Faith of the Fallen

Richard shrugged. He lifted the gleaming, silver-wound hilt of his sword, showing them the word TRUTH in gold, and then let it drop back into its scabbard.

"What a beauty!" Kamil shouted.

Victor and Ishaq both blinked again, and then dropped to a knee. They bowed their heads deeply.

Richard rolled his eyes. "Will you two stop it." He shot Cara a scowl.

Victor peered up cautiously. "But we never knew. I'm sorry. You're not angry I made fun of you?"

"Victor, it's me, Richard. How many times have we eaten your lardo together?"

"Lardo?" Kahlan asked. "You know how to make lardo, Victor?"

Victor rose up, a grin growing across his face as he peered at her.

"You know of lardo?"

"Of course. The men who used to come to work on the white marble at the Confessors' Palace used to eat lardo they made themselves — in big marble tubs. I used to sit and eat it with them when I was little. They used to say I would grow up to wear the white dress of the Mother Confessor one day because I ate their lardo and would grow strong from it."

Victor thumped his chest with a big thumb. "I make lardo in marble tubs, too."

"Do you let it age for a year?" Kahlan asked. "You have to let proper lardo age for a year."

"Of course, a year! I make only proper lardo."

Kahlan gave him her most beautiful, green-eyed smile. "I would love to taste it sometime."

Victor draped his massive arm around Kahlan's shoulders. "Come, Richard's wife, I will give you a taste of my lardo."

Cara, a dark look on her face, put a hand to the blacksmith's chest to stop him. She lifted his arm from Kahlan's shoulders.

"No one but Lord Rahl touches the Mother Confessor."

Victor gave Cara a quizzical look. "Have you ever had lardo?"

"No."

Victor slapped Cara on the back as he laughed. "Come, then, and I will give you lardo, too. Then you will see-anyone who eats lardo with me is my friend for life."

Kahlan took Kamil's place under one of Richard's arms, Victor under the other, and they made their way across newly free ground up to the blacksmith's shop, to have some lardo.

CHAPTER 71

Verna pulled the candle close. She warmed her hands over it a moment, then laid the journey book on the table. The sounds of the army camp outside her small tent were by now so familiar she almost didn't hear them.

It was a cold D'Haran winter night, but at least they and all the people they had helped were safely over the mountains. Verna understood their quiet anxiety: it was a new and mysterious place, D'Hara, a land once only a source of nightmares. At least they were safe for the time being. In the distance the wolves' long plaintive howls echoed through the frigid mountains, off the moonlit snow blanketing the seemingly endless, desolate, colossal slopes.

It was the proper phase of the moon, even if it was the moon in a new land, a strange and unknown land. Verna had checked for months, but there was never a message. She didn't really expect one, since Kahlan had thrown Ann's twinned journey book in the fire. But still, it was a journey book, an ancient thing of magic, and Ann was a resourceful woman. It didn't hurt to look.

Verna opened the little book with no real hope.

There, on the first page, was a message.

All it said, was, Verna, 1 am waiting, if you are there.

Verna drew the stylus from the spine and immediately began writing.

Prelate! You have been able to fix the damaged journey book? That's wonderful. Where are you? Are you well? Have you found Nathan?

Verna waited. Shortly, the reply began to appear.

Verna, 1 am well. 1 was able to restore the journey book with the help of some. . people. Strange people. But the important part is that it is restored for the most part. 1 am still searching for the prophet. I have some good clues on Nathan's whereabouts, and 1 am looking into them. But how are you, Verna? How goes the war? Warren? Kahlan? Is Zedd giving you much trouble? That man can try the patience of stone. Have you had word of Richard?

Verna stared at words on the page. A tear fell near Warren's name. She picked up the stylus once more, and slowly began her reply.

Oh, Prelate, some terrible things have happened.

1 am sorry, Verna, came the reply. Verna, 1 am here. I am going nowhere for the night. Take all the time you need. Tell me what happened. Tell me how you are, first. 1 worry so for you. Verna, 1 love you like a daughter.

You know 1 do.

Verna nodded to the book. She did know it.

And 1 love you, too, Prelate, Verna began. I fear my heart is broken.

-]--

Kahlan stood silently beside him in the warm midday breeze as Richard looked out over the river, at the city beyond. The city was peaceful, now.