"Kahlan, everything will be all right," Ann said in a reassuring voice.

"Tell us, now, what's happened? Tell us everything. Is he hurt?"

Kahlan swallowed against her rising rage. "Nicci used what she called a maternity spell on me."

Ann's mouth fell open. Sister Alessandra gasped again.

"Are you sure?" Ann asked in a careful tone. "Are you sure that was what it was? How do you know for sure?"

"She slammed some kind of magic into me. I've never heard of such a spell. All I know is that it was definitely powerful magic and she said it was called a maternity spell. She said that it connects us, somehow, through that magic."

Alessandra took a step forward. "That doesn't make it a maternity spell."

"When Cara used her Agiel on Nicci," Kahlan said, "it dropped me to my knees just the same as if Cara had used the Agiel on me."

Ann and Alessandra shared a silent look.

"But. . but, if she were to. ." Ann stammered.

Kahlan voiced what Ann was trying to say without saying it. "If she were to desire it, Nicci could snip that cord of magic, and 1 would die.

That was the means by which she captured Richard. She promised I would live if Richard went with her. Richard surrendered himself into slavery to save my life."

"It can't be," Ann said, touching mitten-covered fingers to her chin.

"Nicci wouldn't know how to use such an unusual spell-she's too young.

Besides, such a rare spell requires great power. She must have done something else and just said that it was a maternity spell. Nicci couldn't do a maternity spell."

"Yes, she could," Sister Alessandra said in reluctant disagreement.

"She has the power and ability. It would only have required someone with the specialized knowledge teaching her. Nicci doesn't have any great passion for magic, but she is as able as they come."

"Lidmila. ." Ann whispered to Alessandra in sudden realization.

"Jagang has Lidmila.»

Kahlan turned a suspicious glare on Sister Alessandra. "And how do you know so much more about Nicci's ability than the Prelate herself?"

Sister Alessandra gathered her open cloak back together. Her face lost its warmth and reverted to a scowl-this time, though, with bitterness in the set of her mouth.

"I brought Nicci in to the Palace of the Prophets when she was but a child. I was responsible for her upbringing, and I guided her training in the use of her gift; I know her better than anyone. I know her darker powers because I, too, was a Sister of the Dark. I'm the one who brought her to the Keeper."

Kahlan could feel herself rocking with the force of her hammering heart. "So, you, too, are a Sister of the Dark."

"Was," Ann said, lifting a cautionary hand before Kahlan.

"The Prelate came into Jagang's camp and rescued me. Not just from Jagang, but from the Keeper, too. I once again serve the Light." The incandescent smile again transformed Alessandra's face. "Ann brought me back to the Creator."

As far as Kahlan was concerned, the claim was not worth the effort of confirmation. "How did you find us?"

Ann ignored the terse question. "We must hurry. We must get Richard away from Nicci before she delivers him to Jagang."

Kahlan kept her glare on Alessandra while she answered Ann. "She isn't taking him to Jagang. She said she isn't acting on behalf of His Excellency, but on behalf of herself. Those were her words. She said she had removed Jagang's ring from her lip and that she wasn't afraid of him."

"Did she say why, then, she was taking Richard?" Ann asked. "Or, at least, where?"

Kahlan moved her scrutiny back to Ann. "She said she was taking him into oblivion."

"Oblivion!" Ann gasped.

"I asked you a question," Kahlan said, anger seeping into her voice.

"How did you find us?"

Ann tapped her waist. "I have a journey book. I used it to communicate with Verna, back with our forces. Verna told me about the messengers coming to see you. That's how 1 knew where to find you. Lucky I came as soon as I did; we nearly missed you. I can't tell you how happy I am to see you have recovered, Kahlan. We were so worried."

Kahlan saw that Cara, standing behind the two women, still had her Agiel clenched in her fist. Kahlan didn't need an Agiel; her Confessor's power boiled but an impulse away. She wouldn't again make an error for the sake of caution.

"The journey book. Of course. Then Verna would have told you about Richard's vision that he must not lead our troops against the Order."

Ann nodded reluctantly, apparently not eager to discuss such a vision.

"Then, a few days ago, Verna sent a message when we were almost here, that the D'Harans are in quite a state because they suddenly lost their sense of direction to Richard. She said they are still protected from the dream walker by the bond to their Lord Rahl, but they suddenly lost their sense of where he is."

"Nicci cloaked his bond from us," Cara said in a growl.

"Well, we have to find him," Ann said. "We have to get him away from Nicci. He's our only chance. Whatever he's thinking, it's nonsense and we will have to set him straight, but first we must get him back. He has to lead our forces against the Imperial Order. He is the one named in prophecy."

"That's why you're here," Kahlan whispered to herself. "You heard from Verna about his declining to lead the army or even to give orders. You journeyed here in hopes of forcing him to fight."

"He must," Ann insisted.

"He must not," Kahlan said. "He has come to realize that if he leads us into battle, we will lose the cause of liberty for generations to come. He said he came to realize that people don't yet understand freedom and won't fight for it."

"He must simply prove himself to the people." Ann's scowl reddened. "He must prove himself their leader, which he has already begun to do, and they will follow him."

"Richard says that he has come to understand that it is not he who must prove himself to the people, but the people who must now prove themselves to him."

Ann blinked in astonishment. "Why, that's nonsense."

"Is it?"

"Of course it is. The boy was named in prophecy centuries ago. I've been waiting hundreds of years for him to be born in order for him to lead us in this struggle."

"Really. Then who are you to try to countermand Richard's decision-if you are so set on following him? He has come to his decision. If he is the leader you want, then you must abide by his lead, and therefore his decision."

"But this is not what prophecy demands!"

"Richard doesn't believe in prophecy. He believes we make our own destiny. I'm coming to see the grounds of his assertion that the belief in prophecy artificially alters events. It is the misplaced faith in prophecy itself-in some mystical outcome-that harms people's lives."

Ann's eyes grew round with dismay, and then narrowed. "Richard is the one named in prophecy to lead us against the Imperial Order. This is a struggle for the very existence of magic in this world-don't you understand that! Richard was born to fight this fight. We have to get him back!"

"This is all your fault," Kahlan whispered.

"What?" Ann's frown changed to a tolerant smile. "Kahlan, what are you talking about?" Her voice backslid to genial. "You know me, you know our struggle for the survival of freedom of magic. If Richard does not lead us, we have no chance."

Kahlan threw her arm out and seized a startled Sister Alessandra by the throat. The woman's eyes went wide.

"Don't move," Kahlan said through gritted teeth, "or I will unleash my Confessor's power."

Ann held her hands up, imploring. "Kahlan, have you lost your mind? Let her be. Calm down."

With her other hand, Kahlan pointed down at the fire. "The journey book. Throw it in the fire."