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“I wonder what’s bothering the chickens,” Richard said

Kahlan nuzzled tighter against his shoulder “Maybe your grandfather is pestering them now, too” When he didn’t reply, she tilted her head back to squint up at hi the door “Or rouchy because we kept theht”

Richard grinned and kissed her forehead The brief squawking on the other side of the door had ceased No doubt the village children, still reveling in the wedding celebration, had been chasing the chickens from a favorite roost on the squat wall outside the spirit house She told him as much

Faint sounds of distant laughter, conversation, and singing drifted into their quiet sanctuary The scent of the balsam sticks that were always burned in the spirit-house hearthof sweat earned in passion, and the spicy-sweet aroht reflecting in his gray eyes a ently to the sounds of the drums and the boldas

Paddles scraped up and down ridges carved on the hollow, bell-shaped boldas produced an eerie, haunting h the solitude of the spirit house on its way out onto the grasslands, welco spirit ancestors to the celebration

Richard stretched to the side and retrieved a round, flat piece of tava bread froht them “It’s still warm Want some?”

“Bored with your neife so soon, Lord Rahl?”

Richard’s contented laugh brought a smile to her lips “We really are married, aren’t we? It wasn’t just a dream, was it?”

Kahlan loved his laugh So ood spirits that he would be able to laugh again—that they both would

“Just a dream come true,” she murmured

She urged hi quickened as he clutched her in his powerful arms She slid her hands across the sweat-slick h the thick tangle of his hair as she ainst his mouth

It had been here in the Mud People’s spirit house, on a night that now seeo, that she had first realized she was hopelessly in love with his secret It was during that visit, after battle, struggle, and sacrifice, that they had been accepted into the community of these remote people On another visit, it was here in the spirit house, after Richard accomplished the impossible and broke the spell of prohibition, that he had asked her to be his wife And now they had at last spent their wedding night in the spirit house of the Mud People

Though it had been for love and love alone, their wedding was also a for of the Midlands and D’Hara Had they been wedded in any of the great cities of the Midlands, the event undoubtedly would have been a pageant of unparalleled splendor Kahlan was experienced in pageantry These guileless people understood their sincerity and si to bethey had celebrated a people bonded to theeant

A the Mud People, who led hard lives on the plains of the wilds, such a celebration was a rare opportunity to gather in merriment, to feast, to dance, and to tell stories Kahlan knew of no other instance of an outsider being accepted as Mud People, so such a wedding was unprecedented She suspected it would becos by dancers dressed in elaborate grass-and-hide costumes, their faces painted with masks of black and white mud

“I do believe you’re plying an innocent girl with yourto forget hoeak and weary her legs were

Richard rolled onto his back to catch his breath “Do you suppose we ought to go out there and see what Zedd is up to?”

Kahlan playfully sainst his ribs “Why Lord Rahl, I think you really are bored with your neife First the chickens, then tava bread, and now your grandfather”

Richard atching the door again “I smell blood”

Kahlan sat up “Probably just so party If there really was trouble, Richard, ould know about it We have people guarding us In fact, we have the whole village watching over us No one could get past the Mud People hunters unseen There would at least be an alarm and everyone would know about it”

She wasn’t sure if he even heard her He was stone still, his attention riveted on the door When Kahlan’s fingers glided up his arhtly on his shoulder, his muscles finally slackened and he turned to her

“You’re right” His suess I can’t seem to let myself relax”

Nearly her whole life, Kahlan had trod the halls of power and authority Froe she had been disciplined in responsibility and obligation, and schooled in the threats that always shadowed her She ell steeled to it all by the time she had been called upon to lead the alliance of the Midlands

Richard had grown up very differently, and had gone on to fulfill his passion for his forested houide Turmoil, trial, and destiny had thrust hiilance was his valuable ally and difficult to dismiss

She saw his hand idly ski for his sword He’d had to travel to the Mud People’s village without it

Countless tiht reassure himself that it was at hand It had been his coe—both his, and the world’s It was his protector, and he, in turn, was the protector of that singular sword and the post it represented

In a way, the Sword of Truth was but a talis the sword that was the power; as the Seeker of Truth, he was the true weapon In some ways, it was only a symbol of his post, much as the distinctive white dress was a symbol of hers

Kahlan leaned forward and kissed him His arms returned to her She playfully pulled him back down on top of her

“So, how does it feel being married to the Mother Confessor herself?”

He slipped onto an elbow beside her and gazed down into her eyes “Wonderful,” he entle finger he traced the line of her jaw “And how does it feel being married to the Lord Rahl?”

A throaty laugh burbled up “Sticky”

Richard chuckled and stuffed a piece of tava bread in herwooden platter down between them Tava bread, made from tava roots, was a staple of the Mud People Served with nearly every meal, it was eaten by itself, wrapped around other foods, and used as a scoop for porridge and stews Dried into biscuits, it was carried on long hunts

Kahlan yawned as she stretched, feeling relieved that he was no longer preoccupied by as beyond the door She kissed his cheek at seeing hiain at ease

Under a layer of warm tava bread he found roasted peppers, onions, reens There were even several rice cakes Richard took a bite out of a turnip before rolling soreens, ait to her

In a reflective tone, he said, “I e could stay in here forever”

Kahlan pulled the blanket over her lap She knehat he meant Outside, the world awaited them

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“Well…” she said, batting her eyelashes at him, “just because Zedd came and told us the elders want their spirit house back, that doesn’t ood and ready”

Richard took in her frolicso the elders as an excuse He wants me”

She bit into the roll he had given her as she watched hi to drift fro

“He hasn’t seen you for er, she wiped away juice as it rolled down her chin “He’s eager to hear all you’ve been through, and about the things you’ve learned” He nodded absently as she sucked the juice fros he needs to teach you”

“That oldme since I was born” He smiled distantly “I love him, too”

Richard enfolded reens, pepper and onion in tava bread and took a big bite Kahlan pulled strands of lireens from her roll and nibbled them as she listened to the slow crackle of the fire and the distant music

When he finished, Richard rooted under the stack of tava bread and came up with a dried plum “All that time, and I never kneas randfather, and more than a simple man”

He bit off half the plum and offered her the other half

“He was protecting you, Richard Being your friend was thefor you to know” She took the proffered plum and popped it in her mouth She studied his handsome features as she chewed

With her fingertips, she turned his face to look up at her She understood his larger concerns “Zedd is back with us, now, Richard He’ll help us His counsel will be a comfort as well as an aid”

“You’re right Who better to counsel us than the likes of Zedd?” Richard pulled his clothes close “And he is no doubt i”

As Richard drew his black pants on, Kahlan put a rice cake between her teeth and held it there as she tugged things from her pack She halted and took the rice cake from her mouth

“We’ve been separated froer than I Zedd and Ann ant to hear it all We’ll have to tell it a dozen times before they’re satisfied