Tears of Glass – Part 8 – Turning Back
Richard sat on the saddle of his horse, frowning. His hands held the pommel as the stallion rocked back and forth as it steadily made its way forward. Kahlan was holding both his and her reins in her hands as she directed her horse to follow Zedd. Cara was behind them, and the Mord'Sith's eyes narrowed as she watched Kahlan maneuver her horse closer to Richard's.
"Is something wrong, Richard?" Kahlan asked softly, so that the others could not hear.
"I'm just thinking about Pendose," Richard said. "Maybe we should have stayed."
"What?" Kahlan frowned, herself, this time. "But we have to get you to Aydindril. Then… then we can get your eye sight back, and… and we can get married."
"I know, I know," he said nodding, one hand coming up to adjust the bandage around his head and scratch his temple. "And… and I want to do that more than anything…" he paused and clenched his jaw. "I just don't like leaving those people behind in danger. I mean, I'm the Seeker, what good am I if I don't help people in need."
Kahlan shifted to hold both reins in one hand and reached over with her free hand to touch his arm. "You're no good to anyone if you die…," she nearly choked out. "Richard, you can hardly walk without me directing you, how can you fight something that has no form or substance."
Richard lowered his brow, and he scowled. "I'm not weak, Kahlan!" he hissed. "I can still fight. Spirits, I saved you from that thing. I even fought Sisters of the Dark at the Pillars of Creation like this. I can fight it. I know I can." He turned his head to face her, though he could not see her, he looked towards her. "If you've ever trusted me, Kahlan," he said. "Trust me now!"
His hand suddenly darted out and he grabbed the reins from her. Kahlan let out a shout, but he was too quick. Richard spun the horse around and gave it a kick, sending the mount galloping away in the opposite direction.
Cara let out a yell as Richard went careening past her, and the Mord'Sith looked up at Kahlan with a bewildered look. Kahlan called for Zedd and the old wizard turned back to see what was going on. He rode back to them.
"Bags! What's happened!" he huffed.
"Richard's being stubborn is what's happening," Cara grumbled, spinning her horse around. "And, as usual, we're going to have to clean up his mess." The Mord'Sith gave the horse a sharp squeeze with her legs and spurred her mount on. "Well, what are you waiting for!" she yelled back at them as she went galloping after Richard. "Let's go after him."
Kahlan needed no more encouragement. She grabbed her reins and urged her horse onward. What was Richard thinking? He did not need to prove himself to her or anyone. She bit her lip, knowing that he'd never do such a thing if he were not blind. He was allowing his current condition to cloud his thinking. Kahlan was determined she would rid his mind of such thinking. All that was required now was to catch up with him.
XXX
Astrid looked out of the cabin window. "Erik, hurry!" she called back to her husband.
"I'm moving as fast as I can, woman!" he growled, shoving food into a pack. Astrid furrowed her brow, hurt a little by his mean tone, but she loved him fiercely, so she forgave it. They were worried and frightened, and both for the same reasons.
The sounds had started an hour ago and they were getting louder. Twenty minutes ago she thought she had heard screams from the neighboring farm. The Duke's guards had been around earlier today, telling them to vacate the area. Astrid did not know why, but there had been rumors for weeks, ever since the closing of the rifts, that something evil had slipped through and was haunting the woods nearby Pendose.
Astrid bit her lower lip, worried, and ran her hand over her swollen belly, trying to ease the child growing within. He was kicking something fierce. Erick came up behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Sorry, Astrid… I'm just…," he began.
"I know," she said, holding his hand, resting it over her belly. "I'm worried about the baby as well."
Erik slipped his hand down to grab hers. "Let's go."
She nodded and took one last look over their home before closing the door. They darted away from their cabin and through the thick woods that lay beyond. Erik led the way as they pushed through the brush and undergrowth that surrounded the trees. His brow was beaded with sweat, and the worry creased his entire face.
Astrid stumbled and almost fell. She yelped, immediately moving her arms over her belly to protect the child. Erik caught her in his strong arms before she could hit the ground. "Hang in there, Astrid," he murmured into her ears, caressing her cheek as he pulled her with him. He lifted her into his arms and began carrying her.
