“We realize you have no reason to believe our sincerity,” another said, “but I swear to the good spirits, it is the truth.”
“I can vouch for the honesty of what they are saying,” Shale said. “I have spent time with these women. I know the heart of each. The hearts of the ones you killed were black, but these witch women are my sisters and their hearts are good.”
“I understand.” Kahlan spread her hands. “I am also sorry that all of you have suffered as well. Like my husband, I don’t assign guilt because of the sins of others. We each should be judged for who we are and what we do. My hope is that all of you can now go back to your homes and live in peace. Know that I hold no grudge against you. My hope for you all is that others won’t, either.”
They whispered among themselves for a moment, until there were nods among them all.
“We have all discussed it,” the one with the wavy white hair said, “and we all agreed that any of us will come to your aid should you ever ask us. We would be eager to try to make amends in any way possible.”
“No amends are necessary, but I will remember your offer should I ever need your help.” Kahlan let out a deep sigh. “Although she doesn’t necessarily deserve it, Shota has in the past helped Lord Rahl and me, so in view of that alone, I think you should take her body down to her home, in Agaden Reach, and bury her there.”
Heads tipped close together and whispering again broke out among them all.
“We will see to it, Mother Confessor,” Niska said. “You are more thoughtful than she would have been for you.”
Kahlan nodded. “I have known her for a long time, and while she intended to do something evil, the woman was more complex than this one act driven by the thought of such power going to her head. She has paid the price for that act.”
“We hope your husband is safe,” a woman in the back said, “but if he is not, we stand ready to help you in any way we can.”
“There is one thing we could do,” Shale said, looking around at the rest of the witch women. “When Shota made the Mother Confessor start to miscarry, Lord Rahl gave her the raw milk of mother’s breath while I made up the preparation.”
Worried whispers broke out among the women. They obviously thought that was troubling. They cast concerned looks at Kahlan. She fretted as to the reason.
Yara lifted a hand. “We could all join our gifts and cast a birthing spell to help ease your delivery, and also that the two babies might be born healthy.”
Shale smiled. “That is what I was thinking.”
Kahlan felt her worry ease a little. “I would be grateful for such a spell.”
The women all gathered in a tight circle around Kahlan, their hands over each other’s shoulders. They closed their eyes as they whispered a chant in unison. Kahlan didn’t understand the words, but she understood the heartfelt intentions.
As soon as they had finished, they stepped back and, following Shale’s lead, went to their knees and bowed forward.
Kahlan recognized the honor. She waited a moment in the silence and then said, “Rise, my children.”
It was the Mother Confessor’s formal recognition of those under her protection.
As they were coming up, Kahlan heard a sound and turned to see the red leather of the Mord-Sith emerging from the mist. In the gloomy swamp, such a flash of color was hard to miss.
She didn’t see Richard.
43
Kahlan’s eyes opened wide with dread as she saw all six Mord-Sith materialize out of the mist, but she didn’t see Richard.
Panic started to rise up within her at seeing that he wasn’t with them.
But then, off behind the Mord-Sith, she finally saw him emerge out of the swirling haze, like a good spirit come among them.
It felt as if her heart leaped up into her throat with relief at seeing him. She had been sick with worry that he was dead, but dealing with Shota was the problem at hand, so she’d had to set that worry aside to look after herself and the twins.
Kahlan cried out in excitement as she ran the dozen strides to meet him. She threw her arms around his neck and kissed the side of his face at least a half-dozen times. He squeezed her tight in return, momentarily lifting her from her feet. Finally, she separated from him and stood back to wipe tears of joy from beneath her eyes.
“What took you so long?” she asked him.
Richard shrugged. “Well, a building fell on me … .”
She blinked in astonishment that he had survived such a thing and was actually alive. “Shota told us that she had spelled your legs so that you couldn’t run to safety. She wanted the whole palace to come down on you. How did you get out?”
He didn’t seem at all concerned about what had happened.
“The good spirits watched over me.”
“Actually,” Vika said as she gestured among the Mord-Sith, “we dug him out. I don’t recall seeing any of the good spirits there, helping, but we did have a lot of help from the people of Bindamoon. Lord Rahl didn’t make it easy, though. He managed to stand under the center of the palace as the entire thing collapsed, so it was a lot of trouble getting him out, I don’t mind telling you.”
“We knew you would be angry if we just left him there,” Berdine said, offhandedly. “So we thought it best if we got him out and brought him along with us.”
Richard rolled his eyes. “The people in Bindamoon turned out to be a huge help in saving my life. They were more than thankful to be rid of Iron Jack, the palace, and the ‘queen.’ But it was Rikka, Nyda, Cassia, Vale, Berdine, and Vika who organized and directed them in the rescue effort. I am indebted to them.”
“As am I,” Kahlan said as she put a hand on the forearms of two of the Mord-Sith. “I was so worried. Thank you for not giving up on him. I don’t know what I would do had you …” Her voice choked up and she couldn’t say the rest.
“Kahlan killed the five evil witches,” Shale said into the awkward silence. “One of them was Shota.” She grinned, then. “With her bare hands.”
The Mord-Sith all looked a bit astonished, but proud.
Richard nodded with a serious look. “I would have expected no less. I’m just surprised it took her so long.” He winked at Kahlan.
She gripped Shale’s arm, then, and pulled her closer, as if presenting her to Richard. “I couldn’t have done it without Shale. She gave me a snake to use.”
“A snake?” Richard frowned. “You hate snakes.”
Kahlan showed him a sly smile. “Not white ones.”
“Ah, I see.” He flashed a smile at Shale as he gripped her shoulder. “Glad you were able to help.”
Kahlan turned and held her arm out toward the group of witch women all watching him with a mixture of awe and terror, fearing that, like so many others, he would think they were evil just because they were witches. Worse, they knew that he had the power to strike them down on the spot should he so wish.
“These ladies here were not willing participants in Shota’s scheme. They were all forced to answer Shota’s call to coven, the same as Shale. The ones who wanted to be part of it are now all dead.”
“I know,” Richard said. “I heard the last of it as we were coming in. I stayed out of sight and watched to make sure there wasn’t going to be any more trouble. I wanted to be able to come in and surprise anyone who might still attack you. It turns out that, thankfully, it wasn’t necessary.”
“No,” Kahlan said with a smile as she looked over at the women. “These women are all on our side. Shota was using them.”