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Richard stood before her； looking into her dark eyes。 ‘Du Chaillu； I’m so sorry I killed your husbands。 I begged you to stop it； but I’m so sorry。’
Her eyes bore the timeless look he had seen in the eyes of others； Sister Verna； Shota the witch woman； and Kahlan。 He knew now that it was the gift he was seeing。 A ghost of a smile came to her lips。 He didn’t know how she could smile at a time like this。
They fought as hard as any Baka Ban Mana have ever fought。 They had the honor of teaching the Caharin。 They have given their lives for their people。 They brought honor to themselves； and will live on as legends。’
She reached out and placed her hand on his bare chest。 On the handprint there。 ‘You are my husband； now。’
Richard’s eyes widened。 ‘What？’
She gave a curious frown。 ‘I wear the prayer dress。 I am the spirit woman of our people。 You are the Caharin。 It is the old law。 You are my husband。’
Richard shook his head。 ‘No； I’m not。 I already have 。。。’
He was going to say he already had a love。 But the words caught in his throat。 Kahlan had sent him away。 He had nothing。
She shrugged。 ‘It could be worse for you。 The last one who wore the prayer dress was old and wrinkled。 She had no teeth。 I hope that I bring at least some pleasure to your eyes； and maybe someday a song to your heart； but I belong to the Caharin。 It is not for you； or me； to decide。’
‘Yes it is！’ He looked about and then snatched up his shirt。 As he put it on； he saw Sister Verna at the edge of the clearing； watching him； like a bug in a box。 He turned to Du Chaillu。
‘You have a job to do。 You will do it。 The killing is ended。 The Sister and I must get to the palace so I can get this collar off。’
Du Chaillu leaned over and kissed his cheek。 ‘Until I see you again； Richard； Seeker； Caharin； husband。’
CHAPTER 49
Richard and Sister Verna sat on their horses； anchoring long； thin shadows； as they looked down from the grassy prominence。 Trees meandered along the low places among some of the hills； and blanketed others in dusky green。 The vast city below lay awash in a straw…colored haze that muted the colors into a mellow monotone。 The distant tiled and shingled roofs shimmered in the rays of the setting sun like points of light on a pond。
Richard had never seen so many buildings laid out in such an orderly array。 Off to the edges they were smaller； but toward the core they seemed to grow； both in size and in grandeur。 The faraway sounds of tens of thousands of people and horses and wagons drifted all the way up to them on the hill； carried on the light； salty breeze。
A river meandered through the collection of countless buildings； dividing the city； with the part on the far side twice as large。 At the edge of the city； docks lined the banks along the mouth of the majestic river。 Boats of all sizes were not only moored there； but dotted the river； their white sails filled with air。 Some of the boats； he could just make out； had three masts。 Richard had never imagined that such large boats might exist。
Despite being there against his will； Richard found himself fascinated by the city； by all the people and all the sights it must hold。 He had never seen such a place。 He imagined a person could probably walk around for days and days； and not begin to see it all。
Beyond； shimmering with golden sparkles and reflections； lay the sea； stretching to a knife’s…edge line at the horizon。
Dominating the city； near the center； rising up on an island of its own； stood a vast palace； its imposing； crenellated west wall bathed in the sun’s golden rays。 Baileys and ramparts and towers and sections and roofs； all of grand design； joined together into a plex structure that held labyrinthine courtyards with trees； or grass； or ponds。 The palace seemed to be stretching its stone arms； jealously trying to enclose the whole of the island atop which it sat。
Seen from this distance； with the thread…thin streets radiating out from the the island at the core of the city； and strandlike bridges spanning the river all around； the palace reminded Richard of nothing as much as a fat spider sitting in the center of its web。
‘The Palace of the Prophets；’ Sister Verna said。
‘Prison；’ Richard said without looking to her。
She ignored the ment。 The city is Tanimura； and through it； the River Kern。 The palace itself sits on Halsband Island。’
‘Halsband。’ His hackles rose。 ‘Is that some kind of sardonic joke？’
‘What do you mean？ Does Halsband have significance？’
Richard raised an eyebrow。 ‘A halsband is a collar used to launch a hunting hawk on an attack。’
She shrugged dismissively。 ‘You read too much into things。’
‘Do I？ We shall see。’
She let out a small sigh as she lifted her hips； starting her horse down the hill； and changed the subject。 ‘It’s been many years since I was home； but it looks as it always has。’
The two Baka Ban Mana men who had guided them through the swampy； trackless forest for the last two days had left them that morning； once Sister Verna was at last in familiar territory。 Although he never lost his sense of direction； Richard could easily see how people could bee disoriented there。 But he was at home in such places of vast desolation； and was more likely to bee lost in a building than in dense woods。
The two men had spoken little over those two days。 Though they were swordsmen as fierce as those Richard had fought； they were in awe of him。 Richard had to shout before they would stop all the bowing。 No amount of shouting； though； could make them stop calling him Caharin。
One night； before he went to stand his usual watch； Sister Verna had told him； in a quiet tone； that she was sorry that he had had to kill those thirty people。 A little surprised by her sincerity and the seeming lack of meaning other than that stated； and haunted by the memory； he had thanked her for understanding。
Richard scanned the fertile hills and valleys。 ‘Why isn’t this land farmed？ With all those people； they must need to plant food。’
Sister Verna lifted a hand holding the reins and indicated the land on the other side of the city。 ‘Farms cover the land on that side of the river。 On this side； it’s not safe for man nor beast。’ Tilting her head back； she indicated the land behind。 ‘The Baka Ban Mana are always a threat。’
‘So they don’t farm here because they’re afraid of the Baka Ban Mana？’
She cast a glance to her left。 ‘Do you see that dark forest？’ She watched him as he took in the fringe of the dense tangle in the next valley。 Huge； old； gnarled trees were packed close together； covered with vines and moss； and harboring gloomy shadows。 ‘This edge runs for miles more toward the city。 It’s the Hagen Woods。 Stay far away from it。 All who let the sun set on them in the Hagen Woods die。 Many who set foot there die before they have a chance to wait for the sun to go down。 It’s a place of vile magic。’
As they rode； he kept glancing toward the Hagen Woods。 He felt a longing for that gloomy place； a