Temple of the Winds

Zedd and Ann's eyes widened. They looked as if they had stopped breathing. They finally glanced to each other.

"The three chimes," Ann said in a cautious voice. "You mean, he just mentioned 'the three chimes. He didn't actually tell them to you? He didn't speak them to you?"

Kahlan nodded. «Reechan-» Zedd and Ann threw their hands up. "No!" they yelled together.

"Didn't Nathan tell you that no one without the gift may speak the three chimes aloud?" Ann's face had gone red. "Didn't that crazy old man tell you that!"

Kahlan scowled back. "Nathan is not a crazy old man. He helped me save Richard's life. Without the three chimes, Richard would have died when he came back from the Temple of the Winds. I owe Nathan a great debt. We all do."

"I owe him a collar around his neck," Ann muttered. "Before he causes who knows what catastrophe. Zedd, we must find him. And soon." She lowered her voice to a private whisper. "And we must do something about. . this business."

Zedd's eyes turned to Kahlan. "You said them silently, when you did this. You said the three chimes silently. You didn't actually say them aloud. Tell me that you didn't say them aloud."

"I had to. Cara remembered them, and said them. Then I said them aloud a couple of times." Zedd winced. "More than once?"

"Zedd," Ann murmured, "what are we going to do about this?" "Why?" Richard asked. "What's the problem?"

"Nothing you need be concerned about. Just don't say them aloud again. Any of you."

"Zedd," Ann whispered under her breath, "if she has freed-" Zedd lifted a hand out to the side, touching her, silencing her. "What was I supposed to do?" Kahlan asked defensively. "Richard had absorbed the magic from the book Sister Amelia brought back from the winds. He had the plague. He was a breath or two away from death. He would have died within minutes, at the most. Would you have had me let him die instead?"

"Of course not, dear one. You did the right thing." Zedd lifted an eyebrow to Ann as he leaned close. "We will discuss this later."

Ann folded her hands. "Of course. You did the only thing you could. We are all grateful, Kahlan. You did well."

Zedd was looking more serious by the moment. "Bags, Richard, the Temple of the Winds is in the underworld. How did you get in?"

Richard looked out over the celebration. "We need to tell you both the story. Some of it, anyway. But this is the day Kahlan and I are to be married." Richard smiled. Kahlan thought it looked forced. "It's a hard story to tell. I'd rather tell you about it on another day. I can't, just now. ."

Zedd stroked a thumb down his smooth jaw. "Of course, Richard, I understand. And you are quite right. Another day. But, the Temple of the Winds. ." He lifted a finger, unable to resist asking a question. "Richard, what did you have to leave at the Temple of the Winds in order to return?" Richard shared a long look with his grandfather. "Knowledge." "And what did you take away with you?" "Understanding."

Zedd encircled a protective arm around both Richard and Kahlan. "Good for you, Richard. Good for you. Good for both of you. You two have earned this day. Let's put this other business aside for now, and let us celebrate the joy of your marriage."

CHAPTER 70

They enjoyed the company of friends and loved ones the whole day. talking and laughing, celebrating together with the Mud People. Kahlan did her best to try to ignore the way her low-cut blue wedding dress displayed her breasts. It was hard, with the way people kept coming up to her and telling her that she had fine breasts. Richard wanted to know what they were saying all the time. She thought it best to lie; she told him that they were saying that her dress was beautiful. As the sun turned the sky golden, it was at last time.

Kahlan gripped Richard's hand as if it were the only thing holding her on the ground. Richard had trouble keeping his eyes off her in her blue wedding dress. Every time he looked at her, a helpless smile took him.

Kahlan's heart swelled with joy, seeing how much he liked the dress Weselan had made for her. She had for so long dreamed of wearing it, dreamed of this moment. She had hoped so often, with all her heart, that this day would come. She had feared so often that it never would. So many times, something had happened, delaying this moment. Now, it was happening.

Richard mimicked the Mud People's words, not realizing that he was saying how fine he thought her breasts looked; he thought he was telling her how beautiful her dress looked. Everyone grinned with satisfaction when he spoke the words in their language, happy that he agreed with them. Kahlan could feel her face turning red.

Richard looked magnificent in his black and gold war wizard's uniform. Every time Kahlan looked at him, a smile took her. She was marrying Richard. At last. Her knees trembled under the blue dress.