For my parents, Natalie and Leo I would like to thank my editor, James Frenkel. for having the integrity to settle for no less than my best effort; my British editor, Caroline Oakley, for her continuing support and encouragement; my friends Bonnie Moretto and Donald Schassberger MD, for their expert advice; and Keith Parkinson for the outstanding cover art.CHAPTER 1 Rachel clutched her doll tighter to her chest and stared at the dark thing watching her from the bushes. At least she thought it was watching her. It was hard to tell because the eyes were as dark as the rest of it, except when the light caught them just right; then they gleamed a golden color. She had seen animals in the woods before, rabbits and raccoons and squirrels and such, but this was bigger. It was as big as her, maybe bigger. Bears were dark. She wondered if it could be a bear. But this wasnt exactly the woods, since it was indoors. She had never been in an indoor woods before. She wondered if indoor woods had animals like the outdoor woods did. She might have been afraid if Chase wasnt there with her. She knew she was safe with him. Chase was the bravest man she ever saw. Still, she was a little afraid. Chase had told her she was the bravest little girl he knew. She didnt want him to think she was afraid of some big rabbit. Maybe thats all it was, some big rabbit, sitting on a rock or something. But rabbits had long ears. Maybe it really was a bear. She put her dolls foot in her mouth. She turned and looked down the path, across the pretty flowers and short walls covered with vines, and across the grass to where Chase was talking to Zedd, the wizard. They were standing by a stone table, looking at the boxes, and talking about what to do with them. Rachel was glad that that mean Darken Rahl didnt get them and that he wasnt lever going to be able to hurt anyone again. Rachel turned back to make sure the dark thing wasnt coming any closer to her. It was gone. She looked around, but didnt see it anywhere. Sara, where do you think it could have gone? she whispered. Her doll didnt have an answer. Rachel bit down on Saras foot and started walking toward Chase. Her feet wanted to run, but she didnt want Chase to think she wasnt brave. He had said she was brave, and that made her feel good. She looked over her shoulder as she walked, checking, but she didnt see the dark thing anywhere. Maybe it lived in a hole, and it had gone there. Her feet still wanted to run, but she didnt let them. When Rachel got to Chase, she pushed up against him and hugged his leg. He and Zedd were talking, and she knew it was impolite to interrupt, so she sucked on Saras foot while she waited. So what could happen if you just shut the lid? Chase was asking the wizard. Anything! Zedd stuck his skinny arms up in the air. His wavy white hair was smoothed down but it still stuck out in places. How should I know? Just because I know what the boxes of Orden are doesnt mean I know what to do with them now that Darken Rahl has opened one. The Magic of Orden killed him for opening it. It could have destroyed the world. It could kill me for closing it. Or worse. Chase sighed. Well, we cant just leave them sitting around, can we? Dont we have to do something? The wizard frowned and looked at the boxes while he was thinking. After more than a minute of quiet, Rachel tugged on Chases sleeve. He looked down at her. Chase... Chase? I told you the rules. He put his hands on his hips and twisted his face up, trying to make it look mean, until she giggled and hugged his leg tighter. Youve only been my daughter for a few weeks, and already youre breaking the rules. I told you before, you are to call me Father. None of my children are allowed to call me Chase. Understand? Rachel grinned and nodded. Yes, Ch ... Father. He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Then he mussed her hair. What is it? Theres some big animal in the trees. I think it might be a bear, or worse. I think you might need to take out your sword and go have a look. He laughed. A bear! In here? He laughed again. This is an indoor garden, Rachel. There arent any bears in an indoor garden. Maybe it was a shadow. The light does odd things in here. She shook her head. I dont think so, Ch ... Father. It was watching me. He smiled and mussed her hair again and put his big hand on the side of her face and hugged her head to his leg. Then you just stay by me and it wont bother you. She sucked Saras foot and nodded as he held her head to his leg. She didnt feel so afraid now that his hand was on