Temple of the Winds

This soldier looked to be somewhat different from most of the others she had seen. He had a traveling cloak, with leather packs at his belt, and his clothes were of a higher quality than those of the regular soldiers she was getting used to seeing. His sword was shorter, too. and his knife longer. He was not a small man, either. He was as big as Nathan, but Nathan's bearing made him seem bigger than anyone to her.

"Give the letter to General Reibisch," Nathan said. "And don't forget, if any of those Sisters start asking you questions, you warn them about what I said, and tell them that Lord Rahl ordered you to keep what you were told to yourself. That will keep their jaws locked tight."

The soldier smiled knowingly. "I understand. . Lord Rahl." Nathan nodded. "Good. What about the others?"

Soldier Walsh gestured vaguely. "Bollesdun will be around to let you know what he finds out. I'm pretty sure it was only Jagang's expeditionary force, but Bollesdun will find out for sure. Large as it was. it wasn't much compared to the main force. I don't see any evidence that his main force down near Grafan Harbor has come north yet.

"From what I've heard, Jagang is content to sit and wait for something. I don't know what that something is, but he's not rushing troops north, into the New World."

"He thrust the army I saw deep into the New World." "I still think it was just his expeditionary force. Jagang is a patient man. It took him years to conquer and consolidate the Old World under his rule. He used much the same tactics: sending out the expeditionary force to take a key city, or capture information of one sort or another, mostly records and books. Those men are brutal, that's part of their purpose, too, but it's the books they're sent to get.

"They would send back whatever they captured, and wait to go wherever Jagang sends them next. Bollesdun has some of our men checking into it, but they have to be careful, and it may take them awhile, so just enjoy the wait."

Nathan stroked his chin as he pondered. "Yes, I imagine Jagang isn't eager to send his army into the New World, yet." He returned his gaze to Walsh. "You'd best be on your way."

Walsh nodded. His gaze shifted and his eyes met Clarissa's. He looked back to Nathan, a small smile coming to his lips. "A man after my own heart."

Nathan chuckled softly. "One of nature's wonders, matters of the heart." The way Nathan said the words made Clarissa's own heart swell with pride to be included in matters of his heart.

"You be careful, here in the rat's nest, eh, Nathan? I'd not like to hear that you don't have eyes in the back of your head, after all." He patted his tunic where he had put the letter. "Especially not after I deliver this." "I will, lad. You just be sure you get that letter delivered." "You have my word."

After Nathan shut the door, and business was finished, he turned to her. He had that twinkle in his eye. That lusty twinkle. His sly smile returned. "Alone at last, my dear." Clarissa squealed and ran for the bed in mock fright.

CHAPTER 45

What do you think is going on?" Ann asked.

Zedd stretched his head up to try to see. It was hard to get much of a look past the wall of legs around them. The Nangtong spirit hunters jabbered orders, which he couldn't understand, but some of the spears pointing down from the circle surrounding them settled on his shoulders, delivering an unequivocal message that he had better stay where he was.

He and Ann sat cross-legged on the ground, guarded by a ring of Nangtong, while others of them were sitting in conference a ways off with a party of Si Doak.

"They're too far away to hear clearly, but even if we could hear them. it probably wouldn't help much. I only speak a few words of Si Doak."

Ann plucked a long blade of grass and wound it around a finger. She didn't glance over at Zedd. They didn't want to give their captors the idea that they were sane and capable of plotting.

Ann let out a high-pitched cackle, just to keep up appearances. "What do you know about these Si Doak?"

Zedd flapped his arms like a bird about to take to wing. "I know they don't sacrifice people."

A guard thunked a spear shaft on Zedd's head. as if to discourage him from any ideas of flying off. Zedd howled with laughter, instead of cursing, which he was longing to do.

Ann glanced over out of the corner of her eye. "Beginning to reconsider your attitude about letting these Nangtong live as they wish?"

Zedd smiled. "If I wanted to let them live as they wish. we'd be in the spirit world by now. Just because you believe in letting wolves be. that doesn't mean you have to let them eat your flock at will." She grunted to concede the point.

Off in the distance, beside a slight rise. the negotiations dragged on. About ten of the Nangtong and an equal number of the Si Doak sat cross-legged in a circle. The Nangtong counted out loud. accompanied by exaggerated arm movements. They pointed Zedd's way. They made unintelligible but seemingly heartfelt speeches.