Stone of Tears by Terry Goodkind Read Free Book Online Page B

asked, “Do you see anything of this man coming toward us?”
    She studied him a moment as he strode toward them, checking the placement of his men. “A faint aura. Duty.” She frowned as she stared. “It has always been a burden for him. He is daring to hope that maybe he will now find pride in it. Does that help you any?”
    Zedd smiled a little. “Yes it does. Any visions?”
    “No. Just the faint aura.”
    The wizard nodded in thought, then brightened. “By the way, why has a woman as lovely as you not found herself a husband?”
    She gave him a sidelong glance. “Three have asked. As each was on bended knee before me, I saw a vision of them lying with another woman.”
    Zedd grinned. “Did they ask why you said no?”
    “I didn’t say no. I only slapped them so hard it made their heads ring like a bell.”
    Zedd laughed until she was caught up in it.
    Trimack came at last to a halt before them. “Commander General Trimack, may I introduce the Lady Bevinvier.” Trimack gave a smart bow. “As are you, as am I, this Lady is one who is at the task of keeping harm from getting a glance at Lord Rahl. I would like her to have a heavy guard at all times while she is in the Palace. Lord Rahl needs her help, and I don’t want her life risked again as it was today.”
    “While she is in the Palace she will be as safe as a babe in her mother’s arms. By my honor.” He turned and gave a coded tap to his shoulder. A good two dozen men of the First File came at a dead run, freezing to a halt at attention, not even breathing hard. “This is the Lady Bevinvier. Every one of your lives before hers.”
    With a sharp snap, every fist came to an armored heart as one. Two of them took Jebra’s weight from Zedd. She kept one fist tightly closed around the Stone. The purse of gold bulged in a pocket of her long, green skirt. It was soaked most of the way down with dried blood.
    Zedd addressed the men holding her up. “She will need suitable quarters, and meals brought in. Please see to it she is not disturbed by anyone but myself.” He looked to her tired blue eyes and touched a hand to her arm. “Rest well, child. I will visit you in the morning.”
    She gave him a weak smile. “Thank you, Zedd.”
    As the soldiers helped her away, the wizard turned his attention to Trimack. “There is a woman staying in the Palace, a Lady Ordith Condatith de Dackidvich. Lord Rahl is going to have enough trouble without her kind around. I want her out of here before the day is finished. If she refuses to leave, offer her the choice of a carriage or a noose.”
    Trimack grinned wickedly. “I will see to it personally.”
    “If there are any others you know of about the Palace, that are of her temperament, feel free to make them the same offer. New rule brings change.” Zedd couldn’t see auras, but he was sure that if Jebra had been standing there, she would have seen Trimack’s brighten.
    “Some are uncomfortable with change, Wizard Zorander.”
    The man had spoken more than his simple words. “Are there any above you in command in the Palace? Other than Lord Rahl?”
    Trimack clasped his hands behind his back as his eyes swept the hall. “There is one named Demmin Nass, commander of the quads, who gave orders to all but Darken Rahl.”
    Zedd let out a heavy breath at that memory. “He is dead.”
    Trimack gave a nod of what might have been relief. “Below the Palace, quartered in the chambers of the plateau, there are perhaps thirty thousand men of the army. Their generals outrank me in the field, but in the Palace the word of the Commander General of the First File is law. Some of them I know will welcome the change. Some will not.”
    “Richard is going to have a difficult enough time being the magic against magic—underworld magic—without troubles from steel. You have a free hand, Commander, to do as you see fit to protect him. Err on the side of duty.”
    Trimack gave a grunt of acknowledgment, then went on. “The