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purposefully into the hall； her wizard at her heels； his silver robes flying behind。 Her regal…looking white dress stood out among the confusion of color like the full moon among the stars。 Bright color and fancy dress had never looked so unexpectedly trivial。 Everyone bowed low at her passing。 Cyrilla waited with her advisors beside the table on which sat a large； cut…glass bowl of spiced wine。
Kahlan crossed the hushed room； followed by every eye； and drew to a halt before the queen； giving a prompt bow of her head。 Her expression was as still as ice。 She didn’t wait for the formality of the bow to her office to be returned。
‘Queen Cyrilla。 You have an advisor named Drefan Tross？’
Cyrilla held her open hand out to the side。 This is he。’
Kahlan’s emotionless gaze moved to Drefan。 ‘I would speak with you in private。’
‘Drefan Tross is a trusted advisor；’ Cyrilla interrupted。 He was more than that。 He was a man she was very fond of； a man she was just beginning to fall in love with。 ‘You may speak to him in my presence。’ She didn’t know what this was about； but thought it best if she were privy to it。 Confessors did not interrupt banquets except for trouble。 ‘This is neither the time nor place to conduct business of this sort； Mother Confessor； but if it cannot wait； then let it be done and finished with here and now。’
She thought that would put it in abeyance until a more appropriate time。 Without expression； the Mother Confessor considered this a moment。 The wizard at her back was anything but expressionless。 He appeared quite agitated； in fact。
He bent toward Kahlan to speak； but she raised her hand to silence him before he could begin。
‘As you wish。 I am sorry； Queen Cyrilla； but it cannot wait。’ She returned her attention to Drefan。 ‘I have just taken the confession of a murderer。 In his confession； he also revealed himself to be an acplice to an assassin。 He named you as that assassin； and your target as Queen Cyrilla。’
There were astonished whispers from those near enough to overhear。 Drefan’s face went red。 The whispers died into brittle silence。
Cyrilla could scarcely follow what happened next。 A blink of the eye and it would have been missed。 One instant Drefan stood as he had； with his hand in his gold and deep blue coat； and the next he was driving a knife toward the Mother Confessor。 Standing tall； she moved only her arm； catching his wrist。 Seemingly at the same time； there was a violent impact to the air … thunder but no sound。 The cut…glass bowl shattered； flooding red wine over the table and floor。 Cyrilla flinched with the sudden flash of pain coursing through every joint in her body。 The knife clattered to the floor。 Drefan’s eyes went wide； his jaw slack。
‘Mistress；’ he whispered reverently。
Cyrilla was numb with shock to see a Conffessor use her power。 She knew only of its aftereffects； arid had never seen it being used。 Few had。 The magic seemed still to sizzle in the air a long moment。
The crowd pressed closer。 A warning glare from the wizard changed their curiosity to timidity； and they moved back。
Kahlan looked drained； but her voice betrayed no weakness。 ‘You intended to assassinate the queen？’
‘Yes； Mistress；’ he said eagerly； licking his lips。
‘When？’
Tonight。 In the confusion when the guests were departing。’ Drefan looked to be in torment。 Tears welled up and ran down his cheeks。 ‘Please； Mistress； mand me。 Tell me what you wish。 Let me carry out your mand。’
Cyrilla was still in shock。 This was what had been done to her father。 This was how he had been taken as a mate to a Confessor。 First her father； and now a man she held dear。
‘Wait in silence；’ Kahlan ordered。 Hands hanging at her sides； she turned to Cyrilla； her young eyes now heavy with sorrow。 ‘Forgive me for disturbing your celebration； Queen Cyrilla； but I feared the results of delay。’
Her face burning； Cyrilla twisted to face Drefan。 He stood gaping at Kahlan。 ‘Who ordered this； Drefan！ Who ordered you kill me！’
He didn’t even seem to be aware she had spoken。
‘He will not answer you； Queen Cyrilla；’ Kahlan said。 ‘He will only answer me。’
‘Then you ask！’
That would not be advisable；’ the wizard offered quietly。
Cyrilla felt a fool。 Everyone knew of her fondness for Drefan。 Everyone saw now that she had been duped。 No one would ever forget this midsummer festival。
‘Do not presume to advise me！’
