Disclaimer: I don't own Legend of the Seeker or anything associated with the show.
Chapter Four.
"Do you think we'll get out of here soon?" Dahlia murmured softly, the velvety smoothness of her melodic voice filled the small square prison cell, grey light filtered into their temporary accommodations through a tiny window, barricaded with iron bars and a steel grate. She tilted her head upward from where she rested on Cara's lithe shoulder to gaze contentedly at her lover. She currently lay on the supple curve of her hip, on the dungeon floor where they had both collapsed in a heap of satisfied limbs an hour ago, neither Mord'Sith had bothered to retrieve their leathers from the corner, she was tightly tucked into the blonde's side, her right arm sprawled across the other woman's delightfully hard, sweat-dampened, abdomen. The sound of her mate's incomparably strong heartbeat filled her ear as Cara's chest slowly rose and fell beneath her high cheekbone with the blonde's steady breathing while the other woman lazily stroked her back with her left hand. Every inch of their flawlessly sculpted naked bodies was pressed together, their long legs were entwined tightly and the noticeable evidence of their lovemaking was dotted across their almost frighteningly beautiful forms for the world to see.
"I know Richard and Kahlan. At this very moment they will be delivering one of their notoriously long-winded speeches to our Sisters. I find them to be utterly ridiculous, but I do think Lord Rahl and the Mother Confessor could convince a dog to rescue a kitten from a tree..." Cara smirked absently.
She snuggled closer to the blonde, letting her brilliant blue eyes trail down to her muscular arm, slung over her lover's waist, as she took note of the fondness colouring the other Mord'Sith's permanent drawl. She wasn't blind and even if she was she would still be able to read her mate like an open book. Cara clearly cared for her Lord Rahl and her companions, the blonde had made no secret about her intentions, she would have them both serve the Seeker, that fact was obvious. Doubt clouded her mind and she cuddled even closer to Cara, savouring her mate's comforting warmth, it was well known across the three territories that fear was the only thing that had ever unified D'Hara in the past and Richard was impossibly kind-hearted. Their teacher, Mistress Nathair, had always preached that knowing how and when to choose a fight was the first step toward victory, she had favoured this lesson and practised the knowledge frequently, but Cara was bullheaded with the natural born-talent of being able to charge blindly into any given situation, no matter how dire, and having the capability of turning it to her own advantage. With her lover's assistance, perhaps Richard could be sculpted into a leader that was both compassionate and decisive, but she just couldn't imagine it, D'Hara was like a viper's pit, to rule it one had to be utterly ruthless, cunning, single-minded and she'd yet to see such traits in the Seeker. In her mind, her homeland, which was already in absolute shambles after the defeat of Darken Rahl, would be better left alone.
"...Would you serve him Dahlia?" Cara whispered quietly. She shifted to once again stare up at her mate, becoming acutely aware of their naked bodies pressing together as the prolonged silence drew out. The blonde stared up at the prison ceiling, apparently unwilling to look down at her while waiting for an answer, and she understood why, the other Mord'Sith had never had to request anything.
"Are you asking me to?" Dahlia retorted.
Richard may have Rahl blood and the rite of succession named him the Master of D'Hara, but she still didn't see what Cara saw in him. She bit the inside of her cheek as she adoringly traced the enthralling picturesque contours of her lover's face, finally realising that while she had very little faith in the Seeker, she trusted her mate. She would stake her life, everything she was and owned, on a decision the other woman had made. They were one, one heart, one soul, one mind existing in unison, given time, maybe she would eventually come to respect Richard to the same extent Cara obviously did. Her stomach curled into knots and her heartbeat quickened when the other woman, at last, dragged her unique aquamarine coloured eyes away from the ceiling. Internally she begged her lover to confirm her suspicion, she could serve Richard if her lover asked her to. The other Mord'Sith visibly swallowed, almost nervously, she caressed Cara's hard abdomen, drawing soothing circles over her mate's warm golden skin and gorgeous muscle. They were both prideful creatures, like all Sisters of the Agiel, the concept of asking for something was foreign to them both. A need, so unfamiliar and yet incredibly powerful blossomed inside her chest as she watched with bright eyes as Cara's perfectly full pink lips parted, she very nearly pleaded aloud for her lover to say the words she needed, so desperately, to hear, the words writhing demandingly on the tip of the other Mord'Sith's tongue.
