tg.wizardfirstrule

as　to　have　been　Dennee’s。　Kahlan　had　gone　in　her　sister’s　place　because　she　wanted　to　spare　Dennee　the　torment　of　the　task。　Dennee　hated　taking　confessions；　hated　seeing　the　look　in　their　eyes。　Sometimes　she　would　cry　for　days　after。　She　never　asked　Kahlan　to　go　in　her　stead；　she　wouldn’t；　but　the　look　of　relief　on　her　face　when　Kahlan　told　her　she　would　do　it　was　words　enough。　Kahlan；　too；　disliked　taking　confessions；　but　she　was　stronger；　wiser；　more　reflective。　She　understood；　and　accepted；　that　being　a　Confessor　was　her　power；　it　was　who　she　was；　and　so　it　didn’t　hurt　her　the　way　it　did　Dennee。　Kahlan　had　always　been　able　to　place　her　head　before　her　heart。　And　she　would　have　done　any　dirty　job　in　Dennee’s　place。
　
　On　the　trail　home；　Kahlan　heard　soft　whimpers　from　the　brush　at　the　side　of　the　road；　moans　of　mortal　pain。　To　her　horror；　she　discovered　Dennee；　thrown　there；　discarded。
　
　〃I　was　。。　。　ing　to　meet　you　。。。。　I　wanted　to　walk　back　with　you；〃　Dennee　had　said　as　Kahlan　cradled　the　girl’s　head　in　her　lap。　〃A　quad　caught　me。　I’m　sorry。　I　got　one　of　them；　Kahlan。　I　touched　him。　I　got　one　of　them。　You　would　have　been　proud　of　me。〃
　
　In　shock；　Kahlan　held　Dennee’s　head；　forted　her；　telling　her　it　would　be　all　right。
　
　〃Please；　Kahlan　。　。　。　pull　my　dress　down　for　me？〃　Her　voice　sounded　as　if　it　were　ing　from　a　faraway　place。　Wet　and　weak。　〃My　arms　don’t　work。〃
　
　Past　panic；　Kahlan　saw　why。　Dennee’s　arms　had　been　brutally　broken。　They　lay　useless　at　her　sides；　bent　in　places　where　they　shouldn’t　be　bent。　Blood　trickled　from　one　ear。　Kahlan　pulled　what　was　left　of　the　blood…soaked　dress　over　her　sister；　covering　her　as　best　she　could。　Her　head　spun　with　the　horror　of　what　the　men　had　done。　The　choking　feeling　in　her　throat　wouldn’t　let　words　e　out。　She　strained　to　hold　back　her　screams；　fearful　of　frightening　her　sister　any　more。　She　knew　she　had　to　be　strong　for　her　this　one　last　time。
　
　Dennee　whispered　Kahlan’s　name；　beckoning　her　closer。　〃Darken　Rahl　did　this　to　me　。　。　。　he　wasn’t　here；　but　he　did　this　to　me。〃
　
　〃I　know；〃　Kahlan　said　with　all　the　tenderness　she　could　gather。　〃Lie　still；　it　will　be　all　right。　I　will　take　you　home。〃　She　knew　it　was　a　lie；　knew　Dennee　would　not　be　all　right。
　
　〃Please；　Kahlan；〃　she　whispered；　〃kill　him。　Stop　this　madness。　I　wish　I　were　strong　enough。　Kill　him　for　me。〃
　
　Anger　boiled　up　in　her。　It　was　the　first　time　Kahlan　had　ever　wanted　to　use　her。　power　to　hurt　someone；　to　kill　someone。　She　had　gone　to　the　brink　of　feeling　something　she　had　never　felt　before　or　since。　A　terrible　wrath；　a　force　from　deep　within；　a　frightening　birthright。　With　shaking　fingers；　she　stroked　Dennee’s　bloody　hair。
　
　〃I　will；〃　she　promised。
　
　Dennee　relaxed　back　in　her　arms。　Kahlan　took　off　the　bone　necklace　and　placed　it　around　her　sister’s　neck。
　
　〃I　want　you　to　have　this。　It　will　help　protect　you。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Kahlan。〃　She　smiled；　tears　rolling　from　her　wide　eyes；　down　the　pale　skin　of　her　cheeks。　〃But　nothing　can　protect　me　now。　Save　yourself。　Don’t　let　them　get　you。　They　enjoy　it。　They　hurt　me　so　much　。　。　。　and　they　enjoyed　it。　They　laughed　at　me。〃
