I must soon be off again."
CHAPTER 17
Warren swiped back his curly blond hair. "What sort of journey have you been on, Zedd?"
Zedd pointed a bony finger. "You don't need to keep that flattened mosquito, General."
General Reibisch realized it was still between his finger and thumb. He tossed it away. Everyone awaited Zedd's words. He smoothed the heavy maroon robes over his twiglike thighs as his gaze absently studied the dirt floor.
He let out a crestfallen sigh. "I was recovering from my own auspicious deliverance from grappling with remarkable magic I'd never before encountered, and, as I regained my senses, spent months searching. I was down in Anderith, and saw some of what happened after the Order swept in there. It was a dark time for the people. Not only from the rampaging soldiers, but also from one of your Sisters, Verna. Death's Mistress they called her."
"Do you know which one it is?" Verna asked in a bitter voice at hearing of a Sister causing harm.
"No. I only saw her once, from a goodly distance. Had I been fully recovered, I might have tried to remedy the situation, but I wasn't myself yet and dared not confront her. She also had a few thousand soldiers with her. The sight of all the soldiers, led by a woman they had heard of and feared, had people in a panic. The Sister was young, with blond hair. She wore a black dress."
"Dear Creator," Verna whispered. "Not one of mine-one of the Keeper's.
There are few women born with the strength of power such as she has. She also has power acquired by nefarious means; Nicci is a Sister of the Dark."
"I've gotten reports," General Reibisch said. By his grim tone, Zedd knew the reports must have had it right. "I've heard, too, that it's quieted considerably."
Zedd nodded. "The Order was at first brutal, but now 'Jagang the Just'-as they have taken to calling him-has spared them further harm. In most places, other than the capital of Fairfield where the most killing took place, people have turned to supporting him as a liberator come to deliver them into a better life. They're reporting neighbors, or travelers-whoever they suspect is not an adherent to the noble ideals of the Order.
"I was all through Anderith, and spent a good deal of time behind the enemy lines searching-without success. I then journeyed up into the wilds and north to a number of towns, and even a few cities, but I can find no sign of them. I guess my abilities were a long time in recovering; I only a short time ago discovered where you all were. I have to commend you, General, you've kept the presence of your forces well hidden-took me forever to find your army. The boy, though, seems to have vanished without a trace."
Zedd's fists tightened in his lap. "I must find him."
"You mean Richard?" Adie asked. "You be searching for your grandson?"
"Yes. For Richard and Kahlan, both." Zedd lifted his hands in a helpless gesture. "However, without any success, I must admit. I've talked to no one who has seen even a sign of them. I've used every skill I possess, but to no avail. If I didn't know better, I'd say they no longer existed."
Looks passed among everyone else. Zedd peered from one surprised face to another. For the first time in months, Zedd's hopes rose. "What? What is it? You know something?"
Verna gestured under the bench. "Show him, General."
At her urging, the general lifted out a map roll. He pulled it wide in his callused hands and laid it on the ground at his feet. The map was turned around so Zedd could read it. General Reibisch tapped the mountains to the west of Hartland.
"Right here, Zedd."
"Right there. . what?"
"Richard and Kahlan," Verna said.
Zedd gaped at her face and then down at the map. General Reibisch's finger hovered over a wild range of peaks. Zedd knew those mountains. They were an inhospitable place.
"There? Dear spirits, why would Richard and Kahlan be all the way up there in such a forbidding place? What are they doing there?"
"Kahlan be hurt," Adie said in a consoling tone. , "Hurt?"
"She was at the brink of passing into the spirit world. From what we be told, maybe she saw the world on the other side of the veil." Adie pointed to the map, "Richard took her there to recover."
"But. . why would he do that?" With a hand, Zedd flattened his wavy white hair to the top of his head. His thoughts spun in a confusing jumble while he tried to take it all in at once. "She could be healed-"
"No. She be spelled. If magic be used to try to heal her, a vile hidden spell would be unleashed and she would die."
Understanding washed over him. "Dear spirits. . I'm thankful the boy knew it in time." Before the horror of memories of the screams could come roaring to the fore of his thoughts, Zedd slammed a mental door on them. He swallowed with the pain of those that slipped through. "But still, why would he go there? He's needed here."
"He certainly is," Verna snapped. By her tone, it was a sore subject.
"He can't come here," Warren said. When Zedd only stared at him, he explained further. "We don't understand it all, but we believe Richard is following a prophecy of some sort."
"Prophecy!" Zedd dismissed it with a wave. "Richard doesn't take to riddles, He hates them and won't pay heed to them. There are times when I wish he would but he won't."
"Well, this one he's paying heed to." Warren pressed his lips tight for a moment. "It's his own."
"His own. . what?"
Warren cleared his throat. "Prophecy."
Zedd jumped to his feet. "What! Richard? Nonsense."
"He's a war wizard," Verna said with quiet authority.
Zedd passed a scowl among all the suddenly circumspect expressions. He made a sour face and, with a flourish of his robes, returned to his seat beside Adie.
"What is this prophecy?"
Warren twisted a little knot of his violet robes. "He didn't say, exactly."
"Here." General Reibisch pulled some folded papers from a pocket. "He wrote me letters. We've all read them."
Zedd stood and snatched the letters from the general's big fist. He went to the table and smoothed out the pages. As everyone else sat silently watching, Zedd leaned over the table and read Richard's words lying before him.
With great authority, Richard paradoxically turned away from authority.
He said that after much reflection, he had come to an understanding that arrived with the power of a vision, and he knew then, beyond doubt, that his help would only bring about certain catastrophe.
In letters that followed, Richard said he and Kahlan were safe and she was slowly recovering. Cara was with them. In response to letters General Reibisch and others had written, Richard remained steadfast in his stand.