Temple 26

Chapter 26
We rejoin Kahlan sitting on the Mother Mindrapist's throne beneath "the ornate fresco of Magda Searus, the first Mother Confessor, and her wizard, Merrit." Kahlan ponders her history, and tries to claim that Richard's actions are benevolent. She then recaps what we learned just last chapter about the Temple of the Winds, for the benefit of the slow readers. \~/
A bunch of representatives come in, and we learn that Kahlan has a bunch of administrators and the like to handle the petty details. She thinks about the representatives of Jaria and Grennidon: "She knew these people, knew how they thought; surrender was acceptable, as long as they could retain station above certain other lands, and as long as they could be assured of unfettered authority in their own business."
I do believe I should take offense on behalf of every small nation that has chosen defiance rather than submission to a tyrant. \~/
Kahlan thinks about how "that kind of attitude was no longer acceptable. It couldn't be tolerated." Because everyone must put aside their individuality and submit themselves to D'Hara Richard. No one is allowed any standing or difference. All must be equally faceless minions for Lord Rahl. Richard is life. Richard is love. Peace is war. Freedom is slavery. Terry Goodkind is a great author.
Kahlan informs the representatives that she's here in Richard's place, and invites the representative from one of the smaller nations to speak first. When Bashkar and the Cholbanes start harrumphing, she coldly reminds them that no one has any standing until they surrender their identity to the glory that is Richard.
Having put them in their place, Kahlan accepts the fawning surrender of a couple of unimportant lands. Next, the representative of Mardovia, whose capital city is Renwold, declares that they choose to remain neutral. They have faith in their strong walls and magical defenders, and do not wish to subsume their very identity in Ricard's aggressive, warlike empire. I guess this is meant to be irony. Kahlan chews the representative out for a page, then sends him away. 
Next, the Cholbanes of Grennidon surrender. Well, that was anticlimactic.
Tristan Bashkar of Jaria is next, and he wastes a page rambling to and fro as Kahlan repeatedly demands his answer. He says he wants to surrender, he really does, but the red moon has given him pause. The Jarian "star guide," Javas Kedar, told him the stars would give a sign if circumstances changed, and so when the moon turned red, Bashkar took that as a sign that circumstances have indeed changed. He wants to either return home to Jaria to consult the star guide - which would take at least a month - or to wait and see if things get worse in Aydindril. Kahlan gives him two weeks to decide, and since the Red Sheep burned down the Jarian palace last book, he'll be staying in Richard's palace.
We're also told that Bashkar is a ferocious fighter, is especially skilled with a knife, and is something of a ladies' man.
The chapter ends with Cara congratulating Kahlan on being such a scary dudebro. \~/
Drinks: 3
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