Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [287]
“You think she should go alone?” Zedd protested.
“No. Kahlan doesn’t have a wizard with her; the Queen would see that as a tempting vulnerability. We don’t want her mouth to water.”
Zedd folded his arms. “I will be her wizard.”
“No, you will not be her wizard! Darken Rahl is killing people as we speak, looking for you. If you remove the wizard’s web, let them know who you are, we’ll have trouble down around our ears before we can get away with the box. Who knows what reward there is on your wrinkled hide. You will be her protection, but you will be anonymous protection. You will be…” Richard tapped the sword hilt, thinking. His eyes came back down. “You will be a cloud reader. A trusted advisor to the Mother Confessor in the absence of a wizard.” Richard frowned slightly at Zedd’s grumble. “I’m sure you know how to play the part.”
“Then you will hide your sword, your identity, from her as well?” Kahlan asked.
“No. The presence of the Seeker will give her pause, something else to worry about, something to keep her fangs in her mouth until we’re away. The whole point is to give her something she’s familiar with, a Confessor, so as not to raise an alarm. At the same time, give her something to keep her worried, a cloud reader and the Seeker, so she would rather be rid of us than find out what sort of trouble we might be able to cause. The way you two want to do it gets us in a fight, a fight where one or all of us could be hurt. My way puts us at minimum risk of a fight, and if it comes, at least it will be when we’re on our way out with the box.” He gave each of them a stern look. “You do remember the box, don’t you? In case you’ve forgotten, that is what we’re after, not Giller’s head in a basket. Whose side he’s on is not an issue. We must only get the box, no more.”
Kahlan folded her arms with a frown; Zedd rubbed his chin while he looked into the fire. Richard let them mull it over for a while. He knew that the way they wanted to do it was sure to cause trouble, and that soon enough they would both realize it.
Zedd turned back to him. “Of course you are right. I agree.” His thin face turned to Kahlan. “Mother Confessor?”
She studied Zedd’s face a moment before looking up at Richard. “Agreed. But Richard, the two of you will have to play the part of courtiers to the Mother Confessor. Zedd knows the protocol, but you don’t.”
“I hope not to be there long. Just tell me what I need to know to get by for a short time.”
Kahlan drew a deep breath. “Well, I guess the most important thing is to look like you are part of my escort, be… respectful.” She cleared her throat, diverting her eyes. “Just pretend like I am the most important person you have ever been around, and treat me in that manner, and no one will question. Every Confessor allows her attendants different liberties, and as long as you are deferential, no one will think anything of it if you should happen to do something not quite proper. Even if you think my behavior… odd, just play along. All right?”
Richard watched her a moment while she studied the ground. He rose to his feet. “It would be my honor, Mother Confessor.” He gave a bow.
Zedd cleared his throat. “A little deeper, my boy. You are not traveling with a mere Confessor. You are an escort to the Mother Confessor herself.”
“All right,” Richard sighed. “I’ll do my best. Now, get some sleep. I’ll take first watch.” He started walking toward the trees.
“Richard,” Zedd called after him. He stopped, turning back. “There are many in the Midlands who have magic. Many different, and dangerous, types of magic. There is no telling what manner of sycophants Queen Milena has surrounded herself with. You pay attention to what Kahlan and I tell you, and do your best not to cross anyone. You may not know who, or what, her attendants are.”
Richard drew his cloak around himself. “In and out with minimum fuss. That’s what I want too. If all goes well, tomorrow at this time we will have