dy died trying to get me to accept their help so a life wouldn’t be lost？ How does that add up？’
‘I don’t know； Richard； but I’m so scared it hurts。 I’m afraid they could be telling the truth： that you don’t have much time； and the headaches are killing you。 I’m afraid you won’t be able to control them much longer。’ Her voice broke with emotion。 ‘I don’t want to lose you。’
Richard slipped his arms around her。 ‘It will be all right。 I will bury her。 The gathering will be in a few hours。 Tomorrow we will be in Aydindril and then I will be safe。 Zedd will know what to do。’
She could only nod against his shoulder。
CHAPTER 16
Kahlan sat naked in the circle with eight naked men。 Richard was to her left； painted； as were she and the elders； with the black and white mud except in a small circle in the center of his chest。 In the dim light ing from the small fire behind her； she could see the wild jumble of lines and swirls sweeping diagonally across his face。 They all wore the same mask； so that the ancestors’ spirits might see them。 She wondered if she looked as savage to him as he looked to her。 The unfamiliar； acrid smell from the fire made her nose itch。 None of the elders scratched their noses； they only stared at nothing and chanted sacred words to the spirits。
The door slammed shut by itself； making her jump。
The Bird Man’s distant eyes came up。 ‘From now； until we are finished； near dawn； no one may go out； no one may e in。 The door is barred by the spirits。’
Kahlan didn’t like the idea that； as Richard had said； this could be a trap。 She squeezed his hand more tightly。 He returned the squeeze。 At least； she thought； she was with him。 She hoped she could protect him。 She hoped she could call the lightning if she had to。
The Bird Man fished out a frog and then passed the woven basket to the next elder。 Kahlan stared at the skulls arranged in a circle in the center as each elder took a frog and began rubbing its back against the bare circle of skin on his chest。 As they did so； each rolled his head back and chanted different words。 Without looking over； Savidlin passed her the basket。
Closing her eyes； she reached inside and finally caught a squirming； kicking spirit frog。 Its smooth； slimy skin was revolting。 Swallowing hard； and taking a mental grip on her Confessor’s power to try to keep from releasing it unintentionally； she pressed the frog’s back to the skin between her breasts as she passed the basket to Richard。
Tingling tightness spread across her skin。 She freed the frog and took up Richard’s hand once more as the walls began to waver； as if seen through heat and smoke。 Her mind tried in vain to hold on to the images of the spirit house around her。 They drifted away as she felt herself spinning around the skulls。
Soft sensations caressed her skin。 Light danced from the skulls in the center and filled her eyes。 Sounds of the boldas and drums and chanting filled her ears。 The pungent smell from the fire filled her lungs。 As once before； the light from the center brightened； taking them into it； into the silken void； spinning them around。
And then there were shapes around them。 Kahlan remembered them； too； from before： the ancestors’ spirits。 She felt a gossamer touch on her shoulder： a hand； a spirit hand。
The Bird Man’s mouth moved； but it wasn’t his voice。 It was the joined voices of the ancestors’ spirits； flat； hollow； dead。
‘Who calls this gathering？’
Kahlan leaned toward Richard； and whispered； ‘They want to know who calls this gathering。’
He nodded。 ‘I do。 I call this gathering。’
The touch left her shoulder and the spirits all floated from behind them into the center of the circle。
‘Speak your name。’ The echo of their voices sent ripples of pain along the skin of her arms。 ‘Your full and true name。 If you are certain that you wish this gathering； despite the danger； speak the request after your name。 You get but this one warning。’
Richard stared at her translation。 ‘Richard； please 。。。’
‘I have to。’ He looked back to the spirits in the center and took a deep breath。 ‘I am Richard 。。。’ He swallowed and closed his eyes for a moment。 ‘I am Richard Rahl； and I request this gathering。’
‘So be it；’ came the empty whispers。
The door to the spirit house crashed open。
Kahlan jumped with a little shriek。 She felt Richard’s hand flinch； too。 The doorway stood open； a black maw in the soft light around them。 The elders all looked up； their eyes no longer glazed with the distant vision。 They seemed confused； dazed。
