Temple of the Winds

Kahlan turned to the silent gathering. She knew that the Mud People feared the witch woman so much that they wouldn't even speak her name. Kahlan could understand; she had felt nearly the same way herself.

"Shota has come to offer her best wishes to us on our wedding day. She has helped us in our struggle. She is a friend, and I hope you will welcome her to this celebration, for she deserves to be here, and I wish her lo be here. ' Kahlan turned to Shota. "I told them that."

Smiling, Shota held up a hand. "I know what you told them. Mother Confessor." The Bird Man stepped forward. "Welcome to our home, Shota." "Thank you, Bird Man. You have my word that we will bring no harm this day. " Shota glanced to Zedd. "A truce, for a day." Zedd smiled a sly smile. "A truce."

Samuel's long arm reached up, grabbing for the Bird Man's carved bone whistle he wore around his neck. "Mine! Gimme!"

Shota thunked him on the head. "Samuel, behave yourself." The Bird Man smiled. He pulled the thong and whistle over his head and held it out to Samuel.

"A gift, for a friend to the Mud People."

Samuel gently took the whistle. A grin split his face, showing his wickedly sharp teeth.

"Thank you, Bird Man." Shota said.

Samuel blew the silent whistle. He seemed able to hear the sound, and was pleased by it. People began chuckling and talking again. Kahlan was relieved that vultures didn't appear in response to the silent whistle. Fortunately, Samuel didn't know how to call specific birds. Samuel grinned at his gift and hung it around his neck. He took up Shota's hand again.

Shota's arresting gaze took in Richard and Kahlan. In that moment, there was no one else there. The three of them were as good as alone, in that gaze.

"Do not think, either of you, that just because I congratulate you, I will forget my promise to you." Kahlan swallowed. «Shota-» Shota's eyes were both beautiful and frightening as she held up a silencing finger.

"You both have earned this joyous wedding. I am happy for you both. I will honor your vows, and protect you in any way I can, out of respect for all you have done for me, as long as you remember what I have warned you about. I will not allow a male child of this union to live. Do not doubt my word in this." Richard's gaze was heating. "Shota, I'll not be threatened-" Again, the finger rose, silencing Richard this time.

"I do not make a threat. I deliver you a promise. I do not do it out of animosity for either of you, but out of concern for everyone else in the world. There is a long struggle ahead of us all. I will not allow any chance at victory to be clouded by what you two would bring upon the world. Jagang is worry enough."

For some reason, Kahlan's voice wouldn't work. Richard didn't seem to have words, either. Kahlan believed Shota; she wasn't doing this out of malice.

Shota lifted Kahlan's hand and placed something in it. "This is my gift to you both. I do this out of love for you both, and for everyone else." She smiled a strange smile. "An odd thing for a witch woman to say?"

"No, Shota," Kahlan said. "I don't know that I believe what you tell us about a son, but I know that it is not said in hate."

"Good. Wear the gift, always, and all will be well. Mark my words well-never take this off when you are together, and you will always be happy. Disregard my request, and suffer the consequences of my vow." She looked into Richard's eyes. "Better you battle the Keeper himself, than me."

Kahlan opened her hand and saw a delicate necklace. A small, dark stone hung from the gold chain. "Why? What is this?"

Shota put a finger under Kahlan's chin as she stared into her eyes. "As long as you wear it, you will bear no children."

Richard's voice, strangely, seemed gentle. "But what if we-" Again, Shota's raised finger silenced him. "You love each other. Have joy in that love, and in each other. You have struggled hard to be together. Celebrate your union and your love. You have each other, now, as you always wanted. Don't throw it away."

Richard and Kahlan both nodded. Somehow, Kahlan didn't feel any anger. She felt nothing other than relief that Shota wasn't going to do anything to harm their marriage. It had a dreamlike quality, like a formal settlement over an obscure, remote tract of ground claimed by two lands, like agreements in the council chambers over which she had so often presided. There seemed no emotion to it. A simple settlement.

Shota turned to go. "Shota," Richard said. She turned back. "Won't you stay? You've come a long way."

"Yes," Kahlan said. "We really would like it if you stayed." Shota smiled a witch woman smile as she watched Kahlan fasten the chain around her neck.

"That you would ask is pleasure enough, but it is a long journey, and we must be on our way."