Temple 12

**Chapter 12**

Kahlan and Nadine make their way back to the Rape Pit of Rapiness, where Cara has fallen silent. We learn that this happened an hour ago, *“about when Marlin died.”* So it took these two a solid hour to make their way back? How far did they *go?*

There are *“hundreds”* of soldiers standing around. None of them had the guts to try to help the screaming, flailing woman. The narrative tries to excuse this, but I am less forgiving of these worthless cowards.

Kahlan and Nadine descend into the Rape Pit of Rapiness, to discover that Cara is having convulsions and also choking on her own vomit. How convenient fortunate that this happened *just* as Kahlan and Nadine returned! It sure would have been awkward if Cara had choked to death ten minutes ago, especially with *hundreds of soldiers* standing around.

Worthless cowards. \~/

Kahlan and Nadine help Cara, and then Nadine runs off to get her healer's kit for that all-important +2 to her Healing skill. As she leaves, one of the Worthless Cowards tells Kahlan that a “Raug'Moss” just recently showed up.

No, although it sounds like some sort of embarrassing infection, a Raug'Moss is the high priest of a society of healers. Priest of what religion, we are never told. \~/ Kahlan says, if he's a healer send him down here, you armored idiots, then turns her attention to Cara, holding her to try to comfort her. *“Kahlan didn't know what else to do. She knew a lot about hurting people, but little about healing them.”*

Fair enough.

“*She was so sick of hurting people.”*

Lies and hypocrisy.

Kahlan continues to comfort Cara while angsting about the Worthless Cowards, and how Cara could have died with them standing uselessly right there. She ponders how she and Cara aren't so different:

“*When it all came down to it, Kahlan was much the same. She used her power to destroy a person's mind [. . .] Dear spirits, was she no more than this Mord-Sith she was trying to bring back from madness?”*

Nice little slam on your so-called friend there, Kahlan, wondering with horror if you're really *“no more”* than her. \~/

Kahlan thinks about how she's totally dudebros with Cara \~/ and angsts about how she only knows pain and death and hurting, and how Richard was attracted to Nadine because Nadine is a healer. \~/

Kahlan is dumber than rocks.

“*if Nadine had been killed in the beginning, would she have cared?”*

Kahlan, *you gave orders to have her murdered if she left her room.* No, you would not have cared; I don't believe you care *now.* \~/

Alternately, Terry Goodkind is a talentless hack. Either works.

Nadine returns and starts pulling stuff out of her bag and noting how it won't actually help. Most of the things she names are actual herbal medicines, not just generic “herbs,” so I must give credit where it's due. Terry Goodkind apparently either researched this, or already knew something about herbs. Good for him.

One of the things in Nadine's bag o' tricks turns out to be a plot coupon, to be redeemed later *“powdered canin pepper,”* and we're told if you get it in your face, it will immobilize you for a few minutes. Oh yeah, and it feels like your eyeballs are burning out of your head. Nice. I'm assuming Nadine got this from that nice Mr Chekhov.

Nadine was considering using it on Cara to paralyze her, which sounds like the stupidest idea ever in this book in this chapter in a while.

Nadine flutters ineffectually for a bit, and then a Mysterious Cloaked Figure enters! Gasp! Whoever could it be?

Drinks: 6

<Previous Chapter  -  Next Chapter>