"Each of you will send a small delegation to your homeland to convey my message as I have told it to you today. Don't think to try my patience; delay could cost you everything. And do not think to wile me out of special conditions — there win be none. Each land, whether large or small, will be treated the same, and must surrender. If you choose to surrender, we welcome you with open arms, and expect you to contribute to the whole." He looked to the balconies. "You, too, have been charged with a responsibility: contribute to our survival, or leave the city.

"I am not pretending it will be easy; we stand against a foe without conscience. The creatures on the poles outside were sent against us. Consider their fate, while you think on my words.

"If you choose to join with the Imperial Order, then I pray the spirits will be kinder to you in the afterlife than I will be in this.

"You may go."

CHAPTER 13

The guards crossed their pikes before the door. "Lord Rahl wishes to speak with you."

None of the other guests remained in the room; Brogan had held back to the last in order to see if any would seek a private audience with Lord Rahl. Most had left in great haste, but a few had lingered, as Brogan had thought they would. Their polite inquires were turned away by the guards. The balconies, too, had been emptied.

Brogan and Galtero, with Lunetta between, crossed the expanse of marble to the dais, accompanied by their footsteps echoing around the dome, along with the metallic clatter of the armor from the guards behind them. Lamplight cast a warm glow in the immense, ornate, stone room. Lord Rahl leaned back in the chair to the side of the Mother Confessor's chair and watched them come.

Most of the D'Haran soldiers had been dismissed, along with the guests. General Reibisch stood to the side of the dais, his face grim. The two huge guards to the ends, and the three Mord-Sith beside Lord Rahl watched, too, with the silent intensity of coiled vipers. The gar towered behind the chairs, watching with glowing green eyes as they came to a halt before the desk.

"You may go," General Reibisch said to the remaining soldiers. After clapping a fist to their hearts, they departed. After Lord Rahl had watched the tall double doors close, he looked to Galtero, Brogan, and then let his gaze settle on Lunetta.

"Welcome. I am Richard. What is your name?"

"Lunetta, Lord Rahl." She giggled as she performed an unpracticed curtsy.

Lord Rahl's gaze shifted to Galtero, and Galtero shifted his weight to his other foot. "I apologize, Lord Rahl, for nearly trampling you, today."

"Apology accepted." Lord Rahl smiled to himself. "See how easy that was?"

Galtero said nothing. Lord Rahl at last looked to Brogan, his expression turning serious.

"Lord General Brogan, I want to know why you have been abducting people."

Tobias spread his hands. "Abducting people? Lord Rahl, we have done no such thing, nor would we."

"I doubt you are a man who tolerates evasive answers, General Brogan. We have that in common."

Tobias cleared his throat. "Lord Rahl, there must be some misunderstanding. When we arrived here in Aydindril in order to offer our assistance to the cause of peace, we found the city be in disarray and matters of authority in a state of confusion. We invited a few people to our palace in order to help determine what dangers be about, nothing more."

Lord Rahl leaned forward. "About the only thing you were interested in was the execution of the Mother Confessor. Why would that be?"

Tobias shrugged. "Lord Rahl, you must realize that my whole life the Mother Confessor be the figure of authority in the Midlands. To come to find she may have been executed disturbs me greatly."

“Nearly half the city witnessed the execution, and could have told you so. Why did you think it necessary to abduct people off the street to question them about it?"

"Well, people sometimes have different versions of events when asked separately — they remember events in different ways."

"An execution is an execution. What is there to remember differently?"

"Well, from across a square, how could you tell who it was being led to the block? Only a few people near the front could have seen her face, and many of those would not know the face as hers even if they did see it." Lord RahFs eyes weren't losing their dangerous set, so he quickly went on. "You see, Lord Rahl, I had been hoping that the whole thing might have been a deception."

"Deception? The people assembled saw the Mother Confessor beheaded," Lord Rahl stated flatly.

"Sometimes people see what they think they will see. It be my hope that they did not really see the Mother Confessor executed, but perhaps just a show so that she could escape. At least that be my hope. The Mother Confessor stands for peace. It would be a great symbol of hope for the people if the Mother Confessor were still alive. We need her. I was going to offer her my protection, if she be alive."

"Put the hope from your mind, and dedicate yourself to the future."

"But surely, Lord Rahl, you must have heard the rumors of her escape?"

"I have heard no such rumors. And did you know the Mother Confessor?"

Brogan let an agreeable smile come to his lips. “Oh, yes, Lord Rahl. Quite well, in fact She visited Nicobarese on any number of occasions, as we be a valued member of the Midlands."

"Really?" Lord Rani's face was unreadable as he looked down from behind the desk. "What did she look like?"

"She was… well, she had…" Tobias frowned. He had met her but, strangely, he suddenly realized he couldn't recall what she looked like. "Well, she is difficult to describe, and I am not good with that sort of thing."

"What was her name?"

"Her name?"

"Yes, her name. You said you knew her well. What was her name?"

"Well, it was…"

Tobias frowned again. How could this be? He was chasing a woman who was the scourge of the pious, the symbol of the magic's suppression of the devout, a woman he hungered to judge and punish more than any of the Keeper's other disciples, and suddenly he couldn't remember what she looked like, or even her name. Confusion tumbled through his thoughts as he struggled to bring her looks to mind.

Suddenly, it came to him: the death spell. Lunetta had said that in order for it to work he probably wouldn't recognize her. It hadn't occurred to him that the spell would erase even her name, but that had to be the explanation.

Tobias shrugged as he smiled. "I'm sorry, Lord Rahl, but with the things you had to say tonight my mind seems to be in a scramble." He chuckled as he tapped the side of his forehead. "I guess I'm getting old and addled. Forgive me."

"You abduct people off the street to question them about the Mother Confessor because you are hoping to find her alive so you can protect her, yet you can't recall what she looks like, or even her name? I hope you can appreciate, General, that from my side of the desk, 'addled' would be a lenient representation, I must insist that, like her name, you forget this foolish, ill-advised quest and put your mind to the matter of the future of your people."

Brogan could feel his cheek twitch as he spread his hands again. "But Lord Rahl, don't you see? If the Mother Confessor were to be discovered alive, then it would be a great aid to you in your efforts. If she lives, and you could convince her of your sincerity and the necessity of your plan, she would be an invaluable aid to you. If she went along with your demands, then it would cany great weight with the people of the Midlands. Despite what it would appear because of the unfortunate actions of the council, which in all honesty set my blood to boiling, many in the Midlands greatly respect her, and would be swayed by her endorsement. It might even be possible, and a great coup, if you were to convince her to many you."