“I know,” she whispered, “that happened to me, too. I forgot all about what I was supposed to be doing. It’s almost as if we, too, listened to the great, dark spirit. The veil is torn. Maybe that’s why we were distracted.”
“You think that this veil is torn, and because of that we forgot what we were to do, and wanted only to kill?”
“Chandalen, I don’t know the answers to these things. I must get to Aydindril. The wizard will know what to do. Richard needs help. We have taken enough time here. We must not waste any more. We must talk to the men, and then be on our way. Are they out there?” He nodded. “Then let’s get going.”started to rise, but he put his good hand to her arm and stopped her. They have been waiting outside your shelter all night. I would not let them come inside.”took his hand back as he seemed to search for the right words. “I feared greatly that you would die this night. I didn’t know if I had given you the quassin doe in time. Prindin had been giving you poison without our knowing it, for a long time. You almost went to the spirit world.
“If you had died, I would never be able to return to my people again. But that is not why I am glad you live. I am glad because you are a good Mud Person. You are a protector to our people, the same as Chandalen. We each fight in our own way.” He lifted an eyebrow. “Lately, you have been fighting too much like Chandalen fights. You are good at it, but you should leave that to me, and fight in the way you are meant to fight.”smiled. “You’re right. Thank you for sitting with me all night. It was good to have you near. I’m sorry you were hurt.”shrugged. “someday, when I find a woman for myself, I will have scars to show her, so she may see how brave Chandalen is.”laughed. “I’m sure she will be impressed with your bravery when you were shot with an arrow.”gave her a crooked look. “It does not prove I was brave because I was shot with an arrow. Anyone can be shot.” He lifted his chin. “I am brave because I did not cry out when the the arrow was cut from me.”, Kahlan thought, some fortunate woman would have her hands full with this one. “I’m glad the good spirits watched over you, and you are with me.”narrowed his eyes as he peered at her. “I do not know what happened, but I think Prindin missed my throat because you were watching over me, too.”only grinned. When she looked to the body, her grin withered. She stroked the fur of her mantle. “Poor Tossidin. He loved his brother. I’ll miss him.”glanced to the body. “I have known them since they were young boys. They both followed me around, begging me to teach them. Begging to be one of my men.” He hung his head in silence. Finally, he returned his attention to her. “The men are worried greatly about you. They are waiting.”followed as he crawled out on his knees and one hand. She dragged the sword with her. Outside, in the light, there was a sudden rustle of sound as men rose to their feet.Ryan rushed forward, but a big man, with one arm in a sling, thrust his good arm across the captain’s chest, stopping him cold. He held a monstrous war axe in his fist.
“Orsk? You are alive, too?”eyes were red from weeping. Kahlan remembered the way her father had wept when her mother, his mistress, was ill.
“Mistress!” Tears sprang anew to his eyes. “You are well! What do you wish?”
“Orsk, these men are all my friends. None of them will hurt me. You do not need to keep them away. I’m safe. It would please me if you just sat quietly for now.”, he flopped to the ground. Kahlan gave a questioning frown to Chandalen.shrugged. “I saw him fight to protect you, and Prindin wanted to kill him, so I gave him quassin doe. The men dug the arrow from his back. I am not sure how badly he is hurt; he has no interest in his wound, only in you. I was only able to keep him out of the shelter by telling him you needed to be left alone or you might not recover, but he would not leave this spot as long as you were inside.”sighed as she gazed at the grisly face staring silently up at her. She could hardly stand to look at the jagged white scar, and the one eye that was sewn shut. She returned her attention to an impatient Captain Ryan, and the hundreds of faces behind him.
“How goes the war?”war! Dash the war! Are you all right? You had us scared to death!” He cast a hot glance at Chandalen, and then at Orsk sitting in the snow. “These two wouldn’t even let me have a peek at you, to see how you were.”
“That’s their job,” Kahlan said. She gave them a warm smile. Thank you all for your concern. Chandalen has saved me.”
