Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

"I'm still perplexed as to why it didn't kill Cara. After all, a message like that could have just as easily been given directly to you once it had you in its clutches. If the threat is credible-and I certainly don't doubt that it is-then the beast would have all the time it wished to make you suffer if it would have snatched you right then. Such a message serves no real purpose. What's more, it makes no sense for the beast to be right there and then vanish."

Richard drummed his fingers on the cross guard of his sword as he thought it over. "All good questions, Nicci, but I just don't have good answers."

With the palm of his left hand resting on the hilt of his sword, he scanned the darkness again, checking for any threat. "I think Cara and I had better be on our way. Considering what happened to Victor's men, I'm concerned about what will happen if that thing comes back here after me. I'd not like that kind of beast rampaging through the city in a blood frenzy. I don't want any more people to be needlessly hurt or killed. Whatever that thing is-the beast Jagang had his Sisters conjure, or something we don't even know about-it seems to me that I'll have a better chance to stay alive if I keep moving. Sitting in one place feels too much like waiting for the executioner to arrive."

"I don't think that you are necessarily making logical assumptions," Nicci said.

"Nonetheless I need to be going anyway and I'd feel better if it was sooner rather than later-for a variety of reasons." He hoisted his pack higher on his back. "I have to find Victor and Ishaq."

Resigned, Nicci gestured behind her. "After the attack I went and got them. They are both over at the stables, back there. Ishaq has the horses you requested. Some of the men helped him gather supplies for you." She put a hand on his arm. "Some of the relatives of Victor's men, the ones who were killed, are there, too. They want to hear from you."

Richard nodded as he let out a deep breath. "I hope I can offer them some comfort. Grief is fresh in my mind." He gave Cara a quick squeeze on her shoulder. "But mine has been lifted."

Richard hitched his bow higher up onto his shoulder as he started away. In little more than a blink he dissolved into the darkness.

CHAPTER 21

As Cara went past, following in Richard's wake, Nicci caught the Mord-Sith's arm, holding her back until she could speak without Richard hearing.

"How are you, Cara? Really?"

Cara met Nicci's direct gaze with a steady look of her own. "I'm tired, but I'm fine, now. Lord Rahl made it right."

Nicci nodded her satisfaction. "Cara, may I ask you a personal question?"

"As long as I don't have to promise I'll answer it."

"Do you have a man for whom you care greatly named Benjamin Meiffert?"

Even in the dim light, Nicci could see Cara's face go as scarlet as her red leather outfit. "Who told you such a thing?"

"Do you mean to say, then, that it's a secret and no one knows?"

"Well, that's not what I'm saying, exactly," Cara stammered. "I mean — you're trying to trip me into saying something I don't intend."

"I'm not trying to trip you into saying anything, especially something that isn't true. I only asked about Benjamin Meiffert."

Cara's brow drew tight. "Who told you such a thing?"

"Richard." Nicci arched an eyebrow. "Is it true?"

Cara pressed her lips tight. At last she looked away from Nicci to glare off into the night. "Yes."

"So you told Richard all about how you care a great deal for this soldier?"

"Are you crazy? I would never have told such a thing to Lord Rahl. Where could he have heard it?"

For a moment, Nicci listened to the cicadas singing their incessant mating songs as she considered the Mord-Sith.

"Richard said that Kahlan told him all about it."

Cara stood with her mouth agape. She at last touched her fingers to her forehead as she worked to gather her senses.

"Well that's just crazy — I, I must have told him myself. I guess I just forgot. We talk about so much. It's hard to recall everything I told him —but now that you bring it up, I think I do recall mentioning it one night when we were both talking about such sentimental things. I think that must have been when I told him about Benjamin Meiffert. I guess I pushed such a personal discussions to the back of my mind. I guess he didn't. I ought to learn to keep my mouth shut."

"You have no need to fear anything you tell Richard. You have no better friend in the world. And you have no need to fear me knowing such things, either. He told me about it in the depth of his grief for you because he wanted me to know that you are more than just Mord-Sith, that you're a person with a life and desires of your own and you had come to value a good man. He was honoring you by telling me. But I will keep it to myself. Your feelings are safe with me, Cara."

Cara idly tugged at strands of hair at the end of her single braid. "I guess I never looked at it quite that way-I mean about him honoring me by telling you. That's kind of — nice."