-----.Richard and Katrina held the boughs of a humongous tree back. "This is a wayward pine," Richard announced. "Friend to any traveler."
-----.Katrina smiled and gave Kahlan a reassuring nod. It was dark inside. Katrina held the boughs open so that Richard could see to start a fire with his flint and steel. She realized that she could see the clouds of breath she exhaled. Kahlan and Richard would be quite chilled. Thankfully, the fire took to the tinder stock that Richard kept in the tree's skirt.
-----.The tree itself was quite large. Richard could almost stand up straight at the tallest point under the tree where the branches spread out and touched the ground. The needles on the tree were so thick that even if it were raining, it would still be dry inside. The tree was also fire-resistant, so long as one was careful.
-----.Richard and Kahlan began having another conversation. Katrina tuned it out as she set up the dry grass pile that was the bed. Since the fire was replacing the chilly air with a more bearable temperature, Katrina shed her fur mantle and laid it out on the grass bedding. After the long day she'd had following these two around, fighting off a member of a quad, running and nearly dying of fear at the teeth of a gar - the bed of grass looked inviting. She decided to give in to the desire of collapsing in a heap on her fur mantle. Richard and Kahlan paused their conversation to look at Katrina.
-----."She's an odd one, isn't she." Richard stated more than asked. Kahlan nodded.
-----."Her story doesn't make sense, but it's true. She isn't lying to us when she says she's not from here," Kahlan reassured. She got up and walked over to Katrina to make sure she was warm. She flinched, but didn't betray what she saw. She would have to ask the Old One about it when she got the chance, or better yet...
-----."Richard, are you afraid of magic?"
-----.He gave his answer some thought before voicing it. "I was always fascinated by it; it sounded exciting. But now I know there is magic to fear. But I guess it's like people: some you stay clear of and some you are fortunate to know."
-----.Kahlan smiled, seeming satisfied with his answer. "Richard. Before I sleep, there is something I must tend to. It is a creature of magic. If you would not be afraid. I will let you see it. The opportunity is a rare one. Few have ever seen it, and few ever will. But you must promise me you will leave and take a walk when I ask, and not ask me any more questions when you return. I am very tired and must sleep."
-----.Richard smiled at the honor. "Promise."
-----.Kahlan opened a waist pouch on her belt and pulled out a small round bottle with a stopper. Silver and blue lines spiraled around the fat part of the bottle. There was a light inside.
-----."This is a night wisp. Her name is Shar. A night wisp cannot be seen during the day, only at night. Shar is part of the magic that helped me cross the boundary; she was my guide. Without her, I would have been lost."
-----.Kahlan needed a moment to recover her composure. Her eyes had filled with tears, but her voice remained steady. "Tonight, she dies. She can live no longer away from her home place and the others of her kind, and she does not have the strength to cross the boundary again. Shar has sacrificed her life to help me because if Darken Rahl succeeds, all of her kind, among others, will perish."
-----.Kahlan pulled the stopper free of the bottle, then placed the bottle in the flat of her palm between them.
-----.A tiny light lifted clear of the bottle and floated up into the cool, dim air of the wayward pine, casting a silver light on everything.
-----."Good evening, Richard Cypher," it said in a tiny little voice.
-----."Good evening to you, Shar." His own voice wasn't much more than a whisper.
-----.Shar thanked Richard for helping Kahlan through the day, then for helping its people. Shar then offered up a return on the help that was given. It said that if Richard ever needed help from its people, he had only say its name. Richard shook his head, saying he would help as he could, but he didn't want to go to the Midlands. Shar understood.
-----."If you run, he will find you. Darken Rahl hunts you both. He will not rest. He will not stop. You have no defense against him. He will kill you both. Soon."
-----."Shar. Isn't there a way for us to escape?" Richard's mouth had gone dry.
-----.Shar spun in the air, casting the silver light into the boughs of the tree. "If your back is to him, your eyes will not be. He will get you. He enjoys it."
-----.Richard stared. "But...is there nothing we can do?"
-----."Better question, Richard Cypher. The answer is within yourself. You must seek it or he will kill you both. Soon."
-----."How soon?" His voice turned harder; he couldn't help himself. He needed information - anything that would give him something to hold on to. Shar backed off a little.
-----."The first day of winter, Richard Cypher. When the sun is in the sky. If Darken Rahl does not kill you before then, and if he is not stopped, then on the first day of winter when the sun is in the sky, my kind will all die. You both will die. He will enjoy it."
-----.Richard needed something, anything. Questioning the little ball of light was difficult. He tried asking another question, but it led to a response that he'd already been given.
-----."All right, can you tell me why he's trying to kill me? Is it because I help Kahlan, or is there another reason?"
-----.Shar came close to his face. "Other reasons? Secrets?"
-----.Richard jumped to his feet. "What!" The night wisp followed him up.
-----."Don't know why. Sorry. Just that he will."
-----."What's the wizard's name?"
-----."Good question, Richard Cypher. Sorry. Don't know."
-----.Richard sat down and put his face in his palm. Shar flew in slow circles around his head. Somehow, he knew she was trying to comfort him. It was sad knowing that she was the one dying and that he was the one being comforted. He then looked up at her and thanked her for bringing Kahlan into his life. His vision turned watery. Shar floated to him and touched against his forehead. Her voice was just as much in his head as it was in his ears.
-----."I am sorry, Richard Cypher. I do not know the answers that would save you. If I did, please believe I would give them eagerly. But I know the good in you. I believe in you. I do know that you have within you what you must to succeed. There will be times when you doubt yourself. Do not give up. Remember then that I believe in you, that I know you can accomplish what you must. You are a rare person, Richard Cypher. Believe in yourself. And protect Kahlan."
-----.Richard couldn't say anything in return to Shar. A lump kept catching his breath and tears were running down his face freely.
-----."There are no gars about. Please let me be alone with Kahlan now. My time comes."
-----.Richard nodded. "Good-bye, Shar. It has been my deep honor to have known you."
-----.He left without looking at either of them.
o()xxxx[{::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::>
-----.Once outside, Richard walked off. For a time, he looked at the sky. What Shar said had startled him. Darken Rahl hunts them both and if he doesn't do anything, he will die. Kahlan will die. He decided that he would do whatever it takes to keep that from happening.
-----.Then the thunder without sound came. Richard waited a moment for re-entering the boughs of the wayward pine. Kahlan was resting her chin on her knees and staring into the fire.
-----."Shar?" Richard asked.
-----."Shar is gone." Kahlan's voice was distant.
-----.Richard understood how Kahlan felt and led her to the grass pile, which now had a fur mantle on it and a sleeping Katrina. He gently urged Kahlan down on the mat of grass. She went without complaint or resistance. He put the blanket over her and then laid down next to her. She turned the other way, like a child with a sense of peril. He knew he should have felt cold, but he didn't. He lay there, thinking about the thunder without sound. He wondered what she would do to make the great wizard do what she wanted. The idea frightened him. Before he could worry more about it, he was asleep.
This is not an original story. This is a fan-fiction based off of the Sword of Truth novels by Terry Goodkind. I do not own any of the characters or places or anything part of the series. Katrina is my character.
