Soul of the Fire

He thought it over a few minutes. "I guess Kahlan is my family, so that makes it home wherever we are. As long as I'm with Kahlan, I'm home.

"Cara, it's over. You can go home now. I release you."

She stopped. Richard walked on.

"But I don't have a family. They are all dead."

He looked back at her, standing in the road, looking as forlorn as anything he had ever seen. Richard went back, put an arm around her shoulders, and started walking with her.

"We're your family, Cara, Kahlan and me. We love you. So I guess you should come home with us."

That seemed to suit her.

"Will there be people at this home place who need killing?"

Richard smiled. "I don't think so."

"Then why would we want to go there?"

When he only smiled, she said, "I thought you wanted to take over the world. I was looking forward to you being a tyrant. I say you should do it. The Mother Confessor would agree with me. That makes it two against one. We win."

"The world didn't want me. They took a vote and said no."

"A vote! There was your problem."

"I won't do it again."

Cara limped along beside him for a time and then said, "They will all find you, you know. The D'Harans are bonded to you. You are the Lord Rahl. Everyone will find you."

"Maybe. Maybe not."

"Richard?" came a soft voice.

He pulled the team up and went to the side of the carriage.

Kahlan was awake. He took her hand.

"Who's that?" she asked.

Cara leaned in. "Just me. I had to come back. You see what kind of trouble you get into when I'm not watching over you?"

Kahlan smiled a little smile. She released Richard's hand and took Cara's.

"Glad you're home," Kahlan whispered.

"Lord Rahl said I saved the magic. Can you imagine? What was I thinking? I had the chance to rid myself of magic, and instead I saved it."

Kahlan smiled again.

"How are you feeling?" Richard asked.

"Terrible."

"You don't look so bad," Cara told her. "I've been much worse."

Richard gently stroked Kahlan's hand. "You'll get better. I promise. And wizards always keep their promises."

"Cold," she said. Her teeth were beginning to chatter.

Richard spotted the blanket Dalton Campbell had put on the side and pulled it closer.

The Sword of Truth fell out. He stood staring at it.

'The sword has come home, too, I guess," Cara said.

"I guess it has."