Keep the reviews coming, I love them! I don't write much so it's great to know how much you like my story. I like feedback. As I said; the more reviews I get the more I write. So here's the next chapter!

Chapter Four: Touched

Richard and Kahlan are walking through the woods at night. They are looking around as we hear a cooing sound. Kahlan has a big smile as Zedd, Cara, Trinity and Flynn catch up with them. A blue light – a Night Wisp – floats around in front of Kahlan. It is the creature that is making the cooing sound as if flies around. It disappears behind the trunk of a fallen tree. Kahlan begins to sign a beautiful wordless tune. More blue lighted Night Wisps appear; her smile widens when they show themselves to her. The others just stare up at the sight before them. There are now at least fifty Night Wisps around Kahlan.

"People have tried for years to find the forest of the Night Wisps." Cara comments.

"Had you come here on your own, they'd have never shown themselves. They only come out for those they trust." Zedd's statement is loaded as he looks at the back of Cara's head.

Trinity giggles as a Night Wisps flies in front of her face and around her before returning to the others.

"I've come to ask you for your help. A Dreamcaster sent me a message that soon I'd be the last Confessor. I need to know if there are any Confessors still alive. Will you help me find them?" Kahlan asks. They all begin to gather together then start to fly away. "May the Spirits protect you."


A young teenaged girl is reading in her bed. A blue light covers her face as she looks up to see a Night Wisp floating above her. She has a large smile for the Night Wisp as it coos to her. "You're beautiful." She reaches out a finger to the Night Wisp as it flies around her. "Are you trying to tell me something?"

The door opens and the Night Wisp flies away. The girl hides her book under her blanket as a man walks into the room and looks down at her. "Who were you talking to?"

"Myself. Who else do I have to talk to?" The girl asks.

"It's late, get some sleep."

"Father, I'm almost a grown woman. I can't stay here forever." She looks out her window to the star filled sky. "I want to travel to distant lands and fall in love and get married."

"That will never happen Annabelle." She looks from the window to her father whose voice has gone angry. He lets out a sigh and his voice is slightly softer. "You're safe here. That is all that matters."

He walks out of the room, closes the door behind him and you hear it get locked after it is closed. Annabelle sighs as she gets out of bed, walks to the window and looks out. The Night Wisp is flying just outside the window. It flies away; revealing that Annabelle is high up in the sky in a tower.


Kahlan is sitting down as a Night Wisp hovers above her open hand. Kahlan is looking at the creature as it coos to her then flies away.

Richard sits beside her and takes in her shocked face. "What is it?"

"The Night Wisps searched everywhere in the Midlands and beyond for another Confessor. But they only found one." Richard drops his eyes in sadness. "Only one."

Zedd and Flynn sit close by; listening in. "Who is this other Confessor?" Zedd asks.

Cara and Trinity sit off to the side alone.

"It's strange. The Night Wisps didn't know who she was." Kahlan says.

"At least she's still alive." Richard tells her.

"But for how long? She's in a tower in Raawlenwood Castle in Ossridge. It sounds like she's a prisoner. We can be there and back in three days." Kahlan gives him a thankful smile and sits up a bit straighter.

"Ossridge?" Flynn cries in disbelief. He has stood up to confront them. Cara has started to pack her gear and looks at him with disdain while Trinity rolls her eyes. "I've traveled across the Midlands with you people for weeks now because you said you had to get me and this thing on my hand to Pamorah to find your precious Stone of Tears. But instead we're going to Ossridge?"

Kahlan and Richard share a look knowing he's right.

"Perhaps before we see about this Confessor we should get the Stone and rid ourselves of extraneous cargo." Zedd says. He shoots a look to the back of Flynn's head, but Flynn has caught his tone and glances back to him.

"I'll go and meet with you in Pamorah." Kahlan says. She and Richard have both stood up.

"I'll go too." Trinity speaks up.

Kahlan looks at her in surprise. "Why?"

Trinity picks up her bag and walks towards her. "You're really eager to find this Confessor, I can see it in your eyes. If you walk up to someone and say 'hey you're really important and I need you to come with me' with that look in your eye? They'll run screaming the other way. At least with me I can ease them into it and smooth it over."

Richard thinks this over before nodding. "Alright. But you're not going alone. Zedd, you and Cara can go to Pamorah." Cara does not look pleased as she stands up from her pack. "Flynn, you can come with us."

"What?" He says.

"Why?" Cara asks.

"I've been thinking; we know this Rune is a key, but we don't know what it opens or who or what might try to stop us from getting it. You and Cara should find out before we put the Rune or Flynn in harm's way." Richard picks up his pack and slings it over his shoulder. "We'll meet back here in three days."

Richard starts off with Kahlan and Trinity behind him, Flynn coming along grudgingly. Cara shoots a look to Zedd who just sighs as he chews on his food.


Annabelle using is a loom, her Father sits next to her as another woman comes in with some food. She sets it on the table.

"Thank you Tharla." He says.

The woman watches as the Father takes a spoonful of soup and eats it. He gets a shocked look on his face after the second spoonful; he drops the spoon and looks up to Tharla. He tries to stand, lets out a grunt and falls to the floor. Annabelle stops working on the loom and goes to her Father. "Father. Help him!"

"It's just a sleeping potion. I had to set you free Annabelle."

"But–" She starts.

"He'll keep you locked up forever. We must hurry, before his men catch us." Tharla grabs Annabelle by her hand and leads her away.


The next morning, Richard, Kahlan, Trinity, and Flynn are talking to a woman inside the castle.

"You're too late. The servant Tharla poisoned his Lordship. He's dead. She took Annabelle." She says.

"Took her where?" Richard asks.

"I don't know." She shakes her head. "They rode away, taking the fastest horses."

"Annabelle? She's a Confessor?" Kahlan asks.

"How did you know?" The woman looks surprised.

"Was she a prisoner here?" Richard asks.

"She was Lord Callum's daughter. Years ago, Lord Callum was a powerful D'Haran commander. He attacked a neighboring village."

