The Scribbly Man Page 10

  “When you die—whether she kills you, or something else does, or you die of natural causes like old age—then the obstacle of magic will crumble. Once it does, we will then be like any other world. They will drink our blood and eat our flesh and spit out the bones. When they have eventually finished us off, they will move on to another world.”

  “Maybe she will die before we do,” Kahlan said. “Richard and I aren’t that old yet. We have our lives before us. Maybe she is older than we are and she will go first. That means she can’t really afford to wait.”

  “No, Mistress. She is already many times older than you, and she is only now entering the prime of her life, in many ways the same as you and Lord Rahl. The difference is she will outlive you both by centuries.

  “Even when she eventually dies, others of her kind will take her place as she took the place of those before her. Having this world is not so much her objective as it is the driving force of her species. She will outlive you if necessary and then when magic dies they will have our world.

  “Time is on their side.”

  Kahlan touched the square neckline of her Confessor’s dress over the spot where Richard had pulled out the knife. “So, since this superior species failed to finish the kill, that’s why you stepped in and stabbed me.” It was not a question.

  Nolo’s face twisted with horror at the sudden mention of what he had done. “Yes, Mistress,” he answered in a whimper.

  Kahlan looked puzzled. “How were you able to stab me after I used my power on you?”

  He sobbed and trembled at what he had done.

  “Answer me,” Kahlan said in a deadly calm voice that matched her Confessor face.

  “Forgive me, Mistress, but that was not me, that was the goddess using me. The one she sent pulled back to their world before you were dead. She wanted to finish it. She wanted you dead. She didn’t care how so she forced me ahead, forced my hand to drive the knife toward you. You blocked me. We fought, and even though you only had one good arm, you managed to get the knife away from me. You stabbed me—as you should have, Mistress. But with the goddess guiding me in the pitch blackness, as you came at me again I was able to twist the knife away from your grip. Once I had it, it was the goddess driving my hand to plunge the knife into you. It was the goddess, not me, Mistress. The superior species, not me. Thank the Creator it missed your heart and you weren’t killed. Please, Mistress, I am telling you the truth.”

  “Where is she?”

  Richard could tell that Kahlan was getting tired and frustrated.

  “Where is this goddess?” she asked.

  “In her world, Mistress.”

  “But where is that—where is her world?”

  Nolo started to weep. “I don’t know, Mistress,” he said in a pitiful whine. “Forgive me, Mistress, I don’t know how she moves from world to world. I don’t understand those abilities any more than she understands magic. One way or another she will outlive you and then they will have our world.”

  “There is a flaw in her plan.” Kahlan lifted her head a little. “Lord Rahl and I can have children.”

  “Children?” he said, leaning forward as much as the restraints allowed, as if staring with his bloody eye sockets.

  “Yes, children,” she said. “Those children will carry the power of the Rahl line and the Confessors. That’s how it has always worked. That is how it was passed down to us. That is how magic will go on to survive in our world. Our magic will continue unbroken through them. It will always help to keep her kind away from our people. Magic will pass on and always protect our world.”

  Again he shook his head. “She sees that you have been together for enough time to have reproduced. She sees that you have failed to breed successfully and bring forth successors as others of our kind have. As mates, you both have proven to be barren. She sees that your lines of magic are dead ends, that your world is nearly ripe for the taking.”

  Seeing Kahlan standing there, in a dungeon, discussing such personal matters with this man who had tried to kill her made Richard feel profoundly sorry for her. The war had robbed them of the chance to have children. She never mentioned it, but he knew how devastated she had been to have lost the child the one time she had been pregnant. And then the world had nearly come apart. With their lives drawn into so much terror and death, they could hardly bring a child into the world.

  He had been hoping that the new golden age would finally provide that opportunity for a family, but now, with this dire threat from the Golden Goddess… it looked like their chance for children had just slipped away.

  “Just because we haven’t had children yet,” Kahlan said, “doesn’t mean that we couldn’t still have children to carry on our lines.”

  “She does not care.”

  Kahlan blinked. “Why wouldn’t she care—that would ruin her whole plan to outlive our gift?”

  “She does not care because the young of any species are commonly helpless, ours especially so. You may be hard to kill, but young ones are easy to kill. They do not yet have magic that can protect them. Infants are even easier to slaughter. Her kind lusts to kill the young of any species because they more easily succumb to helpless terror.

  “If you were to have children that would only serve to excite their prey drive even more. Your children would be irresistible to her. She would come for them, magic or no magic, and she would kill them the way we would step on a cockroach.”

  Tears welled up in Kahlan’s eyes, fury twisted her features as her hands fisted at her sides. “I want your Golden Goddess dead! I want you dead!”

  Richard straightened, not expecting her sudden proclamation.

  At her words, blood began to run from the man’s ears. His body shuddered violently, and then he slumped heavily in the restraints. Once touched by a Confessor’s power, a person lived only to serve her. If she wished them dead, they complied without hesitation.

  She had just wished him dead. It was as an execution.

