Blood 14

Chapter 14
The Dominatrices wonder how Richard knew Lunetta was a sorceress, and we learn that Richard can literally see it in their eyes. No, really:
“Over time, without realizing it, he had come to an awareness of the aspect of magic in a person [what the hell does that mean?] – if they were using their magic, he could usually see it in their eyes. Though singular to each person, or perhaps the specific nature of their magic, there was a commonality Richard could recognize. [. . .] he had often seen the unique glaze of distant intensity in [the Nuns'] eyes.”
So Richard can detect spellcasters at will. Chalk up another unearned talent for our Sue here. \~/ Also, when did this start happening? I can't seem to recall any hint of it previously in the series.
Richard ponders the fact that Lunetta was “shrouded in her [Force],” and wonders why, since most spellcasters don't just call up their magic for no reason. “Maybe it simply pleased her childlike temper, the way those patches of colored cloth did. Richard didn't think so.”
If he didn't think so, then why bring it up? More specifically, why would Richard bring it up?
Richard worries that Lunetta was using magic to determine whether he was telling the truth or not. Yes, out of the near-infinite possible things this woman – this strange woman from a strange culture – could be using her magic for, Richard just HAPPENS to guess the one thing she was actually doing, for no real reason whatsoever. Richard Just Knows. The Sue's perceptions are identical with reality, always. \~/
This chapter is much better than the last, in the sense that it reminds me of why I hate this series so much.
The Dominatrices lightheartedly offer to castrate Brogan, but Richard says no. After a bit where General Rei clearly has something to say and Richard promises to never punish him for speaking the truth, Rei complains that the D'Harans have a tradition of plundering the enemy, and is Richard really planning to stop that? Richard says yes, that this is about ending oppression, not plunder.
Rei earns several points in my estimation with the following speech: “I don't see much difference. From my experience, the Master Rahl always thinks he knows best, and always wants to rule the world. You are your father's son. War is war. Reasons make no difference to us; we fight because we are told to, same as those on the other side. Reason means little to a man swinging his sword, trying to keep his head.”
I hope you enjoyed that example of clearheadedness and empathy, since Terry Goodkind is going to spend the next several books in the series teaching the exact opposite lesson: namely, that anyone who agrees with him is an angel of the highest order, while anyone who does not is nothing more than Satan himself, only dumber. Ah, nuance and realism.
Richard and Rei go back and forth on this for a bit, with Richard arguing that “a powerful reason, a righteous cause” will somehow make his soldiers better than the other side's soldiers . . . which, yeah, doesn't make a lick of sense. And can't the other side have fanatics as well? In fact, isn't the Order composed of fanatics? Doesn't that shoot Richard's argument in the foot? \~/
Oh, but their cause isn't righteous, so . . . they'll lose, I guess. After all, they disagree with Richard, so they can't possibly have any redeeming features.
Rei, finally realizing he's dealing with a crazy man, says that maybe he'll try it Richard's way. He talks about how no one wants peace more than a professional soldier (questionable, but I'll let it pass). “Seeing all that fighting and killing makes you if there's anything to you but doing as you're bidden, and killing people. Makes you wonder if you're some kind of monster, good for nothing else. Maybe that's what happened to those men who attacked Ebinissia; maybe they just finally gave in to the voice their head.”
Reason. Empathy. Shades of gray. It's official: I like Rei. I am adding him to the list of sympathetic characters in this benighted series.
Sympathetic Characters in the Sword of Truth Series
*Rachel
*Chandelier
*Pasha Maes deceased
*Gratch
*Brogan
*General Rei
So far we're rocking two sympathetic characters per book, including one who died, one who's a big hairy monster, and one who's an active villain. Whee!
Richard thinks about himself for a bit (no, seriously), then Brogan leaves to go do Generally stuff. Richard, we learn, “felt an odd sympathy for Tobias Brogan's sister, for her innocent-seeming heart. He liked her eyes.”
Of course he did.
Lunetta is heavily implied to be a simple-minded innocent being manipulated by her EVAL brother. So of course Richard likes her and her “innocent-seeming heart.” Because Richard can read hearts and minds. \~/\~/
Anyway, despite his pity, Richard orders his men to shoot Lunetta full of arrows if she tries anything funny. That taken care of, he starts writing a letter to Kahlan while the Dominatrices prattle on. There's an oddly well-written bit where Richard thinks that “he was the only one they trusted when they wanted to practice their social graces.” It makes sense, given their history, that the Dominatrices wouldn't have any social skills, and that the would only feel comfortable enough to try them out around Richard. 
Richard exposits that the Queen of Galea hasn't actually surrendered to him; he just made all that up on her behalf, and now he's going to write to her and tell her. Nice one, Richard; very smooth. The Dominatrices wonder how Kahlan will take this, reasoning that “Queens are proud,” and not being aware that Richard and Kahlan are Star-Crossed Twu Wuvs. Richard states that “She loves me, and will understand the benevolence of what I'm asking.”
Yeah, Richard is all about benevolence. \~/
The Dominatrices smirk that, if Kahlan doesn't agree, they'll protect him from her as well. Richard nearly goes berserk, and orders the Dominatrices and the Aryan Boys to protect Kahlan just as they do him, and to hold her life as sacred as his. They do, of course, and we go right back to the banter. Berdine, the brown-haired Dominatrix, indicates that Richard is staring at her ass and thinking of having sex with her, which strikes me as awfully weird for someone with her history of sexual abuse . . . then again, I'm no expert, so I shall let it pass.
Anyway, there's yet more banter, Richard finally starts his letter, and the chapter ends.
Drinks: 6
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