"Yes," the sliph said, watching Kahlan retreat, "we will travel." Kahlan snatched the lamp from where she had set it on the floor near the shelves. She paused at the door, looking back at the quicksilver face floating in the gloom. "I'll be back. Soon. We will travel."

"Yes. We will travel," the sliph said as Kahlan started running. Kahlan had to struggle to think where she was going as she ran. Her mind spun with arguments. While she grappled with her alternatives, she also tried to pay attention as she turned down halls, raced through rooms, and dashed upstairs. She seemed to reach Library Hall before she was ready. Huffing, she realized that she couldn't run in on Cara and Berdine in such a state. They would know something was wrong.

Not far from the library where the two Mord-Sith waited, Kahlan collapsed onto a padded bench, letting the lamp slip to the floor. She leaned back against the wall and stretched out her aching legs. She fanned her face with one hand. She gulped air, and tried to convince her heart to slow down. She knew her face must be red as an apple.

She couldn't walk in on the other two like this. Kahlan made plans as she rested, waiting for her heart to slow, her lungs to recover, her face to cool.

Shota knew something about the plague. Kahlan was sure of it. Shota had said about Richard, "May the spirits have mercy on his soul."

Shota had sent Nadine to marry Richard. Kahlan vividly recollected Nadine's tight dress, her flirtatious smiles, her accusations, telling Richard that Kahlan was heartless. The look in Nadine's eyes when she talked to him.

Kahlan thought about what she must do. Shota was a witch woman. Everyone feared the witch woman. Even wizards feared Shota. Kahlan had never done anything against her, but that had never stopped Shota from hurting her. Shota might kill her. Not if Kahlan killed her first.

The distraction of making plans had allowed her to regain her composure. She stood, smoothed down her dress, and took a deep, settling breath.

Kahlan put on her Confessor's face and strode through the doors to the library where the other two waited.

Cara and Berdine popped out from behind a row of bookshelves. The books were gone from the table.

Cara eyed Kahlan suspiciously. "You've been gone long enough." "It took me a while to find a way with shields I could pass." Berdine came out from behind the shelves. "Well? Did you find anything?" "Find anything? Like what?"

Berdine spread her hands. "Books. You went to look for books." "No. Nothing."

Cara was frowning. "Did you have any problems?"

"No. I'm just upset about all this. . about everything. The plague and all. I'm upset that I couldn't find anything to help. What about you two?"

Berdine swiped a stray strand of hair back from her face. "Nothing. Nothing about the Temple of the Winds or the team who sent it away."

"I don't understand," Kahlan said, mostly to herself. "If there was a trial, as Kolo said, then there should be a record of it."

"Well," Berdine said, "we were looking through the other books to see if we missed any of the records of the trials. We didn't find any. Where else can we look?"

Kahlan sagged in disappointment. She had been sure they would find a record of the trial for Richard.

"Nowhere. If it isn't here, then there must be no record of the trial, or else it was destroyed. From what Kolo said, the Keep was in an uproar at the time; they may have been too busy to keep a record."

Berdine cocked her head. "But we're going to keep looking for part of the night, at least." Kahlan looked about the library. "No. It would be a waste of time. The time would be better spent if you kept working on Kolo's journal. If we don't have the record of the trial, translating the journal would be the best help to Richard. Maybe you can find something important in the journal."

In the brightness of the library, Kahlan's resolve was beginning to falter. She began to reconsider her plan.

"Well," Cara said, "I guess we better get back, then. No telling what Nadine will be up to. If she gets into Lord Rahl's room, she'll get blisters kissing him while he's asleep and helpless."

Berdine pressed her lips tight and smacked Cara's shoulder. "What's the matter with you? The Mother Confessor is a sister of the Agiel."

Cara blinked in surprise. "Forgive me. I was only making a joke." She touched Kahlan's arm. "You know that I will kill Nadine if you wish-you have but to ask. Don't worry, Raina would not let Nadine into his room."

Kahlan wiped a tear from her cheek. "I know. It's just that with all that's going on-I know."

Her mind was made up. It might help Richard find an answer. It might help Richard discover something that would stop the plague. Kahlan knew she was only making excuses to herself. She knew why she was going.

"Did you find what you were looking for?" Raina asked as Kahlan, Cara, and Berdine approached.

"No," Kahlan said. "There was no record of the trial." "I'm sorry," Raina said.

Kahlan gestured to the door. "Has anyone tried to bother him?" Raina smirked. "She came by. She wanted to check on Lord Rahl. To make sure he was sleeping, she said."

Kahlan didn't have to ask who came by. Her blood heated. "And you let her in?"

Raina smiled that dark smile of hers. "I put my head in, saw that Lord Rahl was asleep, and told her so. I didn't let her have so much as a peek at him." "Good. But she'll probably be back."

Raina's smile widened. "I don't think so. I told her that if I caught her in this hall again tonight, she would feel my Agiel against her bare bottom. When she left, there was no doubt in her mind that I meant it." Cara laughed. Kahlan couldn't.

"Raina, it's late. Why don't you and Berdine go get some sleep." Kahlan caught the quick glance to Berdine. "Berdine, just like Lord Rahl, needs to get some rest so that she can work on the journal tomorrow. We all need some rest. Ulic and Egan here will watch over Richard."

Raina slapped the back of her hand against Ulic's stomach. "You boys up to it? Can you handle it without me?"

Ulic scowled down at the Mord-Sith. "We are the Lord Rahl's bodyguards. If anyone tried to get into his room, there wouldn't be enough left for you to pick your teeth with."

Raina shrugged. "I guess the boys can handle it. Let's go, Berdine. It's about time you got a good night's sleep for a change."

Cara stood beside Kahlan as she watched Berdine and Raina stride off down the hall, passing a critical eye over soldiers on patrol.

"You are right about rest. You need to get some sleep, too. Mother Confessor," Cara said. "You don't look well."

"I. . I want to check on Richard first. I'll be able to sleep better if I know he's all right. I'll be back out in a minute." She gave Cara a firm look to discourage any ideas she might have about going in with her. "Why don't you go get some sleep, too?"

Cara clasped her hands behind her back. "I will wait."

Richard's room was dark, but the light coming from the window proved enough to find the bed. Kahlan stood beside him and listened to his even breathing.

She knew how distressed Richard was by recent events. She felt the same pain. How many families were suffering in grief this night? How many more would be suffering the next, and the night after?

Kahlan sat lightly on the edge of the bed. She slipped an arm under his shoulders and strained to gently lift him. He murmured her name under his breath in his sleep, but didn't wake as she sat him up a bit and leaned the heavy weight of him against her.

Kahlan reached behind and picked up the glass with the sleeping potion Nadine had made. It was still half full. She held it to his mouth and tipped it, letting the potion slide to his lips. He stirred slightly, and swallowed as she tipped the glass higher.