Disclaimer

I do not own the legend of the seeker nor any of the characters in the tv series. I do although own the character Matthew.

Kahlan walked out the door gingerly with Zed on her arm, to see Richard waiting for them. He has been back for a while, but didn't want Matthew to know that he was there. There was a small window next to the door, of which he was way out of view.

"Kahlan, What's going on?" Richard asked, quite puzzled about why he was called there.

"Shota." she said briefly. There were gasps from the two men next to her. Shota was a witch. A very insane one at that. She tricked Zed into naming a new seeker when Richard was training to be a wizard at the Palace of the prophets. As well as other things when he was a younger wizard."Shota! Are you sure?" asked Zeddicus, who looked like he was going to faint.

"positive," Kahlan replied in reassurance, a reassurance that neither of them wanted. "I have an informant meet me at Trunt Lake once a month, and they told me that Shota has gone insane."

"More insane than she was before?" Zeddicus asked with a smile on his face, trying to ease the tension around the three of them.

"Exactly," replied Kahlan, obviously the small joke wasn't enough to take the seriousness way from the situation. "She has built an army of followers, and is intending to use them to destroy the Midlands, and when they're done, the Westland."

"Then what are we to do?" asked Richard, who had a gift for asking good questions. "I'm too old to be the seeker, and Zed took the sword after we defeated the keeper 20 years ago."

"Then we must name a new seeker." said Zeddicus, suddenly serious.

"Yes, but who will be the seeker?" asked Kahlan, who knew the topic would come up sooner or later. Richard moved towards the window on the left side of the house. He looked in to see Matthew preparing his bed so that Zeddicus could stay the night. "He's a good kid," said Zed with sincerity in his voice. "But he's not ready."

"No, he is ready, I've been watching him for years, as you did me, Zed. He reminds me of myself when I was his age." said Richard, defending his son.

"Richard, are you sure you want to do this?" asked Kahlan, her beautiful blue eyes glistening in the sunlight.

"Yes, I'm sure, but there's one thing I want to test first." said richard making his way to the door.

He opened the door swiftly and walked through to his bed. underneath it was a locked chest. It was an ancient chest made of cowhide with iron latches and hinges. he took the key that he kept around his neck at all times and he unlocked the lock on the chest. Matthew walked over to Richard and said "Father, when did you get home? What is happening?"

"Go and sit down Matthew," he said, opening the chest. "You will find out in a minute." inside the old chest there was a small brown book made of leather. Richard picked it up and waked it over to Matthew. He opened up the book and said "This is the book of Counted Shadows. Only a true seeker can read the book. I want you to try." He handed the book to Matthew, who looked very confused.

"What! Why are you giving me the book father? I'm not the seeker, you are!" protested Matthew.

"Just open the book and do as I say!" growled Richard, who was starting to get angry.

Matthew opened up the book slowly and carefully, trying not to rip the binding, and read aloud, "The truth of the Book of Counted Shadows that can only be verified by a confessor."

Richard looked up at Khalan who was smillng with her lips pursed, her special smile. Richard, Zeddicus and Khalan have found the new Seeker of truth.