Soul of the Fire (Sword of Truth 5)

Richard was nodding. “I can break a bottle. I’ll break it.”

“Listen. It’s in a bottle designed to protect the magic. It will only be released if it’s broken properly—with an object possessing the correct magic. Otherwise, it will simply evaporate without helping.”

“What object? How do I break the bottle correctly?”

“The Sword of Truth,” Zedd said. “It has the proper magic to release the spell intact as it breaches the container.”

“That’s not a problem. I left the sword in your private enclave in the Keep. But won’t the sword’s magic fail, too?”

“No. The Sword of Truth was created by wizards with the knowledge to ward its power from assaults against its magic.”

“So you think the Sword of Truth will stop a Lurk?”

Zedd nodded. “Much of this matter is unknown to me, but I strongly believe this: The Sword of Truth may be the only thing with the power to protect you.” Zedd’s fingers gripped Richard’s undershirt, pulling him close. “You must retrieve the sword.”

His eyes brightened when Richard nodded earnestly. Zedd tried to push himself up on an elbow, but Richard pressed a big hand to the old man’s chest, forcing him to lie down.

“Rest. You can get up after you rest. Now, where is this bottle with the spell.”

Zedd frowned at something and pointed behind Richard and Kahlan. They both turned to look. When they didn’t see anything but Cara watching from the doorway, they turned back to see Zedd up on the elbow. He smiled at his little triumph. Richard scowled.

“Now, listen carefully, my boy. You said you got into the First Wizard’s private enclave?” Richard’s head bobbed as Zedd talked. “And you remember the place?” Richard was still nodding. “Good. There is an entrance. A long walk between things.”

“Yes, I remember. The long entryway has a red carpet down the middle. To each side are white marble columns about as tall as me. There are different things atop each. At the end—”

“Yes,” Zedd held up a hand, as if to stop him. “The white marble columns. You remember them? The things atop them?”

“Some. Not every one. There were gems in brooches, gold chains, a silver chalice, finely wrought knives, bowls, boxes.” Richard paused with a frown of effort at recollection. He snapped his fingers. “Fifth column on the left has a bottle atop it. I remember because I thought it was pretty. An inky black bottle with a gold filigree stopper.”

A sly smile stole onto the Zedd’s face. “Quite right, my boy. That’s the bottle.”

“What do I do? Just break it with the Sword of Truth?”

“Just break it.”

“Nothing fancy? No incantations? No placing it some certain place some certain way? No waiting for the right moon? No special time of day or night? No turning round first? Nothing fancy?”

“Nothing fancy. Just break it with the sword. If it were me, I’d carefully set it on the floor, just in case my aim was bad and I knocked it off without breaking the glass and it fell to the marble to break there. But that’s me.”

“The floor it is, then. I’ll set it on the floor and smash it with the sword.” Richard started to rise. “It will be done before dawn breaks tomorrow.”

Zedd caught Richard’s hand and urged him back down. “No, Richard, you can’t.” He flopped back, sighing unhappily.

“Can’t what?” Richard asked as he leaned close once more.

Zedd took a few breaths. “Can’t go in that sliph thing of yours.”

“But we have to,” Richard insisted. “It will get us there in less than a day. Over land would take… I don’t know. Weeks.”

The old wizard lifted a grim finger toward Richard’s face. “The sliph uses magic. If you go in the sliph, you will die before you reach Aydindril. You will be in the dark recesses of that quicksilver creature, breathing her magic, when that magic fails. You will drown. No one will ever find your body.”

Richard licked his lips. He raked his fingers back through his hair. “Are you sure? Might I be able to make it before the magic fails? Zedd, this is important. If there is some risk, then we must take it. I’ll go alone. I’ll leave Kahlan and Cara.”

Alarm swelled in Kahlan’s chest at the idea of Richard being in the sliph, and having its magic fail. Of him drowning in the dark forever of the sliph. She clutched at his arm to protest, but Zedd spoke first.

“Richard, listen to me. I am First Wizard. I am telling you: Magic is failing. If you go in the sliph, you will die. Not maybe. Will. All magic is failing. You must go without magic.”

Richard pressed his lips tight and nodded. “All right, then. If we must, then we must. It will take longer, though. How long can you and Ann…?”

Zedd smiled. “Richard, we are too weak to travel or we would go with you now, but we will be fine. We would only slow you for no good reason. You can accomplish what must be done. As soon as you break the bottle and release the spell, then these things here”—he gestured to the spells drawn all over the floor—“will let us know. Once they do, I can cast the counterspells.

