Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

"Wait a minute," Nicci said, looking from one person to the next, "are you suggesting that I again somehow use Subtractive Magic on Richard?"

"That's exactly what we're suggesting," Zedd told her.

Ann flicked a hand out toward Zedd and Nathan. "If one of us could do it, we would, but we can't. We need you to do it."

Nicci folded her arms. "Do what, exactly? I don't understand what it is you expect me to do."

Ann laid the hand on Nicci's arm. "Nicci, listen to us. We don't know what is causing Richard's malady. We have no way of trying to cure something when we don't know what it is. Even if we knew for sure that it was a glamour spell that had tainted that arrow, short the one who cast such a web, or absent the arrow, none of the three of us could eliminate the spell.

"But we can't be certain it was such a spell, or an entirely different kind of spell, or if it's simply delirium brought on by the injury. We don't know the cause. We may never know.

"What must be done, now," she said in a serious manner that no longer tried to be anything but straightforward and honest, "is to eliminate the obsession-whatever its origin. It doesn't matter if it was brought about by a spell, a dream, or by some sudden onset of insanity. The memory of this woman, Kahlan, is a false memory that is distorting his thinking and therefore must be eliminated from his mind."

Nicci was stupefied by what she was hearing. She looked from the former prelate to Zedd. "Are you seriously suggesting that I use Subtractive Magic on your grandson's mind? You want me to eliminate a part of his consciousness? A part of who he is?"

"No, not part of who he is-never. I would never want that." Zedd licked his thin lips. His voice came out sounding helpless and despairing. "I want you to heal him. I want Richard back, the Richard I know, the Richard we all know-the real Richard, not the Richard with these foreign notions taking over his mind and destroying him."

Nicci shook her head. "I can't do that to the man I.» She closed her mouth before she finished the sentence.

"I would have back the Richard I love," Zedd said in soft supplication. "The Richard we all love."

Nicci backed away a step, shaking her head, unable to think of what to say to such desperation. There had to be another way to bring Richard to his senses.

"Show her," Nathan said to Ann, his voice suddenly sounding very much like the towering prophet he was, the Rahl he was.

Ann nodded in resignation and pulled something from her pocket. She held it out to Nicci. "Read this."

When Ann dropped it into Nicci's hand, she saw that it was a journey book. She looked up at Nathan, Ann, and finally Zedd.

"Go on," the prophet said. "Read the message Ann received from Verna."

Journey books were incredibly rare. In fact, Nicci had thought they had all been destroyed at the Palace of the Prophets. She knew that what was written in one of the matched pair of twinned books would appear in the other. The stylus kept in the spine that was used to write in the book was also used to wipe away old messages. In that way the journey books never wore out or became obsolete. Nicci opened the invaluable product of ancient magic and turned to the writing.

Ann, it began in a clear hand, I fear to report that things are not going well with our forces. Where is Richard? Have you found him yet? I apologize for pressing you yet again for I know you are traveling with all due haste, but the problems with the army grow more serious every day. Men have deserted-not a great many, mind you-but we are in D'Hara now, and the whispers are growing that Lord Rahl will not lead them in a battle that they all believe will be suicide. Richard's continuing absence only confirms this fear for them. Day by day they grow to feel they have been abandoned by their Lord Rahl. None of the men believe that they have a chance against the enemy if Richard is not with his own troops to lead them.

General Meiffert and I grow more desperate by the day as to what to tell disheartened men. Even if there was a good reason, it is still difficult enough for men knowing they face death not to have word from the first leader in their lives whom they truly believed in.

Please, Ann, as soon as you reach Richard, tell him how much all these brave young men, who have borne the brunt of defending our cause for so long and have suffered so much, need him. Please find out how soon he will join us. Ask him to please hurry.

Urgently awaiting word,

Yours in the Light,

Verna.

The book lowered in Nicci's hands. Tears stung her eyes.

Ann lifted the journey book from Nicci's trembling fingers. "What would you have me tell Verna? What would you have her say to the troops?" Ann asked in a quiet, even gentle, tone.

Nicci blinked at the tears. "You want me to take away his mind? You want me to betray him?"

"No, not at all," Zedd assured her, gripping her shoulder in his powerful fingers. "We want you to help him — to heal him."