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Richard listened without argument, and then spoke in a calm, deliberate voice. "Don't lay a cloak of guilt around my shoulders because others are evil."
Je
The muscles in his jaw flexed as he gritted his teeth. "What have you done with Kahlan?"
"She's my queen, now!" came a voice echoing through the columns.
Je
Richard passed her, already moving toward the voice, like a shadow moving by, and then he was suddenly gone. She had missed her chance to stab him. She couldn't believe that he had been standing right in front of her, and she had missed her chance.
"Je
She didn't know what was wrong. Something was. She pressed her hands to her head, trying to stop the drone of the voice. She no longer could. She had made a bargain, and the voice was mercilessly demanding that she hold to it, crushing her mind with pain unlike any she had ever suffered.
When Je
As they came around an immense pillar, there, among others standing like sentinels, was an open area of undulating smooth rock in a jumble of curves, with smaller stone columns as thick around as ancient pines.
A woman was tied to one of the columns.
There was no doubt in Je
Off in another direction came the echoing laughter, teasing, leading Richard away from what he sought.
The Mother Confessor didn't look like the monster Je
She was apparently unconscious, some of her long mass of hair pendent around her hanging head, her arms swinging free. She wore simple traveling clothes, though neither they nor the partial veil of hair hid what a beautiful woman she was. She looked only a few years older than Je
Sister Perdita appeared suddenly beside the woman, lifting the Mother Confessor's head by her hair, taking a look, then letting her head drop again.
Sebastian ran up, pointing. "That's her. Come on."
As Je
Girding her resolve, gripping her knife tightly, Je
The laughing man suddenly popped out from behind a pillar not far away, no doubt to help draw in the prey. Je
"I see you have found my queen," the nightmare man said.
"What?" Sebastian asked.
"My queen," the man said, still with that terrible grin. "I am King Oba Rahl. She shall be my queen."
Je
"Here he comes," he said, turning, holding out an introductory arm,'my brother, the old Lord Rahl."
Richard strode out of the shadows.
"Don't be afraid, Je
Now was her chance; she would not again waste it.
Off to the side, through the thicket of columns, she caught glimpses of a wagon rolling up. She thought she recognized the horses-both gray with black manes and tails. They were horses as big as any she'd ever seen. From the comer of her eye, she saw that the driver was big and blond-headed.
Je
"Je
"Don't do it, sis!" Oba yelled. He roared with laughter.
Knife in hand, Je
"Je
She shot a brief puzzled frown at Sister Perdita. "Sister of the Light," she corrected.
Richard slowly shook his head as his gaze went beyond to Sister Perdita. "No. She is a Sister of the Dark. Jagang has Sisters of the Light, but he also has the others as well. They are both slaves to the dream walker; that's why they have that ring through their lower lip."
Je
"You will have to come through Je
Off in the distance to the side, Je
"Betty?" Je
The goat bleated at the sound of her name, her little upright tail wagging in a blur as she ran. Something else, smaller, was coming from behind, back by Tom. Before the goat could reach her, it reached Oba. Spotting him as it came around the pillar, Betty let out a plaintive cry and sidestepped away. Je
Overhead, the sky went wild with lightning and thunder, further frightening the poor animal.
"Betty?" Je
At the sound of her voice, the goat bounded toward Je
"Betty," Je
Trembling in fear as it gazed up at her, Betty backed away. The goat was reacting the same way it had to Oba, just now, and the same way it had that first night she saw him.
Betty turned and ran.
Right for Richard.
He crouched down as the goat, clearly in distress, came ru
Stu
Betty bleated, calling to them. They spun and raced for her protection. With their mother there, they felt safe, and jumped up on Richard, eager for the reassuring touch their mother was getting.
Tom had stopped well back, waiting near a pillar as he watched, obviously intending to stay clear.
Je