Temple of the Winds

Kahlan had seen the look in Richard's eyes, the look of wild jealousy, at the mere mention of what Shota said-that Kahlan would marry another. Kahlan had never seen such a look in his eyes before, and at the time there hadn't really been a reason for it. Now there was.

No, Nadine would see to it that Richard did what he needed to do. If there was one thing Kahlan had confidence in, it was Nadine's desire to consummate that marriage.

Nadine was a beautiful woman. She was more than enthusiastic. How could Richard not be aroused? He knew he had to do it. He would have no reason to try to resist her urging. Maybe Richard was thinking of it as revenge against his brother, Michael, for taking Nadine. Perhaps that was how he would get through it.

Kahlan knew that Nadine was having the time of her life. This was Nadine's dream. This was Kahlan's nightmare.

The dark sky she could just perceive out the windows seemed to boil, as it had all day and all night. The air remained dead still and sticky. The storm wouldn't break. It threatened, but it would not come.

Kahlan laid her wrist over her forehead as she rested, waiting. Her legs hurt, and she realized that it was because she was pressing her knees together. She let her legs relax. Drefan had done his duty. He was finished. It was over. She could relax.

Kahlan shut her eyes when she heard Nadine's distant laughter drifting through the night air. The woman was as good as her word. Did Richard have to make her laugh? Couldn't he just do his duty? No, Richard would not make Nadine laugh. Nadine laughed for Kahlan's benefit.

The night dragged on endlessly. Where was the Temple of the Winds? Drefan made no attempt to touch her again, and she was thankful for that. He lay there, on his back, waiting with her.

Each hour that passed brought no change. From time to time, Kahlan drifted off to sleep. Nadine's throaty laughter brought her awake with a jolt.

Kahlan wanted to slap Richard. How long was he going to make this go on? He could have had Nadine three times by now. Maybe he had. Maybe when the Temple of the Winds didn't come, he kept trying. Nadine would like that. Kahlan felt her cheeks burning.

Drefan was silent as he lay beside her. The winds had said that they couldn't talk. She guessed that Nadine's laughter didn't count; she used no words. Her laughter carried message enough.

Kahlan sighed. Sooner or later, the winds would come. They had all done as required. Had she, though? What was it Cara had said? You must do your part in this-indulge in this.

Drefan had indulged. He had been satisfied. Nadine certainly was indulging. Richard must have. Kahlan hadn't. She hadn't "indulged."

She dismissed the idea. It had to be something else. Maybe the winds were just waiting for Nadine to finally have enough. That would fit the way the Temple of the Winds had done everything else, twisting the pain for Richard and Kahlan. Making them suffer.

As the night dragged on, and recollecting Cara's words about indulging, Kahlan thought again about the time she had been with Richard in that place between worlds. She had felt the kind of pleasure that other woman felt-the indulgence not only in love, but in lust.

Kahlan had been so frustrated lately, waiting to be with Richard, waiting for that closeness again, waiting to be married to him so they could be together as husband and wife. Waiting for that satisfaction again. It was so near, she had been so close, so ready, and then it all fell apart, leaving her hopes dashed and needs unfulfilled.

Now, for the first time, she was free of her Confessor's power, free to take pleasure from a man, not for love, but for the sheer indulgence of pleasure. She was free to enjoy what other women enjoyed. Here she was, lying next to her husband, and not an unattractive man at all, and she was feeling frustration for the need of Richard.

Was she to live the rest of her life being denied a simple pleasure of life that she was now free to indulge?

But she didn't love Drefan. Without love, the passion was empty. Still, it was passion, and if not ideal, at least she could have that much satisfaction. The spirits had taken everything else from her. They had taken Richard, the only thing she really wanted out of life. Would she let them take simple pleasure, too? What else had she. now? This was her husband. She was condemned to live the rest of her life with him.

Must it be without at least some small release of pent-up need? Wasn't she entitled to at least that much after all she had sacrificed? They had taken everything else from her: her only love in life; her Confessor's power. You must do your part in this-indulge in this.

What if that was why the winds hadn't come? What if it was because she hadn't indulged?

Drefan rolled over on his stomach and sighed. He was frustrated by the wait, too. Or maybe he was tending to his auras.