Read Online Temple of the Winds by Terry Goodkind - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Terry Goodkind
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some magic and make him better.”
Kahlan gave the boy’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. “Well, Richard’s not really that kind of wizard. Why don’t you go see one of the healers on Stentor Street. Tell them what he’s sick with and they’ll give him some herbs to help him feel better.”
Yonick hung his head. “We don’t have no money for herbs. That’s why I was hoping … Kip is real sick.”
Kahlan straightened and peered at the captain. His gaze went from Kahlan to the boy and back again. He cleared his throat.
“ Well, Yonick, I saw you play, yesterday,” the captain stammered. “Quite good. Your team was quite good.” Checking Kahlan’s eyes again, he stabbed a hand into a pocket and came out with a coin. He bent over the rail and pushed the coin into Yonick’s fist. “I know which one’s your brother. He … that was a great play, that goal he made. Take this and get him some herbs, like the Mother Confessor said he needs.”
Yonick stared in astonishment at the silver coin in his hand. “Herbs don’t cost this much, as I hear told.”
The captain waved away the notion. “Well, I don’t have anything smaller. Buy your team a treat, for their win, with the extra. Now take it and be off. We have palace business we must attend to.”
Yonick straightened and clapped a fist to his heart in salute. “Yes, sir.”
“ And practice that kick of yours,” the captain called after the boy as he ran across the hall to his fellows. “It’s a little sloppy.”
“ I will,” Yonick shouted over his shoulder. “Thanks.”
Kahlan watched as he collected his friends and they rushed to the door. “Very kind of you, captain …?”
“ Harris.” He winced. “Thank you, Mother Confessor.”
“ Cara, let’s go see this Lady Nadine.”
Kahlan hoped the captain who came to attention at the end of the hall had had an uneventful watch.
“ Has Nadine tried to leave, Captain Nance?”
“ No, Mother Confessor,” he said, when he straightened from his bow. “She seemed grateful that someone was taking an interest in her request. When I explained that there could be trouble about and we needed her to stay in her room, she promised to abide by my instructions.” He glanced at the door. “She said that she didn’t want to get me in ‘hot water’ and she would do as I asked.”
“ Thank you, captain.” She paused before she opened the door. “If she comes out of this room without us, kill her. Don’t stop to ask her any questions, and don’t give her any warning, just have the archers take her down.” When his brow twitched, she added, “If she leaves first, it will be because she has proven she commands magic and has killed us with it.”
Captain Nance, his face gone as pale as year-old straw, clapped a fist to his heart in salute.
The outer sitting room was decorated in red. The walls were a dark crimson, adorned with white crown molding, pink marble baseboard and door casings, and a hardwood floor almost entirely covered with a huge, gold-fringed carpet embellished with an ornate leaf-and-flower motif. The gilded legs of the marble-topped table and of the red velvet, tufted chairs were carved with a matching leaf-and-flower design. Being an interior room, there were no windows. Cut glass chimneys on the dozen reflector lamps around the room sent sparkles of light dancing across the walls.
To Kahlan’s mind it was one of the least tasteful color schemes in the palace, but there were diplomats who specified this color room when requesting accommodations at the palace. They felt it put them in the right frame of mind for negotiations. Kahlan was always wary when hearing the arguments of representatives who had requested one of the red rooms.
Nadine wasn’t in the extravagant outer room. The door to the bedroom was ajar.
“ Delicious rooms,” Cara whispered. “Can I have them?”
Kahlan shushed her. She knew why the Mord-Sith would want a red room. With Cara peering over her
Kahlan gave the boy’s shoulder a comforting squeeze. “Well, Richard’s not really that kind of wizard. Why don’t you go see one of the healers on Stentor Street. Tell them what he’s sick with and they’ll give him some herbs to help him feel better.”
Yonick hung his head. “We don’t have no money for herbs. That’s why I was hoping … Kip is real sick.”
Kahlan straightened and peered at the captain. His gaze went from Kahlan to the boy and back again. He cleared his throat.
“ Well, Yonick, I saw you play, yesterday,” the captain stammered. “Quite good. Your team was quite good.” Checking Kahlan’s eyes again, he stabbed a hand into a pocket and came out with a coin. He bent over the rail and pushed the coin into Yonick’s fist. “I know which one’s your brother. He … that was a great play, that goal he made. Take this and get him some herbs, like the Mother Confessor said he needs.”
Yonick stared in astonishment at the silver coin in his hand. “Herbs don’t cost this much, as I hear told.”
The captain waved away the notion. “Well, I don’t have anything smaller. Buy your team a treat, for their win, with the extra. Now take it and be off. We have palace business we must attend to.”
Yonick straightened and clapped a fist to his heart in salute. “Yes, sir.”
“ And practice that kick of yours,” the captain called after the boy as he ran across the hall to his fellows. “It’s a little sloppy.”
“ I will,” Yonick shouted over his shoulder. “Thanks.”
Kahlan watched as he collected his friends and they rushed to the door. “Very kind of you, captain …?”
“ Harris.” He winced. “Thank you, Mother Confessor.”
“ Cara, let’s go see this Lady Nadine.”
Kahlan hoped the captain who came to attention at the end of the hall had had an uneventful watch.
“ Has Nadine tried to leave, Captain Nance?”
“ No, Mother Confessor,” he said, when he straightened from his bow. “She seemed grateful that someone was taking an interest in her request. When I explained that there could be trouble about and we needed her to stay in her room, she promised to abide by my instructions.” He glanced at the door. “She said that she didn’t want to get me in ‘hot water’ and she would do as I asked.”
“ Thank you, captain.” She paused before she opened the door. “If she comes out of this room without us, kill her. Don’t stop to ask her any questions, and don’t give her any warning, just have the archers take her down.” When his brow twitched, she added, “If she leaves first, it will be because she has proven she commands magic and has killed us with it.”
Captain Nance, his face gone as pale as year-old straw, clapped a fist to his heart in salute.
The outer sitting room was decorated in red. The walls were a dark crimson, adorned with white crown molding, pink marble baseboard and door casings, and a hardwood floor almost entirely covered with a huge, gold-fringed carpet embellished with an ornate leaf-and-flower motif. The gilded legs of the marble-topped table and of the red velvet, tufted chairs were carved with a matching leaf-and-flower design. Being an interior room, there were no windows. Cut glass chimneys on the dozen reflector lamps around the room sent sparkles of light dancing across the walls.
To Kahlan’s mind it was one of the least tasteful color schemes in the palace, but there were diplomats who specified this color room when requesting accommodations at the palace. They felt it put them in the right frame of mind for negotiations. Kahlan was always wary when hearing the arguments of representatives who had requested one of the red rooms.
Nadine wasn’t in the extravagant outer room. The door to the bedroom was ajar.
“ Delicious rooms,” Cara whispered. “Can I have them?”
Kahlan shushed her. She knew why the Mord-Sith would want a red room. With Cara peering over her
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