A/N: Thanks to all of you that commented. I'm glad that you're liking the story, hope you enjoy this next chapter :D
Chapter 10
Kahlan woke up and opened her eyes to a mass of blonde hair in the pillow next to her. The sight brought a sweet smile to her face and she sleepily moved her head to look at the window and ascertain what time it was. Kahlan smiled when she discovered that she still had a little time before dawn. The sun was hinting at its appearance, but there was no need to rush. The brunette moved her head back to gaze at woman laying beside her. Cara was sleeping on her stomach, hands tucked under her pillow and head turned away from Kahlan. The Confessor had one arm draped over the blonde's naked lower back and one of her legs tangled with Cara's. The blankets, which had been covering them when she went to sleep, had slipped down to their waists during the night, giving Kahlan a beautiful view of Cara's back in the predawn light.
Kahlan sighed and laid her head back on her pillow. She looked down at her own bare upper body and blushed, feeling a little embarrassed even with Cara sleeping. The brunette was surprised and yet comfortable with what had happened the night before. She was sure that if it had been anyone else doing what Cara had done, taking off her clothing like that, the Confessor would have felt like they where forcing her hand, making her take a step she was not ready to take. But Cara had made her feel safe and calm in the middle of the tornado that had been her nerves and fears.
Kahlan raised herself on one elbow to be able to peek at Cara's face and smiled. The Mord'Sith had a relaxed expression that was not very common to see if she was awake. A lock of blonde hair was sticking to the Mord'Sith's lips and Kahlan lifted her hand from Cara's waist to tuck the golden tress behind Cara's ear. This action made the blonde stir, but surprisingly Cara didn't wake up.
Taking advantage of the opportunity to touch, Kahlan let her fingers glide down Cara's back, watching as the Mord'Sith took a deep breath, but still didn't open her eyes. Kahlan didn't want to awake the blonde, but she felt a sudden giddiness that compelled her to touch Cara. So the brunette let her fingers wander over the expanse of Cara's back, tracing random patterns. She brushed her fingers up the blonde's back until she reached Cara's shoulder and leaned across the blond to continued to caress the blonde's arm down to her elbow, were it disappeared beneath the pillow.
The Confessor yelped suddenly, startled by the quick movement of the arm she was caressing as Cara's hand shot back and grabbed Kahlan's wrist, pulling the brunette's arm to slide under the pillow and thus, forcing Kahlan to lie on top of her back.
"You startled me," Kahlan said with a nervous chuckle, her heart still racing from the scare. Cara just lay still, the rise and fall of her chest against Kahlan deep and slow, not giving any indication that she was awake. "Cara, are you awake?" the brunette asked next to the blonde's ear after a few moments of silence.
"No," the Mord'Sith answered, making Kahlan laugh softly. The Confessor started to nibble on Cara's tender earlobe, unconsciously pressing her naked breasts onto Cara's back and feeling Cara press her backside into the brunette's hips. "Now I'm starting to wake up," the Mord'Sith said in a moan and sighed deeply. The blonde released Kahlan's hand beneath her pillow and started to roll on her back.
Noticing Cara's attempt at motion, the brunette slid back, giving her room to turn over. Holding herself up in on elbow, Kahlan pulled the sheet up to cover her chest. The Confessor felt a little foolish for it, but she felt self-conscious to be naked despite the fact that Cara was the one responsible for her state of undress. The romantic candle light of the night before helped her overcome her inhibitions and Cara's gentle touches had made her forget any awkwardness she felt. But, no longer in the moment, and not nearly as comfortable with her body as the Mord'Sith seemed to be, Kahlan reacted out of shyness.
Cara settled herself on her back and stretched her body, feeling the slight chill air of the morning on her bare upper body. She turned her head to look at Kahlan and saw the Confessor was nervously looking down, a blush tinting her cheeks and one hand clutching the sheet over her chest. This brought an amused smile to Cara's lips; since the blonde could still feel the heat of the Confessor's lips on her ear and the teasing touch of the brunette's nipples on her back, she privately found Kahlan's sudden shyness highly endearing.
