Faith of the Fallen

Kneeling on the floor in the far corner, she flipped back the flap and saw his things inside-his war wizard's clothes were in the bottom. Near tears, she clutched the pack to her chest.

It had been over a year since she had seen him. For almost half the time she had known him, he had been gone from her. It seemed she could not endure another moment.

Kahlan heard a sudden noise. Cara seized the wrist of a young man as he charged in brandishing a knife. In one fluid motion she had his arm twisted behind his back.

Kahlan thrust her hand into the air. "Cara! No."

Cara made a sour face as she lowered her Agiel from the young man's throat. His eyes were wide with both fear, and indignation.

"Thieves! You're thieves! That's not yours! Put it back!"

Kahlan rushed to the youth, motioning for him to keep his voice down.

"Is your name Kamil, or Nabbi?"

The young man blinked in surprise. He licked his lips as he glanced over his shoulder at the woman towering above him.

"I'm Kamil. Who are you? How do you know my name?"

"I'm a friend. Gadi told me-"

"Then you're no friend!"

Before he could scream for help, Cara clamped a hand over his mouth.

Kahlan shushed him. "Gadi murdered a friend of ours. After we captured him, Gadi told me your name."

When she saw that he was taken aback by the news, Kahlan signaled for Cara to lower her hand.

"Gadi killed someone?"

"That's right," Cara said.

He stole a quick glance over his shoulder. "What did you do to him? To Gadi?" "We put him to death," Kahlan said, not revealing the full extent of the deed.

The young man smiled. "Then you really are friends. Gadi is a bad person. He hurt my friend. I hope he suffered."

"It took him a long time to die," Cara said.

The young man swallowed when he saw her grin from over his shoulder.

Kahlan gestured and Cara released him.

"So, who are you two?" he asked.

"My name is Kahlan, and this is Cara."

"So, what are you doing here?"

"That's a little complicated, but we're looking for Richard."

His suspicion returned. "Yeah?"

Kahlan smiled. He was indeed Richard's friend. She put her hand to the side of his shoulder as she held his gaze.

"I'm his wife. His real wife."

Kamil blinked dumbly. "But, but-,

Kahlan's voice hardened. "Nicci isn't his wife." -

His eyes brimmed with tears as a grin overcame him. "I knew it. I knew he didn't love her. I could never understand how Richard could have married her."

Kamil suddenly threw his arms around Kahlan, hugging her with fierce happiness for Richard. Kahlan laughed softly as she smoothed the young man's hair. Cara seized his collar and pulled him back, but at least did it gently.

"And you?" Kamil asked Cara.

"I am Mord-"

"Cara is Richard's good friend."

Kamil unexpectedly hugged Cara, then. Kahlan feared the Mord-Sith might crush his skull, but she endured it politely, even if she was ill at ease.

Kahlan thought Cara might even have started to smile.

Kamil turned back to Kahlan. "But what is Richard doing with Nicci, then?"

Kahlan took a deep breath. "It's a long story."

"Tell me."

Kahlan appraised his dark eyes for a moment. She liked what she saw there. Still, she thought it best to keep it simple.

"Nicci is a sorceress. She used magic to force Richard to go with her."

"Magic? What magic?" he pressed without pause.

Kahlan took another breath. "She could have used her magic to hurt me, kill me, if Richard didn't agree to go with her."

Kamil gazed skyward as he thought it over. He finally nodded. "That makes sense. That's the kind of man Richard is-he would do anything to save the woman he loved. I knew he didn't love Nicci."

"And how did you know that?"

Kamil gestured at the two pallets. "He didn't sleep with her. I bet he slept with you, when you were together."

Kahlan could feel her face flushing at his boldness. "How do you know that?"

"I don't know." He scratched his head. "You just look like you belong with him. When you say his name I can see how you care for him."

Kahlan couldn't help but smile through her weariness. They had been riding at a breakneck pace for weeks. They had lost a few horses along the way, and had to acquire others. They had gone with little sleep for the last week. She had trouble even thinking straight.

"So, do you know where Richard is, now?" Kahlan asked.

"At work, I'm sure. He usually comes home about now-unless he has to work at night, too."

Kahlan briefly scanned the room. "What about Nicci?"

"I don't know. She may have gone to buy bread or something. It's a little funny-she's usually home long before now. She almost always has dinner ready for Richard."

Kahlan's gaze drifted through the darkening room, from table, to basin, to cupboard. She would hate to leave, only to have him show up a minute after she left. Kamil thought it was odd that Nicci wasn't home. That they were both gone was troubling.

"Where does he work?" Kahlan asked.

"At the site."

"Site? What site?"

Kamil gestured into the distance. "Out at the emperor's new palace they're building. Tomorrow's the big dedication."

"The new palace is done?"