His head hanging, tears dripping from his face, he saw flickers of light on the ground before him.
Richard looked up. A glowing spirit towered over him.
When he recognized who it was, he went rigid.
----------
Kahlan had walked around the garden countless times. Part of her hesitation was dread that she might be granted confirmation of her fear. Finally, she she knelt down and folded her hands together on a rock before her. She bowed her head.
'Dear spirits, I know I am not worthy, but please grant this. I must know if Richard is all right. If he still loves me.'
She swallowed back the burning sensation in her throat. 'I must know if I will ever see him again.
'I have been disrespectful, I know, and I have no excuse but my own failing as a good person. If you grant me this, I will do whatever the good spirits require of me.
'But please, dear spirits, I must know if I will ever see my Richard again.'
Her head hung as he cried. Tears dripped from her face. Before her, on the ground, flickers of light danced.
Kahlan looked up, into the face of the glowing spirit towering over her. She felt the warmth of the calm smile from the face she knew.
Slowly, involuntarily, Kahlan rose to her feet.
'Is it really... you?'
'Yes, Kahlan, it is I, Denna.'
'But... you went to the Keeper. You took the mark Darken Rahl put on Richard. You went to the Keeper in Richard's place.'
The glowing smile of peace swelled Kahlan's heart with joy.
The Keeper was repulsed by what I had done. He rejected me. I went instead to be with what you think of as the good spirits.
'In much the same way that what I did earned me peace I never expected, the sacrifices you and Richard have self-lessly made for others, and each other, have merited the granting of this peace to the two of you. Because you each possess both sides of the magic, and are linked to me by deeds, before I pass beyond the veil I am empowered to bring you together, for a brief time, in a place between the worlds.'
Denna, draped in long, flowing robes, spread her arms wide. The luminous folds hung from her arms all the way to the ground.
'Come, child. Come into my arms, and I will take you to Richard.'
Trembling, Kahlan stepped under Denna's outstretched arm.
----------
Richard stood under the illumination of Denna's arm as it came tenderly around him. The world vanished into the radiance. He didn't know what to expect, only that he wanted to see Kahlan more than life itself.
The overpowering, white blaze dimmed to a mellow glow.
Kahlan appeared before him. She gasped, and then threw herself into his arms. She wailed his name as she clutched him.
They embraced, without words, just feeling the presence of each other. He felt her warmth, her breathing, her quaking. He didn't want to ever let her go.
They sank to the soft support under them. He didn't know what it was, and he didn't care; it was solid enough to hold them. He wanted her arms around him forever. She finally stopped weeping, and put her head against his shoulder as he held her tight.
At last, she looked up to his face, her beautiful green eyes gazing deeply into his. 'Richard, I'm so sorry I made you put that collar around your...'
Richard put his ringer to her lips. 'It was all for a reason. It took me time to understand how foolish I was being, and how brave you are. That is all that matters. It makes me love you all the more, because you sacrificed your own needs to save me.'
She shook her head. 'My Richard. How did you get here?'
'I prayed to the good spirits. Denna came.'
'Me too. Denna made a sacrifice for you, too. She took the power of the mark, so you would live. Denna gave your life back to me. She is at peace now.'
'I know.' He ran his hand down her head, down her short hair. 'What happened to your hair?'
'A wizard cut it off.'
'A wizard. Well then, I guess a wizard will have to restore it to you.'
Richard ran his hand lovingly down her hair. He remembered the way Zedd had stroked his hand down his own jaw to make his beard grow. It seemed as if from having seen Zedd do it, he knew how to do it, too. With each stroke of his hand, her hair lengthened. Richard continued to pull from the calm center within him, and her hair continued to lengthen. When it was the same as before, he stopped.
Kahlan lifted a long lock of her hair, looking at it in wonder. 'Richard, how did you do that?'
'I have the gift, remember?'
She beamed with her special smile, the smile of sharing she gave no other. Kahlan ran her hand down his cheek.
'I'm sorry, Richard, but I don't like your beard. I like you the way you were before.'
He lifted an eyebrow. 'Really? Well then, since we set you back to right, we will just have to do the same for me, too.'
