Soul of the Fire

"The Sword of Truth," Zedd said. "It has the proper magic to release the spell intact as it breaches the container."

"That's not a problem. I left the sword in your private enclave in the Keep. But won't the sword's magic fail, too?"

"No. The Sword of Truth was created by wizards with the knowledge to ward its power from assaults against its magic."

"So you think the Sword of Truth will stop a Lurk?" Zedd nodded. "Much of this matter is unknown to me, but I strongly believe this: The Sword of Truth may be the only thing with the power to protect you." Zedd's fingers gripped Richard's undershirt, pulling him close. "You must retrieve the sword."

His eyes brightened when Richard nodded earnestly. Zedd tried to push himself up on an elbow, but Richard pressed a big hand to the old man's chest, forcing him to lie down.

"Rest. You can get up after you rest. Now, where is this bottle with the spell."

Zedd frowned at something and pointed behind Richard and Kahlan. They both turned to look. When they didn't see anything but Cara watching from the doorway, they turned back to see Zedd up on the elbow. He smiled at his little triumph. Richard scowled.

"Now, listen carefully, my boy. You said you got into the First Wizard's private enclave?" Richard's head bobbed as Zedd talked. "And you remember the place?" Richard was still nodding. "Good. There is an entrance. A long walk between things."

"Yes, I remember. The long entryway has a red carpet down the middle. To each side are white marble columns about as tall as me. There are different things atop each. At the end-"

"Yes," Zedd held up a hand, as if to stop him. "The white marble columns. You remember them? The things atop them?"

"Some. Not every one. There were gems in brooches, gold chains, a silver chalice, finely wrought knives, bowls, boxes." Richard paused with a frown of effort at recollection. He snapped his fingers. "Fifth column on the left has a bottle atop it. I remember because I thought it was pretty.

An inky black bottle with a gold filigree stopper."

A sly smile stole onto the Zedd's face. "Quite right, my boy. That's the bottle."

"What do I do? Just break it with the Sword of Truth?"

"Just break it."

"Nothing fancy? No incantations? No placing it some certain place some certain way? No waiting for the right moon? No special time of day or night? No turning round first? Nothing fancy?"

"Nothing fancy. Just break it with the sword. If it were me, I'd carefully set it on the floor, just in case my aim was bad and I knocked it off without breaking the glass and it fell to the marble to break there. But that's me."

"The floor it is, then. I'll set it on the floor and smash it with the sword." Richard started to rise. "It will be done before dawn breaks tomorrow."

Zedd caught Richard's hand and urged him back down. "No, Richard, you can't." He flopped back, sighing unhappily.

"Can't what?" Richard asked as he leaned close once more.

Zedd took a few breaths. "Can't go in that sliph thing of yours."

"But we have to," Richard insisted. "It will get us there in less than a day. Over land would take… I don't know. Weeks."

The old wizard lifted a grim finger toward Richard's face. "The sliph uses magic. If you go in the sliph, you will die before you reach Aydindril. You will be in the dark recesses of that quicksilver creature, breathing her magic, when that magic fails. You will drown. No one will ever find your body."

Richard licked his lips. He raked his fingers back through his hair. "Are you sure? Might I be able to make it before the magic fails? Zedd, this is important. If there is some risk, then we must take it. I'll go alone. I'll leave Kahlan and Cara."

Alarm swelled in Kahlan's chest at the idea of Richard being in the sliph, and having its magic fail. Of him drowning in the dark forever of the sliph. She clutched at his arm to protest, but Zedd spoke first.

"Richard, listen to me. I am First Wizard. I am telling you: Magic is failing. If you go in the sliph, you will die. Not maybe. Will. All magic is failing. You must go without magic."

Richard pressed his lips tight and nodded. "All right, then. If we must, then we must. It will take longer, though. How long can you and Ann…?"

Zedd smiled. "Richard, we are too weak to travel or we would go with you now, but we will be fine. We would only slow you for no good reason. You can accomplish what must be done. As soon as you break the bottle and release the spell, then these things here"-he gestured to the spells drawn all over the floor-"will let us know. Once they do, I can cast the counterspells.

"Until then, the Wizard's Keep will be vulnerable. Extraordinarily powerful and dangerous things could be stolen when the Keep's shields of magic fail. After I restore magic's power, anything stolen could then be used against us."

"Do you know how much of the Keep's magic will fail?"