Soul of the Fire

"All right," he said, "we know they were telling all those lies in the city. We just have to realize it will be different out around the land."

"Richard," Kahlan whispered, "they will spread the same lies around the land."

"But we talked to those people. We spent time with them." Richard turned to Captain Meiffert. "What about the outlying places?

"Well-"

"What about, about, that place-" Richard snapped his fingers. "Westbrook. Where we spent time looking at Joseph Ander's things. What about Westbrook? Is the vote back from there?"

The man had backed away a step. "Yes, Lord Rahl."

"And what is it, then?"

Kahlan put a hand on his arm. "Richard," she whispered, "the captain is on our side."

Richard pressed his fingers to his temples as he took a breath. "What is the vote from Westbrook, Captain?"

The man, having lost much of his color, cleared his throat.

"Nine of ten marked an X against us, Lord Rahl."

Richard stood stunned. He had talked to those people. He remembered some of their names, their beautiful children.

Richard felt as if the ground had disappeared from beneath his feet, and he was falling through insanity. He had been up day and night, trying to help these people have their own way over their lives, have freedom, and they rejected it.

"Richard," Kahlan said in soft sympathy, "it was nothing you did. They told those people lies. They frightened the people."

Richard lifted a hand in a vague manner. "But… I talked to them, explained to them that this was for them, for their future, for the freedom of their children…."

"I know, Richard."

Captain Meiffert stood awkwardly. Kahlan signaled with a hand, dismissing him. He bowed and quietly backed out of the tent.

"I'm going for a walk," Richard whispered. "I need to be by myself." He waved toward the blankets. "Just go on to bed without me."

Richard walked alone into the darkness.

CHAPTER 66

He quietly dismissed for the evening the woman dusting all the elaborate woodwork and, after closing the door behind her, went to the bedroom. Teresa turned when she heard him come in.

"Dalton." She smiled. "There you are, sweetheart."

"Tess."

He had run the entire state of affairs through his mind a thousand times and had finally come to the place where he could face Tess and know he would be able to control his response.

He had to control himself.

He had retreated into his most trusted method of handling things. Only there could he be sure of his control. He was going to handle this, just as he handled so many other things.

"I didn't expect to see you in so early."

"Tess, I heard something."

She sat at the mirror, brushing her beautiful hair.

"Really? Some interesting news?"

"A bit. I heard you have been occupying the bed of the Sovereign. Is this true?"

He knew now it was. He had pulled every thread of his cobweb.

She stopped brushing and looked at him in the mirror, her face a mix of emotions. Defiance predominated them.

"Dalton, it's not like he's another man. It's the Sovereign." She stood and turned to him, unsure how he was going to react. "He is next to the Creator."

"May I ask how this came about?"

"Bertrand said the Creator spoke to him." She stared off to a distant place. "The Creator told Bertrand that because I had been faithful to you, and had never been with another man, and because you had been faithful to me, the Creator had chosen me to be the one to release Bertrand's worldly tensions."

Her eyes focused on him again.

"So, you see, it's a reward for you, too, Dalton. For your faithfulness to me."

Dalton made himself answer. "Yes, I can see that."

"Bertrand says it is my holy duty."

"Holy duty."

"When I'm with him, it's like… I don't know. It's so special. To help the Sovereign in this world is an honor as well as a duty. To think, I help relieve him of the awful tension that builds up in him from being Sovereign.

"It's an awesome responsibility, Dalton, being Sovereign."

Dalton nodded. "You're right."

Seeing that he wasn't going to get angry and harm her, she stepped closer.

"Dalton, I still love you just the same."

"I'm glad to hear it, Tess. That was what I'm most worried about. I fear I've lost your love."

She grasped his shoulders. "No, silly. Never. I still love you the same. But the Sovereign has called upon me. You have to understand that. He needs me."

Dalton swallowed. "Of course, darling. But we can… we can still be… we can still be together in bed?"

"Oh, Dalton, of course we can. Is that what you were worried about? That I'd not have time for you, too? Dalton, I love you, and will always want you."

"Good." He nodded. "That's good."

"Come to bed, sweetheart, and I'll show you. You might even find me more exciting, now.

"And Dalton, it's a high honor to be with the Sovereign. Everyone will only think more of you."

"I'm sure you're right."

"Come to bed, then." She kissed his cheek. "Let me show you how happy I can make you?"

Dalton scratched his forehead. "Ah, I would love nothing better, really I would, but I have a whole pile of urgent work. The vote just came in…."