Chapter 13
"What's so special about this tooth that you want me to get for you?" Richard asked, his voice hard as steel as he wrestled with his warring emotions.
Anguish vied with hope, fear with utter relief, love with desperation…the desires of his heart with the logic that relentlessly churned in his head.
"I suppose you know how your tooth pendant came to be?" Demos began, pausing for only a moment to take note of the flickering look of surprise on his brother's face before proceeding. "Your father, George Cypher, killed the beast that protected the Book of Counted Shadows. He took a tooth from the beast and gave it to you to be the protector of the book."
"I know all this," Richard scowled in frustration, clenching his jaw. No one was supposed to know. "The question is how do you know?"
"Let's just say that I always do my homework," the Lord Rahl smoothly replied, stopping to lean against the wooden table again, his hands coming to rest on either side of him on the edge of it. "I never go into any situation without knowing all of the facts. I don't like being caught off guard."
"So how did this other tooth pendant come to exist?"
"Well, that's the most interesting part of this whole story," Demos said, his dark eyes practically glowing with excitement. "You see your tooth pendant holds the key to retrieving the one that I want. They are linked by magic in a way."
"I don't understand," the Seeker's brow creased as his gaze narrowed. "How can that be? My tooth pendant has been in the Midlands all these years since my father took it."
"I'm afraid I told you all that I know," his brother said with a small shrug before suddenly straightening up as if the conversation was over. "I want the pendant; your tooth pendant is the key to it. Bring me back the pendant and I'll resurrect your dead Confessor."
"I thought you said that you always do your homework?" he frowned.
"I have," Demos calmly stated. "I'm afraid that there's not much more information to be found."
"What special magic does this pendant hold that you want it so badly?"
The Lord Rahl crossed his arms against his chest. "That is not something that you need to know in order to find it for me. I told you all that you need to know to retrieve it."
"I won't do it unless I know what you want it for," Richard firmly stated, his raptor gaze darkening like smoldering embers.
"So willing to let your precious Confessor suffer unimaginable pain and punishment at the hands of our brother and the Keeper in the Underworld?" he questioned him with a derisive smirk that made the Seeker's blood suddenly run hot with growing rage.
Richard took a threatening step towards him, his chest beginning to heave. "I still don't have any guarantees that you will even bring her back to me if I do find the pendant you so desperately want."
"I told you that was a risk that you were going to have to take if you ever want to see her alive and well again," Demos reminded him with a wicked gleam in his eyes. "Now, do you want to know what you need to do next in order to save Kahlan Amnell or not? Her fate is resting in your hands, brother."
Richard stared at him for a long moment, knowing that this man could not be trusted. He also knew without question that he would go along with this no matter where it took him if there was even the slightest hope that Kahlan could be saved.
"What else do I need to know?"
"I'm sending Commander Caid and some of his men with you to make sure that you are successful in your mission," Demos told him. "He will make sure that you are safely delivered to your destination and also that you return with what I want."
Richard could barely subdue the smile that was forcing its way to the surface with the mention of Caid and his men. He knew that he'd have to watch his back if Ingram was part of this quest he was being sent on. The man wanted him dead for some unknown reason. He wouldn't let scar face get in the way of getting Kahlan back.
"Fine," the Seeker bit out.
"I knew you'd see it my way, brother," Demos beamed.
"I am not your brother," Richard sneered. "I will do it…for Kahlan. She is the only reason that I help you."
"Of course," the Lord Rahl waved his hand as if brushing it all off as insignificant. "I knew that you wouldn't be doing it for me. I think you'll find, Richard, I'm nothing like our brother Darken. I am a very fair, understanding man."
"You have yet to prove that to me," he replied as a thought suddenly struck him. "What would you have done had Kahlan not died in that attack? What would you have used to force me into helping you?"
"To tell you the truth, you and the Mother Confessor were both supposed to be captured and brought to me," Demos admitted with a sigh. "She was always part of my plan, going to be the pawn I used to force you into getting me what I want.
For her, I knew that you'd do anything. It was just fortunate for me that she did die. It saved me the trouble of torturing her just to get you to cooperate."
Richard sharply sucked in a breath, doing his best to control the fury pounding through him. He loathed the fact that Kahlan had paid such a high price just so that this monster could get what he wanted.
He still felt the horrible weight of guilt for her death, feeling that it had been his fault that she was gone. It was because of him that she had died, but it would be because of him that she lived again. Of that, he was certain. He would not allow her to stay in the Underworld.
"Nonetheless, I hope that you will be comfortable here tonight," Demos said, interrupting Richard's thoughts as he made his way to the door. "I'll have your dinner sent up to you. You will leave at first light so get a good night's sleep. You have an important mission that awaits you."