Flashback

Callum is attacking some rebels in the woods.

"But the villages had the Confessor Josephine on their side. She Confessed Lord Callum in battle."

Callum strikes at a man as a woman's hand covered in a white dress reaches out and grabs him by the throat. He turns to face her and sees a blonde woman in a white Confessors dress. Her eyes go black as do Callum's – he's been Confessed. A woman runs out of a castle door.

"He was betrothed to a beautiful duchess, a woman he'd love since childhood."

Present

"But once Callum was Confessed, he thought of no one but Josephine."

Flashback

Callum is standing next to Josephine his hand on her face as they both smile, Josephine looks down to her belly. He puts his hand on her abdomen, her hand covers his.

"She took him as her mate. Soon she was with child."

Josephine is lying in a bed covered in sweat and screaming in pain.

"But the birth was not an easy one."

A baby cries as another woman wraps the child in a blanket. Callum is there by her head stroking her face.

"And when she died, he was released."

Josephine dies as Callum cries; a white light seeps out from her hands and envelopes Callum.

"He suddenly realized everything he had lost when he became Confessed."

He pushes himself away from Josephine quickly and looks down at her with shock. He starts out of the room but stops to give the woman an order. "Feed her to the crows."

Present

"I feared he might kill the child too, he was in such a rage. But Lord Callum could not bring himself to slay his own flesh and blood."

Flashback

The baby is cooing in her blanket as Callum looks down at her. He holds the child; taking her to her crib.

"He swore that no one would ever suffer at his daughter's hands as he did at her mother's."

He sets the baby down in her crib then turns and exits the room.

"He hid her away her whole life in the tallest tower of the castle."

Present

"He never told her of her powers. Her curse, as he called it."

Kahlan is shocked by this news. "We have to find her."

"They can't have gotten far." Richard says.

They nod their heads at the woman and leave the room.


In the woods, Annabelle is there with Tharla and another man. "Where are we going?"

"Someplace safe." Tharla reassures her.

The three of them enter a cave. Tharla has Annabelle by an arm and is leading her inside. More men are inside the cave waiting for them; this makes Annabelle even more nervous. "Why are we here?"

An older man walks forward and gets their attention. "I see you've brought the girl."

"A hundred gold pieces was our agreement." Tharla says.

Annabelle looks from the old man to Tharla. "What agreement?" The man that was with Annabelle and Tharla grabs Annabelle by her hands and ties them together behind her back. "What are you doing?"

"I need proof that she is what you say she is." The old man says.

"She doesn't know what she is. She's never used her powers." Tharla tells him.

"What powers?" Annabelle asks confused.

"A demonstration won't be necessary." He says. He walks over to a bag of some sort and opens it. Inside is a large red crystal-like object that sits on a pedestal.

"I don't have any powers." Annabelle tells them. The man that was with Annabelle and Tharla pushes Annabelle closer to the crystal. It begins to glow a purple-blue color as a mist comes from the center of Annabelle's chest and flows into the crystal. Annabelle begins to look weak and tired. "What are you doing to me?" The crystal continues to glow. Under the bottom point of the crystal is a small bowl, some sort of liquid falls off the crystal and into the bowl glowing purple. The more mist that is drained out of Annabelle the more drops fall into the bowl.

"All right, that's enough. No more until you pay. Or he kills the girl." Tharla says.

The man holding Annabelle pulls out a knife and puts it to her throat. One of the guards with the other man pulls out a sword but the older man stops him.

"No, no. I have enough to see if it's genuine." He removes the bowl from under the crystal and pulls out a small knife. He runs the blade along his finger and puts a few drops of his blood into the bowl. The purple glowing mist rises up out of the bowl. He adds a green liquid to the bowl then dips the quill of a pin into it. He walks over to Annabelle who is panting in fear holding the quill high. He stabs the quill into the man standing next to her. The man lets out a grunt as his eyes go black with Confession.

"Master, how can I serve you?" He says.

He points the feather part of the quill at Tharla. "Kill…her."

"No!" She begins to back away as the man holding Annabelle walks over to her and drives his knife into her abdomen. She lets out a grunt as she falls to the ground dead.

The old man walks back over to Annabelle and holds up the knife in warning. "You're going to be very useful to me."

Suddenly Richard entered the cave along with Kahlan. "Let her go!"

"The Seeker!" The man cries.

"And the Mother Confessor. Kill him and take her." The old man instructs him.

Richard and Kahlan split up and take on the guards. The older man addresses the man holding Annabelle. "Hide her."

Kahlan throws one of her daggers and kills the Confessed man holding Annabelle. Richard slices down with the Sword and cuts the binds holding Annabelle. "Run!"

Annabelle runs out of the cave as Kahlan and Richard continue to fight the guards. "Run Annabelle!"

"Get her!" The old man orders.

Kahlan fights the guards as they try to exit the cave after Annabelle.


Annabelle has just left the caves and trips and falls to the ground. Two of the guards must have gotten past Kahlan because they exit the cave as well. As they get close to Annabelle one is kicked in the head by Flynn who was sitting on a branch above the man. Trinity comes out from where she was hiding behind a tree with her blades drawn. She runs towards the other guard and quickly kills him. Flynn laughs as he jumps out of the tree and hits the guard in the face. The guard gets the upper hand and sits on Flynn and starts hitting him in the face. Flynn grabs a rock and hits the guard in the face knocking him out and off of him. Flynn goes over to Annabelle to help her up.

"Are you all right?" He asks.

Annabelle just stares at him. "Where did you come from?"

"Oh, I just wait around in trees hoping to rescue pretty girls." He gives her a smile then begins to help her up. "Think you can stand?"


Back inside the cave, Kahlan and Richard are still fighting the guards. The older man grabs the red crystal and packs it away. He grabs a hand full of black powder as Richard finishes fighting his last guard and starts toward him. The man throws the black powder in the air and a flash of flames explodes Richard off of his feet. The man disappears and Kahlan goes to Richard.

