Temple of the Winds

"Nathan, this is a friend of mine, Manda. From Renwold." Manda put a knee to the ground as she bowed deeply. "Lord Rahl. My life is yours."

"Renwold." Nathan's brow twitched again as he glanced briefly at Clarissa. "Yes, well, glad you escaped from Jagang, Manda."

"I owe it all to Clarissa," Manda said as she came to her feet. "She is the bravest woman I've ever seen."

Clarissa giggled as she pressed herself to Nathan. "Nonsense. I'm so thankful that the good spirits put you where they did, or I'd never have even known you were there."

Nathan turned his attention back toward Verna. "Who have we here? The young Warren, I presume?"

Verna did her best to smooth her own brow. «Nathan-» "Lord Rahl." His grin cracked through the scowl. "But we are old friends, Verna. I am still Nathan to you, and all my old friends." Verna dipped her head as she bit the inside of her cheek. "Nathan," she began again, "you're right; this is Warren. Can you help him? He's just coming into prophecy, just starting to have them. I took his collar off a while back and there is nothing to protect him from the gift. He's having the headaches. Nathan, he's in a bad way. I'll follow you anywhere if you will help him." "Help him?" "Please, Nathan. I'm begging you."

"Nothing to it. Verna. I'd be delighted to help the boy." Nathan gestured. "Bring him over here by the fire."

Warren mumbled, trying to introduce himself, but he was nearly unconscious. Verna and Janet helped him down where Nathan pointed, and balanced him upright.

Nathan hiked up his trousers at his knees and lowered himself to the stone floor of the missing building, sitting cross-legged. He set the book beside him. His brow drew down in that Rahl frown as he studied Warren's face. He waved his hand at Verna and Janet, ordering them away. With a web, Nathan held Warren upright. He inched forward, until their knees touched.

"Warren," Nathan called in that deep, commanding voice of his. Warren's eyes opened. "Hold up your hands."

Fingers extended, both Warren and Nathan held up their hands. They pressed their fingers together. Their eyes fixed on each other.

"Let your Han flow into my fingertips," Nathan said in gentle prompting. "Open the seventh gateway. Close the others. You know of what I speak?" "Yes."

"That's a good lad. Do it then. It will make it easier if I have your help." A warm, mellow glow enveloped both men. The night air hummed with the power from that light. It was neither flame nor heat. Verna didn't know what Nathan was doing. She was somewhat astounded that Nathan did.

Nathan had always been something of a enigma at the Palace of the Prophets. He had seemed an old man to her even when Verna was a young girl. He had always been regarded as, at the least, unbalanced, even by the most magnanimous of the Sisters.

There were those at the palace who didn't believe that Nathan had more than the slightest hint of the gift in anything but prophecy. Others suspected, but were never sure, that he was capable of much more than he ever showed them. There were others who were so terrified of him that they feared going to the rooms where he was confined, even though he had a Rada'Han around his neck. Verna had always considered Nathan trouble on two feet.

Now, she watched as this troublesome old lecher of a wizard did his best to save the life of the man Verna loved. At times, the light glowed more strongly in one man than the other, before passing away, and then coming back, as if it had forgotten something and then returned for it.

Walsh and Bollesdun loafed near the round stone wall behind Nathan, but the rest of the party watched transfixed. Verna had no more idea what Nathan was doing than did Manda.

What unnerved Verna the most was when both men, their knees touching, their fingers pressed together, floated a few inches off the ground. She was relieved when they at last settled back down.

Nathan clapped his hands together once. "There" he announced. "That should do it."

Verna couldn't see how that could have possibly been enough to set the gift right in Warren.

Warren, though, wore a wide grin. "Nathan, that was-marvelous. The headache is completely gone. I feel so clearheaded-so alive."

Nathan picked up the inky book and stood. "I enjoyed it, too, my boy. Took that gaggle of Sisters near to three hundred years to do for me what I have just done for you. But then they were a misguided lot." He glanced Verna's way. 'Sorry, Prelate. No slight intended."

"None taken." Verna rushed to Warren's side. "Thank you, Nathan. I was so worried for him. You have no idea what a relief this is."

Warren's face was losing the joyous look. "Nathan, now that you have done this for me, I can see more clearly that… we have inadvertently given Jagang insight into prophecy that-"

Nathan cried out. Clarissa cried out. Verna froze. She could feel something sharp pressed to her back.