Burning Bright
Nicci knew the moment Richard's kiss woke her from death (just like a fairy-tale) that she was never going to kneel before anyone—ever again.
Life was too short to waste on obeisance—Richard was right. Her strength was her own.
She was tired of walking with her face veiled—she crumpled the orange veil of a Sister of the Light—or of the Dark—in her hands.
Richard was gone, back to his quest—they would meet again, but there was one thing Nicci needed to do first.
This time, when she summoned Darken Rahl, the Keeper's emissary, she neither knelt nor begged. The days when Nicci submitted to another's will—the Prelate's, the Creator's, the Keeper's—were gone.
She was tired of walking with her head bowed and her eyes modestly lowered. She was tired of begging for orders.
And as she looked into Rahl's eyes, Nicci vowed she wasn't just going to be strong—she was going to be brazen.