"Richard!"


Flynn has just helped Annabelle to her feet and she just stares at him, he seems to be a bit uncomfortable but just stares at her as well. "Are you a prince?"

"Is it that obvious?" He gives her a smile as she continues to stare at him.


Richard is coming to.

"Are you all right?" Kahlan asks. Richard looks around then gets to his feet quickly. He sees guards exiting the cave but Kahlan stops him. "Let them go. We have to get Annabelle."


Annabelle and Flynn are still staring at each other. Annabelle lifts up her hand and touches Flynn's cheek.

Trinity; finished cleaning her blade looks up. "Annabelle!" She shouts and grabs her free hand, ready to pull her away from Flynn.

Thunder crashes as Annabelle's hand slides down his cheek to his neck. Her hair lifts up in a wind as her eyes go black and time slows – Flynn's and Trinity's eyes go black as well. She has Confessed them. Kahlan and Richard come running out of the cave.

"Annabelle no! Flynn! Trinity!" Kahlan cries.

She falls forward and Flynn catches her. Trinity helps steady her.

"Command me Confessor." Flynn and Trinity say in sync.

Kahlan sucks in a worried breath as Richard rolls his eyes.


Flynn and Trinity stare at Annabelle with adoration. Kahlan and Richard are talking to Annabelle.

"What's wrong with them?" Annabelle asks.

"They've been Confessed. It's not your fault. You don't have control over your powers yet." Kahlan explains.

"What powers?"

"You're a Confessor. Just like I am."

"Confessor?"

"When you touch someone with your powers, they become enslaved to you. They lose their free will."

"I did that? I enslaved them?" Annabelle asks, horrified.

"I'm glad you did." Flynn says. He walks around to stand next to Annabelle. "I want to serve you."

Trinity steps forward. "I will do whatever you please mistress."

"How do I take it away?" Annabelle asks.

"You can't. They'll be Confessed to you for the rest of your life."

Annabelle looks at Flynn and he gives her a goofy smile. "I didn't know."

"Your father didn't tell you because he was afraid of your powers." Richard explains.

"That's why he kept you locked in a tower." Kahlan says.

"You talked to my father?"

Richard and Kahlan share a look. Kahlan reaches out and touches Annabelle on her shoulder in comfort. "I'm so sorry Annabelle. Your father is dead."

"Dead?"

Kahlan nods. "He was poisoned."

"Tharla killed him. So she could sell me to that sorcerer."

"He wanted to take your magic. But don't worry; he won't come near you again." Richard says.

"We're going to take you to a place where you can be trained." Kahlan tells her.

Annabelle backs away from her. "Trained?"

"So they can teach you how to control your magic so nothing like this will ever happen again."

Flynn puts his hand out on Kahlan's shoulder as Trinity moves to stand in front of Annabelle. "Stop. You're scaring her. She just found out her father died. She needs to know everything's all right." He looks at Annabelle. "I won't let anything bad happen to you. Ever."

"My life is yours." Trinity tells her.

"Annabelle, you have a very rare and special gift. If I can teach you about it, if you'll come with us…" Kahlan trails off.

Annabelle looks to Richard then to Flynn and Trinity.

"It's all right. They're good people." Trinity moves out of the way as Flynn takes Annabelle's hand and lifts it up."

"I'll go wherever he goes." Annabelle says.

Kahlan looks at Richard and he just sighs. "Come on." Richard leads the way as Kahlan follows and Flynn leads Annabelle away by pulling on her hand, Trinity walking behind her.


Zedd and Cara walk among a lot of people at dusk.

"Excuse me sir. Pardon me ma'am." He's trying to get someone's attention but they all shy away from him. "You and your Agiels don't exactly inspire a warm welcome."

"I've learned it's more useful to be feared than to be liked." Cara says.

Zedd tries to stop a man pushing a cart. "Excuse me, sir."

"What do you want?" He asks.

"Could you tell us where we could find the Cloister of Pamorah?"

The man points. "In the Sentinel Hills, east of the city. But, I wouldn't go there now. You don't want to be on the road after nightfall." The man continues on his way pushing his cart."

"W-wait, sir, w-why?" Zedd asks.

The man doesn't give an answer and the people around them have picked up their pace to get to wherever they are going.


Zedd and Cara are talking to a woman with an impressive headdress.

"Thank you for seeing me, Ms. Prioress." Zedd hands a woman a piece of paper with the Rune on Flynn's hand drawn on it. "Have you seen this symbol before?"

"The parchment will do you no good. The tomb must be opened by the one who bares the rune on his hand."

"What tomb?" Cara asks.

"In times past, the tomb was the site of many a pilgrimage. Legend has it that the Stone of Tears was buried there. Darken Rahl sent his men to Pamorah to open the tomb. They tried everything, but no one could get inside it."

"Without the rune." Zedd says.

"Rahl believed the bearer of the rune would arrive one day so he stationed an elite guard around the tomb. After Rahl fell the villagers rose up and killed them. Every last D'Haran. But they came back from the dead."

"Banelings. That's what everyone around here is so afraid of." Cara realizes.

"They accepted the Keeper's twisted bargain. Killing to stay alive. They're still waiting for the bearer of the rune to arrive. To make sure no one gets the stone."

"Where is this tomb?" Zedd asks.

"In a cemetery, to the south. But going anywhere near it means certain death."

Zedd and Cara share a look.


Richard and Kahlan are sitting next to a campfire. Richard is poking it with a stick and throws it into the fire. Richard throws a look to Kahlan then looks to where she is gazing, which is obviously toward where Annabelle and Flynn are – we hear Annabelle laugh. Trinity is across from the others; keeping watch.

"I wonder where Flynn's family is. I never asked him." She watches the pair as they stand near a horse; feeding it. Kahlan looks away from them as she shakes her head sadly.

"It's not your fault this happened." Richard tells her.

Kahlan looks up at him with an expression that seems to say 'are you kidding me?'. "We took him with us because we needed him. Now he'll spend the rest of his life desperately longing for someone he'll never see again."

