Richard wasn't exactly sure where he was going, but his feet were leading him throughout the palace. His hands were clenched in fists and his head seemed on fire. His mind was reeling. It wasn't so much the threat to himself that was concerning him. It was the threat to Kahlan. She was going to mate this man, this supposed Ryan Finn. The man who has been accused of being deadly with magic - something he wasn't even faintly familiar with - and with the intent to kill him. Richard's thoughts went immediately to how he could have schemed into being Kahlan's mate, that that was the reason he did it - to get closer to Lord Rahl. He crashed through a door hoping that this time he would find the traitor, only to lay his eyes on an empty room. Since he read the letter, Richard had been wreaking havoc on the palace, busting in through doors and making a scene. When someone asked him what he was doing, where he was going, he would just push through them and continue his search. He was seeing red.

Richard had been through almost every corridor in the People's Palace and couldn't find Ryan anywhere. He knew that Zedd was keeping him in the palace, supposedly preparing him to be Kahlan's mate. He wasn't sure what there could be preparing for, he thought the process was simple enough. He'd be confessed anyway, he wouldn't need preparing. He'd be ordered around like a puppet. Richard cringed at thinking of Kahlan ordering him to her bed.

Servants were now parting, quickly getting out of the way when they saw Richard storming through the halls, having heard of his current enraged state. He thought his anger would calm slightly after time, but his temper was only growing substantially. He threw open a door, huffing as he rushed through the room, eyes darting.

There he was.

Ryan was sitting across from Zedd, nodding at something his grandfather had said. Richard felt his face redden as he stalked forward, Zedd standing to make his way to him.

"Richard! What is wrong?" He was distressed, seeking desperately for an answer. Richard could only stare daggers into Ryan, who was now looking around cautiously, eyes widening. Richard pushed his grandfather aside and closed the distance between the two within a few steps. He grabbed Ryan by the shirt, shoving him against the nearest wall.

"And what's the real reason you're here, Ryan! I heard you want to kill me! What does that have to do with becoming Kahlan's mate, hm!" Richard was yelling directly into Ryan's face and had to take deep breaths when his sentences were finished. Ryan's eyes grew wider and he opened his mouth to defend himself. Richard shoved him against the wall again, Ryan wincing as his head hit the marble.

"My boy, what are you doing!" Zedd rushed over, attempting to pry Richard's hands off of Ryan's shirt to no avail. Richard had a death grip on the man, and he wasn't intending to let go until he was sure that Ryan's body would hid the ground with a dead thud.

"Well!" Richard yelled, shaking him as he did so. When Ryan didn't respond, Richard threw him to the ground. Ryan slid on the floor, back hitting a leg of the table. He cried out in pain.

"I didn't .." Ryan gasped for air, attempting to find a way to hold his back in his current position, but always failing to make his hands do what he wished. "I'm not here to .. hurt .. you." He breathed, face scrunching as he curled up in a ball. Richard walked over to him, hands in fists.

"Really now!" Richard was leaning over the man, pressing his foot into Ryan's side, occasionally adding excruciating pressure. "Then what are you here for!" Ryan looked up at him through glassy eyes, tears starting to fall down his cheeks.

"Lord Rahl," Ryan yelped when Richard pressed his weight down on his ribs, "I just .. want peace .. for the .. Midlands .. and .. D'Hara. That's .. all." Ryan attempted to roll over, but Richard leaned down to grab him by his shirt, hoisting him up.

"Then why did I receive a warning about you - about how you were sent by Sister of the Dark? About how you are in possession of magic? About how you are here to kill me?" Richard shoved him onto the table, turning to his grandfather who was now racing to Ryan's side.

"Richard!" Zedd hovered over Ryan, scanning him with magic to see if there were any wounds. "Richard, this is ridiculous! There are no Sisters of the Dark, only Sisters of the Light. And they live in the Old World!" Zedd's face was red with fury, still checking to see if Ryan had any serious wounds. Richard prayed the the spirits that he did.

"Then why would I get a notice from the army out west!" Richard's arms shot down to his sides, fists ready to attack when necessary. Zedd slowly turned to look at him, hands dropping from Ryan.

"Out west?"

"Yes!" Richard snapped. Zedd stepped away from Ryan, looking suspiciously at him before returning his gaze to his grandson.