  This man had tried to kill her. He had driven his knife into her chest in the hope of stabbing her through the heart, even if with the Golden Goddess commanding him. For that, Richard wasn’t at all displeased that he was dead. But he had the larger picture in mind.

  He stepped close to put a hand on her shoulder. “Kahlan, why would you kill him? He may have been able to provide more information.”

  “The goddess will grant no mercy,” she said as tears ran down her cheeks. “Neither will I.”

  That was the iron will that inspired them all and had helped win the war. Although he would have liked to have access to more information, Richard wouldn’t change her for anything.

  He could see that the ordeal, both physical and emotional, had drained what strength she had left. Her face grew ashen.

  And then he saw a wet red stain at her side spreading through the white dress.

  Shale rushed forward to help him just as Kahlan collapsed.

  17

  Even though she knew she was in a deep sleep, Kahlan could hear herself screaming.

  The pain was unbearable. She wanted to die just to end the agony, but in the strange, confusing landscape of dreams, death eluded her.

  She had been in this place before, in this strange, twisted world of abject agony that distorted everything into one single, focused fixation on wanting the pain to stop. She begged for the pain to stop, but the blanket of sleep only helped to keep her immobilized and helpless.

  Her hands gripped fistfuls of the bedsheets. She twisted her fists as the pain twisted in her. She panted as fast as she could, trying to get the air she so desperately needed but failing. She thought she might suffocate in that state of powerless burning need.

  Somewhere in the distance she heard a comforting voice reassuring her. It sounded like a good spirit. That thought jolted her with a new fear—a fear that she was already dead.

  She realized, then, that in death such worldly pain would be a thing of the past. She knew firsthand that death held its own agonie
s, but physical pain was not one of them.

  Kahlan began, then, to feel the suffering starting to wane. It was the greatest blessing possible to have the pain ease, even if only a little. Gradually, her screams died down to moans until after a while she could begin to catch her breath. Even through the haze of sleep, she was aware of at last being able to breathe again.

  As the pain abated bit by bit, it allowed her to drift off into a deeper, more normal sleep, where everything faded away into a dream world of every worry, every bizarre, warped fear all blended together into the kind of stark fright unique to dreams.

  Her deepest personal fears, fears that were new to her, would not leave her be, even in sleep. Not after what Nolo had told her.

  After a seeming eternity spent in that suspended dream state, her eyes finally opened. She was covered in a sheen of sweat. She pulled the neck of the nightdress up, trying to cool herself. She knew she had been asleep for quite some time, but she had no idea how long it had been. The heavy drapes were drawn, so she didn’t know if it was day or night, but at least she was in their bedroom, where she was safe.

  Kahlan lifted her head a little and saw that Shale was sitting close by in a comfortable chair, her head slumped, her eyes closed, her breathing even. The woman was gallingly beautiful, with that kind of feminine voice that made Kahlan think she sounded like a frog in comparison. How was it fair that such an alluring woman could have a voice like that?

  Kahlan wondered if Richard thought the sorceress was beautiful. She knew he had to.

  She smiled to herself then, knowing that Richard thought she was the most beautiful woman in the world. Sometimes she thought she must have tricked him into thinking that. It was a wonderful feeling, though, having him be obsessed with her. It was a wonderful feeling being obsessed with him.

  She wanted nothing more right then than to hold him, than to tell him. But how could she? She wished more than anything that she hadn’t yelled at him.

  When she tried to sit up and an unexpected pain made her gasp, Shale’s eyes opened. The sorceress rushed to sit on the edge of the bed.

  Kahlan felt a keen sense of comfort to have the woman close.

  Shale put a compassionate hand on Kahlan’s arm as she smiled down at her. “There you are.” She smoothed Kahlan’s hair back from her forehead. “There you are.” She looked relieved and radiantly happy to see that Kahlan was alive.

  Kahlan took up the sorceress’s hand in both of hers and held it against her cheek. Her gratitude for Shale saving her life seemed unable to be expressed in any other way.

  “Where’s Richard?” Kahlan finally asked. “Where are the Mord-Sith?”

  “I made Richard go get some sleep by threatening to use a spell to put him down if he didn’t do it voluntarily. He grumbled but complied. The Mord-Sith wanted to stay, but I find it an uneasy feeling to do a healing that makes people scream in pain when their protectors are nearby with Agiel in their fists. I made them go get some sleep, too.”

  That made Kahlan smile. She put a hand across her middle. “If you healed me, why do I still hurt?”

  “Because your abdominal muscles have been cramping against the things I’ve had to do. They are just exhausted, that’s all. Nothing to be concerned about. I’ve healed all your injuries and drawn out the poison left by the claws of that thing that attacked you.”

  “Thing?”

  “You called it the scribbly man.”

  Kahlan nodded at the memory. “Right.”

  Kahlan squeezed Shale’s hand. She felt a deep bond with the woman who had healed her. Healing often formed that kind of closeness. The deeper the healing, the deeper the sense of connection.

  “Thank you,” she said. It didn’t begin to seem like enough.

  “Glad I could help, and I’m thankful that you are well. It saved my life, too.”

