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The Hunt (Chapter 7)
Having left the sanctuary and the bliss-filled memories of their wayward pine far behind, Richard and Kahlan quickly made their way through the thick forest. The forest was densely populated with various types of trees that helped to protect them from detection.
The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. In the soft glow of morning, it was still just dark enough to be unable to make out the shadows that surrounded them.
Both the Seeker and the Mother Confessor were equally lost in their own thoughts again as they continued their trek to Aydindril. Each of their thoughts was consumed with the safety of the other as well as the ecstasy they had experienced together that morning.
Richard couldn't keep away the smile that kept creeping to his lips. The images of Kahlan in his arms as they made love, her kisses, her touch, and her words of love all combined to cause a warm rush of love to flow through his entire body.
Just as the Seeker was unable to keep the smile from his face, he was equally unable to disguise the grief that touched his brown eyes. Kahlan was in danger of spirits know what; he had no idea what they were up against or how he would fight it. Then there was the D'Harans and the Shakrah chasing them. Richard felt as if his world was crashing down all around him and he was helpless to do anything about it. He just prayed that Zedd would have some answers once they got to Aydindril.
Kahlan's was also absorbed with the pure rapture that was making love with Richard this morning. It was like nothing she had ever imagined, better than anything she could have ever dreamed. All her life Kahlan thought love was something that had been created for everyone except for Confessors like her. Now that she had fully experienced true, passionate love with the man she loved, she was not about to let it slip through her fingers.
Whatever the Shakrah had done to her with that arrow, she didn't know. But she did know that she would fight it with every last ounce of strength, with her every breath. Kahlan had more to fight for now than ever before. She had more than just Richard to fight for and protect…she had their love. To her it was sacred and she wasn't about to let anything harm it or the man she loved.
Now as they left the woods, they were no longer under the cover and protection of the trees. They were out in the open with no one to protect them but themselves.
XXX
General Wilkes was growing in fury each day that went by without finding the Mother Confessor. So consumed with her was he that he was making life miserable for his men with his constant yelling and relentless pursuit of the object of his obsession and desire.
A message had come through the journey book that morning from Lord Darken Rahl requesting an update in their pursuit of the Seeker and Mother Confessor. General Wilkes had failed in his daily updates on their progress, having last updated him two days ago. Now Lord Rahl was growing furious himself with the lack of progress in the search and the lack of attention General Wilkes was giving to his duties.
Lord Rahl's message in the journey book had provided a momentary pause in Wilkes' obsession, allowing reality to briefly come back into focus in his mind. Wilkes reluctantly replied to the Lord Rahl's request for an update, informing him that they were close, but still had not captured them yet.
Wilkes slammed the journey book closed, not wanting to see Lord Rahl's response to his communication. He didn't know how he was going to be able to keep Kahlan Amnell to himself and not turn her over to Lord Rahl, but he readily decided to cross that proverbial bridge when he got to it.
He didn't know what had come over him, what had caused him to so deliberately want to defy the Lord Rahl that he had sworn his commitment to and given his life for. Before meeting her, he never would have considered doing such a thing, taking such a tremendous risk. But that was before her. That was before meeting those deep blue eyes, the intoxicating beauty and grace of the Mother Confessor. He didn't know what it was like to be confessed, but he felt he was beginning to.
Parsons was growing more and more concerned with every passing day as his General became more obsessed with the Mother Confessor. He knew she was going to be his destruction, but there was absolutely nothing he could do to persuade him otherwise. Once the General became obsessed with something there was nothing short of the Underworld that would ever be able to stop him. General Wilkes was notorious for his obsessions. Until now, they had never resulted in too much tribulation.
Now as they cleared the forest that their prey's tracks had led them through, Parsons knew that destruction was drawing ever closer, ever nearer. And deep down he knew that General Wilkes would bring him down with him.
XXX
Having cleared the forest before the D'Haran army, the Shakrah had picked up the Seeker and Mother Confessor's trail again in the mid-afternoon sunlight. Having wandered the forest for hours, the Shakrah had finally decided to give up once they had finally found two rider-less horses wondering in a small grassy clearing in the middle of the woods.
Finding no sign of their prey, Timoo had decided to rest for the night and start again at first light, confident that they would soon be victorious and their reward granted to them. He was not the least bit threatened by General Wilkes and his petty little band of soldiers. They were no match for the Shakrah. No one would keep them from their reward.
