Temple of the Winds

"Thank you. both of you. I know this must seem harsh to you. but know that we rejoice to count you and your people among us."

As they moved off to sign the papers and talk with the officers, Kahlan turned her attention to Tristan Bashkar. of Jara. "Minister Bashkar, how stands Jara?"

Tristan Bashkar was a member of the royal family of Jara. In Jara, the position of minister was one of high rank and trust. Of those gathered, he was the only one with the authority to change his land's commitment without returning home for consultation. If he thought there was reason enough, he could alter the royal family's instructions, and thus. Jara's stand.

Hardly out of his thirties, he wore his age well. He also used his looks to distract people from his quick mind. After people had been disarmed by his likable smile, bright brown eyes, and smooth-spoken flattery, he would extract concessions before they realized they had parted with them.

He brushed a thick lock of dark hair back from his forehead-a compulsive habit. Or possibly a way to draw interest to his eyes. where people were often distracted.

He spread his hands apologetically. "Mother Confessor, I'm afraid it's not as easy as a simple yes or no, although I wish to assure you that we are in harmony with the great empire of D'Hara, and admire the wisdom of both Lord Rahl. and of course, yourself. We have always put the advice of the Mother Confessor above all others."

Kahlan sighed. "Tristan, I'm in no mood for your usual games. You and I have sparred in these chambers more times than I can remember. Don't test me today. I'll not have it."

Being a member of the royal family, he was well trained in all the arts of war, and had fought with distinction in the past. Broad-shouldered and tall. he cut a handsome figure. His easy smile always carried a playful twist that cloaked any threat, were there one. and there sometimes was. Kahlan never turned her back, so to speak, on Tristan Bashkar.

He casually unbuttoned his dark blue coat and rested a hand on his hip. The ploy revealed an ornate knife sheathed at his belt. Kahlan had heard it whispered that, going into battle, Tristan Bashkar preferred to draw his knife rather than his sword. It was whispered, too, that he got sadistic pleasure from slicing the enemy.

"Mother Confessor, I admit that in the past I've been reticent to reveal our exact position in order to best protect our people from the avarice of other lands; but it isn't like that this time. You see, the way we view the situation-"

"I'm not interested. I want only to know if you stand with us or against us. If you stand against us, Tristan, I give you my word that by morning we will have troops riding for the royal palace in Sandilar, and they will return with either unconditional surrender, or the heads of the royal family.

"General Baldwin is here in Aydindril with a sizable Keltish force. I'll send him-Keltans never let down their queen, nor rest until she is satisfied. I am now the queen of Kelton. Do you wish a fight with General Baldwin?"

"Of course not. Mother Confessor. We wish no fight, but if you will hear me out-"

Kahlan slapped a hand to the desk, silencing him. "When the Imperial Order held Aydindril, before Richard liberated it, Jara sat on the council, allied with the Order."

"As was D'Hara, at the time," he gently reminded her.

Kahlan glared at him. "I was brought before the council, and convicted of the very crimes committed by the Order. Wizard Ranson, from the Order, called for a death sentence. The councilor from Jara sat at this desk and voted to have me beheaded." "Mother Confessor…"

Kahlan turned a finger to her right. "He sat right there and called for me to be put to death."

She looked back to Tristan's brown eyes. "If you look closely, I think you will still be able to pick out a stain down the front of the desk over there. When Richard liberated Aydindril, he executed those traitorous councilors. The stain was left by the Jarian councilor. I heard that Richard cleaved the man nearly in two, he was so angered by the betrayal to me, and to the people of the Midlands."

Tristan stood politely, showing nothing of his emotions. "Mother Confessor, it was not by the choice of the royal family that that councilor spoke for Jara. He was a puppet of the Order." "Then join with us."

"We want to, and we intended to. In fact, I was sent with authorization to make it so."

"Whatever it is you want, Tristan, you'll not get it. We make the same offer to all, and no special terms for any."

"Mother Confessor, would it be considered a special term to hear me out?" Kahlan sighed. "Make it short, and keep in mind, Tristan, that your smile has no effect on me."

He smiled anyway. "As a member of the royal family, I have the authority, and authorization, to surrender Jara and join with you. Given a choice, that is what we wish." "Then do it."

"The red moon interrupts those plans."