Faith of the Fallen

She kicked over the map basket and pawed through the maps until she found the one she wanted. She pulled a pen and an ink bottle out of their box, set the statue of Spirit on the ground, and spread the small map across the table.

"Come here," Kahlan ordered, snapping her fingers and pointing to the ground before the table. She put the pen in his trembling fingers after he had shuffled close.

Kahlan pointed at the map. "We are here. Show me where you traveled with the Order."

He pointed. "This river. I came up from the Old World with reinforcement troops, after some training. We joined the emperor's force and we advanced up this river basin over the summer."

Kahlan pointed to the Old World. "Now, I want you to mark the place where you lived."

"Altur'Rang. That's it, there."

She watched him dip the pen and circle the dot and the name Altur'Rang, far to the south-the heart of the Old World.

"Now," she said, "mark the roads you came up in the Old World-including any cities or towns you went through."

Cara and Kahlan both watched Gadi mark roads and circle a number of cities and towns. Warren and the Sisters were from the Old World; they knew a great deal about the lay of the land, enabling them to provide detailed maps.

When he'd finished, Gadi looked up.

Kahlan turned over the map. "Draw the city of Altur'Rang. I want to see the major roads-anything you know of it."

Gadi immediately set to drawing the map for her. When he was finished, he looked up again.

"Now, show me where this room is where Richard lives."

Gadi marked the map to indicate the place. "But I don't know if he will be there. Lots of people turn in the names of people suspected of wrongdoing against their fellow man. If they take the name and they arrest him. . the Brothers may order penance, or they could even question him and then order him put to death."

"Brothers?" Kahlan asked.

Gadi nodded. "Brother Narev and his disciples. They are the head of the Fellowship of Order. Brother Narev is our spiritual guide. He and the brothers are the heart of the Order."

"What do they look like?" Kahlan asked, her mind already racing ahead.

"The brothers wear dark brown robes, with hoods. They are simple men who have given up the luxuries of life to serve the wishes of the Creator and the needs of mankind. Brother Narev is closer to the Creator than any man alive. He is mankind's savior."

Gadi was clearly awed by the man. Kahlan listened while Gadi told her everything he knew about the Fellowship of Order, about the brothers, and about Brother Narev.

Gadi shook in the silence after he had finished. Kahlan wasn't watching him, but staring off.

"What did Richard look like," she asked in a distant voice. "Was he well? Did he look all right?"

"Yes. He's big and strong. Foolish people like him."

Kahlan spun around, landing the heel of her hand against Gadi's face hard enough to knock him from his feet.

"Get him out of here," she told Cara.

"But you must show me mercy, now! I told you what you want to know!" He broke down in tears. "You must show me mercy!"

"You have a job to finish," Kahlan said to Cara.

-]--

Kahlan pulled the tent flap back and peeked in. Sister Dulcinia was snoring softly. Holly looked up.

Tears filled the girl's eyes as she stretched out her arms pleadingly.

Kahlan knelt beside the girl and bent over to hug her. Holly started crying.

Sister Dulcinia woke with a snort. "Mother Confessor."

Kahlan put a hand on the Sister's arm. "It's late. Why don't you go get some sleep, Sister."

Sister Dulcinia smiled her agreement and then grunted with the effort of struggling to her feet in the low tent. In the distance, on the far side of the camp, Kahlan could hear Gadi's bloodcurdling screams.

Kahlan smoothed the downy hair from Holly's brow and kissed her there.

"How are you, sweetheart? Are you all right?"

"Oh, Mother Confessor, it was awful. Wizard Warren got hurt. I saw it."

Kahlan hugged her as she started weeping again. "I know. I know."

"Is it all right? Is he healed like they healed me?"

Kahlan cupped the little cheek and wiped a tear away with her thumb.

"I'm sorry, Holly, but Warren died."

Her brow bunched up with her misery. "He shouldn't have tried to save me. It's my fault he's dead."

"No," Kahlan soothed. "That's not the way it is. Warren gave his life to save us all. He did what he did out of his love of life. He didn't want to let evil be free among those he loved."

"Do you really think so?"

"Of course I do. Remember him for how he loved life, and how he wanted to see those he loved free to live their own lives."

"He danced with me at his wedding. I thought he was the most handsome groom ever."

"He was indeed a handsome groom," Kahlan said with a smile at the memory. "He was one of the best men I've ever known, and he gave his life to help keep us free. We honor his sacrifice by living the best lives we can live."

Kahlan started to rise, but Holly hugged her all the tighter, so Kahlan lay down beside her. She stroked Holly's brow, and kissed her cheek.