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  　"It is the other things you do that frighten me. Your womb frightens me. Your arrogant certitude frightens me."

  　Kahlan nearly leaped to her feet in anger, but then she suddenly thought of the children dying back in Aydindril. How many of them hung near death, shivering in fear for their lives, while Kahlan stubbornly debated fault and imputation with Shota. Shota knew something about the plague, and about the winds hunting Richard. What significance was Kahlan's pride in the face of that?

  　She remembered, too, part of the prophecy: . . . no blade, forged of steel or conjured of sorcery', can touch this foe.

  　In much the same way, crossing swords with Shota wasn't going to work. This was serving no purpose, and worse, solving nothing.

  　Kahlan admitted to herself that she had come for vengeance. Her true duty should be to help people who were suffering and dying. How would anything but pride be satisfied by striking out at Shota? She was stubbornly putting herself and her insecurity above innocent lives. She was being selfish.

  　"Shota, I came with hurt in my heart because of Nadine. I wanted you to leave Richard and me be. You say you have no wish to harm us, and that your intent is to help. I also wish to help people who are desperate and dying. Why don't we, for the moment at least, agree to take each other's word as true?" Shota watched over her teacup. "What an outrageous concept." Kahlan reasoned with her inner fear, her inner rage. Her anguish at the things Nadine did made Kahlan want to strike out at Shota. What if it wasn't Shota's fault? What if Nadine was acting on her own, much the same way as Samuel had? What if Shota was telling the truth, if she had not meant to cause harm?

  　If that were true, then Kahlan was guilty of a grievous wrong in wanting to strike out at Shota.

  　Kahlan admitted to herself that Shota had been right, that she had been justifying vengeance simply to be able to tap her deadly power. She hadn't been willing to listen.

  　Kahlan placed her hands on the table. Shota sipped her tea as she watched the blue glow around Kahlan's hands fade and finally extinguish. Kahlan didn't know if she would be able to call it forth should Shota strike, but she realized it didn't matter.

  　Failure in her true task was too great a price to pay for pride. Kahlan felt that this was the only thing that could truly have a chance of saving

  　her future, of saving Richard, and of saving those innocent people back in Aydindril. Richard always said to think of the solution, not the problem. She would trust in Shota's word.

  　"Shota," Kahlan whispered, "I always thought the worst of you. Fear has been only part of it. As you warned, jealousy has been my taskmaster. I beg you forgive my obstinacy and insolence.

  　' I know that you have tried to help people before. Please, help me, now. I need answers. Lives depend on this. Please, talk with me. I'll try to hear with an open mind the things you say, knowing that you are the messenger, and not the cause."

  　Shota set down her teacup. "Congratulations, Mother Confessor. You have earned the right to ask me questions. Have the courage to hear the answers, and they will be of aid to you." "I swear to do my best," Kahlan said.

  　CHAPTER 41

  　Shota poured them more tea. "What do you wish to know?"

  　Kahlan reached for her cup. "Do you know anything about the Temple of the Winds?" "No."

  　Kahlan paused, cup in hand. ''Well, you told Nadine that the winds hunt Richard." "I did."

  　"Could you explain that? What you meant?"

  　Shota lifted a hand in a vague gesture. "I don't know how to explain to a woman who is not a witch how I see the flow of time, the passing of future events. I guess you could say that it's something like memories. When you think about a past event, or a person, say, the memory comes to you. Sometimes you more vividly remember past events. Some things you can't recall.

  　"My talent is like that, except I am also able to do the same with the future. To me, there is little difference between past, present, and future. I ride a current of time, seeing both upstream and down. To me, seeing the future is as simple as it is for you to remember the flow of past events." "But sometimes I can't remember things." Kahlan said. "It is the same with me. I can't recall whatever happened to a bird my mother would call when I was very young. I remember it sitting on her finger as she spoke soft, tender words to it. I don't remember if it died, or if it flew away.

  　"Other events, such as the death of a loved one, I remember vividly. I remember the texture of the dress my mother wore on the day she died. Even today, I could measure out for you the length of the loose thread on the sleeve."