Richard drew his hand down his jaw, again pulling the power from the calm center.
Kahlan gasped in astonishment. 'Richard! It's gone! Your beard is gone! You made it vanish! How did you do that!'
'I have the gift for both sides of the magic.'
She blinked in surprise. 'Subtractive Magic? Richard, is any of this real, or am I just dreaming it?'
And then he kissed her, long and deep.
'Feels real to me,' he said breathlessly.
'Richard, I'm afraid. You're with the Sisters. I will never again be able to be with you. I can't go on if you are going to be taken from...'
'I'm not with the Sisters. I'm in Aydindril.'
'Aydindril!'
He nodded. 'I left the Palace of the Prophets. Sister Verna helped me. Then I had to go to D'Hara.'
Richard told her everything that had happened since he had left her, and she told him all she had been through. Richard could hardly believe the things she had done.
'I'm so proud of you,' he said. 'You truly are the Mother Confessor. You are the greatest Mother Confessor that ever lived.'
'Go back to the hall before the council chambers, and you will see big paintings of Confessors who were greater than I will ever be.'
'That, my love, I doubt.'
He kissed her again. A hot, passionate kiss. She kissed him back, desperately, as if she needed nothing so much from life as to be in his arms kissing him. He kissed her cheek, her ears and her neck. She moaned against him.
'Richard, is the scar, Darken Rahl's mark, really gone?'
He pulled his shirt open to show her.
Her hand stroked his chest. 'It's really true,' she whispered.
Tenderly, she kissed his chest. She ran her hand over him, kissing where it had been. She gave a sucking kiss to his nipple.
'Not fair,' he said breathlessly. 'I get to kiss anything on you that you kiss on me.'
Kahlan looked him in the eye as she unbuttoned her shirt. 'Bargain struck.'
She started pulling at his clothes as he trailed wet kisses down her soft flesh. Her breathing quickened with each.
'Kahlan,' he managed to say as he pulled away, 'the good spirits may be watching us.'
She pushed him onto his back and kissed him. 'If they truly are good spirits, they will turn their backs.'
The feel of her warm flesh made his head spin. The feel of the shape of her made him moan with need. Around them, the mellow glow pulsed with their breathing. It seemed to be an extension of their heat.
Richard rolled over on top of her. He gazed down into her green eyes. 'I love you, Kahlan Amnell. Now, and always.'
'And I you, my Richard.'
As they pressed their lips together, she wrapped her arms around his neck, and her soft legs around his.
In the void between worlds, in the soft glow of a timeless place, they were one.
CHAPTER 71
Kahlan strolled back into the inn. She stood in the shadows at the end of the hall leading into the dining room. She still felt the glow, the warmth, the mind-numbing joy and fulfillment. Everyone looked up when they heard her footsteps.
Zedd shot to his feet. 'Kahlan! Bags, girl, where have you been all night! It's just turning to dawn! You've been missing since dusk! We've been searching the town all night for you! Where did you go?'
She turned and held her hand out. 'To the little garden, out back.'
Zedd stormed across the room. 'You were not in the garden!'
She smiled dreamily. 'Well, that was where I went, but I left that place. I went to be with Richard. Zedd, he escaped from the Sisters. He is in Aydindril.'
Zedd slowed to a stop. 'Kahlan, I know you have had a hard time of it, but you have simply had a vision of something you wished.'
'No Zedd. I prayed to the good spirits. She came and took me to Richard. To be with him in a place between the worlds.'
'Kahlan, that is simply not...'
Kahlan stepped out of the shadows, into the firelight. Zedd's eyes went wide.
'What... what happened to your hair?' the wizard whispered. 'It's long again.'
Kahlan grinned. 'Richard made it right. He has the gift, you know.' She held out the Agiel hanging from her neck. 'He gave me this. He said he doesn't need it anymore.'
'But... there has to be some other explanation....'
'He gave me a message to give to you. He said to thank you for not closing the opened box of Orden. He said he was glad his grandfather was wise enough not to violate the Wizard's Second Rule.'