Suddenly the intrusive sound of heavily armoured boots erupted outside the prison cell, progressively growing louder and louder as the solider they belonged to came closer to the cast iron door. Cara's upper lips curled into a purely aggressive snarl, before her unreadable and emotionless mask descended over her hauntingly stunning face like a deep deceptive mist, her lover appeared every inch the imposing Mord'Sith regardless of the fact they were both naked. Dahlia quickly followed suit, using her training to rid herself of every outward sign of emotion, though she quickly freed her long lithe left leg from Cara's muscular limbs, draping her bare leg over Cara's pelvis, the blonde curls covering the other woman's cunt brushed against the inside of her thigh, and she moved her arm upward until she was cupping her lover's breast, forcing her resulting shiver of arousal into a cage toward the back of her mind. She didn't cover Cara's most intimate flesh out of a sense of dignity, as Sisters of the Agiel public nudity was nothing new to them, she did this because she was possessive woman, her mate's perfect body was for her viewing only, she wouldn't stand for another Mord'Sith admiring Cara's body and she certainly wasn't going to allow some unworthy lapdog of Darken Rahl to catch a glimpse of her mate's flawless form. Cara pulled her closer until her ample breasts were crushed into the other woman's side with her back facing toward the prison wall, however both women were still baring a vast amount of naked flesh. The dungeon door was unlocked and pushed open, Dahlia was unsurprised when the General's eyes immediately latched onto their naked bodies entwined together, the man paled and hastily averted his lecherous eyes when Cara glared, a dangerous narrowing of the blonde's cold aquamarine coloured eyes that struck paralysing fear into anyone unfortunate enough to earn her displeasure. She almost laughed, the General was too big of a fool to sense the silent vow her lover swore, when they were freed, the man was going to receive an agonising death at Cara's hand. A slow smirk crossed over her full lips when she noticed the dark shadows under the General's eyes, remembering her mate's last words to the D'Haran commander before they'd been escorted to their cell, obviously the General had been too terrified to try sleeping with two Mord'Sith in his garrison.
"If you don't get out of this cell before I am done talking, I'm going to rip your eyes clean out of your skull with my bare hands and shove them down your throat" Cara's spoke with calm menace, there was no mistaking the blonde's murderous intent. The General swayed on his feet, paler than fresh snow in winter, he was clearly struggling to remain conscious under the other Mord'Sith's threatening stare. He partly closed the door, retreating behind the slab of solid iron like a wounded mouse backing into a corner while a cat closed in on it.
"T-the L-Lord...Rahl will a-arrive soon...to question y-you" The General squealed like a scared child, it was really quite comical the Commander being such a large muscular and battle-scarred man, before he hurriedly slammed the door closed and promptly locked it when Cara deliberately tensed, appearing like she was going to make good on her lethal warning.
Dahlia took a deep breath, pressing a tender kiss to her lover's chest, over the blonde's steadily beating heart. The other woman's stare warmed her like the sun when she glanced down at her, she lovingly nuzzled her mate's smooth golden flesh like an affectionate kitten, only stopping when Cara cupped her oval shaped jaw in one hand. Her heart constricted tightly as they stared at each other, there was an unflinching declaration in the other Mord'Sith's striking eyes, a promise that they were going to talk, that they would finally remove all debris foliage and mist from their road into their future, that soon there would be no question as to where they stood in regards to Richard and his ascension. She moved her ungloved hand to the centre of Cara's chest and leaned forward to lovingly brush her soft lips over her lover's, a gently prolonged meeting of full lips, she savoured the heady addictive taste of her mate, feeling her heartbeat quicken with desire and her chest thrum with affectionate warmth. The pad of Cara's thumb tenderly caressed her jawline a moment before the blonde reluctantly pulled back, the same subdued arousal waiting to catch light within her was reflected in her mate's aquamarine coloured eyes. She nibbled on her lower lip, watching Cara's pointed attention settle on the seductive curve of her mouth, it would be so easy to fall back into their embrace, but they had a plan to formulate, a strategy that ended with them calming stalking out of the garrison, covered from head to toe in the blood of Darken Rahl, with their son safely back where he belonged, with them, under their watchful eyes and their protection.
