The Third Kingdom

“I’d have to agree with that.” Richard tapped the tightly packed line of symbols. “It also goes along with what it says next. It says that they are so single-minded that if they lose their legs they will not feel it and will instead use their arms to pull themselves after the ones they were sent to kill. I wish I could say that it sounds too preposterous to believe, but I saw that very thing with my own eyes.

“It says they must be hacked to pieces, but warns that magic hardens them so doing so is difficult. That same magic that animates them also protects them, acting as a kind of shield, and makes using most forms of the gift against them virtually useless. It says you can burn them, though, either with normal fire or wizard’s fire.”

“Wizard’s fire. I’ve never seen wizard’s fire. Have you?”

Richard grunted that he had as he concentrated on working out more of the translation. “This says that shields don’t protect against them because shields key off life.”

He gestured back up the corridor. “I was wondering why the shields protecting this area move those large stones out of the way. It struck me as out of the ordinary for shields.”

“Really? In what way?”

“With all the shields I’ve seen before, touching the metal plate allows those with the right gifted ability to pass through the shield without being harmed. Those shields never used anything but magic to block a passageway. Some of them would repel those who don’t belong by using uncomfortable sound, heat, or even tingling pain to keep people from passing, but there are dangerous shields that are strong enough to kill intruders if they continue to try to get through. There were shields that would strip the flesh from your bones if you continued to try to pass after they gave you a warning.

“All those shields used magic. These shields here must use those big stones instead because the dead they are intended to shield against are protected by the same magic that animates them, so they aren’t affected by a regular shield’s power. They could pass right through a conventional shield, but the simple physical barrier of those round stones is too massive for them to move aside.”

As she thought it over, Richard worked out the next section of symbols. “Well, this is frightening,” he said. “It says that these reanimated dead are often sent against specific targets, such as the gifted.” He glanced down at her. “Looks like you were right about them being after you.”

She looked aggrieved. “I told you so.”

“And do you know why they would have been after you?”

She seemed surprised by the question. “To eliminate the gifted so they can’t use magic to stop them?”

Richard tapped the wall of symbols. “Magic doesn’t work against them—except maybe wizard’s fire, and you certainly can’t wield that. Besides, I don’t think they killed my grandfather, Zedd, or Nicci. Zedd is a wizard and Nicci a sorceress. I suspect someone wanted them taken captive for some reason. I wonder if they took your mother as well. After all, your father’s remains were found, but hers weren’t.”

“All right, then, why do you think these monsters would come after me?”

“The gifted here watch the barrier in order to warn others if those in the third kingdom ever start to escape. I suspect their intent was to prevent an alarm. They may have killed your other relatives to keep them from warning anyone until they could completely breach the barrier spells. It’s possible they murdered your mother as well as your father, but capturing her would also have prevented her from warning anyone and maybe they have some purpose in mind for the gifted. That only left you, here in Stroyza. I think they wanted to kill you, or maybe even capture you as well, to keep you from sending out an alarm.”

Samantha looked shaken. “I don’t even know how to send out an alarm.”

“They don’t know that.”

“I suppose not.” She looked up hopefully. “Do you really think my mother is alive?”

Richard was a long moment in answering. “I hope so, Samantha. I hope my friends are still alive as well. If they are, I have to try to rescue them. As easily as these monsters could have killed them, I wonder if whoever brought them back to life wanted gifted people captured alive for some reason. If they really do have your mother along with my friends, maybe I can get her out as well.”

Samantha glanced to the opening overlooking the third kingdom. “You mean go there? Surely, you don’t mean that you’re thinking of going to that terrible place that is in part the world of the dead? A place where the dead walk the world of life? That sounds like suicide.”

He regarded her with a resolute look. “Besides wanting to free them from harm, if I don’t rescue my friends and get them back to the containment field where they can remove death’s touch from us, then Kahlan and I are going to die.”

Samantha swallowed before she answered. “I know.”