The sun was low in the sky when I saw it, Aydindril, it's walls high and white. Tall towers reflecting the sunset, making them seen orange. It was beautiful, I had never been this far north before. The hills surrounding the city, rolled with lush green trees that swayed in the breeze. As we got closer I could sense Kahlan's excitement, she was home. And what a place it was, when we came to the gate, she and the seeker were greeted by enormous cheers, that erupted through the streets. People came up welcome her back, all of them smiling, even small children ran up to give her flowers. She beamed at each and every one of them, thanking them. A huge crowd formed around them as we made our way to a huge white building, which I guessed was the Confessor's Palace. Women dressed in white made their way down the grand steps towards Kahlan, Confessors.

I dropped back, my role in their journey was over, I had gotten them to Aydindril as I promised. I was no longer needed. I let the crowd of followers pass me, taking one last look at the Mother Confessor, her smile, her hair, but mostly her eyes. She was greeting her fellow Confessors with Richard.

I turned walking away down the street, winding my way through the people trying to catch a glimpse of their Mother Confessor. When I was finally clear of the crowd I found a guard, and asked him where the nearest Tavern was. He was dressed in a silver breastplate draped over a red tunic, chainmail, falling down his arms. He directed me to a little inn not far from the gate I had entered, walking into the tiny room I had bought for the night, I was reminded of the first tavern I had ever entered. 2 years ago, when I had no idea of who I was. It was a fortnight after I had awoken in the field, I hurried in just to stay out of the freezing rain, I had brought a flagon of mead, just so I could get warm. I didn't have enough money to buy an actual room. I remembered sitting in the corner of the nearly deserted tavern, avoiding the eyes of the locals, still feeling the stares on my back.

"you're not from around here are you, sweetie"

I looked up from my flagon, hair sticking to my forehead. A woman stood in front of me, tray in her hand, the other on her hip. She was smiling down at me.

"no miss" I replied as I held back my shivers. Her blonde hair was pulled back, in a tie at her neck, her dark eyes soft and inviting.

"just passing through?" she asked

"I guess" I replied, my eyes flickered behind her to a group of men who sat at a table, they were watching the woman who spoke to me, when they noticed me, they stood.

"sweetie?"

The woman looked down at me with slight confusion on her face

"I asked you name"

I was about to answer, when one of men, grabbed the women and took a knife to her throat.

"right my lovely" he grunted "where do you keep the money?" he sniffed her hair, she struggled slightly and he pushed the knife closer to the neck. I stood abruptly wanting to help the poor barmaid. Another one of the thugs, drew his sword on me

"Don't be a hero" he glanced down seeing my blade strapped to my hip. He took it.

The third man began ransacking behind the counter, looking for the money.

"WHERE IS THE MONEY WENCH" the first shouted in her ear, she winced, tears filling her eyes as fear covered her face.

"you will tell me" demanded the man "whether it's before or after I have my way" his free hand slipped down to her waist.

That was it, something within me snapped, I charged the man who held the sword, pushing him back onto a table with glasses upon it. Tumbling to the floor, I took my flagon and smashed it into his face, knocking him out cold. I looked up in time to see the third man vaulting over the counter top, with aim that surprised myself I flung the flagon, hitting him square on the nose, I heard a crack as the man cried out in pain, I took the distraction and leapt towards him, my fist connecting with his face while I was still in mid air. He crashed back into the counter, with my hand I forced his head down onto the counter with tremendous power, he let out a noise so I did it again until his body gave way, and I let him slide to the ground, unconscious or dead I didn't care. Turning to the final man, I felt a pain in my shoulder as he ran his knife through it. He withdrew it and attempted another stab, my hand flew up, driving his nose upwards. His body went limp, I watched as the life drain from his eyes.

I turned taking in what I had just done, I looked down at my hands, which had flecks of blood on them, the hands that had killed a man, killed a man with ease and precision. I had a feeling it was not the first life I took.

Small muffled sobs came from behind me, the girl was crouched on the ground her hands over her mouth, she stared at the bodies lying across the floor. Tears were streaming down her face. Then she looked up at me, with such horror in her eyes. I took a step towards her trembling form to check she was unharmed. At my approach she backed away, sliding backwards on the floor until her back hit the wall, whimpering echoing through the quiet room. I stopped. Watching as she coward on the floor. I grabbed my sword and ran to the door, I didn't stop running until my legs couldn't run anymore. I slumped down on the wet ground and stared up at the stormy sky, letting the rain fall down my face. Questions spun in my mind, who was i? why did I find killing so easy? What kind of monster was i?

I gasped awake, grasping the fabric in my hands, trying to pull myself back into the present. I rubbed my eyes, feeling the sweat as it dripped down my face and the back of my neck. I sat up taking deep breaths, I emptied the jug of water into a wash bowl on the far side of the room. Cupping the cool liquid in my hands I brought it up to my face, washing away the sweat that had formed during the night. Splashing water on the back of my neck I looked out a small window, the sun was just coming over the wall, illuminating the streets below, which were already bristling with people. I brought some breakfast downstairs and ventured out into the city of Aydindril. I found a small market place which seemed to sell all that a traveller would need, stalls were filled with everything packs, food, weapons, armour. I walked between them, wishing I had more money to spend, but buying only what I needed. I had not decided my destination yet, I could return to Dain, or I could venture even further north, see what was beyond the Valley of the Lost in the Old World. When I had finished, I started heading for the gate. I took one last look at the Confessor's Palace, one last look towards her. I was about to cross under the gate when a city guard stopped me,

"you need to follow me" his expression serious

"why?" I questioned

"I have orders to bring you in" he said, reaching for my arm

I pulled my arm out of his reached "and I asked why" I demanded

"sir, we are not after trouble" another two soldiers surrounded me "please follow us"

They moved, trying to usher me back towards the city centre, but I stood my ground.

"and I am not going anywhere until you tell me why, I have done nothing wrong"

The guard tried to take my arm again, this time I pushed his hand away a little more forcibly than I meant. The other two guards pinned me up against a wall, I felt my face scrape against the rough surface. Then I felt the coldness and the click of chains around my wrists, I didn't resist, there was no point. They started pulling me towards the Palace, I stumbled up the pale steps and through the grand doors. Women dressed in white filled the hallways, all watching as I was dragged passed, some muttering to each other. I was taken up a staircase with guards posted at the bottom, we stopped in front of two large wooden doors. One of the guards knocked and pulled the heavy door open. The room was large with shelves of books lining the walls and an elevated desk in the centre of it, the sunrise leaking through a large window at the back of the room. I was stopped in the middle of the room, two guards keeping a tight grip on my restrained arms. A woman dressed in white stood with her back to us, studying a book, at the sound of our arrival she turned. Those familiar blue eyes found me, their happiness fading at the sight of me.