Dahlia pushed herself up onto her bare knees, watching Cara do the same close enough beside her that their lithe arms brushed together, in unison they climbed to their feet, a sleek graceful shifting of perfectly formed muscles. Silently they collected their respective blood red leathers from where they'd been carelessly discarded the night before. She wasn't overly surprised when she found herself only partly dressed while her mate was clad fully in her modified uniform, the blonde had obviously altered her leathers to avoid the necessity of assistance while dressing, it was possible for a Mord'Sith to dress alone, but the act was also one of submission, it was a great honour for a lesser Sister to assist a more dominant Mord'Sith. It was also a possessive rite of mated Sisters of the Agiel, under Darken Rahl's rule it was one of the few ways a bonded Mord'Sith could demonstrate her affection for her mate. Cara wouldn't have allowed her new companions to partake in something distinctly Mord'Sith regardless of how fond she grew of them. Dahlia took a deep breath when her lover wordlessly ordered her to turn, so that her back was facing the blonde, the warmth of other woman melded deliciously with her own as Cara approached her from behind, slipping both arms around her slender waist, her mate pressed her leather corset flat against her hard stomach and slowly began securing the tight crimson laces and small golden buckles. The long strap that would connect the corset to her neck-guard hung limply down her to her flat abdomen, the blonde reached to the side in order to retrieve the final piece of her leathers from the prison floor, she gasped loudly struggling to stifle a shiver when she felt Cara press her beautifully sculpted lips to the prominent purple love-bite proudly and perceptibly adorning the pale flesh of her elegant neck.
xxxxXxxxx
Sam lifted his head slowly when the door to his dungeon cell burst open with a metallic clanging sound that reverberated through the square-shaped stone chamber. The golden blonde slashes of his eyebrows furrowed into a dark frown, his upper lip curled into a hateful scowl when his aquamarine coloured eyes, greatly complemented with deep blue flecks, landed on the tall brunette Mord'Sith, forever present at Darken Rahl's side, sauntering confidently into his rat-infested accommodations.
For the past several days, he'd been escorted back and forth between his cell and the training pit, his shirtless body was covered in a variety of red and purple bruises, both deep and shallow incisions left to bleed, the rats he was confined with seemed to enjoy nibbling on his open wounds when he tried to sleep, attracted by the thick blood covering his upper body, but the worst of his injuries were the numerous fluid-filled welts that never ceased to throb furiously day and night. But he knew better than to attempt draining them, his mother, Dahlia, had visited him in secret over the years while he lived among the Dragon Corps, she had taught him to partition his mind, a precaution so that if the truth of his heritage was ever discovered he could sustain torture long enough for his parents to come for him, he used the techniques his mother had shown him to avoid being broken during his torture. His parents would come for him, and no amount of silvery words that slipped past the lips of the brunette Mord'Sith while his gangly body suffered through agony would ever convince him otherwise.
"On your feet pet, Lord Rahl will see you now" She ordered sharply. Sam ignored her arrogant smirk as he climbed to his feet, his bruised and beaten body screamed with protest at being forced to move, for a moment he thought he might vomit from the remnants of the Agiel's destructive magic coursing through him, it was always present, depriving him of sleep or respite. He couldn't take a full breath, his lungs wouldn't permit it and he wouldn't permit himself to let the whimper building in the back of his throat to escape. For a brief moment the world swayed before him, drifting away on an unseen breeze, he stared up at at the Mord'Sith, feeling an overwhelming urge to do anything he could to please her when he heard his mother's soft voice ringing in his ears, encouraging him to remain strong, reminding him that this pain would end when his parents came for him. He finally drew air into his uncooperative lungs, he straightened out of his hunched-over position, and let his arms, formerly crossed over his stomach, fall to his sides, his palms open.
