Terry Goodkind - Chainfire - Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

“Of those Sisters of the Dark who swore loyalty to me, only four are still alive. Those Sisters are the viper with four heads. They’re the ones who came that morning and took Kahlan. They used magic to spell me so that I wouldn’t awake easily. The spell they used must have been something simple, like magnifying my sleepiness so that I wouldn’t realize that magic had been used on me. The single wolf that called wasn’t a wolf, but a signal given by the approaching troops. Because of the spell I didn’t recognize it for what it was—the spell made me so sleepy I couldn’t think, but still, I knew there was something strange about it. The Sisters then used magic to cover their trail. They took Kahlan.”

Nicci seized fists full of blond hair as she growled in agitation. “But they’re Sisters of the Dark! They can’t be bonded to you and the Keeper both. That whole concept is crazy.”

“I thought so too. Sister Ulicia convinced me that I was only looking at it from my perspective. She wanted to swear loyalty and in return I got to ask where Kahlan was. They had to answer truthfully to honor their bond. They then were to leave. If I asked any more than that it would break our agreement and we would all be back where we started—them subjects of Jagang and Kahlan a captive. Sister Ulicia said that after swearing their bond to me and my asking one question, they would then leave. They got the bond, I got Kahlan.”

“But they’re Sisters of the Dark!”

“Sister Ulicia said that if they didn’t actively try to kill me thereafter they considered that to definitely be to my benefit so that was in their view conforming to the requirements of their bond, since not killing me was what I wanted, therefore keeping their bond to me intact.”

Nicci turned away, one hand on a hip. “In an odd sort of way, that actually makes sense. Sister Ulicia is more than devious. That’s the way she thinks.”

Nicci turned back. “What am I saying? Now you’re starting to suck me into your delusions. Richard, stop this. Look, you have to get out of here, and you have to do it now. Come on. Cara will be right behind me with your things.”

Richard knew that Nicci was right. He couldn’t find Kahlan if he had to worry about warding off three people with the gift who knew quite well how to use it and wanted to alter his very thoughts. They weren’t likely to give him any chance to explain anything. He had already tried explanations and that hadn’t worked.

They would most likely do what they thought they had to do. Richard didn’t believe that they would give him any warning. Before he knew what had hit him it would be over.

He hated to admit it to himself, but he knew that Zedd was capable of such a thing. After giving Richard the Sword of Truth, when they were on their way to try to recover the boxes of Orden that Darken Rahl had put into play, Zedd had once said that so many lives were at stake that he would not hesitate to kill even Richard, if necessary, to save all those innocent people. He had told Richard how, to be the Seeker and carry the Sword of Truth, he had to be ready to be just as committed to their cause, that he had to understand the larger picture.

It was hardly out of the question to imagine Zedd now being willing to use magic to try to erase Richard’s memory of Kahlan—a memory that Zedd thought was a sickness that was harming him and their cause and thereby endangering the lives of millions.

“I think you’re right,” Richard admitted in a dejected voice. “They will try to stop me.” He picked up the two small books lying on the table and slipped them into a back pocket. “I think we had better get out of here before they can do that.”

“We? You want me to go with you?”

Richard paused and shrugged self-consciously. “Nicci, you and Cara are the only true friends I have right now. You’ve been there to help me when I needed it most. I can’t afford to leave valued friends behind just when I’m beginning to figure out what’s going on. Once I do have it figured out I may need your help with it, but even if I don’t I’d like you there with me just for the advice and support you give me.

“I mean, if you’re willing to come. I’d not force you, of course, but I’d like you to come.”

Nicci smiled that rare smile she had, the smile that revealed the nobility of the woman Nicci really was, the smile he had only seen since she had come to love life.

Cara stood impatiently waiting on the other side of the shield. Rikka, standing guard near the iron door, was watching out into the tower room. Both turned when they saw the red glow and heard Richard coming. He saw packs and other gear collected into a neat pile just inside the door. He pulled his pack out from among the others and stuffed the two books inside.

“We’re leaving, then?” Cara asked.

Richard put his arms through the straps and hiked the pack up onto his back. “Yes, and I think we best not waste any time.”

As he picked up his bow and quiver, everyone else started gathering their own things.

It appeared that Cara, wanting Nicci to be near Richard so that she would be handy to help protect him, had brought the sorceress’s things along as well. Richard wondered how much of wanting Nicci along had to do with what Shota had said.

He saw that Rikka, too, had a pack. He almost asked her what she thought she was doing, but realized then that she was Mord-Sith and she would say that her place was with him. He had spent so much time with only Cara protecting him that he thought it would feel a bit odd having more than one Mord-Sith around again.

“Everyone ready?” he asked as he saw them all tightening straps and buckles.

After each woman nodded, Richard led the grim-faced group out the doorway. He knew that Cara might have followed him without question, but she wouldn’t blindly follow Nicci or anyone else’s orders without good reason, so he suspected that Cara had probably asked a lot of pointed questions—something Mord-Sith were wont to do—and found out why they had to leave.

At the base of the tower, Richard ran his hand along the iron railing as he started around the walkway, but then a sudden realization brought him to a halt. Everyone waited, watching him, wondering why he had stopped.

Richard looked at Nicci’s puzzled blue eyes. “They’re not going to trust you in this.”

“What do you mean?” Nicci asked.

“It’s too important. They aren’t going to leave it to you to do as they instructed. They will be concerned that you’ll lose your courage, or that you might fail and allow me to slip away.”

Cara stepped closer. “You mean you think they will come looking for you?”

“No, not looking for me,” Richard said, “but I bet that somewhere between here and the way out of the Keep they will be lying in wait, just in case I get past Nicci and try to leave. If we come upon them unexpectedly then it will be too late.”

“Lord Rahl,” Rikka said, “Mistress Cara and I would not allow anyone to harm you.”

Richard lifted an eyebrow. “I’d just as soon not have it come to that. Those three think they need to help me. They aren’t intent on harming me—at least not intentionally. I don’t want you two to hurt them.”

“But if they surprise us with the intent of using their magic on you, you can’t expect us to let them do it,” Cara said.

Richard met her gaze for a moment. “Like I said, I don’t want it to come to that.”

“Lord Rahl,” Cara said in a low voice, “I simply can’t allow anyone to attack you in such a way, even if they think it’s to help you. You can’t equivocate in a situation like that. If they attack you, it must be stopped—period. If they were allowed to succeed, then you would never be the same again. You would no longer be the Lord Rahl we know, the Lord Rahl you are.”