her, and so looked over to the trees again. The dark thing mostly hidden by one of the vine-covered walls, darted closer. Rachel bit down harder on Saras foot and let out a little whimper as she looked up at Chase. He was pointing at the boxes. And just whatis that thing,that stone, orjewel or whatever it is? Did it come out of the box? Zedd nodded. It did. But I dont want to say what I think it is until Im sure. At least not out loud. Father, Rachel whined, its coming closer. He looked down. Good. You just keep your eye on it for me. He looked back to the wizard. What do you mean you dont want to say? Do you think it has something to do with what you said about the veil to the underworld possibly being torn? Zedd frowned while he rubbed his smooth chin with his skinny fingers and looked down at the black jewel sitting in front of the open box. Thats what Im afraid of. Rachel looked over to the wall to watch where the dark thing was. She gave a start when she saw the hands reach over the edge of the wall. It was a lot closer. But they werent hands. They were claws. Long curved claws. She looked up at Chase, at all his weapons, just to be sure he had enough. He had knives, a lot of knives, around his waist, a sword strapped over the back of his shoulder, a big axe hooked to his belt, a few other things that looked like clubs, with sharp spikes sticking out of them, hanging from his belt, too, and a crossbow on his back. She hoped it was enough. All the weapons scared other men, but they didnt seem to be scaring the dark thing that was coming closer. And the wizard didnt even have a knife. He just wore that plain, tan robe. And he was so skinny. Not big like Chase. But wizards had magic. Maybe his magic could scare the dark thing away. Magic! Rachel remembered the magic fire stick Wizard Giller had given her. She reached into her pocket and put her ringers around it. -Maybe Chase would need her help. She wouldnt let that thing hurt her new father. She would be brave. Is it dangerous? Zedd looked up at Chase from under his eyebrows. If its what I think it is, and it were to fall into the wrong hands, dangerous wouldnt even begin to describe it. Then maybe we should drop it down a deep hole, or destroy it. Cant. We may need it. What if we hide it? Thats what Im thinking. The problem is where. There are things to take into consideration. I need to take Adie to Aydindril and study the prophecies with her before I know for sure what to do with the stone, and what to do about the boxes. And until then? Until you know for sure? Rachel looked over to the dark thing. It was closer, as close as the wall came to them. With its claws over the top of the wall, it lifted its head up and looked right into her eyes. The thing grinned at her, showing long, sharp teeth. Her breath caught in her throat. Its shoulders shook. It was laughing. Rachels eyes were as big as they would go. She could hear her heartbeats making a whooshing sound in her ears. Father ... she whined in a small voice. He didnt look down. He just shushed her. The thing put its leg over the wall and dropped down in front, still looking at her, still laughing. Its shiny eyes looked at Chase and Zedd. It hissed and then laughed as it hunched down. Rachel tugged Chases pant leg and strained to make her voice work. Father ... its coming. All right Rachel. Zedd, I still dont know ... With a howl the dark thing sprang into the open. It ran like a streak, just a blur of black. Rachel screamed. Chase spun just as it hit him. Claws flashed through the air. Chase fell to the ground as the thing leapt on Zedd. The wizards arms flailed about. Flashes of light shot from Zedds fingers, bouncing off the dark thing and tearing up dirt or stone where they hit. The thing knocked Zedd to the ground. Laughing in a loud howl, it jumped back on Chase as he was pulling his axe from his belt. Rachel screamed again as the claws tore at Chase. The thing was faster than any animal she had ever seen. Its claws were just a blur. Rachel was terrified Chase was being hurt. It flung the axe out of Chases hand, laughing that awful laugh. It was hurting Chase. Rachel had the fire stick in her hand. She jumped forward and put the fire stick on its back. She screamed the magic words to make the fire stick work. Light for me! The dark thing burst into flames. It made a horrible scream as it spun to her. Its mouth opened wide, teeth snapping as flames burned all over it. It laughed again, but not like people laughed when they thought things were funny. Its laugh made her skin