Temple of the Winds

"I guess it didn't work," Zedd muttered. "I guess she never encountered a spell cast by a First Wizard. But I certainly didn't make it that big. Using Subtractive Magic on the light spell expanded its power. It cost innocent people their lives." "At least it cost that evil woman hers too." "Ann, heal me, and then we have to help these people." "Zedd, who was that man? Why did he set off the spell? Where is Nathan?" Zedd held out his hand and opened his tightly closed fist. He let the warmth of magic flow into the ashes in his hand. The powdery black residue began clumping together as the inky ashes lightened to gray. When the charred ruins reconstituted itself into the paper it had been, it finally returned to pale brown. I've never seen anyone able to do such a thing," Ann whispered in astonishment. "Be thankful that Sister Roslyn hadn't, either, or we would be in even more trouble than we are. Being First Wizard has its advantages."

Ann lifted the crumpled paper from his palm. Her lower lids brimmed with tears as she read the message from Nathan. By the time she had finished, silent tears were running down her round cheeks. "Dear Creator," she breathed at last.

His own eyes stung with tears. "Indeed," he whispered in response. "Zedd, what is the Jocopo treasure?"

He blinked at her. "I was hoping you would know. Why would Nathan tell us to go protect something, and not tell us what it is?"

People outside were crying in pain and calling for help. In the distance, a wall, or perhaps a piece of roof, crashed to the ground. Men were yelling directions as they dug through the rubble.

"Nathan forgets that he is different from other people. Just as you recall things from a few decades ago, he also recalls what was, except what he recalls is sometimes not a couple of decades ago, but a couple of centuries." "I wish he would have told us more."

"We have to find it. We will find it I have a few ideas." She shook her finger at him. "And you are coming with me! We still haven't got Nathan. That collar stays on for now. You're going with me, do you understand? I'll hear none of your arguing!

Zedd reached up and unsnapped the collar around his neck. Ann's eyes went wide and her jaw dropped.

Zedd tossed the Rada'Han into her lap. "We have to find this Jocopo treasure that Nathan spoke of. Nathan is not playing games about this. This is deadly serious. I believe what he wrote in that message. We are in a lot of trouble. I'm going with you, but this time we must be more careful. This time we must cover our trail with magic."

''Zedd," she finally whispered, "how did you get that collar off? It's impossible." Zedd scowled at her to keep himself from weeping at the thought of the prophecy trapping Richard. "Like I said, being First Wizard has its advantages."

Her face flushed crimson. "Did you just. . How long have you been able to take off the Rada'Han?"

Zedd shrugged a bony shoulder. "It took me a couple of days to figure it out. Since then. Since after the first two or three days." "Yet you went with me? You still went with me? Why?" "I guess I like women who do things out of desperation. Shows character." He balled his trembling hands into fists. "Do you believe everything Nathan said in that message?"

"I wish I could say no. I'm sorry, Zedd." Ann swallowed. "He said, 'May the spirits have mercy on his soul, meaning Richard. Nathan didn't say 'good spirits, he just said 'spirits. »

Zedd wiped his sticklike fingers across his face. "Not all spirits are good. There are evil spirits, too. What do you know about double fork prophecies? About prophecy that enforced a double bind?" "Unlike your collar, there is no escape from one. The cataclysm named has to be brought about to invoke the prophecy. Whatever it is, the event has already happened. Once invoked, the nature of the cataclysm is self-defining, meaning that the victim has only the choice of one of the two forks in the prophecy. The victim can choose only which way he would rather. . Surely you must know this? As First Wizard, you would have to know."

"I had been hoping you would tell me I was wrong," Zedd whispered. "I wish Nathan would have at least written the prophecy for us to see." "Be thankful he didn't."

CHAPTER 21

Clarissa gripped the weathered sill of the window in the stone tower of the abbey in an effort to control her quaking. She clutched her other hand over her thundering heart. Even with the acrid smoke burning her eyes, she had to force herself to blink as she stood transfixed, watching the tumult in the city, and the square below.