"Lead on then" Thankfully his youthful drawl didn't betray the torment swirling at his core, pressing and prodding at the battered crumbling column of his will. He was the son of Mord'Sith, Mistresses of Pain, he had endured more agony than any other child, even some adults, in existence could have, but he could still feel himself beginning to fade away. He couldn't last much longer, he knew it, the brunette Sister of the Agiel staring down at him like he was an insignificant speck of dirt knew it. He hugged the image of his parents closer in his mind's eye, feeling a wealth of renewed strength flood his veins at the small smiles he could picture them wearing for him. Sam forced a smirk for one of his tormentors, knowing how much the self-confident look would irritate her. She didn't deign to display her annoyance, she merely turned on her heel and stalked out of the prison cell. He grimaced tightly and followed after her, telling himself he only hurried to catch up with her to spare himself more agony later, rather than because he felt like there was some invisible leash around his neck that gave him no choice.
xxxxXxxxx
Berdine pressed her full red lips tightly together, struggling not to laugh mirthfully at the Seeker trying to reign in all of her unruly Sisters of the Agiel, each of the leather-clad women had their own plans to liberate their First Mistress and her mate, and they weren't at all interested in listening to Richard Rahl, not even for a single moment.
Cara's Lord Rahl was utterly at a loss on what to do in order to get his say heard, even on the far side of the dark damp cave, lazily perched on an upraised slope of stone with Raina resting contentedly in her lap, she could see how clueless the Seeker was in the ways of steadfast, conclusive leadership. There were few things a Mord'Sith respected, and they were strength, control, loyalty, composure...she could detect a lot of determination falling off Cara's Lord Rahl in waves, and there was a distinct desperation to prove himself shinning in his soft brown eyes but he obviously had never unwaveringly commanded anyone before. It was both amusing and heartening to see a Rahl in such need of guidance. Darken Rahl had always thought he knew best, never taking note of any other route or opinion and anyone who questioned him was met with brutal punishments, always delivered swiftly and effectively by the Mord'Sith. She had been considered the wisest of the Sisterhood ever since she was young, 'The Mistress of Words' her somewhat more physical Sisters labelled her, but she had to admit, Cara had proven herself prudent in her choice to follow the Seeker rather than immediately returning to the fold.
The Seeker would never order them to be re-broken if, for a moment, they stopped being heartless extensions of the ordinarily ruthless Lord Rahl himself, if they showed that they had minds of their own. Richard would never rape them for falling in love, a reminder that as Mord'Sith their bodies would always belong to the Lord Rahl, or separate them from their mate for years on end for daring to wear white leather, signalling their unconditionallyendless devotion to someone else other than the Master of D'Hara. Berdine tightened her lightly muscled arms around Raina's waist, feeling painful memories begin to seep into her like an acidic poison. The shorter woman tilted her head back toward her, Raina's dark irises grew darker still when their eyes met, they knew each other thoughts without words ever being needed, and they were aching with a shared agony, she nudged her forehead against her lover's beautifully lithe slender shoulder. Mord'Sith may be able to sire children with each other through the Breath of Life but that was a privilege she could never share with her mate, a dream that could never be fulfilled, they were both barren because of Darken Rahl. She felt Raina's soft lips graze over the top of her head, carefully as to avoid disturbing the knot of her long braid of dark brown hair, taking a deep breath she lifted her head of her mate's shoulder and whistled loudly, a shrill sound that ripped through the naturally formedcavern and rebounded off the jagged walls. Her boisterous band of Sisters obediently fell silent instantaneously, each of them stoically looking to her for direction, she wielded just as much influence as Cara or Denna ever had, and though they were no longer a conventional Temple of Mord'Sith, their structural hierarchy remained in tact. Richard, Kahlan and Zeddicus stared at one another, but otherwise stayed quiet, she could almost see how relieved the three were to no longer have to heatedly argue with her Sister Mord'Sith just to have their opinions heard.
