Seeker

-Present Day-

"Jennsen," Zedd gasped as he came upon the group standing in tense silence. "What has happened to you child?"

"What do you think has happened to her?" Kahlan snapped, watching Richard from the corner of her eye.

Kahlan did not need to elaborate on that statement. Richard knew her well enough to understand what she was thinking.

If the Mord'Sith had done this to Jennsen, how could he possibly harbor Cara?

But after all Cara had done to help Richard ensure the world had a chance for a bright future… how could he not?

"Mistress," Jennsen said quietly, "please never leave me behind again."

-l-

-In the 23rd year of the reign of Lord Darken Rahl-

"Mistress, please don't go," Jennsen pleaded, her face full of fear. She sat in the center of Cara's enormous bed, bandages her only covering.

"It is a Mord'Sith's duty to serve Lord Rahl," Cara answered coolly, "The resistance is raiding a nearby outpost. I must ride there to aid our soldiers."

Jennsen frowned at the mention of the resistance, the face of a friend floating to the surface of her mind.

Cara felt the change in the air.

"Tell me, Jennsen… what was your life like, before you met the Seeker?"

Jennsen frowned, worrying her bottom lip between her teeth.

"Mother was always afraid Lord Rahl would find us. We were always running."

"But," Cara advanced on the bed, sinuous as a cat, her flat green eyes adding to the illusion, "did those fears ever manifest? Did Lord Rahl send anyone after you, even once, before the Seeker returned to the Midlands?"

"Denna – "

"Denna was a fool!" Cara spat. Jennsen shrank back against the headboard.

Taking a deep breath, Cara's smoothed her face back into her usual emotionless mask. She settled down on the edge of the bed, opening her arms to the frightened woman. She had to remember the key to Jennsen's training was kindness and gentility… no matter how ill used she was to acting in such a way.

Jennsen took the invitation, molding her soft nakedness against Cara's hard leather, a sigh escaping the small redhead as the Mord'Sith's arms closed around her.

Safe.

"What if I told you, Jennsen," Cara said lowly, "that Lord Rahl had always known where you were, and looked after you from afar. He knew your mother wouldn't trust his intentions were he to declare himself. It wasn't until the Seeker began to foster strife in our land that he had to seek your help."

"But –"

"It was Denna, not Lord Rahl who treated you badly. She defied his orders that you were not to be harmed," Cara said firmly.

Jennsen's breath tickled the tiny hairs on Cara's neck. She didn't respond in any way to what Cara had just told her.

"It was the Seeker who forced Lord Rahl to desperate measures to defend the empire. It was the Seeker who brought war into your life," Cara continued.

The words fell down into Jennsen's soul, like stones into a ravine.

It was impossible to tell when they hit bottom.

Cara disentangled herself from Jennsen, rising to leave.

"Mistress, let me come with you," Jennsen pleaded, fingers twisted in the blankets around her waist.

Cara stopped, her braid lightly thumping into her back. She answered without turning, "No, Jennsen. I thought you were loyal to me, and to Lord Rahl. But now… I'm not so sure."

She took a few steps, her heavy-soled boots ringing against the stone of the floor. She paused just short of the doorway, flat green eyes seeking out electric blue.

"Remember, Jennsen, it is the Seeker who forces me to leave you now."

-l-

Triana waited in the hall, out of Jennsen's sightline. Cara exited her suite. She paused, her brow wrinkled in the way that Triana knew meant she was considering her strategy. Cara was a brilliant tactician. Arrogant as the Keeper, but brilliant.

Triana was never quite sure if she loved or hated her.

After a moment, Cara nodded, signaling Triana to move ahead as planned. Cara would ride the surrounding countryside, enforcing Lord Rahl's will.

Triana would keep their Lord's sister entertained.

She stepped into the suite where little Jennsen waited.