Temple of the Winds

Kahlan looked away despondently. "I wish we could do something." Shota had told her that a way would come. The spirit had told her that a way would come. She couldn't bear the thought of losing Richard, but she also couldn't bear the thought of all the people who were dying. "Well," Drefan said, "I'm going to make my rounds through the city." Kahlan clasped his forearm. He flinched. It was a reaction that she, as a Confessor, was used to. She took her hand back. "I know you can do nothing to stop it, but thank you for all your aid anyway. Just your words help those living to have hope."

"A healer's best aid, words. Most of the time it's all we can do to help. Most people think being a healer means healing people. That actually happens rarely. I learned a long time ago that being a healer means living with pain and suffering." "How's Richard? Have you seen him this morning?" "He's in his office. He looked fine. I made him get some sleep." "Good. He needed rest." Drefan's blue eyes searched hers. 'He did what he had to with that man who tried to kill you, but I know that despite how resolute he appeared, it was a terribly hard thing for him to do. Killing a man, even one who richly deserves it. is not something that comes easily to Richard."

"I know." Kahlan said. "I know that condemning a man to death weighs heavily on him. I, myself, have had to order the deaths of people. In a time of peace, you have the luxury of order, but in war you must act. Hesitation is death." "And have you told that to Richard?"

Kahlan smiled. "Of course I have. He knows he did what he had to. and that those of us close to him understand. In his place I would have done the same. and I told him so."

"Someday. I hope to have a woman of half your strength." Drefan smiled. "To say nothing of your beauty. Well, I must be off."

Kahlan watched him walk away. His trousers were still too tight. She blushed at the thought, and turned back to her work.

Nadine was in the sick room, tending to people in two rows of beds. The infirmary held twenty beds, and they were all full, with more people on blankets on the floor. There were others sick in other rooms.

"Thanks," Nadine said, when Kahlan set down the clean things she had brought. Nadine was putting herbs in pots, making teas. Other women who tended the sick were changing sheets, cleaning and wrapping open sores, or serving tea to the patients.

Nadine plucked a cloth from the basket, dipped it in a basin of water, wrung it out, and laid it across the forehead of a moaning woman. Nadine patted the woman's shoulder.

"There you go, dear. How does that feel?" The woman managed only a weak smile and nod.

Kahlan did the same for several more people, dabbing a cool, damp cloth to their sweaty faces, offering soft words of comfort.

"You could be a healer," Nadine said as she paused beside Kahlan. "You have a kind touch."

"That's the only thing I know to do. I couldn't heal anyone." Nadine leaned close. "And do you think I am?"

Kahlan glanced around the room. "I see what you mean. But at least you have devoted your life to helping people. My life is devoted to duty. To fighting." "What do you mean?"

"In the end, I am a warrior. My duty is to hurt people in order to save others. It is left to people like you to heal those remaining, when people like me are finished fighting."

Nadine stood close to her. "Sometimes, I wish I was a warrior, and could fight to end the suffering, so that there wouldn't be so many wounded for the healers to tend to."

Kahlan finally had to leave the room. She couldn't stand the stink, and the smoke was making her sick. Nadine felt the same, and went with her. They both slid their backs down the wall and sat on the floor.

"I feel helpless," Nadine said. "Back home, if someone had a headache. I'd give him something and he'd get to feeling better. If a woman was pregnant. I'd help settle her stomach, or I'd help deliver the baby when it was time. It seemed I was always helping people. "This is different. All I do is comfort people who are going to die. and wonder the whole time if it will be me on the bed tomorrow. I don't know what to do for any of them. I feel totally useless. I wish I'd come here to help these people, instead of watching them die."

"I know," Kahlan whispered. "It must have been a lot more satisfying to help a woman deliver a baby."

Nadine stared off in thought. "Sometimes a woman would tell me that it seemed like it would never happen, that it seemed unreal. She'd wait, knowing it would happen, but never really believing it, dreading the things she'd heard about how hard it would be. Dreading the pain. Sometimes they think things will change, like they'll wake up one day and not be pregnant, or something.