Confessor: Chainfire Trilogy Part 3

She pulled back, gripping his arms. "I'm so glad you came!"

His grin was infectious. "Wouldn't miss it for the world, dear one."

"Are you enjoying yourself? Have you had anything to eat?"

"I would be enjoying it more if Richard would leave me be so I could sample a few of the delightful-looking treats."

Richard made a face. "Zedd, the kitchen staff run when they see you."

"Well, if they don't like to cook, they shouldn't have become cooks."

Kahlan felt someone grab her hand. "Rachel!" She bent and hugged the girl. "How are you?"

"Wonderful. Zedd has been teaching me to draw. When he's not eating."

Kahlan laughed. "Do you like living at the Keep?"

Rachel beamed. "It's the most fun ever. I have brothers and sisters and friends. And Chase and Emma, of course. I think Chase really likes being a Keep warden."

"I bet he does," Richard said.

"And someday," Rachel added, "we may move to Tamarang to live in the castle. But Zedd says that I'm a long way from ready for that."

Rachel had been born with royal blood that carried the ability to draw spells in the sacred caves. She was, technically, the queen of Tamarang. Someday, she was going to make a grand queen and draw wonderful things.

"Zedd," Kahlan said, "have you seen Adie?"

"Yes." Zedd smiled to himself. "Friedrich Gilder makes her happy. If ever there was a woman who deserved to find happiness, I think it's Adie. Lucky for her she traveled to the Keep back when the palace was under siege and ran into Friedrich. The two of them just seemed to hit it off. Now that Aydindril is back full of life, Friedrich has more work gilding than he can handle. I can hardly get him to do any work for us at the Keep."

"And you're all right?" Kahlan asked.

His brows lifted. "Well I will be when you and Richard come and stay for a while." He shook a finger at Richard. "I tell you, Richard, sometimes I feel like you've gone off to the underworld, to live at the Temple of the Winds."

Richard leveled an even look at his grandfather. "The Temple of the Winds isn't in the underworld."

"Of course it is. It was banished there during-"

"I brought it back."

Zedd stiffened. "What?"

Richard nodded with the slightest smile. "When I went to the underworld before I opened the power of Orden, I did a few little things. While the gateway of Orden was open I was able to put the temple back where it belongs-in this world. It was designed, created, and built by the mind of man. The things in it were the creations of the mind of man. It belongs to man. I brought it back to those of us who value such genius."

Zedd still hadn't blinked. "But it's dangerous."

"I know. I made sure that for now no one but me can get in. I figured that when you're not busy, you and I can go visit it. It's quite a remarkable place, actually. In the Hall of Sky the ceiling of stone is like a window showing the sky across its surface. It's so beautiful. I'd love to be the one to show you a place that no one else has seen in three thousand years."

Zedd's jaw was hanging. He held up a finger. "Richard, did you do anything else while the gateway of Orden was open?"

Richard shrugged. "A few things."

"Like what?"

"Well, for one thing, I fixed it so that red fruit in the Midlands is no longer poison, just like I promised you I would a long time ago."

"What else?"

"Well, I-oh, look, it's time to start. I have to go. We'll talk later."

Zedd's brow drew down. "You had better believe we will."

Taking Kahlan's hand, Richard ascended the steps to the platform of the devotion square. Egan and Ulic stood with their hands casually clasped, waiting for the Lord Rahl. Richard took his place, Kahlan at his side.

The crowd spread out through the vast hallway quieted.

When Kahlan finally saw her coming, she smiled so broadly that it made her cheeks hurt. The crowd parted along the seemingly endless red carpet for the couple approaching the platform. The escorts followed in a long trail.

Cara, looking positively radiant, ascended the steps with Benjamin at her side, holding his arm. He looked magnificent in his dress uniform. Benjamin was now General Meiffert, Commander of the First File at the People's Palace.

Cara, like all the Mord-Sith following behind, was wearing her white leather. With Benjamin's dark uniform they made a stunning couple. In a way it reminded Kahlan of her in her white Confessor's dress and Richard in his black war-wizard outfit.

Nicci, as beautiful as ever, smiled as she stood among the Mord-Sith to represent Cara as her official witness.

"Are you ready?" Richard asked.

Cara and Benjamin nodded, too giddy to answer, Kahlan thought.

Richard leaned down a little, fixing Benjamin in his raptor glare. "Ben, don't you ever hurt her, do you hear me?"

"Lord Rahl, I don't think I could hurt her if I wanted to."

"You know what I mean."

Benjamin smiled broadly. "I know what you mean, Lord Rahl."

"Good," Richard said with a smile as he straightened.

"But I can still hurt him if I want, right?" Cara asked.

Richard lifted an eyebrow. "No."

Cara grinned.