Stone of Tears

Shota shrugged. “I don’t know. But I know you must learn to use the gift, or you will not escape the trap, or be able to close the veil—or even survive the headaches.”

“So you are saying you think I should go?”

“No. I said you must learn to use the gift. There may be another way.”

“What way?”

“I don’t know, Richard. I don’t even know if there is another way. I’m sorry, but I can be of no help in this. I just don’t know. Only a fool will give advice about something she doesn’t understand. I can give you no advice in this.”

“Shota,” Richard pleaded, “I’m lost. I don’t know what to do. I don’t understand any of it, the Sisters, the gift, or the Keeper. Isn’t there anything you can tell me to help me?”

“I have told you everything I know. I feel as lost as you. Worse. I have no ability to influence what will happen. At least you have that. Dim as the chance is.” Shota’s eyes glistened. “I fear I am going to look into the Keeper’s dead eyes. Forever. I haven’t been able to sleep since I learned these things. If I knew anything, I would help. I just don’t know anything about the world of the dead. It is not something the living have faced yet.”

Richard stared at the ground. “shota,” he whispered. “I don’t have any idea what to do. I’m afraid. I’m very afraid.”

She nodded. “so am I.” She reached out and touched his face. “Good-bye, Richard Rahl. Don’t fight who you are. Use it.” She turned to Kahlan. “I don’t know if you can help him, but if there is a way, I know you will do your best.”

Kahlan nodded. That I will, Shota. I hope you get your home back.”

Shota gave her a small smile. “Thank you, Mother Confessor.”

She turned and glided to the door, her wispy dress flowing behind. She pushed the door open. Samuel was waiting on the other side, his yellow eyes shining. Shota stopped in the doorway and stiffened.

“Richard, if you should happen to somehow close the veil, and save me from the Keeper, save everyone from the Keeper, I will be forever grateful to you.”

“Thank you, Shota.”

Her back was still to them. “But know this: if you give the Mother Confessor a child, it will be a boy. It will be a Confessor. Neither of you will have the strength to kill him, even though you know the consequences.” She paused a moment. “My mother lived in the dark times.” Her voice was like ice. “I have the strength. And, I will use it. You have my word on that. But know that it will not be personal.”

The door squeaked closed behind her. The spirit house felt suddenly very empty. Very quiet.

Kahlan felt numb. She looked down at her hands. They were shaking. She wanted Richard to hug her, but he didn’t do it. He was staring at the door. His face was white as snow.

“I don’t believe this,” he whispered. He still stared at the door. “How can this be happening? Am I dreaming all this?”

Kahlan felt as if her knees were about to buckle. “Richard, what are we going to do?”

Richard turned to her, his eyes distant. They filled with tears. “This has to be a nightmare.”

“If it is, I’m having the same one. Richard, what are we going to do?”

“Why does everyone ask me that? Why does everyone always ask me? What makes everyone think I am the one who knows?”

Kahlan stood woodenly, trying to make her mind work.

She couldn’t seem to form a coherent thought. “Because you are Richard. You are the Seeker.”

“I don’t know anything about the underworld, the Keeper. The world of the dead.”

“Shota says no one living does.”

Richard seemed to come out of his daze. Abruptly he grabbed her shoulders. Then we must ask the dead.”

“What?”

The ancestors” spirits are dead. We can talk to them. I can ask for a gathering and ask them questions. We can learn from them. Maybe we can find out how to close the veil. Maybe I can find out how to stop the headaches, how to use the gift.” He gripped her arm. “Come on.”

Kahlan almost smiled. He was indeed the Seeker. Richard pulled her through the passageways, running when they could see well enough. Clouds hid the moon and it was dark between the buildings. The air was like ice on her face, making tears run from the corners of her eyes.

When they reached the open field, there was light. Torches lit the people gathered there. They were all still bunched together with hunters shielding everyone; they didn’t know the witch woman was gone. The entire village watched in silence as the two of them crossed the opening, the hunters parting for them as they approached the Bird Man and the other six elders. Chandalen stood to their side.

“Everyone is safe,” Kahlan reassured them. “The witch woman is gone.”

There was a collective sigh of relief. Chandalen thumped the butt of his spear on the ground. “Again you bring trouble!”

Richard ignored him and asked her to translate. He took in the elders and let his gaze settle on the Bird Man. “Honored elder. The witch woman was not here to harm anyone. She was here to warn me about a great danger.”

“You claim,” Chandalen snapped. “We do not know this to be true.”