Chapter 3
"Zedd!" Richard called to his grandfather as he rushed through the hall of the inn.
"What is it my boy? Shouldn't you be with your new bride this morning?"
"I don't know where she is, Zedd. I don't understand it…all of her clothes are still in our room but Kahlan isn't. She's missing.
Zedd furrowed his brow, perplexed by what Richard told him. "That's strange; all of her clothes are still here? She couldn't have gone too far I would think. Did you hear anything?"
"Nothing. I can't imagine she could get up out of bed without my knowing. And she wouldn't just leave without telling me, without saying anything. Something's happened to her Zedd."
"Hold on my boy" his grandfather replied. "Let's keep our wits about us and have a look."
Having searched the inn and the nearby grounds, Richard went to search the outlying woods, looking for any trace of what may have happened to her. He'd already found several petals from her wedding bouquet; one outside the inn and two others in the underbrush of the woods. He wondered why she would have taken the flowers, yet not taken time to dress. He tried to calm his pounding heart, knowing that whatever had happened was to no good end.
Zedd had borrowed a horse from Martha to return to the town of Marley Glenn. Since that was the last place they had all been he thought it made sense to ask questions there. With the aid of the horse, he reasoned he would make it there and back by the following day.
Richard stayed in Holly Meade searching long into the night. Any tracks left behind seemed to disappear at the place where he found the last flower petal. He returned to that spot now to search yet again. Something he hadn't seen before caught his eye, fluttering with the gentle breeze. He went to a nearby tree and lifted the small piece of fabric caught in its bark. It was light and translucent, like gossamer. Angry with himself for missing it before, he wondered what else he might have overlooked.
He leaned his back against the tree and slid down to the ground, sitting in the dirt. He rubbed the delicate cloth between his fingers and rested his head back against the tree. He was exhausted. He'd been up with the sun in search of Kahlan and the sun would soon be up again. He couldn't believe this was happening. They were finally together, married, and now she was gone. All he wanted was to have his wife back, safe in his arms.
His mind drifted to the night before. Their wedding night. She had looked so beautiful; so happy. He replayed the events of that night in his mind; the feel of her soft curves under his hands, the warmth of her body against his; her thick mass of hair surrounding him when she lay over him. He remembered their unbridled passion as they made love long into the night. Richard thumped his head against the tree. He desperately needed to find her and losing himself in these thoughts wasn't helping. He couldn't linger on these memories if he wanted any chance of finding her.
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Kahlan's mind was finally clearing. She felt as if she were coming out of a fog, like she was nearing the surface of a lake having too long been under water. She knew what magic felt like and knew she had been touched by it. She had been under a spell, a powerful spell that had kept her in a dreamlike state. Even now it was hard for her to determine what was real and what had been a dream. She gave herself a mental shake. She saw her wedding flowers lying on a table. She felt a wave of relief; that had been real. She and Richard were married.
She cast her eyes about the room she was in. It was cold and stark. The only light filtered in from small windows high above her. Aside from the bed she had just been resting on and the small table with her flowers, it was devoid of furnishings. Looking down at herself she saw she was barefoot and wore a translucent dress of the sheerest fabric. She may as well be wearing nothing at all she thought. She vaguely remembered the three women who brought her here. With the windows being so high above her, Kahlan had only one option; she opened the door to the room and stepped through. She was immediately surrounded by veins of green light as they arced within the doorway, thin splinters of green, spreading out like cracks in ice. She crumpled to the ground in pain. Gasping for breath she dragged herself on hands and knees back inside the safety of the room.
Moments later, one of the women who had brought her there entered her room, walking into the arcs of light, passing through completely untouched by pain. She looked down at Kahlan who lied panting on the floor. She spoke sincerely, "You would be wise not to do that again Mother Confessor. You will hurt the baby."
Kahlan looked up at her with confusion, trying to calm her breathing. "What are you talking about? What baby?"
"Your baby, Kahlan Amnell."
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