Death's Mistress

CHAPTER 4

With their new destination in mind, though somewhat skeptical of the importance Red had assigned to it, the two traveled for weeks through the Dark Lands before reaching the more populated areas of D’Hara. Heading south, they found well-traveled roads and villages, including inns where they could eat home-cooked meals instead of foraging for game or wild fruit, and they could sleep in actual beds instead of bedding down on the forest floor. As a woods guide, Richard Rahl had reveled in finding his own trails in the forest, but Nicci much preferred civilization, and Nathan certainly did not object to comforts.

Along the way, the two gathered news and disseminated their own tales about Lord Rahl’s victory over Emperor Sulachan. Most people in the south of D’Hara knew little about the political changes that had occurred, but everyone had seen the stars convulse and shift in the sky, and they listened to the travelers with both wonder and dismay.

In the warm, crowded common rooms of inn after inn, Nathan spread his hands and explained in a deep, confident voice, “Truth be told, the end of prophecy means that you can live your own lives and make your own decisions. I was once a prophet myself, and I speak from experience—such powers were far more trouble than they were worth. Good riddance!”

Many local oracles and self-proclaimed seers, however, were less enthusiastic about the changes. Those with a genuine gift had already noticed the sudden lack of ability, and those who continued to sell their predictions were surely cheating gullible customers. Such “prophets” were incensed to hear themselves denounced as frauds and charlatans.

But chastising frauds was not the mission Nicci had adopted, nor did she consider it “saving the world.” She moved ahead with her next goal in sight. She would go to the Old World, scout the new lands Lord Rahl now ruled, and help Nathan find the mysterious Kol Adair, whatever it was. Tanimura would be their starting point. The great port city was one of the northernmost bastions of the Old World, a place where the main overland trade routes converged.

As the two neared the coast, the air took on a fresh, salty bite. Traffic increased on the wide road through the coastal hills. Creaking mule-drawn carts passed them, as well as wealthy noblemen or merchants riding well-groomed horses with expensive tack. Farmers guided wagons laden with vegetables or sacks of grain, heading to the markets in the port city.

While walking along in the warm sun, the wizard held up his end of the conversation—more than his end, in fact, but Nicci saved her energy for the hike. When they reached the top of a hill, the view unfolded before them.

The old, sprawling city of Tanimura had been built on a long peninsula that extended into the sparkling blue expanse of the ocean. To the west, before spilling into the sea, the Kern River had excavated a broad valley. Croplands and villages dotted the countryside, interspersed with patches of dark forest. Nicci’s focus, though, was on the whitewashed buildings of the extensive city.

The wizard stopped to rest, shading his eyes. “A splendid view. Think of all the possibilities Tanimura offers.” He plucked at his threadbare sleeves, his frayed cuffs, his open vest. “Including fresh clothes.”

Nicci said in a quiet voice, “It’s been years since I was here.” She narrowed her blue eyes, scanning the city, noting what she remembered and what had changed.

The wizard gave a noncommittal grunt. “Once I escaped the palace, I thought I would never come back … yet here we are.”

Down the sweep of shore, Grafan Harbor was bustling with large cargo or military ships that sported creamy white sails, as well as fishing dhows with triangular sails. Nicci’s lips quirked in a small, hard smile. “I see they’ve managed to rebuild the docks.”

In the harbor here, she and her fellow Sisters of the Dark had destroyed the Lady Sefa, the ship that had held them hostage. Emperor Jagang had granted the women their revenge on Captain Blake and his vile crew, even encouraged it, and Nicci and her companions were not kind to the sailors who had raped and abused them. The Sisters had found a turnabout pleasure, peeling off the soft flesh of the men, strip by strip. Then, unleashing the full force of Subtractive Magic, they had destroyed the Lady Sefa, lifting the entire vessel out of the water, snapping the masts like twigs, crashing the huge ship down onto the Grafan docks, and then wreaking havoc upon the whole harbor, as if the other ships were no more than the toys of a malicious child.

Although that had been one of her darkest times, Nicci still smiled at the memory.

Nathan also stared down toward the crowded city, lost in his own memories. He lowered his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “We both left such a mark on Tanimura, dear Sorceress, they might not welcome us back.”

His gaze was drawn toward the southern end of the peninsula and a large island just off the coast. Halsband Island had once been connected to the mainland by a prominent stone bridge that allowed visitors, merchants, scholars, and Sisters of the Light to pass directly to the Palace of the Prophets. The mammoth edifice had stood for millennia, a place where gifted males were imprisoned and taught. The palace had been shielded in numerous ways, woven with a spell that prevented its inhabitants from aging … but Nathan had triggered a light web, bringing down the entire imposing palace so that its magical archives could not fall into Jagang’s hands.

