Into the Castle

Vera leaned against the wall, looking up at the castle. Those guards were staring at her again, but she ignored them. She'd been doing this, this waiting, for almost a month. Ever since the Resistance raid, she felt attracted to him; wanted to protect him. Unfortunately, Lord Rahl was very picky when it came to who saw him. She'd asked for an audience many times, but so far had only received repeated rejections.
She sighed and slumped into the wall. Lately, she merely hoped to see him. Someday head have to come out of that damn building. 'Course he w as a wizard and could probably travel without ever feeling the kiss of sunlight. (And yet he was so tan...) I wonder what.
Her daydreaming was broken by the pounding of feet. Snapping her eyes up, she saw a girl, near her age, was being targeted by a rogue group of guards. Vera pushed off the bricks and strode over.
They'd trapped the poor child against another wall; one playing with her red_brown hair. she slapped his hand away, but the other two slammed hers to the wall. The first one reached toward her writhing form, wishing to loosen buttons from her white blouse.
"Oi. Save your desires for you paid whores. She clearly doesn't want you."
"Mind yourself, feist," the man growled. "Us D'Harans do as we want."
"I'm not..." She stopped, knowing that it was futile. Vera was wearing a white dress she'd picked up from Ayaindril. Instead, she kicked his legs out and punched the other two; the girl was free.
"Go, run...umm...."
"Jensen," she answered. "Thanks." Jensen ran, her clothes rippling behind. Vera glimpsed her waving to a young man before being rammed into the stone wall. The guard twisted her arm, making her squeak.
"What? That's all you got?" he sneered. He pressed harder, suffocating her.
Another voice spoke, "How 'bout we use her since she let our prey off."
The idiots snickered and Guard One whipped around. Mistake. Her free hand lashed out and gripped his thick neck. Hate filled her eyes, which stared unrelenting.
The guard collapsed, taking her with him. She landed astride his stomach. Her second hand crept forward, though his face was already purple-red.
But then her vision blacked as a pair of hands covered her eyes. Another pulled her hands and tied them with a rope. (Where that came from, she wasn't sure) The sound of ripping cloth was followed by a brief second of light before she was blindfolded.
Confessor! Confused, terrified shouts echoes around her. Vera was roughly lifted and nudged forward. She stumbled at first, unused to the absence of sight. The guard guided her through the palace doors and along a corridor.
They were bringing her to the dungeons. The farther they went, the creepier the noises got. Howls and screams filled the air; moans, sobs, coughing and maniacal laughter created background cacophony. The journey took some time; twenty, maybe thirty minutes. Eventually, Vera heard the whine of a door and was presently pushed into a room. A nicer guard caught her and led her to a chair.
It was a tad awkward to sit with her hands behind her back. She had to sit straight, but it made her feel like a captured princess. She smirked at that thought.
Who are you? She inquired.
The man coughed, Your personal sentry, Confessor. I'm here to make sure you don't escape. It's a very lonely job, most prisoners won't talk to me. So, why don't you do some other job? You couldn't possibly do the same thing for fifty years. No, but I can on punishment for thirty-eight. Punishment?

Yes, I...well, it's not important. Let's just say Lord Rahl was in a bad mood. So now, I can only talk to you. Don't you ever go up? For food, for family? Never. I eat what and when the prisoners eat. Vera shifted, Doesn't your wife miss you?

I never married. My parents are dead too; one of those raids. I'm surprised his Lordship didn't just kill me. Well, I guess Darken Rahl wasn't in that bad of a mood. How long have you been down here? Darken Rahl? No one in D'Hara calls him that. He rather dislikes it.

Oh....Are you gonna answer my question? Fourteen years. Nine years after Brennidon. Brennidon? Don't you know? Twenty three years ago, Lord Rahl ordered the assassination of all first born sons in Brennidon. Why'd he do that?

She heard him stiffen, like he was staring at her. The prophecy? Of a new Seeker, one that would be the death of Lord Rahl. The prophet told Lord Rahl with his dying breath that a Seeker would be born in Brennidon. But apparently, the Chancellor has failed him. One boy was saved; the one who mattered. He's the one leading all the raids; giving the common folk courage. That was a mouthful. Do we even know if it's the true Seeker? Maybe some boy decided to lead the revolts. Lord Rahl's methods aren't very agreeable to most people... She was cut off by the guard covering her mouth. Don't say things like that! He'll kill you without a second thought, and then I'll be all alone again. Vera turned her head to him, attempting to see through the cloth. He released her slowly, stepping back. Let's talk about something else, He proposed.
What's your name? I'm Jeremy Haldir, thirty one. And you? Vera Ohlmlo. I'm twenty three, from Tanimura. That's far away. Were you alone? Yes, I used to travel, not really having a home to go to. My parents died when I was twelve and I didn't particularly know anybody else. So, I took what money my parents had left and set out to another city looking for odd jobs. That sounds worse than mine. Almost worse than Lord Rahl. He at least had a home and people to take care of him. Rahl? What happened to him? You really don't know? Jeremy's voice hinted disbelief. Vera shook her head in response, enthralled.

Lord Rahl was a child. His father was Panis, a very cruel ruler for D'Hara. A wizard of the First Order fled to the Westlands and set the Boundary. With a last effort, he sent Wizard's Fire over the Boundary, killing Panis. Lord Rahl was also affected, the flames scarring one side of him. Vera looked toward his voice, the closest she could get to staring. Being born in the Old World, she'd not heard this story before. And most people wouldn't be brave enough to tell it.
Jeremy, why exactly is Rahl attempting to take over all three territories? Tentatively said.

Hmm...Well, there are many different theories. I think he feels that the other territories are in poverty because there is no one ruler. So many of the kings and lords do not meet regularly to meet. Most go to war with each other too. Lord Rahl wishes to bring unity to the territories, and thereby peace... Jeremy paused as footsteps echoed through the halls. The clanking of chains told Vera that he had snapped to attention. The door slammed open and she heard several people storm in, about nine or ten. Extra rattling announced that most were guards. She also heard the swishing of fine silks. Someone important was here.