Temple of the Winds

"Richard does have both white and black sorcerer's sand, does he not?" Kahlan nodded. "Yes. He told me about it. He has both." Nathan shook his head, as if considering some private thought. "Both," he muttered. Nathan squeezed her shoulder. "I know from prophecy some of what he has been through. Stand by him. Love is too precious a gift to lose."

Kahlan smiled. "I understand. May the good spirits bring it to your heart, Nathan. I can't thank you enough for helping Richard, for helping me." Her voice broke. "I didn't know what I was going to do. I only knew I had to come here."

Nathan hugged her, she thought more for his own need than hers. "You did the right thing. Maybe the good spirits guided you. Get back to him, now, or we will lose our Lord Rahl." Kahlan nodded. "The killing is over." "The killing is just about to begin."

Nathan turned and held both fists skyward. An awesome flare of light ignited at his fists and shot into the night sky. Kahlan watched as it streaked northwest, so bright that the stars vanished in the glare.

Kahlan saw Verna sitting up, with Warren's help. He was wiping the blood away from her newly healed jaw. "What have you done?" Kahlan asked Nathan.

He looked down at her a long moment, and then a sly smile spread on his lips. "I have just given Jagang a nasty surprise. I have just given General Reibisch the signal to attack." "Attack? Attack who?"

"Jagang's expeditionary force. They destroyed Renwold. They are up to other trouble in the New World, too, but are unaware of who shadows them. It will be a short battle. The prophecy says that the D'Harans will fight as fiercely as they have ever fought, and will, before this night is over, destroy the enemy in the traditional D'Haran fashion: without mercy."

Verna was coming to her feet. Kahlan had never seen Verna looking so meek. "Nathan, I beg your forgiveness." "I'm not interested-"

Kahlan laid a hand on Nathan's arm and whispered up at him. "Nathan, please, for your own sake, listen to her."

Nathan gazed into Kahlan's eyes a moment before he turned his glare on Verna. "I'm listening." "Nathan, I've known you a long time. My whole life. I've seen things before that. . perhaps I didn't understand. I thought you were doing this to seize power for yourself. Please forgive me for lashing out at you for my own guilt at my friends turning against me-against us. I sometimes. . jump to judgment. I can see that I have mistaken what was truly going on with you and Clarissa. She adored you, and I thought-I beg you to forgive me, Nathan."

Nathan let out a grunt. "Knowing you, Verna, that must have been the hardest thing you have ever had to say. Forgiveness granted." "Thank you, Nathan," she sighed.

Nathan bent and kissed Kahlan's cheek. "May the good spirits be with you, Mother Confessor. Tell Richard I give him back his title. Maybe I will see him again someday."

With his hands on her waist, he boosted Kahlan up onto the sliph's wall. "Thank you, Nathan. I can see why Richard liked you. Clarissa, too. I think she saw the real Nathan."

Nathan smiled, but then turned serious. "When you get back, you must offer Richard's brother what he truly wants, if you are to save Richard." "You wish to travel?" the sliph asked. Kahlan's stomach roiled. "Yes, back to Aydindril." "Is Richard truly alive?" Verna asked.

"Yes," Kahlan said with revived panic. "He's sick, but he will be fine once I get this book back to him and it's destroyed."

"Walsh, Bollesdun." Nathan gestured as he started away. "My coach awaits. Let's be off."

"But, Nathan," Warren said, "I want to learn about prophecy. I would like to study with you."

"A true prophet is born. Warren, not made."

"Where are you going?" Verna called after him. "You can't leave. You're a prophet. You can't be left to run. . I mean, we must know where you will be- in case we need you."

Without looking back, Nathan pointed. "Your Sisters are that way. Prelate. To the northwest. Go to them, and save yourself the trouble of trying to follow me. You won't succeed. Your Sisters are safe from the dream walker; I had them transfer their bond to me while Richard went to the world of the dead. If Richard lives, you all can transfer it back to him. Good-bye, Verna. Warren."

Kahlan pressed a fist to her stomach. If he lives? If? "Hurry," she said to the sliph. "Hurry!" A silver arm swept her from the wall and down into the quicksilver froth.

CHAPTER 66

He smiled at the way she struggled. He liked the way she had fought him. He enjoyed teaching her how useless it was to fight a person of his superior strength, superior intellect. He watched in fascination as blood ran from her mouth and nose. The gash on her jaw oozed.

"You are only succeeding at making your wrists bleed," he taunted. "You can't break the ropes, but keep at it, if you wish."

She spat at him. He smacked her again. He dug his thumb across the cut on her jaw, spellbound by the pattern of blood flooding down the side of her neck.