Ch9 Planning
The sound of swords clashing together echoed through the forest as Richard and his band of travelers fought a squad of D'Harans. Wizard's fire hit the back of a tree at enormous rate killing two of them in its wake. Lucan and Grenden were back to back fighting off five of the attackers and Richard was surrounded by three.
Richard ducked and swiped his sword cutting into the legs of two D'Harans. As they lost their footing, Richard drove in, spearing one, then the other in the chest and pushing the last one down on top of the other as he removed his sword. The third man behind him swung his sword above Richard's head with all intentions of a death blow but Richard stepped to the side at the last minute catching his sword with his and unarming him. Lucan, who had been on his way to help after finishing off two of his own fighters, met the assailant with a sword to his chest.
Zedd finished off the last D'Haran as Grendan was pulling his knife out of the chest of another. They were all breathing hard and bloodied in the sudden quiet aftermath of the fight.
"Everyone alright?" Richard asked as he returned his sword to its scabbard.
"It seems so. That's the third squad today so we must be getting close to D'Hara" said Lucan.
"I'm ready for another one" grinned Grenden as he poured water on his head and shook out his hair. "I love a good fight.
"All you young people and your endless energy always wanting some adventure. You're likely to get yourselves killed" complained Zedd as he took a seat at the bottom of a spruce tree. "Now what we need is a hot meal."
"We don't have time to hunt right now Zedd. We're close to the Peoples Palace and I'm not stopping. If we hurry, we can be there by nightfall" said Richard as he tossed Zedd an apple. "Munch on this old man" he teased. Zedd harrumphed but bit greedily into his apple nonetheless.
"Have you thought of what we're going to do once we get to the People's Palace?" Asked Lucan who was taking weapons from some of the fallen D'Harans.
"I have an idea but I'm not sure it will work" said Richard as he ran a hand through his blood matted hair. He took his canteen and poured it on his head, just as Grenden had, and rinsed off the blood from the fight. "I was thinking we could take these uniforms as a disguise. That could get us in, but once we are, there's no way of knowing where Kahlan is."
"That's where a wizard of the first order comes in handy" said Zedd beaming with pride. "I know the layout of the People's Palace well. I can show you the quickest way in and also give you more than one escape route. That should help you."
Richard thought a moment. "Zedd, maybe that will work but I still haven't figured out a way to get Kahlan out. She must be guarded very well if she is Raul's…." He couldn't bring himself to say it out loud. If she was his wife then….Richard shook his head and forced the thoughts out of his head.
"Maybe we should think about creating a diversion" suggested Grenden.
"Like what?" countered Lucan.
Suddenly they heard someone running through the brush towards them, but it was only Chase. He had been scouting when they were attacked by the D'Harans and looked as though he might have encountered a fight of his own.
"Chase!" beamed Richard. "What did you find out?"
"There's to be a wedding tomorrow in the square" he said, still short of breath from the run. He glanced at Richard. "Raul and Kahlan's wedding."
Richard sighed with relief that they were not too late…but then he thought of Raul and his vile way with women and the fear for Kahlan gripped him again.
"Let's ride out then. If we can get to her before Raul weds her then…." Zedd began.
"Then what?" Richard snapped "Her virtue will be saved? I doubt Raul would have waited." He gritted his teeth in fury and climbed up to the top of his horse gripping his sword. "Let's go." With that he kicked his heels and his horse spend off into a quick run while the rest of the group clambered onto their horses and raced off to catch up with Richard.
When Zedd pulled up along side Richard, he searched his grandson's face and found tears on his face. "My boy, I know you are afraid for Kahlan but we'll find her. Don't worry about what could be, worry about what is."
Richard shot a glare at Zedd "If he's touched her…" his voice cracked with emotion "I won't be killing him because it's my destiny. That matters less to me than Kahlan. I'll…I'll bury him alive in his own garden of black magic where he can be tortured for all eternity." Richard promised, feeling his chest rise and fall with unchecked emotion.
"Richard…" said Zedd with a warning tone "you must not let your emotions rule you. Use your head, not your heart. Believe me; I know what you're going through." Said Zedd with sorrow in his eyes from his own memories.
"Zedd…I made her cry! The last time I saw her. I hurt her and….what if she doesn't want to see me anymore?" Richard was still afraid he had lost Kahlan, even though her letter said differently. He reasoned she probably said those words just for him not really meaning them. But Kahlan was a confessor and confessors didn't lie….usually. She had lied to him. Richard took a shaky breath and forced a smile for Zedd.
"There you are Seeker. Don't worry about Kahlan. Whatever happened between you and her can be fixed. Have some faith in her, Richard." Zedd consoled. They looked ahead and found they were descending into a valley and when the trees of the forest began to disappear, the Peoples Palace rose before them.
With new resolve Richard said "Thanks Zedd. You're right. I should have more faith in Kahlan." I just hope she can forgive me…he thought to himself. His heart began to hammer in his chest as he looked at the Palace knowing that Kahlan was inside somewhere made him want to race down the hill and run his horse straight inside and demand they give release her.
But Zedd was right….emotions only caused you to forget your reasoning, so he reluctantly turned his horse to the right into a clutch of trees.
They dismounted and Chase led the horses to another secure location where they could be hidden. The rest of them teased and leered at each other as they changed into their D'Haran disguises.
"The D'Haran Seeker" laughed Grenden who received a playful punch from Richard.
"You make a great D'Haran too" Richard laughed. And they did. Lucan, Grenden and Richard looked the part, even strapped with D'Haran weapons that they had taken form the men they had killed earlier that day. Richard kept the sword of truth but added a D'Haran sword to the opposite side.
"I'm ready" said Richard. "Now we just need to have Zedd show us where to go so we can get in. Zedd, you and Chase stay here. Give us at least two hours. If we're not back by then, come and get us. If we lose each other we can all meet up here on the west wing" he said pointing with one of Kahlan's daggers."
"I think I should go with you" stated Zedd. "Raul is a very powerful wizard and you'll need my protection against his magic."
"I need you here Zedd. You and Chase can hold off anyone who is pursuing us while we get Kahlan somewhere safe.
"I don't like it Richard, but I'll stay. Just don't do anything rash, I'm warning you. Raul is not someone who is easily fooled. Do you know what this could mean for you Richard?" Zedd asked. "If you defeat Raul tonight all of this will be over. You will have fulfilled the prophecy." Zedd was getting an excited twinkle in his eyes but the seriousness of the situation had Richard's stomach in knots.
"Zedd..." Richard's voice got serious. "What if I fail?"
"Then you will try again."
Zedd made it sound so simple that Richard almost believed he could succeed. But, for some unknown reason, he had an aching apprehension that something bad was going to happen. He just didn't know what. All he could do now was wait for the sun to set so he could rescue Kahlan.
