Blood of the Fold

Kahlan had been riding in the wagon with her in case she happened to wake. After what had been done to her back in Aydindril, Cyrilla panicked at the sight of men, becoming terrified and inconsolable if Kahlan, Adie, or Jebra wasn't there to calm her.

In her rare spells of lucidity, Cyrilla made Kahlan promise, over and over, that she would be queen. Cyrilla worried for her people, and knew that she was in no state to help them. She loved Galea enough to refuse to burden her land with a queen in no condition to lead them. Kahlan had reluctantly assumed the responsibility.

Kahlan1 s half brother, Prince Harold, wanted nothing to do with a monarchial burden. He was a soldier, as was his and Cyrilla's father, King Wyborn. After Cyrilla and Harold had been born, Kahlan's mother had taken King Wyborn as her mate, and Kahlan was bom. She was born a Confessor; the magic of the Confessors took precedence over petty matters of royalty.

"How is she?" Zedd asked as he tugged his robes off a snag while climbing into the wagon.

"The same. She was unhurt by the rockfall."

Zedd put fingers to her temples for a moment. "There is nothing wrong with her body, but the sickness still holds reign over her mind." He shook his head with a sign as he rested an arm on his knee. "I wish the gift could cure maladies of the mind."

Kahlan saw the frustration in his eyes. She smiled. "Be thankful. If you could you would never have time to eat."

As Zedd chuckled, she glanced to the men around the wagon, and saw Captain Ryan. She gestured him closer.

"Yes, my queen?"

"How far to Ebinissia?"

"Four, maybe six hours.1

Zedd leaned toward her. "Not a place we want to reach in the dead of the night."

Kahlan caught his meaning and nodded. For them to reclaim the Crown city o: Galea, they had a lot of work to do; the first of it was taking care of the thousand^ of corpses littering the city. It was not a scene they wanted to encounter in the middle of the night after a hard day's march. She didn't look forward to returning to the sight of that slaughter, but it was a place no one would expect to find them. and they could be safe there for a time. From that base, they could begin pulling the Midlands back together.

She turned back to Captain Ryan. "Is there anywhere near we can set up carm for the night?"

The captain gestured up the road. "The scouts said there's a small, upland valley not far ahead. There's an abandoned farm there where Cyrilla will be comfortable for the night."

She drew a strand of hair back from her face and hooked it behind an ear, noting that Cyrilla was no longer referred to as "queen." Kahlan was queen now, and Prince Harold had made sure all knew it. "All right, send word ahead, then. Go; the valley secured and set up camp. Post sentries and scout the area. If the surrounding slopes are deserted, and the valley is cut off from view, then let the men have fires, but keep them small."

Captain Ryan smiled and tapped a fist to his heart in salute. Fires would be a luxury, and hot food would do the men good. They deserved it, after the hard march. They were almost home; tomorrow they would be there. Then the worst of the work would begin: taking care of the dead, and putting Ebinissia back to order. Kahlan would not let the Imperial Order's victory over Ebinissia stand. The Midlands would have the city back, and it would live again to strike back.

"Did you take care of Stephens?" she asked the captain.

"Zedd helped us find a place, and the men are taking care of it. Poor Stephens. He fought all through the battles against the Order, when we started with five thousand, saw four of every five of his companions killed, and he ends up dying in an accident after it's over. I know he would have wanted to die defending the Midlands."

"He did," Kahlan said. "It's not over; we won only a battle, though an important one. We are still at war with the Imperial Order, and he was a soldier in that war.

He was helping with our effort, and died in the line of duty, just as much as those men kilted in combat. There is no difference. He died a hero of the Midlands."

Captain Ryan stuffed his hands in the pockets of his heavy, brown wool coat. "I think the men would appreciate hearing those words, and would find courage in them. Before we move on, could you say something over his grave? It would mean a lot for the men to know their queen will miss him."

Kahlan smiled. "Of course. Captain. It would be my honor." Kahlan stared after the captain as he moved off to see to things. "I shouldn't have been pushing on after dark."

Zedd stroked a reassuring hand along the back of her head. "Accidents can happen in broad daylight. This very likely would have happened in the morning, had we stopped sooner, and then it would be blamed on being still half asleep." "I still feel to blame. It just doesn't seem fair." His smile marked no humor. "Fate does not seek our consent."

CHAPTER 33