It was a dead end. The D'naran soldiers, with their black and red chest plates, were about to surround him and there was nothing he could do to stop them. He had left the Sword of Truth with Zedd, while he went to town for supplies. A sword like his could cause a riot. Now as the soldiers were closing in he realised how naked he felt without it. He hadn't known that the town of Aldridge was under the control of the D'haran's. Richard was glad Kahlan had stayed behind with Zedd, the last thing he wanted was for her to get hurt, he loved her. Even the thought of harm coming to her made anger boil into his heart. He needed to push those thoughts away from his mind, for now, the soldiers were moving closer and Richard was running out of options. He was going to have to fight. He knew he couldn't take all fifty of them, but he had to try. As the first soldier leaps for him Richard side steps and before the D'naran has time to recover, slams his head against the ground. He could have done worst.

And with that first move a full launch assault upon Richard begins. Left and right soldiers pour in. Somehow in the chaos of it all Richard gets his hand on a sword. Richard cuts down the owner and tries to cut and hack a path out of the hordes of the clumsy soldiers.

Suddenly everyone stops and laughs as Richard crumples to the ground, paralyzed with pain. Has Richard's vision begins to clear he realises what has just happened. Why the soldiers were being so clumsy. They didn't want to hurt him. That was the Mord-Sith's job

There were ten of them; all of them covered neck to toes in tailor red leather. Each had an Agiel in hand, the agiel's appeared to be nothing red leather rods, but Richard knew from past experiences they were instruments of massive power. Painful, terrible power, one touch felt like a lightning bolt ripping right thru your body. If used right, a single touch could kill you.

"Hello Seeker" said a Mord-Sith. She had auburn hair tied in a single plait, like all the other Mord-Sith, but still she was different. She spoke for the others, she was the leader…..She was trouble.

"Lord Rahl will be pleased when he sees what we have for him. You came as a surprise to us. We were just passing thru when we saw the soldiers chasing you. Now seeker how about you tell us where the first wizard and the Mother Confessor are? Huh?" She sneered

"Do what you want with me…..but you won't lay a finger on Zedd or Kahlan…." Richard said thru the lasting effects of the Agiel.

"Oh I intend to get what I want from you" said the Mord-Sith as she pressed the Agiel between Richard's shoulder blades.

Richard let out a scream, he couldn't stop it, he didn't want to let them how much it hurt but the pain was overwhelming. Everything was going dark as Richard slip into unconsciousness

It was early morning when Richard regains consciousness. Pain rippled thru his body.

As he tried to move his arms he found them to be shackled behind his back. Panic set in as he remembers what was going on and why. He forces himself to calm down, panicking would produce nothing. He takes in his surroundings. He's in a large metal cage, which appeared to be in a wagon, the door was directly in front of him. Locked with the largest padlock he had ever seen. Richard needed to work out a plan, he needed to get back to Kahlan; he didn't know what he would do without her, he loved her.

Shouting came from behind him.

"You"

"Yes mistress?"

"Go check on the Seeker, if he isn't awake by now then wake him. It's time we had a talk."

That was the deciding factor; Richard was going to play stupid and compliant. Crawling in to a ball the best he could with his hands shackled the way they were; pretended to be asleep.

The metal door of his cage strained with the effect of being pulled open. Richard was bigger than most men, but the man that entered his cage was unlike any man he had seen before: huge with a whole army supply of weapons strapped to his back and yet by the markings on his arm appeared to be nothing more than a message runner. He grabbed Richard by the collar of his light blue button shirt, breaking three buttons. Drags him out the door and throws him to the ground, although it was only a three foot drop it was still enough to knock the wind from Richard's lungs.

"Get up" said a voice from above him, it was still fairly dark but Richard could clearly make out the red leather of her outfit.

Richard tried to stand; but without his hands found it impossible.

She kicked Richard in the gut; he could feel his anger build up as the soldiers pull him to his feet.

"Next time you're told to do something you'll do it! You understand?"

Richard remained silence. She struck him across the face.

"Speak! If I have to tell you again I will use my agiel" She said raising one eyebrow above the other "And I know you don't what that. Now do you understand?"

"Yes" Richard swallowed

The agiel may contact with his face, like a lightning bolt, going down to his knees; his body burning with the pain of what she was doing to him but he knew she was holding back.

"You know the correct way to address a Mord-Sith" she sneered "Now…. GET UP"

Richard got up from his knees before he could recover properly.

"Well…" said the Mord-Sith

"…..Yes….Mistress" Richard said struggling to stay up right.

Laughter broke out amongst the Mord-Sith, it soon spread to the soldiers, leaving just Richard standing their trying to remain conscious. The head Mord-Sith stopped, followed by everyone else almost immediacy after. The head Mord-Sith turned her back on Richard and address another Mord-Sith and soldier.

"Sister Bethany, General Irwin. It's a three day journey to Lord Rahl's palace. However it's only a one day journey to the nearest town and we need some new recruits. When we get there I want your soldiers to grab seven girls for me and you can take several young men; Lord Rahl can never have too many slaves.

"Yes Mistress Constance" General Irwin and Bethany said together.

Constance turned back to Richard and with a smile said "You wouldn't have any objects about our little plan, would you? huh?"

Of course Richard had objections but for the time being voicing them would only cause unnecessary pain. And with every touch of the agiel Richard was becoming more and more hesitant to do anything that would cause her to use it.

"No….Mistress" Richard said thru gritted teeth

"Very well" Constance smiled back "Tie him to the wagon. It's time we headed off"

And with that people began moving. For a moment Richard appeared to be forgotten until Bethany grabbed Richard by the collar causing him to bend forward, she pulled him to the first of five wagons. Where she tied one end of a rope around his neck and then tied the other end to metal handle of the driver's seat. While all this was all happening Constance watched from her dappled mare, she seemed to be extremely pleased by the way events were unfolding.

Richard was standing there for well over an hour before everyone was ready to leave. The journey hadn't even begun and he already had sweat pouring down his back. They walked for five hours before they stop for a break and some water; Richard was given nothing. It was another three hours before they came to the outskirts of a town. Nightfall was an hour away, so Constance had them set up camp.

By night time everyone was sitting by a fire talking, eating and drinking. Richard however was still tied to the wagon. Unable to sit or move more than two feet all Richard could do was stand. He hadn't eaten or drunken anything since yesterday afternoon. He could feel his hunger gnawing at his stomach; his thirst was making his throat feel like sand paper whenever he swallowed. After sometime Constance got up and walked over with a small cup of water. She held it up to his mouth to allow Richard to drink. For Richard it was the best water he had ever tasted, but it wasn't enough and soon the cup was empty. When she was sure Richard was done she spoke.

"Tomorrow we will be going into town to collect the children" She said eyeing him up, checking for signs of weakness, signs of breaking. "And I expect your full co-operation"

"And why would you be expecting that mistress"

That was the moment that Richard truly began to fear her. The look in her eye, the smile that came across her face when Richard had spoken, was enough to stagger him.

"Oh I was hoping you would say that" her grin became wider "If I do not feel that I do not have your complete co-operation. I will first have my soldiers kill all the men, rape and then kill all the women and then once they are out of the way, I'll send my Mord-Sith in to work on the children. All the while you will be made to watch. And once they are all dead it'll be your turn, only you won't be lucky enough to die. So are you going to co-operate?"

All Richard could do was nod.

"Very good" Constance grinned. "Have a good night"