The growls and howls of some fearsome beasts echoed throughout the wind. But they did not sound like any animals Astrid had ever seen or heard before. It was like a combination of all the predators that had ever stalked the woods of Pendose.
Suddenly she heard a snorting noise, and Erik held on to her tightly as they turned a corner. They were met by a rearing horse.
"Whoa! Whoa!" shouted the rider, but the horse ignored him and bucked. The man slipped and fell off his saddle, collapsing onto the ground.
Erik gently set her down on her feet and checked to make sure she was all right, before going to over to see to the rider. Her husband gripped the reins of the horse and soothed it. The stallion snorted and calmed down as Erik rubbed his neck. Astrid smiled; he was always so good with animals. She stepped forward, resting her hand on her belly as she watched Erik help the rider up.
"Are you all right?" he asked. Astrid narrowed her eyes as she looked at the man. He had a bandage wrapped around his head and his brown hair was unruly and drenched in sweat.
"Where am I?" the man asked, breathing deeply.
"In the woods of Pendose," Erik replied. "Come. You must come with us, the woods are not safe at night."
"Yes, I know," the man nodded. "I've come to help."
Erik exchanged a perplexed look with her, then turned back to the man. "Forgive me, sir, but you seem to be the one in need of help," he said.
"I'm fine!" the man snarled and clutched at something around his waist. His hand came up and he had produced a fierce looking sword.
Erik backed away and moved to shield her. "Please, sir, I meant no offense," he said. "Please… my wife… she's with child."
The man stopped. "Then you should move… now," he said.
They had no idea what he was talking about. Astrid clutched on to Erik's arm, worried and scared. Whoever this man was, he was causing panic, and frightening her. She placed her hand over her belly, concerned for her unborn child.
"Go now!" the man shouted, stepping around blindly, pulling away his blindfold.
Astrid gasped. She clutched Erik's arm tightly. "Erik, look at his eyes!" Bloody tears were running down his cheeks, and the white of his eyes had turned completely red.
Then it came, the howling. Astrid spun around and cried out. A vaporous cloud of black morphed and crawled around the tree. The horse whinnied in fright and snorted, rearing up. The man darted around, and before Erik could grab the reins of the horse, the steed bolted, galloping away.
"Down!" the man cried, pushing Erik aside.
Astrid backed away as the black cloud came towards her. The strange man darted in front of her and held his sword up. The blade glowed a brilliant white. She held a hand over her eyes, and watched in shock as the man darted straight at the screeching black cloud.
Erik jumped up by her side, and grabbed her arm, pulling her back. They watched as the man swung his sword while the black cloud twisted and roared around him. The man screamed and the tendrils came out from the particles and began snaking along the ground like mist.
The tendrils crawled out towards her, reaching for her swollen belly. "No, not my baby!" she wailed, backing up. The man immediately began thrashing about inside the cloud, the sword swinging around in his hands.
Holding her arms around herself, to protect the child yet to be born, Astrid backed up and cried out, as she heard a wail that sounded like death itself. Within the black cloud, the man crumpled over. The cloud shifted and darted from him, as he pushed himself up swinging the sword wildly. It twisted and squeeze, and screeched in what sounded like pain. The sound engulfed the entire woods, and the particles shot up into the air. The dark cloud gone.
A sudden stillness came over them. The man slumped on the ground, resting on his knees. He moved his arm, and held up his sword, using it to prop himself up.
"Erik, look! The sword!" Astrid gasped, pointing out at the man.
Erik squinted and looked at the hilt of the sword. "Spirits, it can't be," he furrowed his brow. "The Seeker?"
The man's head darted up, hearing them talk. "Yes?"
Astrid pushed off of Erik and waddled over to the man, clutching herself, feeling her baby kick. "You're the Seeker?"
"Yes," the man answered, pushing up off the ground with the sword that she now knew was the Sword of Truth.
Suddenly the neighs and whinnies of approaching horses filled the air. The galloping hoofs resounded around them. The Seeker stood and told them to move behind him. Astrid grabbed a hold of Erik as they moved to obey. The Seeker's chest heaved as he raised the sword in front of him. She thought she heard him whisper something to it, like it was an old friend, but she was not sure.