"Are you cold?" Cara asked, teasingly.
"The nights tend to be cold, you know?" Kahlan said, blushing even more and not lifting her gaze to meet Cara's. She felt foolish that Cara had noticed her timidity but was unable to make herself let the sheet go.
"Not this night," Cara said, smiling. "I'm not cold," she added mischievously, enjoying Kahlan's shyness.
"You're unique," Kahlan said, looking up at Cara. "You're body is always warm. It's like you have an internal source of heat," the brunette said with amazement, her shyness fading as her eyes swept Cara's body.
"That's true," Cara agreed with a nod, her smile turning into an even more mischievous grin. "So don't you think it would be smarter for you to get closer to me instead of using that thin sheet for warmth?" she asked teasingly, moving slowly, but decisively, towards the Confessor.
"It probably would be more effective," Kahlan agreed laying back down on the bed, her hand letting go of its grip on the sheet and rising to comb through Cara's hair while the Mord'Sith hovered over her.
"Let's see," Cara said huskily, pulling the sheet away and taking its place. She found herself holding her breath at the exciting contact of her bare flesh against Kahlan's.
Kahlan closed her eyes with a sigh, smiling and letting herself relax against Cara's skin as she basked in the warmth the blonde emanated.
"See? I'm a much better option, judging by the smile on your face," Cara said smugly, tracing a line up Kahlan's arm with her fingers.
"What makes you think you're the one that put a smile on my face?" Kahlan asked, looking at the blonde and forcing her face into a serious expression.
Cara looked down at her with an amused expression, one eyebrow raised, and then lowered her head to place an open mouthed kiss on Kahlan's neck, just below her ear. Kahlan moaned softly, burying her hand in the Mord'Sith's golden locks. Cara let her tongue and lips trace a wet path down Kahlan's jaw, ending with a kiss in the corner of the brunette's now smiling lips.
"You were saying?" the blonde asked playfully, meaningfully brushing her fingers against the wide and pleased smile Kahlan had on her lips.
"I've never met someone as smug as you," Kahlan said, lacing her arms behind Cara's neck. "But I love it," the brunette whispered before she pulled Cara's lips down towards her own.
The two shared a long and unhurried kiss, both taking the time to tenderly explore the other woman's mouth. The sensation of their nipples grazing each other's skins at the smallest of movements only added to the feel of intimacy between them.
"So you have no problem admitting that?" Cara said, moving her lips to trail kisses down Kahlan's neck as she slide one hand down the brunette's side.
"No problem at all," Kahlan said readily, greatly enjoying Cara's slow kisses on her throat. "I actually find it really cute," she finished, struggling to hold her laugh when she felt Cara's annoyed sigh on her skin. As expected, the blonde didn't appreciate Kahlan's attempt at a compliment. Cara was about to lift her head from Kahlan's shoulder to tell her exactly what she thought about Kahlan's opinion, when the Confessor's voice stopped her.
"And now comes the best," Kahlan whispered amused.
"What do you mean by that?" Cara said petulantly, fixing at the brunette with an inquisitive look.
"I mean this kissable pout on your lips," Kahlan said, biting playfully on Cara's protruding lower lip.
"Are you done talking nonsense?" Cara asked dryly, trying to hide the huskiness in her tone, making Kahlan laugh.
"It's not nonsense, " Kahlan said, chuckling. "But I'll stop now," she promised, pursing her lips together tightly.
"You don't have to close your mouth like that, though," Cara said insinuatingly, relaxing Kahlan's lips by gently tracing her fingers over them and slipping a finger between them. "You can be silent and still put your mouth to good use," she whispered, removing her hand and capturing Kahlan's lips in a languid kiss, feeling the Confessor's fingers start to massage her scalp.
