Temple of the Winds

"I know. I didn't mean to say that you were. I just don't want our desire to protect Richard to make us lose our heads. That includes me. Now, let's get up to Petitioners' Hall."

Cara frowned. "Why would we go there? Why not go to Nadine's room?"

Kahlan started up the second flight, two steps at a time. "There are two hundred eighty-eight guest rooms in the Confessors' Palace, divided among six separate wings at distant points. I was distracted before, and didn't think to tell the guards where to put her, so we have to go ask.

Cara shouldered open the door at the top of the stairs and, head swiveling, entered the hall ahead of Kahlan, as she liked to do in order to check the way for trouble.

"Seems a poor design. Why would guest rooms be separated?"

Kahlan gestured to a corridor branching to the left. "This way is shorter." She slowed as two guards stepped aside to make way for them, and then quickened her pace along the deep blue carpet running down the hall. "The guest rooms are separated because many diplomats visited the palace on business with the council, and if the wrong diplomats are placed too close together, they could become very undiplomatic. Keeping peace among allies was sometimes a delicate balancing game. That included accommodations."

"But there are all the palaces-for the representatives of the lands-on Kings Row."

Kahlan grunted cynically. "Part of the game."

When they entered Petitioners' Hall, everyone went to their knees again. Kahlan had to give them the formal acknowledgment before she could speak with the captain. He told her where he had put Nadine, and she was about to leave when a boy, one of the group of Ja'La players waiting patiently in the hall, snatched the floppy wool hat from his head of blond hair and bolted toward them.

The captain caught sight of him trotting across the room. "He's waiting to see Lord Rahl. Probably wants him to come watch another game." The captain smiled to himself. "I told him it would be all right if he waited, but that I couldn't promise that Lord Rahl could see him." He shrugged self-consciously. "Least I could do. I was at the game, yesterday, with a crowd of soldiers. The boy and his team won me three silver marks."

Hat crushed in both little fists, the boy genuflected on the other side of the marble railing from Kahlan. "Mother Confessor, we'd like to… well… if it's no trouble… we…" His voice trailed off as he gulped air.

Kahlan smiled encouragement. "Don't be afraid. What's your name?"

"Yonick, Mother Confessor."

"I'm sorry, Yonick, but Richard can't come watch another game just now. We're busy at the moment. Perhaps tomorrow. I know we both enjoyed it, and we would very much like to come watch again, but on another day."

He shook his head. "It's not about that. It's my brother, Kip." He twisted his hat. "He's sick. I was wondering if… well, if Lord Rahl could come do some magic and make him better."

Kahlan gave the boy's shoulder a comforting squeeze. "Well, Richard's not really that kind of wizard. Why don't you go see one of the healers on Stentor Street. Tell them what he's sick with and they'll give him some herbs to help him feel better."

Yonick hung his head. "We don't have no money for herbs. That's why I was hoping.. Kip is real sick."

Kahlan straightened and peered at the captain. His gaze went from Kahlan to the boy and back again. He cleared his throat.

"Well, Yonick, I saw you play, yesterday," the captain stammered. "Quite good. Your team was quite good." Checking Kahlan's eyes again, he stabbed a hand into a pocket and came out with a coin. He bent over the rail and pushed the coin into Yonick's fist. "I know which one's your brother. He… that was a great play, that goal he made. Take this and get him some herbs, like the Mother Confessor said he needs."

Yonick stared in astonishment at the silver coin in his hand. "Herbs don't cost this much, as I hear told."

The captain waved away the notion. "Well, I don't have anything smaller. Buy your team a treat, for their win, with the extra. Now take it and be off. We have palace business we must attend to."

Yonick straightened and clapped a fist to his heart in salute. "Yes, sir."

"And practice that kick of yours," the captain called after the boy as he ran across the hall to his fellows. "It's a little sloppy."

"I will," Yonick shouted over his shoulder. "Thanks."

Kahlan watched as he collected his friends and they rushed to the door. "Very kind of you, captain. .?"

"Harris." He winced. "Thank you, Mother Confessor."

"Cara, let's go see this Lady Nadine."

Kahlan hoped the captain who came to attention at the end of the hall had had an uneventful watch.

"Has Nadine tried to leave, Captain Nance?"