Authors note: Sorry this took so long to get uploaded, my internet crashed. Anyway, I forgot to mension, this is set just after "Princess". Again, please tell me what you think.
Richard cursed, how could he not see that coming? Beside him Kahlan and Cara had already drawn their weapons, and Adelaide was already throwing Renn behind her. The distinct ring of the sword of truth filled the clearing as the D'Harans attacked.
Kahlan fell into the familiar dance as she sliced, kicked and killed her enemies. She saw an advancing D'Haran, he was heading towards Richard! She threw one of her blades, striking the D'Haran square in the chest. Fully concentrating on Richard, she did not see the man jump out beside her and pin her down. "It's over confessor" he yelled, bringing his sword up for the death blow.
"No!" Richard yelled, too far away to stop it. He watched in horror as the blade sunk lower. A flash of black spun into view, blocking his vision.
Seeing Kahlan fall to the floor, the D'Haran on top of her, Adelaide did the first thing she thought of. Spinning out the way of an oncoming blade, she dropped her weapons and grabbed the D'Haran by the neck, pulling him of Kahlan as she went. Letting her powers lose, Adelaide felt the familiar sensation of the silent thunder clap, before she fell into a dead faint.
Jumping to her feet, Kahlan stared at the scene of destruction before her. Amongst the sea of bodies, she noticed a D'Haran on his knees in front of Adelaide, saying the words she thought she would never see not directed at her again."Command me Confessor", the D'Haran pleaded, kneeling by his mistresses' side.
Adelaide stirred, noticing the kneeling D'Haran, she sighed, she'd done it again. Instructing the confessed man to help her to her feet, she surveyed her surroundings. Well, it could have been worse, at least it was only D'Haran scum who were dead, she thought.
With the shock of the confession wearing of, Kahlan suddenly wanted to know everything about this girl. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Cara and Zedd, starring in ore at the girl. Richard filled her vision then, enveloping her in one of his colossal hugs. "Are you ok?" he asked, gently stroking her hair.
Kahlan, relaxing at his touch, whispered back "I'm fine Richard, but only because of Adelaide, that girl has some serious explain to do now."
They both looked over at her, supported by her confessed D'Haran, she looked less harmful than Renn. Kahlan spun, noticing Renn was not in their numbers she began to panic. Smiling at Kahlan's look of sheer panic, Richard calmly pointed to the tree, which Renn was perched in.
Kahlan blushed, a little embarrassed with her overreaction, she strode over to Renn, pulling him out of the tree. "What in the name of the Creator have you been doing? She asked the boy, as she gently put him down.
"I would explain, but I promised Adelaide she could, just let her get rid of the D'Haran first", he replied, wondering what the Mother Confessor would think of this addition to her order.
Ignoring the Confessed D'Haran, Adelaide searched the area until she found her agilee and dagger, putting then back in their holders; she turned to four very expectant faces.
Kahlan spoke first, "Why did you confess that man?"
Adelaide was bemused, of all the questions that they were going to throw at her, she had not thought that as one of them. "Because he was about to kill you and I needed information from him." Adelaide noticed that Kahlan did not seem angry with her, more like she was hearing what she expected to hear.
Pleased with Adelaide's response Kahlan nodded, "Well ask him what you want to know."
Not liking the direct order, Adelaide decided to obey it anyway, turning to the D'Haran she asked, "What is your name and your reason for attacking us?"
"My name is William, mistress, William Skotar. Mistress, please, I'm sorry for attacking you, I never want to hurt you." He stuttered and shivered, reminding Adelaide of the broken men of the Mord'Sith.
Getting more inpatient with every moment of silence, she prompted him, "Who sent you?"
"Rahl, mistress, Darken Rahl. He sent one of his most trusted general in form of a bainling, to tell all the reaming quads to find you and to bring you to him in the underworld. He said that you had betrayed him and that you were no longer on the side of good. He said that you needed to be punished. Forgive me mistress, I should have never attacked you, I realise that now"
This news neither shocked nor worried her. She was used to Rahl trying to scare her, but he never succeeded. Kahlan was confused, this girl knew Rahl? Deciding she better help Adelaide with her confessed. She stepped forward and whispered some advice in Adelaide's ear, "Say you forgive him, he will never be able to live with himself if you don't."
Adelaide grimaced, she really wished he could have a life after this day, but she knew what she had to do. She had to stop Rahl's men coming after her, it was putting Renn in even more danger then he was already in.
Turning to Kahlan, she whispered "I will forgive him, as I know it is right, but I cannot allow him to live. I wish there was another way, but there isn't and I have to protect Renn."
Kahlan looked apologetically at Adelaide, wondering just how much she really knew about confessors. "He won't hurt anyone. He is under confession, he will only hurt someone unless you ask him to or your life is in danger."
Trying not to grimace again, Adelaide explained this little misunderstanding, "I know he won't hurt anyone, but his D'Haran friends will. I need to send him to Rahl to tell him to stop hunting me, or I will destroy his armies one by one. I need to kill him to do that."
"Or you could let him live, you could tell him to go start a new life, make an honest living." Kahlan was shocked at the idea of killing someone just to send a message. "Rahl will still send men after you, no matter how scary you sound."
Adelaide pondered, deep down she knew the Mother Confessor was right, but she still didn't like the idea, and she certainly wasn't used to taking advice. "Ok, fine, you win." She gave in with little annoyance, Kahlan was a cleaver woman. Directing her next words at William, she said, "William, I want you to get far away from here. I want you to find a small town and in this town I want you to find honest work. Once you've done that your life will be the same as many others, if you are unsure what to do, follow their example. Now go, this will make me very happy."
"If that is what you wish mistress." He bowed, turned and left the clearing, never to be seen again.
Adelaide watched him go, glad that it was over, she hated confessing people. She turned to the others and sighed, time to tell her story.
Cara had been setting up camp whilst Kahlan and Bree had been dealing with the confessed soldier. Zedd had burned the remaining bodies and had started a debate with Renn about the pheasant that Bree had caught. Cara looked up to find Richard staring at Kahlan, she rolled her eyes, is that he ever did.
Kahlan and Bree walked over sitting down, Bree turned to Kahlan, "So, what do you want to know?"