The kiss didn't take long to grow in passion, exciting Kahlan and making her acutely aware of the great expanse of her skin that was in contact with Cara's. The Mord'Sith kissed her with such passion and abandon; it was like the blonde's sole purpose was making Kahlan melt under her touch. Kahlan truly enjoyed being this intimate with Cara; not only physically, which was thrilling by itself, but also emotionally. Their emotional connection significantly enhanced Kahlan's desire for the blonde.
"We need to stop, before we get carried away," Kahlan said breathlessly, pulling her lips briefly away from Cara's.
"Let's not worry about that just yet," Cara replied hotly, letting one thigh slide between Kahlan's, making the Confessor groan.
Kahlan arched her back rocking her hips into the pleasurable pressure between her legs and sucked Cara's tongue into her mouth. The Confessor moved her hands to the blonde's back, sinking her nails on Cara's shoulder blades and making the Mord'Sith hiss in pleasure. They traded a few more heated kisses until Kahlan moved her hands to the blonde's shoulders and kindly pushed the Mord'Sith away from her. The Confessor saw a disappointed look on Cara's face and smiled sadly at the blonde; but after only a second that disappointed look transformed into a mischievous one.
"Okay," Cara agreed, but the expression on her face made Kahlan suspicious. "Let me grab my agiels and gloves and get dressed," the blonde said, looking at the side table on Kahlan's side of the bed.
Kahlan found the reason for the blonde's mischievous expression when Cara straddle her, grinding her hips onto Kahlan's, letting out a soft moan. Kahlan bit her lip and whimpered, watching awestruck as Cara leaned towards the table to retrieve her gloves and weapons. The sight of Cara's lean body, combined with the blonde's weight pressing onto her and the warmth radiating from Cara's core, made Kahlan loose her self imposed restrain. The Confessor moved her hands to cup Cara's cheeks and pulled the blonde to meet her lips once again.
Cara eagerly accepted the kiss, gloves and agiels forgotten, opening her mouth to deepen it. She repositioned her legs, moving one of them back in between Kahlan's as she straddled one of the brunette's legs. Instinctively, the Mord'Sith started a slow rocking motion, feeling Kahlan respond by grinding on the flexing muscles of Cara's thigh. Unrestrained desire clouded both of their minds. Cara was vaguely aware that they were going down a dangerous road again, but the Confessor ignited something different within her. The Mord'Sith was familiar with lust, but with Kahlan the lust was somehow intertwined with something else. Cara was finding she was hungry not only for Kahlan's perfect body, but also for the emotional way Kahlan responded to her touch; the way Kahlan looked at her, eyes full of desire and longing, the way Kahlan would moan and shiver with every kiss or touch from Cara. The Confessor's reactions made Cara crave everything that was Kahlan. Without stopping the increasing rocking motion, Cara left the brunette's kiss and dragged her lips up Kahlan's jaw to nibble the brunette's earlobe.
"I want you, Kahlan," Cara whispered hotly with a hint of desperation in her voice, thrusting her tight firmly against Kahlan's center.
The Confessor let out a hissed breath at the firm contact of her center with Cara's thigh, arching her back, pressing into the blonde. Cara's words and the fervor that the brunette could perceive in her voice, made her lower belly tingle with desire that spread through her whole body like liquid fire. Cara made her feel wanted and cherished in a way that she had never known before. But the feeling that made her chest expand with love, also made it constrict with sadness, because they couldn't consummate all that they felt for each other.
"I want you too," Kahlan responded heartfeltly, turning her head to kiss Cara's lips before she put some distance between their faces and shook her head sadly, conveying to Cara that even if both of them wanted this ferociously, it couldn't happen. Kahlan's heart skipped a beat when she watched a resolute expression appear on Cara's beautiful face.
"I can't accept that," Cara said irritably, shaking her head with a furrowed brow. "When you're about to release your power, I'll move away," the blonde said hurriedly, moving her hand to caress Kahlan's cheek. "If you're not touching me you can't confess me," she said with a victorious smile. But that smile faded away when she didn't saw a similar expression on Kahlan's face. She looked at the Confessor with an inquisitive and confused gaze.
