Temple of the Winds

The general slapped Richard on the shoulder. "The men are all better. The things you ordered-the garlic, blueberries, quench oak tea-it worked. They're all well again. I've got a whole army of bright-eyed men who're ready and able to do as ordered. I can't tell you how relieved I am. Lord Rahl." "Your smile just did. general. I'm relieved, too."

"My men are uplifted that their new Lord Rahl is a worker of great magic, able to turn death from their door. Every one of those men would like to buy you an ale and toast your health and long life."

"It wasn't magic. It was simply things that. . Thank them for the offer, but I. . What about the riots? Were there any more last night?"

General Kerson grunted dismissively. "It's mostly finished. The worry went out of people when the moon returned to normal." "Good. That's good news, general. Thinks for the report." The general rubbed a finger along his smooth jaw. "Ah, there was one other thing. Lord Rahl." He glanced at Kahlan. 'If we could talk…" The man let out a sigh. "A. . woman was murdered last night." "I'm sorry. Was it someone you knew?"

"No, Lord Rahl. She was a. . a woman who. . she accepted money in return for…"

"If you're trying to say she was a whore, general," Kahlan said, "I've heard the word before. I won't faint if I hear it again."

"Yes, Mother Confessor." He turned his attention back to Richard. "She was found dead this morning." "What happened to her? How was she killed?"

The general was looking more uncomfortable by the moment. "Lord Rahl, I've been looking at dead people a lot of years. I can't remember the last time I vomited when I saw one."

Richard rested a hand on one of the leather pouches on his wide belt. "What was done to her?"

The general glanced to Kahlan as if to beg her indulgence as he put an arm around Richard's shoulder and pulled him aside. Kahlan couldn't hear the whispered words, but the look on Richard's face told her she didn't want to know. Richard went to the hearth and stood staring into the flames. "I'm sorry. But you must have men who can look into it. Why are you bringing this to me?"

The general grimaced and cleared his throat. "Ah, well, you see. Lord Rahl, it was, well, it was your brother who found her."

Richard turned with a dark frown. "What was Drefan doing at a house of prostitution?"

"Ah, well, I asked him that myself. Lord Rahl. He doesn't seem to me a man who would have any trouble"-the general wiped a hand across his face-"I asked him, and he said that it was his business, not mine, if he wanted to go to whorehouses."

Kahlan could see the tightly controlled anger etched in Richard's expression. He abruptly snatched his gold cloak from a chair.

"Let's go. Take me there. Take me where Drefan goes. I want to talk to the people there."

Kahlan and General Kerson rushed after Richard as he swept out the door. She caught his sleeve and glanced to the general. "General, could you give us a moment, please?"

After he moved down the hall, Kahlan pulled Richard in the other direction, away from Cara, Raina, Ulic, and Egan. She didn't think that Richard was in any mood at the moment to be looking into such a thing. Besides, she had come to him for a reason.

''Richard, there are representatives writing to meet with us. They've been waiting days." "Drefan is my brother." "He's also a grown man."

Richard rubbed his eyes. "I need to see about this, and I have a lot of other things on my mind. Would you mind talking to the representatives? Tell them that I was called away on important matters, and that they can just as easily give their land's surrender to you and then all the;arrangements of command can begin to be coordinated?

"I can. I know that some of them would be just as happy to talk to me and not have to face you, even in surrender; they're terrified of you." "I wouldn't hurt them," Richard objected.

"Richard, you frightened the wits out of them, before, when you demanded their surrender. You promised to annihilate them if they dared join with the Imperial Order.

"They fear you might do it anyway, on a whim. The reputation of the Master of D'Hara precedes you, and you fed their fears. You can't expect that they'll suddenly be at ease around you just because they agree to your terms."

He leaned down and whispered in her ear. "Well, just tell them how lovable I am."

"I can tell them that you look forward to working with them for our mutual peace and prosperity," she said with a smile. "They trust me, and will listen.

"But Tristan Bashkar, the Jarian minister, is here, along with a pair from the royal house in Grennidon. These three are the important ones, the ones with huge standing armies. They're expecting to meet with you. It is they who may not be satisfied to surrender to me. They will want to discuss terms." "Make them satisfied."

"Tristan Bashkar is not an affable man but a tough negotiator, as are Leonora and Walter Cholbane, from Grennidon."