Chainfire: Chainfire Trilogy Part 1

"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 get 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.

"Here," Sister Ulicia said. "Stop here."

Kahlan halted, staring across the hall at the thick mahogany doors. The snakes carved in the doors stared back at her. Their tails coiled around branches carved into the tops of the doors. The snakes' bodies hung down so that the heads were at eye level. Fangs jutted out from gaping jaws, as if the pair were about to strike. Kahlan couldn't imagine why anyone would carve such hideous creatures in doors. Everything else in the palace was beautiful, but these doors were not.

Sister Ulicia leaned close. "You remember all of your instructions?"

Kahlan nodded. "Yes, Sister."

"If you have any questions, ask them now."

"No, Sister. I remember everything you told me."

Kahlan wondered why it was that she could remember some things so well, but so many other things seemed lost in a fog.

"And don't dawdle," Tovi said.

"No, Sister Tovi, I won't."

"We need what you're being sent to recover for us, and we need it without any foolishness." Malevolence gleamed in Tovi's eyes. "Do you understand, girl?"

Kahlan swallowed. "Yes, Sister Tovi."

"You'd better," Tovi said, "Or you'll answer to me and you would not want that, believe me."

"I understand, Sister Tovi."

Kahlan knew that Tovi was deadly serious. The woman was usually relatively even tempered, but when provoked she could turn vicious in a flash. Worse, once she started in, she enjoyed seeing others helpless and in agony.

"Go on then," Sister Ulicia said. "And don't forget, don't talk to anyone. If the men up there say anything, just ignore them. They will leave you be."

The look in Sister Ulicia's eyes gave Kahlan pause. She nodded before hurrying off across the hall. Her exhaustion forgotten, she knew what she had to do, and she knew that if she didn't there would be trouble.

At the doors she grasped one of the handles that looked like a grinning skull, only made of bronze. She deliberately didn't look at the snakes as she put her muscle into pulling open the heavy door.