  　"I understand." Kahlan stared down into her tea. "I, too, remember well the day my mother died. I remember every horrid detail, even though I wish I could forget."

  　Shota placed her elbows on the table and twined her fingers together. "The future is that way with me. I can't always see pleasant future events that I wish to see, and I sometimes can't avoid seeing those things I abhor. Some events I can see with clarity, and others, despite how much I wish to see them, are only shadows in the fog."

  　"What about the winds hunting Richard?"

  　With a distant look, Shota shook her head. "That was disturbing. It was as if someone else's memory was being forced on me. As if someone else was using me to pass on a message."

  　"Do you think it was a message, or a warning?"

  　A thoughtful frown creased Shota's brow. "I wondered that, myself. I don't know the answer. I passed it on through Nadine because I thought Richard should know. in either case."

  　Kahlan rubbed her forehead. "Shota, when the plague started, it started among children who had been playing or watching a game." "Ja'La."

  　"Yes, that's right. Emperor Jagang-" "The dream walker." Kahlan looked up. "You know of him?"

  　"He visits my future memories occasionally. He plays tricks, trying to get into my dreams. I won't allow it."

  　"Do you think it possible that it was the dream walker who gave you this message about the winds hunting Richard?"

  　"No. I know his tricks. Take my word; it was not a message from Jagang. What of the plague and the Ja'La game?"

  　"Well, Jagang used his ability as a dream walker to slip into the mind of a wizard he sent to assassinate Richard. He was at the Ja'La game. The wizard, I mean. Jagang saw the game through this wizard's eyes.

  　"Jagang was incensed that Richard had changed the rules so that all the children could play. The plague started among those children. That's one reason we think Jagang was responsible.

  　"The first child we went to see was near death." Kahlan closed her eyes and covered them with her fingertips at the memory. She took a settling breath. "While Richard and I knelt at his side, he died. He was just a boy. An innocent boy. His whole body was rotting from the plague. I can't imagine the suffering he endured. He died before our eyes." "I'm sorry," Shota whispered.

  　Kahlan composed herself before looking up. ''After he had died, his hand reached up and grabbed a hold of Richard's shirt. His lungs filled with air, he pulled Richard close, and he said, 'The winds hunt you.' "

  　A troubled sigh came from across the table. "Then I was right; it was not something I saw, but a message sent through me."

  　"Shota, Richard thinks it means that the Temple of the Winds is hunting him. He has a journal from a man who lived during the great war of three thousand years ago. The journal tells of how the wizards of that time placed things of great value, and great danger, in the temple, and then they sent the temple away." Frowning, Shota leaned forward. "Away? Away where?" "We don't know. The Temple of the Winds was atop Mount Kymermosst." "I know the place. There is no temple there, only a few bits of old ruins." Kahlan nodded. "It's possible the wizards used their power to blast the side of the mountain away and bury the temple in a rockslide. Whatever they did, it's gone. From information in the journal, Richard believes that the red moons were a warning from the temple. He further believes that the Temple of the Winds is also known more simply as 'the winds.' "

  　Shota tapped a finger against the side of her teacup. "So the message could have come directly from the Temple of the Winds." "Do you think that possible? How could a place send a message?" "The wizards of that time could do things with magic we can only wonder at. The sliph, for example. From what I know, and what you have told me, my best guess would be that Jagang has somehow stolen something deadly from the Temple of the Winds, and used it to start the plague."

  　Kahlan felt a cold wave of fright flood through her. "How could he do such a thing?"

  　"He is a dream walker. He has access to untold knowledge. Despite his crude objectives, he is anything but stupid. I have been touched by his mind in my sleep, when he hunts in the night. He is not to be underestimated." "Shota, he wishes to extinguish all magic."

  　Shota lifted an eyebrow. "I have already told you I will answer your questions. There is no need to convince me of my own interest in this matter. Just as the danger from the Keeper, Jagang is no less a threat to me. He promises to eliminate magic, but to accomplish those ends he uses magic."

  　"But how could he have stolen this plague from the Temple of the Winds? Do you think it even possible? Really?"