Astrid had never seen the Seeker before. She had only heard stories about him and his deeds. But whether they were truth or not, she did not know. All that mattered was that he was here now, and that he was protecting them. Protecting her unborn child.
Out of the shadows, three horses arrived with riders. One of them had blonde hair and wore red leather. Astrid squeezed closer to her husband, afraid that the Mord'Sith had come to attack the Seeker. She knew that the D'Harans had little love for him, since he had killed their master, Darken Rahl.
However, it was one of the other figures that dismounted first. It was a woman with long dark hair and piercing blue eyes. Astrid was left awestruck by the woman's beauty. She wore dark clothes that accentuated her curves and her skirt's cut provided a generous show of her thighs.
The woman came rushing towards them, and Astrid was afraid she might be some sorceress from the south. Merchants had told her of how strange women from the south had appeared through the Midlands during the tear in the veil, seeking to find the Mother Confessor and Seeker. Astrid was worried that this might be one of those women and that she had allied herself with the Mord'Sith.
But as the woman got closer, Astrid noticed that the expression she wore was not one of anger or revenge, but one of worry and concern.
The woman opened her mouth. "RICHARD!"
The Seeker immediately lowered his sword and the beautiful woman collided with him, her mouth smashing into his as she kissed him with such a passion that Astrid felt embarrassed to be staring. Her arms wrapped around him and pulled him tight as she buried her head in his chest. Then she backed away and gave him a punch in the shoulder.
"Don't you dare do that to me again, do you hear me!" she admonished him.
"I'm sorry, Kahlan," he said, his voice thick with emotion. He moved the sword around and found the scabbard, and sheathed it.
"Kahlan… Kahlan Amnell?" Astrid said stepping forward.
The beautiful woman with the dark hair looked at her for a moment, and her blue eyes darted down, noticing her swollen belly. She smiled and nodded, leaning into the Seeker. Astrid looked back at her husband and her eyes grew wide. He helped her as they knelt before the woman, who was holding onto the Seeker like her life depended on it.
"Sorry, we did not recognize you, Mother Confessor," Erik spoke for them.
"The Seeker saved our lies, Mother Confessor," Astrid quickly added, not knowing why she felt the need to explain the Seeker's actions. "He saved us."
The Mother Confessor nodded and turned back to the Seeker, running her hands down his face. "Well at least you did something right, Richard," she murmured, then kissed him again, but this time, more softly and with much more love in it. Astrid had heard rumors at the market in Pendose that the Seeker and Mother Confessor shared an undying love for one another. It was one thing to hear stories, but quite another to see that love in person.
The Seeker seemed to relax, and he rested his head against her shoulder as the two others approached. Erik helped her up and Astrid looked nervously at the woman in red.
"This is Cara," the Mother Confessor introduced the others. "And Zedd."
"How do you two do?" the old man with the long grey hair smiled at them.
The woman in red glared at them for a moment, then turned back to the Mother Confessor. "We should find someplace to rest for the night," she said.
"You can stay at our cabin, if you like?" Astrid spoke up before she could stop herself.
Erick grabbed her. "Astrid, what are you doing? We need to get to Pendose, it's not safe out here."
Astrid turned to her husband and placed a hand over her swollen belly. "I'm not going anywhere in this darkness, Erik," she said firmly. "If we've discovered anything this night, it's that it is not safe outside during the dark. It would be much safer, and easier, to travel in day light."
"The woman has a point," the woman in red said, giving Erik a glare. "What sort of man makes a woman heavy with child trudge through the woods in the middle of the night?"
"One who fears for her safety and the safety of his child!" Erik retorted back. "We live alone at our farm, and being alone is not safe during this terrible time."
"Well," Astrid said, stepping away from him to stand before the Mother Confessor and Seeker. "We won't be alone tonight, my husband. We'll have the Seeker and Mother Confessor… and their friends," she looked cautiously at the woman in red, "as protection."
The Mother Confessor nodded. "What do you say, Richard?"
He huffed. "Well, with Cara's insistence, and your worrying, I guess I have no choice."
"And what about my aching stomach?" piped up the man the Mother Confessor had called Zedd. "I'm starving!"
The Seeker furrowed his brow. "Zedd, you're always starving."
The Mother Confessor smiled and turned to Astrid. "We would be honored to be guests in your home, please… lead on."
