Chapter 1:

Since the disappearance of Denna and the deaths of several of his most valuable Mord-Siths, Lord Darken Rahl had been searching the three territories for new group of young girls to break. The Seeker was getting closer and closer to him with each passing day. Although Rahl had no doubt that the People's Palace could keep the Seeker away, Rahl was not about to be confined to his palace and live in fear for the rest of his life. The more Mord-Siths he was able to create, the more he could fling at the Seeker and his annoying friends.

"Lord Raul," Agramon called from the entrance to Raul's private ceremonial room.

Raul turned to his general, "Yes Agramon?"

"Your troops have sent word. They will be arriving within the week. They have captured eight young girls and their families."

Raul let a slight grin cross his face. Reaching for his floor-length robe, he headed towards Agramon. "We had best get ready for their arrival."

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The screams and cries of eight young girls flooded the halls as the garrison reached the entrance to the People's Palace. Rahl met them at the gates to allow them to pass through the first of many magical barriers.

The girls were forced to stand side by side in front of Lord Rahl. Each had a look of terror on her face accompanied by the tear stains that had accumulated since they had been captured.

Rahl walked from girl to girl, looking them over, making sure they were the proper age, build and temperament to become a Mord-Sith. As he walked down the line, Rahl noticed something strange about the girl standing at the end. She was not really a girl. More of a young woman. Far too old to be properly broken.

Rahl turned to one of the members of the garrison, "What is this one doing here?"

"She was sold to us my Lord," the man replied, "Her father was killed by the resistance and her mother killed herself soon after. A merchant had been watching her but sold her at the first chance he had. We figured she might be of some use to you." The man finished with a grin.

Rahl turned his gaze back to the young woman for a moment, "You had allowed a stranger into my palace who cannot be tuned into a Mord-Sith. For all we know, she is working for the resistance."

The man stuttered, trying to explain himself, "My… my Lord… I am so sorry…"

Raul smiled and walked towards the man. He glanced quickly at the girls, who where still standing in line with their heads slightly bowed. Their looks of terror had intensified. The man fell to his knees when Rahl reached him. Raul pulled out the long dagger he kept at his waist.

"Ladies, at least the seven of you, this is your first lesson. Orders are to be followed exactly. No exceptions." Rahl plunged the dagger into the throat of the guard. The blood spilled from his neck and onto blade and hilt of the dagger then dripped slowly to the ground in front of Rahl. Agramon handed Rahl a cloth. Rahl took it, pulled the dagger form the man's neck and wiped the blade clean.

"The rest of you, take the girls to their chambers and put their families in the dungeon. As for this one," Rahl walked back to the young woman. Although her face was stained with tears, the look on her face was not one of terror. Rahl knew the tears were forced. He lifted her chin so her eyes met his, "Take her to my chambers. Make sure she is well tied. I don't want her getting loose until I know what we are dealing with."

"Yes my Lord," Agramon said with a slight bow. He then motioned for the garrison to follow him with the girls and their families. Rahl stepped back from the young woman and let her pass with one of the guards. Something about her was intriguing. If her father had been killed by the resistance, maybe she could be of some use to him.

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"How many girls did they take?" Richard asked.

"From here, four. They already had four others," the old man replied, "please find them. They took my son and his family along with my granddaughter."

Richard looked to Kahlin with uneasy feeling. He could only thing of one reason Rahl would be gathering young girls and their families.

"Richard, we can't save them," Kahlin whispered, "Rahl will have them locked away in his palace. The magic barriers surrounding the palace are stronger than anything Zedd could destroy."

Richard sighned. He knew she was right. Attempting to break into the People's Palace was a suicide mission. Jensen was an option but she had already broken in once. Richard was sure Rahl had increased his level of security around the palace to keep her out.

"We have to do something," Richard replied, "We can't let him kill their families or turn those girls into Mord-Siths.

Zedd sighed heavily, "I'm afraid she's right my boy. There is nothing we can do for them."

"What if," Richard began, staring Blankley into the forest behind Kahlin, "What if we could confess one of his close guards. Maybe we could send them into the palace. Or they could bring me to the palace. As if they had captured me. Once inside, I can free the girls and kill Rahl."

Kahlin and Zedd looked at each other with uncertainty. "It will take more planning if it is going to succeed. And we will need to find a way to get to a guard," Zedd replied softly."

"We have to work quickly," Richard replied, "It may not take long for Rahl and his Mord-Siths to turn the girls into his drones. If they are on his side, then we don't stand a chance."