Soul of the Fire

Kahlan picked at her tava bread. "Things like what happened in Anderith are one reason I came to understand and believe in what you are trying to accomplish, Richard, Until you came along, with D'Hara behind your word, no one land was strong enough to set down just law for all peoples. Against a foe like Jagang, the alliance of the Midlands had no chance."

Richard couldn't really imagine how it must have been for her, as Mother Confessor, to see what she had worked for her entire life fall apart. Richard's father, Darken Rahl, had set in motion events that had altered the world. Kahlan, at least, had seen the opportunity in the chaos.

Richard rubbed his brow as he considered what to do next.

"All right, so I now understand a bit about the history of Anderith. I'm sure that if I knew the history of D'Hara I'd find that far more sordid, and yet they now follow me and struggle for justice-strange as I realize that sounds. The spirits know some people have hung the crimes of D'Hara's past around my Rahl neck.

"From what you've told me of Anderith history, they sound like a people who would never submit to the rule of the Imperial Order. Do you think we can get Anderith to join with us?"

Kahlan took a deep breath as she considered it. He had been hoping she would say yes without having to think about it.

"They are ruled by a sovereign, who is also their religious leader. That element of their society hearkens back to the religious beliefs of the Anders. The Directors of the Office of Cultural Amity hold sway over who will be named Sovereign for life. The Directors are supposed to be a moral check on the man appointed Sovereign-in a way like the First Wizard selecting the right person to be Seeker.

"The Anderith people believe that once anointed by the Directors, the man named Sovereign transcends mere matters of the flesh, and is in touch with the Creator Himself. Some fervently believe he speaks in this world for the Creator. Some view him with the reverence they would reserve for the Creator Himself."

"So, he's the one who will need to be convinced to join us?"

"In part, but the Sovereign doesn't really rule in the day-to-day sense. He's more a figurehead, loved by the people for what he represents. Nowadays Anders make up less than maybe fifteen or twenty percent of the population, but the Hakens feel much the same about their Sovereign.

"He has the power to order the rest of the government to a course, but more often he simply approves the one they select. For the large part, the ruling of Anderith is done by the Minister of Culture. The Minister sets the agenda for the land. That would be a man named Bertrand Chanboor.

"The Minister of Culture's office just outside Fairfield is the governing body that ultimately would make the decision. The representatives I met with in Aydindril will report our words to Minister Chanboor.

"No matter the dim history, the present-day fact is that Anderith is a power to be reckoned with. If the ancient Anders were a primitive people, they are no longer so. They are wealthy merchants who control vast trade and wealth. They govern with equal skill; they have a secure grip on their power and their land."

Richard scanned the empty grasslands. Ever since the chime had come to kill Du Chaillu, and he had felt the hairs at the back of his neck stand on end, he kept checking for the feeling, hoping that, if it came again, he would be aware of the sensation sooner and be able to warn everyone in time.

He glanced over to see Cara feeding Du Chaillu porridge. She needed to be back with her people, not carrying her unborn child all over the countryside.

"The Anders are not fat, soft, lazy merchants, either," Kahlan went on. "Except for the army, where a semblance of equality exists, only Anders are allowed to carry weapons, and they tend to be good with them. The Anders, despite what you may think of them, are no fools and neither are they to be easily won over."

Richard again gazed out over the grasslands as he made plans in his head.

"In Ebinissia, in Renwold," he said, "Jagang has shown what he does to people who refuse to join him. If Anderith doesn't join us, they will again fall to a foreign invasion. This time, though, the invaders will have no sense of justice."

CHAPTER 35

Richard, considering everything Kahlan had told him, and what the chimes had, in their own brutal way, told him, stood staring off toward Aydindril. Learning some of the history of Anderith only made him feel more sure of his decision.

"I knew we had to be going the wrong way," he said at last.

Kahlan frowned out over the empty plains to the northeast, where he was looking. "What do you mean?"

"Zedd used to tell me that if the road is easy, you're likely going the wrong way."

"Richard, we've been all through that," Kahlan said with weary insistence as she pushed her cloak back over her shoulder. "We need to get to Aydindril. Now, more than ever, you must see that."