Richard once again looks over at the couple. "Well maybe after Pamorah–"

"No." Richard looks back to Kahlan. "No. Flynn will be a distraction."

Richard looks back to them feeding the horse. "What about Trinity?"

Kahlan looks down and shakes her head. "I don't know." She looks over at Trinity. "I really don't."


"My whole life, I wanted to see the world. And now that I'm out here, I don't understand any of it." Annabelle tells Flynn.

"I'll teach you."

She gives him a smile then looks back to the horse and laughs. "Kahlan says I have to go to a place called Aydindril to be trained."

"I'll come with you."

"She says you can't. That you have something more important to do in Pamorah with Richard. I don't want to go anywhere without you."

Flynn reaches out and takes her hand. "Then you'll get your wish."

Kahlan and Richard stand up from the fire.

"How?" Annabelle asks.

Flynn begins to lean in close to her ear but Kahlan's voice breaks them apart. "It's late. We all need some sleep."

"My mistress is cold. I'm going to get some more wood for the fire." Flynn leaves the two of them alone as Kahlan looks to Annabelle.

"Maybe Flynn and I can get married."

"I'm sorry Annabelle." She takes Annabelle by the arm and leads her to a down tree to sit down. "That isn't going to happen."

She gives Kahlan a large smile. "But he loves me, and I love him. And in the books I've read–"

"It isn't the same with Confessors." Annabelle's smile falters. "We serve a higher purpose. But our gift makes the kind of romance you've read about…impossible."

"So, you can't get married?"

"A Confessor takes a mate but – not for love. To continue our line. And there aren't very many of us left. I think you and I may be the only ones. So one day you will be ready, you'll take a suitable mate."

Everything Kahlan is saying is taking the joy out of Annabelle. "What makes a mate so suitable?"

"Well, ah, he should be–" She looks over her shoulder to Richard. "Strong, noble and brave." She seems to get her wits back and looks back to Annabelle. "A leader."

"So, Richard's your mate then?"

"No. I love Richard but if he and I were to be together in that way, he would become Confessed."

"But, he already loves you." Annabelle says, confused.

"Richard has an important mission only he can carry out. If he were Confessed, his love for me would be all-consuming. It would distract him so much he would go mad, and he couldn't complete his quest."

"So you could never be with someone that you love?"

"Once you start your training and see how important our work is you'll understand that it makes up for the things we can't have."

They hear Flynn panting in a panic and turn to look as he come running into the campsite. He is holding an arrow sticking out of his shoulder and Richard gets to his feet drawing the Sword. "The sorcerers' men, they're coming!"

Richard runs off in the direction Flynn points and Kahlan follows after him. "Keep her safe!"


Flynn runs over to Annabelle and she stares down at the arrow. He calms down and takes her by the hand. "Come on."

Annabelle looks over her should to where Richard and Kahlan disappeared then looks back to Flynn. "What are you doing?"

"Granting your wish." He pulls on her and she follows him.

Trinity moves to follow them. "Mistress!"

Annabelle turns back. "Stay here! Don't tell them what happened when they come back."

Trinity nods.


Richard stops running and looks around, Kahlan stops behind him. "There's no one here."

Realization comes to Kahlan. "Flynn."

Richard lets out a grunt and turns back toward the campsite.


They enter the campsite to find Flynn, Annabelle and the horse gone.

"They're gone." Kahlan says.

"And so are the horses." Richard tells her. "Trinity, where did they go?"

Trinity looks away from Richard; staying silent.

"She's Confessed." Kahlan tells him. "She won't tell us anything because Annabelle told her not to."

"Grab her." Richard tells her. "We have to find them." They start of in the direction they think Flynn and Annabelle took.


Flynn and Annabelle are both riding one horse as another is led by its reins beside them. Flynn takes a hold of the arrow and pulls it out of his shoulder with a grunt.

"You're bleeding."

"I had to make it look real." He turns to look at her. "I fooled them so that we could get away. Isn't that what you wanted?"

"Does it hurt?"

"For you, nothing hurts." He leans forward and kisses her lips.


In the woods, it's now daylight. Annabelle and Flynn are lying on the ground talking. Flynn has his shirt off, but Annabelle is wearing her underclothes.

"When I was in the tower, the servants used to secretly bring me books to read. Have you ever heard the story of Rosalind and Palomar?" She asks.

"Yeah, everybody knows that story. She saved him from the dragon."

"And then they sail away on the ocean together. You remind me of Palomar. At least the way I imagined him."

"I'd save you from a dragon." They laugh together.

"Would you take me to see the ocean?"

"I'd take you anywhere." He looks down and away from her gaze.

"What?"

He holds his hand with the rune up to Annabelle. "This rune is the key to finding the Stone of Tears. Unless Richard has it the Keeper will destroy all life. Including yours. Maybe we should go back."

She grabs his hand and holds onto it tightly. "How do you know what they told you is true? My father told me there was nothing but war and wickedness in this world. That was a lie. You're proof of that. And even if what they're saying is true, I'd rather die with you than be locked in another tower without you." She leans her head forward and they kiss.


Kahlan, Trinity, and Richard are walking along a trail; he is studying the ground for their tracks.

"I should have separated them right away." Kahlan shakes her head.

"He was comforting a scared girl. It would have been cruel." Richard tells her.

"She would've been safe."

"We'll find them. Look, the tracks spilt. One horse went north, the other east."

"He was trying to make it harder for us to follow him. Clever." Kahlan says.

"Not clever enough." Richard points to the tracks going north. "These tracks are deeper." He indicates the tracks going east. "The horse that went that way wasn't carrying any weight." They start off down the north bearing route.


A pig is roasting over a fire. Flynn and Annabelle, once again fully clothed, pop up behind a bush and look at the pig.

"Hungry? Wait here." He starts off into the empty campsite toward the pig. He grabs a knife to slice off a piece when a hand shoots out and stops him. He lets out a grunt of pain and drops the knife.