　
　Kahlan　closed　her　eyes　against　the　sickening　sight　of　her　sister’s　pain；　rocked　her　in　her　arms；　and　kissed　her　forehead。
　
　〃Remember　me；　Kahlan。　Remember　the　fun　we　had。〃
　
　〃Bad　memories？〃
　
　Kahlan’s　head　snapped　up；　jolted　out　of　her　thoughts。　The　Bird　Man　stood　beside　her；　having　e　up　silently；　unnoticed。　She　nodded；　looking　away　from　his　gaze。
　
　〃Please　forgive　me　for　showing　weakness；　〃　she　said；　clearing　her　throat　as　her　fingers　wiped　the　tears　from　her　face。
　
　He　regarded　her　with　soft　brown　eyes　and　sat　lightly　beside　her　on　the　short　bench。
　
　〃It　is　not　a　weakness；　child；　to　be　a　victim。〃
　
　She　wiped　her　nose　on　the　back　of　her　hand　and　swallowed　back　the　wail　that　was　trying　to　fight　its　way　out　of　her　throat
　
　She　felt　so　alone。　She　so　missed　Dennee。　The　Bird　Man　put　his　arm　tenderly　around　her　shoulder　and　gave　her　a　short；　fatherly　hug。
　
　〃I　was　thinking　of　my　sister；　Dennee。　She　was　murdered　by　order　of　Darken　Rahl。　I　found　her。　。　。　。　She　died　in　my　arms　。。。。　They　hurt　her　so　bad。　Rahl　is　not　content　to　kill。　He　must　see　to　it　that　people　suffer　before　they　die。　〃
　
　He　nodded　his　understanding。　〃Though　we　be　different　peoples；　we　hurt　the　same。　〃　With　his　thumb；　he　brushed　a　tear　from　her　cheek；　then　reached　into　his　pocket。　〃Hold　out　your　hand。　〃
　
　She　did　as　he　asked；　and　he　poured　some　small　seeds　in　it。　Surveying　the　sky；　he　blew　the　whistle　that　made　no　sound；　the　one　that　hung　from　his　neck；　and　shortly　a　small；　bright　yellow　bird　lit　with　a　flutter　upon　his　finger。　He　placed　his　hand　next　to　hers　so　it　could　climb　over　and　eat　the　seeds。　Kahlan　could　feel　its　tiny　little　feet　gripping　her　finger　while　it　pecked　away　at　the　seeds。　The　bird　was　so　bright　and　pretty　it　made　her　smile。　The　Bird　Man’s　leathery　face　smiled　with　her。　When　it　finished　eating；　the　bird　fluffed　itself　up　and　sat　contentedly；　without　fear。
　
　〃I　thought　you　might　like　to　gaze　upon　a　small　vision　of　beauty　among　the　ugliness。　〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　〃　she　smiled。
　
　〃Do　you　wish　to　keep　him？〃
　
　Kahlan　watched　the　bird　a　moment　longer；　its　bright　yellow　feathers；　the　way　it　cocked　its　head；　and　then　cast　it　into　the　air。
　
　〃I　have　no　right；　〃　she　said；　watching　the　bird　flit　away。　〃It　should　be　free。　〃
　
　A　small　smile　brightened　the　Bird　Man’s　face　as　he　gave　a　single　nod。　Leaning　forward　and　resting　his　forearms　on　his　knees；　he　looked　over　at　the　spirit　house。　The　work　was　almost　done；　maybe　one　more　day。　Long；　silver…gray　hair　slipped　off　his　shoulders　and　down　around　his　face；　hiding　his　expression　from　her。　Kahlan　sat　awhile　and　watched　Richard　working　on　the　roof。　She　ached　to　have　him　hold　her　right　now；　and　hurt　all　the　more　because　she　knew　she　couldn’t　allow　it。
　
　〃You　wish　to　kill　him；　this　man；　Darken　Rahl？〃　he　asked　without　turning　to　her。
　
　〃Very　much。　〃
　
　〃And　is　your　power　enough？〃　〃No；〃　she　admitted。
　
　〃And　does　the　Seeker’s　blade　have　enough　power　to　kill　him？〃
　
