Faith of the Fallen   ::   Goodkind Terry

"Mother Confessor, Lord Rahl said he will not act to lead us until the people prove themselves to him."

"I'm getting better. I hope to help him get over what happened-help him to see that he must fight."

"But this involves magic." She picked at the frayed edge of the blue blanket. "Lord Rahl said it's a vision. If it is magic, then it's something he would know about and must handle in the way he sees it must be done."

"We need to be a little understanding of what he's been through-the loss we've all suffered to the Order-and remember, too, that Richard didn't grow up around magic, much less ruling armies."

Cara squatted and rinsed her cloth in the pail. After wringing it out, she went back to cleaning the wound in Kahlan's side. "He is the Lord Rahl, though. Hasn't he already proven himself to be a master of magic a number of times?"

Kahlan couldn't dispute that much of it, but he still didn't have much experience, and experience was valuable. Cara not only feared magic but was easily impressed by any act of wizardry. Like most people, she couldn't distinguish between a simple conjuring and the kind of magic that could alter the very nature of the world. Kahlan realized now that this wasn't a vision, as such, but a conclusion Richard had arrived at.

Much of what he'd said made sense, but Kahlan believed that emotion was clouding his thinking.

Cara looked up from her work. Her voice bore an undertone of uncertainty, if not despairing bewilderment. "Mother Confessor, how will the people ever be able to prove themselves to Lord Rahl?"

"I've no idea."

Cara set down the cloth and looked Kahlan in the eye. It was a long, uncomfortable moment before she finally decided to speak.

"Mother Confessor, I think maybe Lord Rahl has lost his mind."

Kahlan's immediate thought was to wonder if General Reibisch might believe the same thing.

"I thought D'Harans do not expect to understand their Lord Rahl and would not question his behavior."

"Lord Rahl also says he wants me to think for myself."

Kahlan put her hand over Cara's. "How many times have we doubted him before? Remember the chicken that-wasn't-a-chicken? We both thought he was crazy. He wasn't."

"This is not some monster chasing us. This is something much bigger."

"Care, do you always follow Richard's orders?"

"Of course not. He must be protected and I can't allow his foolishness to interfere with my duty.