Temple of the Winds

Nadine stood close to Richard as he stared off toward the edge of the cliff. Drefan stood nearby, not wanting to look too forward to the woman who would shortly be his wife, but not wanting to ignore her, either. Like Nadine, he didn't seem to view this as the end of his happiness.

After the horses were secured, the legate and Cara ushered the brides and bridegrooms to a crumbling, circular garden structure made up of curved stone benches on one side and broken columns on the other. The top piece, connecting the columns. was mostly missing, joining only four of the ten stone columns.

In the distance, in the fading light, Kahlan could still see the knife edge of the cliff, and the black swath of mountains beyond. Somewhere out there was the Temple of the Winds.

Kahlan was directed to sit on a curved stone bench beside Drefan, and Richard, two benches away, was told to sit beside Nadine. Kahlan glanced over. and saw-Richard looking back: but then Drefan leaned forward and blocked her view of Richard. She turned her attention to the legate and Cara standing before them. The six sisters stood behind their husband.

"We are gathered here," the legate and Cara said as one. "to wed Richard Rahl and Nadine Brighton, and to wed Kahlan Amnell and Drefan Rahl. This is the most solemn of rites; it binds in the most earnest of vows. and commits these mates for life. This marriage is sanctioned and witnessed by the spirits themselves."

Kahlan stared at the weeds sprouting from the cracks in the disintegrating stone floor as she only partly listened to the words about loyalty, fidelity, and obligation. It was so warm and muggy that she could hardly breathe. Her white Mother Confessor's dress was sticking to her back. Sweat trickled down between her breasts.

Kahlan's head came up when Drefan started lifting her with a hand under her arm. "What? What is it?" "It is time," he said. "Come."

And then she was standing before the legate and Cara. with Drefan beside her, and three of the legate's wives at her other side as her attendants. She looked past Drefan to see Richard standing beside Nadine, with the other three Andolians serving as her attendants. Nadine wore a smile.

"If anyone has any objections to the wedding of these people, they must speak now, for once it is done, it cannot be undone." "I have an objection," Richard said. "What is it?" the legate asked.

"The winds said that this had to be of our own free will. It is not. We are being coerced into this. We are being told that people will die if we don't do this. I don't do this of my own free will; I do this only to save lives."

"Do you wish to save the lives of the people who will die if the magic stolen from the Temple of the Winds is not stopped?" the legate asked. "Of course I do."

"This wedding is part of that attempt. If you do not go through with it, then they will die. You wish to save them. This qualifies as your free will as far as the spirits involved are concerned.

"If you wish to withdraw your agreement to this, then it must be now, before the vows. Afterwards, you may not change your mind." Muggy silence hung in the air.

She was plummeting helpless into the inky depths. It was all happening too fast. Too fast for her to get a breath.

"I wish to speak with Richard, if I am to do this. Before I do this," Kahlan said. "Alone."

The legate and Cara stared at her a moment. "Then hurry," they said as one. "There is not much time. The moon rises."

They both walked far enough away from the circle that Kahlan could be reasonably sure they couldn't be heard. She stood close, facing him.

She wanted Richard to save them from this. He had to save them. He had to do something, now, or it would be too late.

"Richard, we're out of time. Is there anything? Can you think of anything at all to stop this? Any way we can still save those people and not have to do this?"

Richard stood close to her, and yet a world away. "I'm sorry. I don't have any other solution. Forgive me," he whispered. "I have failed you."

She shook her head. "No, you didn't. Don't ever think that, Richard. I don't. The spirits have made it impossible for us to win. They wish this, and have put us in a double bind.

"But at least, if we go through with this, Jagang will not win. That is more important. How many lovers, like us, will be able to have a life, now, have happiness, now, have children, now, because of the sacrifice we make this night?".

Richard smiled that smile that melted her heart. "That's one reason I love you so much: your passion. Even if I never see you again, I've known true happiness with you. True love. How many ever experience even this small taste?"

Kahlan swallowed. "Richard, if we do this, we have to be true to our vows, don't we. We can't. . still be together. . sometimes, can we?"

The way his jaw trembled, and his eyes filled with tears, was more than answer enough.

Just before they fell into each other's arms, Cara was there, between them. 'It is time. What are your wishes?"