"The release of my power when I…you know… It's different from when I focus it on someone," Kahlan explained sadly, rubbing her hands soothingly up and down Cara's back. "It's uncontrolled, it oozes off of me without me being able to direct it," she said, her voice cracking with sadness.
"I don't understand," Cara said confused, continuing to stroke Kahlan's cheek.
"You have already stood next to me while I was confessing someone. You didn't feel anything, right?" Kahlan asked, trying a new way to make the blonde understand. At Cara's shake of the head she continued. "That's because I'm aiming my power to the person I'm touching. But when I don't have a target it shoots in all directions," she explained. "The closest thing I can compare it too is the Con Dar; I confessed people without touching them when I was in the Con Dar," she said, seeing the surprised and incredulous look on Cara's face.
"But when you are in the Con Dar it's because your mad with rage," the blonde said, puzzled. "I don't think you're going to be mad at me for the things I'll do to you." Cara smirked.
Kahlan couldn't hold the chuckle at Cara's confident words, but it was clear that the blonde didn't understand clearly the point she was trying to make. "Of course, when I'm in the Con Dar it's the uncontrolled rage allows me to confess without touch, but what I'm trying to say is that I have no control over my power in both cases. This means that my power is undirected and flows off of me without guidance; and if I can confess people without touching them when I'm in the Con Dar, when I'm blind with rage, the same could happen when I'm clouded with lust," Kahlan said, looking into Cara's eyes in search of understanding. "I'm afraid that it would affect you. I can't risk it, I can risk you, Cara," Kahlan said, moving one hand to caress Cara's warm cheek.
"I understand," Cara said, nodding. "But you still haven't convinced me." She kissed Kahlan's cheek, smiling at the brunette's bewildered expression.
"Didn't you hear a word I just said, Cara?" Kahlan asked completely stunned at the blonde's reaction.
"I did," Cara said nonchalantly. "It makes sense, but it doesn't worry me," she said, shooting a smile Kahlan's way and untangling herself from the Confessor to get up from the bed. She turned around and was about to sling her legs off of the bed when Kahlan stopped her.
The Confessor grabbed Cara's upper arm, preventing the blonde from leaving the bed. Her mouth moved soundlessly; she wanted to say something to the blonde to change her mind, yell at her for being so careless, and kiss her for being so endearingly stubborn.
"Close your mouth, you look like a fish," Cara chuckled while using her fingers to gently close Kahlan's hanging jaw. The Mord'Sith kissed the brunette's lips one more time and got up to retrieve her leathers from the floor.
"But Cara, you don't understand," Kahlan began to argue, but an involuntary smile crept to her lips, which did nothing to support her protest.
"I do understand, Kahlan," Cara said, cutting the Confessor off. "I may not be as knowledgeable about magic as Zedd is; all I know is that when I want something, I find a way to get it," she said simply, her eyes searching the floor for her leathers. "And never in my life did I want something as much as I want to be with you, so I'll be dead before I give up on you," she said firmly, gathering her leathers against her chest and looking intensely at Kahlan.
Kahlan's eyes welled up with tears hearing the passionate way in which Cara spoke. The brunette never imagined that she would ever hear Cara utter words like those, leaving no doubt that the Mord'Sith was completely committed to being with Kahlan. Kahlan sniffled quietly, as a tear made its way down her cheek. She watched as Cara approached her and, like the night before, used her fingers to dry Kahlan's tears. The Confessor smiled brightly at the blonde, trading a look of complete trust and naked devotion.
"I'll go freshen up," Cara said, after pecking Kahlan sweetly on the lips.
"Do you want me to go downstairs and ask for heated water for you," Kahlan called attentively to the retreating blonde.
"No, thanks, it's better if the water is cold," the blonde replied, looking over her shoulder at Kahlan with a raised eyebrow.
"Oh," was all the brunette managed to say.
