The Bard's Tales: The Blessed Sun

Chapter 2

Disclaimer: All characters except Richard, Kahlan and Zedd are mine. The castle is Escher's.

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Flynn hadn't been joking about the staircases. By the time they got to their rooms, after the fourth flight up, even Richard was winded. Daffyd had given up two flights before, sitting down in a chair in an alcove off the staircase that Richard was certain had been put there for that very purpose.

Flynn, however, didn't even stop talking, though at least he'd stopped to breathe now and then after the third flight. He'd given Kahlan a thorough run-down of what he'd been doing in the nine years since he'd seen her last. Not just thorough, Richard thought, minute-by-minute.

Richard gathered from the conversation that they had met at Thandor, though he wasn't clear why Flynn had been there. Something about his father wanting him to get a broad education. I bet it had more to do with wanting somebody else to do the educating, Richard thought, amused. Apparently, Flynn had been friends with Dennee, who was his age. They had bonded over the recent losses of their mothers.

Richard also came to realize as they climbed that Flynn had had a crush on Kahlan. A big one. One that didn't seem to have abated, judging from his attentiveness.

Once they reached their rooms (a surprisingly open and airy set of two rooms opening off a corner room with large windows), Flynn had gone off to find his fiancée.

After he left the room, Kahlan collapsed onto a window seat, leaning her head back against the cold stone and closing her eyes. "Spirits," she whispered. "I'd forgotten how exhausting that boy can be."

"Boy?" Richard said in mock offense. "He's what—twenty-three?"

"About that," Kahlan said, frowning slightly as she calculated mentally.

"I see," Richard said, waiting for her to make the connection.

Her eyes flew open. "I didn't mean--!" she started, then broke off as she saw Richard's grin. "He was much shorter the last time I saw him. And he's a very young twenty-three," she said with dignity.

"And I'm what?"

"Old beyond your years," Zedd said, making himself comfortable in a large chair piled high with pillows. "But unlikely to get much older if you keep this up."

"Thank you, Zedd," Kahlan said dryly.

There was a knock at the door, and Kahlan looked trapped. The Lord Chamberlain came in when Richard opened the door, and immediately launched into his grand speech. "My dear Mother Confessor..."

Kahlan found herself almost wishing Flynn would come back after ten minutes of Daffyd's effusion of gratitude and honor and thanks.

Richard was vastly amused by this as well. He was getting used to people fawning over the Seeker, disconcerting though it was, but he didn't think Kahlan would ever really be comfortable being the center of attention like that.

Finally, the Lord Chamberlain left with a promise that their things would be brought to the room, and with an invitation to dine with the Queen Mother, the Queen and the King that evening.

As soon as he left, Richard turned back to Kahlan. "So, you and Flynn were…?" he prompted.

Kahlan looked at him warningly. "Friends, Richard. We were friends."

"Ahhh," he said, nodding. "Friends. Of course. Friends." The corners of his mouth twitched.

"Richard…" Kahlan said quietly, her eyes narrowing.

He couldn't hold it in any longer, breaking into a broad grin. "C'mon, Kahlan, you have to admit it's funny. I mean, he's…" Richard put his hands in the air, unable to find words.

"Flynn is one of the kindest young men I've ever met," Kahlan said emphatically. "He helped my sister and me a great deal at a time when we needed all the help we could get."

"And he thinks you walk on water," Richard said.

Kahlan blushed and looked down at the floor. "It's not funny," she said. "He's getting married! What will his wife-to-be think if he's making googly eyes at me over dinner?"

"You'll just have to let him down easy, Kahlan," Richard said, still unable to suppress his smile.

"You think I haven't tried?" Kahlan exploded. "I must have told him a dozen times that I felt nothing for him, that I couldn't be with him. I even got one of the Sisters of Light to talk to him, but he's just so…so…persistent!"

"Not unlike someone else in this room," Zedd said from the depths of the chair.

Richard looked sourly at the wizard. He looked back at Kahlan and smiled crookedly at her. "Besides," he said, "who wouldn't be persistent when the prize is you?"