"You know what we do with thieves around here?"

"Show them mercy?" Obviously being Confessed hasn't taken away Flynn's smart mouth; he gives the man a smile. The man pushes him down and hefts an axe high above his head preparing to swing it down onto Flynn.

Annabelle runs out from her hiding place. "Flynn!"

Her appearance stops the man from killing Flynn with the axe; he drops it down as he stares at her. "Well, two thieves." He leers at Annabelle. "Maybe you've got something to bargain with."

He starts toward Annabelle but Flynn gets up and stands in front of her holding a large branch out to the man. "Stay away from her."

The man goes to chop the branch but Annabelle rushes forward and grabs him by the throat. Thunder crashes, time slows and Annabelle's eyes go black as do the mans. She has Confessed him. The man falls to his knees as she falls to the ground, Flynn catches her and helps her up. "Command me, Confessor."

A group of five men enter the campsite yelling out to them. "Hey!"

"Stop them!" Annabelle orders.

Flynn picks up his big branch as the man grabs his axe and they run at the men. Flynn strikes one man across the face as the Confessed man takes on another from the group. The two men knock out all the other men in short order as Annabelle watches.


Cara and Zedd walk in the woods at night. They stop and gaze at the sight of half a dozen guards pacing around a crypt.

"The only way to kill banelings is to burn them. We'll need oil and torches." Zedd says.

"Why not just use Wizard's Fire?"

"I don't think that would be wise."

Cara nods her head in understanding. "It's because I'm a Mord-Sith, isn't it?" He shoots a look over to her. "You think if you use your magic I'll turn it against you. I've had chances before."

"With the Seeker and Confessor nearby? And now you know where the tomb is."

"Do you honestly think that's why I've followed Richard all this way? In the hopes that he'd send me here with you alone so I could find a way to steal the Stone for myself?" Cara asks in disbelief.

"Probably not. But what's at stake is far too important to rely on probability."

"I don't believe you have the luxury of caution." Cara turns serious as she stares at the guards; they have all turned and are now staring at the duo. They bring up their crossbows and take aim. Zedd takes a step forward and thrusts out his hand shooting the two in front with Wizard's Fire. More guards take aim and Zedd hits them with Wizard's Fire as well.

"Get them!" A guard yells.

A few others take aim and release bolts, Cara ducks behind a tree and the bolt embed into the trunk. Cara runs off as Zedd takes aim with his Wizard's Fire. He brings up both hands and shoots Wizard's Fire at more guards. More guards show up. Cara appears behind two guards and strikes them with her Agiels. Another one grabs her from behind, she fights with him then a stream of Wizard's Fire hits the guard. He burns up with his hand at Cara's throat. Cara walks among the dead guards.

"I think that's all of them." She puts her Agiels away as Zedd looks around.

"For now, but this is a place of death. Others may crawl out of the earth to replace them." Zedd walks up to the crypt/tomb and looks at it. "We should get Flynn back here with the rune as quickly as we can."

"We? Are you sure you can trust me?"

"No. But we don't have the luxury of caution." Zedd starts off as Cara stares at his back and then follows.


Flynn and Annabelle were at the campsite from earlier. Now all of the men that attacked them as well as Flynn, Annabelle and the man she Confessed are sitting around the campfire eating. Lightning flashes and thunder sound out.

Richard and Kahlan walk up to the site confused, while Trinity smiles at the sight of her mistress and moves to stand near her.

"Flynn. Annabelle." They turn to look at Richard and Kahlan when he speaks. "I know this is hard for you but we have to get moving. We've lost enough time as it is."

The Confessed all look to Annabelle. "If you don't leave, my friends will make you leave."

Everyone around the campfire stands and prepares to defend Annabelle. Trinity readies her staff. Flynn takes Annabelle by the arm and leads her away as Kahlan stares at the rest of the men with a shocked face. "Richard, they're all Confessed."

Flynn and Annabelle stop to look, but Annabelle grabs Flynn's hand and keeps him moving. "Let's go."

The men all move forward at once and attack Richard and Kahlan. They fight the men off as Annabelle and Flynn run to the horse. Flynn stops and looks back at the melee. Annabelle walks to stand next to him. "What's wrong?"

"I know Richard and Kahlan. Sooner or later they'll catch us."

Richard fights off the men around him as does Kahlan, however, one sneaks up behind Kahlan and knocks her on the back of her head. "Kahlan!" Trinity rushes at Richard with her staff, trying to land a blow. Richard blocks her attempts. They battle until Richard pins one end of Trinity's staff to the ground and kicks it out of her hands. He lands a solid punch to her face; sending her to the ground unconscious. Another man comes to attack him.

With Kahlan, one of the men holds her down as another attacks Richard. A third man picks up an axe next to Kahlan and prepares to use it but Kahlan kicks his leg out from under him causing him to drop the axe as he falls. Kahlan picks up one of her knives and throws it at a man killing him. Richard kills the man he was fighting with. He lifts the Sword up high to strike down at him with a hand appears at his neck behind him, his eyes go black and we see that Annabelle Confessed him. Kahlan sees this too and bolts upright even against the restraint of the man holding her down.

"No!" Kahlan rolls backwards and throws the man off of her. She runs to where Richard and Annabelle are standing. "Richard!" She knocks them both to the ground, knocking out Annabelle. She shakes Richard. "Richard?" He starts to rise, she still holds onto his shirt. "Richard."

He opens his eyes and she gives him a hopeful smile. He looks over her shoulder to where Flynn has helped Annabelle up. "Mistress…how can I serve you?"


Kahlan's eyes fill with tears, she has lost Richard, she begins to cry as he gets up off the ground and goes to Annabelle.

Richard is standing in front of Flynn and Annabelle. "Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine. Let's go." Annabelle tells him.

Kahlan is sitting on the ground still, her hand covering her mouth in horror.

"I'll come with you, Mistress." He tells her.

