er on his right hand。 This many came here after it was done。’
Kahlan glanced to Chandalen。 The ones who closed the doors。’
He nodded as the two brothers frowned。
They searched the city；’ Tossidin went on。 There were no people left here to kill； so they followed the tracks； followed those that went east； to join with them。’
‘No；’ Kahlan said。 They were no allies of those who did this。 They didn’t go to join them。 They’re going after them； though。’
Prindin considered this a moment。 Then if they catch the ones who did this； then they； too； will die。 They have no numbers like those they chase。 They will be like fleas trying to eat a dog。’
Kahlan snatched up her mantle and flung it around her shoulders。 ‘Let’s get going。 Jara Pass is wide and easy enough for large wagons； but it’s also very long and meandering。 I know small passes … like the one that takes that rope bridge over the Jara； and then up through Harpies Cleft … that an army cannot travel； but we can； and it’s much shorter。 What they travel in three or four days； we can travel in one。’
Chandalen stood； but did so in an easy manner。 ‘Mother Confessor； following these men will not take us to Aydindril。’
‘We have to go over one of the passes to get us to Aydindril。 Harpies is as good as any。’
Chandalen still made no move to recover his mantle。 ‘But that way lies an army of thousands。 You wanted to get to Aydindril with as little trouble as possible。 That way lies trouble。’
Kahlan squatted with her boot over a snowshoe； and began lacing on the binding。 The faces of the dead young women wavered before her eyes。 ‘I’m the Mother Confessor。 I will not allow this to happen in the Midlands。 It’s my responsibility。’
The men glanced uneasily at one another。 The brothers moved to retrieve their snowshoes。 Chandalen did not。
‘You said your responsibility was to go to Aydindril as Richard With The Temper asked。 You said you must do as he asked。’
Kahlan paused her work at the binding of the second snowshoe。 Anguish seared though her。 She considered Chan…dalen’s words； but only briefly。 ‘I’m not abandoning that responsibility。’ She finished the binding and stood。 ‘But we’re Mud People。 We have other responsibilities； too。’
‘Other responsibilities？’
Kahlan tapped the bone knife that was tied to her arm； under her mantle。 ‘To the spirits。 The Jocopo； the Bantak； and now these men； have listened to spirits that would have them do great evil … spirits that e through the tear in the veil。 We have responsibilities to the spirits of our ancestors； and their living descendants。’
She knew that to close the veil； she needed to reach Zedd； to get help for Richard。 It was possible that Richard was the only one who could close the veil。 Chandalen was right； they must reach Aydindril。
But the faces of the young women still filled her mind。 The horror of what had been done to them still coursed through her。
The two brothers were sitting on the bench putting on their snowshoes。 Chandalen stepped close to her and lowered her voice。
‘What good will e of us catching this army？ It is wrong。’
She looked into his brown eyes。 They were not filled with defiance as they had been in the past； but with genuine concern。
‘Chandalen； the men who did this killing； and went east； are perhaps fifty thousand strong。 The ones who closed the doors in the palace and are chasing that army are perhaps five thousand。 They are filled with anger； but if they catch the ones they’re chasing； they’ll be slaughtered； too。 If I have a chance to prevent five thousand men from dying； then I must try for that chance。’
He lifted an eyebrow。 ‘And if you are killed in this； then what greater evil will break its bounds？’
‘That’s what you three are supposed to prevent … my being killed。’
She started for the door。 Chandalen gently gripped her arm and brought her to a halt。 He spoke calmly。
‘It will be dark soon。 We can rest here tonight； and cook food。 We can leave in the morning after we are rested。’
The moon will be up soon to light our way。 We have no time to waste。’ She leaned toward him。 ‘I’m going on； now。 If you’re as strong as you say； you’ll go with me。 If you’re not； you may rest here。’
Chandalen put his hands on his hips。 His lips tightened as he let out a deep breath。 He appraised her with frustration。
‘You cannot walk more than Chandalen。 We go； too。’
