Temple of the Winds

"What is wrong with your arm, master Drefan?" one of the six sisters asked. "Oh, some miscreant didn't like the way I try to purge the world of sickness." Big black eyes blinked at him. "What did he do to you?" Drefan straightened haughtily in his saddle. "Cut me with his knife. Tried to kill me. the filthy scum." "Why did he not succeed?"

Drefan dismissed the incident with an arrogant wave. "Once I showed him some steel, he ran for his life."

"I sewed his wound," Nadine told the amazed sisters. "And a deep one it was, too."

Drefan cast a glance at Nadine that seemed to make her shrink in her saddle. "I told you, Nadine, it's nothing. I don't want sympathy. A lot of people are in much greater need than I."

He relented when he saw the sheepish look on her face. "But you did a good job. As fine as any of my healers would have done. You did a fine job, and I appreciate it." Nadine smiled as they rode on.

Drefan pulled up the broad hood of his flaxen cloak. Dear spirits, she thought, that is to be my husband. For the rest of my life, this is to be my partner in life. Until she could die, and be with Richard again. Sweet death could not come soon enough. Clarissa wiped her sweaty palms together as she peered through the keyhole and listened to Nathan speaking with the Sisters in the other room.

"I'm sure you can understand. Lord Rahl," Sister Jodelle said. "This is for your own safety, too."

Nathan chuckled. "How good of the emperor to consider my well-being." "If, as you say, Richard Rahl will be eliminated tonight, then you have nothing to be concerned about. We will bring it afterwards. Surely, this would be satisfactory." Nathan shot them a hot glare. "I told you, Jagang's plan has worked. Richard

Rahl will be eradicated tonight. You will learn not to question me after tonight, I pray."

Clarissa had to strain to see Nathan through the keyhole as he turned away from the two Sisters while he considered. He turned back to them. "And he has agreed to everything else?"

"Everything," Sister Willamina assured him. "He looks forward to having you as his plenipotentiary in D'Hara, and is most agreeable to your offer of aid with the books of prophecy he has collected over the years."

Nathan grunted. "Where are they? I don't know that I'm amenable to traveling all over the Old World just to have a look at worthless volumes. I have business in D'Haran, after all. As the new Lord Rahl, I will need to consolidate my authority."

"His Excellency has anticipated that this would be inconvenient for you, and so has suggested that he will have his wizards pull out things of interest and have them sent to you for your analysis."

Clarissa knew what the Sister was talking about. Before they had arrived, Nathan had told her that he probably wouldn't be allowed to have a look at the prophecies Jagang possessed, much less be told where they all were. Jagang would want Nathan to see only selected volumes that had been screened by others, first. Nathan finally turned his full attention to the two Sisters. "In due time, in due time. Once we have worked together and brought the New World to task, and have come to fully trust one another's word, then I will happily accept visits by Jagang's lapdogs, but until then. I'm sure our emperor understands that I am leery of allowing those with the gift to know exactly where I am. That is why I will be leaving at once."

Sister Jodelle sighed. "As I said, he would be happy to have it brought to you. But you can understand that he would have cause for concern to have a wizard of your power, whose mind is a mystery to him, approach too closely. While he is eager for this arrangement, he is a man who takes precautions."

"As am I," Nathan said. "That is why I can't allow the book to be brought to me. Having you meet me here again today is the last risk I intend to take. In the meantime, I want that book. Until I have it, I have no way of knowing if it's safe for me to go to D'Hara."

"His Excellency understands, and has no disagreement with your request. His objective will soon be complete, and he therefore has no further need of the book. Besides, a world without people to work for him would be of little value.

"The book only works for Sister Amelia, since she was the one who went to the Temple of the Winds lo recover it. He has offered to let you have either the book, or Sister Amelia. If you wish, we will send her to you." "So Jagang will know where I am? I don't think so, Sister. I'll take the book." "That, too, is agreeable with His Excellency. We can send it, or have someone meet you, to deliver it to you. He objects only to you, yourself, coming to get it, for safety reasons, as I've already explained."

Nathan rubbed his jaw as he thought. "What if I sent someone back with you? A representative, someone with my interests in mind? Someone loyal to me, so I had no need to fear that Jagang would delve into their mind and find where I was to be? Someone without the gift? He would have no need to tear them."