prickle. It hunched over and started walking toward her, still on fire, as Rachel backed up. Chase let out a grunt as he threw one of the clubs with the sharp spikes sticking out of it. The club hit the things back, and stuck in its shoulder. It looked around at Chase and laughed as it reached behind and pulled the club from its back. It started for Chase again. Zedd was up. Fire flew from his fingers, covering the thing with even more flames. It laughed at Zedd. All the fire went out. Smoke rose from it. Its body looked the same now as before it got burned. In fact, it had looked like it was dark from being burned even before Rachel had set it on fire. Chase was on his feet, and there was blood on him. Rachel got tears at seeing that. Chase snatched the crossbow off his back and in a blink he shot an arrow. It stuck in the things chest. With that terrible laugh it snapped the arrow off. Chase threw aside the crossbow and yanked out the sword from over his shoulder, then ran for the thing, jumping over it as he stabbed with the sword. The thing moved so fast Chase missed. Zedd did something that sent the thing tumbling across the grass. Chase put himself in front of Rachel, pushing her back with one hand while he held the sword out in the other. The thing sprang to its feet again, looking at each of them. Walk! Zedd yelled at them. Dont run! Dont stand still! Chase grabbed Rachels wrist and started walking backward. Zedd started walking backward, too. The dark thing stopped laughing and looked at each of them, blinking. Chase was breathing hard. His chain-mail shirt and the tan leather tunic under it had big rips from the claws. Rachel got more tears at all the blood on him. Blood was running down his arm onto her hand. She didnt want him to be hurt. She loved him something fierce. She clutched Sara and the fire stick tighter. Zedd stopped. Keep walking, he told Chase. The dark thing looked at Zedd standing there, and a big grin with sharp teeth came to its face again. It laughed that awful laugh and tore at the ground as it started in a rush toward the wizard. Zedd threw his hands up. Dirt and grass flew up in the air around the thing. It was lifted into the air. Bolts of blue lightning struck it from all around before it hit the ground. It howled in laughter as it thudded to the ground, smoking. Something else happened, Rachel couldnt tell what, and the thing stopped with its arms stretched out, like it was trying to run, but its feet were stuck. It howled and twisted, but couldnt move. Zedds arms swirled around in circles and he threw them out once more. The ground shook as if from thunder and there were flashes of light hitting the thing. It laughed and there was a breaking sound, like wood snapping, and the thing started toward Zedd. Zedd began walking again. The thing stopped and frowned. Then the wizard stopped and threw his arms out again. A terrible ball of fire went through the air toward the thing as it ran for Zedd. The ball of fire made a loud scream and grew bigger as it flew toward the dark thing. The fire hit so hard it made the ground shake. The blue and yellow light was so bright Rachel had to squint as she was walking backward. The ball of fire stayed in that one place as it burned and made a loud roar. Smoking, the dark thing stepped out of the fire, its shoulders shaking as it laughed. The flames went out in little sparks that flew around in the air. Bags, the wizard said as he started walking backward. Rachel didnt know what bags meant, but Chase had told Zedd not to say it in front of little ears. She didnt know what that meant either. The wizards wavy, white hair was all messed up and sticking out in clumps. Rachel and Chase were on the path through the trees, almost to the door. Zedd was walking backward toward them as the dark thing watched. Zedd stopped and the thing started coming again. Walls of flame shot up in front of it. The air smelled like smoke and roared with noise. The thing stepped through the wall of fire. Zedd made another, and it stepped through that, too. When the wizard started walking again, it stopped by a short, vine-covered wall, watching. Fat vines ripped off the wall by themselves and grew suddenly longer. They whipped around the dark thing as it stood there, tangling all around it. Zedd was almost up with them. Where are we going? Chase asked him. Zedd turned. He looked tired. Lets see if we can shut it in here. The thing tore at the vines as they pulled it to the ground, and was slicing through them with its sharp claws as the three of them