Ann watched his eyes for a moment, and then started chewing. They all ate the strip of their enemy’s flesh to know him better.
“Sister Amelia,” Ann finally whispered. “If she has been to the Temple of the Winds . . . she will be beyond dangerous.”
“She’s dead,” Kahlan said, haunted by the memory of it all. When Ann’s questioning eyes looked at her, Kahlan added, “Yes, I am sure. I put a sword through her heart. She had a dacra in Nathan’s leg. She was going to kill him.”
“Nathan!” Ann said. “We must soon be off to find him. Where was this? Where is he?”
Zedd scowled over at Ann. “We?”
“It was in Tanimura, in the Old World, just after Richard came back from the Temple of the Winds. Nathan helped me save Richard’s life by telling me the three chimes.”
Zedd and Ann’s eyes widened. They looked as if they had stopped breathing. They finally glanced to each other.
“The three chimes,” Ann said in a cautious voice. “You mean, he just mentioned ‘the three chimes.’ He didn’t actually tell them to you? He didn’t speak them to you?”
Kahlan nodded. “Reechan—”
Zedd and Ann threw their hands up. “No!” they yelled together.
“Didn’t Nathan tell you that no one without the gift may speak the three chimes aloud?” Ann’s face had gone red. “Didn’t that crazy old man tell you that!”
Kahlan scowled back. “Nathan is not a crazy old man. He helped me save Richard’s life. Without the three chimes, Richard would have died when he came back from the Temple of the Winds. I owe Nathan a great debt. We all do.”
“I owe him a collar around his neck,” Ann muttered. “Before he causes who knows what catastrophe. Zedd, we must find him. And soon.” She lowered her voice to a private whisper. “And we must do something about . . . this business.”
Zedd’s eyes turned to Kahlan. “You said them silently, when you did this. You said the three chimes silently. You didn’t actually say them aloud. Tell me that you didn’t say them aloud.”
“I had to. Cara remembered them, and said them. Then I said them aloud a couple of times.”
Zedd winced. “More than once?”
“Zedd,” Ann murmured, “what are we going to do about this?”
“Why?” Richard asked. “What’s the problem?”
“Nothing you need be concerned about. Just don’t say them aloud again. Any of you.”
“Zedd,” Ann whispered under her breath, “if she has freed—”
Zedd lifted a hand out to the side, touching her, silencing her.
“What was I supposed to do?” Kahlan asked defensively. “Richard had absorbed the magic from the book Sister Amelia brought back from the winds. He had the plague. He was a breath or two away from death. He would have died within minutes, at the most. Would you have had me let him die instead?”
“Of course not, dear one. You did the right thing.” Zedd lifted an eyebrow to Ann as he leaned close. “We will discuss this later.”
Ann folded her hands. “Of course. You did the only thing you could. We are all grateful, Kahlan. You did well.”
Zedd was looking more serious by the moment. “Bags, Richard, the Temple of the Winds is in the underworld. How did you get in?”
Richard looked out over the celebration. “We need to tell you both the story. Some of it, anyway. But this is the day Kahlan and I are to be married.” Richard smiled. Kahlan thought it looked forced. “It’s a hard story to tell. I’d rather tell you about it on another day. I can’t, just now . . .”
Zedd stroked a thumb down his smooth jaw. “Of course, Richard, I understand. And you are quite right. Another day. But, the Temple of the Winds . . .” He lifted a finger, unable to resist asking a question. “Richard, what did you have to leave at the Temple of the Winds in order to return?”
Richard shared a long look with his grandfather. “Knowledge.”
“And what did you take away with you?”
“Understanding.”
Zedd encircled a protective arm around both Richard and Kahlan. “Good for you, Richard. Good for you. Good for both of you. You two have earned this day. Let’s put this other business aside for now, and let us celebrate the joy of your marriage.”