"And do you know it is authentic?"

Richard sighed, "Of course it is authentic! It is in Cara's handwriting!" Zedd seemed taken aback, moving away from Ryan with speed. Ryan rolled on the table, grabbing his ribs and letting out small moans. The sight disgusted Richard. Then a thought occurred.

"Zedd?" His grandfather met his gaze. "If he is in possession of powerful magic, why weren't you able to detect it?" Zedd looked around nervously, dry washing his hands.

"I just assumed the gift was stronger in him."

"The gift?" Zedd approached Richard, but he backed away, suspicion now flaring.

"Everyone is born with the gift, Richard. We all have a spark of magic inside of us. Wizards just have more, have fine tuned it. Ryan doesn't have enough magic to be a wizard, but he has more than a normal person would. I didn't think much of it."

Richard blinked, stepping even further back as he brought his hands to his head. "Zedd! He is D'Haran! They are all scared of magic! Did that even cross your mind!"

"Just because they are scared of magic doesn't mean they aren't born with it!" Zedd yelled. Richard sighed and closed his eyes, bringing his hand to the bridge of his nose. He didn't understand magic at all.

"And this," he gestured over to Ryan, who was now sitting up, head hanging low,"a common occurrence? Being born with more magic than .. normal?" Zedd sighed and tried to explain how the gift was different in everybody, how some had it stronger than others. Richard was only half listening. He did not like how Ryan was now sitting up. That means he could breathe to some extent. This would not do.

Before Zedd could stop him, Richard was already at the table, bringing Ryan's center straight down into his knee. Richard moved to the side as Ryan fell over, blood spurting out of his mouth. The world seemed to stop around him, everything moving slower as he glared down at Ryan. He was clutching his stomach and coughing up blood, trying desperately to gain air. Richard was certain he was now seriously injured. Richard kicked him in the ribs before Zedd was able to grab his arm and pull him around.

Richard heard no sound, just saw his grandfather yelling 'no! stop!' in his face. All he could hear was his heartbeat, which was surprisingly calm and steady. His grandfather started shaking him, trying to get him out of the trance he was in.

He saw a white figure glide past the doorway, quickly backtracking and rushing her way into the room. She pushed Zedd out of the way and placed her hands on his face, her eyes searching his.

Kahlan.

He blinked a few times and the world seemed to fall in place around him. When Kahlan saw him come back down, she glanced over at Ryan. He was motionless. Kahlan's hands gripped Richard's forearms as she slightly slumped forward, head pressing against his collarbone.

"Richard," she whispered, her voice held no contempt, "what have you done?" Richard's eyes grew in shock. Yes, he did want the man dead, but he didn't want to kill him. Richard started panicking, pushing Kahlan away as his hands locked behind his head, eyes frantically darting in all directions. He had just killed a man. Richard didn't even have to look to know that Ryan was dead. He had a strong build, but Richard's blows were concentrated, precise, strong. He sighed as he looked at Kahlan with watery eyes.

"I .." He tried to speak but his throat was dry. Kahlan's gaze held no resentment. She wasn't mad at him. She was the Mother Confessor and she wasn't mad that he killed a man? A man who was to be her mate? A man who her and Zedd searched high and low for? She should be mad. She should be upset. If Richard had previously told her about this, he'd understand her uncaring attitude towards the situation - but he hadn't. He hadn't spoke a word to anybody. Was she that used to seeing death? Did she even care? He saw her eyes start to glisten, her hands fumbling with the fabric on her dress as she looked around the room. She clenched her eyes shut and raised a trembling hand to wipe off the excess tears. She cared. Richard's heart dropped in his stomach. Kahlan walked up to him and numbly pressed against him. She cared. About Richard. He felt his heart swell only to have it drop again. He lightly wrapped his arms around her.

Kahlan separated them, smiling sadly as she took his face in her hands, rubbing it with the pads of her thumbs. Zedd stood behind her, still in shock at the actions that had taken place. She took a step back, turning to walk away from the scene. His grandfather was glued to his place, unable to move. Richard blinked away the tears coming to his eyes. He heard Kahlan's footsteps stop and he looked up at her. She turned around to say something.

The last thing Richard saw was Kahlan screaming his name while running towards him before everything went black.