Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

"That's right-especially the portions from the present on into the future. As you suggest, it seems that the scourge has attacked the core of these branches, which began two or three decades back and so far have not extensively eaten their way into future events.

"That leaves sections of this prophetic branch-the branch involving you-that are still alive," the prophet said as he leaned on his hands toward Richard, "but once it dies, we will then lose even those prophecies, along with the memory of how profoundly important they are."

Richard glanced from Nathan's grim expression to Ann's equally serious face. He knew they had arrived at last at the heart of their purpose.

"That is why we've come looking for you, Richard Rahl," Ann said with grave intonation, "before it's too late. We have come about prophecy that so far is still alive and has warned us of the most serious crisis to face us since the great war."

Richard frowned, already unhappy that prophecy once again seemed about to cause him trouble. "What prophecy?"

Nathan pulled a small book out of a pocket and flipped it open. As he held it in both hands, he fixed Richard with a steady gaze to make sure he looked like he was going to listen carefully.

When Nathan was at last sure he had everyone's attention, he began. " 'In the year of the cicadas, when the champion of sacrifice and suffering, under the banner of both mankind and the Light'"-he glanced up from under his bushy eyebrows.»that would be Emperor Jagang —'finally splits his swarm, thus shall be the sign that prophecy has been awakened and the final and deciding battle is upon us. Be cautioned, for all true forks and their derivatives are tangled in this mantic root. Only one trunk branches from this conjoined primal origin. If fuer grissa ost drauka does not lead this final battle, then the world, already standing at the brink of darkness, will fall under that terrible shadow."

"Dear spirits," Zedd whispered. "Fuer grissa ost drauka is a cardinal link to a prophecy founding a principal fork. Conjoining it with this prophecy establishes a conjugate bifurcation."

Nathan arched an eyebrow. "Exactly."

Richard didn't fully understand what Zedd had said, but he caught the drift. And he didn't need them to tell him who fuer grissa ost drauka, the bringer of death, was; it was him.

"Jagang has split his forces," Ann said with quiet power as she fixed Richard in her steady gaze. "He brought his army up near to Aydindril, hoping to finish it, but the D'Haran forces, along with the people of the city, made use of winter to escape over the passes to D'Hara and out of Jagang's clutches."

"I know," Richard said. "That escape over the passes in winter was by Kahlan's orders. She's the one who told me about it."

Cara looked up in surprise, apparently intending to dispute his account, but after a glance at Nicci she decided to remain silent — at least for the moment.

"At any rate," Ann said, sounding annoyed by the interruption, "Jagang, unable to effectively use his vastly superior numbers to break through those heavily defended, very narrow passes, has finally decided to split his forces. Leaving an army to watch the passes, the emperor himself took the main element of his army south, headed all the way back down through the Midlands to skirt around the barrier of mountains and then hook around and make his way up into D'Hara.

"Our forces are headed south, down through D'Hara, to meet them. That was why when we were able to get a message from Verna about the condition of the books of prophecy at the People's Palace in D'Hara; she was able to ride south ahead of our army and go look them over herself."

"This is the year that the cicadas are returning," Nicci said, sounding alarmed. "I've seen them."

"That's right," Nathan said, still leaning forward on both hands. "That means the chronology is now fixed. The prophecies have all made their connections and have tumbled into place. Events are marked." In turn, he met the gaze of everyone in the room. "The end is upon us."

Zedd let out a low whistle.

"More importantly," Ann said in an authoritative tone, "it means that it is time for Lord Rahl to join the D'Haran forces and lead them in the final battle. Without you there, Richard, prophecy is quite clear; all will be lost. We have come to escort you to your forces, to help insure that you make it. We dare not risk delay; we must leave at once."

For the first time since they started talking about prophecy, Richard's knees felt weak.

"But I can't," he said. "I have to find Kahlan."

It sounded to him like a plea into a gale.

Ann took a deep breath, as if to bite her tongue while she searched for some urgently needed patience, or maybe words that would persuade him and finally settle the matter once and for all. The two Mord-Sith shared a look. Zedd pressed his thin lips tight while he considered. In frustration Nathan tossed the book he was holding on the table and wiped his hand across his face as he planted his left fist on a hip.