Chapter 7
Richard and Zedd slipped into the temple, Zedd had quietly eliminated two of the guards with his magic while Richard slit the throat of a third who was patrolling the perimeter.
Now inside, the main circular room of the temple didn't allow much in the way of hiding places or protection. The soroal women came at them with all they had. The room was alive with flashes of lightening that Reetha unleashed on them. Zedd countered with a blaze of wizard's fire. Richard's sword was up in a snap, reflecting the lightening, sending the bolts ricocheting throughout the room. Zedd dove for cover as one of the bolts headed straight for him.
Reetha's disciples released their magic, though they were not nearly as powerful as she, nor was she nearly as powerful as Zedd. One of them dropped a magical web on Richard, threatening to squeeze him in. He hacked at it with his sword from within the web, breaking the threads apart.
Another burst of wizard's fire from Zedd took out the disciples, leaving the pair lying in a smoldering heap on the stone floor. Reetha's eyes flashed in anger. As the old wizard released his fire on her, she held up her arms and, with great effort, created an invisible shield of protection against the flames. She ground her teeth in pain as she drew power from deep within herself to hold the shield and simultaneously release a great impact into the air, sending both Zedd and Richard sprawling to the hard floor. Raising her arms, chanting, she brought on the blue flames of passage. She was gone in an instant.
Smoke still hung in the air as Richard and Zedd looked dazedly around the room; a room that just moments ago had been ablaze with fire and lightening was now as calm as a meadow.
Richard pulled himself up and extended a hand to Zedd, helping him stand.
Searching for Kahlan in the temple, Richard found the dried remains of her wedding bouquet. She had been here. He felt relief at knowing that much. But cold fingers of fear crept into him, not knowing where she was now or what they'd done to her. Finding no other sign of her within the temple, they headed back into the woods.
As they made their way through the forest, Richard halted in his tracks, his hands held out from his sides, listening intently. "Do you hear that?"
Zedd strained to listen "What is it? I don't hear it?" Just then, the noise sounded again. This time, they both heard in the distance what sounded like an ax striking a tree. Their eyes said all that was needed as they headed in the direction of the sound.
Inching their way to the top of a ravine, they looked over. A huge bull of a man was in the distance, his big ax chopping at the trunk of a tree. Not far from him, Richard could see Kahlan sitting on the ground, rooting in the dirt. Though he felt extreme relief at finding her, his blood coursed with anger. Anger at having her taken from him, anger at her being held captive, anger at being under the control of this man. His jaw set, his nostrils flared as his eyes narrowed in on her captor.
Zedd stopped Richard from drawing his sword, knowing the ring of steel would draw his attention. The old wizard held up his hands, casting out a wizard's web over him. Nothing happened. Puzzled, Zedd tried the spell again. Again, nothing happened. He tried using another type of spell with no effect.
His eyes widened, turning slowly to Richard, "I believe he is one of the pristinely ungifted. My magic is having no effect on him."
Richard gritted his teeth. "I don't need magic for this." He pulled free his sword, making his way for Marcus. The ring of steel instantly caught the brute's attention, as well as Kahlan's. "Richard!" she was quickly on her feet. Marcus hurled his ax, letting it fly through the air with deadly precision aimed right at Richard's chest. Mere inches from landing solidly in his middle, the ax flashed into flame, instantly turning to ash as Zedd burned the weapon with his wizard's fire. Richard flew through the ashes as they hung in the air, bringing down his sword with a heavy strike. Marcus dodged enough to miss the killing blow, but took a mighty hit. He fell onto his back, his legs raised in the air. With a swift kick of both legs, he sent Richard hurtling backward, plowing him into Zedd, taking him down and knocking the old man unconscious.
Kahlan stayed clear of the flying weapons as she looked for an opportunity to strike.
Marcus pulled his crossbow and fired a shot, hitting Richard squarely in the thigh as he dove for cover. Kahlan screamed his name at seeing him hit. Ripping the bolt from his leg, Richard cried out from the pain and staggered to his feet.
Seeing Richard on the ground, Kahlan made her move, diving for one of the daggers Marcus carried on his belt. As she tried to pull free the dagger, he grabbed her by her hair; his big beefy hand was almost larger than her head. He yanked hard, shoving her violently to the ground causing her to cry out.
Richard was filled with fury as he ran to close the distance and finish him off. Marcus pulled his dagger free, readying for the throw. Kahlan could see Richard was too far back, the weapon would land in his chest as he soared through the air with his blade. In that instant she knew what she had to do. In a flash that only lasted a moment she looked at Richard. He was already committed to his strike, flying through the air, bringing his blade down. But she knew it would be too late. The flying dagger would reach him first. Her eyes caught his as she pulled herself up. Marcus released the dagger. Richard's eyes went wide as he realized what she was about to do, he heard himself screaming "Noooooo!" as Kahlan threw herself between him and the path of the dagger. The blade of the weapon buried in her back, the force throwing her face first into the dirt.
Richard's sword sliced through Marcus' chest, impaling him up to the hilt. He didn't stop long enough to pull the weapon from him, leaving it buried in the lifeless man and fell to his knees beside to Kahlan.
Blood poured from her wound, soaking into the ground. "Kahlan!" He lifted her shoulders and gently rolled her to lay in his arms, careful of the weapon still in her back. Tears fell from his eyes as he brushed the dirt from her face. "Hold on Kahlan. You'll be okay." Kahlan's ashen face struck terror into his heart. She was losing a lot of blood. "Zedd!" He screamed for his grandfather, needing his healing magic to help her. Zedd lay unmoving, still unconscious on the ground.
He rocked Kahlan in his arms as he knelt in the dirt sobbing. She put a hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry Richard. I was going to have a baby…" her hand weakly touched his face, "I'm sorry we won't be here with you. We'll be waiting for you."
He knew she was telling him she was going to die. With his arm under her shoulders, he pulled her close against him, "Kahlan, no. You're going to be okay." He moved his other hand to low on her belly. "You're going to have our baby, Kahlan. Everything will be fine, and we'll all be together." He smiled at her though his tears.
She tried to return the smile but didn't have the strength, "I love you Richard, forever" she whispered. Her lifeless hand fell from his face. Huddled over her on the ground, he wrapped both arms tight around her as his anguished cry rang through the forest.
xxx