“Until then, the Wizard’s Keep will be vulnerable. Extraordinarily powerful and dangerous things could be stolen when the Keep’s shields of magic fail. After I restore magic’s power, anything stolen could then be used against us.”

“Do you know how much of the Keep’s magic will fail?”

Zedd shook his head in frustration. “This is without precedent. I can’t predict the exact sequences, but I’m sure all will fail. We need you to stay at the Keep and protect it as you planned. Ann and I will follow after this business is finished. We’re counting on you. Can you do that for me, my boy?”

Richard, his eyes glistening, nodded. He took up his grandfather’s hand. “Of course. You can count on me.”

“Promise me, Richard. Promise me you will go to the Keep.”

“I promise.”

“If you don’t,” Ann warned in a low voice, “Zedd’s optimism about his being fine may prove… flawed.”

Zedd’s brow tightened. “Ann, you are making it sound—”

“If I am not telling the truth, then call me a liar.”

Zedd rested the back of his wrist over his eyes and remained silent. Ann tilted her head back enough to meet Richard’s gaze.

“Am I making myself clear?”

He swallowed. “Yes, ma’am.”

Zedd reached out for the comfort of Richard’s hand. “This is important, Richard, but don’t break your neck getting there?”

Richard smiled. “I understand. A swift journey, not reckless haste, is more likely to get you to your destination.”

Zedd managed a low chuckle. “So you did listen when you were younger.”

“Always.”

“Then listen now.” The sticklike finger once more lifted from his slack fist. “You must not use fire, if you can avoid it at all. The Lurk could find you by fire.”

“How?”

“We believe the spell can seek by fire’s light. It was sent for you, so it can search for you with fire. Keep away from fire.

“Water, too. If you must ford a river, use a bridge if at all possible, even if you must go days out of your way. Cross streams on a log, or swing over on a rope, or jump, if you can.”

“You mean to say we risk ending up like Juni, if we go near water?”

Zedd nodded. “I’m sorry to make it more difficult for you, but this is perilous business. The Lurk is trying to get you. You will only be safe—all of us will only be safe—if you can get to the Keep and break that bottle before the Lurk finds you.”

Undaunted, Richard smiled. “We’ll save time—not having to gather firewood or bathe.”

Zedd again let out the breathy

little chuckle. “Safe journey, Richard. And you, too, Cara. Watch over Richard.” His sticklike fingers gripped Kahlan’s hand. “And you too, my new granddaughter. I love you dearly. Keep each other safe and well. I will see you when we reach Aydindril, and we will have the joy of each other’s company again. Wait at the Keep for us.”

Kahlan gathered up his bony hand in both of hers as she sniffled back the tears. “We will. We’ll be there waiting for you. We’ll be a family together again, when you get there.”

“Safe journey, all,” Ann said. “May the good spirits be with you always. Our faith and prayers will be with you, too.”

Richard nodded his thanks and started to rise, but then paused. He seemed to consider something for a moment. He spoke at last in a soft voice.

“Zedd, all the time I was growing up, I never knew you were my grandfather. I know you did that to protect me, but… I never knew.” He fidgeted with a piece of grass sticking out of the pallet. “I never got a chance to hear about my mother’s mother. She almost never spoke of her mother—just a word here and there. I never learned about my grandmother. Your wife.”

Zedd turned his face away as a tear rolled down his cheek. He cleared his throat. “Erilyn was… a wonderful woman. Like you have a wonderful wife now, so I once did, too.

“Erilyn was captured by the enemy, by a quad sent by your other grandfather, Panis Rahl, when your mother was very young. Your mother saw it all—what they did to her mother.… Erilyn only lived long enough for me to find her. Because of what she saw, your mother found it painful to speak of Erilyn.”

After an uncomfortable moment, Zedd turned back to them and smiled with a memory of genuine joy. “She was beautiful, with gray eyes, like your mother. Like you. She was as smart as you, and she liked to laugh. You should know that. She liked to laugh.”

Richard smiled. He cleared his throat to find his voice.

“Then she surely married the right person.”

Zedd nodded. “She did. Now, gather your things and be on your way to Aydindril so we can get our magic back to right.

“When we finally join you in Aydindril, I will tell you all the things about Erilyn—your grandmother—that I never could before.” He smiled a grandfather’s smile. “We will talk of family.”