Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

An old man, wavy white hair in disarray, peered out like a homeowner surprised by visitors. He gulped air, apparently winded from having run through the Keep when he'd realized that someone was coming. He had no doubt been alerted by webs of magic that announced anyone taking the road up to the Keep. In ancient times there would have been people closer at hand to see to anyone newly arrived. Now there was only the old man. By the way he was breathing he must have been clear across the Keep when the alarms had warned him.

Even through the look of astonishment on his thin, wrinkled face, Nicci recognized elements of the features. She knew that he could be none other than Richard's grandfather Zedd. He was tall, but as thin as a sapling. His hazel eyes were wide with wonder and a kind of childlike excitement, if not innocence. His plain, unadorned robes marked him as a great wizard. He wore his age well. It was a pleasing preview of how, in part, time might treat Richard.

The old man threw his arms up over his head. "Richard!" A joyous grin swept across his face. "Bags, is that really you, my boy?"

Zedd emerged from the doorway and started down the worn steps into the dreary light.

Richard ran to his grandfather and lifted him off the steps, hugging him fiercely enough to drive the wind from the already winded old man. They both laughed, a pleasing sound with obvious kinship.

"Zedd! You can't imagine how glad I am to see you!"

"And you, my boy," Zedd said in a voice turning teary. "It's been too long. Far too long."

He reached a sticklike hand past Richard and gripped Cara's shoulder. "How are you, my dear? You appear to be near to spent. Are you all right?"

"I am Mord-Sith," she said, looking a bit indignant. "Of course I'm all right. Why would you think I look anything but perfectly fine?"

Zedd chuckled as he pushed back from Richard. "No reason, I suppose. You both look like you could use some rest and a meal or two is all. But you do look fine and I'm mighty happy to see you again."

Cara smiled at that. "I've missed you, Zedd."

Zedd waggled a finger. "Not very Mord-Sith of you to miss an old man. Rikka will be astonished to hear such a thing."

"Rikka?" Cara asked in surprise. "Rikka is here?"

Zedd waggled a hand back in the direction of the partly opened door. "She's back in there, somewhere — patrolling, I imagine. She seems to have two preoccupations in life, patrolling and harassing me. I'm telling you, I have no peace of mind with the woman. Worse, she's too clever for her own good. At least she's a talented cook."

Cara's brows lifted. "Rikka can cook?"

Zedd winced, pulling a breath through his teeth. "Don't tell her I said that or I'll never hear the end of it. The woman.»

"Zedd," Richard interrupted, "I have trouble and I need help."

"Are you well? You aren't ill, are you? You don't look entirely yourself, my boy." Zedd pressed a hand to Richard's forehead. "Summer fevers are the worst, you know. Heat on top of heat. Bad combination."

"Yes-no-I mean, it's not that. I need to talk to you."

"So talk. It has been a long time. Far too long of a time. What's it been? Two years this past spring, if I'm not mistaken." Zedd drew back a bit and squeezed Richard's arms as he looked him up and down. "Richard, where's your sword?"

"Look, we'll talk about that later," Richard said, irritably disengaging himself from Zedd's grip in order to wave away the question.

"You said you wanted to talk. So talk and tell me where your sword is." Zedd redirected his broad grin at Nicci. "And who is this lovely sorceress you've brought along?"

Richard blinked at Zedd's smile and then glanced at Nicci. "Oh, sorry. Zedd, this is Nicci. Nicci, this.»

"Nicci!" Zedd roared as he danced back up two of the steps as if he'd spotted a viper. "The Sister of the Dark who took you away to the Old World? That Nicci? What are you doing with this vile creature? Why would you dare to bring such a woman.»

"Zedd," Richard said, forcefully cutting his grandfather off. "Nicci is a friend."

"A friend! Are you out of your mind, Richard? How in the world do you expect.»

"Zedd, she's on our side now." He gestured heatedly. "Much the same as Cara, or Rikka. Things change. Before, either of them would have.»

His voice trailed off as his grandfather stared at him. "You know what I mean. I trust Cara with my life, now, and she has proven worthy of my trust. I trust Nicci the same. I trust them both with my life."

Zedd finally gripped Richard's shoulder and gave it an affectionate joggle. "I guess I do know what you mean. Since I gave you the Sword of Truth you've changed a great many things for the better. Why, I would never in my life have imagined that one day I'd happily be eating meals cooked by a Mord-Sith. And delicious meals they are, too." He caught himself and pointed at Cara. "If you tell her I said that I'll skin you alive. The woman is already incorrigible."

Cara only smiled.