Wizard's First Rule

Zedd was only too happy to comply. Richard and Kahlan ate spice soup and brown bread, and smiled as they watched their old friend eat. Zedd had his fill at last, and they resumed their journey out of the People's Palace.

As they strode through the halls, the bells tolled in a single, long peal, calling people to the devotion. Kahlan watched with a frown as everyone gathered at the squares, bowing to the center, chanting. Since Richard had changed the words in his devotion, he no longer felt the pull, the nervous need to join the people. They passed a number of squares as they continued. on, each filled with people chanting. Richard wondered if he should do something about it, stop them somehow, but decided at last he had already done the most important part.

The three emerged from the cavernous halls out into the winter sunlight. The hillside of steps cascaded down before them, to the huge expanse of courtyard. The three paused at the brink. Richard gasped when he saw the numbers gathered there.

Spread out before them were thousands of men, standing tall in rank upon rank. At the head, at the base of the steps, stood Michael’s personal guard, formerly known as the Home Guard, before Michael took that name from them. Their mail, shields, and yellow banners shone brightly in the sun. Behind them, nearly a thousand men of the Westland army. Behind them, many more of the D'Haran forces. Chase stood before them all, his arms folded, looking up the steps. Next to him, planted in the ground, was a pole with Michael's head atop it. Richard stood, stunned by the silence. If a man in the back, a half mile away, had coughed, he would have heard it.

Zedd's hand on his back started him down the steps. It felt a little too much like a push. Kahlan took his arm, giving it a squeeze, and held herself tall as they descended the series of steps and expansive landings. Chase watched Richard's eyes as he came. Richard saw Rachel beside him, clutching one arm around his leg, holding Sara in the other hand. Sharing the grip with the doll was Siddin's hand. Siddin saw Kahlan and broke from the hand, running to meet her. Kahlan laughed and scooped him up in her arms. He grinned at Richard and jabbered something Richard didn't understand, before throwing his arms around Kahlan's neck. After she hugged him and whispered to him, she put him down, holding his hand tightly.

The captain of the Home Guard stepped forward. "The Home Guard stands ready to swear loyalty to you, Richard."

The commander of the Westland army stepped up next to the captain. "As does the Westland army."

A D'Haran officer came forward. "As do the D'Haran forces."

Richard stared numbly at them, blinking. He felt the anger heat in him.

"No one's swearing loyalty to anyone, least of all me! I'm a woods guide. Nothing more. Get that through your heads right now. A woods guide!"

Richard gazed out over the sea of heads. All eyes were on him. He glanced over to Michael's gory head stuck on the pole. He closed his eyes a moment, then turned to some men of the Home Guard, and pointed to the head.

"Bury that thing with the rest of him." No one moved. "Right now!"

They jumped and made for the head. Richard returned his gaze to the D'Haran officer standing before him. Everyone waited.

"Send word: all hostilities are ended. The war is ended. See to it that all forces are recalled to their homelands, all armies of occupation are withdrawn. I expect every man who has committed crimes against defenseless people, whether he be foot soldier or general, to be put on trial, and if found guilty, punished according to the law. The D'Haran forces are, to help get food to the people who would otherwise starve over the winter. Fire is no longer outlawed. If any forces you encounter don't follow these orders, you will have to deal with them." Richard pointed to the commander of the Westland army. "Take your forces and help him. Together, you will be too strong to ignore." The two officers stared. Richard leaned closer. "It won't get done if you don't get to it."

Both men put a fist over their hearts in salute, giving a bow.

The D'Haran officer's eyes came up to Richard's. His fist was still over his heart. "By your command, Master Rahl."

Richard stared in surprise, then dismissed it. The man, he decided, must just be used to saying "Master Rahl."

Richard noticed a guard to the side. He recognized the man. He was the captain of the guards at the gate when Richard had left the People's Palace before. The one who had offered him a horse and warned him about the dragon. Richard motioned him to come forward. The man came and stood stiffly at attention, looking a little worried.

"I have a job for you." The man waited in silence. "I think you would be good at getting it done. I want you to collect all the Mord-Sith. Every last one." "Yes, sir." He looked a little pale. "They will all be executed before sunset"

"No! I don't want them executed!"

The man blinked in confusion. "What am I to do with them?"