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Nyda's frown grew more serious. "You mean he might lie?"
"Yes."
"But why would Wizard Rahl want to harm Lord RahI? What possible reason would he have?"
"I told you, he's dangerous. That's why they had him locked away in the Palace of the Prophets. Who knows what other things they knew about him that we don't, things that made them feel it was necessary to lock such a man away."
"That still doesn't answer why Wizard Rahl would wish to harm Lord Rahl.»
Je
The woman shouldered open the door at the end of the foot bridge. "I can't argue that. I don't like anything to do with magic. But if Lord Rahl is in danger from this prophet of a wizard, maybe you had better stay here so we can look into it."
"I don't know if Nathan Rahl represents a threat, but I have pressing business that I know for certain is a grave danger to Lord Rahl. My responsibility is to tend to that."
Nyda tried a door but found it locked. She continued on down the dingy hallway. "But if your suspicions about Nathan Rahl are correct, then we must-"
"Nyda, I'm hoping you can keep your eye on this Nathan Rahl for me. I can't do it all myself. Watch him for me?"
"Do you wish me to kill him?"
"No." Je
Nyda reached another door. This time the lever lifted. Before she opened it, she turned back to the two of them. Je
"This is all crazy," Nyda said. "Too much of it makes no sense. Too many things don't fit. I don't like it when things don't make sense."
This was a dangerous creature who could at any moment turn on them.
Je
"The new Lord Rahl has changed everything, all the rules-he's turned the whole world upside down."
Nyda finally let out a deep breath. A wistful smile came to her lips.
"Yes, he has," she said in a soft voice. "Wonder of wonders. That's why I would lay down my life to protect him, why I worry so."
"Me too. I need to do my job."
Nyda turned away and led them to a dark spiral of stairs tu
A long journey down seemingly endless stairs and along dark corridors, occasionally cutting through passageways crowded with soldiers, took them ever lower in the plateau below the People's Palace. Sebastian's hand on her back for much of the journey was a reassuring comfort, and a relief. Je
Somewhere within the interior of the plateau, they emerged into the central public area. Nyda had taken them down a more direct route and saved them time. Je
Small stands selling food lined the way along the route as throngs of people shuffled past on their long ascent to the palace above. Je
Soldiers patrolling nearby noticed them on their way down, moving against the crowds. Like all the soldiers she had seen in the palace, these were big men, muscular, fit, eyes alert. In their leather and chain mail, weapons hanging from their belts, they were an intimidating sight. As soon as they realized that Nyda was escorting them, the soldiers turned their scrutiny to other people.
When Je
As they reached the far end of a long landing in the lower reaches inside the plateau, just as they turned to descend the next flight of stairs, Je
He looked up. His gaze met Je
The world seemed to stop in the man's dark azure eyes.
Je
Sebastian had stopped two steps below her. Nyda was at her side. The Mord-Sith's gaze followed Je
The man's hawklike glare was fixed on Je
"Dear spirits," Nyda whispered. "That has to be Nathan Rahl."
"How do you know?" Sebastian asked.
She stepped up beside Je
Nyda's gaze slid to Je
Je