Faith of the Fallen

A glow ignited around Neal's fingers. He was conjuring magic. Lethal magic. Richard, in his barely conscious condition, despite his need, could not focus his mind, could not call forth his own ability to do anything to stop Neal. At least, the pain would end. At least, Kahlan wouldn't think it was she who had killed him.

Richard heard a sudden, terrible, bone-snapping crack. Neal dropped heavily to his knees.

Richard, his hand already around the hilt, pulled the sword from underneath the man's legs and in one mighty lunge, ran it through Neal's heart.

Neal looked up in surprise, his eyes glassy. Richard saw then that the man was as good as dead before the blade had run him through. Neal's eyes rolled back in his head and he slumped to the side as Richard yanked the sword free.

Standing behind Neal was the woman Richard had helped. She had bandaged her leg. In both hands, she held the marble hand of the woman Richard had carved. She had crushed Neal's skull with her keepsake of the statue.

CHAPTER 69

Richard heard footfalls splashing toward him down the wet hallway. The woman had gone to find help. Maybe she had found it.

In the rooms and hallways in the distance, Richard could hear occasional screams as blasts of magic exploded through the night, as people were injured and killed.

A woman appeared in the moonlight. "Richard? Richard?"

Richard squinted in the darkness. "Who are you?" he managed to whisper.

She rushed to his side and fell to her knees. She gasped at seeing Kahlan sprawled on the floor close to him.

"What happened to the Mother Confessor?"

Richard frowned. She knew Kahlan.

"Who are you?"

She looked back at him. "I'm a Sister. Sister Alessandra. I've been in the city for a while, looking for Nicci, and-never mind. A woman found me just down the hall-and said you were hurt. The man who carved the statue. I was trying desperately to get to you earlier, but I couldn't get near-there I go again. Tell me where you're hurt. I can try to heal you."

"I was run through with a sword."

She was still and silent for a moment.

"Under my hands."

She looked then, and spoke a prayer under her breath. "I think I can help. I feared-"

"I need Nicci to do it."

Sister Alessandra glanced about. "Nicci? Where is she, then? I've been searching for her. Ann sent me to find her."

Richard's eyes fell on the still form of Kahlan. "Can you help her?"

He could see the woman's eyes look away from his. "No; I can't. She's linked by magic to Nicci. I met her before, and she told me about it. I can do nothing through the shield of Nicci's link."

"Is she. . is she still..»

The woman looked and then leaned back over him. "She's alive, Richard."

He closed his eyes in relief, and in pain.

"Lie still," she said.

"But I need Nicci to-"

"You're bleeding. This is bad, Richard. In a short time more, you will have lost too much blood. If I wait, no one will be able to heal you. You will have slipped too far beyond this world for any gift to help you. I can't wait.

"Besides, I came to try to stop Nicci. I know her better than anyone.

You can't put your life in her hands. You can't put your faith in her."

"It's not faith. I know-"

"She's a Sister of the Dark. I'm the one who led her down that dark road. I came to try to lead her back. Until and unless that time comes, you can't trust her. Now, you've not much time. Do you want to live, or not?"

It had all gone for nothing. He felt a tear run from the corner of his eye and across his cheek.

"I choose life," he said.

"I know," she whispered with a smile. "I saw the statue. Now, move your hands for me. I need to have mine there."

Richard let his hands slip to his sides as hers covered his wound. He felt helpless. He could focus on nothing but the searing pain.

He felt magic tingle into him, following the damage down deep inside him. He clenched his teeth as he held in a cry.

"Hold on," she whispered. "This is bad. It will hurt, but then in a while it will be all right."

"I understand," he said. He gasped sharply. "Do it, then."

The pain of her magic seared into him like white-hot coals thrown on bare flesh. He almost cried out, but then the pain abruptly ceased. Richard lay with his eyes closed, panting, waiting for it to start again. He felt her hands slip from him.

Richard opened his eyes and saw that Sister Alessandra's eyes were opened wide. For an instant, he wondered why.

And then he saw a foot of steel jutting from her chest. Her fingers went to her throat as blood gushed from her open mouth. A silent scream formed on her lips.

A bony hand shoved her aside.

She had been impaled on the sword Richard had used to fight Kahlan. His hand blindly went for the hilt he knew was there, but a foot kicked the Sword of Truth aside.

Death's own skull grinned down at him.

"You are a troublesome man, Richard Cypher," came the grating voice from the darkness above. "But at last, that trouble is ended."

The tall angular figure in robes and a creased cap towered above him as he lay helpless on the cold wet floor.