” they said as one. “There is not much time. The moon rises.”