Naked Empire   ::   Goodkind Terry

It was getting more difficult all the time to see things. "I haven't quite figured it out, yet."

It was hard to think with the smell of the cooking meat. It was making him sick. Richard took a piece of bannock and the bowl of rice and beans Jennsen handed him.

He couldn't eat while watching them eat the meat or, worse, smelling it.

Richard stood. "I'm going to go for a walk." He didn't want to make them feel bad about their dinner, or feel guilty for eating meat in front of him. "I need some time alone to think it out."

Richard gestured for Cara to sit back down and stay where she was.

"Get some dinner," he told her. "I need you to stay strong."

Richard walked off through the trees, listening to the chirp of crickets, watching the stars through the canopy of leaves. It was a relief to be alone, not to have people asking him anything. It was tiring to have people always depending on him.

Richard found a quiet place where an old oak had fallen. He sat and leaned back against the trunk. He wished he never had to get up. If not for Kahlan, he wouldn't.

Betty showed up. She stood before him, looking at him intently as if to ask what they were going to do next. When Richard said nothing, Betty lay down in front of him. It occurred to him that maybe Betty just wanted to offer him some comfort.

Richard felt a tear run down his cheek. Everything was falling to pieces. He couldn't hold those pieces together any longer. He could hardly breathe past the lump in his throat.

He lay down and put an arm over Betty.

"What am I going to do?" He sniffled. He wiped the back of his hand across his nose.

"Kahlan, what am I going to do?" he whispered in forlorn misery. "I need you so much. What am I going to do?"

He was at the end of all hope.

He had thought, when he'd seen Nathan unexpectedly arrive, that help was at hand. The bright ember of that last hope had been extinguished. Not even a powerful wizard could help him.

Powerful wizard.

Kaja-Rang.

Richard froze.

The words sent to him by Kaja-Rang, those two words emblazoned across the granite base of that statue, echoed through his mind.

Those two words were meant for Richard.

Taiga Vassternich.

Deserve Victory.

"Dear spirits…" Richard whispered.

He understood.



CHAPTER 62

Nicholas watched as Lord Rahl made his way back into the camp among his men after his despairing whispered last prayer to the dear spirits. So sad.