Temple of the Winds

"What good is that going to do?" Raina asked, when he came back holding the cloth out for them.

"There's too much to see. I'm going to use this as a blindfold, so I won't see all the things I don't want to see."

Berdine's face twisted with incredulity. "If you're blindfolded, then how are you going to see the thing we're looking for?"

"With magic. I'm going to try to let my gift guide me. Sometimes it works that way-through need. All these books are too confusing. If I'm blindfolded, I won't see them, and I'll be able to feel the one I'm looking for. At least, that's what I hope."

Raina gazed out over all the books. "Well, you are the Lord Rahl. You have magic. If it has a chance of getting us out of spending the night in here, then I say do it."

Richard placed the black cloth over his eyes and began tying its tails behind his head. "Just guide me and keep me from touching anything. Don't forget what I said about you two not touching anything, either."

"Don't worry about us. Lord Rahl." Raina said. "We're not about to touch anything." When he finished tying the blindfold over his eyes, Richard turned his head this way and that. testing to make sure that he couldn't see. He rubbed a finger over the starburst on his wristband.

His world was pitch-black. He sought the inner peace, the inner calm. where dwelled his gift.

If the plague was started by magic from the Temple of the Winds, then maybe they had a chance to halt it. If he did nothing, then untold thousands of people were going to die. He needed that book.

He thought about the boy he had watched die. About the little girl. Lily. who told him about the Sister of the Dark showing her the book. That was how the plague started. He knew it was.

That precious child had the tokens on her. Richard hadn't inquired, but he knew that she. at least, would be dead by now. He couldn't bear to inquire. He needed that book.

He put a foot out. "Nudge me with your fingers if I'm about to run into anything. Try not to talk, but if you must, don't be afraid to speak up."

He felt their fingers lightly touch his arm as he stepped forward. They guided him with that touch, keeping him from colliding with the towering stacks of books as he waded deeper into the maze.

Richard didn't know what it was he should feel. He didn't know if it was magic. a hunch, or his imagination guiding him. By the way he seemed to he winding up and down aisles and snaking through the stacks, he feared it was no more than his imagination. He tried to ignore the things that kept his thoughts skipping about and running in every direction.

He tried to concentrate on the book and his need to find it. Thinking of the sick children, he was able to focus better. They needed him. They were helpless.

Richard felt himself jerk to a halt. He wondered why. He turned left when he expected that he was going to turn right. It had to be the gift. With that thought, his thoughts scattered in every direction again. He focused once more.

The two Mord-Sith forcibly snatched his arm to halt him. He understood. Another step, and he would have collided with a stack.

Wondering which way he would be turned, he found himself squatting instead. His arm lifted and he reached out.

"Careful," Berdine whispered. "Its a big. irregular stack. Be careful, or you'll knock it over."

Richard nodded, not wanting to distract himself by answering with words. He was concentrating on feeling the object of his need. He felt it near. His fingers lightly brushed the books, running down the stack, touching the bindings of some and the pages of others because they were turned around the other way. His fingers stopped on a binding.

"This one." He tapped the leather binding. "This one. What does it say?" Berdine propped a hand on his thigh to support herself as she leaned in. "It's High D'Haran, Something about the Temple of the Winds-'Tagenricht osf fuer Mosst Verlaschendreckmch Greschlechten. "

"Temple of the Winds Inquisition and Trial," Richard translated in a whisper. "We've found it."

CHAPTER 47

Breathe, the sliph said.

Kahlan let go the silken essence and pulled a deep breath of the alien air. The dim world of the sliph's well down in the Keep whirled around her. Stone of the walls and floor finally settled in her vision. The dome overhead seemed to slow its spinning.

Something unexpected waited in the sliph's room.

Tilled back in the chair, with her feet propped up on the table, sat a figure in red leather. Kahlan sat down, dangling her feet over the edge of the stone wall, to gather her senses.

The front legs of the chair thunked down. "Well, well, the wandering Mother Confessor returns at last."

Kahlan hopped down onto the floor. She almost lost her footing with the way it seemed to twist and tilt. "Cara, what are you doing down here?"

Cara gripped Kahlan under her arm. "You better sit down until you regain your feet."

"I'm all right." Kahlan glanced over her shoulder to the silver face behind her. "Thank you, sliph."