Chapter 14 – Broken
Tobias watched as his sister pulled her underthings back on and pushed down her skirt, fiddling with the various fabrics she had pinned to it. She looked up at him, her eyes wide. "I be pleasing to you, my brother?" she asked, smiling hopefully.
He adjusted his trousers and he fastened his belt. He gave a gruff nod. "Yes, my sweet sister, you be pleasing," he said. "You be pleasing me very much."
Lunetta let out a sigh of relief. "That be making me happy," she said. "I be always wanting to be pleasing you, my brother." She fiddled with her fabrics for a moment and then looked up at him with her big bovine eyes. "Please, brother… don't let Galtero be taking me."
Tobias looked at her as if she'd just shown some kind of intelligence for the first time. "What be the matter with Galtero be taking you. You be liking Galtero."
Lunetta's eyebrows rose. "I only be wanting to be having you inside me, my brother," she said in a soft weak voice. "Only you. Be not wanting no one else… even Galtero."
The Lord General smiled at that. At least he had that. She only wanted him. He must be better than Galtero at pleasing his sister's womanly wants. But he had promised Galtero.
"I be making a promise to Galtero?" he said sternly. "You be wanting me to be going against my word?"
"No, of course, my brother," Lunetta looked horrified. "I just be telling you I only be wanting you, is all."
Tobias harrumphed and turned to pull his tunic on. A knock came from the door. He looked up. "Who be it?"
"Galtero be bringing the servant girl," Kern called in. "She be having news."
Tobias smiled. So soon, this was indeed good. He turned to Lunetta and told her to stay. She smiled and nodded, obeying him. Stupid girl, he thought, and then turned to leave. He walked the hall and down the stairwell until he arrived in the courtyard. Galtero was standing there with the servant girl. She stood beside him looking up at the big man with adoration in her eyes. No doubt Galtero had used his charm on the girl and bedded her.
Upon seeing Tobias, Galtero turned around and saluted. "This be the girl, Lord General."
Tobias eyed her for a moment. The servant girl was indeed homely, with a flat chest and shapely hips. Those hips be good for begetting little ones, Tobias thought. Despite her homely appearance, in her own way, the girl was kind of attractive. Tobias would have taken her if he had did not have his sister to please him. "What be the news," he asked.
"The curse Lunetta be putting on the wizard be working," Galtero informed him. He turned to the girl. "You be telling the Lord General."
The servant girl curtsied and went on to tell Tobias everything that she had witnessed. Tobias grinned. So the curse had worked. Good, this was good. He looked up back towards his bedchambers and smiled. He was going to have to reward Lunetta for her work. But first Galtero could have his fun. He had promised the man the reward of some time with Lunetta in exchange for finding the girl and getting the news they wanted.
Tobias gave a nod. "You be doing good, Galtero," he told him. "You be having your reward now." Galtero grinned and gave a nod. He started to move, but Tobias stopped him with a hand. "Be taking her to another room. I not be wanting your seed all over my bed."
Galtero gave a nod and then was off to fetch Lunetta to have his reward. The servant girl looked devastated. Her eyes slowly widened as it dawned on her that she had been used. She looked at Tobias pleadingly.
He huffed. "Don't be spreading your legs so quickly, girl," he said, then stopped and narrowed his eyes. He walked around her, scrutinizing her. Yes… she was homely and flat chested, yet she had a nice rump. A very nice rump, indeed. Tobias's hand flew out and he gave it a squeeze. The girl jumped.
"You be telling me, girl," he said. "Galtero be your first?"
She gave a meek nod.
Tobias raised an eyebrow. "You be stunned he be having fun with another so soon after he be taking you?"
She nodded. Tobias stepped up to her and ran his fingers through her short black hair. All the women in Aydindril had short hair. It was a sign of humility before the confessors. Only the Mother Confessor was allowed to wear her hair long. He grinned to himself. He would fix that once he got his hands on the witch.
Presently, the servant girl was looking up at him, her eyes brightening. She asked him if she could please him. She told him that if Galtero did not want her anymore, she'd be his. Tobias smiled, knowing he had her. He would enjoy taking this one from behind. She had just the right bottom for that short of thing.
He took her behind the pillars and pushed her face against the wall. He lifted her skirt and pulled her underthings down past her knees, then he took her from behind. When he was done, he asked her to take him into her mouth. She did as she was told and swallowed as well when he released his seed. Tobias grinned. She was such an easy girl to control and manipulate.
After he was done, he took her back into the courtyard and asked her to return to him when she had more news about the Mother Confessor.
"I be wanting to know when she be alone," Tobias said. "I… I be having important business that only the Mother Confessor be hearing."