"Mera, Garren, I want a count of how many arrows we have left" Berdine shamelessly nuzzled her face into the crook of Raina's neck, happily tracing gentle circles over the petite woman's hard stomach as she conducted several methods of releasing Cara and Dahlia from garrison, while at the same time calculating their odds of success. Mera and Garren looked at each other before striding towards the driest corner of the cave, where all of their supplies were kept to avoid damp invading their equipment and food, the two brunettes were quick to announce they had just seventeen arrows remaining after months of hunting for their food
"Hally, Rikka, you two are our most adept archers, I've seen you take down three targets with a single arrow, when we attack I want you both to silently kill the sentries stationed in the guard towers so that we might have the element of surprise on our side, then focus in on their archers, we can all wager that they are the only reason Cara and Dahlia were taken prisoner" Berdine felt Raina's graceful hands cradled the back of her own palms, the smaller woman pressed her back more firmly into her ample chest, though her attention was equally divided between tenderly cuddling her beloved mate and formulating a strategy, she was still very much aware of the discreet shards of envy shinning in her Sister's eyes and the amazed gazes she was receiving from the Seeker and his companions, like she was a Spirit incarnate, she rolled her lively blue eyes.
"There are at least fifty guards at the garrison, and ten of us, some might find that slightly demoralizing but my Sisters, you know me well, I like these odds..." Berdine grinned wolfishly, earning herself several concordant chuckles from the other Mord'Sith. She playfully nipped at the oval shape of Raina's jaw, the shorter woman smiled down at her lovingly.
"...And I see no reason for us to linger here any longer..." She tilted her head, gesturing toward the thick curtain of loudly flowing water enclosing their hideaway from prying eyes out on the road. Richard, Kahlan and Zeddicus all looked rather confused as to why she stayed perfectly still, sat atop the slightly upraised slope of bedrock with her petite mate tenderly cradled in her lap like the rare treasure she was, she playfully winked at Cara's friends earning herself a montage of bemused, confused and almost affectionate glances from them. Hally and Rikka grabbed their bows and their quivers, while the rest of her companions, dutifully shouldered their way out of the cave, one by one. When Hally and Rikka finally joined their Sisters outside the cavern, Berdine trailed her gloved fingers across Raina's upper stomach mere centimetres beneath the soft swell of the raven-haired woman's breasts, a feather-light touch that had her lover shuddering against her own ample chest, until she could gently squeeze the slight curve of the smaller woman's hips in the palms of her hands.
"...Raina, my love, I am beginning to believe as Cara so obviously does, thatD'Hara has a bright future ahead" She whispered for her lover's ears only. Raina inhaled deeply and covered Berdine's elegant hands with her own, the taller woman leaned upward and adoringly nuzzled the other woman's defined cheekbone.
"Perhaps we'll have to stay and see how it unfolds..." Berdine felt her full lips tilt into a wide smile as Raina spoke softly, the curiosity in her lover's dark eyes was an echo of her own, and like two halves of the same whole they shared the same deeply rooted worries.
"...But I will not be forced into being a Rahl's slave ever again Berdine" She pressed a tender kiss to her mate's cheek, a soft resounding promise. They had tasted freedom by following Dahlia and renouncing Darken Rahl, freedom to be something more than just Mord'Sith andshe had no intention of ever being enslaved and utilised as a mindless killer again, but she would readily do battle with both the Keeper and the Creator and their infinite legions of servants for Raina to live free if that was the price required of her.
"I'd sooner tear out Richard's still beating heart and offer it up to you on a gold plate then let that happen"
xxxxXxxxx
Cara ran her gloved fingertips along the iron crevice of of the cell door, she distinctly recalled the General locking the three inch thick slab of steel that was employed to keep the most dangerous prisoners contained inside the garrison. Richard and Kahlan's pesky optimism had to be contagious because despite her knowledge of the fact, she still experienced a small pang of disappointment in her chest when she confirmed the door was secured tightly, even though she'd driven fear through the Commander's heart like a lethally sharpened sword to such an extent he'd left the dungeon a witless fool.