  Kahlan’s brow bunched. “What do you mean?”

  “If I had let you die, that man of yours would have skinned me alive and fed my hide to the vultures.”

  Kahlan smiled. She squinted around in the muted light. “How long have I been asleep?”

  “Two nights and one day between them. It’s not yet sunrise.”

  Kahlan put a hand to her forehead. “Dear spirits…”

  As she tried to sit up, Shale gently pushed her back down. “You needed the rest. Don’t be eager to get up too quickly. First get used to being whole again. There is no rush.”

  Kahlan tested her left arm. It felt normal.

  “Is Richard all right?” she asked, looking up with sudden worry. “Have there been any more attacks?”

  “One,” Shale said. “Lord Rahl put his sword through it and the door behind. His reaction was instantaneous, but it was gone as soon as it appeared. I don’t know if it was harmed, but I can tell you that the door will never be the same. That man has some muscles on him.”

  Kahlan couldn’t help smiling. “Yes he does.”

  She didn’t know if she should feel proud of Richard for Shale noticing, or jealous that she did.

  “But he’s all right? It didn’t hurt him?”

  Shale smiled her assurance. “He’s fine, if a bit frazzled about you. So far the Golden Goddess has not caused any further trouble.”

  “But she will,” Kahlan said.

  “Your man will fight her. That is what a war wizard does.”

  Kahlan smiled at the mental image of him. “He is our protector.” He was everything to her.

  Shale nodded. “Yes, he is quite the man.” She let out a deep sigh. “I have to say, that kind of man could make my toes curl, if you know what I mean.”

  That unwelcome mental image taunted Kahlan’s jealousy out of the corner. She didn’t say anything.

  A curious hint of a smile grew on Shale’s perfect features. “Does he do that for you? Make your toes curl and your eyes roll back in your head as the muscles in your legs turn to stone?”

  Taken off guard by such a personal question, Kahlan didn’t answer. But Shale’s smile widened when Kahlan blushed.

  “He is my world,” Kahlan said. “He is everything to me.”

  Shale lifted an eyebrow. “Then why haven’t you told him?”

  If Kahlan had blushed before, now she felt her face burning.

  “You know?”

  “Of course I know. In healing you I am aware of things like that.”

  Kahlan let her head sink back against the pillow as she closed her eyes.

  “Dear spirits, how can I tell him, now? He promised a new golden age. I was so happy. I was about to tell him… but then when I saw everything falling apart because of the Golden Goddess, I blamed him. I was so angry at him, as if it was all his fault. I accused him of lying to me. I was so excited, and then all of a sudden I was so angry at seeing our happiness evaporate before my eyes. I blamed him.”

  “It’s understandable,” Shale assured her. “He knows that you don’t really blame him or think he was deceiving you. In your condition it’s normal to be more emotional. Once you tell him he will understand and everything will be right between you again.”

  “I was pregnant once before,” Kahlan said as she rolled her head away from the sorceress. “I lost the baby. We were both devastated. Now…”

  “Now you will finally be a mother, Mother Confessor.”

  Kahlan looked back at her. “How can I bring a child into a world only to have it hunted and slaughtered by the Golden Goddess? How can I bring a child into a world full of trouble?”

  “It’s not like you have a choice.”

  Kahlan shook her head. “I don’t know how I can tell him now.”

  “Well, he is going to find out eventually.”

  “I know, but…” Kahlan forced out a breath in frustration. “When Nolo said they would kill our child, I lost it. All I could think about was our child, our new life just starting to grow in me, and then…

  “Our child would be butchered by those heartless beings. How can I burden Richard with such a worry? With this u
nexpected trouble how can I tell him I’m pregnant with our child?”

  Shale had the oddest look on her face, but she didn’t say anything.

  “Don’t you see,” Kahlan pressed. “Our world needs both of us now more than ever. We can ill afford a distraction like this. Everyone’s life is at stake. This would cripple our ability to protect people.”

  “Magic helps protect our world. In order for magic to continue, for Lord Rahl’s power, for your power, to continue and protect future generations, you must.”

  “I know, but someday. Not now, when our child would be hunted by vicious predators.”

  “You and Lord Rahl are not helpless. You must fight for your right to happiness and for our way of life. That is the way of the world. When is it ever a good time?”

  “Yes, but don’t you see? This is different with the Golden Goddess and her kind suddenly coming for us. I’m terrified to bring a child into the world right now. I’m terrified for that child.”

  Shale seemed to glow with a serene smile.

  “Not just a child, Kahlan.”

  Kahlan frowned. “What do you mean?”

  “Twins.”

  Kahlan blinked. “What?”

  Shale put a hand over Kahlan’s belly. “You are going to have twins. A boy and a girl.”

  The story continues.

  Episode 2 of the Children of D’Hara

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  About Terry Goodkind

  TERRY GOODKIND is a number one New York Times bestselling author. His Sword of Truth series has sold over 20 million copies. Before writing full-time, Terry worked as a wildlife artist, a cabinetmaker and a violin maker. He writes thrillers as well as epic fantasy and lives in the desert in Nevada.

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