"And cover yourself, Kahlan," Cara said teasingly, walking towards the basin behind the screen that divided the room and pouring some water from the pitcher beside it. "Or I'll have to get back there and we won't leave this room any time soon," she said, the smirk evident in her voice.
Kahlan looked down at her practically naked body, her breasts slightly covered by her hair, and laughed. The brunette let herself fall down on the bed with a contented sigh, bending her knees with her feet planted on the mattress and then focused her attention on her thigh, as the sun's light reflected from a glistening spot there. Creator help me, she thought closing her eyes and smiling at the recognition of what, exactly, was the wetness on her leg that moments prior had been in contact with Cara's center.
Cara and Kahlan packed their things and went downstairs to eat breakfast. Zedd and Richard were already sitting at a table eating.
"Good morning," Richard said to both women with a happy smile.
"Good morning," Kahlan said smiling at Richard and nodding in Zedd's direction too. Cara only gave a grunt and sat down in front of Richard, helping herself to some bread and cheese. Kahlan sat next to the blonde and took some food too.
"What's the plan regarding Alys?" Richard asked after a few silent moments.
"We can't leave her alone without helping her," Kahlan said. "What are your thoughts Zedd?"
"I think I know of the amulet that probably brought her here," Zedd said, his brow furrowed in thought. "She mentioned a triangle made of stone; there is an amulet like that called the Triangle of Anuyr. It allows time travel for those who possess magical powers," he explained looking at the others.
"So only wizards can use it?" Cara asked.
"Not only wizards, I believe that the triangle can be used by anyone who possesses some kind of magic," Zedd clarified. "But controlling the magic of the amulet would require a great amount of power, so wizards and sorceresses are the ones that can use the amulet effectively." He paused. "Any other person, even if possessing power, like a Confessor for example," he said looking at Kahlan. "Would most likely be unable to control in which time they would appear and could even be harmed in the process."
"Alys said she saw a wizard with the triangle," Richard recalled. "He was the one who pushed her into the hole the amulet created."
"Yes, my boy," Zedd agreed. "I believe that the wizard Alys mentioned was the one who opened a portal to our time and, for some reason, threw Alys in it," the wizard grimaced in frustration at the possible motives someone could have to throw a child confessor back in time.
"Maybe it was because she can't stop talking and thinks that's she's so smart," Cara said dryly, making Richard choke on his food and start laughing. Intrigued, Kahlan looked between the laughing Seeker and the annoyed Mord'Sith glaring at him. Zedd was smiling, with a knowing look on his face.
"Did I miss something?" Kahlan asked, her eyes searching her friends faces and landing on Cara's sulking expression.
"I see that Cara didn't tell you what happened last night when we brought Alys to Brejen's cot?" Richard asked Kahlan, noticing how Cara huffed and rolled her eyes beside the Confessor. "Alys seems very comfortable around Mord'Sith," Richard said smirking and looking at Cara with a teasing expression.
"What happened?" Kahlan asked, trying to catch Cara's eyes, but the Mord'Sith was staring at her plate so she turned to Richard.
"This is what happened," Richard said still laughing.
Richard was leading Alys by the hand towards Brejen's cot as Cara followed two steps behind them, constantly dismissing Alys attempts to engage the Mord'Sith in conversation. The moon was already out, but with the help of the various torches that illuminated the city paths, Richard could see the bored expression on Cara's face when he glanced back at her.
"Here we are," Richard said as he stopped in front of Brejen's cot. "You have a good night and we'll come back here to see you in the morning, okay?" the Seeker gently said to the small girl.
"Okay," Alys said, nodding her head with a big smile on her face. The young Confessor tugged on Richard's sleeve and once he knelt to see what she wanted, she gave him a small peck on the cheek. "Good night," Alys said and turned her head to look expectantly at Cara.
The Mord'Sith watched the interaction between Richard and Alys with interest; the girl seemed to be very fond of the Seeker. She turned her head away once she saw the hopeful look on the petite blonde directed at her. To avoid any awkwardness, Cara started to step away from the pair, but her attention was caught by the girls alarmed voice.
