Temple of the Winds

"If I recall correctly, and I'm not saying that I do, it said something about a breach between worlds. It said that in the event of such a breach, the warning would be three nights of a red moon."

"Three nights. For all we know, with the clouds we've had, we could already have had our three nights. What if there were clouds all the time? The warning would be missed."

Zedd squinted in concentration as he tried to recall what he had read. "No. . no, it said that the one to whom the warning was directed would see all three nights of the warning-all three nights of the red moon."

"What exactly is meant by such a warning? What kind of breach could there be between worlds?

"I wish I knew." Zedd thumped his head of wavy white hair back against the wall. "When the boxes of Orden were opened by Darken Rahl, and the Stone of Tears came into this world from another, and the Keeper of the underworld was near to coming into our world through the breach, there was never a red moon."

"Then, maybe the red moon doesn't mean that there is a breach. Perhaps you recall it wrongly."

"Perhaps. What I recall most vividly are my thoughts at the time. I remember picturing a red moon in my mind, and telling myself to remember such an image, and that if I ever saw it for real, I must remember that it was grave trouble, and I must at once search out the meaning of the sign."

Ann touched his arm, an act of compassion she had never done before. "Zedd, we almost have Nathan. We'll have him tonight. When we do, I'll take the Rada'Han from your neck so that you can hurry to Aydindril and see to this matter. In fact, as soon as we have Nathan, we will all go. Nathan will understand the seriousness of this, and will help. We'll go to Aydindril with you and help."

Although Zedd didn't like that this woman had insisted he come with her to capture Nathan, he had come to understand how afraid she was of what could happen with Nathan free, and that she needed his help. At times he had difficulty maintaining his indignation. He knew how desperate she was to keep the prophecies from being loosed along with Nathan.

Zedd knew how dangerous it could he if people were exposed to raw prophecy. He had been lectured since he was a boy on the dangers of prophecy, even for a wizard.

"Sounds like a worthwhile bargain to me; I help you get Nathan back, and you two help me find the meaning of the red moon."

"A bargain, then-we work together willingly. I must admit, it will be a pleasant change of affairs."

"Is that so?" Zedd asked. "Then why don't you take this collar off me?" "I will. Just as soon as we have Nathan." "Nathan means more to you than you have admitted."

She was silent a moment. "He does. We have worked together for centuries. He can be trouble on two legs, but somewhere in all that bluster, Nathan has a noble heart." Her voice lowered as she turned her head away. Zedd thought she wiped a hand at her eyes. "I care greatly for that incorrigible, wonderful man." Zedd peeked around the corner at the inn's silent door.

"I still don't like it," he whispered. "Something about this is wrong. I wish I knew what it was."

"So," she finally asked, "what are we going to do about Nathan?" "I thought you wanted to do the talking."

"Well, I guess you have convinced me that we should be careful. What do you think we should do?"

"I'll go in there alone and ask for a room. You wait outside. If I find him before he leaves, I'll surprise him and put him down. If he comes out before I find him, or if something. . goes wrong, you seize him."

"Zedd, Nathan is a wizard; I'm only a sorceress. If he had his Rada'Han around his neck I could easily control him, but he is without it."

Zedd mulled it over for a moment. They couldn't take a chance on his getting away. Beyond that, Ann could be hurt. They would have a difficult time of finding Nathan again; once he knew they were onto him, he might figure out the tracer cloud and possibly unhook it. That was not likely, though.

"You're right," he said at last. "I'll cast a web outside the door, so that if he comes out it will hobble him, and then you can snap that infernal collar around his neck."

"That sounds a good idea. What sort of web will you use?" "As you've said yourself, we can't fail." He studied her eyes in the dim light. "Bags! I can't believe I'm actually doing this," he muttered. "Give me the collar for a moment."

Ann searched under her cloak for the pouch at her waist. When her hand came out, the light of the red moon glinted dully off the Rada'Han. "This is the same one he wore?" Zedd asked. "For almost a thousand years."

Zedd grunted. He took the collar in his hands and let his magic flow into the cold object of subjugation, let it mingle with the magic of the collar. He could feel he warm hum of the Additive Magic the collar possessed, and he could feel the icy tingle of its Subtractive Magic.