Temple of the Winds

Kahlan rubbed her palms up and down the sides of his shoulders. "Do you think you might find an answer in the trial record?"

"For all I know it could be the very last line I translate that gives me any information I can use." He slowly shook his head. "Long before I can translate every line, we'll all be dead."

Richard hooked Raina's Agiel on the chain along with the amulet at his chest. The red color of the Agiel matched the ruby.

Silence hung in the air for a time before he said, "Jagang is going to win." Kahlan turned his head toward her. "Don't say that. Please don't say that." He forced a smile. "You're right. We'll beat him." A knock came to the door. Ulic stuck his head in when Richard called to ask who it was.

"Lord Rahl, General Kerson wanted to know if he could talk to you for a minute."

Kahlan patted Richard's shoulder. "I'm going to go tell Drefan and Nadine about Raina."

Richard walked to the door with her. General Kerson was waiting outside with his usual fistful of reports.

"I'll catch up with you in a few minutes," Richard said. As Kahlan left Richard to hear the general's reports, Egan fell in with her. It felt odd to be guarded by Egan alone, without a Mord-Sith. One of them had always seemed to be around. "Mother Confessor," Egan said, "some people just arrived at the palace and wanted to see you and Lord Rahl. I told them that everyone was busy. I didn't want to burden Lord Rahl."

"Petitioners' Hall must be packed with people who want to see us, what with all the trouble."

"They aren't in Petitioners' Hall. The guards stopped them as they went into one of the reception rooms. They aren't exactly arrogant, like some of the representatives I've seen, but they are insistent, in an odd sort of way."

Kahlan frowned up at the huge, blond D'Haran. "Did they say who they were? Did you find out that much, at least?" "They said they were Andolians."

Kahlan jerked to a halt, seizing Egan's massive arm. "Andolians! And the guards let them in? They let Andolians in the palace?"

Egan's brow drew down. "I didn't hear how they got in. Only that they were here. Is this a problem. Mother Confessor?"

The man's hand was already on his sword. "No. it's not that. It's just that. . dear spirits, how do you explain the Andolians?" She searched for the right words. "They aren't exactly-human." "What do you mean?"

"There are creatures of magic that live in the Midlands. There are people with magic who live in the Midlands. It is sometimes difficult to know where to place the line separating them. Some of these people with magic are part creature-like the Andolians."

"Magic?" Egan asked with obvious distaste. "Are they dangerous?" Kahlan heaved a sigh as she changed her mind about where she was going and instead started out for the reception hall. "Not exactly. At least, not usually. Not if you know how to treat them.

"No one knows a great deal about the Andolians. We leave them alone. Most people of the Midlands have a strong dislike for them. The Andolians steal things. Not for the wealth of the object, but simply because the Andolians are fascinated by things. Shiny things, mostly. A piece of glass, a gold piece, or a button-it's all the same to them.

"People don't like them because the Andolians look much like you and I, and so people think they should behave like people, but they aren't people, exactly.

"They usually show up in places out of simple curiosity. We don't allow them in the palace because they cause such a disruption. It's best to simply keep them out. With the magic they have, if you try to discipline them, they can turn nasty. Very nasty."

"Perhaps I should have the soldiers get rid of them."

"No. That could get ugly. Dealing with them requires a very special kind of protocol. Fortunately, I know the protocol. I'll get rid of them." "How?"

"The Andolians like to carry messages. They like that more than anything- more than shiny objects, even. They love to carry messages for people. I guess it makes them feel more connected to their human side to be involved in human affairs.

"Some people in the Midlands use them for that purpose. Andolians will carry a message more faithfully than any courier. They will do it for a shiny button. They would even do it for no compensation. They live to convey messages.

"All I have to do is give them a message to carry, and they will be off to deliver it. That's the easiest way to get rid of an Andolian." "Will it get rid of all of them?" Egan asked as he scratched his head. "All of them? Dear spirits, don't tell me that there are more than a couple?" "Seven. Six women who all look alike, and one man."

Kahlan lost a stride. "I don't believe it. That would be the Legate Rishi and his six wives, all sisters. The six sisters were all born of the same. . litter."