Soul of the Fire

"You are in a way right, my boy. It is indeed trouble of the gravest sort, but it is not the chimes."

"Zedd," Kahlan insisted, pointing back toward the burning building, "I'm telling you, it was-"

She fell silent as Zedd reached out and plucked a striated-feather from her hair. He held up the feather, spinning it slowly between a finger and thumb. Before their eyes it turned to smoke, evaporating into the night air.

"It was a Lurk," the wizard murmured.

"A Lurk?" Richard frowned. "What's a Lurk? And how do you know?"

"Ann and I have been casting verification spells," the old wizard said. "You've given us the piece of evidence we needed to be sure. The trace of magic on this arrow confirms our suspicion. We have grave trouble."

"It was conjured by those committed to the Keeper," Ann said. "Those who can use Subtractive Magic: Sisters of the Dark."

"Jagang," Richard whispered. "He has Sisters of the Dark."

Ann nodded. "The last time Jagang sent an assassin wizard, but you survived it. He now sends something more deadly."

Zedd put a hand on Richard's shoulder. "You were right in your persistence, but wrong in your conclusion. Ann and I are confident we can disassemble the spell that brought it here. Try not to worry; we'll work on it, and come up with a solution."

"You still haven't said what this Lurk thing is. What's its purpose? What is it sent to do?"

Ann glanced at Zedd before she spoke. "It's conjured from the underworld," she said. "With Subtractive Magic. It is meant to disrupt magic in this world."

"Just like the chimes," Kahlan breathed with alarm.

"It is serious," Zedd confirmed, "but nothing like the chimes. Ann and I are hardly novices and not without resources of our own.

"The Lurk is gone for now, thanks to Richard. Unmasked for what it is, it will not soon return. Go get some sleep. Fortunately, Jagang was clumsy, and his Lurk betrayed itself before it could cause any more harm."

Richard looked back over his shoulder at the crackling fire, as if reasoning through something. "But how would Jagang-"

"Ann and I need to get some rest so we can work out precisely what Jagang has done and know how to counter it. It's complex. Let us do what we know we must."

At last, Richard slipped a comforting arm around Kahlan's waist and drew her close as he nodded to his grandfather. Richard clasped Zedd's shoulder in an affable gesture on the way by as he walked Kahlan toward the spirit house.

CHAPTER 11

When Richard started, it woke her. Kahlan, her back pressed up against him, wiped her hair from her eyes, hastily trying to gather her senses. Richard sat up, leaving a cold breach where he had been a warm presence. Someone knocked insistently.

"Lord Rahl," came a muffled voice. "Lord Rahl." It hadn't been a dream; Cara was banging on the door. Richard danced into his pants as he rushed to answer her knock.

Daylight barged in. "What is it, Cara? "The healer woman sent me to get you. Zedd and Ann are sick. I couldn't understand her words, but I knew she wanted me to go for you."

Richard snatched up his boots. "How sick?" "By the healer woman's behavior, I don't think it's serious, but I don't know about such things. I thought you would want to see for yourself."

"Of course. Yes. We'll be right out." Kahlan was already pulling on her clothes. They were still damp, but at least they weren't dripping wet. "What do you think it could be?" Richard drew down his black sleeveless undershirt. "I've no idea."

Disregarding the rest of his outfit, he buckled on his broad belt with the gold-worked pouches and started for the door. He never left the things inside it unguarded. They were too dangerous. He glanced back to see if she was with him. Hopping to keep her balance, Kahlan tugged on her stiff boots.

"I meant, do you think it could be the magic? Something wrong with it? Because of the Lurk business?"

"Let's not give our fears a head start. We'll know soon enough."

As they charged through the door, Cara took up and matched their stride. The morning was blustery and wet, with a thick drizzle. Leaden clouds promised a miserable day. At least it wasn't pouring rain.

Cara's long blond braid looked as if she'd left it done up wet all night. It hung heavy and limp, but Kahlan knew it looked better than her own matted locks.

In contrast, Cara's "red leather outfit looked to have been freshly cleaned. Their red leather was a point of pride for Mord-Sith. Like a red flag, it announced to all the presence of a Mord-Sith; few words could convey the menace as effectively.

The supple leather must have been treated with oils or wool fat, by the way water beaded and ran from it. Kahlan always imagined that, as tight as it was, Mord-Sith didn't undress so much as they shed their skin of leather.

As they hurried down a passageway, Cara gave them an accusing glare. "You two had an adventure last night."