"Sealed..." She muttered. She turned away from the entryway, just she as a sound of abject frustration erupt from her Dahlia's full red lips
"...And judging from the ponderous stampede of boots, the guards have vacated the halls so we cannot use their own stupidity against them and acquire the keys"
If they could just get out of the prison cell, they would have to sneak into the General's office to collect their Agiels from where she knew they were still laying on the floor where they'd been forced to abandon the thin leather rods, then could then decide upon an advantageous location which would provide them with the opportunity to assassinate Rahl when he arrived, take their son and, depending on when Richard, Berdine and the other reached them, surreptitiously slip out of the garrison. If her companions did not arrive in time and they were detected, with Dahlia at her side, she could easily fight her way out of the garrison, even with fifty soldiers all vying for their heads, but such a predicament became much more perilous when she included Sam in the scenario. She heaved a harsh sigh as defeat pushed down on her shoulders, threatening to force her to her knees, she had no practical plan in mind, but it didn't matter, unless she could find a way out of the cell they would be at a serious disadvantage when confronted with Darken Rahl.
"Which means they're preparing to greet their pig of a Master, bent over with their asses raised, and we still have no fucking plan" Dahlia pinched the bridge of her nose between her crimson gloved thumb and forefinger. The brunette looked so forlorn that she felt like she was being punched in the heart, she strode toward her mate, leaning back against the wooden wall, and cupped the side of her lover's strikingly beautiful face in her right hand. She felt her sculpted lips tilt into a smile when Dahlia leaned into her touch, the brunette covered the back of her right palm with her own.
"We took Pallas Ridge without a sound strategy. We put down the rebellion in Galea even when we were outnumbered five-to-one, and in the course of one night, I held the lives of both Richard and Darken Rahl in my hands. We are going to get our son back and we are going to send the pompous prick that stole him from us back to the Underworld where I imagine the Keeper will be oh so eager to greet him, only it will be his ass that is raised. A plan is nothing without the strength of will to see it through" Cara lifted her left hand, until she was gently cradling Dahlia's angelic face in both hands while the brunette smirked absently, likely envisioning the gruelling and eternal punishment the Keeper would surely visit on Darken Rahl for defying his order.
She softly brushed her thumbs over her lover's high cheekbones as she leaned in closer to her lover's warm leather sheathed body, they both sighed when she covered her mate's lips, the brunette's mouth was softer than the inside petals of a newly bloomed crimson rose, she couldn't help but marvel over how wonderful the other woman's lips felt against hers, nor could she stifle her gentle moan when Dahlia began responding to her kiss, for a long sweet intimate moment all she knew was their loving embrace, a dance no one else knew the steps to. Unbridled desire, that was what she felt when she was with her mate, a Mord'Sith governed her emotions with a steely hand, but this lust, the deeply rooted passion that was growing into a burning flame at her very core, was always present when she was near Dahlia, always waiting to catch alight so that it could rage into an inferno of ecstasy. She yearned for no other. She guided her hands down the gorgeous column of Dahlia's neck until she was gripping the brunette's slender shoulders, her lover's own hands came to rest on her lean hips as they began to pant heatedly against each other's mouths, she licked her mate's plump lower lip, a languidly playful swipe of her tongue. She felt Dahlia smile, just before, the brunette parted her perfect lips. She flinched when a sudden and shrill peel ripped through the entire garrison, she reluctantly broke their fiery kiss and stared into her lover's brilliant blue eyes. She took a cautionary step back from the other Mord'Sith, she didn't trust herself not to resume their embrace, she nearly whimpered with frustration when she caught sight of Dahlia's passion swollen lips, unfocused wide pupils and flushed cheeks, another shrill peel resounded through the garrison. The warning bell in the guard tower, she stared at the cast iron prison door, a slow malevolent smirk tugged at the right corner of her mouth, the bell's ringing could mean one of two things, either Darken Rahl had just arrived or Richard and the others had, either way the blood of her enemies would soon be spilled in excess.
xXx
"This is not a bad way to start the day..." Berdine mused aloud with a wide grin, displaying her dimples, a streak of vivid red blood dripped down the tall Mord'Sith's cheek, a welcomed result of the vicious carnage raging around her.