"Oh, what is this?" Alys said, kneeling on the ground and pointing at something among the dirt.
Richard squinted to look at what the child was pointing at and Cara came to kneel beside them too. Before the Mord'Sith had any time to react, Alys got up and kissed her swiftly on the cheek. The little blonde girl ran towards the cot, giggling and throwing a brief 'nighty-night' over her shoulder, leaving a stunned Mord'Sith and a laughing Seeker behind.
"You should have seen her face," Richard said to Kahlan, pointing at Cara and laughing at the memory. The Confessor chuckled, pursing her lips to stifle a full blown laugh; she didn't want to laugh as openly as Richard because she could tell the blonde was slightly uncomfortable with the sneaky kiss the child had managed to steal from her.
"She was lucky not to have been hurt," Cara said, not at all amused by Richard's enjoyment. "She surprised me, I could have harmed her unintentionally."
"But you didn't," Kahlan added, looking tenderly at the blonde beside her. She leaned closer, taking advantage of the fact that Richard was distracted with reenacting Cara's expression from the night before for Zedd's amusement. "Looks like you have a talent to make Confessors like you, on different levels of course," Kahlan whispered in Cara's ear.
"I'm not greedy," Cara whispered back, enjoying Kahlan's closeness and the brunette's boldness in flirting with her, albeit subtly, in front of the men. "One Confessor is more than enough for me," she said, giving Kahlan a quick wink that made the brunette's smile widen immediately.
"Well, obviously, Alys needs to get back to her own time," Kahlan said, turning away from Cara and directing everyone's attention back to the problem at hand. "Do you know any spell that could accomplish that?" the brunette asked, looking at Zedd.
"There are no spells for that," Zedd said shaking his head. "The only way to time travel is by using the Triangle of Anuyr," the wizard informed them, his brow furrowed deeply.
"Where is this stone triangle?" Cara asked in confusion, judging by the wizard's worried look that it wouldn't be easy.
"The last I heard it was safely stored in the Wizard's Keep," Zedd said, lifting his head to look at the Mord'Sith. "In Aydindril." He shifted his gaze to Kahlan.
"Aydindril," Kahlan breathed out. "That's far away and it would delay the quest for the Stone of Tears, we'll have to split up," she concluded, looking at Richard.
"Last time I checked, the compass was pointing in the general direction of Aydindril," the Seeker said with a smile. "If it hasn't changed, we're heading that way anyways," he said, shrugging. "And if it's not, the quest will have to wait because I'm not letting you go alone to Aydindril with Alys," Richard said, looking adoringly at Kahlan. The Confessor gave him a tight lipped smile and shifted uncomfortably on her seat, trying to gauge the blonde's reaction from her peripheral vision. "I would go with you to-"
"Shouldn't we find more about this girl?" Cara interrupted the Seeker suddenly, not liking were his speech was going. "I know she's just a kid," she amended, looking at Kahlan. "But the truth is we know nothing about her and she seems pretty comfortable around us," she said, clearly annoyed about Alys demeanor around them. Cara felt a warm and calming hand on her leg, sly fingers making circles on her inner thigh, assuring her of its owner's presence beside her.
Kahlan had seen Cara's interruption for what it was, the blonde didn't like the way Richard was looking and talking to her. The Mord'Sith sounded like herself, scolding them for their lack of caution, but Kahlan could detect the jealousy in Cara's voice and it made her smile slightly, reassured that Cara cared enough about her to be actively jealous in front of both men, even if said jealously was well camouflaged with irritation about the lack of information regarding Alys.
The Confessor reached towards Cara's side of the table to pick up an apple and rested her other hand on Cara's side for support. The movement had little to do with her desire to eat the fruit; it was meant to reassure the blonde as much as to calm herself, because Richard's words made her remember that she had to have a very serious and painful conversation with him in the near future. She squeezed the blonde's side gently, feeling Cara release the breath she was holding and watching as the blonde gave her a look of acknowledgement about Kahlan's intention in reassuring her.
