Chapter 10

"The bones know all. You only need know how to ask the right question."

- Adie the Bone Woman as quoted in Feppendreaus' Guide to the Mysterious

The light mist and the surprisingly level of humidity in the air lent an ethereal air to the already gloomy light cast over the heavily wooded area from cloudy skies. Were it not for his knowledge of this place and what it meant, the old wizard might have found the change curious given the season. Even with his knowledge he had no desire to come here of his own accord, but his need was desperate as was the dire situation he had uncovered. Thus, he was here and not alone.

Zedd brought his horse to a halt, prompting the others to follow suit. He dismounted with a slight huff and surveyed the nearby home, a rough hewn affair of lichen and moss covered logs with peaked roof and a small covered porch. Bit of bones, chimes, and beads hung from a few strands near the doorway to the home but was otherwise unremarkable.

"Is this the place where this Bone Woman you spoke of lives?"

Zedd ignored Cara's question while Chase stepped forward to quietly assuring the Mord-Sith that as far as he knew this was the place the old sorceress was known to live. While Dell "Chase" Brandstone no longer lived in Westland, he maintained his contacts through his position as a Passage Guard. The guards had been established by the First Wizard and Mother Confessor after the sudden breach in the boundary between the Midlands and Westland had made it possible for the two to trade with one another. This breach also had led to several conflicts due to swindlers and purveyors of magic trying to take advantage of the Westlanders. Chase had eagerly accepted the position given his background and ties to Westland and had served admirably. When informed of Zedd their purpose to coming here, he had insisted on accompanying them.

"The bones say you be coming here today, wizard," came raspy voice from the side of the house. Stepping from the gloomy shadow the wizened old woman with strange white pupil less eyes seemed to look at each of them in turn before settling once more on Zedd.

"Then you know why I am here," Zedd stated simply.

"That the bones tell me not. Only that you be here. And that they be disturbed." The old woman replied. "The dead not be pleased with those who meddle with the bones."

"I'm told a Fleshweaver is alive," Zedd said.

"Impossible!" She snorted in derision. "Wizards finished them off long ago. Vile creature they were. Dangerous to everything."

"And yet one lives."

She looked at Zedd with an intense expression. "You be sure?"

"The barren wolves stalk the lands."

She waved her hands in dismissal. "Bah! I have heard such rumors from men with foolish imaginations. I not be believing them."

"I'm no commoner befuddled with drink," Zedd countered. "These barren wolves are very real and very dangerous."

"True." Adie seemed to freeze at his words, worry creasing her brow. "If there be wolves, then there be a Fleshweaver. Worse, a Skinflayer be summoned."

"A Skinflayer? What exactly is a Skinflayer?" Kahlan stepped forward, pulling down the cloak of her drab traveling cloak.

The old woman took her in for a moment and nodded once in an apparent greeting. "Skinflayers be powerful creatures. Bones be used to summon forth a spirit of powerful magic, dangerous magic that is said to be that of the Creator, the Keeper, and that which lies between."

"The veil has magic?" Kahlan asked in confusion.

"Not the veil," Adie shook her head. "No, the place between life and death, that which is older than the Creator or the Keeper."

"I don't understand," Kahlan said in confusion.

Zedd sighed heavily. "I do. At least a little of it. How powerful is this magic?"

"Beyond comprehension," the woman replied, but she smiled crookedly. "But there be none with such power born in this era to be summoned back as a Skinflayer. Immense power be needed. If it is a Skinflayer, it be a weak one. Dangerous, yes, but easily defeated."

"I know who the Skinflayer is," Zedd said, pulling out a pouch and held it out to Adie, ignoring the surprised gasps and questions of the others demanding to know who. "I have a bone tied to him. I need to find him and this Fleshweaver to end this abomination."

After a moment, Adie took the pouch and dumped the contents into her hand. Closing her eyes she murmured softly, before jumping as if poked sharply from behind. She hissed slightly thrusting the object and bag back into Zedd's hand.

"Well?" The old wizard asked.

"That bone be from one of great power." The woman glared in displeasure, but the anger did not seem directed at Zedd but at what she had seen.

"I know. Did you see?"

"Yes, the bones call to one another. This one, he be to the north, far north," the old woman replied, hunching over as if in fear as she glanced about them wood surrounding her home. "He be angry, vengeful. The spirit may not be the man you knew."

Zedd looked resigned at her words. "I understand, but I must go. At the very least the Fleshweaver must be stopped. Can you help us find him?"

Adie seemed to consider his words for sometime before nodding slowly. "I will, but it will take some time to prepare."

Zedd handed the pouch back to her reluctantly. "If it is to be done, it were best it be done quickly."

"The bones agree."