“Well, what happened? This place was a mess. The dozen men I left here were slaughtered. By a troga. Prindin and Tossidin are dead. And there were dead men of the Order. We feared they killed you.”realized Chandalen had told them nothing. “One of the dead men, off in that direction, is General Riggs, of the Imperial Order. Orsk here,” she pointed down to the one-eyed man, “killed most of the men of the Order. They came here to get me. Prindin killed our guards, and his brother, and he tried to kill me.” Whispers and gasps spread among the men.Ryan’s eyes looked like they would pop from his head. “Prindin! Not Prindin. Dear spirits, why?”waited until silence settled over the men. She spoke in a quiet tone. “Prindin was a baneling.”silence was all she heard for a moment, and then the worried whispers of “baneling” spread back through the ranks.
“You men are doing a fine job. But now you must fight on without me. I must get to Aydindril.” Disappointed murmurs filled the air. “I would not leave you if I did not know you were up to the task. You have all proven your worth and your heart in battle. You are men the equal of any.”men stood a little taller. They listened intently to her, as if hearing their general.
“I am proud of each and every one of you. You are heroes of the Midlands. This army of the Imperial Order, threat though it is, is representative of a larger threat to the Midlands, to the world of the living. That the Keeper would send a baneling to stop me is proof of that.
“I believe the Imperial Order is aligned with the Keeper. I must now turn my attention to this threat. I know you will fight on, as you have sworn, and show the enemy no quarter. I know the days of the Order are numbered.”realized that her neck didn’t hurt. She touched her fingers to the bite. It was gone. Suddenly she felt that perhaps she had escaped the Keeper’s grasp in more ways than one.a serious demeanor, she regarded the young faces that intently watched her. Though you will fight on without quarter, you must not let yourselves become what you are fighting. The enemy fights to kill, and to enslave. You fight for life, and freedom. Keep that always uppermost in your hearts.
“Do not let yourselves become what you hate. I know how easy it is to do. It almost happened to me.”put a fist into the air. “I promise to never forget a one of you. Promise me that when this is finished, both the threat from the Imperial Order, and the threat from the Keeper, that you will one day all come to Aydindril, so the Midlands may honor your sacrifice.”men all lifted a fist in pledge. A cheer went up.
“Captain Ryan, please tell the men at the other camps my words. I wish I could speak to them all myself, but I must leave at once.”assured her it would be done. Kahlan lifted the sword in both hands, holding it out.
“King Wyborn wielded this sword in battle to protect his land. The Mother Confessor has wielded it in defense of the Midlands. I now place it in capable hands.”Ryan’s fingers carefully lifted the sword from hers. He held it as if holding the crown of Galea itself. A beaming grin lit his face.
“I will carry it with pride, Mother Confessor. Thank you for everything you have taught us. When you first found us, we were boys. Thank you for making us into men. You have taught us not only to fight better but, more importantly, what it means to be soldiers, and to be protectors of the Midlands.”took the hilt in his fist and held the sword skyward as he turned to his men.
“Three cheers for the Mother Confessor!”she listened to the three wild cheers, Kahlan realized that in all her life she had never heard anyone cheer the Mother Confessor before. She had to strain to keep her surprise from showing. She lifted a kiss on her fingers and thanked them all.
“Captain Ryan, I wish to take Nick, and I will need two other horses, also.”lurched forward. “Now, why do you need horses!”lifted an eyebrow to him. “Chandalen, I have an arrow wound in my leg. I can hardly stand, much less walk. I need to ride, if I’m to get to Aydindril. I hope you do not think me weak because of it.”brow knotted up. “Well, no. Of course you cannot be expected to walk.” His eyes turned angry again. “But why do you want two other horses?”
“If I ride, you must, too.”
“Chandalen does not need to ride! I am strong!”leaned close and spoke in his tongue. “Chandalen, I know the Mud People do not ride horses. I would not expect you would know how. I will teach you. You will do fine. When you return to your people, you will have a new skill that none of them have. They will be impressed. The women will see that you are brave.”grunted suspiciously as he scowled. Then why do we need the third horse?”
“We’re taking Orsk.”
“What!”shrugged. “You can’t draw a bow until your arm recovers. How will you protect me? Orsk can wield an axe with his one good arm, and you can throw a spear with yours.”rolled his eyes. “I am not going to be able to talk you out of this, am I?”
