Temple of the Winds

Kahlan pressed a hand to her hammering heart as she panted, getting her breath. The sliph watched her, as if curious about what Kahlan might do next. Kolo often said in his journal that «she» was watching him. "Sliph. ." Kahlan stammered. "What are you doing-awake?" The face distorted into a puzzled frown. "Do you wish to travel?" The eerie voice echoed around the room. Her lips hadn't moved as she spoke, but she smiled pleasantly.

"Travel? No." Kahlan took a step toward the well. "Sliph, Richard put you to sleep. I was here." "Master. He woke me."

"Yes, Richard woke you. He traveled in you. He rescued me, and I traveled back with him. . in you."

Kahlan recalled that strange experience with a certain fondness. To travel in the sliph, you had to breathe her in. It was frightening at first, but with Richard there holding her hand, Kahlan had been able to do it, and had discovered the enthralling sensation of "traveling." To breathe the sliph was rapture.

"I remember," the sliph said. "Once you are in me, I remember." "But don't you remember Richard putting you to sleep again?" "He woke me from the sleep of ages, but he did not put me back into the long sleep. He put me at rest, until I was needed."

"But we thought-we thought you had gone back to sleep. Why are you not at. . rest, now?" "I felt you near. I came to look."

Kahlan stepped to the stone wall. "Sliph, has someone traveled in you since Richard and I last did?" "Yes. I was used."

Suddenly realization broke through her surprise. "A man and a woman. They traveled in you, didn't they?" The sliph's smile turned sly, but she didn't answer.

Kahlan touched her fingers to the stone wall. "Who was it, sliph, who traveled in you?"

"You should know that I never betray those I hold within me." "I should know? How would I know?"

"You have traveled in me. I would not reveal you. I never betray my clients. You traveled, so you must understand."

Kahlan licked her lips patiently. "Sliph, I'm afraid that I don't know anything about you, really. You are from a time before my time-from another age. I only know that you can travel, and that you helped me before. You were a valuable aid in defeating some very bad people."

"I am glad that you were pleased with me. Perhaps you would like to be pleased again? Would like to travel again?"

A shiver ran up Kahlan's spine. This had to be why Marlin was trying to get to the Keep. He and Sister Amelia must have come to Aydindril from the Old World in the sliph. Jagang had said he had waited to reveal himself until she returned. How else could she have returned to him so fast, except in the sliph? Kahlan swept out an imploring arm. "Sliph, some very evil people. ." She halted, sucking a breath through her open mouth. Her eyes widened. "Sliph," she whispered, "you took me to the Old World before." "Ah. I know the place. Come, we will travel." "No, no, not there. Sliph, can you travel other places?" "Of course." "Where?"

"Many places. You must know. You have traveled. Name the place that would pleasure you, and we will travel." Kahlan leaned toward the alluring, smiling silver face. 'The witch woman. Can you take me to the witch woman?" "I do not know this place."

"It's not a place. It's a person. She lives in the Rang'Shada mountains. In a place called Agaden Reach. Can you go there, to Agaden Reach?" "Ah. I have been there." Kahlan touched her trembling fingers to her lips.

"Come, and we will travel," the sliph said, her haunting voice echoing around the ancient stone walls. The sound died out slowly, letting silence settle once more, covering everything, like the veil of dust in the room.

Kahlan cleared her throat. "I have to go do something, first. Will you still be here when I get back? Will you wait for me?"

"If I am at rest, you can let me know of your need, and we will travel. You will be pleased."

"You mean, if you're not right here, I should call down to you, and you will come to me, and we will travel?" "Yes. We will travel."

Kahlan rubbed her hands together as she backed away. "I'll be back. I'll be back soon, and we will travel."

"Yes," the sliph said, watching Kahlan retreat, "we will travel." Kahlan snatched the lamp from where she had set it on the floor near the shelves. She paused at the door, looking back at the quicksilver face floating in the gloom. "I'll be back. Soon. We will travel."

"Yes. We will travel," the sliph said as Kahlan started running. Kahlan had to struggle to think where she was going as she ran. Her mind spun with arguments. While she grappled with her alternatives, she also tried to pay attention as she turned down halls, raced through rooms, and dashed upstairs. She seemed to reach Library Hall before she was ready. Huffing, she realized that she couldn't run in on Cara and Berdine in such a state. They would know something was wrong.