Chp.14
"My brother put a tracking spell on the tattoo on the back of my neck. Is there any way you could remove the spell?" I ask Zedd.
"I can but why should I remove it? What if you being here is a trap?" Zedd asks.
"I know I am your enemy's sister. But my brother has done terrible things. And I have been the victim of such things. I am my brother's most valuable weapon, if I am with you he is at a disadvantage. I truly mean no harm to any of you. If I show the slightly inclination that I am on his side, you can run me through." I tell them.
I do not add the part about how I am now one of the Keeper's servants or how Richard is my brother too. I feel those facts would not be in my favor.
"I can see the honesty in your eyes. But I will take your word, the first sign that you are loyal to your brother, I will run you through with my sword. And I will not think twice about it." Richard says as he starts to walk.
Zedd says something in a language I do not recognize. Then suddenly I feel as if a great weight was lifted off of me. I smile and thank Zedd before following Richard.
We have been walking through the forest for three days now. We have all shared what little provisions I had in my pack. The hunger is slowly starting to kick in. I am not use to this sort of thing. I am use to three hot meals a day and a warm bed at night. I did not think this through at all.
My legs and arms feel like bricks. Will stops every so often to make sure I am okay. Zedd left a few hours ago to get some provisions and said he will meet up with us later. I notice a bee's nest in a tree as we are walking. It is the only type of substance I have seen in the last day. But it is never a good idea to take honey from bees.
Richard stops and stares at the nest in the tree.
"Don't do it. I know what you are thinking. It is not worth the risk. Zedd will be back with some provisions soon." I tell Richard.
Richard pulls out his sword cuts down the nest and steals some honey. Bees begin to appear everywhere. I begin to run away from the nest and hope the others catch up.
"Run! Run!" Richard screams.
Kahlan reaches up to me. We continue to run for another half a league before plopping down on a log. Richard and Will soon follow and plop down beside us.
"Did we lose them?" Kahlan asks
"I think so." Richard replies.
"Those bees were more relentless than the Dragon Core." Kahlan says.
"A lot of work for so little honey." Richard says.
Kahlan hands him a piece of cloth and he puts the honey on the cloth. I take my hand and put in inside of Will's. It seems in the past week he has lost some of the light that use to surround him. I never asked him to go on this journey with me. I just assumed he would come. I wonder what is plaguing his thoughts. But I vowed I would never use my gift on him like that, it is not fair to him. He will tell me in his own time.
"It's not enough for all of us." Kahlan says.
"I am fine." I say.
"As am I. you two split it." Will suggests.
"It's not enough for two either. You take it." Kahlan replies.
"No, you, I insist." Richard says.
Does Kahlan know Richard is in love with her? And does Richard know Kahlan is in love with him? It is blatantly obvious to the rest of us, but are they willing to admit it themselves?
"But you did all the work." Kahlan says in a light voice with a smile on her face.
"I'll eat at the next tavern we pass. It can't be far" Richard says.
"Which direction are we heading, anyway?" Kahlan asks.
Zedd comes up with a horse and some supplies.
"East." He replies.
"Towards the D'Haran border?" I ask.
"Lahada,(A/N: no clue what the town name really is but it sounds like this), to be precise." Zedd says. "Oh, breakfast, I'm starving." He says as he takes the honey from Richard's hands.
"I spoke with a friend in the resistance while I was getting provisions. It seems King Gregor is facing a new enemy and is requesting the seekers help." Zedd says.
"King Gregor?" Richard asks.
"His kingdom borders D'Hara. A strong ally to the resistance. One of the only leaders brave enough the stand up to Darken Rahl." Kahlan says.
"And my brother hates the king for his support of the resistance and always sends soldiers there." I add.
"Apparently he has done better than that. A friend has said that the king has driven back the D'Harans. Rahl has pulled his troops away from the border." Zedd says.
"He would not have done that lightly. There has to be some reason for him pulling out the soldiers from the border. My brother does not stand down easily."
"Why does he need our help? What could be a bigger threat then the D'Harans" Richard asks Zedd.
We ride the horses towards the border. There were only four horses so I am riding behind Will. He still seems so distant. I'll ask him what is wrong when we are alone.
We have been riding for a half a day. When Zedd says, "The border shouldn't be much further."
Richard stops and looks around. "Wait" He tells us.
"Stay where you are!" a voice shouts through the forest.
Richard pulls out his sword as does Will when men begin to emerge from the trees. The men surround us with bows drawn at us. This cannot be good.
"Guards lower your weapons." A man with blonde hair says as he walks forward to meet us. "Unless, I am mistaken this is Richard Cypher, the seeker. I am Arius, brother of King Gregor. Thank the spirits you received my message." Arius says.
He looks at our group and his eyes land on me. i stand corrected this cannot not be good.
"Guards, weapons drawn. They have a Rahl with them." Arius says.
I was right. Richard gets off the horse and stand in front of Arius. "She is no threat to you. She is helping the resistance now." Richard says.
"Does not change a thing. Since she is with you, I will not kill her. But if she does anything that will help her brother, I will have her killed." Arius says.
His men lower their weapons but I still do not feel safe.
"Thank you for understanding. We came as quickly as we could." Richard says while shaking Arius's hand.
"Wizard Zorrander, Confessor, it is an honor." Arius says. "This is Flynn captain of the guard."
"Sorry, about this. All of us are a little on edge lately." Flynn says.
"Does that have anything to do with why you asked us to come?" Richard asks.
"It is best if you hear that from the king himself." Arius replies.