Richard watched as he left, listening as the bolt on the door loudly clicked into place. He was sure the magical shield had been erected again as well. Slowly making his way back to the window, he stared out into the growing darkness as he began to wonder what exactly he had gotten himself into.
He could tell Demos was lying. He was withholding information from him, something important that could help him in his new quest. But his new found "brother" wasn't going to share it with him any time soon.
He knew that he didn't have much of a choice and he didn't really care. He had to get Kahlan back and nothing was going to stand in his way of doing that. He would not allow her to suffer in the Underworld one moment longer than absolutely necessary. He would make this trip to the Deep Nothing, find the pendant and bring it back.
And Demos would have it…once he had Kahlan.
XXX
Kahlan's marine blue eyes stared out over the rim of her cup at the crowded tavern as she took a long drink of her hot tea, her anxious gaze studying every face that surrounded her. She just hoped that no one would recognize them, but so far everyone seemed to be preoccupied with their own business to concern themselves with the newest arrivals to the People's Palace.
The low humming din of the crowded tavern was interrupted with an occasional outburst of rolling laughter that seemed to rattle the walls. Scantily clad women with ample bosoms roamed about the large dimly lit room, delivering trays full of ale and plates piled high with food to various tables.
Kahlan could practically hear Zedd's stomach grumbling its protest at not being fed yet, but she had insisted they waited until Cara had arrived. He had grudgingly complied, pulling a persimmon from his cloak pocket to keep himself occupied until her arrival.
Her slender fingers curled around her tin cup, using the warmth emanating from her hot tea to try and thaw her. She felt as though she was frozen from the inside out, frost forming in her veins and chilling her clear to the bone. She fought to keep her teeth from chattering as she took another sip of tea.
She wished that Cara would get here so they could make their plans. Every moment that ticked by left Richard in the hands of the monster that now ruled D'Hara in Darken Rahl's place. She shuddered to think what was happening to him right now, the horrible torture that he was no doubt enduring because she had not been fast enough or strong enough to stop them from taking him.
Kahlan remembered all too well the terrible nightmares that had haunted Richard's sleep the nights following his rescue from Mistress Denna and the Mord'Sith training temple. It had killed her inside watching him suffer in silence because of her when she had wanted nothing more than to comfort him, to give every part of herself to him and take away every ounce of his pain.
But she couldn't.
It had been her words that had caused him to pull away from her back then, her failure to tell him what she should have told him from the beginning. She could see the hurt swimming in his eyes every time that he had looked at her for days and weeks after that. It had taken time, but the grief had finally disappeared from his chestnut brown eyes. She had sworn to herself she would never be the reason for that hurt to fill his beautiful eyes again.
And now, he was being tortured once again because of her failure. She couldn't bear it.
Kahlan's eyes flashed icy blue with a deadly intent that spoke volumes of her desperate need to get Richard back. When they had been separated while he was training at the Palace of the Prophets, she'd struggled with overwhelming loneliness the likes of which she'd never known, but she'd been able to endure it because she knew that he was safe and that it was important in order to save his life.
But this was so very different. He was in the dead center of the dark wickedness that threatened their very existence. He was with someone who could take him away from her forever. And that was something that she couldn't even begin to imagine let alone accept.
Then again, what would she do if she really had to let him go to take a mate? How would she ever learn to live without him if he was unable to find a way around her magic?
She suddenly felt nauseated with the thought, a sharp pain erupting in her chest as if a dagger had just found her heart.
A sudden gentle hand on her forearm pulled her from her tormented thoughts. She turned to look into the kind eyes of the old Wizard sitting beside her. He squeezed her arm affectionately.
"It'll be alright, my dear," Zedd softly reassured her with a smile. "We'll get Richard out of there and find a way to keep you here with us where you belong."
"It's not me that I'm worried about," she whispered, afraid to test her voice any further, averting her eyes to keep the tears that threatened to form at bay.
"Richard's strong, Kahlan," he reminded her. "He can survive anything. Have faith in him, in his love for you. You know he'll do whatever it takes to get back to you, no matter how long it takes."
"He thinks I'm dead, Zedd," she replied, closing her eyes and shaking her head at the thought. "I wouldn't want to go on without him if it was me."
Zedd hated to admit it, but that did make things a little more worrisome. He knew how deeply his grandson loved Kahlan, how his world revolved around her. If he believed she was dead…there was no telling how he would react or what he would do now. It was impossible to predict.
The rage of the Seeker was terrifying to witness; coupled with the anguish of a devastated heart would be unimaginable to behold. How could he even begin to comfort her, assuage her worries when he was just as worried as she was?
