Wizard's First Rule (Sword of Truth 1)

Richard had never been this far from Denna’s quarters before. His eyes took little journeys to the new sights. At intervals, there were places just like the one where they went for their devotions, opened to the sky and the sun, each with a rock in the center, and a bell. Some had grass instead of sand, and some even a pool of water that the rock sat in. Fish glided in groups through the clear water. The halls were sometimes wide as rooms, with patterned tiles on the floor, arches and columns all about, ceilings soaring high above. Windows let light stream into these places, making them bright and airy.

People were everywhere, most in robes of white or some other pale color. No one ever seemed in a hurry, but most seemed as if they had a place to go, although a few sat on marble benches. Richard saw few soldiers. Most people walked past Denna and him as if they were invisible, but a few smiled and exchanged a greeting with her.

The size of the place was astounding; the halls and passages stretched out of sight. Wide stairs led up or down to unknown parts of the great edifice. One hall had statues of naked people in proud poses. The statues were made of carved and polished stone, mostly white, some with gold veining through it, and each was twice as tall as he. Richard never saw one place that was dark, or ugly, or dirty; everything he saw was beautiful. The sound of people’s footsteps echoed through the halls like reverent whispers. Richard wondered how a place as large as this could even be conceived of, much less built. It must have taken lifetimes.

Denna led them to a sprawling square that was open to the sky. Full-grown trees covered the mossy ground, and a path of brown clay tiles meandered through the center of the indoor forest. They strolled along the path, Richard looking up at the trees. They were beautiful, even if they were bare of leaves.

Denna watched him. “You like the trees, don’t you.”

He nodded, looking about. “Very much. Mistress Denna,” he whispered.

“Why do you like them?”

Richard thought a moment. “It seems they are part of my past. I can dimly recall that I was a guide. A woods guide, I think. But I don’t remember much about it, Mistress Denna. Except I liked the woods.”

“Being broken makes you forget things from before,” she said quietly.

“The more I train you, the more you will forget the past, except specific questions I ask you. Soon, you will remember none of it.”

“Yes, Mistress Denna. Mistress Denna, what is this place?”

“It’s called the People’s Palace. It’s the seat of power in D’Hara. It is the home of Master Rahl.”

They had lunch in a different place than they usually ate. She had him sit in a chair; he didn’t know why. They went to the afternoon devotion at one of the places with water instead of sand, and after devotion, they walked some more through the vast halls, to find themselves back in familiar territory for dinner. The walking made him feel better. His muscles had needed to be stretched.

After the evening devotion, in the little room in her quarters, Denna locked his arms behind his back in the binding device, and hoisted it up, but not enough to take the weight off his feet. It still brought the pain back to his sore shoulders, but it made him wince only a little.

“Is your back better, Mistress Denna? Did the walking help?”

“It’s nothing I can’t tolerate.”

She walked slowly around him, watching the floor. She stopped at last in front of him, rolling the Agiel in her fingers for a time, scrutinizing it.

Her eyes didn’t come up. Her voice was hardly more than a whisper. “Tell me you think I’m ugly.”

He looked at her until her eyes finally came up. “No. That would be a lie.”

A sad smile spread on her lips. “That was a mistake, my love. You have disobeyed my direct order, and you have forgotten the appellation.”

“I know, Mistress Denna.”

Her eyes closed, but a little of the strength came back to her voice. “You are nothing but trouble. I don’t know why Master Rahl burdened me with your training. You have earned yourself two hours.”

She gave him his two hours, not as hard as she usually did, but hard enough to make him cry in pain. After the training, she told him that her back still hurt, and slept on the floor again, having him sleep in the bed.

The next few days went back to the regular routine, the training not being as long or as strenuous as before, except when Constance was there. Denna kept a close watch on her, guiding more than she had in the past. Constance didn’t like it, sometimes glaring at Denna. When Constance was rougher than Denna wished, she wasn’t invited for the next session.

With the lighter training sessions, his head started to clear, and he began remembering things, things about his past. A few times, when Denna’s back hurt, they went for long walks, looking at the various, astonishingly beautiful places.

After an afternoon devotion one day, Constance asked if she could come along. Denna smiled and said yes. Constance asked to do the training, and was given permission. She was rougher than usual, and had Richard in prolonged agony, tears of pain streaming down his cheeks. Richard was hoping Denna would put a stop to it, as he was on his last strings of tolerance. As Denna came out of her chair, a man came into the room.

“Mistress Denna, Master Rahl has requested you.”

“When?”

“Right now.”

Denna gave a sigh. “Constance, would you finish the session?”

Constance looked into Richard’s eyes and smiled. “Why, of course, Denna.”

Richard was terrified, but didn’t dare say a word.

“His time is nearly up, just take him back to my quarters and leave him there. I’m sure I won’t be long.”

“My pleasure, Denna. You can count on me.”

Denna started to leave. Constance grinned at him wickedly, her face close to his. She grabbed his belt and yanked it open. Richard couldn’t breathe.

“Constance”—Denna had come back in—“I don’t want you doing that.”

Constance was caught off guard. “In your absence, I’m in charge of him, and I’ll do as I wish.”

Denna came and put her face close to the other’s. “He is my mate, and I said I don’t want you to do that. And I don’t want you to put the Agiel in his ear either.”

“I’ll do as I…”

“You will not.” Denna gritted her teeth as she looked down to the shorter woman. “I am the one who took the punishment when we killed Rastin. Me. Not you and me, only me. I have never made a point of it before, but I do now. You know what they did to me, and I never told them you had a part in it. He is my mate, and I am his Mord-Sith. Not you. Me. You will respect my wishes or there is going to be trouble between us.”

“All right, Denna,” she huffed. “All right. I’ll mind your wishes.”

Denna still glared at her. “See that you do, Sister Constance.”

Constance finished the session with all the effort she coul

d bring forth, although she kept the Agiel mostly where Denna wanted it. Richard knew it went on for longer than it should have. When she took him back to Denna’s quarters, she spent a good hour slapping him around, then hooked the chain over the footboard of the bed and told him he was to stand until Denna came back.

Constance put her face close to his, as best she could, considering her height, and grabbed him between his legs.

“Take good care of this for me,” she sneered. “You aren’t going to have it much longer. I have reason to believe Master Rahl will shortly be reassigning you to me, and when he does, I’m going to alter your anatomy.” A grin spread on her face. “And I don’t think you’re going to like it.”

His anger flashed, bringing on the pain of the magic. It took him to his knees. Constance laughed as she left the room. He managed to get the anger under control, but the pain wouldn’t stop until he stood.

Warm sunlight was streaming in the window. He hoped Denna would be returning soon. The sun set. Dinnertime came and went. Still Denna did not return. Richard began to worry. He had a feeling that something was wrong. He heard the peal of the bell for the evening devotion, but couldn’t go to it, being chained to the bed. He wondered if he was supposed to kneel where he was, but realized he couldn’t do that either; he had been told to stand. He thought maybe he should still chant the devotion, but decided there was no one to hear him, and it wouldn’t matter.

It was long since dark out the window, but thankfully the lamps were lit and at least he didn’t have to stand in the dark. The two bells announced the end of evening devotion. Still Denna was not back. His training time came and went. Still no Denna. Richard was fraught with worry.

At last, he heard the door push open. Denna’s head was bowed, her posture stiff. The braid was undone and her hair disheveled. She laboriously pushed the door closed. He saw that her skin was ashen, her eyes wet. She didn’t look at him.