Soul of the Fire

"Anders changed the order of everything, making black white and white black. They declared no Haken could fairly judge an Ander, because of the ancient Haken tradition of injustice to Anders. Conversely, Anders asserted, because they had for so long been subjugated by their wicked Haken overlords, that they understood the nature of inequity, and so would be the only ones qualified to rule in matters of justice.

"Woeful tales of Haken cruelty were the currency of social acceptance. Frightened Hakens, in an attempt to prove the horrific charges untrue, and avoid being singled out by the well-armed troops, willingly submitted to Ander authority and those merciless mercenaries.

"The Anders, so long out of power, were ruthless in pressing their advantage.

"Haken people were forbidden to hold positions of power. Eventually, supposedly because the Haken overlords required Anders to address those overlords by surname, even the right to have a surname was denied the Hakens, unless they somehow proved themselves worthy and received special permission."

"But haven't they intermixed?" Richard asked. "After all that time, didn't the Haken and Ander people intermarry? Didn't they all blend together into one people?"

Kahlan shook her head. "From the beginning, the Anders, a tall dark-haired people, thought wedding the redheaded Hakens was a crime against the Creator. They believe the Creator, in His wisdom, made people distinct and different. They didn't believe people should interbreed like livestock being bred for a new quality-which was what the Hakens had done. I'm not saying it didn't occasionally happen, but to this day such a thing is rare."

Richard rolled up his last bite of tava with porridge. "So, what's it like there, now?" He popped the bite in his mouth.

"Since only the downtrodden-the Anders-can be virtuous, because they were oppressed, only they are allowed to rule. They teach that Haken oppression continues to this day. Even a look from a Haken can be interpreted as a projection of hate. Conversely, Hakens cannot be downtrodden, and thus virtuous, since by nature they are corrupt.

"It's now against the law for Hakens to learn to read, out of fear they would again seize rule and go on to brutalize and butcher the Ander people, as surely as night always extinguishes day, to put their words to it. Hakens are required to attend classes called penance assembly to keep them in line. It's all systematized and codified the way Anders now rule Hakens.

"Keep in mind, Richard, the history I told you is what was taught me by the wizards. What the Anders teach is quite different. They teach that they were an oppressed people who by their own higher nature have, after centuries of domination, once again exerted their cultural superiority. For all I know, their version could even be true."

Richard was standing, hands on hips, staring incredulously. "And the council in Aydindril allowed this? They allowed the Anders to enslave the Haken people in such a fashion?"

"The Hakens meekly submit. They believe as they were taught by Ander teachers-that this is a better way."

"But how could the Central Council allow such a perversion of justice?"

"You forget, Richard, the Midlands was an alliance of sovereign lands. The Confessors helped see to it that rule in the Midlands was, to a certain extent, fair. We did not tolerate murder of political opponents, things like that, but if a people like the Hakens willingly went along with the way their land worked, the council had little say. Brutal rule was opposed. Bizarre rule was not."

Richard threw up his hands. "But the Hakens only go along because they are taught this nonsense. They don't know how ridiculous it is. It is the equivalent of the abuse of an ignorant people."

"Abuse maybe to you, Richard. They see it differently. They see it as a way to peace in their land. That is their right."

"The fact they were deliberately taught in a way to make them ignorant is proof of the abuse."

She tilted her head toward him. "Aren't you the one who just told me the Hakens had no right to destroy the Ander culture? Now you argue the council should have done no less?”

Richard's face reflected frustration. "You were talking about the council of the Midlands?"

Kahlan took another drink and then handed him the waterskin.

"This all happened centuries ago. No one land was strong enough to enforce law on the rest of the Midlands. Together, through the council, we simply try to work, together. The Confessors interceded when rulers stepped outside the bounds.

"Had we tried to dictate how each sovereign land was to be ruled, the alliance would have fallen apart and war would have replaced reason and cooperation. I'm not saying it was perfect, Richard, but it allowed most people to live in peace."

He sighed. "I suppose. I'm no expert on governing. I guess it served the people of the Midlands for thousands of years."