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s that must be made for the elders to bridge the gap to the spirits。〃
Richard； too； took a deep breath。 〃Tomorrow night then。〃
The bird man blew the whistle again and the doves took to the air。 Kahlan felt as if her hopes； impossible and foolish as they had been； took wing with them。
…＋
Preparations were quickly set underway； and Savidlin took Richard to his home； to care for his cuts and clean him up。 The Bird Man took Kahlan to the healer； to have her wound treated
Blood had pletely soaked the bandage； and the cut hurt in earnest。 He guided her through narrow passageways with his arm protectively around her shoulders。 She was thankful he didn't speak of the banquet。
He left her in the care of a stooped woman named Nissel； instructing her to care for Kahlan as if she were his daughter。 Nissel smiled little； mostly at the oddest times； and spoke little； other than instructions。 Stand here； hold your arm up； put it down； breathe； don't breathe； drink this； lie here； recite the Candra。 Kahlan didn't know what the Candra was。 Nissel shrugged and instead had her balance flat stones atop one another on her stomach while the wound was inspected。 When it hurt and the stones started slipping。 Nissel admonished her to try harder to keep the stones balanced。 She was given bitter…tasting leaves to chew while Nissel removed Kahlan's clothes and bathed her。
The bath did more for her than the leaves。 She couldn't remember a bath feeling so good。 She tried to let her depressing thoughts slough away with the mud。 She tried very hard。 While she was left to soak； Nissel washed her clothes and hung them by the fire； where a little pot of brown paste bubbled； smelling of pine pitch。 Nissel dried her off； wrapped her in warm skins； and sat her on a bench built into the wall near the raised fire pit。 The taste of the leaves seemed to get better the more she chewed them； but her head was beginning to spin。
〃Nissel； what are the leaves for？〃
Nissel turned from studying Kahlan's shirt； which she thought very curious。 〃It will make you relax； so you will not feel what 1 do。 Keep chewing。 Do not worry； child。 You will be so relaxed； you will not care when I stitch。 〃
Kahlan immediately spit out the leaves。 The old woman looked at them on the floor； lifting an eyebrow to Kahlan。
〃Nissel； I am a Confessor。 If 1 am relaxed in a manner like that； 1 might not be able to hold back the power。 When you touch me； I could release it without wanting to。 〃
Nissel frowned with curiosity。 〃But you sleep； child。 You relax then。 〃
〃That is different。 I have slept from birth； before my power grew in me。 If I were to be too relaxed or distracted in a way I do not know； as with your leaves； 1 could touch you without intending it。〃
Nissel gave a crooked nod。 Then her eyebrows came up。 She leaned closer。 〃Then how do you 。 。 。 〃
Kahlan gave a blank expression that said nothing and everything。
A look of sudden understanding came over Nissel's face。 The healer straightened up。 〃Oh。 I see now。 〃
She stroked Kahlan's hair sympathetically； then went to the far corner and came shuffling back with a piece of leather。 〃Put this between your teeth。 〃 She patted Kahlan's good shoulder。 〃If you are ever hurt again； be sure to have them bring you to Nissel。 I will remember； and know what not to do。 Sometimes； when you are a healer； it is more important to know what not to do。 Maybe when you are a Confessor too。 Hmm？〃 Kahlan smiled and gave a nod。 〃Now； child； make teeth marks in this leather for me。〃
When she was finished； Nissel wiped the sweat from Kahlan's face with a cold； wet cloth。 Kahlan was so dizzy and nauseated she couldn't even sit up。 Nissel kept her lying down as she applied the brown paste and wrapped the arm with clean bandages。
〃You should sleep for a while。 I will wake you before the banquet。 〃
Kahlan put her hand on the old woman's arm； and made herself smile。 〃Thank you； Nissel。 〃
She woke to the feel of her hair being brushed。 It had dried while she slept。 Nissel smiled at her。
〃You will find it hard to brush your pretty hair until your arm is better。 Not many have the honor to have hair such as yours。 I thought you would like it brushed for the banquet。 It starts soon。 A handsome young man waits for you outside。 〃
Kahlan sat up。 〃How long has he been out there？〃
〃Almost the whole time。 1 tried to chase him away with a broom。 〃 Nissel frowned。 〃But he would not go。 He is very stubborn。 Yes？〃
〃Yes。〃 Kahlan grinned。
Nissel helped her put on her clean clothes。 Her arm didn't hurt as much as before。 Richard was leaning impatiently against the outside wall and stood up straight when she came out。 He was washed and clean and fresh…looking； the mud all gone； and was dressed in simple buckskin pants and tunic； and of course his sword。 Nissel was right： he did look handsome。
〃How are you doing？ How's the arm？ Are you all right？〃
〃I'm fine。〃 She smiled。 〃Nissel has made me well。〃
Richard kissed the top of the old woman's head。 〃Thank you； Nissel。 I forgive you the broom。〃
Nissel smiled at the translation； leaned closer； and gave him a deep look he found unfortable。
〃Shall 1 give him a potion； 〃 Nissel asked； turning to her； 〃to give him stamina？〃
〃No； 〃 Kahlan said bristling。 〃I am sure he will do just fine。〃
CHAPTER 27
LAUGHTER AND THE SOUND of drums drifted from the center of the village as Richard and Kahlan walked among the huddled； dark buildings。 Black skies held back their rain； and the damp； warm air brought in the smell of the wet grasses that surrounded the village。 Torches lit the platforms of the pole buildings。 and large fires set about the open area snapped and popped； throwing off fluttering shadows。 Kahlan knew it was a lot of work to haul in wood for cooking and kiln fires； and most were kept small。 This was an extravagance the Mud People rarely witnessed。
Wonderful aromas from the cooking fires drifted to her through the night air； but failed to spark her appetite。 Women dressed in their brightest dresses rushed around； with young girls at their sides； tending to errands； seeing to it that all went well。 The men wore their finest skins； ceremonial knives hung at their waists； and their hair was slicked down with sticky mud in traditional fashion。
Cooking went on nonstop as people wandered by； sampling the fare； talking； sharing stories。 Most people； it seemed； were either cooking or eating。 There were children everywhere； playing and running and laughing； overflowing with excitement at the unexpected nighttime； firelit gathering。
Under grass roofs； musicians pounded drums and scraped paddles up and down ripples carved on boldas； long bell…shaped hollow tubes。 The eerie strains； music meant to call ancestors spirits to the banquet； carried far out into the grasslands。 Other musicians sat on the opposite side of the open area； the sound： of the two groups sometimes joining； sometimes separating； calling to one another in haunting and occasionally frantic beats an（ knells。 Men in costume； some dressed as animals；