Soul of the Fire

Chapter 35

Richard, considering everything Kahlan had told him, and what the chimes had, in their own brutal way, told him, stood staring off toward Aydindril. Learning some of the history of Anderith only made him feel more sure of his decision.

“I knew we had to be going the wrong way,” he said at last.

Kahlan frowned out over the empty plains to the northeast, where he was looking. “What do you mean?”

“Zedd used to tell me that if the road is easy, you’re likely going the wrong way.”

“Richard, we’ve been all through that,” Kahlan said with weary insistence as she pushed her cloak back over her shoulder. “We need to get to Aydindril. Now, more than ever, you must see that.”

“The Mother Confessor is right,” Cara said, returning from Du Chaillu, now that the woman was resting. Richard noticed that Cara’s knuckles were white around her Agiel. “These chimes must be banished. We must help Zedd set magic right again.”

“Oh, really? You don’t know, Cara, how pleased I am to hear that you are now such a devotee of magic.” Richard looked around, checking for their gear. “I have to go to Anderith.”

“Richard, we very well could be leaving inactive in Aydindril a spell that would be the solution to the chimes.”

“I’m the Seeker, remember?” Richard was thankful for Kahlan’s counsel, and he highly valued it, but now that he had heard what she had to say, analyzed the options, and made his decision, his patience was at an end. It was time to act. “Let me do my job.”

“Richard, this is—”

“You once swore an oath before Zedd—pledged your life in the defense of the Seeker. You thought it that important. I’m not asking for your life, only your understanding that I’m doing as I must.”

Kahlan took a breath, trying to be tolerant and calm with him when he was hardly hearing her. “Zedd urged us to do this for him so he would be able to counter the ebbing of magic.” She tugged his sleeve to get his attention. “We can’t all go rushing off to Anderith.”

“You’re right.”

Kahlan frowned suspiciously. “Good.”

“We’re not all going to Anderith.” Richard found their blanket and snatched it up. “As you said, Aydindril is important, too.”

Kahlan seized the front of his shirt and hauled him around to face her.

“Oh no you don’t.” She shook her finger in his face. “Oh no you don’t, Richard.

“We’re married. We’ve been through too much. We’re not going to separate now. Not now. And certainly not just because I’m angry with you for forgetting to tell Zedd about your first wife. I’ll not have it, Richard, do you hear me?”

“Kahlan, this has nothing to do—”

Her green eyes afire, she shook him by his shirt. “I’ll not have it! Not after all it took for us to be together.”

Richard glanced at Cara, not far away. “Only one of us needs to go to Aydindril.” He took her hand from his shirt, giving it a little squeeze of reassurance before she could say anything more.

“You and I are going to Anderith.”

Kahlan’s brow twitched. “But if we both . . .” She suddenly looked over at Cara.

Alarm shifted to the Mord-Sith. “Why are you both looking at me like that?”

Richard put an arm around Cara’s shoulders. She didn’t seem to like it one bit, so he took the arm away.

“Cara, you have to go to Aydindril.”

“We are all going to Aydindril.”

“No, Kahlan and I must go to Anderith. They have the Dominie Dirtch. They have an army. We have to get them to join us, and then prepare them for the coming of the Order. I need to see if there’s anything there that will help stop the chimes. We’re a lot closer to Anderith now than I would be if I had to go there from Aydindril. I can’t not look into it.

“It could be that we can stop the chimes and Anderith will surrender and we will be able to use the Dominie Dirtch to halt or even destroy Jagang’s army. Too much is at stake to let such opportunity slip through our fingers. It’s too important, Cara. Surely, you can see I have no choice?”

“No, you have a choice. We can all go to Aydindril. You are Lord Rahl. I am Mord-Sith. I must stay with you to protect you.”

“Would you rather I sent Kahlan?”

Cara pressed her lips tight but didn’t answer.

Kahlan took him by his arm. “Richard, as you said, you are the Seeker. You need your sword—without it you are vulnerable. It’s in Aydindril. So is the bottle with the spell, and Kolo’s journal, and libraries of other books that may hold the answer.

“We have to go to Aydindril. Had you only told Zedd, we might not be in this position, but now that we are, we must do as he asked.”

Richard straightened and looked her in the eye as she folded her arms. “Kahlan, I’m the Seeker. As the Seeker, I have an obligation to do what I think is right. I admit I made a mistake before, and I’m sorry, but I can’t allow that mistake to make me flinch from my duty as I believe it to be.

