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to take his place as inheritor of the world。 The Imperial Order is upon the world； now； and if it were not them； it would be man by another name。 It is time for man to rule； for magic to die。’
Kahlan felt a sudden hollowness。 An unexpected tear ran down her cheek。 A choking feeling of true panic clawed at her throat。
‘Do you hear that； Slagle？’ she whispered hoarsely。 ‘You have magic。 The ones you aid would put an end to you； too。’
He tossed the little ball of fire to his other hand； the light of its flames dancing across his grim face。 ‘It is as it must be。 Magic； chaste or foul； is the Keeper’s conduit to this world。 When I have helped extinguish magic in all its forms； then I； too； must die。 In that way； I will serve the people。’
Riggs gazed up to her； almost sorrowfully； as he went on。
‘Our people must see the last living embodiment of that religion die。 You are its symbol； the last creature of magic created by wizards。 With your death； they will be filled with hope for the future； and be emboldened to extinguish all the remaining pockets of filth and perversion that are magic。
‘We are the plowshare。 Those lands now infested with magic will be freed of its taint； and can be resettled by pious people。 Then； at last； we shall all be free of your dogmas； which have no part in the glory of the future of man。’
He straightened； taking a drink from his mug。 The harshness returned to his voice。 ‘After we finish with you； then we’ll bring Galea to heel； and the rest of the lands。’ He slammed the mug down。 ‘Until plete and total victory is ours； we demand war！’
Rage swelled in her； banishing the momentary sensation of loss and panic； swelled on behalf of all those beings； the twilight beings； who depended upon her for voice and protection。
She nodded slowly as she held the general’s gaze。
‘In my capacity as Mother Confessor； the highest rank of authority in the Midlands； to whose mandate all must bow； I grant your wish。’ She leaned forward and spoke in a hiss。 ‘Let there be war。 On my word and office； not one of you shall be granted quarter。’
Kahlan’s fist came up to the wizard。 It was for him she had e。
Her chest heaved with wrath； and with terror at the madness of these men。 She let the magic surge within her； demanding release； demanding this wizard’s death。
It was for him she had e。 She must not fail。 The Blood Rage screamed through her。
She called the lightning forth。
Nothing happened。
She froze for an instant in the panic of the failure of the magic。 Then Riggs lunged for her leg。
Kahlan hauled back on the reins。 The ferocious warhorse sprang into battle。 He bellowed as he reared； kicking his front legs。 Kahlan grasped his mane for dear life。 A lashing hoof caught Riggs across the face； throwing him back。 The thrashing hooves crashed down on the table； shattering it to splinters。 Men in chairs toppled backward。 Nick’s front hooves crushed the head of one of the D’Haran officers； the leg of another。
The horse spun and kicked at the men。 Kahlan gave him her heels； and he leapt into a gallop as the wizard was rising to his feet。 Surprised men threw themselves out of the way。 She took a quick glance over her shoulder to see the wizard throwing his hands out。 A ball of wizard’s fire exploded to life before him； turning in the air； awaiting mand。 He threw his arms out again； sending the fire on its way toward her。
The warhorse leapt over fires and men； kicking up both snow and flaming firewood。 His legs caught tent lines； yanking them down。 Kahlan spotted what she wanted； what she wanted more than life itself； and maneuvered the horse for it。
She could hear the wail of the wizard’s fire ing for her。 She could hear the screams of men unexpectedly caught up in it。 She stole another glance to see the blue and yellow ball of flame tumbling through the tents and men； growing all the time； taking a course as drunken as the wizard。 Wizard’s fire had to be guided； and in his state； the wizard was having difficulty controlling what he had wrought。 Were he sober； she would be dead by now。
Dear spirits； she prayed； if I’m to die； let me have time enough first to do what I must。
Kahlan reached her goal。 As she galloped past； she yanked a lance from a snowbank and wheeled her horse。 She dug her heels in； and Nick leapt ahead at a full gallop。
The ball of fire wailed toward her； setting tents and men afire。 It grew and tumbled as the distance closed。
The lance was unexpectedly heavy； made for men who had more muscle than she； and she had to carry it upright to save her strength。 The warhorse didn’t flinch as he galloped； not at the noise； the confusion； the running men； or the wizard’s fire。 She pulled to one side and then the other； Nick’s hooves digging into the packed snow。 She dodged obstacles； weaving her way toward the wizard’s fire at full speed。 Toward the wizard。
Slagle tried to change the course of the fire； to block her advance； each time she wove in her headlong rush。 His reactions were slow； but as the distance closed； she knew he wouldn’t need to be fast to catch her up in it。
At the last instant； she wheeled her horse around to the right。 The fire roared by so close she could smell burnt hair； and then she was racing again。
As she charged the horse ahead； the wizard’s fire exploded behind； cascading across the ground like a burst dam。 The horrifying death screams of man and beast caught in the conflagration filled the night air。 Dozens of men； all afire； rolled through the snow； trying to put out the flames。 But wizard’s fire was not so easy to extinguish； it was alive with purpose。
The howls of pain panicked those around who didn’t know what was happening。 Men screamed in fear of spirits they thought were setting upon them。 Swords were drawn and wielded； hacking at those running for their lives from the fire。 Battle erupted out of nothing。 The air carried not only the choking stench of burning flesh； but now blood。
She ignored the screams and sought the silence within。
The wizard stumbled backward and fell。 He came to his feet whirling his arms。 Fire formed in the air at the arc of his fingertips。
Though there was confusion all about； only one thing filled her vision。 The wizard。
She couched the lance； tucking the base under her right armpit； jamming her grip tight against the leather stop。 Gritting her teeth； she used all her strength to lift the heavy lance over Nick’s bobbing head； to the left side； so as not to unbalance herself in the saddle。
Nick took her direction as if he could read her mind。 She steered him at full speed； but it seemed to her that the last ten yards took hours； a race between her charge and the wizard calling forth fire。
Wizard Slagle looked up to direct the fire just as her lance caught him in the chest。 The impact shattered the lance to splinters at midlength and nearly tore the wizard in half。 She and her horse flew through a spray of blood。
Kahlan swung the half lance at a man lunging for her； catching him across the head。 The