"Alys is a Confessor, obviously, she is related to Kahlan somehow; either by being her descendent or, perhaps, Dennee's," Zedd reasoned, his gaze shifting from the blonde to the pensive Mother Confessor. "But Alys did mention that she felt like she had fallen into a history book," Zedd recalled. "Maybe the great deeds of the Seeker of Truth are taught in Aydindril many years from now and Alys feels close to us because she knows our story," he deducted, laying a proud hand on his grandson's shoulder.
Cara just rolled her eyes, not impressed by Zedd's reasoning. Alys didn't seem that dangerous to her, but it wouldn't hurt them to be more careful. She wasn't worried, she trusted Kahlan's judgment and the brunette seemed to trust the little girl, but she'd like to be sure.
"We can always ask her," Kahlan suggested with a smile, receiving nods from around the table. "Now, let's go pick her up," the Mother Confessor said, getting up from the table, the other three following closely behind.
The morning was a little chilly, but the clear sky and bright sun hinted at the warm day ahead. The walk towards Brejen's house was quiet, everyone lost in their own thoughts. Kahlan let her mind go back to Cara's reaction to the effects of her confessor power; the blonde woman was so stubborn. She just doesn't give up, I don't know why I'm even surprised anymore, Kahlan thought lovingly, with a smile.
"Can I know what you're thinking about?" Richard said quietly beside Kahlan, interrupting the Confessor's happy musings.
"Why do you ask?" Kahlan asked, surprised at Richard's enquiry and not able to stop the faint blush that colored her cheeks.
"Your smile," the Seeker said, simply. "You had a happy smile so they must have been pleasant thoughts." He smiled brightly at Kahlan, his hopeful look letting the brunette know that the Seeker thought she was thinking about them.
"I was just thinking about Alys," Kahlan lied, shrugging her shoulders. She felt bad for lying to Richard, but she couldn't tell him here what she had been thinking about. She would talk to him later.
"Oh," the Seeker said looking to the ground, his hand moving to the nape of his neck in a sheepish gesture and disappointment clear in his voice. "I thought… never mind," he said with a dismissive smile, quickening his pace to catch up with Zedd.
The Confessor was aware of what went through Richard's mind and she felt bad for him because she knew she would break his heart. It'll probably be the most difficult conversation I ever had with anyone, she thought sadly, biting her lip worriedly and nervously tucking her hair behind her ear. Kahlan turned her head to her right when she caught red in her peripheral vision.
"Everything okay?" Cara asked in a whisper, nodding to Richard's back with her head.
"Yes," Kahlan said smiling, putting the blonde's worries at ease. Kahlan opened her mouth to explain further, but all that came out was a sad sigh. The Confessor knew the blonde didn't need any other explanation when Cara gave her curt nod of understanding, conveying her support to the brunette with a kind gaze. Kahlan thanked her by squeezing Cara's gloved hand briefly.
When they arrived at Brejen's house, his wife, Janis, was swiping the entrance. The woman lifted her head and smiled brightly at them.
"Good morning," Janis greeted them. "Are you here for Alys?" she asked, stopping her current task and resting her hands on the broomstick.
"Yes, we are," Kahlan answered with a smile. "Is she awake?" the brunette asked, only now realizing that the child might be still asleep.
"That girl jumps out of the bed when the sun comes out," Janis said laughing. "She's always full of energy, but today she was extra excited because you told her you would be coming for her this morning," the woman explained. "Have you had breakfast yet? Do you want to eat something inside?" Janis asked kindly, addressing the four of them.
"Thank you, but we already ate," Zedd said kindly to Janis. "Could you, perhaps, tell Alys we are here?" the wizard asked politely.
"Right away," Janis said, turning to go inside the house. "She is in the backyard," the woman said over her shoulder before disappearing inside.
A few moments later a petite form shot through the door directly to Kahlan's arms. The Mother Confessor laughed at Alys's obvious joy at seeing her again and hugged the little blonde girl close to her.
