Temple of the Winds

"With our troops in a strategic location," he went on, "we can send messengers to Aydindril and the People's Palace in D'Hara. We can get reinforcements from D'Hara, and from the lands of the Midlands that join with us, and Lord Rahl can send us his instructions. If the Order invades, well, then, we're already here to know about it. Information is a valuable commodity in war."

"Richard may not like it that you hunker down here, instead of returning to protect Aydindril." "Lord Rahl is a reasonable man-"

Verna interrupted with a guffaw. "Richard, reasonable? Now you stretch my credulity, general."

He frowned at her. "As I was saying, Lord Rahl is a reasonable man. He told me that he wants me to speak up with my advice, when I think it important. I think it's important. He considers my advice on matters of war. The messengers are already on their way with my letter. If he doesn't like my advice, then he can say so and order me north and I will go; but until I know for sure that he wishes it, I think we should do our job and defend the New World from the Imperial Order.

"I asked your advice. Prelate, because you command magic. I don't know anything about magic. If you or the Sisters of the Light have something to say that would be important to us in our struggle, then I'm listening. We're on the same side, you know."

Verna relented. "Forgive me, general I guess I sometimes forget that." She offered him a smile. "The last few months have turned my life upside down."

"Lord Rahl has turned the whole world upside down. He has reordered everything."

She smiled to herself. "That he has." She looked back at the general's grayish-green eyes. "Your plan makes sense-at the very worst it would slow the Order, but I'd like to talk to Warren first. He. . he sometimes has surprising insights. Wizards are like that."

The general nodded. "Magic is not my part. We have Lord Rahl for that. And you, too, of course."

Verna repressed a laugh at the idea of Richard being the one to wield magic for them. The boy could hardly get out of his own way where magic was concerned.

No, that wasn't entirely true; Richard often did surprising things with his gift. The problem was that it usually surprised him, too. Still, he was a war wizard, the only to be born in the last three thousand years, and all their hopes hung on his leadership in this war against the Imperial Order.

Richard's heart, and his determination, were in the right place. He would do his best. It was up to the rest of them to help him, and to keep him alive. The general shifted his weight and scratched under his chain-mail sleeve. 'Prelate, the Order claims to want to end magic in this world, but we all know that they use magic in their attempt to crush us." "That they do."

She knew Emperor Jagang had most of the Sisters of the Dark at his beck and call. He had young wizards to do his bidding, too. He had also captured a number of the Sisters of the Light, and dominated them through his ability as a dream walker. It was this that nettled her conscience; as Prelate, it was ultimately up to her to see to the safety of the Sisters of the Light. Some of her Sisters were anything but safe in the hands of Jagang.

"Well, Prelate, seeing as how their troops are likely to be accompanied by those with magic. I'm wondering if I can count on you and your Sisters to be the counter to them. Lord Rahl said: 'You'll have more protection with them, and they with you. That sounds to me like he intended you to use your magic to help us against the Order's army."

Verna would like to think the general wrong. She would like to think that Sisters of the Light, those charged with doing the Creator's work, would be above bringing harm to anyone.

"General Reibisch, I don't like it; however, I'm afraid that I concur. If we lose this war, we all lose, not simply our troops on the field of battle; all free people will be slaves to the Order. If Jagang wins, the Sisters of the Light will be executed. We all must fight or die.

"The Order would not want to fall into your plans so conveniently. They may try to sneak past undetected-farther to the west, possibly even to the east of you. The Sisters can be of use in detecting the movements of the enemy, should they advance into the New World and try to slip past you.

"If those with magic mask the Order's movements from you, our Sisters will know it. We will be your eyes. If fighting comes, the enemy will use magic to try to defeat you. We will have to use our power to thwart that magic."

The general considered the flames for a moment. He glanced off toward the men bedding down for the night.

"Thank you. Prelate. I know that decision can't be easy for you. Since you've all been with us, I've come to know the Sisters as gentle women."