Temple of the Winds

There were charges against the accused ranging from the taking of a cherished object of little worth to murder. A sorceress was accused of casting a glamour, but was found innocent. A boy of twelve was accused of starting a fight in which another boy's arm was broken; because the aggressor had used magic to cause the injury, the sentence was the suspension of his training for a period of one year. A wizard was accused of being a drunkard, a third offense, the prior punishments having failed to halt his belligerent behavior. He was found guilty and sentenced to death. The sentence was carried out two days later, when he had sobered.

Habitually, drunken wizards were viewed not with tolerance but as the true dangers they were, capable, in their inebriated state, of causing mass injury and death. Kahlan herself had seen wizards drink to excess only one time.

The accounts of the trials were fascinating, but the seriousness of their purpose kept Kahlan skimming through the books, looking for a reference to the Temple of the Winds, or to a team charged with a crime. The other two were making quick progress, too. In an hour, Kahlan had finished all eleven books in the other languages, Berdine had only three left, and Cara six. "Anything?" Kahlan asked.

Cara lifted an eyebrow. "I just found an account of a wizard who fancied hiking up his robes in front of women in the market on Stentor Street and commanding them to 'kiss the serpent. I never knew wizards could get themselves in such a variety of trouble."

"They're people, just like any other people." "No, they're not. They have magic," Cara said. "So do I. Have you found anything, Berdine?" "No, not what we're looking for. Just common crimes." Kahlan reached for one of the books Cara hadn't been through, but paused. "Berdine, you were down in the room with the sliph." Berdine made a show of shivering and producing a sound of revulsion from deep in her throat. "Don't remind me."

Kahlan shut her eyes, trying to remember the room. She remembered Kolo's bones, and she remembered the sliph, but she only vaguely recalled what else was in the room.

"Berdine, do you remember if there were any other books down there?" Berdine bit down on the end of a fingernail as she squinted in concentration. "I remember finding Kolo's journal open on the table. An inkwell and pen. I remember Kolo's bones, lying on the floor next to the chair, with most of his clothes long ago rotted away. His leather belt was still around him."

Kahlan remembered much the same thing. "But do you remember if there were any books on the shelves?" Berdine turned her eyes up as she thought. "No." "No there weren't, or no you don't remember?"

"No, I don't remember. Lord Rahl was really excited about finding Kolo's journal. He said it was something different from the books in the library, and he felt it was what he had been searching for: something different. We left right after that."

Kahlan stood. "You two keep looking through these books. I'm going down there and have a look, just to be sure."

Cara's chair clattered against the floor as she stood. "I will go with you." "There are rats down there."

Her expression vexed, Cara put a hand on her hip. "I've seen rats before. I will go with you."

Kahlan remembered well Cara's story about the rats. "Cara, there's no need. I don't need your protection in the Keep. Outside, yes, but in here I know the dangers better than you.

"I told you I wouldn't take you near dangerous magic. Down there is dangerous magic."

"Then there is danger to you."

"No, because I know about it. You don't. The danger would be to you, not me. I grew up here. My own mother let me have the run of the Keep when I was a little girl because I was taught about the dangers and how to avoid them. I know what I'm doing.

"Please stay here with Berdine and finish going through the books. It will save us time, and it's important. The sooner we find the one we're looking for, the sooner we can get home to watch over Richard. That's where our real concern is."

Cara's leather creaked as she shifted her weight. "I guess you would know the dangers of the magic here better than I. I think you're right about getting home. Nadine is back there."

CHAPTER 35

Kahlan tried to overlay her mental map of the Keep on the passageways, stairwells. and rooms she traversed as she wound her way lower. Rats squeaked and skittered away from her lamp.

Although she had often seen the tower outside Kolo's room from the ramparts and walkways up on top of the Keep, she had never been down inside it until Richard had taken her there. Unfortunately, Richard had taken her there by way of dangerous passages, through shields she would never be able to get through on her own.