Faith of the Fallen   ::   Goodkind Terry

Verna drew the stylus from the spine and immediately began writing.

Prelate! You have been able to fix the damaged journey book? That's wonderful. Where are you? Are you well? Have you found Nathan?

Verna waited. Shortly, the reply began to appear.

Verna, 1 am well. 1 was able to restore the journey book with the help of some. . people. Strange people. But the important part is that it is restored for the most part. 1 am still searching for the prophet. I have some good clues on Nathan's whereabouts, and 1 am looking into them. But how are you, Verna? How goes the war? Warren? Kahlan? Is Zedd giving you much trouble? That man can try the patience of stone. Have you had word of Richard?

Verna stared at words on the page. A tear fell near Warren's name. She picked up the stylus once more, and slowly began her reply.

Oh, Prelate, some terrible things have happened.

1 am sorry, Verna, came the reply. Verna, 1 am here. I am going nowhere for the night. Take all the time you need. Tell me what happened. Tell me how you are, first. 1 worry so for you. Verna, 1 love you like a daughter.

You know 1 do.

Verna nodded to the book. She did know it.

And 1 love you, too, Prelate, Verna began. I fear my heart is broken.

-]--

Kahlan stood silently beside him in the warm midday breeze as Richard looked out over the river, at the city beyond. The city was peaceful, now.

Battle had raged for weeks, various factions struggling for power, lusting to be the new local incarnation of the Order, each faction swearing that they had the best interest of the people at heart, each promising that they would be compassionate in their rule, each pledging that life would be easier under their mandate because they would see to it that everyone of means contributed to the common good.

After decades of such altruistic tyranny, decay and death had been the only product of the business of the common good. Despite graveyards full of evidence and a people left impoverished, these aspirants to power offered only more of the same, and yet many still believed them simply because they uttered such good intentions.

While a great number of brothers and officials had been killed, some had escaped. Some of those, who had not fled, thought to take advantage of the confusion and establish control, thinking they could rein in the hunger for freedom, the ideas loosed, and put things back to the way they were.

The free people of Altur'Rang, their numbers growing daily, eradicated each of these factions as they emerged from under their rocks. Nicci had been no small aid in the bloody battles.