Dahlia spent some time wandering the woods crying. She had been rejected by lovers before but this rejection was by far the cruelest. She did not know what she was going to do. She certainly could not go back to Stowecroft. As she got close to their camp, she suddenly heard the whine of an Agiel and Zedd cried out. She ran up to a bush near the edge of the camp, making more noise than she should have but Zedd's cries drown out the sound. She saw three Mord-Sith repeatedly striking Zedd with their Agiels.
Darken Rahl had made clear to Alina that not only was she to bring Cara back for retraining but that the wizard was to be killed. Zedd was the only wizard powerful enough to possibly challenge Nicci's magical abilities. His death would be a serious blow to Kahlan's and Richard's plans to establish a strong government in Aydindril.
Alina had the three Mord-Sith conceal themselves near the camp with instructions to wait a full hour after Alina had left with Cara before they attacked the wizard. This way there would be no chance of Cara hearing Zedd's screams. As Alina would say these three Mord-Sith were just inexperienced "youngsters" but against Zedd they were all that was needed. However powerful Zedd might be in other circumstances, in a fight with Mord-Sith he was just a frail old man.
The Mord-Sith were enjoying themselves and one of the Mord-Sith taunted the wizard, "Darken Rahl ordered us to kill you but he didn't say we had to be quick about it." Like a cat playing with a mouse, the Mord-Sith struck him again and again, while making sure not to inflict any serious damage. Not yet anyway.
Dahlia worked her way around the edge of the camp until she was near her bedroll which was where she had left her sword. Dahlia then ran towards her sword, dove and rolled in one motion to pick up the sword, remove it from its sheaf, and return to her feet. The Mord-Sith were slow to react and the nearest one had just turned to face Dahlia as she brought her sword down to cleave her head. The other two Mord-Sith slowly advanced on Dahlia. One of them then impetuously charged Dahlia but she easily dodged her attacker and slashed her across her throat. Though the Mord-Sith wore neck protection, leather was no match for steel. The last Mord-Sith nervously stood her ground as Dahlia advanced on her. Then the Mord-Sith tried to strike her but though the Agiel could inflict great pain, it was short and easily parried. Dahlia slipped her sword past the Agiel and thrust it into her heart. The Mord-Sith fell to the ground. Dahlia put her boot on her chest and drew her sword out of her.
It was all over in what seemed to be an instant. It was hardly a fight at all. These Mord-Sith had very poor fighting skills. Dahlia had never killed a woman before. Now she had killed three. She looked down at the slain Mord-Sith. She was so young. At least she had given her a quick death. Dahlia had an uncomfortable thought that under different circumstances, Cara might have wound up the same way. At least Dahlia had saved Zedd. She went over to the wizard who was trying to clear his head after this prolonged attack.
"Thank goodness you were here," Zedd said. Then he looked around and asked, "Where's Cara?"
Tears returned to Dahlia's eyes, "She's left us."
"Left us? Where? Why?"
"I found her talking to some Mord-Sith. There was an older one that Cara seemed to know."
"Alina," Zedd thought, he had encountered her several times in the past.
"Darken Rahl sent Cara a message that he wants her help in raising their son. Did you know that Cara had a son with Darken Rahl?"
"Her son is dead, Rahl killed him the day he was born so that he wouldn't grow up to be a rival."
"Dead? How do you know that?"
"Cara told me."
"If Cara knows her son is dead, why did she leave?"
"Cara doesn't know."
Dahlia gave Zedd an exasperated look. Clearly the attack had addled Zedd. "But you just said that Cara told you so how can she not know?"
"It's complicated, just trust me. This must be a trap."
"A trap! We have to go and save her."
Zedd hesitated. Charging into a Mord-Sith temple was the last place that Zedd wanted to go. He could still feel the pain from the Agiels and he had memories of being a prisoner in a Mord-Sith temple even if it was two realities ago.
"Zedd!" Dahlia said, she grabbed him and shook him back to reality.
"You said that Cara was concerned about her son."
"Yes, what difference does that make if he's dead?"
"It makes all the difference in the world." Zedd had many memories from two realities ago. One of the more striking ones was Cara's lack of concern about her son. Clearly the trip to Stowecroft had changed Cara for the better. He couldn't allow Cara to suffer as a result especially since taking Cara to Stowecroft was all Zedd's doing. "You're right we need to rescue Cara. Let me think for a minute."
Zedd walked around looking at the slain Mord-Sith. "You're rather good with a sword. If we are going to save Cara, you're going to have to play a major role."
"Yes, I am good with a sword but not good enough to attack a Mord-Sith temple on my own."
"We may not need to attack the temple. Looking at the Mord-Sith that Dahlia had killed last, Zedd said, "I think she might be about your size, why don't you try on her outfit."
"You want me to impersonate a Mord-Sith. Even if it does fit, what about that," Dahlia said, point to the gash in the leather made by her sword.
"I can stich that up and we can wash off the blood. We don't have to worry about blood stains, that is why the Mord-Sith wear red leather."
"What about my hair?" she said pointing to her short-cropped reddish hair.
"I think we might borrow her braid as well."
"She's a blond."
"Yes, I did notice that. Rahl might detect the spell if I change your hair color magically but fortunately I have other resources, a recipe used by my mother will do the trick."
"And are you going to impersonate a Mord-Sith as well?" Dahlia asked somewhat sarcastically.
"No, I have a harder role to play. I'm going to be your prisoner."