Chp.25
I hear a loud commotion outside that is getting closer to the painter's workshop. The man from the library hurries to grab the painting off the easel. William places his right hand near the hilt of his sword just in case. Please let it just be soldier on their way in here, not my brother, I pray silently. The man tries to run up the stairs and we do not follow. I know the soldiers are too close and the effort would be wasted. The man stops in his tracks and comes back towards us. A few moments later, my brother descends the stair case. Well, here goes nothing.
"Ah, dear sister it is so nice to see you again." My brother remarks towards me.
William steps forward slightly positioning himself to protect me when the time comes. This is why I love him. William knows that he will die if he stands in the way against my brother to get me yet he still will protect me with his life. I feel like I do not tell him that I love him enough, if we get out of this, which I cannot see as Richard and Kahlan could change the battle but they are in a magic free painting, I will tell him that I love him.
"Where might you be off to in such a hurry?" My brother directs the question towards the man from the library. My brother looks around at the painting on the walls. "Sentimental tripes. Tell me did you create these alleged works of art?"
"No, Lord Rahl." The man replies nervously.
I look around the room. There is one Mord Sith and at least five soldiers in here with my brother and who knows how many more are outside. There is no way I can make it out of here if I run and I am not going to sacrifice William's life if there is not a decent chance that I would be able to get away.
"The amulet of Carid. You must be an ally of the Wizard. No doubt you've seen him recently." My brother says.
The man glances towards me. I shake my head slightly. Please do not give them away. At least, my brother would be happy to get me out of this trip and Richard can continue on his journey of stopping my brother. My brother yanks the painting out of the man's hands.
"And what is this?" My brother asks aloud. "Curious, almost everything I have been searching for in this retched little town is depicted right here, the Seeker, Mother Confessor and the library. The only thing missing is my dear sister who happens to be right here in the workshop. If I was the sort of person who believed in myths and fairytales, I might suspect that this was an enchanted painting."
We are so screwed. My brother realizes that Richard is stuck in the painting which renders him defenseless and I am standing here with nowhere to escape to again. He gets everything he wants except for the Book of Counted Shadows which is stuck in the painting with Richard. I hope that the fact that the book is in the painting as well stops my brother from doing anything to destroy the painting.
"It is as you said, My Lord, it is sentimental tripe. It is worthless." The man replies to my brother.
"Well then, you won't mind if I do us all a favor of destroying it." My brother says as he lights the corner of the painting of fire with a candle.
"No!" I shout just as the man shouts "My Lord, don't! If you destroy that painting you destroy the Book of Counted Shadows."
My brother walks towards the back of the shop towards me and William and his general follows. They talk quietly but I can still make out the conversation.
"If the Book of Counted Shadows is in this painting then you have won." The general tells my brother.
"The Seeker could be learning the books secrets even as we speak." My brother responds.
"But if he is indeed imprisoned in there then he can never again be a treat to the world." The general responds.
"Sister, dearest, come over here" my brother commands.
I stay exactly where I am next to William. The Mord Sith comes up behind me and jabs her agiel into my side. I take a sharp breath in and reluctantly step forward towards my brother.
"Now, what can you tell me of the Seeker's plans for the book? Or what does the future have in store for me?" My brother asks.
"I am not helping you!" I say as I spit on him. He brings up his right hand and slaps me across the face.
"I forgot how disobedient you were, dear sister. We are going to have to change that." My brother replies and I feel the Mord Sith's agiel on my spine. I can tolerate the pain for only a few moments but after that I drop to the ground in front of my brother. The pain from the agiel stops a few moments after that.
"Now, that's better." My brother says as he lifts my chins with his hand so I am looking up at him. "Will you answer the question now? Or do you need to be persuaded more?"
"I cannot see Richard's future or any future tied to Richard's as the painting does not allow magic. They intend to use the book when they get it to stop you." I reply with gritted teeth.
"Now was that so hard?" My brother replies with a wicked smile.
My brother turns back towards the general and they continue their conversation. I get up from the ground slowly and return to my place next to William. He places his arm around my shoulders as a sign of comfort.
"May I suggest we take the painting to your sorcerers? In time, they may find a way to extract the book." The general tells my brother.
"Perhaps. But what of the Seeker? Since the Seeker has returned, he has brought me nothing but misery and despair. Time and again he has denied me victory. He even corrupted my dear sister, the only family I have in this world, and turned her against me. No, it ends here!" My brother says as he turns and starts to place the painting hear a candle.
"What about the book and its secrets?" the general asks.
"Killing the Seeker is more important than any book no matter what secrets it may hold" My brother responds and starts to light the corner of the painting.
The man from the library looks at William and me desperately. I begin to step forward but notice the Mord Sith behind me. I would be on the ground in pain before I could try to stop my brother. William would share the same fate.
"You can't!" the man shouts as he runs forward. He makes it two steps before the general runs him through with the sword.
"Do either of you have any objections? You can share the same fate as him." My brother remarks.
William and I stay put with our mouths shut. No matter how much kindness the Seeker, Mother Confessor and Wizard has shown us we value our own lives over theirs.
"You chose well." My brother responds and lights the corner of the painting on fire. My brother and the general watch with wicked smiles as the painting catches fire. They watch the painting until it is nothing more but ashes.
"I believe congratulations are in order, My Lord." The general remarks.
My brother and the general disappear before my eyes as I catch a quick glimpse of Kahlan, Richard and Zedd. I shake off the vision before my brother notices. They are alive. I elbow William slightly and he looks towards me. I nod my head once. A look of relief washes over his face. He knows that at least if we do not make it out of here there is still hope as the Seeker is still alive.
Ohs and Ahs come from outside and my brother looks up at the door of the workshop. My brother leads and everyone follows him outside. We watch as the library reappears in the distance.
"Send troops to the library, now!" He shouts at the general. My brother turns towards me and William. "The Seeker trusts you. If I let you go and forget the whole incident from four years ago which means the two of you can be happily married, yes I see the ring on your finger dear sister. Will you spy on the Seeker for me?"
Before William says anything stupid, I cut in and reply "Yes."
"Do not take this freedom light, dear sister. You know I can find you wherever you are." My brother replies and the mark on my neck began to sting.
"I know. But I know a good deal when I see one." I reply. My brother simply nods and steps out of the way.
My brother stops me to whisper in my ear, "He can find you as well and he can tell when you are not holding up your end of the bargain."
I catch up with William and we walk in silence until we are out of the town.
"What were you thinking agreeing to spy on the Seeker? He has been nothing but nice to use." William says to me.
"Did you want to die right then and there? That was the future I saw if we said no. You dead and me back in a Mord Sith's temple. At least this way, we are free. We do not have to spy on the Seeker. I will tell my brother fragments of the truth to keep him satisfied." I reply to him. "I understand you are trying to protect me and I love your for it, William, but there is no bargaining with my brother. The fact that he even gave us this deal shocks me which is why I took it. We will think about the details later."
William sighs then holds out his hand. I take it and we begin to walk in the forest to try to find Richard and the rest of them. We finally reach them a few leagues out of town.
"Avery. William. What happened?" Kahlan asked.
"My brother came to the painter's workshop and decided it was better to end the Seeker's life than to have the Book so he burnt the painting. He was not pleased when the library reappeared. William and I barely escaped with our lives and the man from the library did not make it." I reply.
William gives me a look. I know I did not tell them the "deal" I made with my brother. They do not need to know right now. I follow them as we continue walking in the forest. We walk until night fall and set up a camp for the night. I only hope he does not find me in my dreams tonight.