Terry Goodkind - Temple of the Winds

“Hurry, now,” Walsh said. “Nathan told us to get out of here fast.”

At the entrance, Walsh had to make up a story about His Excellency’s plenipotentiary wanting some women. The guard eyed the nearly naked women, smiled knowingly, and slapped Walsh on the back.

They all piled into the coach as Walsh climbed up into the driver’s seat with Bollesdun. As the coach lurched and then started out, Clarissa pushed Janet and Manda to the floor, in the center, so she could lift the leather-covered seat. She pulled out a long cloak. She only had one extra; they had expected to rescue Verna and Warren. Since Verna had a cloak, Clarissa gave the extra cloak to Manda, and retrieved blankets for Janet and Amelia. All three women were immensely grateful to be able to cover themselves, at last.

Clarissa sat at the end of the seat, holding the strange black book Nathan had sent her for, with Amelia at the other end, and Manda in the center, clutching at Clarissa for comfort.

Manda kept weeping on Clarissa’s shoulder, and thanking her profusely. Clarissa put an arm around Manda and told her that she had expressed her gratitude enough times. It did feel good, though, to have the beautiful Manda Perlin looking up to Clarissa for a change, rather than looking down on her. All because of Nathan. How he had changed her life—changed everything.

They had to stop three times, while soldiers checked the coach. Once, the soldiers made them all get out and line up for a look. The blankets and cloak had to remain in the coach as Janet, Amelia, and Manda climbed out for inspection.

Walsh explained, in very crude terms, what he was doing with these slaves—how he was taking them for the pleasure of His Excellency’s plenipotentiary. The soldiers were satisfied by Walsh’s explanation, and allowed them to continue on their way.

They turned north at the harbor, and headed up the coast road. Clarissa sighed in relief as she saw the last of the fires and tents finally fade into the distance behind them. It wasn’t until they crested a hill, nearly an hour’s ride out after leaving the last of the soldiers, that the flash lit the sky behind.

Clarissa heard a cheer from up on the driver’s seat. Walsh leaned down, gripping a rail with one arm, and stuck his face, nearly upside down, partly into the window.

“Good job, Clarissa! You did it!”

Clarissa grinned. He swung back up, and he and Bollesdun booted into the night air. It was then that the sudden boom reached them, making Manda jump with fright.

Verna, sitting in the center, opposite, produced a flame above her upturned palm and leaned toward Clarissa. “Job? What is it that you have done?”

Clarissa patted the inky black book in her lap. “Nathan sent me for this book, and he wanted the ones left behind destroyed. He said that they were dangerous, what with you, and especially Warren, telling Jagang the meaning of the prophecies in them. Nathan didn’t want Jagang to be able to use the information.”

“I see,” Verna said. “Lucky for us that we agreed to swear loyalty to . . . Lord Rahl, and go with you.”

Clarissa nodded. “Nathan said I was to offer you the chance, but in either case, I was to open that locket and leave it hidden there. He said that Jagang having both Warren and the prophecies together could ruin everything, if you told Jagang anything important.”

Verna pressed her lips together as she let out a breath. She shared a look with Warren.

“I can’t believe that after all this time I’m finally going to get to meet the prophet himself,” Warren said. “Not long ago I had given up hope, and now . . . I will be meeting Nathan.”

Verna harrumphed. “Out of the rain and into the lake. I can’t believe I’ve sworn loyalty to that crazy old man.”

Clarissa leaned forward. “Nathan is dashing. He isn’t old.”

Verna barked a laugh. “You have no idea, child.”

“And he isn’t crazy, either. Nathan is the kindest, most wonderful, most generous man I’ve ever met!”

Verna glanced down at Clarissa’s cleavage, and back up to her eyes. She had that look that Clarissa was used to seeing.

“Yes,” Verna murmured. “I’m sure he is, my dear.”

“You could have no better man to swear loyalty to,” Clarissa said. “Besides being thoughtful and kind, Nathan is a powerful wizard. I saw him turn another wizard to a pile of dust.”

Verna’s brow creased. “Another wizard?”

Clarissa nodded. “Named Vincent. Vincent and another wizard and two Sisters, Jodelle and Willamina, came to see Nathan. They tried to hurt him. Nathan turned Vincent into a pile of ash.”

Verna’s eyebrows rose.

“After that,” Clarissa said, “they were very polite to Nathan, and Jagang agreed to give the book”—she tapped the book in her lap—“to Nathan. Jagang said Nathan could have either the book, or Sister Amelia. Now, Nathan will have both. Nathan has great plans. Nathan will rule the world, one day.”

Verna and Warren shared a sidelong glance. She looked at Amelia. “What is this book, Amelia?”

“I stole it from the Temple of the Winds,” Amelia said in a hoarse voice. “I’m the only one who can use it. I started a plague. Thousands have already died because of what I did. It was how Jagang eliminated Richard Rahl.

“Thank the Creator that we still have Nathan Rahl to protect us with the bond to him.”

“Dear Creator,” Verna whispered, “what have we agreed to with our oath to the likes of Nathan?”

Richard rose from the wizard’s chair when he recognized the spirit gliding toward him. He couldn’t call a specific spirit, and he didn’t always know the ones who came, but he knew this one. With this one, he had a deep connection.

The person this spirit once was, he had loathed, he had feared. Only once he understood her, and only after he had forgiven her for what she had done to him, was he able to gain his release. This one he had killed, and in so doing, he freed her from her torment.

This spirit was the one who had later brought Kahlan and Richard together in that place between worlds.

“Richard,” the spirit said as she seemed to smile.

“Denna.”

“I see you wear an Agiel. It is not mine.”

Richard slowly shook his head. “It is that of yet another Mord-Sith who died because of me.”

“Raina. I knew her in the world of life, and I know her here. Since she passed into the spirit world after the violation of the winds, she may not come to you, here. She is not one of those who holds sway over the forces involved as they pertain to you and the winds. Know that her spirit is at peace. You gave her peace, in life, and so she asked me to come to you.”

Richard rolled the red Agiel in his fingers. “I gave your Agiel to Kahlan. As I promised you, one time, only she is able to give me more pain than you.”

“Only you, Richard, are able to give yourself more pain than I could give you.”

“Have it your way. I care not to argue. It is good to see you, Denna.”

“You may disagree, after I am finished with you.”

Richard smiled at her nature showing through, even in her spirit form. “You cannot harm me here, Denna.”

“You think not? I may not be able to harm your body, but I can still hurt you.” She nodded to herself. “Oh, yes, Richard, I can hurt you.”

“And how is that?”

Denna lifted an arm. “I can make you remember—remember and make it real again. You and I have a past.”

Richard spread his hands. “And to what purpose?”

Denna spread her luminous arms. “That is for you to decide, Richard.”

With a flash of light in his mind, the Temple of the Winds was gone, fading from his consciousness, and he was in a place he remembered: the castle in Tamarang. He was there again.