“No,” she said with a small smile. “Now, we better get our things and be on our way.”surveyed the men one last time. Her men. She gave them a salute of her fist to her heart. They all silently returned the salute. She had lost much with these men. She had gained much. Take care. Each and every one of you.”48
“So, when are we going to meet your people, the ones who will guide Sister Verna and me to the palace?”Chaillu glanced back over her shoulder, pulling her mass of black hair out of the way to peer at him. She was leading her horse. Richard had grown tired of her complaints, and when she finally refused to ride any longer, he decided not to make an issue of it and let her walk. Richard had decided to walk for a while himself. Sister Verna rode behind them, watching Du Chaillu like an owl from atop her horse.
“Soon.” Her cool, distant expression disturbed him. “Very soon.”attitude had slowly changed since they had left the Majendie land, as they went deeper into hers. She was no longer chatty and open, but had grown haughty and distant. Sister Verna rarely took her eyes from Du Chaillu, and Du Chaillu, in turn, didn’t miss a move the Sister made. They were like two cats with their fur standing on end, silent and still, but ready to spring. It wouldn’t have surprised him if soon he saw their teeth bared.had the feeling the two of them were constantly testing each other, but in ways he couldn’t see. By the Sister’s attitude, he didn’t think she was pleased about what she was discovering. Richard could tell, from experience, when the Sister was touching her Han. He recognized the shroud of it in her eyes. She was touching it now.the gathering darkness, Du Chaillu turned abruptly from the wide forest trail, leading them on a narrow path through the thick, tangled growth. Dark water holding dense thickets of reeds and broad-leafed plants with pink and yellow trumpet-shaped flowers lurked to the sides. Richard’s eyes scanned the shadows among the trees.Chaillu came to a halt at the edge of a sandy, open area. She lifted the reins of her horse to Richard. The others will join us in this place. Wait here, magic man.”term she used to address him lifted his hackles. He took the reins. “Richard. My name is Richard. I’m the one who saved your neck. Remember?”Chaillu looked at him thoughtfully. “Please don’t ever think I do not appreciate what you have done for me, for my people. Your kindness will be always in my heart.” Her eyes seemed to go out of focus, and her voice softened with regret. “But you are still a magic man.” Her back straightened. “Wait here.”turned and disappeared into the forest around the clearing. Richard stood watching her vanish as Sister Verna dismounted. She took the reins to all three horses.
“She is going to try to kill you now,” she said, as if telling him that she thought it would rain tomorrow.glared at her. “I saved her life.”Verna started leading the horses to the trees. “You are a magic man to these people. They kill magic men.”didn’t want to believe her, but he did. Then use your Han to prevent it, Sister, to preserve life, as you told Du Chaillu she should do with her new child.”Verna stroked her horse’s chin. “she has use of her Han, too. That’s why the Sisters have always avoided these people; some of them can use their Han, but in a way we don’t understand.
“I’ve tried little things on her, to test her. The spells I send at her disappear like pebbles dropped down a well. And they do not go unnoticed. Du Chaillu knows what I try to do, and somehow is able to annul it. I told you before, these people are dangerous. I have fought every step of the way to prevent this. I warned you not to swing the axe. You saw my efforts as misguided.”gritted his teeth. His left hand gripped the hilt of the sword. He could feel the bumps of the word Truth woven into the wire, and through it the heat of its rage.
“I have no intention of killing anyone.”
“Good. Keep the anger of the sword out. You are going to need it if you’re to survive. They are surrounding us as we speak; that much my Han can tell me.”felt as if things were suddenly spinning out of his control. He didn’t want to hurt anyone. He hadn’t saved Du Chaillu just to have to fight her people. Then I suggest you call on your Han, Sister Verna. I am the Seeker, not an assassin. I’m not going to kill your enemies for you.”took a few strides toward him. Her voice was tight and controlled. “I told you, my Han is not going to be able to help. I would end the threat if I could, but I can’t. Du Chaillu has power against magic. I’m begging you, Richard, defend yourself.”eyes narrowed. “Perhaps you just don’t want to help. You’re angry that I spoiled the arrangement the Sisters had with the Majendie. You plan on watching, like you always do, just to see what I’ll do.”slowly shook her head in frustration. “do you really think, Richard, that I would spend half my life in my duty to find you and carry you safely to the Palace of the Prophets, only to watch you killed when we’re on the doorstep of my home? Do you actually believe that I wouldn’t stop this if I could? Is your opinion of me that low?”impulse was to argue with her, but instead he considered her words. What she said made sense. Richard gave an apologetic shake of his head, then quickly glanced into the shadows. “How many are there?”
