Chapter 9
One Week later
"Did he ask?"
Cara was leaning over her, entirely too closely, as she opened her eyes. She hadn't seen her since yesterday afternoon. It was now later than she usually rose, but she'd been kept up deep into the night. Stalker had wanted a romantic evening with her and even the thought about any type of intimate relationship with the man made her insides twist into knots.
Instead of answering, Kahlan pulled her hand free of the blankets, letting Cara see the glimmer of the diamond that Stalker had placed on her finger.
"Thank the spirits!" Cara went back to readying Kahlan's routine and drawing her a bath. Her ankle had healed well and she was now walking without the wrap with only a small hitch in her gait. "We'll be done with this mess soon."
"I can't wait."
"Can't wait for what, my love?" Sardius waltzed into the room, walked over to the bed and pressed his lips against hers. He tried to dip his tongue into her mouth but she wouldn't open. He settled for nibbling on her bottom lip before pulling back.
Kahlan didn't know what to do. She felt no desire, only repulsion, but she somehow managed a smile as he pulled away.
"I can't wait for the wedding, of course." She turned as if to stand and wiped her mouth on the back of her hand. The saliva he'd left behind coated her knuckles and she swallowed to try to calm the churning in her stomach. She would never be okay with him touching her, kissing her or being in the same room as her. She needed to get out of this.
He made himself comfortable in the chair and kept his eyes trained on her as she moved about the room.
"There are more perks for you than just getting me as a husband, you know?"
She turned and saw him leering at her. She would need that bath to wash away the dirty feeling that was crawling all along her skin.
"I don't know of anything I want more, than to be a wife." Just not to you, she continued in her mind. Only to Richard. This whole mission would betray something that she held so dear. She'd always valued the sanctity of marriage above most things, maybe because she never thought that she'd be able to experience it for herself. She never dreamed of having the honor of being a wife, now she wanted it so badly it hurt. Why was life so cruel to her sometimes? "What else do I get in this package deal with you, my dear?" She almost tripped over the endearment but it somehow came out sounding normal.
"Well, since you aren't from around here, I trust that you know nothing of the Stalker Widow Vault."
Kahlan put on her best confused expression. "I have no clue what you're referring too."
"Many years ago, I think one of the wives of one of my ancestors was disheartened with her husband's philandering. Some wives have no sense of humor about these things."
"I can only imagine her rage, darling." She smirked at him and begged him to continue.
"Yes, she was quite the virago I hear from all accounts. So she collected all her jewels, valuables, family heirlooms and artifacts and had the town wizard help her secure them, making it impossible to get in unless you followed the spells rules."
"Surely the spell can be easily broken by someone with enough knowledge…"
"While I'm sure that is true, all that I've been able to find to help me have failed. It seems the wizard that resided here at the time was one of the Second Order."
Kahlan sat at her vanity and brushed her hair as she listened to his tale. She was glad that he was finally telling her so she would have good reason to go to the vault the first night they were married.
"Seems like a very powerful wizard for such a small, out of the way, village."
"My thoughts exactly! My research tells me that he was sent away from Aydindril for crimes that are never mentioned by name, only hinted at. I can only deduce that it was never meant to be spoken of again. But regardless, the spell is unalterable. However, there is a way for you to access it, my love."
Kahlan dug through her brain trying to figure out which wizard and which crime. She had a vague feeling, but nothing concrete. She was sure that Zedd would know. Perhaps if he knew what wizard made the spell, he could undo it and she wouldn't have to go through with marrying him after all.
"Okay, so what is the key?" She added a hint of curiosity to her voice, tipping her head over her shoulder and giving him a sultry look before turning back and trying to stop the waves of disgust from overtaking her stomach.
"Your wedding band."
"Something that simple? Just a wedding ring? Why haven't you taken the ring and opened the vault yourself?"
"The wizard was much smarter than that. Most are quite clever. He has spelled the ring as well. The only one who can open it has to have spoken the vows. After we are married, and only then, will the rings magic work for the vault. It's really quite the feat of magic." Sardius got up from his chair and walked over to her, took the brush from her hands and began running it through her dark locks himself.
Kahlan plastered a smile onto her face. Even though her hair was much shorter than it once was she was still very protective of it. She only wanted Richard to run his fingers through it. It was a special part of who she was and Stalker's dirty hands on it made her feel ill.
"This is all very interesting." Kahlan reached and grabbed his hands, standing up and holding them between them. "I think I'd like to bathe now. Thank you for trusting me with all that information. I had no idea that there was so much mystery and wealth surrounding becoming your wife."
"I can help you." He pulled her hands to his mouth and placed sloppy kisses along her knuckles.
"Not until after we're married, please, it's just not proper." Kahlan tugged her hands free and shooed him from her room. As he closed the door behind him, she rushed over and flipped the lock. Her back fell against it and she slid to the floor, tucking her knees up under her chin and resting her cheek on them. Her arms wrapped around her calves, pulling them into her body, trying to stuff herself into a small ball and stop any of the volatile emotions she was feeling from escaping. She didn't have time to cry.
She was still for several minutes before she'd composed herself enough. Cara was watching her when she looked up and caught her eye.
"You want me to…"
"Yes. Tell them." Kahlan jumped up and grabbed her as she was at the servant's door. She pulled Cara into a strong hug and whispered into her ear. "Tell Richard I love him, please. Make sure Zedd knows everything about what was said."
Cara pulled back and gave her an eye roll. "He knows and I will. Stay safe. I don't know what will happen if I'm not here to protect you."
"I'll be fine, please hurry. I want this nightmare to end."
Kahlan watched as Cara disappeared through the small door. She prayed to the spirits that Cara would make it to them safely; she was willing to bet that Richard wasn't far. She'd seen him following them that night in the forest and she knew that he wouldn't be able to stand being away from her. She hoped Zedd was nearby as well, watching over Richard so that he wouldn't do anything foolish.
His heart often overtook his head in situations where she was put at risk, just like her heart battled her mind when he was in danger.
"Hurry back to me." She spoke softly and then headed to her bath. She would enjoy a good, warm soak while Cara was out helping to get her out of here. "Please let Zedd be able to break that spell." She laid her head against the back of the tub letting the water sluice around her, warming her skin like a comforting blanket. She closed her eyes and thought of Richard, of how she couldn't wait till he could hold her close to him and caress her back. She loved the way he touched her. She couldn't wait until they could really love each other properly. She needed him.