“As the Seeker, I’m going to Anderith. As Mother Confessor, you must do what your heart and duty dictate. I understand that. I want you with me, but if you must take another path, I will still love you the same.”

He leaned closer to her. “Choose.”

Her arms still folded, Kahlan regarded him in silence. At last, her ire melted and she nodded. She glanced briefly at Cara.

Seeming to think there was one person too many for the delivery of the inevitable orders, she spoke to him in a low voice. “I’m going to see how Du Chaillu is getting on.”

When Kahlan was out of earshot, Cara began to speak. “My duty is to guard and protect the Lord Rahl and I will not—”

Richard held up a hand to silence her.

“Cara, please, listen to me a minute. We’ve been through a lot together, the three of us. The three of us have been to the brink of death together. We each have the others to thank in more ways than one for our lives today. You are more to us than a guard and you know it.

“Kahlan is your sister of the Agiel. You are my friend. I know I mean more to you than simply being your Lord Rahl, or with the bond gone you wouldn’t have to stay with me. We are all bonded in friendship.”

“That is why I cannot leave you. I will not leave you, Lord Rahl. I will guard you whether or not you allow it.”

“How does it feel to be without your Agiel?”

She didn’t answer. It looked as if she didn’t trust herself to try to speak.

“Cara, would it surprise you to learn I feel the same way about the Sword of Truth? I have been without it longer than you have been without your Agiel. It’s an awful gnawing feeling in the pit of my stomach. A constant empty ache, like I need nothing so much as to feel that terrible thing in my hand. The same with you?”

She nodded.

“Cara, I hate that sword, the same as you surely, somewhere inside, must hate your Agiel. One time, you surrendered it to me. Remember? You and Berdine and Raina? I asked you to forgive me that I had to ask you to keep your weapon for now to help us in our struggle.”

“I remember.”

“I would like nothing more than not to need the sword. I would like the world to be at peace, and I could put that weapon in the Keep and leave it there.

“But I need it, Cara. Just as you need your Agiel, just as you feel an emptiness without it, feel vulnerable and defenseless and afraid, and ashamed to admit it, I feel the same. Just as you need your Agiel because you want nothing more than to protect us, I need my sword to protect Kahlan. If anything happened to her because I didn’t have my sword . . .

“Cara, I care about you, that’s why it’s important for you to understand. You are no longer just Mord-Sith, just our protector. You are more than that now. It’s important for you to think, and not simply to react. You must be more than Mord-Sith if you are to be of true help as our protector.

“I’m depending on you to continue to be an important person in this struggle, a person who can make a difference. Now you must go to Aydindril in my place.”

“I won’t follow those orders.”

“I’m not ordering you, Cara. I’m asking you.”

“That is not fair.”

“This isn’t a game, Cara. I’m asking for your help. You are the only one I can turn to.”

She scowled off toward the thunderstorm on the distant horizon as she pulled her long blond braid over her shoulder. She gripped it in her fist the way she gripped her Agiel in the heat of anger. The breeze fluttered the wisps of blond hair along the side of her face.

“If you wish it, Lord Rahl, I will go.”

Richard put a comforting hand on the back of her shoulder. This time she didn’t tense, but welcomed the hand.

“What do you wish me to do there?”

“I want you to get there and back as soon as possible. I need my sword.”

“I understand.”

When Kahlan glanced their way, Cara signaled for her and Kahlan returned at a trot.

Cara stiffened her back as she addressed Kahlan. “Lord Rahl has ordered me to return to Aydindril.”

“Ordered?” Kahlan asked.

Cara simply smirked. She lifted the Agiel at Kahlan’s chest. “For a woods guide, he gets himself in a lot of trouble. As a sister of the Agiel, I would ask you to watch over him in my place, but I know I do not need to say the words.”

“I won’t let him out of my sight.”

“You need to catch up with General Reibisch’s army, first,” Richard said. “You can get horses from him and make better time to Aydindril.

“But I also very much need him to know what we’re doing. Tell him the whole story. Tell Verna and the Sisters, too. They will need to know, and they may have knowledge that would be of use.”

Richard stared off toward the southwest horizon. “I also need an escort, if we are to march into Anderith and demand their surrender.”

“Don’t worry, Lord Rahl, I intend on ordering Reibisch to send men to guard you. They will not be as good as having a Mord-Sith near, but they will still protect you.”

“I need enough for an impressive escort. When we march into Anderith, I think it would be best if we looked serious, rather than just Kahlan and me and a few guards going alone. Especially since Kahlan’s power could fail at any time. I want to look to the people there like we mean business.”