“Perhaps thirty.”
“Thirty.” In frustration, he folded his arms. “How am I to defend against thirty, by myself?”looked out into the darkness a moment, then cast her hands forward. A wind rose, carrying a veil of sand and dirt outward into the blackness. That will slow them for a short time, but not stop them.”turned her brown eyes on him once more. “Richard, I have used my Han to seek an answer. The only thing my Han tells me is that you must use the prophecy to survive. You’ve named yourself the bringer of death, as the prophecy foretells. The prophecy is about you.
“You must use the prophecy if you are to defeat that many. The prophecy says the holder of the sword is able to call the dead forth, call the past into the present. Somehow, that’s what you must do in order to survive—call forth the dead, call the past into the present.”unfolded his arms. “We’re about to be overrun by thirty people you say are going to try to kill me, and you give me riddles? Sister, I told you before that I don’t know what it means. If you want to help, then tell me something I can use.”turned away, walking back toward the horses. “I have. Sometimes prophecies are meant to give aid to the one named by sending help across time, providing a key that may open a door to enlightenment. I believe this prophecy is such. This prophecy is about you; you must find its use. I don’t know its meaning.”stopped and turned to look back over her shoulder. “You forget, I tried to keep us out of the hands of these people. You said that in this matter, you were not my student, but the Seeker. As the Seeker, you must use this prophecy. You are the one who got us into this. Only you can get us out.”stared after her as she gentled the nervous animals. He had thought about this prophecy before, wondering, ever since she had told it to him, what it could mean. Sometimes he had felt as if he was on the verge of insight, but the feeling always slipped away from him before coming to fruition.had used the sword many times, and knew its capabilities. He also knew his own limitations. Against one, the sword was virtually invincible, but he was flesh and blood. He was no expert swordsman; in the past he had always depended on the sword’s magic to make the difference. But he was only one man, and they were many. The sword could only be in one place at one time.
“Are they good fighters?” he asked.Baka Ban Mana are without peer. They have special fighters, blade masters, who train from sunup to sundown, every day. And then they train by the light of the moon. Fighting is almost a religion to them.
“When I was young, I saw a Baka Ban Mana blade master who had gotten into the garrison in Tanimura kill nearly fifty well-armed soldiers before he was taken down. They fight like they are invincible spirits. Some people believe they are.”’s just great,” he said under his breath.
“Richard,” she said, without looking to him, “I know we don’t get along. We could look at the same thing and each see something different. We’re from different worlds, both of us are headstrong, and neither of us likes the other very much.
“But I want you to know that I’m not trying to be obstinate about this. You spoke the truth in that this is about you as the Seeker, not as my student. In a way I don’t understand, it’s also bundled up with prophecy. You are riding a ripple in events. I am but a bystander in this. If you die, however, I die, too.”at last lifted her eyes to his. “I don’t know how to help you, Richard. There are people closing around us, to watch what will happen, and I know that if I try to interfere, I will be killed by them. This is about prophecy, you, and the Baka Ban Mana. I play no part in it, other than to die, if you do.