And all at once, the irritation Kahlan had been feeling melted away. Oh, you are good, she thought, trying not to let Richard off the hook and failing utterly. A few moments later, Zedd cleared his throat and Kahlan jumped, looking over at him.

"Are you two going to stand there staring at each other forever?" he said gruffly, but he was smiling.

"Do you have a problem with that, Zedd?" Richard said, not taking his eyes off Kahlan. "I can think of worse ways to spend eternity."

"Stop it, Richard," Kahlan said, embarrassed by his attention, but her voice didn't hold much conviction.

There was another knock at the door, and Flynn burst in, dragging a petite young woman behind him. "Kahlan!" Flynn said, "I found her! This is Adeline."

Adeline was smiling indulgently at him, then looked up at them and nodded. "I'm sorry I couldn't meet you when you arrived," she said in a pleasant alto voice. Her hair was a deep auburn, and there was a sparkle in her brown eyes that suggested a keen intelligence. "The preparations for the wedding and the coronation are incredibly time-consuming. When you got here, I was being told how important the choice of napkin rings is for a state dinner."

"Napkin rings?" Richard said, unable to tell if she was serious.

Adeline nodded. "'The rulers of Eridor have a long history of attending to the fine points of protocol. No matter is too small for the Queen to be involved,'" she said, clearly quoting someone. Kahlan suspected she knew who. "I'm eternally grateful you gave me an excuse to put that momentous decision off a bit longer," Adeline continued, and she stepped forward and shook Kahlan's hand. "It's an honor to meet you, Mother Confessor."

"Call me Kahlan," she said, returning Adeline's smile. "And I'm honored to be a part of the ceremony." She looked fondly at Flynn. "I'm sure you two will be very happy together. You're a lucky girl," she added.

"Believe me, I know," Adeline said, and it was clear to Kahlan that the young queen was very much in love with her old friend, who was blushing and ducking his head. I'm going to have to make sure he knows my feelings, Kahlan thought, dreading that conversation, and Adeline's next words reinforced that feeling. "Flynn has told me so much about you, I feel I know you already. Your being here is far more important to both of us than simply filling a role in a ceremony."

"Thank you," Kahlan said, avoiding Flynn's eyes, and as a result, failing to notice that he wasn't looking at her--he was looking at Adeline.

"It's an honor to meet the Seeker, as well," Adeline said, turning to Richard. "The Midlands owe you a great debt."

Richard took her hand. "I haven't done much yet," he said, surprised to find he was blushing almost as much as Flynn had.

Adeline looked steadily at him. "Just your existence has helped, Seeker. And you've done more than you realize. Look out that window," she said. "That's D'Hara. We've lived under the threat of Darken Rahl for years. We may be protected from his immediate attack, but each day he took over more of the Midlands was a day we knew our safety was being whittled away. You've changed that, and for that I am very grateful." She saw her words were embarrassing Richard, so she turned to Zedd next. "My father spoke very highly of the great wizard Zeddicus Z'ul Zorander. I wish he'd lived long enough to see you again."

"Your father was a great man," Zedd said, bowing deeply. "I was so sorry to hear of his untimely death."

"He would have loved to be here for all this," Adeline said sadly, then smiled at Zedd. "Especially having dinner with you. He always talked about how much you appreciated a good meal." Richard stifled a laugh.

"A great man," Zedd repeated, giving Richard a baleful look. "And very wise. Never neglect the simple pleasures, Seeker."

Adeline smiled, then looked around at them gravely. "I hope my napkin rings will meet your approval." This time, Richard was certain she was joking. She's going to be fun, he thought. "So, now that the introductions are over, I'm sure you're all famished." She smiled conspiratorially. "What say we go down to the kitchens and find something to eat?"

Richard glanced over at Kahlan, surprised. After the way the conversation had been headed, he'd been expecting a constant stream of formality.

Kahlan smiled back at him, equally impressed by this young woman. Maybe this won't be so bad after all, she thought.

"I told you you'd like her," Flynn said, catching the look.