Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

Her look turned even colder. "If you are wise, you will use the knowledge I have given you to stay alive as long as you can to help to defeat Jagang, or to go chasing after phantoms-I don't care which anymore. Just go, before you find out why wizards fear to come into my home."

"You said that your ability helps you see events in the flow of time. What does your ability see about me in the future?"

Shota was silent for a moment before she finally glanced away from his steady gaze. "For some reason, the river of time has become obscured to me. It happens." Her gaze returned, more determined than ever. "You see? I can be of no further help. Now, go."

He was determined not to allow her to dodge the issue. "You know that I came here for information, for something that could help me find out the truth about what's going on. This is important. It's important to more people than just you or me. Don't close yourself off from me like this Shota, please. I need your help."

She arched an eyebrow. "Since when have you ever followed anything I've ever told you?"

"Look, I admit that in the past I haven't always agreed with everything you've had to say, but I wouldn't be here if I didn't think you were an astute woman. While some of the things you've told me in the past were true, if I would have done things strictly your way without using my own judgment as the situation developed I would have failed and we would all be either under the rule of Darken Rahl or in the merciless embrace of the Keeper of the underworld."

"So you say."

Richard lost his indulgent tone as he leaned toward her. "You do remember the time you came to see me at the Mud People's village, don't you? The time you begged me to close the veil so that the Keeper wouldn't have us all? You do remember telling me how much the Keeper wanted those with the gift, wanted you, a witch woman, to suffer unimaginably for all eternity?"

He jabbed her with a finger, punctuating his points. "You did not suffer all the frightful things necessary to stop what was happening-I did. You did not have to fight the Keeper's terrors to close the veil-I did. You did not save your own hide from the Keeper-I did."

She was watching him from under her lowered brow. "I remember."

"I succeeded. I saved you from that fate."

"You saved yourself from that fate. That it saved me as well was not your purpose, merely a side consequence."

He let out a breath, trying to be patient. "Shota, I know that you must know something about this-something about what's happened to Kahlan."

"I told you, I don't remember any woman named Kahlan."

"Yes, and the reason is that something is terribly wrong and I realize that because of that you don't recall her, but you must know something that will help me in my search for the truth-some bit of information that will help me find out the truth about what's really going on."

"And you expect that you can just walk uninvited into my home, put my life at risk, do your little dance, and get whatever part of my life, my ability, that you want for yourself."

Richard stared at her. She had not denied that she knew something that might help him. He realized that he had indeed been right about her.

"Shota, stop posturing and stop acting like I'm unfairly making demands of you. I've never lied to you and you know it. I'm telling you that this is important to you, too, whether or not you yet realize it. For all I know, it could yet be something the Keeper has initiated in order to get us all. I need whatever information you can give me to prevent the success of whatever it is that's going wrong. I'm not playing games. I will have what you know!"

"And you think that such a demand entitles you to it?" Her eyes narrowed. "You think that just because I have something, your perceived need means that I must surrender whatever I have? That you are entitled to any part of my life you feel you need? You think that my life is not mine, but I am merely meant to serve you? You think my life means nothing but to be at your disposal when you deign to have use of me? You think you can come in here and make demands, but when I dare ask for something, you get indignant?"

"I wasn't indignant," he said, trying to restrain his tone. "I appreciated the sincerity of your offer. I understand very well the empty feeling of being alone. But if you're the woman I believe you are, you wouldn't want me even though my heart wasn't in it. You deserve to have someone who can love you. I'm sorry, Shota, but I can't lie and tell you that I can be that one for you or I would only in the end be hurting you worse. I can't lie to you; I'm already in love with someone.