Doubt
Haden stood with Lord Rahl the Younger as they drilled the troops. Richard Rahl was a good leader, one of those men that inspired loyalty without trying. Many of the men would follow him whether or not they respected him as a scion of the House of Rahl.
For the others, there was Haden.
She knocked a surly laggard to the ground, planting a booted foot on his back as she drew her Agiel, the low hum making the man sweat.
"Lord Rahl gave you an order. Did you not hear him?" She asked in a soft pleasant voice. She brought her Agiel ever closer to his face, allowing him to hear the increased volume of its torturous whine.
"Haden, no," Lord Rahl said softly.
Haden looked up, studying the boyish face of her younger master. She sheathed her Agiel, moving away from the downed soldier.
Richard helped the man up, giving Haden a look of gratitude.
"Disobey me again, and I won't stop her."
And just like that, he had the man's loyalty.
Haden was not certain if Lord Rahl the Younger understood the service she had just performed for him.
But she didn't care. She had done her duty.
The drills resumed, the soldiers striving harder than they had before.
Richard's attention wandered. Kahlan could be seen walking with her unicorn in the pasture beyond the training field.
"Mistress," a figure on horseback called.
Haden approached, finding that it was Aliandra, tacked to ride far and armed to the teeth.
"I am to ride to every temple of the Mord'Sith," she said before Haden had a chance to ask, "and gather messages and reports for Lord Rahl and our First Mistress."
"An honor," Haden said, shortly.
"You would think," Aliandra replied, looking over Haden's head.
Haden turned. Mistress Cara stood on the wall overlooking the training field, Jennsen at her side, their hair flowing around their faces as the wind blew from the south.
"I think a little birdie has been chirping in our mistress' ear," Aliandra continued, small white face sharp, red-pink eyes like twin drops of blood. "I have been turned into a glorified messenger."
Haden said nothing.
Aliandra snorted. "This is why I enjoy your company so, Haden. You have the pristine gift of silence." She waggled her brows suggestively. "Or is another 'pristine gift' you have on your mind?"
Quick as a swooping falcon, Haden struck the rump of Aliandra's mount, startling the horse into a full gallop.
Aliandra cursed, bouncing in the saddle, but the recriminations soon turned to laughter that lingered even when she faded from sight.
Haden returned to the practice field at Richard's call.
-l-
"Yes," Zedd encouraged, hands held out as if he were the one guiding the magic, "exactly like that!"
Darken exhaled, opening his eyes and twisting his wrist in the same moment.
Lightning arched from a blue sky, striking slightly to the left of the stump Zeddicus had set as his target.
Zedd was about to suggest ways to improve his aim when Darken tightened his jaw, his fingers curling into a fist.
Lightning scorched the air again, this time blowing the stump to splinters, the clap of thunder that followed like a death knell.
"You're learning quickly," Zedd said.
"Much of the theory was taught to me in my youth," was the quiet reply.
Their eyes met, and Zedd was filled with doubt at the fire that burned in the gaze of his pupil. Fire was a dangerous affinity, a lustful passion that consumed all.
He would know.
"Destructive forces are easy to summon," Zedd cautioned, "but difficult to control. And true power…" His gaze turned heavenward. "True power lies in healing."
Reminding himself to flow like water, Darken called the lightning down, setting the wasted spit of land they practiced on ablaze. Before the fire could rage out of control, Darken extinguished it with a motion, growing comfortable at last with the push and pull of his han.
"True power," he mused aloud. "I suppose that is a matter of opinion."
Zedd frowned.
"Hali –"
"Hali is dead," Darken intoned, voice harsh, his frustration getting the better of him.
Clouds began to gather overhead. Praying to the Creator for patience, Zedd pointed upwards to show Darken his control was slipping.
He had such doubt.
-l-
Brother Gudrun led the chosen village girls into the meadow selected as the location for the Rite of the Goddess.
"Tyrn has blessed us with more of his divine children," he said to the girls gently. "And now they will choose which of you are worthy of serving our divine master. Come forward, and be judged."
The girls ranged from the grubby poor to the well-dressed daughters of the village headman. Their parents waited on the edge of the meadow, ready to bear witness to either their daughter's shame or elevation into the ranks of the Sisterhood of the Goddesses.
Five creatures that appeared to be white horses at first glance emerged from the trees at the opposite end of the meadow. Every single heart skipped a beat, a collective hush as all forgot to breathe.
"They're so beautiful," whispered the miller's wife.
One of the older maids, sure of her success, or perhaps mesmerized by the beauty of the unicorns, ran forward to meet them.
She got close enough to touch before they converged on her, ramming her with their wickedly sharp horns, trampling her body as her blood flew through the air.
"She has been found unworthy," Brother Gudrun said unnecessarily.
No one moved.
The girl's mother cried. Her father spat, torn between sorrow and embarrassment.
"She doubted the gods; her soul was impure."
The unicorns examined the remaining girls. No others were killed, though they were viciously warned away.
At last, five were chosen and stood standing with a hand on their new companion.
"Welcome," Brother Gudrun said, though he, too, kept his distance. "Be true to your godly guardian, and go forth to do the work of Tyrn."