Temple of the Winds

"But if he's trying to get out, he would have gone to the right," the soldier said. "He would hope to get out where the water does. We should go with you."

"Unless he knows we're after him, end he's trying to send us the wrong way. You two go left. Come on, Nadine." "In there? The water must be waist-deep."

"A little more. I'd say. It's run-off from the spring melt. It's usually no more than a foot or two deep. There are stepping stones along the other side, but they're just underwater now. In the center of where this passageway opens into the drain tunnel there will be an oblong stone to step across on."

Kahlan stretched and stepped out, putting a foot into the center of the torrent and onto the flat stone just under the surface of the water. She lifted her other leg across the rushing water, testing until he foot found one of the stones against the far wall. She clasped a hand with Nadine and boosted herself across. Standing on the stone, the water was only ankle-deep, but it quickly soaked through the lacing and filled her boots. It was ice cold.

"See?" Kahlan's voice echoed, and she hoped it didn't carry far. "But be careful; it isn't an unbroken walkway. The stones are spaced apart."

Kahlan moved to the next stepping stone and gave Nadine a hand across. She gestured to the men to go up the tunnel. They crossed and moved quickly off into the darkness. Soon, the light from the men's torches vanished around a bend, and Kahlan was left with Nadine in the dim light of a single torch. Kahlan hoped it would last long enough. "Careful, now," she said to Nadine.

Nadine cupped her ear. It was hard to hear over the roar of the water. Kahlan put her mouth close and repeated the admonition. She didn't want to yell, and alert Jagang, if he was close.

Even if the torch had been brighter, they wouldn't have been able to see far. The drainage tunnel twisted and turned on its way down and out of the palace underground. Kahlan had to put a hand to the cold, slimy stone wall in order to keep her balance.

In several places the tunnel took a steep descent, the stones along the side following it down like a stairway down through a roaring rapid. Icy water misted the air and soaked them to the skin.

Even in the flatter sections, running was impossible, as they had to step carefully from stone to stone. If they went too fast and missed a step, they could break an ankle. Down in the tunnel, in the water, with Jagang somewhere about, would be a very bad place to be hurt. The blood running afresh down Kahlan's arm reminded her that she was already hurt. But at least she could walk.

That was when Nadine squealed from behind and went into the water, "Don't lose the torch!" Kahlan screamed. Nadine, chest-deep in the rushing water, thrust the torch up in the air to keep it from being doused. Kahlan snatched her wrist and strained against the drag of the water as the current swept Nadine past. There was nothing for Kahlan to grab hold of with her other hand. She hooked the heels of her boots over the edge of the stepping stone to keep from being pulled off.

Nadine thrashed with her other hand, searching for one of the stepping stones. She found one and grasped it. With Kahlan's help, she pulled herself back up.

"Dear spirits, that water is cold." "I told you to be careful!"

"Something, a rat, I think, grabbed my leg," she said, trying to catch her breath. "I'm sure it was dead. I've seen others float past. Now be careful." Nadine nodded in embarrassment. I because she had been swept past Kahlan, Nadine was now in the lead. Kahlan didn't see how they could change places without a struggle, so she motioned Nadine on.

Nadine turned to start out. Suddenly a huge shape erupted from the black depths. Water sluiced from Marlin as he bobbed up and snatched Nadine's ankle with his one hand. She shrieked as she was yanked feet-first into the inky water.

CHAPTER 11

On her way down, Nadine swung the torch and caught Marlin square across the bridge of his nose. He let go of her as he madly groped to wipe the burning pitch from his eyes. The current swept him away.

Kahlan gripped Nadine's arm, still holding the torch above the water, and helped her back up on the stepping stone for a second time. They flattened themselves against the wall, gulping air and shaking in shock. "Well," Kahlan said at last, "at least we know which way he went." Nadine was shivering violently from her second dunking. Her hair was plastered to her head and neck. "I can't swim. Now I know why I never wanted to learn. I don't like it."

Kahlan smiled to herself. The woman had more pluck than she would have thought. Her smile wilted when she remembered why Nadine was there, and who had sent her.

Kahlan realized that in the surprise of the ambush she had missed her chance to get Jagang. "Let me go first."