Kahlan drops her hand from her mouth, tears streaming down her face, and addresses Annabelle. "Everything he does is to save lives. He saved yours. And you've destroyed him."

"I'm sorry Kahlan. But you didn't leave me a choice."

Kahlan's sadness only deepens. "And you leave me no choice."

She picks up her dagger and throws it at Annabelle. Without even turning to see it coming Richard lifts up the Sword and deflects it away. Kahlan reaches down to get another weapon as Richard takes a fighting stance in front of Annabelle.

"I won't let you kill her."

"Kill me?" Annabelle asks, scared.

"It's the only way to release me from Confession. But don't worry Mistress, I'll protect you." Richard promises.

"Richard, I don't want to fight you." Kahlan says.

"Then put down your weapon."

Kahlan stares at Richard for a moment the drops her dagger. Flynn releases Annabelle. "I'll get the horse." Flynn walks past Kahlan; she bends down quickly and gets her dagger. She grabs Flynn by the shoulder, spins him around and puts her blade to his neck.

"What are you doing? Don't hurt him." Annabelle pleads.

"Let him go."

Kahlan doesn't listen to Richard. "You will order both of these men to come with me to Pamorah right now, or I will kill him."

"You wouldn't hurt him. You need the rune on his hand." Annabelle tells her.

"I need him in Pamorah. If he doesn't go he is of no use to me." Kahlan says, jerking Flynn closer.

"If we go with you, and Flynn gets you your Stone, will you let us be together?" Annabelle asks.

"You have my word."

"It's a trap. She'll try to kill you the first chance she gets." Richard says.

"Richard I know you're Confessed to her, but you know me. I'm not a liar." Kahlan tells him.

He stares at her for a long second, he almost looks confused. "No, she isn't."

"Put your sword down. We're going with her." Annabelle tells him.

Richard does as told and Kahlan releases Flynn. He backs away from her frightened as she lets out a sigh and goes to wake Trinity.


The next morning, Kahlan is talking to Cara and Zedd. "She said she'd order Flynn to go to Pamorah with us if I let them live."

"And you agreed to that?" Cara asks, not believing what she is hearing. Richard and Trinity are Confessed, why not just kill her and get it over with?

"I had to. Either Richard was going to kill me or I was going to kill him."

Richard and Trinity are tending to a horse as Annabelle and Flynn laugh together. Flynn walks away from Annabelle and over to the duo.

"I need it Zedd." Kahlan tells him.

Zedd nods his head as Kahlan walks over to Annabelle. She grabs her arm and pulls her closer to Cara and Zedd, Richard sees this and rushes after them. "No!"

Zedd thrusts out his hand and hits Richard in the chest with magic.

"Flynn!" Annabelle calls.

Flynn, Richard, and Trinity attempt to come closer but it seems as though Zedd has erected a shield between them.

"You promised!" She cries.

"You lied to me!" Richard yells.

"I had to! If the Keeper wins everyone will die! I need the Seeker to fight him and seal the rift in the Underworld." Kahlan explains. Flynn and Trinity start to fight against the shield again. "I need you to be you Richard!"

Richard watches as Kahlan takes out one of her daggers. This makes Flynn and Trinity fight all the harder against the shield.

"Annabelle!"

"No!"

"No! Don't kill her! I love her!" This makes Kahlan pause and look up at Richard, his face is earnest. "I love her as much as I ever loved you." Cara's eyes go between Richard and Kahlan; she looks almost like she's enjoying the drama, as if she's watching her favorite soap opera. "I know you Kahlan. You don't want to murder the last Confessor."

"I never asked to be a Confessor. I never asked to be locked in a tower." Annabelle pleads. The trio continues to fight against the shield. "I just want to be like everyone else."

Kahlan gives her a sad look. "If there was any other way–" She starts.

"Maybe there is." Richard says. Kahlan looks up to him. "The sorcerer's quillion. If we can get it we can use it to drain Annabelle's powers."

Kahlan looks to Zedd. "Would they be released?"

"I doubt it's ever been tried. But in theory, they shouldn't be bound by magic she herself no longer possesses."

"Kahlan, if you love me you'll give it a try."

Kahlan looks to him again, Cara is not moved. "He's only saying that because he's been Confessed."

"Confessed or not, Richard would do anything to save a life." Kahlan tells her.

"We have to get the Stone first." Zedd says.

"And then we'll go to the sorcerers cave and get his quillion." Kahlan drops her dagger from Annabelle's throat and she hurries away from Kahlan.

"I don't believe what I'm hearing. You want us to risk everything – our lives, Richard's and Trinity's lives – to save her? If you don't have the stomach to kill her, I will." Care tells her.

Kahlan steps forward and takes Cara by the arm. "I seem to remember Richard going to great lengths to save your life."

Cara looks over to Richard and Trinity, then back to Kahlan. "And if it doesn't release them?"

"Then I'll do what need to be done." Kahlan tells her.


At the tomb, Flynn hand enters the frame moving closer to the tomb. The rune on his hand beings to glow brightly on the tomb and on his hand. The entire center of the tomb glows brightly and opens. When the glowing dies they see a skeleton residing inside, around its neck is a locket, identical to the one that made the rune on Flynn's hand. Zedd walks forward and pulls the locket from the necklace. Kahlan walks forward to stand next to him, as Flynn walks back to stand next to Annabelle.

"It's another locket." Zedd says.

"Maybe there's another rune inside it." Kahlan guesses.

"Or maybe it holds the Stone of Tears."

"The Seeker should be the one to open it."

"When he's released from Confession. Not when he's this unpredictable." Zedd tells her.

Richard leans forward. "We got what you came for. We need to go after the quillion."

"He can still fight. He'd do anything to save her life." Kahlan tells Zedd.

"We both know Richard can't be relied upon right now."

Kahlan looks over her shoulder to Cara, Cara looks up at her for a moment before Kahlan turns back around. "Then Cara and I will just have to take care of the sorcerer ourselves."

Zedd shoots her a look.