Chapter 70
They enjoyed the company of friends and loved ones the whole day, talking and laughing, celebrating together with the Mud People. Kahlan did her best to try to ignore the way her low-cut blue wedding dress displayed her breasts. It was hard, with the way people kept coming up to her and telling her that she had fine breasts. Richard wanted to know what they were saying all the time. She thought it best to lie; she told him that they were saying that her dress was beautiful. As the sun turned the sky golden, it was at last time.
Kahlan gripped Richard’s hand as if it were the only thing holding her on the ground. Richard had trouble keeping his eyes off her in her blue wedding dress. Every time he looked at her, a helpless smile took him.
Kahlan’s heart swelled with joy, seeing how much he liked the dress Weselan had made for her. She had for so long dreamed of wearing it, dreamed of this moment. She had hoped so often, with all her heart, that this day would come. She had feared so often that it never would. So many times, something had happened, delaying this moment. Now, it was happening.
Richard mimicked the Mud People’s words, not realizing that he was saying how fine he thought her breasts looked; he thought he was telling her how beautiful her dress looked. Everyone grinned with satisfaction when he spoke the words in their language, happy that he agreed with them. Kahlan could feel her face turning red.
Richard looked magnificent in his black and gold war wizard’s uniform. Every time Kahlan looked at him, a smile took her. She was marrying Richard. At last. Her knees trembled under the blue dress.
Cara, standing behind, gave her a reassuring touch. Weselan, at Kahlan’s side, beamed with pride. Savidlin stood to the far side of Richard, beaming just as much. Zedd and Ann stood behind. Zedd was eating something.
Kahlan silently prayed to the good spirits that, this time, nothing would go wrong, and that it would at last happen. She couldn’t help worrying that it would be taken from her, yet again.
The Bird Man straightened before them, clasping his hands. Behind him, the entire Mud People village spread out before the wedding party to hear the vows.
When all had fallen silent, the Bird Man began, and Kahlan’s fear began to melt away, to be replaced with joyous anticipation. As the Bird Man spoke, Chandalen, at his side, said the words in the language Richard and some of the others could understand.
“These two people have not been born Mud People, but they have proven themselves to he one of us, in their strength, and in their hearts. They have bound themselves to us, and us to them. They have been our friends, and our protectors. That they would wish to be wedded as Mud People proves their hearts.
“As members of our people, these two have chosen not only to be wedded before those of this world, but before the next, and in so doing, have called the spirits of our ancestors to be with us on this day to smile on this joining. We welcome our ancestors into our hearts to share our joy.”
Richard’s hand tightened around hers, and she realized that he was sharing her thoughts: it was real, at last, and it was as they both had always dreamed—except it was better than she could ever have imagined.
“Both of you are Mud People, and are bound not only by your words before your people, but by your own hearts. These are simple words, but in simple things, there is great power.”
He met Richard’s eyes.
“Richard, will you have this woman as your wife, and will you love and honor her in all ways for all time?”
“I will,” he said in a clear voice that rang out over the gathering.
The Bird Man looked into Kahlan’s eyes, and she had the most profound sense that he was speaking not only as a representative of his people, but for the spirits, too. She could almost hea
r their voices echoing in his.
“Kahlan, will you have this man as your husband, and will you love and honor him in all ways for all time?”
“I will,” she said, a clear chime matching Richard’s.
“Then before your people, and before the spirits, you are now wedded for all time.”
All the gathered people were dead silent, until Richard took her in his arms and kissed her, and then they went wild. Kahlan hardly heard them.
It seemed a dream. A dream she had dreamed so often that it had finally come to life.
To be in Richard’s arms. To have him. To be his wife, and he her husband. For all time.
And then everyone was hugging them. Zedd and Ann. The Bird Man and the elders. Weselan and the other wives.
Cara, with tears in her eyes, hugged Kahlan. “Thank you both for wearing an Agiel at your wedding. Hally, Raina, and Denna are all watching because of that. Thank you for honoring the sacrifice of Mord-Sith.”
With a thumb, Kahlan wiped the tear from Cara’s cheek. “Thank you for braving the magic of the sliph to be with us, my sister.”