'His grandfather...' Tears ran down his wrinkled face. 'You saw him! You really saw him! Richard is safe!'
She threw her arms around him. 'Yes, Zedd. Everything is going to be all right, now. He restored the Stone of Tears to where it belongs, and closed the box of Orden. He called it the gateway. He said it takes both Additive and Subtractive Magic to do it or it would have destroyed all life.'
He gripped her shoulders and held her out. 'Richard has Subtractive Magic? Impossible.'
'He had a beard, and made it vanish. He said to remind you of the lesson you gave him, that only Subtractive could do that.'
'Wonder of wonders.' His sharp features came closer. 'You're all in a lather, girl.' He put a sticklike hand to her forehead. 'You don't have a fever. Why are you sweating?'
'It was... hot, in that other world. Quite hot.'
He peered at her hair. 'You hair is all tangled. What kind of wizard would grow hair back all tangled? I would have grown it back straight. That boy has a lot to learn. He didn't do it right.'
Kahlan's eyes went out of focus. 'Believe me, he did it right.'
He turned his head, appraising her with one eye. 'What were you doing all night? You've been gone the whole night. What have you two been doing?'
Kahlan could feel her ears heat. She was glad she had long hair again. 'Well, I don't know. What do you and Adie do when you are alone together all night?'
Zedd straightened. 'Well...' He cleared his throat. 'Well, we...' He lifted his chin and pointed a finger skyward. 'We talk. That's what we do, we talk.'
Kahlan shrugged. That's what we did, too. Just like you and Adie do all night. We talked.'
A sly grin stole onto his face. He hugged her tightly in his thin arms, patting her back. 'I'm so happy for you, dear one.'
Zedd took her hands in his and danced around the room. Ahern smiled and pulled out a little flute, playing a bouncy tune. 'My grandson is a wizard! My grandson will be a great wizard! Just like his grandfather!'
The celebration went on for a few minutes, with everyone joining in the laughing. They all clapped in time with the tune as Zedd danced with her around the room.
Kahlan saw one person not joining in. Adie sat in a rocking chair in the corner. She had a small, sad smile on her face as she turned her ear to follow them.
She went to the old woman and knelt before her. Kahlan took up her frail hands.
'I be happy for you, child,' Adie said.
Adie,' Kahlan said in a soft voice, 'the spirits sent a message for you.'
She shook her head regretfully. 'I be sorry, child, but it would mean nothing to me. I not remember being this woman Adie.'
'I promised to deliver the message. It's important to one beyond that you have it. Will you hear the message?'
Tell me then, though I be sorry I won't know its meaning.'
'It's a message from one named Pell.'
The room was silent behind her. Adie's rocking came to a halt. She straightened the littlest bit. Her eyes filled with tears.
Adie's hands tightened around Kahlan's. 'From Pell? A message from my Pell?'
'Yes, Adie. He wants you to know that he loves you, and that he is in a place of peace. He said to tell you that he knows you never betrayed him. He knows how much you love him, and he is sorry you have had to suffer. He said to tell you to be at peace, knowing all is well between your spirits.'
Adie turned her ear away and looked at Kahlan with her white eyes. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
'My Pell knows I did not betray him?'
Kahlan nodded. 'Yes, Adie. He knows, and loves you as always.'
Adie pulled Kahlan into her arms as she wept. Thank you Kahlan. You could never know how much this means to me. You have given me back everything. You have given me back the meaning of life.'
'I know how much it means, Adie.'
Adie stroked the back of Kahlan's head as she held her close. 'Yes, child, perhaps you do.'
Jebra and Chandalen cooked breakfast while the rest of them talked and planned. Though it would be a grisly job clearing Ebinissia of all the bodies, at least it was still winter, and not the task it would be in spring. From Ebinissia, they would pull the Midlands back together.
Kahlan told them that Richard would try to meet up with them in the Galean Crown city, and that he said that then he might need to take Zedd back to Westland, to see about the Sisters of the Dark. But for now, they were safely out to sea.
After a good meal, filled with joy and happy conversation that had been missing for so long, they started packing up their things. Chandalen, with an uneasy expression, pulled Kahlan aside.
