Soul of the Fire

"Richard and Kahlan hugged me and wished me well. The woman in red leather did not hug me, but she did give me a bow of her head to- show her respect and Kahlan told me the woman's words. She wished me to know she would protect Richard and Kahlan. She is a good woman, that strange one in red, even if she is not Mud People. I wished them well.

"All of us who had walked out into the grassland stood in the drizzle and waved as the three of them journeyed to the northeast, until they became spots too small to see anymore. The Bird Man then asked us all to bow our heads. Together, with his words leading us, we beseeched our ancestors' spirits to watch over our new people and keep them safe on their journey. He then called a hawk and sent it to travel with them for a ways, as a sign that our hearts were with them. We waited until we could no longer see even the hawk circling in the sky over the three of them.

"Then we returned straight away."

Tilting her head toward him, Nissel lifted an eyebrow. "Does that satisfy you better than my simple word that they are gone?"

Zedd cleared his throat, thinking the woman must practice sarcasm when there was no healing to be done.

"What did she say?" Ann asked again.

"She says they're gone."

"Is she sure?" Ann asked.

Zedd threw off his blanket. "How should I know? The woman gabs a lot. But I believe they're gone on their way."

Ann, too, threw aside her woolen blanket. "Thought I'd sweat to death under this scratchy thing."

They had remained under the blankets the whole time, silent and patient, fearing Richard might pop back in with some forgotten question or new idea. The boy frequently did such unexpected things. Zedd dared not precipitately betray himself, dared not let incautious action spoil their plans.

While they had waited, Ann had fretted and sweated. Zedd had taken a nap.

Pleased that Zedd had asked for her help, Nissel had promised to watch and let them know when the three were gone. She said those with age must stick together and that the only defense against youth was cunning. Zedd couldn't agree more. She had that twinkle in her eye that made Ann scowl in confused annoyance.

Zedd brushed his hands clean of the straw and straightened his robes. His back ached. At last he embraced the healer. "Thank you, Nissel, for all your help. It is deeply appreciated."

She giggled softly- against his shoulder. "For you, anything. " Upon parting, she pinched his bottom.

Zedd gave her a wink. "How about some of that tava with honey, honey?"

Nissel blushed. Ann's gaze shifted from one to the other. "What are you telling her?"

"Oh, just told her I appreciated her help and asked if we might have something to eat."

"Those are the itchiest blankets I've ever seen," Ann grumbled as she scratched furiously at her arms. "Tell Nissel she has my appreciation, too, but if you don't mind, I'll skip having my bottom pinched for it."

"Ann adds her sincere appreciation to mine. And she is much older than I." Among the Mud People, age lent weight to words.

Nissel's face wrinkled with a grin as she reached up and gave his cheek a doting pinch. "I will get you both some tea and tava."

"She seems to have grown quite fond of you." Ann smoothed back her hair as she watched the healer duck under the hide covering the door.

"And why not?"

Ann rolled her eyes and then brushed straw from her dark dress. "When did you learn the Mud People's language? You never mentioned to Richard or Kahlan that you knew their language."

"Oh, I learned it- a very long time ago. I know a lot of things; I don't mention them all. Besides, I always think it best to leave yourself a little wiggle room, should it come in useful, such as now. I never really lied."

She conceded the point with a sound deep in her throat. "While it might not be a lie, it is still a deception."

Zedd smiled at her. "By the way, speaking of deceptions, I thought your performance was brilliant. Very convincing."

Ann was taken aback. "Well, I… well, thank you, Zedd. I guess I was pretty convincing."

He patted her shoulder. "That you were."

Her smile turned to a suspicious scowl. "Don't you try to sweet-talk me, old man. I'm a lot older than you and I've seen it all." She shook her finger up at him. "You know good and well I'm cross with you!"

Zedd put his fingertips to his chest. "Cross? With me? What have I done?"

"What have you done? Need I remind you of the word Lurk? She stalked around in a little circle, arms raised, wrists bent over, fingers clawed, mimicking a fiend. "Oh, how frightening. Here comes.a Lurk. Oh, how terrifying. Oh, how very scary."

She stamped to a halt before him. "What was going through your witless head! What possessed you to spout such a nonsensical word as Lurk! Are you crazy?"

Zedd pouted indignantly. "What's wrong with the name Lurk?"

Ann planted her fists on her wide hips. "What's wrong with it? What kind of a word is Lurk for an imaginary monster!"

"Well, quite a good one, actually."