Chapter Nine
Nikolas was awakened early than he had wished the next morning, and he wasn't happy to find that Hope was gone, though he knew it was a necessity. "Yes, yes. I'll be there soon." He told the unfortunate servant that had woke him up.
When he reached the conference room, he was surprised to find Kahlan and Hope standing awkwardly around, as well as General Trimack. "What's going on?" He asked dubiously.
"We have reason to believe that the Black Cloaks have been destroyed." General Trimack told him.
"Destroyed?" Nikolas asked skeptically. "How can that be? I mean that's good right?"
"It would be, except that we aren't sure who did it, and we have no idea what happened to Richard Rahl, Denna, or the mysterious Basilisk." Trimack told him.
"We're in the dark." Kahlan cut in. Nikolas noticed that she look particularly upset by this news. "For all we know it could be some sort of trick to catch us off guard."
Hope stepped in. "How did we hear about this news?"
General Trimack cleared his throat. "There is a rumor that the Black Cloaks were attacked by Tollwutig Bridge. It's not far from here, and it would make sense that they had camped there after their raid on the Palace."
"A rumor." Nikolas asked sarcastically. "You've called me out of bed this early for a rumor, General?"
"It's not that early, Lord Rahl." Hope whispered to him, causing him to smirk. Kahlan looked away, her Confessor's Face having taken over.
"We have also caught a soldier who claims he is from the Black Cloaks, and that they were ambushed." Trimack informed him.
Kahlan snorted. "I wouldn't put it past Richard to make a martyr out of one of his men for the sake of a surprise attack."
Nikolas wasn't so sure, but he decided against saying so. He turned back to Trimack. "What do you suppose we do with this information, General?"
For the first time, Trimack smiled.
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
"Take care of the troops, Griggs. We'll be back soon." Richard told the big man. He was beginning to like him more and more everyday.
Griggs looked unhappy though. "Are you sure about this, General? I'm sure the
Basilisk can handle himself."
Richard was sure that Nicci could not. The bond between them was being pulled farther and farther apart every minute, and Richard knew where they were going. Richard didn't want to subject Nicci to that every again. "I'm sure. There are things that you don't know about the Basilisk, that might make you change your mind."
Griggs sighed. "Whatever you say, General. We'll meet you at the rendezvous point in a week."
"I'll see you there." He told the man with a smile, though he was far from sure that they would make it out alive. He tried not to let his fear show around the men, but soon it was just he and Denna.
"Richard." Denna took his hand, and he smiled at her. "Richard, I can tell that you're worried."
"Am I that easy to read?" He teased, but she glared at him and he dropped the pretenses. "I'm worried for Nicci. If we don't rescue her before my bro – "
"We will." Denna said forcefully, and something deep inside Richard made him stop what he was saying.
They continued on in silence for a while. "Denna," Richard ventured, a little later. "I was just thinking, we could stop in a tavern one night . . . maybe sleep on a bed?"
Denna smiled at him. "Do we have time?"
"I always have time for beds."
‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡ ‡
"There's the camp." Cara whispered.
"I didn't think they'd be this easy to find." Jack said, disappointed.
"You should be glad that they were." Dahlia told him, but Cara ignored them as she watched the camp sight. "Who do you think is in charge?" Dahlia asked after a few moments.
"That man." Cara motioned with her chin to a large man who was glaring at some maps near the campfire.
"So what's the next move?" Jack asked excitedly. He had grown more comfortable with his captors since they tried to kill him, preferring to think of it as an adventure and not a kidnapping. It was making Cara angry.
"You go home." Dahlia told him, stepping in before Cara could go off on another rant.
He looked confused. "I want to joint he Black Cloaks, though. And now I have a real chance."
Cara almost asked him why he wanted to join the Black Cloaks, but she didn't want to rehash that argument. "If he wants to get himself killed that's his prerogative." Cara told Dahlia, who looked at her angrily.
"Good." Jack said, happy that he and Cara had finally agreed on something. "Now, I say we – " He stopped abruptly, and when Cara turned around she realized why.
Six men, two of whom held swords to Dahlia and Jack's throat, surrounded them. Cara's hand went instinctively to where her Agiel would be, if it hadn't been in her pack. She growled at them out of instinct, but they just stared at her. One of them motioned with there head to move towards the campfire. Cara looked ready to fight, but Dahlia shook her head no, causing blood to run down her neck. She growled again and stalked towards the campfire.
"Captain Griggs, look what we've found." One of them men shouted to him.
The Captain looked up, surprised by the ability of two women and a boy to find their camp. "Who are they?" He asked cautiously. Something about the two women reminded him of Denna, who Griggs was sure was ten times more dangerous than she looked.
"No idea, Cap – " The soldier was cut off.
"I'm Jack. I've wanted to be a member of the Black Cloaks for two years now. You must be the leader, I've . . . not heard very much about you, but I'm excited to learn."
"Traitor." Cara shot at him, but he ignored it.
"And who are you." Griggs turned towards Cara and Dahlia.
Cara almost spoke, but Dahlia cut her off. "We're just two women, who have come with a proposition for the Black Cloaks."
Griggs looked back and forth between them. "Where are you from?"
Jack started to answer, but Cara cut him off. "Danesville."
Griggs frowned. "And why would Leo Dane send two women to talk to the most dangerous group anti-Rahl group in the Empire?" Cara and Dahlia didn't answer. "Check their bags." He ordered, "And tie them up."
Cara noticed that the men hesitated for a moment. "You aren't the leader." She said bluntly. He ignored her. "Where is the General, or one of his Lieutenants, the Basilisk, or the woman? I don't want to talk to a captain."
Griggs round on her, but spoke quietly. "No one, meets the General without being Okayed by me."
A new voice came out of nowhere, grey hair flying around him. "Excuse me, could someone point me in the direction of Richard Rahl?"