'Mother Confessor, I wish to ask you something. I would not ask you, except I know no one else to ask.'
'What is it, Chandalen?'
'How do you say "breasts" in your tongue?'
'What?'
'What is the word for breasts? I wish to tell Jebra that she has fine breasts.'
Kahlan rolled her shoulder self-consciously. 'Chandalen, I'm sorry, but I meant to have a talk with you about that. I guess with everything that happened, I never got around to it.'
'So talk now. I wish to tell Jebra how much I like her fine breasts.'
'Chandalen, with the Mud People, that is a proper thing to say to a woman. It's a compliment. But in other places, it is not taken as a compliment, but as improper. Very improper, until two people know each other.'
'I know her well.'
'Not well enough. Will you trust me in this? If you really like her, then you must not tell her this, or she will not like you.'
'But, women here do not like to hear the truth?'
'It's not that simple. Would you tell a woman in your village you would like to see her with the mud washed from her hair, even though it is the truth?'
He lifted an eyebrow. 'I see what you mean.'
'Do you like other things about her?'
He nodded enthusiastically. 'Yes. I like everything about her.'
'Then tell her you like her smile, or her hair, or her eyes.'
'How do I know which is the proper thing to compliment?'
Kahlan sighed. ' Well, for now, just stick to anything that isn't covered by clothes, and you will be safe.'
He nodded thoughtfully. ' You are wise, Mother Confessor. I am glad you have Richard back as your mate, or you would surely have chosen Chandalen.'
Kahlan laughed and gave him a hug. He returned it warmly.
Outside, she saw to the men: Captain Ryan, Lieutenant Hobson, Brin and Peter, and others she knew. They were infected by her smile and good cheer.
In the stables she checked on Nick. Chandalen had stolen him back when they fled Aydindril. The big warhorse neighed softly at her approach.
Kahlan rubbed his gray nose as he nudged his head against her. 'How you doing, Nick?' He nickered. 'How would you like to carry the queen of Galea to the palace in Ebinissia?'
Nick tossed his head enthusiastically, anxious to be out of the stables and off into the brightening day.
Water dripped from melting icicles at the edge of the stable roof. Kahlan looked out over the hills. It was going to be a rare, warm day in the winter. But soon it would be spring.
----------
Mistress Sanderholt was surprised when Richard took another bowl of soup and chunk of bread.
'Mistress Sanderholt, you make the best spice soup in the world, after mine.'
In the kitchen beyond, the help was busily going about breakfast preparations. She closed the door.
'Richard, I am pleased you are so much better. I was worried you would do something terrible last night, you were grieving so. But this is too much of a change. Something must have happened to make you have such a turnaround in spirit.'
He looked up at her as he chewed. He swallowed the bread. 'I will tell you if you promise to keep it a secret, for now. It could cause serious trouble if you told anyone.'
'I promise, then.'
'Kahlan is not dead.'
She stared blankly at him. 'Richard, you are worse than I thought. I myself saw...'
'I know what you saw. The wizard you saw is my grandfather. He used a spell to make everyone think she was executed, so they would not be hunted down, so that they could escape. She is safe.'
She threw her arms around his neck. 'Oh, dear spirits be praised!'
'Indeed,' Richard said with a grin.
Richard took the bowl of soup outside to watch the dawn. He was too exhilarated to be cooped up indoors. He sat on the vast steps, looking around at the magnificent palace soaring up all around him. Towers and spires and sweeping roofs loomed in the early dawn light.
As he ate his soup, he watched a gargoyle atop the edge of a nearby, enormous frieze supported by fluted columns. The pink clouds were just beginning to glow behind it, silhouetting the grotesque, hunched shape.
Richard had just put a spoonful of spice soup in his mouth when he thought he saw the gargoyle take a deep breath. Richard set the bowl down. He rose to his feet, his eyes never leaving the dark shape. It moved again, just a little twitch.
'Gratch! Gratch, is that you!'
The shape didn't move. Maybe it was just his imagination. Richard held his arms open wide.