Kahlan leaned closer and spoke softly。 ‘Cyrilla； we think he may be protected by a spell。 When I asked his acplice that question； he died before he could answer。 But I believe I know the answer。 There are oblique ways of getting the information that might possibly circumvent the spell。 If I could take him somewhere alone and question him in my own way； we might be able to get the answer。’
Cyrilla was near tears with fury。 ‘I trusted him！ He was close to me！ He has betrayed me！ Me； not you！ I will know who sent him！ I will hear it from his own lips！ You stand in my kingdom； in my home！ Ask him！’
Kahlan straightened； her face returning to the calm mask that showed nothing。 ‘As you wish。’ She redirected her attention to Drefan。 ‘Was what you intended to do to the queen of your own volition？’
He dry…washed his hands in anxious anticipation of pleasing the Mother Confessor。 ‘No； Mistress。 I was sent。’
If it was possible； Kahlan’s face seemed to bee even more placid。 ‘Who sent you？’
One hand rose； and his mouth opened； as if in an attempt to do her bidding。 All that came from his throat was a gurgle of blood before he collapsed。
The wizard gave a knowing grunt。 ‘As I thought： the same as the other。’
Kahlan picked up the knife and offered it handle…first to Cyrilla。 ‘We believe there to be a conspiracy of great magnitude brewing。 Whether or not this man was part of it I don’t know； but he was sent by Kelton。’
‘Kelton！ I refuse to believe that。’
Kahlan nodded at the knife in Cyrilla’s hand。 ‘The knife is Keltish。’
‘Many people carry weapons forged in Kelton。 They are some of the finest made。 That is hardly proof enough for such an accusation。’
Kahlan stood unmoving。 Cyrilla was too upset at that moment to wonder what thoughts could have been going on behind those green eyes。 Kahlan’s voice finally came without emotion。 ‘My father taught me that the Keltans will strike for only two reasons。 First out of jealousy； and second when they are tempted by weakness。 He said that either way； they will always first test by trying to kill the strongest； highest…ranking； of their opponents they can。 Galea is now the strongest it has ever been； thanks to you； and the midsummer festival is the mark of that strength。 You are the cause of that jealousy； and a symbol of that strength。
‘My father also said that you must always keep an eye to the Keltans； and never offer them your back。 He said that if you thwart them in the first attempt； it deepens their hunger for your blood； and they will always lie in wait for any weakness so they may strike。’
Cyrilla’s smoldering rage at being beguiled by Drefan made her lash out without considering her words。 ‘I would not know what our father said。 I never had the benefit of his teachings。 He was taken from us by a Confessor。’
Kahlan’s face transformed from the calm； cold blankness of a Confessor to a look of ageless； knowing benevolence that seemed well beyond her years。
‘Perhaps； Queen Cyrilla； the good spirits chose to spare you the things he would have taught you； and had him teach me instead。 Be thankful they have looked kindly upon you。 I doubt the things he taught would have brought you any joy。 They bring me none； save perhaps that they have helped me preserve your life this night。 Please do not be bitter。 Be at peace with yourself； and cherish what you do have： the love of your people。 They are your family； one and all。’
Kahlan started to turn away； but Cyrilla gently caught her arm and drew her aside as men bent to carry the body from the hall。
‘Kahlan； forgive me。’ Her fingers worked a ribbon at her waist。 ‘I have wrongly directed my anger over Drefan to you。’
‘I understand； Cyrilla。 In your place； I would probably have reacted the same。 I could see your feelings for Drefan in your eyes。 I would not expect you to be happy over what I have just done。 Forgive me for bringing anguish to your home on a day that should be only joyful； but I greatly feared the results of delay。’
Kahlan had made her feel like the younger sister。 She looked anew at the tall； beautiful young woman standing before her。 Kahlan was of the age to have a mate。 Perhaps she had already chosen one； for all she knew。 Her mother must have been about this old when she took Cyrilla’s father as hers。 So young。
Looking into those depthless green eyes； Cyrilla let go of some of her anger over Drefan。 This young woman； her sister； had just saved her life； knowing full well it would bring no thanks； and would probably earn her only deeper fear； and possibly undying hatre