"...Although, I can certainly think of something I would much rather be doing"
She waited until the sound of rushing footfalls grew louder in her ears. She pressed her back tightly against the hard wall behind her, mere inches away from one of the corners in the plain halls of the Commander's personal barracks, only when she was confident she would hit her mark did she step closer to the corner itself, she tensed and slammed her elbow into the nose of the encroaching solider, a Captain, judging from the hardly noticeable Eagle insignia his uniform of red leather and chain mail. He dropped to the hardwood floor, flat on his back and clutching at his broken nose with both hands while he howled uncontrollably. She rolled her lively blue eyes, with her left boot she kicked out at his forearm with the intention of baring his chest, he froze fearfully when he finally caught sight of her, looming above him drenched from head to toe in the blood of his comrades. With his arms upraised, his chest was no longer protected, she gave him a cold smirk before she rammed her Agiel into his chest, directly over his heart, he started to convulse and wail from the Agiel's magic, until she twisted the thin leather rod and the light in his brown eyes faded.
"Excuse me, did you just refer to me as something?" Raina snapped behind her, still concealed from the crossway in the corridor, the dark haired woman carried Dahlia's Agiel tucked into the back of her belt, while she had both of Cara's weapons in a similar fashion.
Berdine glanced over her shoulder, she parted her lips to correct her mistake, when the air violently shifted to her right, the whistle of a sword echoed in her ears. She started to turn, but before she could even begin to move, her lover was moving passed her with such fluid grace and agility that she was momentarily transfixed. She may be physically stronger than Raina, but her mate's skilful speed was truly mesmerising, so much so that all she could do was stand and watch while the lumbering soldier took several wide swings at her lover with his broadsword, Raina twisted and dodged each and every attack, she tensed to intervene when the soldier took a sideways swing at her lover, she took a hurried step forward, only pausing when the petite Mord'Sith lunged down, under the blade rapidly approaching her neck, into a forward roll and returned to her feet behind the bewildered soldier. Berdine grinned when he stared at her confusedly, just as Raina shoved her Agiel into the base of his skull, the other woman twisted her weapon and lowered her arm allowing the solider to fall dead at their feet. She groaned softly, watching her mate's eyes darken with satisfaction, like a gloriously beautiful she-wolf fresh off the hunt.
"Allow me to rephrase, my love, I would much rather be wearing nothing but a White collar around my neck with you straddling my face" Berdine growled suggestively, a potent mixture of simmering arousal and adrenaline thrumming through her veins, Raina smiled slowly and blindly stepped over the dead solider at her feet, she affectionately licked the centre of her mate's gloved palm when the shorter woman lifted her hand, she watched Raina's eyes darken further at her wholly submissive gesture and the petite Mord'Sith's chest began to rise and fall faster with her breathing.
"Tonight..." Raina's forefinger curled under her chin, she was lost in her mate's dark eyes as she leaned downward, guided by her lover's gentle touch. She moaned deep in her throat when Raina nipped at her lower lip.
"...But first, we need to rescue our Sisters. Then we can find somewhere quiet, away from prying eyes and swords swinging at our heads, where I am going to keep you until our knees buckle" She gripped the back of Raina's neck in her hand and pulled her raven-haired lover into a searing kiss that rendered them both breathless and wanting within moments. As much as she wanted to back her mate up against the wall, bury her hand in Raina's leathers so she could push her fingers inside the shorter woman's tight pussy, she would sooner slit her own throat then willing and knowingly place the other Mord'Sith in danger, besides tonight they would have all the time in the world to make love. She lifted her head, effectively ending their heated and possessive kiss, she watched as Raina replaced her cold and composed mask, imperiously schooling her breathtaking features, appearing every inch the deadly Mord'Sith to all but her, she could still see the tender gleam in her mate's dark eyes.
"Lets go, the dungeons are just down the hall"
xXx
Several loud screams of sheer agony assaulted Cara's ears, Dahlia shifted closer to her right side when the distinct sound of a key scrapping into a lock drifted toward them. She cracked her knuckles in preparation for the fight to come, her lover's leather-clad body tensed beside her, the door swung open unceremoniously.
"Well fancy seeing you two here..." Cara barked a laugh when Berdine and Raina stepped into the cell, covered in blood that was obviously not their own.