Halsband Island looked like a wasteland now, the palace vaporized. From what Nicci could tell, even after six years no hardy souls had returned to claim the devastated land for their own.

The wizard wore a bittersweet expression, but forced a smile. “I spent a thousand years there. What could be a better start to a new life than to erase all signs of the past?” He pushed aside his dark blue cape and patted the leather pouch at his side that held the new life book and its ominous pronouncement. “It’s time for a new adventure, before we get too old. You and I are not used to aging at the same rate as everyone else. Tanimura awaits.”

Nicci set off down the road to the city. As they walked down the hill, an oxcart rolled past, driven by an old farmer wearing a straw hat. The man stared at the road ahead as if it were the most interesting thing in the world. His cart was loaded with round green melons.

When Nathan asked for a ride, the old farmer gave them a casual gesture. The two sat in the back of the wagon among the piled round melons. Nicci picked up one. “It looks like a severed head.” The ox plodded along, not caring whether the road went uphill or downhill.

Jostled by the slow, uneven cart, Nicci watched the approaching city. She remembered the tree-lined boulevards, the tall whitewashed buildings, the tile roofs. Banners flew from high poles, scarlet pennants of the city of Tanimura and larger flags of the D’Haran Empire.

She and Richard had stopped here for a time on their way to Altur’Rang, when she had forced him to play the role of her husband, hoping to convince him to believe in the Order. She had been so passionate, determined, ruthless, and so naive. He had learned how to cut stone here in Tanimura.…

Nicci’s brow furrowed at the troubling memory. “We will not stay long, Wizard. We’ll get supplies for a long journey and find a ship sailing south to the Old World. I’m sure you’re anxious to find your Kol Adair.”

“And you must save the world, of course.” Nathan winced as the oxcart rolled over a large rock in the road, and one large melon rolled over the edge, but he deftly caught it and set it back on the precarious pile. “But why in such a hurry? Dear spirits, we traveled weeks to get to Tanimura. If that prophecy was written down a hundred years ago, there can’t possibly be any rush.”

“Whether or not the witch woman is correct, Lord Rahl asked us to explore the fringes of his empire and to spread the terms of his rule. Everyone here already knows who he is. Our real work lies elsewhere.”

“Indeed it does,” Nathan admitted with a sigh. “And I’m curious to find this place called Kol Adair that Red thinks I need to see.”

He looked at his shirt, then tried to brush away a grease stain from a rabbit they’d eaten in camp, and a spot of gravy that signified the much better food that an innkeeper had prepared for them the following night. “Before we can go on, though, my first order of business will be to acquire a new traveling wardrobe. Without a doubt, Tanimura has many tailors and garment shops to choose from. I believe I can find what I need.”

Nicci’s black traveling dress was still in good shape, and she had a spare in her pack. “You worry about clothes altogether too much.”

He looked down his nose at her. “I spent a thousand years wearing frumpy robes in the Palace of the Prophets. Now that I am out in the world at last, I am entitled to indulge myself.”

Nicci knew she wouldn’t change his mind. “I’ll make my way down to the harbor and make inquiries with the dockmaster. I can learn which ships are ready to depart and where they are bound.”

More carts joined them on the road, and they passed stables on the outskirts of the city, livestock yards where pigs and cattle wandered about, unconcerned with their fates. Charcoal kilns stood like tall beehives, letting a whisper of sweet smoke into the air. Across a meeting square, shirtless carpenters were building a tall tower that so far consisted only of support beams.

The listless cart driver did not speak a word to them, merely drove his ox along. As the city buildings clustered together, the crowds increased, as did the noise. People shouted to one another, merchants hawked their wares, washerwomen hung dripping clothes from lines strung between buildings.

Not far away they saw a large market crowded with rickety wooden stalls featuring good-luck trinkets, bolts of patterned fabric, wooden carvings, fire-glazed clay pots, and bunches of red and orange flowers. The old farmer flicked the ox with a switch to turn the animal toward the market, and Nicci and Nathan slid off the cart, ready to venture into the heart of the city. The wizard called out his thanks, but the old farmer didn’t respond.

As he stood to get his bearings, Nathan adjusted the ornate sword in its scabbard, checked the life book, straightened his pack, and self-consciously brushed down the front of his shirt. “I may be a while. Once I secure the services of an adequate tailor, I’ll have him make more appropriate attire for me. Capes, shirts, vests, new boots. Yes, yes, if I am to be Lord Rahl’s ambassador, I must look the part.”