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Her whole body tingled with apprehension at the way his eyes took her in。 His familiar grin ran a cold shiver up her arms and the back of her neck； making the fine hairs stand stiffly out。
Orsk crashed through the trees。 ‘Mistress！ Are you safe？’
She could hear others ing in the woods behind him。 She heard Chandalen’s voice。 Prindin swiftly nocked an arrow。 Orsk lifted his axe with one big fist。 ‘Prindin！ No！ Don’t hurt him！’ Prindin drew his bow。 ‘Orsk！ Run！’
The big man spun without question and darted back into the brush。 An arrow followed him in。 She heard the arrow strike something solid。 She could hear Orsk stumble through the barren undergrowth； breaking branches and saplings。 The snapping of twigs died out； and then she heard him hit the ground。
She tried to stand； but feebly fell back。 It felt as if she had no bones and her muscles were melting。 Her strength was gone。 The blackness was trying to suck her back in。 Prindin turned his grin back to her as he shouldered his bow once more。
Kahlan strained to bring forth the strength to speak。 It came in a breathy whisper。 ‘Prindin； why did you do that？’
He shrugged。 ‘So we can be alone。’ His smile widened。 ‘Before they chop off your head。’
Prindin。 Prindin had told Riggs her power wouldn’t hurt him； so she would expend it on him； and would have nothing left。 Her legs trembled with the effort of trying to lift herself。 She fell back again as he watched。
A voice came through the trees。 It was a breathless Chan…dalen； calling to her。 In another direction； she heard Tossidin calling。 She tried to scream to them。 Only a weak； hoarse plaint came from her throat。 Darkness pressed into her。
Maybe she was still asleep； she thought。 She could hardly speak； hardly move； just like a nightmare。 She wished it were。
But she knew it was no dream。
Prindin turned to the insistent calls。 Kahlan dug her heels into the snow and； with a mighty effort； managed to scoot herself back。 Her hand fell on a stout maple limb lying on the ground。
Prindin rushed to her。 She focused all her fear； her dread； her pain and horror at what was happening； into action。 It took everything she had。 Prindin reached for her。
Kahlan came up swinging the stout limb。 Prindin ducked and snatched her would…be club； wrenching it from her grip。 He spun her to him and curled his arm around her head； over her mouth； as she tried to warn Chandalen。 Though he wasn’t big； she knew Prindin to be incredibly strong； but in her present state； even a child could have had his way with her。
Chandalen ran up behind them； a knife in hand。 Kahlan bit into Prindin’s arm。 She cried out as Prindin spun with impossible speed and strength； catching Chandalen across the side of the head with the branch。 The sound of the hollow thunk was sickening。 The blow knocked Chandalen into the boughs of a fir tree。 As she twisted from Prindin’s grip； she saw blood on the snow around Chandalen。
Tossidin； breathing hard； burst through the trees。 ‘What is happening！ Prindin！’
He saw them and stopped in his tracks。 He looked to Chandalen and then to Prindin。
Prindin peered back over his shoulder at his brother； speaking in his own tongue。 ‘Chandalen tried to kill us！ I came here just as he tried to kill the Mother Confessor。 Help me。 She is hurt。’
Kahlan collapsed to her knees； crying out。 ‘No 。。。 Tossidin 。。。 no 。。。’
Tossidin ran toward them。 ‘What is this trouble Chandalen told me of？ What is wrong with you； brother？ What have you done？’
‘Help me！ The Mother Confessor has been hurt！’
Tossidin gripped his brother’s shoulder and spun him around。 ‘Prindin！ What have you 。。。’
Prindin slammed a knife into his brother’s chest。 Tossidin’s eyes went wide in surprise。 His mouth opened but no words came。 With a wheeze； his legs buckled and he crumpled to the ground。 Kahlan cried out。 He had been stabbed through the heart。
Chandalen sat up with a groggy groan。 He put his hands to his bleeding scalp。 Keeping an eye to the wounded man； Prindin pulled a bone box from his waist pouch。 He had a full box of bandu。 He hadn’t given her all his poison。
Helpless to stop him； Kahlan saw Prindin wipe a generous gob of poison onto the arrow’s point。 Dazed； Chandalen held his head in his hands as he tried to gather his wits。 Prindin drew the bowstring to his cheek。 She knew he was aiming for Chandalen’s throat。 Just as Prindin released the arrow； she managed to throw herself against his legs； making the arrow go astray from its target。 It still hit Chandalen in the shoulder。
The back of his fist across her face sent her sprawling。 Powered by sheer terror； Kahlan started scrambling away on her hands and knees。 The snow was freezing her fingers。 The knees of her pants were soaked and icy wet。 She concentrated on the cold to try to revive herself。 She glanced over her shoulder as she clambered away。
Prindin drew another arrow from his quiver； and wiped it in the poison as he watched her struggle。 As he had watched Chandalen。 A cry came from her throat as she staggered to her feet and ran。 A nightmare。 It had to be a nightmare。
The arrow felt like a club hitting the back of her left leg。 She screamed and fell to her face。 Her leg flamed in hot pain。
A tingling； prickling sensation spread through the muscle。 The pain seared through the bone； into her hip。
Prindin was suddenly over her。 He knelt down and gripped the arrow sticking from the back of her leg。 He put his other hand against her bottom to hold her； and yanked the arrow free。 Kahlan could feel the tingle of the poison going up her leg。
‘Don’t worry； Mother Confessor； I did not use much poison on your arrow； like on Chandalen’s； just enough to make sure you will give me no trouble。 He will be dead in another minute。 You will live long enough to have your head chopped off。’ His hand stroked her bottom。 ‘If they do not wait too long。’ Prindin leaned over her。 ‘It is too cold out here。 We will go back。’
He took hold of her wrist and started dragging her across the snow。 In her mind； Kahlan fought him； she struggled； she shrieked； she hit； but she couldn’t make her body obey。 She was as limp as a rag doll being dragged over the snow。 She could feel the poison spreading to her ribs。
Tears streamed down her cheeks。 Orsk。 Tossidin。 Chan…dalen。 Her。 How could Prindin do such a thing？ She sobbed as her face slid over the snow。 How could he？ His own brother。 He had stabbed his own brother as if it meant nothing。 Who could do such a thing？ How could anyone do such a thing？ How could anyone but a 。。。
Baneling。
She gasped with the realization。 She had never fully believed in banelings； before。 Wizards had told her they were real； but she never believed the wizards knew for sure。 She had always thought it might be superstitious nonsense that sent people hunting things in the dark； things from the underworld； things bidden from the Keeper’s own dark whispers。
But now she knew。 She was in the grips of a baneling。 Dear spirits； how could no one know？ He had helped her so many times。 He had befriended her。
So he could be close to her； and keep track of her for the Keeper。 He was a baneling。 Darken Rahl had laughed at her。 Because she was so stupid。
She knew now； without a doubt … the veil was torn。 Darken Rahl had promised her such things。 He had e to tear the veil the rest of the way； and she had foolishly thought she was in control of what she was doing； but all the time Darken Rahl； and the Keeper； had watched her through Prindin’s eyes。
But why wait until now？ Why let her fight in this war； let all these people die； before he snatched her？
Kahlan knew why。 The Keeper was of the world of the dead。 Bringing death to the world of the living was what he wanted。 He resented the living。 That was why he wanted the veil torn … so he could bring death to the world of the living。
He coveted this world’s breath of life。 He enjoyed watching people die。 He did not wish to stop it too soon； stop the suffering； the fear； the pain。
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