Temple of the Winds

"He went there?" Kahlan snatched Cara's arm. "What did he find?" "Nothing. He said that there was nothing to find. He said that if the Temple of the Winds was once there, it is now gone."

Kahlan released Cara's arm. "He went to Mount Kymermosst, and he's back already?"

"You know Lord Rahl; when he gets something in his head, he charges after it. The men who went with him said they rode hard. They slept little and rode much of the night. Lord Rahl expected you to return last night and wanted to be back for you. When you did not return as expected, he paced and fretted, but still he did not go after you. Whenever he looked like he was about to change his mind, he read your letter again, and went back to pacing instead."

"I guess my letter was a little strong," Kahlan said as she glanced down at the floor.

"Lord Rahl showed it to me." Cara's face was unreadable. "Sometimes it is necessary to threaten men, or they get to thinking that they are the ones who say what will be. You dissuaded him of that idea with your threats."

"I didn't threaten him." Kahlan thought that her tone sounded too much like a plea.

Cara watched Kahlan's eyes for a moment. "You are probably right. The chair must have given Lord Rahl cause, as he said."

"I did what I had to do. Richard would understand that. I guess I'd better go explain it to him."

Cara gestured behind, to the door. "You just missed him. He was here not long ago."

"He came to see if I was back? He must be worried sick." "Berdine told him about the book you were searching for. He came here and found it."

Kahlan blinked in astonishment. "He found it? But we looked. It wasn't there. How did he find it?"

"He went to a place he called the First Wizard's enclave, and found it there." Kahlan's jaw dropped. "He went in there? He went into the First Wizard's enclave? Alone, without me? He shouldn't have gone there! That's a dangerous place!"

"Really." Cara folded her arms. "And of course you would never do anything so foolish as to get it in your head to go run off alone to a dangerous place. Maybe you should reprimand Lord Rahl for his impulsive behavior, since you are so prudent and above such reckless conduct yourself."

The echo of Cara's voice lingered uncomfortably before it died out. Kahlan understood. Even though Richard did as she had asked by not coming after her, Cara had tried. Even though she didn't like magic. Cara had tried to go to protect Kahlan.

"Cara." she said in a meek voice. "I'm sorry I tricked you. too." Cara shrugged, but still showed no emotion. "I am just a guard. You have no obligation to me."

"Yes. I do. You are not 'just a guard. You may be our protector, but you are more. I consider you my friend. You are a sister of the Agiel. I should have told you what I was doing, but I feared that if I did. Richard would be angry with you for not stopping me. I didn't want that."

Cara said nothing. Still, she showed no emotion. Kahlan breached the uncomfortable silence. "Cara, I'm sorry. I guess I was afraid you would try to stop me. I tricked you. You're a sister of the Agiel: I should have trusted you and taken you into my confidence. Please, Cara. I was wrong. I beg you forgive me."

A smile finally spread on Cara's face. "We are sisters of the Agiel. I forgive you."

Kahlan managed a small smile. "Do you think Richard will be as understanding as you?"

Cara let out an amused grunt. "Well. you have better ways to persuade him to forgive you. It is not so difficult to melt a man's frown."

"I only wish I had good news, so I could bring a smile to his face. but I don't." She paused at the doorway. "What has Nadine been up to while I've been gone?"

"Well, I've been down here guarding the sliph much of the time, but from what I've seen, she has been giving the staff herbs to try to protect them. and to use in smoking the palace. It's a good thing the place is made mostly of stone or it would have been burned down by now. She has been conferring with Drefan and helping him in talking to the staff and others who come for advice.

"Lord Rahl asked her to go out to visit herb sellers and such. to make sure they are not hucksters out to swindle people who are in fear for their lives. The city seems to be sprouting shameless mountebanks the way the sudden warmth seems to be bringing green grass. Nadine also gives reports to Lord Rahl. but he has been gone much of the time. and as busy as she seems to be trying to help people, the visits since he returned are short." Kahlan tapped the side of her fist against the doorway.

"Thanks, Cara." She looked into the other's blue eyes. "There are rats down here. Are you all right?" "There are worse things than rats." "Indeed there are," Kahlan whispered.

CHAPTER 48