　〃No。　Why　do　you　ask？〃
　
　The　clouds　were　getting　darker　as　the　day　was　drawing　to　an　end。　Light　rain　was　beginning　to　fall　once　more；　and　the　gloom　among　the　buildings　was　deepening。
　
　〃As　you　said　yourself；　it　is　dangerous　to　be　with　a　Confessor　who　is　in　great　want　of　something。　I　think　this　is　also　true　of　the　Seeker。　Maybe　even　more　so。　〃
　
　She　paused　a　moment；　then　spoke　softly。　〃I　do　not　wish　to　put　words　to　what　Darken　Rahl　did　with　his　own　hands　to　Richard’s　father；　it　would　make　you　fear　the　Seeker　all　the　more。　But　know　that　Richard　would　also　have　let　the　bird　fly　free。　〃
　
　The　Bird　Man　seemed　to　laugh　without　sound。　〃You　and　I　are　too　smart　for　these　tricks　with　words。　Let　us　speak　without　them。　〃　He　sat　back　and　folded　his　arms　across　his　chest。　〃I　have　tried　to　tell　the　other　elders　what　a　wonderful　thing　the　Seeker　is　doing　for　our　people；　how　good　it　is　that　he　is　teaching　us　these　things。　They　are　not　so　sure；　as　they　are　set　in　their　ways　and　can　be　stubborn；　。sometimes　almost　beyond　my　tolerance。　I　fear　what　you　and　the　Seeker　will　do　to　my　people　if　the　elders　say　no。　〃
　
　〃Richard　has　given　you　his　word　that　he　will　not　harm　your　people。　〃
　
　〃Words　are　not　as　strong　as　a　father’s　blood。　Or　as　strong　as　a　sister’s。　〃
　
　Kahlan　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　pulling　her　cloak　around　her；　shutting　out　the　wet　breeze。　〃I　am　a　Confessor　because　I　was　born　so。　I　did　not　seek　the　power。　I　would　have　chosen　otherwise；　would　have　chosen　to　be　like　other　people。　But　I　must　live　with　what　J　was　given；　and　make　the　best　of　it。　Despite　what　you　may　think　of　the　Confessors；　despite　what　most　people　think；　we　are　here　to　serve　the　people；　to　serve　the　truth。　1　love　all　the　people　of　the　Midlands；　and　would　give　my　life　to　protect　them；　to　keep　them　free。　That　is　all　I　wish　to　do。　And　vet　I　am　alone。　〃
　
　〃Richard　keeps　his　eyes　on　you；　he　watches　over　you；　cares　for　you。　〃
　
　She　looked　over　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye。　〃Richard　is　from　Westland。　He　does　not　know　what　I　am。　If　he；　knew　。　。　。　〃　The　Bird　Man　lifted　his　eyebrow　at　hearing　this。　〃For　one　who　serves　the　truth　。　。　。　〃
　
　〃Please　do　not　remind　me。　It　is　trouble　of　my　own　making；　with　consequences　1　must　bear；　and　fear　greatly。　And　that　only　proves　my　words。　The　Mud　People　live　in　a　land　distant　from　the　other　peoples。　That　has　given　them　the　luxury　of　being　out　of　reach　of　trouble　in　the　past。　This　trouble　has　long　arms；　it　will　reach　you。　The　elders　can　argue　against　helping　all　they　want；　but　they　will　not　be　able　to　argue　against　the　fangs　of　truth。　All　of　your　people　will　pay　the　price　if　these　few　put　pride　before　wisdom。　〃
　
　The　Bird　Man　listened　carefully；　respectfully。　Kahlan　turned　to　him。
　
　〃I　cannot　honestly　say　at　this　moment　what　I　will　do　if　the　elders　say　no。　It　is　not　my　wish　to　harm　your　people；　but　to　save　them　from　the　pain　I　have　seen。　I　have　seen　what　Darken　Rahl　does　to　people。　I　know　what　he　will　do。　If　I　knew　l　could　somehow　stop　Rahl　by　killing　Savidlin’s　precious　little　boy；　1　would　do　it　wi