Temple of the Winds

"I wish to die in battle, not weak and sick in a bed, at the hands of some unseen foe. I fear Lord Rahl getting the plague, and leaving us without a Master of D'Hara."

"I'm afraid of that. too," Kahlan whispered. "I'm afraid of Richard getting the plague, and everyone else I love. You, Berdine, Raina, Ulic, Egan, and everyone I know here at the palace." "Lord Rahl will find a way to stop it."

Kahlan hooked some hair behind her ear. "Are you afraid of not finding a man who will love you?"

Cara flashed Kahlan an incredulous look. "Why would I be afraid of that? I have but to give any man permission to love me, and he would."

Kahlan let her gaze drift from Cara to the columns at the sides of the room they were passing through. Their boot strikes echoed off the marble floor.

"I love Richard. A Confessor's magic will destroy a man if she loves him- you know, when they're. . together. Only because Richard is special, has special magic, can he love me in return. I'm terrified of losing him. I want no one but Richard-ever-but even if I wanted, I couldn't. No other man could express his love for me except Richard. I could never have anyone else."

Cara's voice softened in sympathy. "Lord Rahl will find a way to stop the plague."

They passed from the marble floor onto the quiet of carpets running up the stairs toward Kahlan's room.

"Cara, I'm terrified of losing Richard to Nadine."

"Lord Rahl does not care for Nadine. I can see it in his eyes that he has no interest in her. Lord Rahl only has eyes for you."

Kahlan ran her fingers along the smooth marble railing as she ascended the stairs. "Cara, a witch woman sent Nadine." Cara had no answer for that; magic was involved.

When they came at last to the door to her rooms, Kahlan paused. She looked into Cara's blue eyes. "Cara, will you make me a promise? As a sister of the Agiel?"

"If I can."

"With all that's going on-so much has gone wrong already. Will you promise me that if. . if something happens, if I somehow make a mistake, the worst mistake I've ever made, and I somehow get things wrong. . will you promise me that you won't let it be her, instead of me. who has Richard?" "What could happen? Lord Rahl loves you, not that woman." "Anything could happen. The plague-Shota-anything. Please, Cara. I couldn't bear to think that if anything happened, Nadine would have my place with Richard." Kahlan clutched Cara's arm. "Please, I'm begging you. Promise me?"

Cara's intent blue eyes stared back. Mord-Sith didn't take oaths lightly. Kahlan knew that she was asking for something of solemn importance: she was asking Cara to swear her life on this, for that was what it meant for a Mord-Sith to give her word.

Cara brought her Agiel up in her fist. She kissed it. "Nadine will not have your place with Lord Rahl. I swear it." Kahlan nodded, words failing her for a moment.

"Get some sleep. Mother Confessor. I will be here, watching your rooms. No one will bother you. You can sleep well, knowing that Nadine will never take your place. You have my oath."

"Thank you, Cara," Kahlan whispered in gratitude. "You truly are a sister of the Agiel. If you ever want a favor in return, you have but to name it."

CHAPTER 37

Kahlan was finally able to send away Nancy and her helper, telling them that she was exhausted and wanted only to go to bed. She had to decline an offer of a bath, having her hair brushed, a massage, and food; but she let Nancy help her with her dress so as not to raise the woman's suspicion.

Kahlan rubbed her bare arms in the chill after she was alone at last. She tested her wound, under the bandage. It was healing well, and hardly hurt her anymore. Drefan had helped it, and she supposed that Nadine's poultices had been a benefit, too.

Kahlan slipped on a dressing gown and went to the writing desk beside one of the hearths. The heat felt good, but it only warmed one side of her. She pulled paper and pen from a drawer. As she took the silver lid from the ink bottle, she tried to organize her thoughts, and what she would write. At last, she dipped the pen.

My dearest Richard, I have something important to do, and I have to do it alone. I am serious about this. Not only because I respect you, but because you are the Seeker, I bow to what you sometimes do that I wish would be otherwise. I understand that I must sometimes allow you to do what you know you must. I am the Mother Confessor; you must understand that I must sometimes do what I must. This is one of those times. Please, if you love me, then you will respect my wishes, not interfere, and leave me to do what I must.

I have had to trick Cara, which I greatly regret. She does not know anything of what I plan. She did not know I was leaving. If you hold her liable for this, I will view it with the greatest displeasure.

I don't know when I will return, but I expect that I will be gone for a few days. I am doing this to help our situation. I beg you to understand and not be angry with me-I must do this.