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"Kahlan, everything will be all right," A
"Tell us, now, what's happened? Tell us everything. Is he hurt?"
Kahlan swallowed against her rising rage. "Nicci used what she called a maternity spell on me."
A
"Are you sure?" A
"She slammed some kind of magic into me. I've never heard of such a spell. All I know is that it was definitely powerful magic and she said it was called a maternity spell. She said that it co
Alessandra took a step forward. "That doesn't make it a maternity spell."
"When Cara used her Agiel on Nicci," Kahlan said, "it dropped me to my knees just the same as if Cara had used the Agiel on me."
A
"But. . but, if she were to. ." A
Kahlan voiced what A
That was the means by which she captured Richard. She promised I would live if Richard went with her. Richard surrendered himself into slavery to save my life."
"It can't be," A
"Nicci wouldn't know how to use such an unusual spell-she's too young.
Besides, such a rare spell requires great power. She must have done something else and just said that it was a maternity spell. Nicci couldn't do a maternity spell."
"Yes, she could," Sister Alessandra said in reluctant disagreement.
"She has the power and ability. It would only have required someone with the specialized knowledge teaching her. Nicci doesn't have any great passion for magic, but she is as able as they come."
"Lidmila. ." A
"Jagang has Lidmila.»
Kahlan turned a suspicious glare on Sister Alessandra. "And how do you know so much more about Nicci's ability than the Prelate herself?"
Sister Alessandra gathered her open cloak back together. Her face lost its warmth and reverted to a scowl-this time, though, with bitterness in the set of her mouth.
"I brought Nicci in to the Palace of the Prophets when she was but a child. I was responsible for her upbringing, and I guided her training in the use of her gift; I know her better than anyone. I know her darker powers because I, too, was a Sister of the Dark. I'm the one who brought her to the Keeper."
Kahlan could feel herself rocking with the force of her hammering heart. "So, you, too, are a Sister of the Dark."
"Was," A
"The Prelate came into Jagang's camp and rescued me. Not just from Jagang, but from the Keeper, too. I once again serve the Light." The incandescent smile again transformed Alessandra's face. "A
As far as Kahlan was concerned, the claim was not worth the effort of confirmation. "How did you find us?"
A
Kahlan kept her glare on Alessandra while she answered A
"Did she say why, then, she was taking Richard?" A
Kahlan moved her scrutiny back to A
"Oblivion!" A
"I asked you a question," Kahlan said, anger seeping into her voice.
"How did you find us?"
A
Kahlan saw that Cara, standing behind the two women, still had her Agiel clenched in her fist. Kahlan didn't need an Agiel; her Confessor's power boiled but an impulse away. She wouldn't again make an error for the sake of caution.
"The journey book. Of course. Then Verna would have told you about Richard's vision that he must not lead our troops against the Order."
A
"Then, a few days ago, Verna sent a message when we were almost here, that the D'Harans are in quite a state because they suddenly lost their sense of direction to Richard. She said they are still protected from the dream walker by the bond to their Lord Rahl, but they suddenly lost their sense of where he is."
"Nicci cloaked his bond from us," Cara said in a growl.
"Well, we have to find him," A
"That's why you're here," Kahlan whispered to herself. "You heard from Verna about his declining to lead the army or even to give orders. You journeyed here in hopes of forcing him to fight."
"He must," A
"He must not," Kahlan said. "He has come to realize that if he leads us into battle, we will lose the cause of liberty for generations to come. He said he came to realize that people don't yet understand freedom and won't fight for it."
"He must simply prove himself to the people." A
"Richard says that he has come to understand that it is not he who must prove himself to the people, but the people who must now prove themselves to him."
A
"Is it?"
"Of course it is. The boy was named in prophecy centuries ago. I've been waiting hundreds of years for him to be born in order for him to lead us in this struggle."
"Really. Then who are you to try to countermand Richard's decision-if you are so set on following him? He has come to his decision. If he is the leader you want, then you must abide by his lead, and therefore his decision."
"But this is not what prophecy demands!"
"Richard doesn't believe in prophecy. He believes we make our own destiny. I'm coming to see the grounds of his assertion that the belief in prophecy artificially alters events. It is the misplaced faith in prophecy itself-in some mystical outcome-that harms people's lives."
A
"This is all your fault," Kahlan whispered.
"What?" A
Kahlan threw her arm out and seized a startled Sister Alessandra by the throat. The woman's eyes went wide.
"Don't move," Kahlan said through gritted teeth, "or I will unleash my Confessor's power."
A
With her other hand, Kahlan pointed down at the fire. "The journey book. Throw it in the fire."