Chainfire (Sword of Truth 9)

She guessed that the kneeling would have to be rest enough; it was all she was going to get.

Soldiers in handsome uniforms, carrying a variety of polished weapons at the ready, patrolled the halls, watching everyone. Each time guards passed, whether in pairs or larger groups, their gazes took careful note of the three women standing with Kahlan. When that happened, the three Sisters pretended to be looking at statues, or some of the rich tapestries of country scenes. One time, to avoid the attention of passing soldiers, they huddled close, pretending to be oblivious of the soldiers as they pointed out a grand statue of a woman holding a sheaf of wheat as she leaned on a spear. They smiled as they spoke softly among themselves as if enjoying a pleasant discussion of the artistic merits of the work until the soldiers had gone on past.

“Would you two sit down on that bench,” Sister Ulicia growled. “You look like cats being sniffed by a pack of hounds.”

Sisters Tovi and Cecilia, both older, glanced around and saw the bench a few steps behind them, up against the white marble wall. They scooped their dress under their legs as they sat beside each other. Tovi, as heavy as she was, appeared especially weary. Her wrinkled face was red as a beet from kneeling with her face to the floor. Cecilia, always tidy, used the opportunity provided by sitting on the bench to fuss with her gray hair.

Kahlan started for the bench, relieved at last have a chance to sit.

“Not you,” Sister Ulicia snapped. “No one is going to notice you. Just stand there beside them so I will be better able to keep an eye on you.”

Sister Ulicia lifted an eyebrow in warning.

“Yes, Sister Ulicia,” Kahlan said.

Sister Ulicia expected an answer when she spoke.

Kahlan had learned that lesson the hard way, and would have answered sooner had she not stopped really listening after she’d been told that the offer to sit didn’t include her. She reminded herself that even if she was tired she had better pay more attention or she would earn a slap for now and a lot worse later.

Sister Ulicia did not look away, or allow Kahlan to, but instead placed the tip of her stout, oak rod under Kahlan’s chin and used it to forcefully tilt her head up.

“The day is not over, yet. You still have your part to do. You had better not even think of letting me down in any way. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Sister Ulicia.”

“Good. We’re all just as tired as you, you know.”

Kahlan wanted to say that they may be tired, but they had ridden horses. Kahlan always had to walk and keep up with their horses. Sometimes she had to trot or even run to keep from falling behind. Sister Ulicia was never pleased if she had to turn her horse and go back to collect her lagging slave.

Kahlan glanced around the passageway at all the wondrous things displayed. Her curiosity overcame her caution.

“Sister Ulicia, what is this place?”

The Sister tapped her rod against her thigh as she briefly took in her surroundings. “The People’s Palace. Quite the beautiful place.” She looked back at Kahlan. “This is the home of the Lord Rahl.”

She waited, apparently to see if Kahlan would say anything. Kahlan had nothing to say. “Lord Rahl?”

“You know, the man we’ve been praying to? Richard Rahl, to be precise. He is the Lord Rahl now.” Sister Ulicia’s eyes narrowed. “Have you ever heard of him, my dear?”

Kahlan thought about it. Lord Rahl. Lord Richard Rahl. Her mind seemed empty. She wanted to think things, to remember, but she couldn’t. She guessed that there was simply nothing for her to remember.

“No, Sister. I don’t believe I have ever heard of the Lord Rahl.”

“Well,” Sister Ulicia said with that sly smile she brought out from time to time, “I don’t suppose you would. After all, who are you? Just a nobody. A nothing. A slave.”

Kahlan swallowed back her urge to protest. How could she? What would she say?

Sister Ulicia’s smile widened. It seemed her eyes could look right down into Kahlan’s soul. “Isn’t that right, my dear? You are a worthless slave who is fortunate for the charity of a meal.”

Kahlan wanted to object, to say that she was more, to say that her life had value and was worthwhile, but she knew that such things were only a dream. She was tired to the bone. Now, her heart felt heavy, too.

“Yes, Sister Ulicia.”

Whenever she tried to think about herself, there was only an empty void. Her life seemed so barren. She didn’t think it was supposed to be, but it was.

Sister Ulicia turned when she noticed Kahlan’s gaze going to the returning Sister Armina, a mature woman with a straightforward personality. Sister Armina’s dark blue dress swished as she hurried down the wide corridor in a weaving course to make her way among the people strolling through the palace engaged in conversation and not watching where they were going.

“Well?” Sister Ulicia asked when Sister Armina reached them.

“I got caught up in a mass chanting to our Lord Rahl.”

Sister Ulicia sighed. “Us, too. What did you find?”

“This is the place—just behind me at the next intersection, then down the hall to the right. We need to be careful, though.”

“Why?” Sister Ulicia asked as Sisters Tovi and Cecilia hurried close to listen.

The four Sisters put their heads closer.

“The doors are right there at the side of the hallway. There isn’t any way to go in there without being seen. At least for us. It’s pretty clear that no one is supposed to even think of going in there.”

Sister Ulicia glanced up and down the hall to make sure no one was paying them any heed. “What do you mean, it’s pretty clear?”

“The doors are made specifically to warn people away. They have snakes carved on them.”

Kahlan shrank back. She hated snakes.

Sister Ulicia slapped her rod against her leg as she pressed her lips together. Fuming, she finally turned her sour visage on Kahlan.

“You remember your instructions?”

“Yes, Sister,” Kahlan answered immediately.

She wanted to ge

t it over with. The sooner the Sisters were happy the better. It was getting late in the day. The long climb up through the inside of the plateau and then the chanting had taken more time than the Sisters had expected. They had thought they would be finished and on their way by now.

Kahlan was hoping that when she was done they could make camp and get some sleep. They never let her get enough sleep. Setting up camp meant more work for her, but at least there was sleeping to look forward to—as long as she didn’t earn the Sisters’ displeasure and a beating.

“All right, this actually makes little practical difference. We will just have to stand off a little farther than we planned, that’s all.” Sister Ulicia scratched her cheek as an excuse to take a careful look, checking for guards, before leaning in again. “Cecilia, you stay here and watch this end of the hall for any sign of trouble. Armina, you go back past the entrance and watch the other side. Start now so that it doesn’t look like we’re together as we near the doors, in case they’re being watched.”

Sister Armina flashed a crafty grin. “I will saunter down the halls and look like an awed visitor until she’s done.”

Without further word, she hurried off.

“Tovi,” Sister Ulicia said, “you come with me. We’ll be two friends, walking and chatting while visiting the Lord Rahl’s grand palace. Meanwhile, Kahlan will be seeing to her tasks.”

Sister Ulicia snatched Kahlan’s upper arm and spun her around. “Come on.”

With a shove, Kahlan was pushed on ahead of them. She hiked her pack up as she was hurried along. Together, the two Sisters followed her down the hall. As they reached the intersection where they had to turn right, two big soldiers came around toward them. They gave Sister Tovi only a passing glance, but they smiled at Sister Ulicia’s smile. Sister Ulicia could appear innocently enchanting when she wanted to, and she was attractive enough that men paid her notice.

No one noticed Kahlan.