The spirit voices came again； this time not through the elders； but from the center； from the spirits themselves。 The sound of it was even more painful than before。
‘All but the one who calls the ancestors’ spirits may leave。 Leave while you still can。 Heed our warning。 Those who remain behind with him risk forfeiting their souls。’ They turned as one to Richard。 Their voices were a hiss。 ‘ You may not leave。’
The elders’ frightened eyes flicked around to each other as she translated for Richard。 Kahlan knew： this had never happened before。
‘Everyone out；’ Richard whispered。 ‘Have everyone get out。 I don’t want them hurt。’
Kahlan looked to the Bird Man’s worried eyes。 ‘Please。 All of you； leave now。 While you can。 We don’t want harm to e to any of you。’
The elders all looked to the Bird Man。 He stared at her a moment； glanced at Richard； and then back to her。
‘I can offer you no guidance； child。 This has never happened before。 I don’t know what it means。’
Kahlan nodded。 ‘I understand。 Go now； before it is too late。’
Savidlin touched her shoulder； and then the elders vanished as they walked through the black void of the doorway。 She sat in the quiet with Richard； with the spirits。
‘Kahlan； I want you out of here； too。 Go。 Now。’ His voice was calm； almost cold。 Fear danced in his eyes。 And magic。
She watched his face as he stared at the spirits。
‘No；’ she whispered。 She turned once more to the center。 ‘I will not leave you。 Not for any reason。 Though no words have been spoken over us； we are joined in our hearts； by my magic。 We are one。 What happens to one； happens to both。 I am staying。’
Richard didn’t look over。 He continued to stare at the spirits as they floated in the center of the room； above the skulls。 She thought he would yell at her to leave。 He didn’t。 His voice came soft and gentle。
Thank you。 I love you； Kahlan Amnell。 Together； then。’
The door banged closed。
Kahlan jumped； and a little sound escaped from her throat before she could catch it。 Her heart pounded in her ears。 She tried to slow her breathing； but couldn’t。 She swallowed instead。
The image of the spirits dimmed。 ‘What you have called forth； Richard Rahl； we cannot stay to witness。 We are sorry。’
Their forms seemed to evaporate as she watched。 As they vanished； the light went with them； until the two of them were left in total blackness。 She could hear the slow crackle of the fire off beyond that blackness； Richard’s quick breathing； her own breathing； and nothing else。 Richard’s hand found hers。 In the darkness； they sat together； alone； naked。
As Kahlan began to think； to hope； that nothing was going to happen； she became aware of a slight brightening in front of her。 There was light beginning to glow。
Green light。
A shade of green light she had seen from only one place。
The underworld。
Her breaths came in ragged pulls。 The green light brightened； and with it； distant wails。
From the air all about came an earsplitting crack； like a clap of thunder； sudden； hard； painful。 The ground shook with the impact of it。
From the center of the green light； a white brilliance oozed through； to coalesce into a form and stand before them。 Her breath caught in her throat。 The fine hairs on the back of her neck stood out stiffly。
The white form took a step closer。 She only dimly realized Richard’s grip on her hand was hurting her。 Kahlan knew the white robes； the long blond hair； the painfully handsome face that stood before them； smiling that small； gruesome smile。
‘Dear spirits protect us；’ she whispered。
It was Darken Rahl。
As one； she and Richard came slowly to their feet。 The glowing blue eyes watched them rise。 Relaxed； unhurried； Darken Rahl brought a hand up and licked his fingertips。
Thank you； Richard； for calling me back。’ His cruel smile widened。 ‘How thoughtful of you。’
‘I。。。 didn’t call you back；’ Richard whispered。
Darken Rahl laughed a quiet laugh。 ‘Once again； you make a mistake。 Call me back you did。 You called a gathering。 A gathering of ancestors’ spirits。 I am your ancestor。 Only you could have brought me back； through the veil。 Only you。’
‘I denounce you。’
‘Denounce me all you will。’ He held his arms out； out in the white light around him。 ‘I am still here。’
‘But I killed you。’
The glowing； shimmering； white robed form laughed again