went through the big doorway. Chase and Zedd each took one of the golden metal doors and pushed it shut. From the other side came a howl, and then a loud crash. A big dent popped out in the door, knocking Zedd to the ground. Chase put a hand on each door and put all his weight against them as the thing pounded from the other side. Horrible screeches came through the metal as the thing clawed at the door. Chase was covered with sweat and blood. Zedd jumped to his feet and helped Chase hold the doors closed. A claw stuck through the crack between the two doors and slid down; then another came out from underneath. Through the door, Rachel could hear the thing laughing. Chase grunted as he pushed. The doors creaked. The wizard stood back and held out his arms, with his fingers up, like he was pushing against the air. The creaking stopped. The thing howled louder. Zedd grabbed Chases sleeve. Get out of here. Chase backed away from the doors. Is that going to hold it? I dont think so. If it comes for you, walk. Running or standing still attracts its attention. Tell anyone else you see. Zedd, what is that thing? There was another loud crash and another big dent popped out in the door. The tips of claws broke through the metal and made rips in the door. The noise it made hurt Rachels ears. Go! Now! Chase snatched her up with an arm around her waist and started running down the hall. CHAPTER 2 Zedd idly fingered the stone through the coarse cloth of his robe, where it was nestled in an inner pocket, as he watched the claws pull back through the rips in the metal. He turned and watched the boundary warden carrying Rachel down the hall. They hadnt gone more than a few dozen strides when one of the doors flew off its hinges with a horrific boom. The strong hinges shattered as if they were made of clay. Zedd dove out of the way, the gold-clad iron door just missing him as it flew across the hall and crashed against the polished granite wall, sending shards of metal flying and stone dust boiling down the hall. Zedd rolled to his feet and ran. The screeling bounded out of the Garden of Life and into the hall. Its body was hardly more than a squat skeleton covered in a veneer of dry, crisp, blackened skin. Like a corpse that had dried in the sun for years. White bone stuck out in places where the skin, hanging in flaps here and there, had been torn in the fight, but that didnt seem to bother the creature; it was a thing of the underworld, and not hindered by all the frailties of life. There was no blood. If it could be torn up enough, or hacked apart, maybe it could be stopped, but it was awfully quick. And magic certainly wasnt doing it much harm. It was a creature of Subtractive Magic; Additive Magic was just being absorbed into it like a sponge. Maybe it could be harmed with Subtractive Magic, but Zedd had nothing of that half of the gift. No wizard in the last few thousand years did. Some might have had the calling for the Subtractive - Darken Rahl was proof of that - but none had had the gift for it. No, his magic wasnt going to stop this thing. At least, the wizard thought, not directly. But maybe indirectly? Zedd walked backward as the screeling watched with blinking, bewildered eyes. Now, he thought, while its standing still. Concentrating, Zedd gathered the air, making it dense, dense enough to lift the heavy door. He was tired; it took an effort. He pushed the air with a mental grunt, crashing the door onto the back of the screeling. Dust rolled up and across the hall as the door slammed the creature to the ground. It howled. Zedd wondered if it was howling in pain, or anger. The door lifted, stone chips sliding off. The screeling held the heavy door up with one clawed hand as it laughed, a woody tendril of the vine he had tried to strangle it with still coiled around its neck. Bags, Zedd muttered. Nothing is ever easy. Zedd kept walking backward. The door crashed to the floor as the screeling stepped out from underneath it and followed. It was starting to learn that the people who walked were the same ones who ran or stood still. This was an unfamiliar world to it. Zedd had to think of something before it learned any more. If only he wasnt so tired. Chase went down a wide marble stairway. Zedd followed him at a quick walk. If he had been sure it wasnt Chase or Rachel the screeling was after, he would have gone a different way, drawing the danger away from them, but it could just as easily go after them, and he didnt want to leave Chase to fight it alone. A man and a woman, both in white robes, were