“I don’t know what the prophecy means, and I realize you don’t either, but keep it in mind, and maybe its use will come as you need it. Try to use your Han, if you can.”stood with his hands on his hips. “All right, Sister, I’ll try. I’m just sorry I’m no good at riddles. And if I’m killed, well, thank you for trying to help me.”looked up at the sky, at the thin veil of clouds that dimmed the moon. The darkness helped hide those who came. There was no reason it couldn’t be used to his advantage, too.was a woods guide, at home in the darkness of the woods. He had spent countless hours at games like this, with other guides. This was his element, too, not just theirs. He didn’t have to do it their way. Crouching, he moved off, away from the Sister and their horses, and became one with the moon shadows.found the first of them looking the wrong way. Still and silent, he watched the dark form wrapped in loose clothes, squatted on one knee, watching the Sister. Clutched tightly in one fist was a short spear, its butt planted in the sand. Two more spears lay on the ground.concentrated on controlling his breathing to keep from making a sound as he glided closer. Moving, stopping, moving again, he approached ever closer. His hand reached out. Inches from the spear, he froze as the head turned.figure sprang up, but Richard was close enough. He snatched the spear away. As the man whirled, Richard spun the spear and whacked him across the side of the head. He went down before he had a chance to raise an alarm.down, Richard thought as he straightened, and without having to kill him. At least, he hoped he hadn’t killed him.out of the darkness, a figure appeared. To the side, another. And then another. Richard turned about and saw more appearing. Before he could move away, he was surrounded.forms were wrapped in bark-colored loose clothes so they would blend in with the surrounding country. Cloth wound around their heads hid all but their dark eyes, which shined with grim determination.was nowhere to run. Richard sidestepped into the clearing as the circle of forms moved with him. More were closing in all about. Richard turned, watching them as they formed two rings around him.he could still do this without killing. “Who speaks for you?”inner ring of robed figures dropped their round shields and cast their extra spears to the ground, points toward Richard. Each clasped their remaining spear in two hands like a staff. Their eyes never left him. The outer ring of warriors cast their shields and all their spears to the ground and put their hands to their sword hilts, but didn’t draw them.soft rhythmic chant began, and the two circles slowly began moving in opposite directions.walked backward in a tight circle, trying to keep watch on all of them. “Who speaks for you!”slow chant continued in time with their sideways steps.figure wrapped from head to foot like the others rose up on a rock beyond the outer circle.
“I am Du Chaillu. I speak for the Baka Ban Mana.”could hardly believe this was happening. rDu Chaillu, I saved your life. Why would you want to murder us?”Baka Ban Mana are not here to murder you. We are here to execute you for stealing our sacred lands.”
“Du Chaillu, I’ve never even seen your land before. I had nothing to do with whatever happened.”
“Magic men took our lands from us. They laid down our laws. You are a magic man. You bear the sins of those magic men before you. You even bear their mark, to prove it. You must do as all before, who we could catch. You must face the circle. You must die.”
“Du Chaillu, I told you the killing must stop.”
“It is easy to proclaim the killing must end, when you are the one about to die.”
“How dare you say that to me! I risked my life to stop the killing! I risked my life for you!”spoke softly. “I know, Richard. For that I will always honor you. I would have borne your sons, had you asked it of me. I would lay my life down for you. For what you have done, you will live on as a hero to my people. I will tie a prayer to my dress, that the spirits take you tenderly to their hearts.
“But you are a magic man. The old law says that we must practice every day, and be better with a blade than any other people born. We have been told that we must kill every magic man we can catch, or the Spirit of the Dark will take the world of life into the dark.”
“You can’t go on killing magic men, or anyone else! It must stop!”killing cannot end because of what you have done. It can only end when the spirits dance with us.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we must kill you or what has been spoken will be brought to pass—the Dark Spirit will escape his prison.”pointed with the spear. “du Chaillu, I don’t want to kill any of you, but I will defend myself. Please stop now, before anyone else is hurt. Don’t make me kill any of you. Please.”
“Had you tried to run, we would have put spears in your back, but since you choose to stand, you have earned the right to face us. You will die anyway, as have all before whom we have caught. If you do not fight us, it will be made quick, and you will not suffer. You have my word.”turned her hand in the air and the chanting started again. The outer ring of men drew their swords—long, black-handled weapons, each with a ring at the pommel holding a cord that looped around the swordsman’s neck to keep the sword from being lost in battle. Each blade was curved, widening toward the clipped point.men spun the swords, passing them from right hand to left, and back again. The blades never stopped spinning. The two rings began moving in opposite directions again. The inner circle of men began twirling the spears like staffs.had known guides who carried staffs. No one ever bothered a guide with a staff. These people were better than any guide he had ever seen. The shafts of wood were a blur in the moonlight, the steel points a circle of dull reflection.broke the spear shaft over his knee and drew his sword. The sound of steel rang above the sound of the whistling spears and blades.
“Don’t do this, Du Chaillu! Stop it now, before anyone else is hurt!”