Cara is standing with her arms folded across her chest as Kahlan walks to stand in front of her, her hands on her hips. "Are you sure?"

"Any sorcerer as powerful as Lorcus is going to be able to see right through us if we aren't convincing."

"If you insist." She pulls out one of her Agiels and holds it in Kahlan's direction. "This will hurt."

"Just do it."

Cara holds her Agiel out and presses it against Kahlan's temple, Kahlan tenses and flinches as the pain from the magic hits her.


Cara is back in the cave where Tharla took Annabelle. She has Kahlan slung over her shoulder; out cold. "I have something the sorcerer would be very interested in." She drops Kahlan like a sack of potatoes."

"Surrender your weapon." The guard orders.

Cara holds both of her arms up away from her Agiels. "Go ahead. Take it."

"I know the power of the Agiel. Lay it down yourself." Cara takes out one of her Agiels and throws it on the ground. "And the other one."

Cara takes it out of its holster and tosses it to the ground too. "Now summon your sorcerer or I take my merchandise elsewhere."

"And what would a Mord-Sith expect in return for her…"merchandise"?" The Sorcerer asks.

"A thousand gold pieces."

"Why would I pay such a price?"

"Rumor has it you're in the market for Confessor power." Cara walks in a circle around Kahlan; she is still on the ground out cold. "This is the Mother Confessor. I sincerely doubt you'd be made a better offer."

Cara is now standing by Kahlan's head looking down at her; the sorcerer walks up to stand beside her. "She's of no use to me dead."

"She's not dead…just compliant." Cara kicks Kahlan in the face and the blow turns her head, revealing a bruise on her temple from where Cara held her Agiel. Cara saunters back around Kahlan.

"How do I know that?"

She holds her hands out to Kahlan. "Examine her for yourself."

The sorcerer bends down close to Kahlan; she suddenly comes awake and grabs the man by the throat. Thunder sounds as Kahlan Confesses the sorcerer. Cara picks up her Agiels and fights the closest guard. The others start to advance on her and she engages them. Kahlan's eyes go black as do the sorcerers. Cara has a grin as she takes on the advancing guards. "Command me Confessor."

"Call off your guards."

"Stop! Don't harm them."

Cara looks a little let down that the fighting has stopped, but all of the guards hold their positions.

"Give me the quillion." Kahlan orders.


Back in the woods, Kahlan and Annabelle are sitting together as Zedd walks up to them with the quillion. Richard, Flynn, and Trinity stand a few feet behind them. Cara walks up and joins them.

"You spared my life, even when your friends told you not to." Annabelle tells Kahlan.

"You can thank me if this works."

"If it does you'll be the last Confessor." Kahlan absorbs this fact with a nod of her head. "You'll have to take a mate."

"Yes. Someday I will."

"Richard would make a good father for a Confessor, wouldn't he?"

"Annabelle…"Kahlan starts.

"If he's Confessed to me you can't hurt him." It's obvious that Kahlan hasn't thought of this. "And he could give you a child. And then when you take my magic he'll be released, won't he?"

Kahlan is having trouble taking in this turn of events; Zedd even seems to be thinking over what she says. "Yes, but that isn't the way that–" Kahlan starts but Zedd interrupts her.

"Kahlan, maybe you should consider what she is suggesting." Kahlan's mouth drops open in shock. "If something were to happen to you, then the race of Confessors would be no longer."

"I want to do something for you, while I'm still a Confessor. Please?" Annabelle asks.

Kahlan looks over Annabelle's shoulder to where Richard stands.


Richard is talking to Annabelle with a confused look on her face. "But I don't love her, I love you."

"This will make me very happy. Go to her and love her as you would love me." Annabelle tells him.

Richard gives her a small nod of his head.


Kahlan is sitting alone deeper in the woods; her hands are twisting together in nervousness. She rubs her palms along her thighs smoothing her dress down. She hears Richard approach from behind her and turns her head a bit. Richard stops and stares at her for a long moment, then walks to where she's sitting. He kneels down in front of her and takes her hands into his own. She licks her lips and is about to speak when Richard talks to her softly. "Kahlan, it's all right. It's all right."

Kahlan shakes her head a bit and he nods to her. He runs his hand over her hair then runs his hand along her cheek bringing it behind her neck; he pulls her into a kiss. She breaks apart from him and looks at him for a second before bringing her lips back to his with more force. She pushes him backwards as he reaches up to take off his vest.


Kahlan is lying on a bed of leaves, her head back as she sighs happily; Richard's hand against her neck. He moves up and kisses her. He is lying on top of her without his shirt, the top half of her dress is down around her waist showing her undergarments. She leans up to continue kissing him. He lowers her back down and kisses on her neck as she leans up a bit to kiss on his. They continue kissing as Kahlan rolls him over so that she is now on top. Kahlan sits up moving her hair over to the side of her shoulder then leans down and kisses him. He raises himself up and twists so he is once again on top of her. She begins to pant as he continues to kiss on her body. "Richard – Richard, what are you thinking about?"

He kisses her a couple more times before leaning up and looking down at her. "Pleasing you."

He leans back down and kisses her neck; she can't help herself from asking. "Because your Mistress ordered you to?"

He leans up again and looks down at her happily. "Yes."

He bends down to kiss her neck again put she pushes him up, stopping him. He looks down at her confused as she looks at him sadly. "You really love her – don't you?"

The confusion melts away from his face. "With all my heart."

This guts Kahlan but Richard just bends back down and kisses her neck. She squeezes her eyes shut and lets out an unhappy groan. She pushes him off of her and sits up. Richard is once again looking at her with confusion. "Did I do something wrong?"

Kahlan shakes her head and begins putting her dress back on. "No. You didn't do anything wrong."

"But my Mistress commanded me to-"

"I know." Kahlan gets up from the ground holding her dress close to her body leaving a very confused Richard sitting on the ground left behind.


Kahlan is now standing in front of Annabelle talking to her. "I guess I wouldn't want to give myself to Flynn like that if he was thinking of somebody else."

