Temple 36

**Chapter 36**

It turns out the person watching Kahlan is the sliph herself, whom you may recall as the entity of living quicksilver who resides in a magical well. The sliph offers to take Kahlan places, and Kahlan discovers that Richard did not put the sliph in *"the long sleep,"* as they thought, but just had her rest. The *"sleep of ages"* seems to be a sort of hibernation, from which only certain specific people can awaken the sliph.

The sliph reveals that someone else has used her since Richard and Kahlan did, but will not say who, since *"I never betray my clients."* Kahlan deduces that it must have been Marlin and Sister Amelia. This somehow inspires her to ask if the sliph can take her to Agaden Reach - Shota's home - which the sliph confirms that she can.

Kahlan runs back to the library, then realizes she can't burst in on Cara and Berdine all red-faced and sweaty or they'll realize something is up. Why she had to sprint back to the library is never explained, but as she sits nearby composing herself, she thinks about *"what she must do,"* which is apparently travelling to Agaden Reach and murdering Shota. For . . . some reason.

I have multiple problems with this.

In the first place, Shota hasn't really done anything to justify her death. She was useless in Book 1, and a right bitch in Book 2, but she hasn't really offered any harm or threat to Richard or Kahlan since then. She sent Nadine to annoy them, which Kahlan seems to be treating as an act of war, but her jealousy and spite are not justification for homicide. \~/ And yes, I realize that Mindrapists are Better Than You and have the right to murder anyone, at any time, for any reason or none. That's still stupid and terrible, so I'm ignoring it.

Second, the first time Kahlan messed with Shota, she ended up wearing a dress made of snakes, and the second time Shota disabled both Kahlan and Richard easily. Shota has shown herself to be more than equal to the task of whooping both Kahlan and Richard's asses, so I don't know why Kahlan thinks she can handle her solo. Granted, Kahlan's ego is mighty swollen, and we've been repeatedly beaten over the head with how terrifyingly unstoppable a Mindrapist is, but the actual events of the story have failed to back this up. This is more like an irate teenage girl with a pocketknife threatening to murder a hardened Mafia hitman. \~/

Kahlan finally re-enters the library, behaving very suspicously, such as forgetting what she allegedly went looking for (books). She and the Dominatrices decide this was all a waste of time, and they had better get back to the palace before Nadine molests Richard in his sleep. Berdine reminds Cara that Kahlan is totally a dudebro \~/ and they ride back.

Kahlan and her posse check on Richard in a scene that eats up two pages, and then Kahlan manages to send everyone except Cara and the Aryan Boys (who are guarding Richard's room) off to sleep. Cara insists on guarding Kahlan, so Kahlan asks what she fears. Cara says she doesn't fear anything - making no mention of rats - but admits she fears dying in bed, and Richard dying. Because the center of everyone's universe is Richard. \~/

Kahlan, paragon of sensitivity that she is, asks Cara - who, I remind you, is the victim if some especially horrifying sexual abuse - whether she fears *"not finding a man who will love you."* Cara says that all she has to do is give a man permission to love her and he will. I'm not sure, but I think that was meant as a joke.

Kahlan reminds Cara that *"A Confessor's magic will destroy a man if she loves him - you know, when they're . . . together. Only because Richard is special, has special magic, can he love me in return."*

Because sex equals love. Remember that. Sex is not just one aspect of a romantic relationship; it is the be-all and end-all of romance. If someone is incapable or unwilling to perform the act of sex, clearly, they are incapable of love. \~/

Kahlan says she's terrified of losing Richard to Nadine, and Cara, being her friend, doesn't slap her on the head and call her a moron. She does remind Kahlan that Richard clearly cares nothing for Nadine, but Kahlan remains un-comforted. She asks Cara, as her dudebro, \~/ to promise that Nadine won't be allowed to have Richard if Kahlan somehow screws up. Cara promises on her +5 Riding Crop of Pain, Kahlan says she's a true dudebro, \~/ and the chapter ends.

Drinks: 7

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