Everyone in the village crowded in to greet the new couple. Kahlan thought they might be crushed. People brought food and flowers, and sincere, simple offerings of every sort.
The celebration resumed around the wedding platform. Kahlan tried to talk to everyone, and to thank everyone, as did Richard, until, as Richard was asking some of Chandalen’s hunters about the battle that they had witnessed, his golden cloak billowed out. There was no wind.
Richard straightened. His raptor gaze swept out over the heads of the people, gathered before the wedding platform. He instinctively reached for his sword. It wasn’t there. The crowd, in the back, fell silent. Zedd and Ann both stepped up beside Richard and Kahlan. Cara had her Agiel in her fist as she pushed between them to get in front. Richard gently pushed her behind. The entire village fell silent, the people parting for two approaching figures. Some people grabbed their children and moved farther back as worried whispers rippled through the crowd.
As the two solitary figures, one tall and one short, came closer. Kahlan saw that it was Shota, and her companion, Samuel.
The witch woman, looking as stunning as ever, strode up onto the platform, her ageless almond eyes staying on Kahlan the whole time.
Shota took up Kahlan’s hand. She kissed Kahlan’s cheek. “I have come to congratulate you, Mother Confessor, on your accomplishment, and on your marriage.”
Throwing caution to the winds, Kahlan hugged the witch woman. “Thank you for coming, Shota.”
Shota smiled, staring into Richard’s eyes as she ran a lacquered nail along his jaw. “Hard fought, Richard. Hard fought. And well earned.”
Kahlan turned to the silent gathering. She knew that the Mud People feared the witch woman so much that they wouldn’t even speak her name. Kahlan could understand; she had felt nearly the same way herself.
“Shota has come to offer her best wishes to us on our wedding day. She has helped us in our struggle. She is a friend, and I hope you will welcome her to this celebration, for she deserves to be here, and I wish her to be here.” Kahlan turned to Shota. “I told them that.”
Smiling, Shota held up a hand. “I know what you told them, Mother Confessor.”
The Bird Man stepped forward. “Welcome to our home, Shota.”
“Thank you, Bird Man. You have my word that we will bring no harm this day.”
Shota glanced to Zedd. “A truce, for a day.”
Zedd smiled a sly smile. “A truce.”
Samuel’s long arm reached up, grabbing for the Bird Man’s carved bone whistle he wore around his neck. “Mine! Gimme!”
Shota thunked him on the head. “Samuel, behave yourself.”
The Bird Man smiled. He pulled the thong and whistle over his head and held it out to Samuel.
“A gift, for a friend to the Mud People.”
Samuel gently took the whistle. A grin split his face, showing his wickedly sharp teeth.
“Thank you, Bird Man,” Shota said.
Samuel blew the silent whistle. He seemed able to hear the sound, and was pleased by it. People began chuckling and talking again. Kahlan was relieved that vultures didn’t appear in response to the silent whistle. Fortunately, Samuel didn’t know how to call specific birds. Samuel grinned at his gift and hung it around his neck. He took up Shota’s hand again.
Shota’s arresting gaze took in Richard and Kahlan. In that moment, there was no one else there. The three of them were as good as alone, in that gaze.
“Do not think, either of you, that just because I congratulate you, I will forget my promise to you.”
Kahlan swallowed. “Shota—”
Shota’s eyes were both beautiful and frightening as she held up a silencing finger.
“You both have earned this joyous wedding. I am happy for you both. I will honor your vows, and protect you in any way I can, out of respect for all you have done for me, as long as you remember what I have warned you about. I will not allow a male child of this union to live. Do not doubt my word in this.”
Richard’s gaze was heating. “Shota, I’ll not be threatened—”
Again, the finger rose, silencing Richard this time.
“I do not make a threat. I deliver you a promise. I do not do it out of animosity for either of you, but out of concern for everyone else in the world. There is a long struggle ahead of us all. I will not allow any chance at victory to be clouded by what you two would bring upon the world. Jagang is worry enough.”