'Gratch! Please, if that's you, forgive me. Gratch, I've missed you!'
It was still a moment, and then the wings stretched out. It leapt from the corner of the building and swooped down in a glide toward him. With a flutter of wings, the huge gar landed on the steps a short distance away.
'Gratch! Oh, Gratch, I've missed you!' The gar watched with glowing green eyes. 'I don't know if you can understand, but I didn't mean what I said. I was only trying to save your life. Please, forgive me? Richard loves Gratch.'
His wings fluttered. A cloud of breath came from between long fangs. His ears perked up.
'Grrratch luuug Raaaach aaarg.'
The gar bounded into Richard's arms, knocking him to the steps. Richard hugged the furry beast, and Gratch enfolded him in arms and wings. Each stroked the other's back, and each grinned in his own way.
When they finally sat up, Gratch hunched down, staring curiously at Richard's face. With the back of a huge claw, he stroked Richard's jaw.
Richard felt his smooth face as he smiled. 'It's gone. I'm not going to have a beard anymore.'
Gratch's nose wrinkled in disgust. He let out a gurgling growl of displeasure.
Richard laughed. 'You'll get used to it.' They sat together in the quiet of the dawn. 'Do you know, Gratch, that I'm a wizard?'
Gratch gurgled a laugh and frowned dubiously. Richard wondered how a gar could know what a wizard was. Gratch never failed to astonish him with what he knew, with what he could grasp.
'No, really. I am. Here, let me show you; I'll make fire.'
Richard held his palm out. He called the power from the calm center. Try as he might, nothing happened. He could not make so much as a spark. He sighed as Gratch howled in a roar of laughter, his wings flapping with the joke.
A sudden memory came to him - something Denna had told him. He had asked her how he had done all those things with magic. She had looked at him with that all-knowing smile of peace, and said, Be proud you made the right choices, Richard, the choices that allowed to happen what came about, but do not call arrogance to your heart by believing that all that happened was your doing.
Richard wondered where the line was. He realized he had a lot to learn before he was a real wizard. He wasn't even sure he wanted to be a wizard, but he now accepted who he was -one born with the gift, born to be the pebble in the pond, son of Darken Rahl, but lucky enough to have been raised by people who loved him. He felt the hilt of the sword at his elbow. It had been made for him.
He was the Seeker. The true Seeker.
Richard's thoughts again touched the spirit who had brought him more happiness than in life had brought him pain. He was deeply gratified that Denna had found peace. He could want nothing more for her, for someone he loved.
He came out of his thoughts and patted the gar's arm. 'You wait here a minute, Gratch. I'll get you something.'
Richard ran into the kitchen and retrieved a leg of mutton. As he ran back down the steps, Gratch danced from one foot to the other in excitement. Together, they sat on the steps, Richard eating his soup, and Gratch tearing into the meat with his fangs.
When they had finished - Gratch had even eaten the bone - Richard pulled out a long lock of Kahlan's hair.
This is from the woman I love.' Gratch considered, then looked up as he gently reached out. 'I want you to have it. I told her about you, and what you mean to me. She will love you just as I love you, Gratch. She will never chase you away. You can be with us whenever you want, for as long as you want. Here, give it back a moment.'
Gratch held out the length of hair. Richard took off the thong holding Scarlet's tooth. It would do him no good any longer; he had already called her with it. He tied the long lock of hair to the thong, and then hung the whole thing over Gratch's head.
With a claw, Gratch stroked the long hair. His grin wrinkled his nose and showed the full length of his fangs.
'I'm going to go to her now. Would you like to come along?'
Gratch nodded his enthusiasm, his head bobbing, his ears twitching, and his wings fluttering.
Richard looked down on the city. Troops were moving about. A lot of troops. Imperial Order troops. It wouldn't be long before they gained the courage to investigate the death of the council, even if it was at the hands of a wizard.
Richard smiled. Then I guess I better find a horse, and we can be on our way. I think it best if we were away from here.'
He looked out on the brightening day. A breeze with a hint of warmth ruffled his mriswith cape. Before long it would be spring.
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