“Now you are beginning to make sense,” Cara said.

“A thousand men should do for an impressive escort,” Kahlan said. “Swordsmen, lancers, and archers—their bestand extra horses, of course. And we’ll need messengers. We have important news of the chimes and Jagang that must be sent out. We need to coordinate our forces and keep everyone informed. We have armies in various lands we may need to bring south at once.”

Cara nodded. “I will personally select the soldiers to be sent for your escort. Reibisch will have elite troops.”

“Fine, but I don’t want his fighting ability harmed by taking key men,” Richard said. “Tell the general I also want him to send detachments to watch the routes north from the Old World he had intended to watch, just in case.

“The most important thing, though, is that I want his main force to turn around and head back this way.”

“Is he to be allowed to attack at will?”

“No. I don’t want him risking his army against the Order out on these plains. It would be too costly. As good as his men are, they wouldn’t stand a chance against a force the size of the Order’s until we can get more men down here. More importantly, I don’t want him attacking because his greatest value is if Jagang doesn’t know Reibisch’s force is there.

“I want Reibisch to come west, shadowing Jagang, but staying north and remaining well away. Tell him to use as few scouts as possible—just enough to keep track of the Order, no more. Jagang mustn’t know Reibisch’s force is there. Those D’Haran men will be all that stands between the Order and the Midlands if Jagang suddenly turns north. Surprise will be his only ally until we can get messengers to bring in more troops.

“I don’t want to risk Reibisch’s men if it isn’t absolutely necessary. But I need him to be the stopgap, if things go wrong.

“If Anderith surrenders, we can combine their army with ours. If we can banish the chimes, have the Anderith army under our command, and get more of our other forces down here in time, we might even be able to trap Jagang’s army with the ocean at his back. It might even be possible to then use our forces to drive him into the teeth of the Dominie Dirtch. That weapon could kill without our men losing their lives to do it.”

“And in Aydindril?” Cara asked.

“You heard Zedd explain what must be done?”

“Yes. On the fifth column on the left, inside the First Wizard’s enclave, sits a black bottle with a gold filigree top. It must be broken with the Sword of Truth. Berdine and I have gone with you to the First Wizard’s enclave. I remember well the place.”

“Good. You can use the sword to break the bottle as well as I.” She nodded. “Just set the bottle on the ground, like Zedd told us, get the sword, and break the bottle.”

“I can do that,” Cara said.

Richard knew very well how much Cara didn’t like to have anything to do with magic. He remembered well, too, how she and Berdine hadn’t liked going into the First Wizard’s enclave. There was also the matter of the Keep’s shields of magic.

“If the magic of the Keep is really down, you won’t have any trouble getting through the shields; they will be down, too.”

“I remember what they feel like. I will know if they are still alive with magic, or if I can pass.”

“Tell Berdine everything you know about the chimes. She may already have valuable information. If nothing else, she has Kolo’s journal and with what you tell her she will know what to search for.”

Richard held up a finger for emphasis. With his other hand, he gripped her shoulder.

“But before Berdine, the sword and the bottle first. Don’t let either sit vincible for one moment longer than necessary.

“The chimes may try to stop you. Be aware of that. Be alert and on guard. Stay away from water and fire as best as you can. Don’t take anything for granted. They may know the spell in the bottle can harm them.

“Before you leave, we will talk to Du Chaillu and see if she can shed light on how they seduce a person to their death. If she can remember, that may be valuable in warding the chimes.”

Cara nodded. If she was afraid, she didn’t show it.

“Once I get to General Reibisch, I will ride like the wind. I will go first to the Keep and get your sword and then break the bottle. After that, I will bring your sword, Berdine, and the book. Where will I find you?”

“In Fairfield,” Kahlan said. “Most likely with our troops, not far out of the city, near the Minister of Culture’s estate. If we have to depart, we will leave a message for you, or some of our men. If we can’t do that, we will try to tell General Reibisch.”

Richard hesitated. “Cara . . . you will need to take the sword from its scabbard to break the bottle.”

“Of course.”

“But be careful. It’s a weapon of magic, and Zedd thinks it will still work—still have magic.”

Cara sighed with unpleasant thoughts. “What will it do when I draw it?”

“I don’t know for sure,” Richard said. “It may react to different people in different ways, depending on what they bring to the completion of the magic. I’m still the Seeker, but it may work for anyone holding it. I just don’t know how its magic will affect you.

“But it’s a weapon that uses rage. Just be careful, and realize that it will want to draw you out, much as you draw it out. It will foment your emotions, especially your anger.”

