Temple of the Winds

"But we can't allow those others to use you. Can't you refuse? Can't you just not go to them if they call? We can't have you taking Jagang's wizards and such all over Creation to cause trouble."

The sliph regarded him with a thoughtful expression. "Those who made me the sliph made me this way. I must travel with those who ask, if they have the price of power required." She moved to the edge of her well, closer to him. "But if I was asleep, only you have the power to call me, master, and then the others could not use me."

"But I tried to put you to sleep before, and it didn't work." The sliph's smile returned. "You did not have the silver required, before." "Silver?"

The sliph reached out and touched his wristbands. "Silver." "You mean, when I crossed my wrists to put you to sleep before, it didn't work because I didn't have these? And now, if I put you to sleep, it will work?" "Yes, master."

Richard thought a moment. "Does it-hurt, or anything, when you are put into this sleep?"

"No. It is rapture, for me, when I sleep, because I am with the rest of my soul." Richard's eyes widened. "When you sleep, you go to the world of souls?" "Yes, master. I am not to tell anyone how it is that they can put me into the, sleep, but you are the only master, and since you wished to know, you will not be angry that I tell you." Richard sighed with relief. "Thank you, sliph. You have given us a way to prevent the wrong people from using you. I'm glad to know that you will be pleased to go into your sleep." Richard hugged Berdine. "Take care of everything until we get back." "I am to be in charge, then?" Berdine asked. Richard frowned suspiciously. "All three of you are in charge." "Are you sure you heard that. mistress Berdine?" Ulic asked. "I don't want you to later say that you heard no such orders."

Berdine made a face at him as Richard helped Kahlan up onto the well. "I heard. All three of us are to take care of things."

Kahlan adjusted the bone knife on her arm, and the pack on her back. She took Cara's hand as she climbed up. "Sliph," Richard said with a big grin, "we wish to travel."

CHAPTER 69

Breathe.

Kahlan let go the silken rapture and drew in a breath, and the world. As they sat up on the edge of the sliph's stone wall, Kahlan smacked Cara on the back.

"Breathe, Cara. Come on, let it go. Let out the sliph, and breathe." Cara finally bent forward and released the sliph from her lungs, reluctantly pulling a breath. Kahlan remembered how hard it was the first time, not only to breathe the sliph, but to then breathe the air again. Cara had held on tightly to Richard and Kahlan's hands the whole time they traveled. Cara looked up with a silly grin. "That was-wonderful." Richard gave them both a hand down. Kahlan adjusted the bone knife on her arm, and the small pack on her back. It felt good to be in her traveling clothes again. Cara thought that Kahlan looked odd in pants.

"This is where you wished to travel," the sliph said. "The Jocopo Treasure." Richard looked around the cave, having to duck down because the ceiling was so low. "I don't see any treasure."

"It's in the next room," Kahlan told him. "Someone must be expecting us. They left a torch burning."

"Are you ready to sleep?" Richard asked the sliph. "Yes, master. I look forward to being with my soul."

The thought of what the sliph was, what the wizards had made her into, gave Kahlan shivers.

"Will it make you-unhappy, when I need to wake you again?" "No, master. I am always ready to please."

Richard nodded. 'Thank you for your help. We all are in your debt. Have a good. . sleep."

The sliph smiled at him as Richard crossed his wrists, closing his eyes, calling the magic.

The shiny silver face, reflecting the dancing torchlight, softened, melting back into the pool of quicksilver. Richard's fists began to glow. The silver wristbands he wore brightened to such intensity that Kahlan could see the other side of them through his flesh and bone, and the way they touched, they formed into endless twin loops: the symbol for infinity.

The pool of sparkling silver took on the glow as the sliph sank down into her well, slowly at first, and then with gathering speed, until she vanished into the far darkness below.

Richard took the reed torch and the three of them moved out through a wide, low passageway, following the twisting, turning route through dark brown rock, until they came at last to an expansive room.

Kahlan gestured around the room. "The Jocopo Treasure." Richard held the torch up. Torchlight reflected back in thousands of golden sparkles from the room filled with gold in nearly every form, from nuggets and crude ingots to golden statues.

"Well, it isn't hard to see why it's called the Jocopo Treasure," Richard said. He pointed toward the shelves. "Looks like something is missing."