Kahlan gave him a quick； tight smile； and swept through the door。 The brothers snatched up their bows and jumped to fall in behind her while Chandalen bent to tie on his snowshoes。
CHAPTER 31
Richard watched the horses eating grass that wasn’t there； and scratched his itchy beard。 The surface of the valley was baked and barren； but the horses seemed contented in their grazing； as if there were lush green grass beneath their feet。 Illusion； it seemed； deluded and enticed even the horses。 He wondered what wasn’t there that he was going to see。
Sister Verna at last moved； pulling up on Jessup’s lead line； pulling him away from his browsing。 ‘This way。’
Ominous； dark clouds hugged the ground ahead； boiling as if alive and eagerly awaiting them。 Richard pulled the other two horses on； following after the Sister。 She had told them that they must walk because the horses could be suddenly spooked by things unseen and could carry them； helpless； into a spell。
Sister Verna abruptly altered her course across the featureless ground； taking them a little to the right。 The dark cloud of dust and dirt lifted and tumbled； driven by the gusts that； as of yet； didn’t touch them。 Sister Verna looked over her shoulder； her expression as dark as the cloud。
‘Whatever you see； you ignore it。 Whatever it is； it isn’t real。 You just ignore it。 Do you understand？’
‘What am I going to see？’
She redirected her attention to the way ahead。 Her white blouse was damp with sweat； as was his shirt。 ‘I can’t tell you。 The spells seek those things in your own mind you fear or long for； so everyone sees different things。 Yet some visions are the same。 Some fears are the same in all of us。 Some of the magic we will see is not visions； but real。 Like those clouds of dust。’
‘And what did you see the last time that you’re so afraid of？’
She walked in silence for a time。 ‘One I loved。’
‘If she was a loved one； why would you be afraid to see her？’
‘Because he tried to kill me。’
Richard blinked at the stinging sweat in his eyes。 ‘He？ Do you have a man you love； Sister？’
She watched the ground as she walked。 ‘Not anymore。’ Her voice was soft with sorrow。 She glanced up at him a moment； before seeking the ground once more with her eyes。 ‘When I was young； I had a love。 Jedidiah。’
She was silent； so he asked。 ‘He is not your love anymore？’ She shook her head。 ‘Why not？’
Pausing only a moment； she wiped her brow with a finger before moving on。 ‘I was young； perhaps younger than you； when I left the Palace of the Prophets。 Left to find you。 We didn’t know if you had been born yet。 We knew that if you had not been； you would be； but we didn’t know when； so three Sisters were sent。
‘But that was many years ago。 I’ve spent better than half my life away from the palace。 From Jedidiah。’ She stopped again； peering first right； then left； before starting ahead once more。 ‘He will have long ago forgotten me； and found another。’
‘If he really loved you； Sister； he won’t have forgotten you and found another。 You haven’t forgotten him。’
She tugged on her horse’s line； pulling him away from something he wanted to investigate。 ‘Too many years have passed。 We’ve grown older apart。 I have grown old。 We are not the same people we were。 He is one with the gift； and has his own life。 It would not include me。’
‘You’re not old； Sister。 If you really love each other； time shouldn’t matter。’ He wondered if he was talking about her； or himself。
Sister Verna gave a soft； private laugh。 ‘Youth。 Youth holds much hope； but not much wisdom。 I know the ways of people。 Of men。 He has been too long from my skirts。 He will long ago have sought another。’
Richard felt himself blushing in the heat。 ‘Love has more to it than that。’
‘Ah； so you know so much of love； yes？ You； too； will soon be searching the charms of a new pair of pretty legs。’
Richard was about to vent a rush of sudden anger when Sister Verna stopped。 She looked up。 The dark cloud swirled in； closing in on them。
From somewhere； Richard heard the faint sound of someone screaming his name。
‘Something is wrong；’ Sister Verna whispered to herself。
‘What is it？’
She ignored him； pulling Jessup to the left。 ‘This way。’
Lightning lit the air about them。 A blinding bolt struck the ground ahead； sending a shower of the chalky earth skyward。 The ground shook with the impact。 Every muscle flinched from the nearness of the strike。
When the lightning tore the dark wall open for an instant； Ri