"...Tell me girls, did you get lost on the way home?. Honestly, you pumpkin heads, do you have any idea how big of an inconvenience this has been your mother and I?..." Berdine drawled sarcastically, her lively blue eyes dancing with coquettish mirth, the taller Mord'Sith broke out into a huge grin. Cara pursed her lips with contempt, but she found herself unable to keep from smiling fondly at her Sisters of the Agiel.
"...You two will be doing household chores for the rest of the week as recompense" Berdine rested her fists on her curvy hips and tilted her head, Raina slapped the back of her hand against the taller woman's hard stomach and reached behind her, an action that spurred Berdine into movement as well, she grinned wolfishly as Berdine extended both her Agiel, out the corner of her aquamarine coloured eye she saw Raina return Dahlia's own weapon.
"I suppose we do owe you both for this..." She inclined her head, a show of respect for her rescuers "...Has Rahl arrived yet?" She held her breath as she waited for them to answer.
"Mera and Constance are in the guard tower, if..." Raina was interrupted by the tolling of the warning bell being rung yet again. Rahl. Blood-lust washed over her.
"Lets move, I want this done with" She tightened her fingers around the hilts of her Agiel and brushed pass Berdine and Raina, Dahlia was close at her side with the other two Mord'Sith bringing up the rear. The four of them stalked through the Commander's barracks, joining the rest of their companions just outside the building. She instinctively warded off Kahlan's affectionate hug, instead she briefly placed a hand on the Confessor's shoulder as she passed, and she glared at Richard until his wide grin withered into a clipped smile, she rolled her eyes just as Constance and Mera rejoined them.
"How large of a retinue does he have?" Cara demanded instantaneously of her Sisters, she feared that she knew the answer, upon their initial infiltration she had estimated that a hundred soldiers had left to escort Rahl back to the garrison, but there was no telling how many men Darken Rahl already had guarding him.
"A hundred and fifty, at least..." Constance reported dutifully "...And I could see another Mord'Sith beside him" Cara's jaw clenched, she tried to suppress her rage at the news, she thought she might be successful until she looked over her shoulder to find Dahlia's brilliant blue eyes shinning brightly.
"There are twelve of us, we're skilled but we can't take on a force like that, not without heavy casualties. We have to retreat" Richard insisted. Cara fought the urge to scream, she knew the chances of them surviving an attack from Rahl's force were too menial for them to risk staying, but her maternal instinct was at war with her rationality, she needed her son back where she could keep him safe. She had promised Dahlia that they would be a family, and would refused to break that promise.
"Its not your decision Seeker" Dahlia snarled.
"I understand your frustration..." Compassion bled into Richard's warm brown eyes. Cara nearly laughed, one of Richard's prime weaknesses was children, the other was Kahlan, the third was Zedd and Jennsen. But her lover was right, Richard couldn't fully comprehend the situation, he didn't know Rahl's cruelty like they did, and he had never been forced to give up his son.
"You understand nothing, you blathering fool, and you do not command me" Dahlia's every muscle was coiled tightly, pain shone brightly in her mate's eyes, the other Mord'Sith was like a stunningly lethal panther, one longing for her cub. But they wouldn't be any use to Sam if they died here.
"Rahl is closing in Cara, if we're leaving then we need to go, now" Berdine urged gently.
"Wizard, a side exit if you please..." She barked at Zedd, the elderly Wizard had been uncommonly quiet in the past few moments, with a grim nod Zedd set off, disappearing from sight, through the soldiers barracks, toward the fort's tall right wall. Rahl would undoubtedly have archers with him, and she intended to keep her companions out of their range. A loud screeching sound, like a saw's teeth cutting through wood, resounded through the garrison, she resisted the urge to cover her ears, her Sisters and Richard and Kahlan all grimaced. Dahlia stared at her, betrayal shinning in her brilliant blue eyes. A tearing sensation ripped through her chest, she nearly gasped with agony.
"...We're leaving..." Richard and Kahlan hurried to join Zedd, their Sisters were slower to join the three.
"...At last I have a plan Dahlia, trust me"
TBC . . .