coming up the stairs. Chase tried to turn them around but they slipped past him. Walk! Zedd yelled at them. Dont run! Go back or you will be killed! They frowned at him in confusion. The screeling was shuffling along toward the stairs, its claws clicking and scraping on the marble floor. Zedd could hear it panting with that nerve-jarring near laughter. The two people saw the dark thing and froze, their blue eyes going wide. Zedd shoved them, turning them around, and forced them back down the stairs. They both suddenly broke into a run, bounding down the stairs three at a time, their blond hair and white robes flying. Dont run! Zedd and Chase yelled at the same time. The screeling rose up on its clawed toes, attracted by the sudden movement. It let out a cackling laugh and darted to the stairs. Zedd threw a fist of air, hitting it in the chest, knocking it back a pace. It hardly noticed. It peered over the carved stone railing at the top and saw the people running. With a cackle, it grasped the railing and leapt over, dropping a good twenty feet to the two running, white-robed figures. Chase immediately put Rachels face to his shoulder and reversed direction, coming back up the stairs. He knew what was going to happen, and there was nothing he could do about it. Zedd waited at the top. Hurry, while its distracted. There was a very brief struggle, and screams that were just as brief. Howling laughter echoed in the stairwell. Blood splattered in an arc up the white marble, almost to where Chase was charging up the stairs. Rachel hid her face against him and hugged his neck tight, but didnt make a sound. Zedd was impressed by her. He had never seen one so young use her head as well as she did. She was smart. Smart and gutsy. He understood why Giller had used her to try to keep the last box of Orden away from Darken Rahl. The way of wizards, Zedd thought - using people to do what must be done. The three ran down the hall until the screeling appeared at the top of stairs; then they slowed to a backward walk. The screeling grinned with bloodred teeth, its deathless black eyes momentarily reflecting golden in the sunlight coming in a tall, narrow window. It winced at the light, licked the blood off its claws, and then loped after them. They went down the next stairway. The creature followed, sometimes stopping briefly in confusion, seemingly unsure if it was them it was after. Chase held Rachel in one arm and a sword in his other hand. Zedd stayed between them and the screeling as they backed down a small hall. The screeling climbed up the walls, scratching the smooth stone, and sprang across tapestries, tearing them with its claws as it followed the three. Polished walnut side tables, each with three ornate legs carved in vines and dotted with gilded blossoms, tipped over into the hall as the screeling pushed at them with a claw, grinning and laughing at the sound of cut-glass vases shattering on the stone floor. Water and flowers spilled over carpets. The screeling hopped down and tore a priceless blue and yellow Tanimuran carpet to shreds as it howled in laughter and then skittered up the wall to the ceiling. It advanced along the ceiling like a spider, head hanging down, watching them. How can it do that? Chase whispered. Zedd only shook his head as they backed into the immense central halls of the Peoples Palace. The ceiling here was well over fifty feet high, a collection of four-pointed ribbed vaults held up by a column at the corner of each vault. Suddenly the screeling sprang along the ceiling of the small hall it was in and leapt at them. Zedd released a bolt of fire as the creature flew through the air. He missed, the fire boiling up the granite wall, leaving a trail of black soot before it dissipated. For the first time, Chase didnt miss. With a solid strike his sword lopped off one of the screelings arms. For the first time the screeling howled in pain. It tumbled around on the ground and darted behind a green-veined gray marble column. The severed arm lay on the stone floor, twitching and grasping. Soldiers came running across the vast hall, their swords to hand, the clatter of their armor and weapons reverberating off the vaulted ceilings high overhead, their boot strikes echoing off the tiles around the devotion pool as they skirted it. DHaran soldiers were a fierce lot, and they looked all the more so at finding there was an invader in the palace. Zedd felt an odd sort of apprehension at the sight of them. A few days ago they would have dragged him off to the former Master Rahl