  　"I can tell you that the plague did not start of its own account. Your guess is correct. It was ignited through magic." "How can we stop it?"

  　"I know of no cure for plague." Shota took a sip of her tea. She glanced up at Kahlan. "On the other hand, how could a plague be started?"

  　"Magic." Kahlan frowned. "You mean . . . you mean that if magic could start it, even though we don't know how to cure the plague, magic may be able to stop it? Is that what you're suggesting?"

  　Shota shrugged. "I know no more how to start a plague than to cure it. I know magic started this one. If magic started it, then it would stand to reason that magic could halt it."

  　Kahlan straightened. "Then there is hope we can stop it, and save all those people from dying."

  　"Possibly. If we were to put the pieces together, it would at least suggest that Jagang stole from the Temple of the Winds magic to start the plague, and that the temple is trying to warn Richard of the violation." "Why Richard?"

  　"Why do you think? What makes Richard different from anyone else?" Kahlan felt transfixed by Shota's 【创建和谐家园】all, sly 【创建和谐家园】ile.

  　"He's a war wizard. He has Subtractive Magic. It's how he defeated the spirit of Darken Rahl and stopped the Keeper. Richard is the only one with the power to do whatever it is that can help." "Keep that in mind," Shota whispered into her teacup.

  　Kahlan was suddenly getting the feeling that she was being led down a path. She di【创建和谐家园】issed the feeling. Shota was trying to help. Kahlan gathered her courage. "Shota, why did you send Nadine?" "To marry Richard." "Why Nadine?"

  　Shota's lips spread in a sad 【创建和谐家园】ile. It was the question for which she had been waiting.

  　"Because I care about him. I wanted it to be someone in whom he could find at least some 【创建和谐家园】all comfort." Kahlan swallowed. "But he finds comfort in me." "I know. But he is to marry another."

  　"The flow of the future tells you this? Your future . . . memory?" Shota gave her a single nod. "It wasn't your idea? You didn't simply want to send someone to marry him so I wouldn't?"

  　312

  　"No." Shota leaned back in her chair and stared off into the trees. "I saw that he will marry another. I see great pain for him in this. I exerted all my influence so that it would be someone he knew, someone in whom he would find at least some solace. I wanted to spare him as much pain in it as I could."

  　Kahlan didn't know what to say. She felt as she had when she was struggling against the flow of water down in the drainage tunnel when she was fighting Marlin. She remembered the weight of the water, the way it pinned her in place. "But I love him," was all she could think to say.

  　"I know," Shota whispered back. "It was not my choice to have him marry another. I was only able to influence who it would be."

  　Kahlan struggled to pull a shaky breath as she looked away from the witch woman's ageless eyes.

  　"I had no say," Shota added, "in who would be your hu【创建和谐家园】and." Kahlan's gaze returned to Shota. "What? What do you mean?" "You are to be wedded. It is not Richard. I could not influence that part of it. That is not a good sign." Kahlan felt stunned. "What do you mean?"

  　"The spirits are somehow involved in this. They would only accept limited influence. They have their reasons for the rest of it. Those reasons are veiled from me."

  　Kahlan felt a tear run down her check. "Shota, what am I to do? I'll lose my only love. I could never love anyone but Richard, even if I wished it. I'm a Confessor."

  　Shota sat still as stone as she watched Kahlan. "The good spirits have granted us all they could in allowing me to have a say in who will be Richard's bride. I searched, and could find no other woman for whom he feels even this limited empathy. She was the best I could do.

  　"If you truly love Richard, then you should try to find comfort in the fact that he will have Nadine, a woman he knows and for whom he at least has some feeling, however 【创建和谐家园】all. Perhaps, with a woman such as this, he will someday find happiness and come to love her."

  　Kahlan put her trembling hands in her lap. She felt sick to her stomach. It would do no good to argue with Shota. This wasn't her doing. The spirits were involved.

  　"To what purpose? What good will it do for him to marry Nadine? For me to be mated to one I don't love?"

