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he had done the first time。 As he concentrated； seeking the calm center； something began to happen。
The sword； the black square； and the white border all began to shimmer as if seen through heat waves； the same as the first time。 The solid form of the sword softened； being transparent； and then vanished。 The background dissolved。 Once again； Richard was looking into the Garden of Life； at the People’s Palace。
He searched the filmy image； seeing white bones where before he had seen burned bodies。 He remembered them lying over the short walls； in bushes； and sprawled on the grass。 They were much as he remembered； only now they were mostly exposed bones。
Richard saw the white； glowing figure of Darken Rahl； but he was not standing before the stone altar； before the three boxes of Orden。 He was near the circle that had held white sand。 The sand had not been there the last time he had seen this vision。
A woman in a long； brown skirt and white blouse knelt at Darken Rahl’s feet； bent over the circle of sand。 Richard willed himself closer。 She was drawing lines in the sparkling sorcerer’s sand。 Richard remembered some of the symbols she was drawing； Darken Rahl had drawn them before when he had opened the box。
Richard watched her hand moving slowly； carefully； as she drew the lines of spells。 Her right hand； he noticed； was missing the little finger。
In the center of the circle； in the center of the sorcerer’s sand； sat a round object。 Richard went closer。 It was carved all over with beasts； just as the Prelate had described。
Richard wanted to scream with rage。
Just then； Darken Rahl lifted his face； and looked right into Richard’s eyes。 A smile slowly spread on his lips。
Richard didn’t know if Darken Rahl was really looking at him or not； but he didn’t wait to find out。 With desperate effort； he forced the image of the sword back into his mind； like slamming a door； at the same time banishing the black…and…white background。
With a gasp； Richard forced his eyes open。 His chest heaved。
Sister Verna’s eyes came open； too。 ‘Richard； are you all right？ You’ve been at it an hour。 I felt you trying to pull back； so I pulled with you。 What happened？ What did you see？’
‘An hour？’ Richard was still trying to catch his breath。 ‘I saw Darken Rahl； and the skrin bone。 He had a woman there； helping him draw spells in the sorcerer’s sand。’
Warren leaned over Richard’s shoulder。 ‘Maybe it was just a vision of a fear。 It may not have been real。’
‘Warren could be right；’ Sister Verna said。 She drew her lower lip through her teeth as she thought。 ‘What did the woman look like？’
‘Wavy； shoulder…length brown hair； maybe about your size。 She was bent over； drawing in the sand； so I couldn’t see her eyes。’ Richard pressed his fingers to his forehead as he thought。 ‘Her hand。 She was missing the little finger on her right hand。’
Warren groaned。 Sister Verna’s eyes slid closed。
‘What？ What’s the matter？’
‘Sister Odette；’ she said。 That’s Sister Odette。’
Warren nodded confirmation。 ‘She has been gone for close to six months。 I thought she went to get a boy。’
‘Curse the spirits；’ Richard said under his breath。 He sprang to his feet。 ‘Warren； run and get Du Chaillu。 Tell her we must leave right now。’
He ground his teeth in frustration。 He had thought he had all the time he needed。 Well； he still had enough time； if he hurried。
Du Chaillu seemed in a trance as Richard pulled her forward by the hand。 With the Sword of Truth in his other hand； Richard was in a world of his own； too。 His thundering rage was a match for the angry black clouds。 The spells of magic circled them like a pack of dogs around a porcupine； angry and insistent； but holding their distance as they searched for an opening。
Wisps of light emerged from the darkness and whirled around them； spiraling down to vanish into an aura that surrounded Du Chaillu。 She seemed to be absorbing the magic； as Sister Verna told him she had done before。 Together； they were the pleted link Warren had told him the old books said would contain the power and bring the towers down。
Through the waves of heat and the boiling mist； Richard saw the first tower。 He pulled Du Chaillu onward； toward the glistening black wall that disappeared into the darkness overhead。 Dust and dirt lifted around them as they rushed toward the arched opening in the wall。 Spells snatched at them； but their light was sucked to Du Chaillu。
Richard acted without thought； not knowing what drove him onward； and not trying to stop it。 If he was to succeed； if he was to save Kahlan； he had to let those things within himself guide him。 He had to hope that if he truly had the gift； it would react on instinct； as Nathan had told him； and do what was needed。
Du Chaillu seemed not to notice the sparkling black sand they stood on in the center of the tower。 She seemed lost in a private spell of her own； in the power passed down to her from those who built the towers and took her people’s land。 So far； she had done her half of what was needed； she had protected him。 Now Richard had to do his part。
On impulse； holding her hand tight in his； he lifted the sword high in the other； pointing it straight up。 He lost himself in the fury of the magic； letting it overwhelm him。 He felt the heat of it in the calm center he had always sought。 He let the rage fill the void。
Lightning exploded from the sword； arcing up into the darkness overhead； jumping from one wall to the other； bathing them all in liquid light。 The noise was deafening。
Fire raced through the black stone until the whole of the tower glowed； the stone turning white in the heat of the luminous discharge。
Richard felt as if the lightning were passing through him； too。 It seared him with its power； erupting outward； and up through the sword。 Only his rage enabled him to endure the ferocity of the onrushing force ing from within。
Flickering webs of lightning cascaded down the walls and across the black sand； until everything was alive with it。 The black sand turned white； as had the walls； and the world burned with pulsing fire and light。
Abruptly； it ended。 The lightning cut off； the fire winked out； and the roar of noise ceased； leaving silence ringing in his ears。 The polished black stone of the tower was left a blinding white gloss。
Du Chaillu seemed still not to notice what was around her； and Richard pulled her onward； to plete the task for which they both had been born。
In the white tower； as he held the sword high； he expected the flash of heat and light again； but it did not e。 Instead； the counter to it； the balance to it； exploded forth。
Concussion ripped the air； threatening to strip flesh from bone； as black lightning blasted upward； a void in the light。 Like the lightning before； Richard felt the might of the power erupting from deep within himself； as if his very soul were pouring it forth。 The snaking void in the light raked the walls； and； with a thunderous roar； pierced a void into the darkness above。
As the black lightning twisted into the darkness overhead； shadows oozed down the white walls； making it seem as if they were melting into the depths of eternal night。 Darkness reached the ground and flowed toward them； soaking into the white sand； turning it black。
Richard never gave thought to trying to escape the encroaching night。 When it reached them； he felt as if they were being plunged into icy water。 Du Chaillu； her eyes closed； shivered with the touch of it。 Richard noted it； but through the wrath of the sword’s magic； it was a distant sensation that only fed the anger。
It seemed the whole world had vanished forever into inky obscurity。 Light； and vision； were beyond even memory。
Richard felt the undulating； twisting rope of the black lightning； the void in the world of life； cut off。 Sudden silence replaced the cacophony。 He could hear himself breathing hard。 He could hear Du Chaillu doing the same。 Light and life and warmth emerged from the cold void。
Outside； th