to be killed; now they were the loyal followers of the new Master Rahl, Zedds grandson, Richard. As Zedd saw the soldiers coming, he realized the halls were filled with people. The afternoon devotion had just ended. Even if the screeling did have only one arm, this could be a bloodbath. The screeling could kill a few dozen of them before they even thought to run. And then it would kill more when they did. They had to get all these people away. The soldiers rushed up around the wizard, eyes hard, searching, ready, looking for the cause of the commotion. Zedd turned to the commander, a heavily muscled man in leather and a polished breastplate with the ornate letter R embossed on it: the symbol of the House of Rahl. The scars of rank were incised on upper arms covered only with coarse mail sleeves. Intense blue eyes glowered out from under his gleaming helmet. Whats going on here? he demanded. What is it? Get these people out of this hall. They are all in danger. The commanders face reddened behind the cheek plates of his helmet. Im a soldier, not a bloody sheepherder! Zedd gritted his teeth. And a soldiers first duty is to protect people. If you dont get these people out of this hall, Commander, I will see to it you become a sheepherder! The commanders fist snapped to his heart in salute, his voice suddenly controlled at realizing who he was arguing with. By your command, Wizard Zorander. He turned his anger instead on his men. Get everyone back! Right bloody now! Spread rank! Sweep the hall! The soldiers fanned out, pushing a wave of startled people before them. Zedd hoped they could get them all clear, and then maybe, with the soldiers help, they could bottle up the screeling and hack it to pieces. But then the screeling launched itself from behind the column, a black streak tearing across the floor. It tumbled into a bunched knot of onlookers the soldiers were herding back, toppling many over one another to the floor. Shrieks and wails and the screelings hideous laughter erupted from across the hall. Soldiers fell upon the creature and were flung back, bloodied, as more came to their aid. In the panicked clump of people, the soldiers couldnt swing a sword or axe with any effect as the screeling tore a bloody path through the bodies. It had no more caution for the armed soldiers than unarmed innocents. It simply ripped at anyone close enough. Bags! Zedd cursed. He turned to Chase. Stick close to me. We have to draw it away. He looked around. Over there. The devotion pool. They ran to the square pool of water that was situated under an opening in the roof. Sunlight streamed down, reflecting in rippling patterns on the column at one of its corners. A bell perched on the dark pitted rock that sat off-center in the water. Orange fish glided through the shallow pool, unconcerned with the mayhem above. Zedd was getting an idea. The screeling certainly wasnt bothered by fire; the most it did when hit with it was steam a little. He ignored the sounds of pain and dying and stretched his hands out over the water, gathering its warmth, preparing it for what he was going to do. He could see shimmering waves of heat just above the surface of the water. He held the rising heat at that point, just below ignition. When it comes, he told Chase, we have to get it in the water. Chase nodded. Zedd was glad the boundary warden wasnt one who always needed to have things explained to him, and knew better than to waste precious seconds with questions. Chase set Rachel on the floor. Stay behind me, he told her. She, too, asked no questions. She nodded and hugged her doll close. Zedd saw she was clutching the fire stick in her other hand. Gutsy indeed. He turned to the uproar across the hall, lifted a hand, and sent tickling tongues of flame into the flailing dark thing in its center. The soldiers fell back. The screeling straightened, turning, dropping a disembodied arm from its teeth as it did so. Steam rose where the flames had licked it. It hissed a cackling laugh at the wizard standing still in the sunlight by the pool. The soldiers were pushing the remaining people down the halls, although the people no longer needed the encouragement. Zedd rolled balls of fire across the floor. The screeling batted them out of the way and they sparked out. Zedd knew the fire wouldnt harm it; he only wanted to draw its attention. It worked. Dont forget, he said to Chase, in the water. You dont mind if its dead when it goes in, do you? All the better. With a clatter of claws against stone, the screeling charged across the