Chapter 3

The three slipped silently through the Keep, rushing with a quiet urgency that betrayed their fear. In these darkened halls, the lanterns on the wall cast shadows that moved along side like eerie companions. They were anxious to find the ancient books of prophecy, but Kahlan had something else weighing on her mind as well. She slipped a hand into Richard's and stopped, pulling him back so she could talk to him privately. Zedd continued on his way, leaving them alone.

"Richard, I really think we should consider the prisoner—"

"No, Kahlan." He knew where she was going with this and he didn't like it. "You're just upset over this thing with Shota."

She couldn't help but be adamant, "This thing with Shota could be our undoing…how is she ever to learn if she never experiences it?" Kahlan was trying, yet again, to convince her husband of the importance of Taralynn exercising her Confessor powers. "There's a prisoner in the pit right now, sentenced to Confession. That's rare these days."

He stubbornly shook his head, "She's too young Kahlan."

She knew his feelings on the matter, he was steadfastly against it. Still, she pushed him. "She needs to be able to protect herself –"

"We will protect her!" Richard closed his eyes and rubbed his brow, getting a grip on his emotions. He hadn't intended his words to come out so strong.

Even against his fierce tone Kahlan remained calm, her life of duty having taught her to be more diplomatic. "We can't always be there to watch out for her." She knew her husband was more emotional about such matters, his sheltered upbringing in Westland being far different from that of a Confessor.

His voice was softer now, almost pleading, "She's not ready, Kahlan."

She didn't need to be a Confessor to see there was something more to his resistance than he was telling her. "She turned twelve nearly three months ago and has yet to take her first confession. I had far surpassed her by that age."

Richard bristled with the thought. He knew what happened to a confessed man: He fell completely and hopelessly in love with his mistress, desiring her every waking moment for the rest of his life. He didn't like knowing there were men out there harboring those feelings for his wife. Having them hold those feelings towards his daughter was unimaginable.

Kahlan's voice broke through his thoughts, "It's been a long time since we've had a prisoner sentenced to confession…it's the perfect opportunity."

Richard felt deflated, sensing he was fighting a losing battle. He knew Kahlan knew better than he in these situations, but his heart couldn't accept it. Her face was a blur through the tears pricking his eyes. He didn't like going against her and he called on every ounce of strength he had to stay resolute, his voice nearly a lost whisper in the darkened halls, "I won't have some monster longing for my daughter."

Now she understood. How could she not have seen? Richard was the first man in nearly three thousand years to be able to be with a Confessor and still retain his right mind: His unequivocal love for her protected him. He was not just some mate that would go along with whatever his Mistress desired, but a loving husband and father. Kahlan knew that of course, but she'd neglected to realize the emotional toll it would take on him. Naturally he didn't want this for his little girl. She reached a hand up to gently brush the hair back from his face, "I'm sorry, Richard. I hadn't thought about it that way." He relaxed just a little, relieved she understood. Kahlan's eyes fell to the ground. "You know I'd taken dozen's of confessions by her age" she said softly.

What Kahlan had been forced to do made Richard's heart ache. He took her hands up in his. "I know" he said gently, pressing soft kisses to her fingers. He stooped a bit so he could look into her downcast eyes, "I hate the idea of that too." He tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear and lifted her chin, forcing her to meet his gaze. "The world was a much different place then" he said quietly and wrapped his arms around her. Holding her close, he breathed her in, his face in her hair. "I don't like knowing there are still men out there who feel that way about you."

Kahlan hugged him back savoring the strength of his warm embrace. "There's only one man who feels that way for me of his own free will. That's all I care about." She kissed him softly, knowing she needed to exercise patience. He was a doting father and Taralynn his cherished daughter…But sooner or later, he would need to understand she was also a Confessor.

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Leon had taken Jasper for a run, testing his newly healed leg, ensuring it would hold up to a full gallop before returning him back to Lord Calvrick. The last thing he needed was to have his Master injured from a fall on one of the horses under his care. He'd ridden him hard over the dusty plains and had been pleased with Jasper's performance. Slipping from the saddle, he led the horse to small stream for a quick drink before heading home.

Leon stooped beside the horse to scoop a few handfuls of water from himself. Noticing an insistent hum of bees made him wonder if he'd happened to near a hive and he thought it best to move on.

He reached a hand for the pommel to pull himself back onto Jasper and suddenly shrieked back in terror. A black beast, something of a shadow, flew just above him.

Reaching a hand to grip the pommel of the saddle, Leon shrieked. A black beast, something of a shadow, swooped just above him. Recoiling in fear, Leon barely had a chance to see the huge veined wings beating against its chest before the creature descended upon him in a mist of black death, consuming man and horse in the blink of an eye.

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"Giiirls!" Cara stormed down the halls of the palace, hands fisted at her sides as her eyes scanned for her missing charges. She was in no mood for their mischief. She didn't know what made her more angry – that she had been left to guard children while Lord Rahl and the Mother Confessor went off to the Keep – or that the little hellions had somehow slipped away from her. She had stood watch at the gate while they played within the garden walls, yet somehow, they had managed to escape her watchful eye. Cara bellowed down the cavernous halls, "You two better run for your father because you won't like it if I find you first!" Fuming, the Mord-Sith made her way toward the children's rooms, muttering under her breath how they had better be there, angry at being duped by two little girls.

"Come on, Mia! Keep up or I'm sending you back!" Taralynn anxiously made her way down the steep, dark stairs. Dampness seemed to close in on her as she made her way through the narrow passage.

Though she was frightened, Mia didn't want to be left behind. She adored her big sister and if she was going down there, then she was too. She kept her eyes fixed on the bright white of her sister's dress and made herself hurry. They weren't ever allowed in the dungeon. They would be in big trouble if anyone found out. And even more trouble for threatening the guard. Taralynn had actually told him she would confess him right then and there if he didn't allow them to pass. Mia thought for sure he would tell but Taralynn's prank had been very convincing, "I can confess you now or tomorrow. Keep quiet to keep your soul." She hadn't really expected it to work…she'd never confessed anyone in her life. She was just pretending for someday, when she was Mother Confessor. But the man's face turned white as her dress and he let them pass.

Mia lost sight of her again and called out, "Where are you?"

"Shh! He might hear you." Taralynn stopped, waiting for her sister to catch up.

"Who?" Mia asked when she finally reached her.

Taralynn huffed, annoyed that she had to explain everything. "The prisoner, silly. Who else do you think is down in a dungeon?"

Mia's eyes grew wide. "You mean there's actually someone down here? I thought the dungeon was empty."

Taralynn set off again to investigate. "It usually is. But I happen to know that there's a man here now. Come on."

Neither actually wanted to see the prisoner…it was scary enough to know he was down here. Maybe if they could just a catch a glimpse from a distance…

Mia quietly slipped down one of the passageways that offered a bit more light. She wasn't as brave as Taralynn going into the darkest corners of the dungeon.

Taralynn was disappointed, yet somewhat relieved at finding only empty cell upon empty cell. She wasn't sure what she would have done had she actually happened upon the prisoner. Having at last satisfied her curiosity, she headed back to the stairs leading out. Thankfully they were easy enough to find with a lone torch blazing just above them. Just as she was about to call for her sister, she heard little Mia's scream fill the air. Heart in her throat, Taralynn was suddenly racing through the corridors toward her sister's strangled cries for help.

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