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He turned back to the fire； not liking the sound of her answer。 〃Is that unusual？〃 She let out a breath。 〃So I have been told。〃 Her voice sounded weary。 〃Shorter time to recover the power also means the power is stronger； works more powerfully in the one touched。 That is why some of the quad members I touch are able to kill the other three。 It would not be so for a Confessor with a weaker power。
〃Confessors have position according to their power； because the ones with the strongest power will bear daughters who have the best chance of having that stronger power。 There is no jealousy among the Confessors for those with the strongest power； only deeper affection and devotion in times of trouble； like since Rahl came through the boundary。 The lower ranks will protect the higher； with their lives if need be。〃
He knew she wasn't going to say it unless he asked； so he did。 〃And what is your rank？〃
Her eyes stared unblinking at the fire。 〃All Confessors follow me。 Many laid down their lives to protect mine 。 。 。〃 Her voice caught for a moment。 〃。 。 。 that I might survive； and somehow use my power to stop Rahl。 Of course； there are none to follow me now。 I am the only one left。 Darken Rahl has killed every last one。〃
〃I'm sorry； Kahlan；〃 he said softly。 He was only； just beginning to prehend the importance of the woman she was。 〃So； do you have a title？ What do people call you？〃
〃I am the Mother Confessor。〃
Richard tensed。 The sound of 〃Mother Confessor〃 had the chill of terrible authority to it。 Richard felt a little overwhelmed。 He had always known Kahlan was important； but he had dealt with important people when he was a guide； and had learned not to be awed by them。 But he never knew she was someone of such prominence。 Mother Confessor。 Even if he was just a guide； and she was this important； he didn't care； he could live with that。 Surely； she could； too。 He wasn't going to lose her； or send her away because of who she was。
〃I don't know what that means。 Is it something like a princess； or a queen？〃
Kahlan lifted an eyebrow to him。 〃Queens bow down to the Mother Confessor。〃
Now he felt intimidated。
〃You are more than a queen？〃 he winced
〃The dress I wore when you first saw me？ That is a Confessor's dress。 We all wear them so there can be no mistaking who we are； although most people of the Midlands would recognize us no matter how we were to dress。 All Confessors； no matter their age； wear a Confessor's dress that is black…except the Mother Confessor； her dress is white。〃 Kahlan seemed a little annoyed by having to explain her eminence。 〃It feels very odd to me to explain all this； Richard。 Everyone in the Midlands knows it all； so I have never had to think about how to put it all into words。 It sounds so 。 。 。 I don't know； so arrogant when I put words to it。〃
〃Well； I'm not from the Midlands。 Just try； I need to understand。〃
She nodded and looked back up at him。 〃Kings and queens are masters of their land； they each have their own domain。 There are a number of them in the Midlands。 Other lands are ruled in different manners； such as by councils。 Some are places of magic creatures。 The night wisps； for example…no humans live in their lands。
〃The place where the Confessors live； my home； is called Aydindril。 It is also the home of the wizards； and the Central Council of the Midlands。 Aydindril is a beautiful place。 It's been a long time since I have been home；〃 she said wistfully。 〃The Confessors and the wizards are closely linked； bonded； much the way the Old One； Zedd； is linked with the Seeker。
〃No one holds claim to Aydindril。 No ruler would dare to lay claim to it； they all fear it； fear the Confessors and the wizards。 All the lands of the Midlands contribute to the support of Aydindril。 They all pay tribute。 Confessors are above the law of any one land； much the same way the Seeker is ultimately above any law but his own。 Yet at the same time； we serve all the people of the Midlands through the Central Council。
〃In the past； arrogant rulers had thought to make the Confessors submit to their word。 In those times； there were farsighted Confessors； now revered as legends； who knew they must lay the foundation for our independence； or forever submit to domination； so the。 Mother Confessor took the rulers with her power。 The rulers were removed from their thrones； and replaced with new rulers who understood that Confessors were to be left alone： The old rulers； those who were taken； were kept in Aydindril as little more than slaves。 The Confessors took these old rulers with them when they traveled to the different lands； made them carry the provisions and luxuries of travel。 Back then； there was more ceremony surrounding the Confessors than there is now。 Anyway； it made the intended impression。〃
〃I don't understand；〃 Richard said。 〃Kings and queens must be powerful leaders。 Didn't they have protection？ Didn't they have guards； and others； to keep them safe？ How could a Confessor get near to a king or queen to touch them？〃
〃Yes； they have protection； a lot； in fact； but it's not as difficult as it sounds。 A Confessor touches one person； maybe a guard； then she has an ally； he takes her to another； he is taken； soon she is inside。 Each person she touches can get her close to one of higher rank； and gains her more allies。 Working her way up through the trusted positions and advisors； she can be at the king or queen sooner than you would think； and often before so much as an eyebrow is raised； much less an alarm。 Any Confessor could do it。 The Mother Confessor even easier。
〃The Mother Confessor with a band of her sisters would sweep through a castle like the plague。 Not that such an effort is without danger； many Confessors died； but the goal was seen as worth it。 This is the reason no land is closed to a Confessor； though it may be to every other。
〃Closing a land to a Confessor is tantamount to an admission of guilt； and is sufficient cause for the leader to be taken from power。 This is why the Mud People； for example； allow me in； even though they do not often let other outsiders in。 Not allowing a Confessor access would raise questions and suspicions。 A leader involved in any sort of plot would gladly grant a Confessor free access； to try to hide their involvement in any subversion。
〃In those times； there were some among the Confessors who were more than willing to use their power as they wanted； to root out wrongdoing； as they saw it。 The wizards exerted their influence to bring this under control； but the Confessors' zeal showed the people what a Confessor was capable of。 But these were different times。〃
Taking a ruler from power。 Different times or not； Richard found all this hard to take； to justify。 〃What gave these Confessors the right？〃
She shook her head slowly。 〃What we are doing now； you and 1； is it much different from what has been done in the past？ Taking a ruler from power？ We all do what we think we must； what we think is right。〃
He shifted his weight unfortably。 〃I see your point；〃 he admitted。 〃Have you done this before？ Removing a ruler？〃
She shook her head。 〃Still； the leaders of the lands are all keen to avoid my attention。 It is much the same way with the Seeker。 At least； it used to be； before you and I were born。 Then； Seekers were more feared and respected than Confessors。〃 She gave him a meaningful look。 〃They； too； have dethroned kings。 Now； though； because the Old One was ignored； and the sword had bee a political favor； they are seen as less； little more than pawns； thieves。〃
〃I'm not sure that has changed；〃 Richard said； more to himself than to her。 〃Much of the time； I feel as if I am nothing more than a pawn； being moved by others。 Even by Zedd； and 。 。 。〃
He shut his mouth and didn't finish； she did it for him。
〃And by me。〃
〃I don't mean it that way。 It's just that； sometimes； I wish I had never heard of the Sword of Truth。 But at the same time； I can't allow Rahl to win； so I'm stuck with my duty。 I guess I have no choice； and that's what I hate。〃
Kahlan smiled sadly as she folded her legs und