hall. The tips of the claws scratched into the floor, sending little spurts of stone dust behind along with flakes and chips. Zedd hit it with compacted knots of air, hammering it down, keeping its attention, trying to slow it down enough so they might be able to handle it. It came to its feet in a rush each time, charging onward. Chase crouched a little lower in readiness, now holding a six-bladed mace in his fist instead of the sword. The screeling made an impossible leap through the air at the wizard, landing on him with a howl before he had a chance to turn it aside. As he was thrown to the floor, Zedd wove webs of air to keep the thrashing claw at bay. Teeth snapped viciously at his throat. Man and beast rolled over once, and when the screeling came up on top, Chase swung the mace at its head, hitting a glancing blow. It spun to him and he slammed it square in the chest, knocking it off the wizard. Zedd could hear bones snapping with the blow. The screeling seemed hardly to notice. Its one arm swept out, yanking Chases legs out from under him, and then sprang on his chest as he hit the floor with a hard grunt. Zedd struggled to regain his wits. Rachel laid the fire stick on the screelings back, and flames burst up. Zedd pushed it with air, trying to knock it in the water, but the screeling held on to Chase tenaciously. Angry black . eyes glared out from behind the fire. Lips curled back in a snarl. Chase brought the mace up with both hands, catching the powerful creature square in the back. The impact knocked the screeling into the pool. Hissing steam rose upon the contact of flame and water. Instantly, Zedd ignited the air above the water, using the heat in the water to feed it. The wizards fire sucked all warmth from the water. The entire pool froze into a solid block of ice. The screeling was encased. The fire sputtered out when the heat feeding it was exhausted. There was sudden quiet, except for the moans from the injured across the hall. Rachel fell on Chase, her voice choked with tears. Chase, Chase, are you all right? He put an arm around her as he levered himself, into a sitting position. That I am, little one. Zedd could see that that wasnt entirely true. Chase, go sit on that bench. I have to help those people, and I dont want little eyes to see whats over there. He knew this appeal would work better than telling Chase he didnt want him walking around with his injuries until they could be seen to. Still, Zedd was a little surprised when Chase nodded without protest. The commander and eight of his men rushed up. A few of them were bloody; one had ragged claw cuts right through the metal of his breastplate. They all cast an eye to the screeling frozen in the pool. Nice bit of work, Wizard Zorander. The commander gave a small nod and smile of respect. There are a few over there who are still alive. Is there anything you can do for them? Ill have a look. Commander, have your men use their battle-axes to hack that thing to pieces before it figures out how to melt the ice. His eyes went wide. You mean its still alive? Zedd grunted to indicate that it was so. The sooner the better, Commander. The men already had their crescent axes unhooked from their belts, waiting for the order. The commander gave them a nod and they charged onto the ice, swinging before they slid to a stop. He lowered his voice. Wizard Zorander, what is that thing? Zedd looked from the mans face over to Chase, who was listening intently. He held the boundary wardens gaze. Its a screeling. Chase didnt show any reaction; the boundary warden rarely did. Zedd turned back to the commander. The big mans blue eyes were wide. The screelings are loose? he whispered. Wizard Zorander ... you cant be serious. Zedd studied the mans face seeing scars he hadnt seen before, scars earned in battles to the death. For a DHaran soldier, there rarely was any other kind. This was a man not used to letting fear show in his eyes. Even in the face of death. Zedd sighed. He hadnt slept in days. After the quads had come and tried to capture Kahlan, and she thought Richard had been killed, she had gone into the Con Dar, the blood rage, killing their attackers. She, Chase, and Zedd had walked for three days and nights to reach the palace, for her to extract vengeance. There was no stopping a Confessor in the grip of the Con Dar, that ancient mix of magics. Then they had been captured, and discovered Richard alive. That࿰977<929<::4:22722970270460272206634:24379:4:2173'92736:2:42799:<020122268907277<:97943924622<7243:2;737<4622<:24092949::22622