Cara’s blue eyes gleamed. “It will not have to try hard.”

Richard smiled. “Just be careful. After you break the bottle, don’t take the sword from its scabbard for any reason less than a matter of life or death. If you kill with it . . .”

Her brow drew down when his voice trailed off. “If I kill with it . . . what?”

Richard had to tell her, lest she do something dangerous. “It gives pain.”

“Like an Agiel?”

He nodded reluctantly. “Maybe worse.” His voice lowered as the memories flooded back. “Anger is required to counter the pain. If you are filled with righteous rage, that will protect you, but dear spirits it will still hurt you.”

“I am Mord-Sith. I will welcome the pain.”

Richard tapped the center of his chest. “It hurts you in here, Cara. You don’t want that kind of pain, believe me. Better your Agiel.”

She gave him a sad smile of understanding. “You need your sword. I will bring it to you.”

“Thank you, Cara.”

“But I will not forgive you for making me leave you without protection.”

“He will not be without protection.”

They all turned. It was Du Chaillu. She was pale, her hair a mess, but wrapped in a blanket she no longer shivered. Her face was a picture of grim determination.

Richard shook his head. “You need to go back to your people.”

“We go with my husband. We protect the Caharin.”

Richard decided not to argue the husband part. “We’ll have troops with us before we can get to Anderith.”

“They are not blade masters. We will take Cara’s place protecting you.”

Cara bowed her head to Du Chaillu. “This is good. I will rest better knowing you and your blade masters do this.”

Richard shot Cara an annoyed glance before turning his attention to the Baka Tau Mana spirit woman.

“Du Chaillu, now that you’re safe, I’ll not have you risking your lives needlessly. You’ve already had a brush with death. You must get back to your people. They need you.”

“We are the walking dead. It does not matter.”

“What are you talking about?”

Du Chaillu clasped her hands. The blade masters were spread out behind her, her royal escort. Beyond them, the Mud People hunters watched. As sick as she still looked, Du Chaillu was once again looking noble.

“Before we left,” she said, “we told our people we were dead. We told them we were lost to the world of life, and we would not be returned to them unless we reached the Caharin to warn him and made sure he was safe. Our people wept and mourned us before we departed, because we are dead to them. Only if we do as we said will we be able to return.

“Not long ago, I heard the chimes of death. Cara, the Caharin’s protector, pulled me back from the spirit world. The spirits, in their wisdom, allowed me to return so I might fulfill my duty. When Cara returns with your sword, and you are safe, only then can we have our lives returned to us so that we might return home. Until then, we are the walking dead.

“I am not asking if we may be allowed to travel with you. I am telling you that we are going to travel with you. I am the Baka Tau Mana spirit woman. I have spoken.”

Clenching his teeth, Richard lifted his hand to shake an angry finger at her. Kahlan caught his wrist.

“Du Chaillu,” Kahlan said, “I, too, have taken such an oath. When I went to the walled city of Ebinissia and saw the people butchered by the Imperial Order, I vowed vengeance. Chandalen and I came across a small army of young recruits who also had seen the dead of their home city. They were determined to punish the men responsible.

“I swore a covenant that I was dead, and could only be returned to life when the men who committed those crimes were punished. The men with me gave up their lives too, to live again only if we succeeded. One in five of those young men returned to the living with Chandalen and me. But before we did, every one of the men who murdered the people of Ebinissia died.

“I understand such an oath as you have given, Du Chaillu. Such a thing is sacred and not to be ignored. You and the blade masters may come with us.”

Du Chaillu bowed to Kahlan. “Thank you for honoring my people’s ways. You are a wise woman, and worthy of being wife to my husband, too.”

Richard rolled his eyes. “Kahlan—”

“The Mud People need Chandalen and his men. Cara is doing as you ask of her, and going to General Reibisch and then on to Aydindril. Until the general can send men to join with us, we will be alone and vulnerable. Du Chaillu and her men will be valuable and welcome protection.

“With so much at stake, Richard, our pride is the last thing we need to be considering. They are coming.”

Richard took in Cara’s blue eyes, icy cold with resolve. She wanted this. Du Chaillu’s dark eyes were iron hard. Her mind was made up. Kahlan’s green eyes . . . well, he didn’t want to even think about what was in her green eyes.

“All right,” he said. “Until the soldiers can reach us, you may come along.”

Du Chaillu directed a puzzled look at Kahlan. “Does he always tell you, too, things you already know?”