For some reason, Kahlan’s voice wouldn’t work. Richard didn’t seem to have words, either. Kahlan believed Shota; she wasn’t doing this out of malice.
Shota lifted Kahlan’s hand and placed something in it. “This is my gift to you both. I do this out of love for you both, and for everyone else.” She smiled a strange smile. “An odd thing for a witch woman to say?”
“No, Shota,” Kahlan said. “I don’t know that I believe what you tell us about a son, but I know that it is not said in hate.”
“Good. Wear the gift, always, and all will be well. Mark my words well—never take this off when you are together, and you will always be happy. Disregard my request, and suffer the consequences of my vow.” She looked into Richard’s eyes. “Better you battle the Keeper himself, than me.”
Kahlan opened her hand and saw a delicate necklace. A small, dark stone hung from the gold chain. “Why? What is this?”
Shota put a finger under Kahlan’s chin as she stared into her eyes. “As long as you wear it, you will bear no children.”
Richard’s voice, strangely, seemed gentle. “But what if we—”
Again, Shota’s raised finger silenced him. “You love each other. Have joy in that love, and in each other. You have struggled hard to be together. Celebrate your union and your love. You have each other, now, as you always wanted. Don’t throw it away.”
Richard and Kahlan both nodded. Somehow, Kahlan didn’t feel any anger. She felt nothing other than relief that Shota wasn’t going to do anything to harm their marriage. It had a dreamlike quality, like a formal settlement over an obscure, remote tract of ground claimed by two lands, like agreements in the council chambers over which she had so often presided. There seemed no emotion to it. A simple settlement.
Shota turned to go.
“Shota,” Richard said. She turned back. “Won’t you stay? You’ve come a long way.”
“Yes,” Kahlan said. “We really would like it if you stayed.”
Shota smiled a witch woman smile as she watched Kahlan fasten the chain around her neck.
“That you would ask is pleasure enough, but it is a long journey, and we must be on our way.”
Kahlan ran down the steps and scooped up a pile of tava bread. She wrapped it in a square of cloth from the table. She met Shota at the bottom of the steps. “Take this for your journey, as our thanks for coming, and for the gift.”
Shota kissed Kahlan’s cheek
and then took the bundle. Samuel didn’t try to grab it; he seemed content. Richard was suddenly there, beside Kahlan. Shota smiled a small smile and kissed his cheek, too. She had a strange, wistful look. “Thank you. Both of you.”
And then she was gone. Simply, gone.
Zedd and Ann were still up on the platform, along with Cara and the rest of the people. Zedd turned to Richard and Kahlan.
“What happened to Shota? We make a truce, and then she just leaves without a word?”
Kahlan’s brow tightened. “She spoke to us.”
Zedd glanced about. “When? She was gone before she had a chance to say anything.”
“I had intended to speak with her, too,” Ann said.
Kahlan looked up at Richard. He looked back at Zedd. “She said some nice things to us. Maybe she just didn’t want you to hear her saying nice things.”
Zedd grunted a laugh. “No doubt.”
Kahlan touched the dark stone on the necklace. She put an arm around Richard’s waist and pulled him close. “What do you think?” she whispered.
Richard stared out in the direction Shota had gone.
“For now, she’s right: we’re together. That’s what we wanted. I think that, for now, we should be happy that our dream has at last come true and we can be together. I’m so tired of trouble, and there is still Jagang to worry about. I’d just like to be with you for now, and love you.”
Kahlan put her head against him. “I think you’re right. For now, let’s not complicate matters.”
“We can worry about this another time.” He grinned at her. “Right?”
Kahlan forgot all about Shota and the future and grinned back, thinking about the now. “Right.”
The celebration went on until well after nightfall. Kahlan knew it would likely go on all night. She whispered to Richard that she would be happy not to have to remain for the whole thing. Richard kissed her cheek, and then asked the Bird Man if they could be excused. They wanted to go to the spirit house. The spirit house had special meaning to both of them.
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