“Do not fight us, witch man, and we will grant you a quick death. I owe you at least that.”’s chest heaved; the muscles in his jaw flexed as he gritted his teeth. The chanting increased in speed, and the circles of men moved faster.glared at Du Chaillu as she stood on the rock. “I disavow responsibility for what is to happen, Du Chaillu. It is you who presses this. What happens is your responsibility. You bring it!”spoke softly, her voice filled with regret. “We are many. You are but one. I am sorry, Richard.”
“Only a fool would have confidence in those odds, Du Chaillu. They are not what they seem. You cannot all come at me at once. You can only attack one, or two, or at most three at a time. The odds are not what they seem to your eyes.” Richard wondered dimly where his own words had come from.could see her nod in the moonlight. “You understand the dance of death, witch man.”
“I’m not a witch man, Du Chaillu! I am Richard, the Seeker of Truth. I’m not going with this Sister to learn to be a witch man by choice. I’m a prisoner. You know that. But I will defend myself.”Chaillu watched him in the moonlight. “The spirits know I am sorry for you, Seeker Richard, but you must die.”
“Don’t be sorry for me, Du Chaillu. Be sorry for those of you who are going to die this night, for no good reason.”
“You have not seen the Baka Ban Mana fight. We will not be touched. Only you will taste steel. Dismiss your concern; we are safe. You will have no killing to regret.”loosed the sword’s magic, the rage.two circles moved and chanted faster, spun their weapons faster. The storm of the sword’s anger thundered through the Seeker. Even in the grip of the rage, the wanton need to kill, he knew it wasn’t going to be enough. They were too many. And he had never seen anyone handle weapons the way these people did., he pulled more of the magic to him. Pulled until the mercilessness of the hate pounded in his head and nearly made him sick. He drew it into the depths of his soul.stood still in the center of the moving circles. He touched the gleaming blade to his forehead. The steel was cold against his hot skin, against his sweat.
“Blade, be true this day.”called the magic onward. Before he even realized what he was doing, he pulled off his shirt and threw it aside, to be free of any hindrance to his movement. Why would he think to do that? It seemed the right thing to do, but he had no idea where the thought came from. He drew the blade up straight before him. His muscles flexed and tightened, glistening with sweat.found the center of himself, that place of quiet, of focus. He sought his Han within the white-hot center of his rage.what you have, a voice within him said. Use what is there. Let it loose.the quiet of his mind, Richard remembered the time he had stood on Zedd’s wizard’s rock, to use its magic to hide the cloud that Darken Rahl had sent to track him. The rock had been used by many wizards before Zedd. As Richard had stood on it, calling the magic onward, letting it flow through him, he had felt the essence of those who had come before. He remembered the way it had felt to feel the things they had felt, to know the things they had known. It had given him insight into those who had once used the magic., he knew what the prophecy meant.wondered how it was possible to have used the sword before without seeing it, without seeing what the magic held. Just like the wizard’s rock.had used the Sword of Truth’s magic, and in the bargain, the magic retained a memory of their talents at fighting, of every move in which it had ever been used. The talent of untold hundreds who had wielded this blade, men and women alike, was there for the taking. The skill of both the good and the wicked was bound into the magic.his stillness, he saw the first come from the left.a feather, not a rock. Float on the wind of the storm.unleashed the magic and spun with the attack, letting it sweep past him. He didn’t strike, but let himself float with the press of the charge. He let the sword’s magic guide him. The attacker tumbled to the ground when he didn’t make the expected contact., another came, twirling his spear. Richard spun around again, and as the attacker passed, he used the sword to splinter the shaft in two. A spearpoint thrusted toward him. Without stopping, he glided past it and brought the sword up, cutting the shaft in half. Another charge came from behind. He met it with a foot to the chest, throwing the man back.gave himself over to the magic from the sword, and to the peace within himself. Things he didn’t even understand, he was doing without thought.controlled the rage to keep from killing. He used the flat of the blade to strike the back of a head here, used his feet to trip an advance there. The faster they came, the faster he reacted, the magic feeding off their energy. Fluidly, he slipped among the attackers, splintering spears when he could, trying to disarm the Baka Ban Mana without killing them.
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