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“We can’t,” Nicci said. “If Richard can’t find us, we’re lost.”
Kahlan gestured around at the chaos. “What do you think he’s going to be able to do?”
“By now,” Nicci said, “I would think that you would have learned not to underestimate him.”
“Nicci’s right,” Jillian said. “I’ve even seen him come back from the world of the dead.”
CHAPTER 36
Kahlan could only wonder at Jillian’s claim. She now knew that the man could indeed start a war, but she didn’t really believe that he could go to the underworld and come back. Watching the perilous turmoil unfolding all around them, though, she knew that this was not the time or place to discuss it.
She scanned the confusion of runaway violence, searching for a way out. If Jagang died, or even if he were only to pass out, she might be able to use such an opportunity to get Jillian, Nicci, and herself away from there. She wondered if it mattered if Jagang, being a dream walker, was unconscious or not. She worried that even in an unconscious state he might still be able to control them through their collars.
If Jagang did die or lose consciousness, and wasn’t able to stop Nicci and Kahlan through their collars, there was still the matter of the vast army all around them. Kahlan was invisible to virtually all of the men around them, but Jillian and Nicci certainly weren’t. Getting a woman who looked like Nicci and the tempting target of a girl like Jillian through all these men would not be easy. Nicci certainly put a lot of faith in Richard, though.
“Do you really think Richard can get us out of here?” she asked Nicci.
Nicci nodded. “With my help. I think I know a way.”
Kahlan didn’t think that Nicci was the kind of woman who would put her faith in a hope and a prayer. During her ordeal with Jagang she had never tried to latch on to delusions or false hope for salvation. If she said she knew a way, then Kahlan was inclined to think that there was something to it.
Off through a gap in the battle, Kahlan spotted Richard. He thrust the sword forward, running a man through before the soldier could complete the swing of his own sword. Richard, covered in the bloodred symbols, immediately pulled the sword back out of the man and on the backswing smashed the pommel into the face of the man coming at him from behind.
“This may be our only chance, then,” Kahlan said.
Nicci stretched her neck to check on Richard’s progress before again glancing to the confusion swirling around the injured emperor. “I don’t think we’ll get a better one. I think it’s now or never. With these collars, though…”
“If Jagang is distracted enough he might not use our collars to stop us.”
Nicci shot Kahlan a look that suggested how foolish the thought was. “Now, listen to me,” she said. “If anything goes wrong, I’ll do what I can to see to it that you, Jillian, and Richard have a chance to get away.” Nicci held up a cautionary finger. “If it comes to that, you take that chance—you hear me? If it comes to that, don’t you dare waste the opportunity I gain you. Do you understand?”
Kahlan didn’t like that Nicci was thinking of sacrificing her life to give them a chance to get away. She also wondered why Nicci would think it more important that Kahlan live than her.
“If you promise that you won’t even consider doing such a thing unless there’s absolutely no other way. I’d rather find a way to get us all out of this.”
“It’s the only life I have,” Nicci said. “I want to keep it, if that’s what you’re wondering.”
Kahlan smiled at that and put a hand on Jillian’s shoulder. “Stay close, but don’t get in the way if I have to use a knife. And don’t be afraid to use yours if you have to.”
Jillian nodded as Kahlan ushered her in the direction of the Ja’La field where she’d last seen Richard. Nicci stayed close behind Jillian.
Before Kahlan had taken a dozen steps, Commander Karg, atop a huge war horse, broke through the wall of combat behind them. The big horse snorted its displeasure at the men in its way.
The commander, leading a large force of royal guards, looked around in appraisal of the situation. Like the men guarding Jagang, these were elite combat soldiers. They were all big, powerfully built, and armed to the teeth—and there looked to be thousands of them. The violence they brought to bear was extraordinary to witness. They poured through the soldiers on a wave of blood.
Not far off in the distance behind the royal guards Kahlan saw gouts of flame rise up into the night sky. The harsh red glow lit the straining faces of men fighting for their lives. Who the men were fighting seemed to have lost its importance. The soldiers seemed to have gone mad in a world gone mad. It was every man for himself, except for the royal guard, who did have a very clear idea of who they were fighting—anyone but them.
“Sisters are coming,” Nicci said as she watched the flames and smoke boiling up into the black sky. “We don’t have much time before it’s too late. Try to stay out of sight and out of the way of the guard.”
Kahlan nodded as she eased her way along with Jillian in a direction away from the main force fighting their way in. Nicci had a plan to get them away. Richard would be searching for them, so Kahlan didn’t want to get too far away from where he had last seen them.
Her aim was to skirt the main confrontation between the regular soldiers and the royal guard while moving toward where she’d last seen Richard, hoping that as they moved off to the side she didn’t get too far away from Richard’s approach. At the same time she wanted to stay out of the new confrontation. The elite guard would be a very different foe from the regular soldiers.
Commander Karg leaped down off the horse among the original royal guard contingent. “Where’s Jagang?” he called out to the wall of guards pr
otecting the injured emperor.
“He’s been shot with an arrow,” one of the guard officers said as he signaled his men to open a path for the commander.
Kahlan saw Jagang, then, still on his knees, being supported by a big man squatting down to each side of him. He was pale, but conscious. He was having difficulty breathing, occasionally coughing, leaving little dark spots of blood on his chin and down the front of him. One hand clutched the arrow jutting from the right side of his chest.
“An arrow!” Karg yelled. “How in the name of Creation did that happen?”
The officer seized Karg by his chain mail and yanked him close. “Your man shot him!”
Commander Karg glared as he lifted the officer’s chin with the point of a knife. “Get your hands off me.”
The man released the commander, but returned the glare in kind.
“Now, what are you talking about it being my man?” Karg asked.
“It was your point man. He shot the emperor with an arrow.”
Karg’s expression darkened. “Then I’ll kill him myself.”
“If we don’t kill him first.”
“Fine. You do it, then. I don’t really care who kills him—as long as he’s dead that’s all that matters. The man is dangerous. I don’t want him running around loose to do any more damage. Just bring me his head so that I know that it’s finished.”
“Consider it done,” the officer said.
Karg ignored the man’s boast as he started pushing other men out of his way. “Get the emperor on his feet!” he yelled at the wall of men around Jagang. “We’re getting him back to his compound. There are Sisters there who can help him. We can’t do anything here.”
No one argued. Guards helped Jagang to his feet. Two men, one to each side, put shoulders under his arms, supporting him.
“Karg,” Jagang said in a weak voice.
The commander stepped close. “Yes, Excellency?”
A grin spread on Jagang’s face. “Glad to see you. I guess you earned her for a while.”