Kahlan gives her a sad smile. "It isn't just that. Richard would never use magic to force someone to act against their will."

"But it's not really against his will. If he wasn't Confessed he would want to."

"But he is Confessed and I'm not prepared to make that decision for him. Or make him a father without his blessing."

"But for Confessors…Isn't it always like that?"

"That's why we don't take men we love as mates."

"It's kind of like being locked in a tower, isn't it?"

Kahlan gives her a little smile with a nod of her head. Zedd walks up behind Kahlan and she turns to look at him. "We should get started."


Annabelle is sitting in front of the quillion; once again the purple pink mist is flowing from her into the crystal. "If this works I can get married one day."

Kahlan gives her a hopeful smile and nods her head. "I hope you will."

Cara is standing off to the side with Richard, Trinity, and Flynn guarding them, they all look worried for Annabelle. Annabelle looks over to Flynn. "But Flynn won't love me anymore."

"He's just the first one you met, there will be other men."

"But what if he's the only one that I'll ever love?"

Kahlan looks at Flynn as Annabelle lets out a grunt; a bright white light starts at the center of her chest and brightens to envelope everyone. Richard, Trinity, and Flynn are knocked back a step when the light wave hits them. Zedd leans forward and closes the box around the crystal.

Flynn rushes up to Annabelle and puts his arm around her. "Annabelle, are you all right?"

Zedd looks from Flynn to Richard and Trinity. "It didn't work."

Flynn looks up to Zedd. "I'm not Confessed anymore, I was just making sure she was all right."

Kahlan turns to look at Richard. "Richard?"

He's once again looking confused as he looks at Annabelle, and then he looks up at Kahlan. She gives him a questioning face, 'are you still Confessed' and he straightens his stance toward her, gives her a small smile and a nod of his head that he's no longer under Annabelle's spell. She lets out a grateful sigh and smiles at him.

Trinity glares at the ground and clenches her fists before walking away.


Kahlan, Richard and Annabelle are standing off to the side as she packs her stuff. Zedd is eating an apple, Cara is packing her bag and Flynn appears to be tying his shoe. Trinity is turned away from them; leaning on a tree.

"We'll see you safely home. Your father's castle is rightful yours now." Kahlan tells Annabelle.

"Thank you, but – uh, I think I've spent enough of my life there. I want to see the world."

"Where we're going won't be safe for you." Richard tells her.

"I'll go myself. I've always wanted to see the ocean."

"I don't think it's safe for you to travel alone." Kahlan says.

Flynn stands up from his position; he was obviously using tying his shoe as a reason to eavesdrop. "I'll take her." He rushes to stand beside her. "I mean – um, I'm headed toward Wynnmore anyway. I – I have a cousin there. It's near the ocean." He gives them one of his goofy smiles as Kahlan turns to look at Richard, they share a look. "What? You don't need me anymore." He turns to look at Annabelle. "So you can come along if you want to." They give each other a smile as Kahlan watches with a smile of her own. "Well I can't say it's been fun, but it's been interesting." They all share a laugh.


Flynn and Annabelle ride a horse together as Richard watches them go. He turns around and sees Kahlan standing there. She sweeps her hair out of her face as she walks closer to him. He just stares at her but she has trouble looking back at him. "It's only me now."

"No." He reaches out and takes her hand. "You got us." She smiles and nods her head, Richard looks lost in thought for a moment. "Kahlan – I can understand why you couldn't go through with it. But part of me wishes you had."

She gives him a sly smile. "Me too." He returns her sly smile then Zedd walks up to them.

"And now that we have our Seeker back…it's time to open this. Zedd reaches into his pouch at his waist and pulls out the locket they got in Pamorah. He hands it to Richard and Richard places it in the palm of his hand. He opens the locket but there is no flask containing the magic powder like the last locket. Instead there is a blue marble like jewel that glows in its center. There are also small blue dots that light up once the locket is opened. The runes around it glow before fading.

"Is it the Stone of Tears?" Cara asks; Trinity looking over her shoulder.

Richard still has it in his hand and is moving it left and right studying it. "No, I think it's a compass." He studies it closer and a few of the blue lights turn yellow at the top, he reads the writing on the compass. "This orb will guide the Seekers way."

"To what?" Trinity asks.

"Hopefully the Stone of Tears." Richard takes a few steps ahead and moves it left and right again trying to get his baring with it.

"Let's not waist time then." Zedd says.

Richard smiled. "We head north." He starts off excitedly as the others follow.


That night Trinity paced back and forth while the others slept.

"I will never get any sleep with that constant pacing of yours." Cara says from her bed roll; her eyes still closed.

"Sorry." Trinity says. She moves a few feet away from the campsite; staring into the woods.

Cara sighs before standing up and going to stand next to Trinity. "What is wrong?"

Trinity glances at her before looking back out into the woods. "I really want to kill that girl." She growls.

Cara's eyes widen as she turns to look at her usually kind friend. "Because she Confessed you."

Trinity's jaw clenches. "I suffered at the hands of a Mord-Sith as a child and didn't break. I spent years making and crafting weapons while others ridiculed me. I've fought bandits, and soldiers, and banelings." She looks down. "And all it took was the touch of one girl to break my will and make me useless."

Cara stands there; not knowing what to do for her friend. She awkwardly lifts her arm and pats her on the shoulder.

Trinity turns to look at her. "What was your first thought when you found out Richard and I were confessed?"

Cara's answer is instant. "To kill her and free you."

"Because he is your lord Rahl?"

Cara nods. "And because he is needed for the quest without acting like a lovesick puppy. It would be a distraction."

"And me?"

Cara looks away from her. "You would beg to return to your mistress. You would've slowed us down."

Trinity smiles. "Admit it Cara. I'm your friend. You care about me."

"Shut up." Cara says; still looking away.

Trinity chuckles. "You love me." She sings.

Cara pushes Trinity before turning and walking back to camp.

"I love you too Cara!" Trinity calls after her, smiling.