Timoo also knew that one of their spelled arrows had met its target in the Mother Confessor. Soon, she would be feeling its effects, in more ways than one. Soon, the Seeker would also reap the consequences of that arrow. If either of them lived through it, it was of no matter to him. Lord Rahl had told Timoo that he wanted the Seeker and Mother Confessor dead or alive, but much preferred alive. Timoo found dead to be more to his liking and much easier to contend with.
XXX
Richard was surprised at how well they were making progress on foot on their way to Aydindril. He was more relieved to not have been detected by either the D'Harans or the Shakrah. The longer they went without running into them again, the better. He was more than prepared to take on both of their pursuers and finish this once and for all in order to protect Kahlan. At the same time, he didn't want to risk her safety, knowing that she would be caught up in the fight herself.
He was still very concerned about the arrow, its markings, and what it was doing to Kahlan. She had been progressively slowing down little by little all afternoon after having started out the morning walking at a rapid pace. Now as evening approached, she was becoming paler and her breathing more labored again.
He knew he had to get her to Zedd in Aydindril soon or he could lose her forever. Richard swallowed the thump that had formed in his throat at the thought. He had to stay focused or Kahlan's life would be in even more jeopardy than it already was. Looking over at her now, his chest tightened with worry at the site of her flushed face.
"Kahlan, there's a stream and a clump of trees over there. Why don't we stop and make camp for the night?" Richard suggested as he eyed his Confessor.
"We should keep going, Richard," Kahlan responded breathlessly as she squinted her eyes. Her head was pounding and her lungs were burning with every step she took, but she knew they needed to get to the safety of Aydindril.
"I really think you should rest, Kahlan. You don't look like you're doing very well."
"Is that any way to try to impress the woman you just made love with this morning?" she teased, trying to relieve his concern and disguise her current state of distress. What in the name of Aydindril was that Shakrah arrow doing to her? She had to keep going for Richard's safety.
Richard turned and stopped right in front of her causing her to come to an abrupt halt. Placing his hands on her forearms, he smiled softly before cupping a hand to the side of her feverish face. His smile was swiftly replaced with fear as he felt Kahlan's skin burning beneath his touch.
"Kahlan, even when you're sick you're still the most beautiful woman I've ever seen," he replied with love touching his eyes. "This morning was perfect, but we'll never get to experience it again if you don't rest and let me check your wound. I'm worried about that mark the arrow left. I want to see if it's changed any."
Kahlan reluctantly nodded her agreement as he gently pressed his lips to hers. Taking her hand in his, he led her to the stream. After dropping their packs in the tall grasses that lined the stream, Richard knelt down to fill their water skins while Kahlan sat down, resting her back against a tree.
After dipping a cloth in the cool stream, Richard returned to Kahlan to find her resting against a tree, her eyes closed. Even though her face was flushed and feverish, he still found her to be the most gorgeous woman on the face of the planet.
Kneeling down in front her, he gently pressed the cool wet cloth to her forehead. She barely flinched when the cool cloth touched her face. Her head was pounding, her heart racing, it hurt to breath, her body felt like it was on fire.
Richard continued to dab her face, worry overwhelming his soul. They were so close to Aydindril. If she could just hang on a little longer, Zedd would be able to heal her.
"Kahlan, I'm going to check your wound, alright?" he softly told her as he began to untie the laces of her dress again. Memories from their love making that morning flooded his mind, causing his heart to flutter. She was more precious to him than anything else the world had to offer.
Richard slowly pulled her dress off her shoulder before scooting around behind her to inspect her wound. What he saw was what he had feared most. The small light blue mark that had been there this morning had spread rapidly and now covered most of her back and was starting to spread under her arm towards her heart.
The markings on the arrow that had been prickling his brain all day finally began to make some sense. Richard didn't understand how he was able to put things together in his mind, things that he had never seen or experienced. He felt it must have something to do with being the Seeker and the magic of the Sword he carried.
Panic threatened to consume him as he remembered what Kahlan had told him. The Shakrah were blood-thirsty, heartless savages, killing everyone that came into contact with them. Somehow, they were able to spell their arrows with magic, spells that were aimed at the heart. That was it…that was what those magical markings were for. They were after Kahlan's heart.
With renewed resolve, Richard swore he would not allow them to have it. Kahlan's heart belonged to him and to no one else. She had entrusted it to him, had given it to him to take care of. And the Shakrah were after it. They would have to kill him first to get their hands on it…
