Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

"Nicci," Richard finally said into the uncomfortable silence atop the vast marble circle, "do you have any explanations other than this being a dream? Is there anything within your knowledge that has any chance at all of being the cause of this? Is there anything at all, any kind of magic, that you can think of that would help solve this puzzle?"

He watched her back, wondering if she would answer. A long shadow lay across the curved, bronze dial plane encircling the proud figure. Idling him what he knew, that the day was dying, that valuable time was slipping away. Finally, Nicci turned to him. The fire seemed to gave gone out of her.

"Richard, I'm sorry that I can't make it real for you." She brushed away a tear as it ran down her cheek, "I'm sorry to let you down."

With a grim expression, Cara met Nicci's gaze. "I guess we have something in common."

Richard gently touched his fingertips to the statue of Spirit. The uplifted face, its proud gaze set in white marble, lost its glow as the last rays of the setting sun sank behind the hills.

"Neither one of you let me down," he said. "You both are telling me what you believe. But Kahlan is not a dream. She's as real as her spirit carved in this stone."

CHAPTER 15

Richard turned to a distant commotion and spotted a group of people heading toward the monument. From atop the prominence he could see yet more people strung out behind, perhaps drawn by the activity, or perhaps by the purposeful look of the cluster of men as they made their way across the open expanse of ground. At the head of the small crowd was just the man Richard wanted to see.

Still some distance off, the man waved an arm. "Richard!"

Despite everything, Richard couldn't help but smile at the familiar stocky fellow wearing his customary, curious red hat with a narrow brim. When the man saw that Richard had seen him, he picked up his pace, trotting across the grass.

"Richard," he called again. "You've come back-just as you promised!"

As the group of people swarmed up the hill of steps, Richard started down to meet them. It was then that Richard also saw that Victor was making his way steadily through the gathering throng. At a wide marble landing, Ishaq rushed up and seized Richard's hand, pumping it with great glee.

"Richard, I'm so happy to see you back in Altur'Rang. You come to drive a wagon for my transport company, yes? I have orders stacked up. How do I get myself into these messes? I need you back. You can start tomorrow?"

"Glad to see you, too, Ishaq."

Ishaq was still pumping Richard's hand. "Then you will come back? I will make you a full partner. We share everything equal, you and I."

"Ishaq, with as much money as you owe me.»

"Money," Ishaq scoffed. "What is this talk of money? I have so much work now and more all the time that there is no time to worry about money. Forget money. We can earn all the money you want. I need a man with a good head. I will make you a partner. If you want, you can make me your partner-we will gel more work this way. Everyone asks after you, 'Where is Richard? they all say. I tell you, Richard, if you.»

"Ishaq, I can't. I'm trying to find Kahlan."

Ishaq blinked. "Kahlan?"

"His wife," a scowling Victor said as he stepped through the men behind Ishaq.

Ishaq turned to gawk at Victor. He turned back to Richard.

"Wife?" He swept his red hat off his head. "Wife? But this is wonderful!" He spread his arms. "Wonderful!" He threw his arms around Richard and hugged him as he laughed and danced back and forth on the balls of his feet. "You took a wife! This is wonderful news. We will have a banquet and.»

"She's missing," Richard said, easing Ishaq back to arm's length. "I'm looking for her. We don't know what happened."

"Missing?" Ishaq swiped back his dark hair and replaced his red hat. "I will help. I will go with you." His dark eyes turned serious. "Tell me what I can do."

It was no empty offer Ishaq made for the sake of courtesy. He was sincere. It was heartwarming to know that this man would drop everything to help.

Richard didn't think, though, that this was the time or place to explain. "It's not that simple."

"Richard," Victor said as he leaned closer, "we've got trouble."

Ishaq frowned at Victor, gesturing irritably. "Richard's wife is missing. Why you bring him more worries on top of that?"

"It's all right, Ishaq. Victor already knows about Kahlan." Richard rested his left hand on the pommel of his sword. "What sort of trouble?" he asked Victor.

"Scouts have just returned to report Imperial Order troops coming this way."

Ishaq swept his hat from his head again. "Troops?"

"Another supply convoy?" Richard asked.

"No," Victor said with a firm shake of his head. "These men are combat troops and they're coming this way."

Ishaq's eyes grew round. "Soldiers are coming? How soon?"

Voices carried the worrisome news back through the growing crowd.

"At the rate they're marching, they're still a few days out. We have some time to get our defenses organized. But not a lot of time."