"Hello Alys," Kahlan said. "How are you?" she asked, pulling back and kneeling to look at the girl's bright blue eyes.
"I'm great," Alys answered, bouncing on her feet and leaned forward to kiss Kahlan on the cheek. The blond girl looked around and noticed the smile Cara had on her lips while she watched her reunion with the Mother Confessor, but the Mord'Sith quickly wiped it off as soon as she caught Alys looking at her. The young Confessor giggled and turned to Richard, greeting him with a kiss too as he obligingly bent down..
"Are you up for some more questions, little one?" Zedd said as he came close to Alys and ruffled her long hair.
"Of course," the small blonde replied with a nod. "But wait, what is this?" Alys said, taking a couple of steps towards Cara and looking intently at a spot on the ground.
Cara snorted and crossed her arms over her chest. "That trick doesn't work twice, girl," the taller blonde said with an amused smirk. This child sure was persistent in trying to be affectionate with her and the weird thing was that it didn't bother Cara as much as she thought it would. "But I have to admit that you did manage to trick me yesterday," the Mord'Sith said with an impressed nod of her head at the girl's sneaky antics while she kneeled down to be at eye level with Alys.
"Thanks," Alys said with a wide grin, resting one small hand on Cara's shoulder. Seeing that the Mord'Sith didn't shrug it off, the young Confessor pecked her on the cheek. "But it wasn't that difficult to pull off," she said cheekily, shrugging her shoulders as if fooling Cara was the easiest thing to her.
Cara rolled her eyes and swiftly got to her feat with a huff. "You caught me by surprise, that's all," the red clad woman said, a hint of annoyance showing in her voice at the child's dismissive attitude. "Don't try anything funny in the future, you might get hurt, you hear me?" Cara admonished in a stern voice. Alys just nodded her head, her gaze fixed on Cara's and the smile never leaving her face.
"How would you like to come with us to Aydindril, Alys?" Richard asked.
"You're taking me home?" the child asked, looking at the Seeker with wide eyes.
"Exactly," Kahlan said, trying to avoid any further explanation in front of Brejen and Janis. She preferred to not discuss Alys's problem in front of them; it was best to talk to the girl in private. "We are headed in Aydindril's direction, we can take her with us," she said to Brejen and Janis, who were in the door's threshold watching.
"Wouldn't a little girl be a burden in your quest, Seeker?" Brejen pointed out to Richard, looking somewhat skeptical with the arrangements and the apparent interest they had in the little girl.
"Not at all," Richard said clearing his throat. "This way she can get home sooner," the Seeker justified lamely. He could see the dubious look on Brejen's face, but the man shrugged and didn't say anything more. Richard was sure that, given the escort Alys would have, the man had concluded that he had nothing to worry about.
"We should go," Cara advised, looking up at the sun to determine the time.
"Goodbye then, Alys," Brejen said, opening his arms as the child ran towards him and hugged him.
"Thank you so much for helping me," Alys said, looking up at him with tears in her eyes.
"Don't cry, honey," Janis said, kneeling next to the girl and rubbing Alys's back soothingly. "It was a pleasure to help you and having you here with us. And you helped me too, in the kitchen, remember?" she said smiling reassuringly.
"It was really fun," Alys said, recalling the time she passed baking with the kind woman.
"Be good, okay?" Brejen told her, patting her cheek. "Sometimes I go to Aydindril, so maybe we'll see each other again," he said with a smile, winking at the blonde girl.
"Maybe," Alys agreed halfheartedly, her smile diminishing a little. She gave them one more hug and turned around to her new traveling companions, who, in turn, said their goodbyes to the couple and walked away towards the city gates.
Once they passed the city gates, the Seeker took out the compass and opened it, holding it up in his hand. He looked at the direction the compass pointed and turned his head to look at Kahlan.
"I guess that settles it then," Richard announced smiling. "We'll go to Aydindril."