Temple of the Winds

"Our world has balance to it. Just as we all, especially soldiers, can aid the Keeper in bringing death, we all can also be a part of the Creator's work of creating life. We know, better than most, perhaps, that soldiers are charged with protecting peace and life itself. The balance to that is that we sometimes must take life to stay an enemy who would do greater harm. For this, we are remembered, not for the lives we try to preserve.

"A wizard, too, must be in balance, in harmony, with the world he lives in. The Creator and the Keeper both have a part to play in our world. It is not within the power of a mere wizard to dictate to them what shall be. He can work for events to combine toward a result-a marriage, for example, but he cannot direct the Creator Himself to bring forth a life as a result of that marriage.

"A wizard must remember always that he works within our world, and must do his best to help people, just as a farmer would help a neighbor who has a harvest to bring in, or a fire to douse.

"There are things a wizard can do that those without magic cannot, much the same as you men are strong and can wield a heavy battle-axe, whereas an old man could not. Even though you have the muscle to do this, that doesn't mean that your muscles can do what they aren't meant to do, such as exercise wisdom the old man has from his experience. He may defeat you in battle through his knowledge, rather than his muscle.

"No matter how great a wizard may be, he could not bear a new life into this world. A young woman, without magic, experience, or wisdom, could do such a thing, but he could not. Perhaps she has more to do with magic than he, in the end. "What I'm trying to tell you men is that just because I have been born with the gift, that doesn't mean that the gift can stop this plague. We can't depend on magic to solve all our problems. Knowing the limitations of his power is just as important for a wizard as knowing the limitations of his men is for an army officer.

"Many of you have seen what my sword can do against the enemy. Yet as awesome a weapon as it is, it cannot touch this invisible enemy. Other magic may prove as impotent."

" In your wisdom we are humbled. " General Kerson quoted softly from the devotion.

Men voiced their agreement and nodded at the logic of Richard's explanation. Kahlan was proud of him, that at least he had convinced them. She wondered if he had convinced himself.

"It's not so much wisdom," Richard murmured, "as it is simple common sense. "Please be assured, all of you," he went on, "that that doesn't mean I have no intention of trying to find a way to end this plague. I am looking into every possible means of stopping it." He laid a hand on Berdine's shoulder. She glanced up. "Berdine is helping me with the old books from wizards past, to see if they left us any wisdom.

' If there is a way for magic to stop it, then I will find that way. For now, though, we must use other means at our disposal to protect people. We need to have the men split up."

"Split up, and then what?" General Kerson asked. "Split up and get out of Aydindril."

General Kerson stiffened. The links of his chain mail reflected the lamplight, so that he seemed to sparkle like a vision of a spirit. "Leave Aydindril undefended?"

"No," Richard insisted. "Not undefended. What I propose is to have our forces divide up, so there is less chance of the plague spreading among them, and move to separate positions around Aydindril. We can put detachments of our forces at all the passes, all the roads and access valleys. That way, no force can advance against us."

"What if one does?" General Baldwin asked. "Then those smaller, separate forces may be insufficient to drive off an attack."

"We will have sentries and scouts. We'll have to increase them so that we don't have any surprises. I don't think there are any forces of the Order this far north yet, but if any attack does come, then we will have warning and can gather our forces quickly. We don't want them too far apart to be able to defend the city if they must, but they must be far enough apart to keep from passing the plague throughout the whole of the army.

"Any ideas you men have would be valued. That's one reason I asked you here. If you have ideas about any of this, then please feel free to speak up."

Drefan stepped forward. "It needs to be done quickly. The sooner the men are away, the better the chance that none of them will have come in contact with the sickness."

The officers all nodded as they pondered.