Blood of the Fold

"General Reibisch," Berdine said. "He is of mixed blood, and so it will not be as easy, but if you can make him recognize you as the Master Rahl, he has enough D'Haran blood to be bonded. When a commander is bonded, many of his men become so at the same time, because they trust in their commanders; they will believe as he. If you can bond General Reibisch, then you will have control of the forces in Aydindril. Even though some of the men have no true D'Haran blood, they are loyal to their leaders, and will still be bonded, in a manner of speaking."

"Then I've got to do something to convince this General Reibisch that I'm the new Master Rahl."

Cara grinned wickedly. "That's why you need us. We've brought you something, from Commander General Trimack." She gestured to Hally. "Show him."

Hally unfastened the top buttons of her leather outfit and pulled a long pouch from between her breasts. With a proud smile, she handed it to Richard. He extracted the scroll inside, inspecting the symbol of a skull with crossed swords under it impressed into the gold-colored wax.

"What's this?"

"Commander General Trimack wanted to help you," Hally said. With the gleam of a smile still in her eyes she put a finger to the wax. "This is the personal seal of the commander general of the First File. The document is in his own hand. He wrote it while I stood waiting, and then told me to give it to you. It declares you to be the new Master Rahl, and says that the First File and all the troops and field generals in D'Hara recognize you as such, are bonded, and stand ready to defend your ascension to power with their lives. It threatens undying vengeance against any who stand against you."

Richard's gaze rose to her blue eyes. "Hally, I could kiss you."

Her smile vanished in an instant. "Lord Rahl, you have declared us free. We no longer have to submit…" She snapped her mouth closed as her face went scarlet, as did the other women's. Hally bowed her head and fixed her sight on the floor. Her voice came in a submissive whisper. "Forgive me, Lord Rahl. If you wish that of us, we of course offer ourselves willingly."

With his fingertips, Richard lifted her chin. "Hally, it was just a figure of speech. As you told me, though you are bonded, this time you are not slaves. I am not just the Master Rahl, I am also the Seeker of Truth. I hope to have you come to follow me because the cause is just. That is what I wish you to be bound to, not me. You need never fear I will revoke your freedom."

Hally swallowed. "Thank you, Lord Rahl."

Richard waved the scroll. "Now, let's go let this General Reibisch meet the new Master Rahl, so I can get on with what I need to do."

Berdine laid a restraining hand to his arm. "Lord Rahl, the words of the commander general are meant to be an aid. They, in themselves, will not bond these troops to you."

Richard put his fists o.n his hips. -”You four havq a bad habit of dangling something in front of my face.^nd then snatching it away. What else do I need to do? Some fancy magic?"

The four nodded as if he had finally guessed their plan.

"What!" Richard leaned toward them. "You mean this general will want me to perform some magic trick to prove myself?"

Ill at ease, Cara shrugged. "Lord Rahl, these are just words on paper. They are meant to back you, to be of help, not to perform the task for you. At the palace in D'Hara the word of the commander general is law, only you outrank him, but in the field it is not so. Here, General Reibisch is the law. You must convince him that you outrank him.

"These men will not be easily won over. The Master Rahl must be seen as a figure of awesome power and strength. They must be overwhelmed in order to invoke the bond, just as the troops at the palace were when you Set the walls alive with lightning. As you said, they must believe. To believe, it will take more than words on paper.-General Trimack's letter is meant to be part of it, but it can't be all."

"Magic," Richard muttered as he slumped down in the rickety chair. He scrubbed his face, trying to think through the haze of fatigue. He was the Seeker, appointed by a wizard, a position of power and responsibility; the Seeker was a law unto himself. He had planned to do this as the Seeker. He could still do it as Seeker. He knew about being the Seeker.

Still, if the D'Harans in Aydindril were loyal to him. .

Through the weariness, one thought was clear: he had to make sure Kahlan was safe. He had to use his head, not just his heart. He couldn't just run off after her, ignoring what was happening, not if he wanted to truly make sure she was safe. He needed to do this. He needed to win over the D'Harans.

Richard shot to his feet. "Did you bring your red leather outfits?" A Mord-Sith's bloodred leather clothes were worn when they were of a mind to dispense discipline; red didn't show blood. When a Mord-Sith wore her red leather, it was a statement that she expected there to be a lot of blood, and everyone knew it wasn't going to be hers.