Confessor: Chainfire Trilogy Part 3

"While they were paying our respects to the tomb of Nathan Rahl, my representatives came across the most interesting books. One in particular I believe you've heard of: The Book of Counted Shadows."

Richard glared, but said nothing.

"Now, as I'm sure you are aware, there are five copies of thaT particular book. In fact, I have three of them. From what my good Sisters tell me, you have memorized another copy. I'm not sure where the fifth is, but I suppose that it could be any of a number of places.

"The thing is, it doesn't really matter. You see, The Book of Counted Shadows that came into my possession, along with your beautiful little sister and a few of her friends, is not a copy."

Richard puzzled at the man. "Not a copy? Then what is it?"

"It's the original," Jagang said in his deep voice, sounding quite amused with himself. "Because it's the original, I don't have to worry about which of the five is the one true copy and which four are the false copies. That no longer concerns me, since I now have the original."

Richard heaved a sigh. "I see."

"Besides that, I now also have all three boxes of Orden. My friend Six was kind enough to bring me the third." The dark eyes turned toward Nicci. "She got it from the Wizard's Keep. Just ask Nicci. Fortunately, Nicci recovered from the touch of the witch woman. I would have been so very displeased had she died."

Richard folded his arms again. "So you have The Book of Counted Shadows, and now you have all three boxes. Sounds like you have Ja'La dh Jin well in hand. What is it you want from me?"

The soldier wagged an admonishing finger. "You know what I want, Richard Rahl. I want into the Garden of Life."

"I suppose you do, but I don't think it would be very healthy for me to allow that."

"I suggest that you think about all those people in there, and ask yourself how healthy it will be for them if you don't agree. You see, we are going to get in. It's just a matter of when and what happens when we do get in. If you force me to fight my way in, then, as I said, I will have to let my men extract their revenge on every single person in there-every man, woman, and child. I expect that it will be terrifying beyond their wildest imagination.

"But, if you surrender-"

"Surrender!" Verna shouted. "Are you out of your mind!"

Richard silenced her by easing her back. He turned again to Jagang. "Go on."

"If you surrender, I will not harm the palace."

"If we were to surrender, why in the world would you spare it? I certainly hope you don't expect me to believe that you have it in you to honor such a bargain."

"Well, you see, we were planning to build a grand palace to be the headquarters of the Imperial Order. Brother Narev himself was overseeing the project. But you ended that dream for our people.

"We could start over and build such a palace. ..." The man gestured indulgently. "But it would be so much more fitting, since you took our palace, for us in the end to take yours and rule from it to show all who would defy the Fellowship of Order what comes of such foolish resistance. This seat of the Order would be a statement to all.

"Of course, after you witness the opening of the correct box of Orden I would have you put to death."

"Of course," Richard said.

"A relatively quick death, but not too quick. I would want you to pay for some of your crimes, after all."

"How appealing." -

"Well, your people would live. Aren't you concerned for them? Have you no compassion? They would have to bow to the beliefs of the Order, which is, after all, the moral law of the Creator Himself, but they would not (be molested by my men."

"That doesn't sound very appealing," Richard said, his arms still folded.

The soldier shrugged, an awkward movement, like a puppet whose strings had been pulled. "Well, those are your only two choices. Either we eventually smash our way in on a river of blood, letting my men have what they want of your people and your palace while my Sisters and myself do what we must in the Garden of Life, or else you come to your senses and allow your people to live in peace, while my Sisters and myself do what we must in the Garden of Life.

"Either way, I will have the Garden of Life to use as I must. The only question is how soon, and how much blood and suffering it will cost your people."

"You may never get in. You think you will, but you may not. I have that possibility to consider."

"Not really," Jagang said with a surrogate smile. "You see, I always have the additional option of Six helping us. She wouldn't have to fight her way up through the palace. She can just. . . drop us in, as it were. Beyond that, if I grow too impatient I could always go ahead and do it the easy way by simply using the book the way it was intended to open the correct box."

"You need the Garden of Life."