"Kahlan, I…" he began before suddenly closing his mouth, not even sure what he could say to her that help make everything alright again.
"There's Cara," Kahlan suddenly pointed out, nodding her head in the direction of the Mord'Sith stealthy making her way to their table, her head lowered, her green eyes stealthily taking in her surroundings.
Cara had a grim look on her face which was not unusual for her, but it somehow seemed more severe to Kahlan. She was still taken aback by her long black hair, the severity behind her altered appearance very dramatic.
"What is it? Did something happen?" she quietly asked, leaning forward in her chair as Cara settled down into a chair across the table from her.
"Security has definitely been increased around here," she informed them as she leaned forward as well, her arms coming to rest on the table as she clasped her hands together. "Soldiers are roaming everywhere, asking everyone questions about Zedd and me. They have the whole city on alert."
"I was afraid of that," Zedd heavily sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "We're going to have to be very careful if we're going to get Richard out of there."
"It's going to be next to impossible," Cara admitted with a frown. "The soldiers have everyone on the lookout for us."
"Everyone thinks I'm dead," Kahlan reminded them. "We can use that to our advantage."
"How so?" Zedd asked, the wrinkles in his forehead deepening in thought.
"Have Cara take me into the Palace as her prisoner," Kahlan suggested. "She could take me to the new Lord Rahl pretending to have captured me trying to rescue Richard. When I get near him, I'll confess him."
"No, I don't like it," Cara immediately said, shaking her head in disapproval as she pursed her lips.
"Cara, what other choice do we have?" the Mother Confessor hissed, doing her best to keep her voice low despite the desperation rapidly rising inside of her.
"There has to be a better way than risking your life," Cara spat out. "Sacrificing yourself is out of the question."
"How would I be sacrificing myself?" Kahlan questioned her. "I can still use my magic. I'll confess him, force him to release Richard."
"And then what?" Cara snapped, cocking a blond eyebrow with a tilt of her head. "You collapse to the ground and I'm left to fight his enraged soldiers by myself while trying to keep you from getting killed in the process."
"It will work," Kahlan angrily insisted, her frustration mounting. "I will force him to give us Richard."
"I have to agree with Cara on this one, Kahlan," Zedd grimly interjected. "You are not exactly in the best shape to put yourself right in the center of the fire."
"I'm fine," she bit out through gritted teeth. "I will get through it to save Richard."
"Kahlan, you're growing weaker all the time," Cara told her. "Pretty soon you won't be able to hold yourself up. What am I supposed to do when I get you half way inside the Palace and you suddenly collapse on me? What will I do then? Fight my way out against an entire army while trying to drag your body out?"
"I can do this," she growled. "I have to for Richard. I can't let him stay in there any longer."
"I want to rescue him too, but I'm not willing to risk your life to do it," Cara heatedly stated. "Lord Rahl will have our heads if we put you in the middle of this. We will find another way."
"He already thinks I'm dead!" Kahlan yelled.
"Hey you!"
All three of them suddenly froze, fearing they had just been discovered. Kahlan and Zedd looked to see a hulk of a man with greasy black hair and missing teeth coming their way. Out of the corner of her eye, the Mother Confessor could see Cara's hand slowly slipping beneath the table and reaching for her agiel at the same time that Kahlan went for her daggers.
They each waited with bated breath, each fearing the worse. All of their planning wasn't going to do them any good if they were captured or dead.
"I see you cowering back there," he bellowed. "No use trying to hide."
Kahlan felt her pulse race, her heart about to burst from her chest the closer he got to them. She tightened her grip on the handle of her dagger she kept hidden beneath their table. She was not about to be taken without a fight.
Her fingers began to ache from the death grip she held on her dagger, her fierce glare locked on the scowling beast lumbering closer to them. She tried to relax her muscles, but her entire body was coiled tight, ready to unleash her anger and frustration.
"You owe me money and I want it now!" the man yelled as he marched past them to a small nearby table surrounded by equally vile looking men.
They all released a united breath, relieved that they hadn't been discovered yet. Cara glanced at them with an expression that Kahlan thought probably mirrored her own.
Placing her dagger back into her boot, Kahlan sank back in her chair once more. "That was too close."
"I was able to get us three rooms upstairs," Zedd informed them with a nervous glance about the room. "I think we should get our dinner and continue our discussion up there where we aren't out in the public eye."
Kahlan nodded in agreement. Although everyone in the tavern appeared to be wrapped up in their own business, it only took one to recognize them and then it would all be over. She knew their chances of getting Richard then would evaporate just like smoke in the wind.