"I figured that jealousy would be the thing that pushed him off the fence. I figured my plan would take him by such surprise that he'd just lose his head with jealousy and lust, and then I'd have him. I've heard tell there's nothing more powerful in a man than jealousy and lust."

With both hands, Nadine pushed her hair back on her head. "I can't believe Richard told you. I didn't think he would ever tell anyone."

"He didn't," Kahlan whispered. "Richard only stared at me when I told him that you said he caught you kissing his brother. He didn't tell me the story. You just did that all by yourself." Nadine's face sank into her hands.

"You may have grown up with Richard, but you didn't know him. Dear spirits, you didn't know the first thing about him."

"It might have worked. You don't know as much as you think. Richard is just a boy from Hartland who never had anything and has had his head turned by fine things and people doing his bidding. That's why it might have worked-because he just wants what he sees. I was just trying to make him see what I have to offer." Kahlan's head throbbed. She pinched the bridge of her nose as she shut her eyes. "Nadine, as the good spirits are my witness, you have got to be just about the stupidest woman I have ever met."

Nadine sprang up from the chair. "You think I'm so stupid? You love him. You want him." She jabbed her finger at her own chest. "You know how it feels, in here, to want him. I wanted him no less than you. If you had to, you would do the same thing. Right now, as well as you know him, you'd do the same if you thought it was your only chance. Your only chance! Tell me you wouldn't!"

"Nadine," Kahlan said in a calm voice, "you don't know the first thing about love. Love isn't about taking what you want; it's about wanting happiness for the one you love."

Nadine leaned in with a venomous expression. "You'd do the same as I did, if you had to!"

The words of the prophecy whisperer through Kahlan's head. Lightning will find him on that path, for the one in white, his true beloved, will betray him. .

"You're wrong, Nadine. I wouldn't. Not for anything in this world would I chance hurting Richard. Not for anything. I would live a life of lonely misery before I would hurt him. I would even let you have him before I would hurt him."

CHAPTER 17

A breathless, beaming Berdine lurched to a halt as Kahlan watched Nadine storm off down the hall. "Mother Confessor, Lord Rahl wants me to stay up all night and do work for him. Isn't that wonderful?" Kahlan's brow twitched. "If you say so, Berdine." Grinning, Berdine ran on down the hall in the direction Nadine had gone. Richard was talking to a knot of soldiers just up the hall in the other direction. Beyond the soldiers, a ways further up the hall, Cara and Egan stood watching. When Richard saw Kahlan, he left the guards and came to meet her. When he was close enough, she twisted a fistful of his shirt and pulled him close. "Answer me one thing, Richard Rahl." she hissed through gritted teeth. "What's that?" Richard asked in innocent bewilderment. "Why did you ever dance with that whore!" "Kahlan, I've never heard you use such language." Richard glanced down the hall in the direction Nadine had gone. "How did you get her to tell you?" "I tricked her into it." Richard smiled a sly smile. "You told her that I told you the story, didn't you." His smile widened when she nodded. "I've been a bad influence on you," he said. "Richard, I'm sorry I asked her to stay. I didn't know. If I ever get my hands on Shota, I'm going to strangle her. Forgive me for asking Nadine to stay." "Nothing to forgive. My emotions just got in the way of seeing that. You were right to ask her to stay." "Richard, are you sure?" "Shota and the prophecy both mentioned 'the wind. Nadine plays some part in this; she has to stay, for now. I'd better have her guarded, so she doesn't leave." "We don't need guards. Nadine won't leave." "How can you be so sure?" "Vultures don't give up. They circle as long as they think there are bones to pick." Kahlan looked back down the empty hall. "She actually had the nerve to tell me that I would do what she had done, if I had to." "I feel a bit sorry for Nadine. She has a lot of good in her, too, but I doubt she will ever truly experience love." Kahlan felt the heat of him at her back. "How could Michael do that to you? How could you ever have forgiven him?" "He was my brother," Richard whispered, 'I would have forgiven anything he did against me. Someday I will stand before the good spirits; I didn't want to give them a reason to say I was no better. "It was what he did to others that I couldn't forgive."

She put a comforting hand to his arm. "I guess I see why you want me to go with you to meet Drefan. The spirits tested you with Michael. I think you will find Drefan a better brother. He may be a bit arrogant, but he's a healer. Besides, it would be hard to find two that wicked." "Nadine is a healer, too."

"Not compared to Drefan. His talent borders on magic." "Do you think he wields magic?" "I don't think so, but I have no way of telling." "I will know. If he does have magic, I will know."

Guards at their post near the Mother Confessor's room saluted after Richard gave them instructions. Kahlan walked close at his side as they moved on down the hall. Cara stood up straighter when Richard paused before her. Even Egan perked up expectantly. Kahlan thought Cara looked tired and miserable.

"Cara," Richard finally said, "I'm going to see this healer who helped you. I hear he's another bastard son of Darken Rahl, like me. Why don't you come along. I wouldn't mind having a. . friend, with me."

Cara's brow wrinkled together in near tears. "If you wish, Lord Rahl." "I wish. You, too, Egan. Egan, I told the soldiers that you all are permitted to pass. Go get Raina and Ulic and bring them along, too." "Right behind you, Lord Rahl," Egan said with a rare smile. "Where did you ask Drefan to wait?" Kahlan asked. "I told the guards to take him to a guest room in the southeast wing." "The opposite end of the palace? Why all the way over there?" Richard gave her an unreadable look. "Because I wanted him to remain here, under guard, and that's as far from your rooms as I could get him."

Cara was still wearing her red leather; she hadn't had time to change. The soldiers guarding the southeast wing of the Confessors' Palace saluted with fists to hearts and moved aside for Richard, Kahlan, Ulic, Egan, and Raina in her brown leather, but they backed away an extra step for Cara. No D'Haran wanted the attention of a Mord-Sith in red leather.

After the brisk march across the palace, they all came to a halt before a simple door flanked by leather and muscles and steel. Richard absently lifted his sword and let it drop back, checking that it was clear in its scabbard.

"I think he's more afraid than you," Kahlan whispered up to him. "He's a healer. He said he came to help you."

"He showed up to help on the same day as Nadine and Marlin. I don't believe in coincidence."

Kahlan recognized the look in his eyes; he was bleeding a lethal flux of magic from his sword without even touching it. Every inch of him, every ripple of hard muscle, every fluid movement, bespoke the calm coiling death.

Without knocking, Richard threw open the door and stepped into the small, windowless room. Sparsely furnished with a bed, small table, and two simple wooden chairs, it was one of the more utilitarian guest rooms. To the side, the eyes of knots in a plain, pine wardrobe watched then. A small brick hearth provided a modicum of heat to the chill, scented air.

Holding Richard's left arm from a half step behind, knowing better than to get in the way of his sword, Kahlan stayed close. Ulic and Egan stepped to each side, their blond hair nearly brushing the low ceiling. Cara and Raina swept around them. screening Richard and Kahlan.