  　Shota's voice came soft and compassionate. "I don't know, child. Just as some parents, for a variety of reasons, choose their children's spouses, so have the spirits chosen for you and Richard."

  　"If the spirits were involved, why would they desire our misery? They took us to that place so we could be together." Kahlan struggled against the weight of the floodwaters. "Why would they want to do this to us?"

  　"Perhaps," Shota whispered as she watched Kahlan, "it is because you will betray him."

  　Kahlan's throat clenched shut, locking her breath in her lungs. The prophecy screamed through her head.

  　. . . for the one in white, his true beloved, will betray him in her blood. Kahlan shot to her feet. "No!" Her hands balled into fists. "I would never hurt him! I would never betray him!" Shota calmly sipped her tea.

  　"Sit down. Mother Confessor."

  　Kahlan fought to keep the tears back as she sank into her chair. "I don't control the future memories any more than I control the past. I told you, you must have the courage to hear the answers." She tapped a finger to her temple. "Not only here"-she tapped the finger over her heart-"but here. too."

  　Kahlan made herself take a deep breath. "Forgive me. It's not your fault. I know that."

  　Shota lifted an eyebrow. "Very good. Mother Confessor. Learning to accept the truth is the first step to gaining control of your destiny."

  　"Shota, I don't mean this to sound disrespectful, but seeing the future does not provide all the answers. Before, you told me that I would touch Richard with my power. I thought that would destroy him. I tried to kill myself to prevent your words from coming to pass, to prevent myself from hurting him.

  　"Richard wouldn't allow me the chance at 【创建和谐家园】. As it turned out, your seeing of the future was true, but there was more to it, and it turned out differently than we thought.

  　"I touched Richard, but his magic protected him, and my touch didn't harm him."

  　"I didn't see the result of the touch. Only that you would touch him. This is different. I see you both being wedded." Kahlan felt numb. "Who is it to be that I will marry?" "I see only a misty form. I cannot see the person. I do not know his identity." "Shota, I was told that a witch woman's seeing of future events is a form of prophecy." "Who told you this?" "A wizard. Zedd."

  　"Wizards," Shota muttered. "They don't know what is in a witch woman's mind. They think they know everything."

  　Kahlan pushed her long hair back over her shoulder. "Shota, we were going to be honest with each other, remember?"

  　Shota let out a dainty grumble. "Well, I guess that in this case, they may be mostly right."

  　"Prophecy does not always turn out how it seems. The dire dangers can be avoided, or changed. Do you think there is any way I can change the prophecy?" Shota frowned. "The prophecy?" "The one you mentioned. Betraying Richard."

  　Shota's frowned deepened into suspicion. "Are you saying that this was also foretold in a prophecy?"

  　Kahlan's eyes turned away from the witch woman's intense gaze. "When the wizard came, with Jagang possessing his mind, Jagang said that he had invoked a prophecy to trap Richard. It, too, says I will betray him." "Do you remember this prophecy?"

  　Kahlan rubbed her finger around the rim of her teacup. "It's one of those memories that we spoke of, the memories we wish we could forget, but we can't.

  　" 'On the red moon will come the firestorm. The one bonded to the blade will watch as his people die. If he does nothing, then he, and all those he loves, will die in its heat, for no blade, forged of steel or conjured of sorcery, can touch this foe. " To quench the inferno, he must seek the remedy in the wind. Lightning will

  　find him on that path, for the one in white, his true beloved, will betray him in her blood.' "

  　Shota leaned back, taking her teacup with her. "It is true, as you say, that the events in prophecy can be altered, or avoided, but not in a double bind prophecy. This one is such a prophecy, a trap that ensnares its victim. The red moon proves that the trap has sprung."

  　"But there must be a way-" Kahlan pushed her hands back into her hair. "Shota, what am I to do?"

  　"You are to be wedded to another," she whispered, "as is Richard. What is beyond, I don't see, but this much of it is the future."

  　"Shota, I know you're speaking the truth, but how can it be that I would betray Richard? I'm telling you the truth; I would die before I would betray him. My heart won't allow me to betray him. I couldn't."