The girl nodded and smiled. The look of adoration she had given to Galtero earlier was now directed at the Lord General. Galtero may be stronger and bigger than he was, but Tobias was smarter. He chuckled to himself as he watched her leave. This was going to be almost too easy.
XXX
Kahlan spat in his face.
Neville sneered and struck her with the back of his hand. "Just for that, Mother Confessor," he snarled. "I'll break your arms, too!"
Neville raised his hands to begin the spell. Kahlan closed her eyes, waiting for the pain that would come and helpless to do anything to stop it. Then she heard the hum of an agiel and Neville screamed. Kahlan opened her eyes to see Rikka pushing her agiel into the wizard's back.
Nicci stirred and shook her head. Her bright blue eyes caught sight of the struggle, and she immediately jumped up to assist. The sorceress summoned up a bolt of lightning and sent it at the fiend. Neville pirouetted and sent the bolt back at Nicci. She ducked and the bolt struck the wall, causing bits of stone to go flying. The wizard grabbed Rikka by her braid and pulled hard, yanking her head back and flinging her against the wall.
A dazed Nicci rushed to Kahlan's side and held up her arms to create a bubble of protective shields before Neville could rain down a blast of Wizard's Fire in their direction. Huffing in outrage, the wizard turned his attention toward the door. He brought his hand up, open palmed, and blasted the door back with black lightning, sending it flinging off the hinges, crushing the D'Haran soldiers standing in its way.
He quickly made his escape. Nicci shouted orders for the soldiers to follow him and kill him. Two quads took off. General Reibisch entered the room and paled at seeing Kahlan's condition. He knelt down and lowered his head.
"Forgive me, Mother Confessor," the rust-colored haired general pleaded.
Kahlan reached out with a hand and gave the general a pat on the forearm. "This is not your fault, general," she said reassuringly, then looked away. "It is my own." Kahlan looked up at Nicci. "Oh, Nicci, you were right. You were right."
Nicci placed a gentle hand on Kahlan's face and soothed her. "Take it easy, Kahlan," the sorceress said as she looked up and asked the general to help her turn Kahlan onto her back. The general nodded and with gentle hands, they moved her to rest on her back.
Rikka regained consciousness and cried out at seeing Kahlan's condition. She skidded to her knees by Kahlan's side. Seeing the anguish on Rikka's face, Kahlan held out a hand for the Mord'Sith, who took it eagerly, clutching it to her breast as she pleaded with the good spirits to help the Mother Confessor.
Nicci moved over Kahlan, running her hands around her legs chanting softly as she summoned her Han. Kahlan could feel the light tingle of the magic as it touched her legs and then there was a sharp snapping noise. Kahlan jerked.
"Hold her down!" Nicci commanded. Rikka and Reibisch did as they were told and held Kahlan down as she thrashed about, screaming in agony.
The pain was excruciating, but at least she was feeling it. When Neville had used his vile magic to break her legs, Kahlan had not been aware that anything had happened. Through her blinding pain, Kahlan was aware of Nicci kneeling down and grabbing her legs with her cool hands. The sorceress continued her ministrations, all the while the dark cell filled with Kahlan's cries and screams.
A bone crackling noise engulfed all hearing for a second and then Nicci sat back heaving deeply. Her brow was beady with sweat, and she looked exhausted. Rikka help Kahlan sit up.
"Nicci?" Kahlan called questioningly.
Through her labored breathing, Nicci gave her a soft smile. "I've healed you're legs, Kahlan… they should be as good as new."
Tentatively, and with Rikka's help, Kahlan stood. She wobbled a bit at first, but soon she had sound footing. Reibisch helped Nicci to her feet, and the sorceress leaned against the man's shoulder for support. Kahlan stepped over to Nicci and pulled her into a deep embrace.
Tears poured from her eyes as she hugged the sorceress. "Thank you, Nicci. Oh, thank you."
Nicci accepted the hug with grace and returned it, leaning her weary head against Kahlan's shoulder. Kahlan stepped back and smiled at her.
"You are a true friend, Nicci," she said. "I may have doubted you in the past, but you have proven yourself many times and I am grateful to have you as a friend."
Pushing through her exhaustion Nicci gave her a warm smile as tears formed in her eyes. "That is all I have hoped for, Kahlan," she said breathlessly, still trying to recover. "I have never had friends until Richard accepted me. I am pleased beyond measure to have you as my friend, Kahlan Amnell. You are one of the noblest and most kind women I have ever met. Richard is far too lucky to have your love."
Kahlan reached out and squeezed Nicci's hand appreciatively. She turned and looked up at General Reibisch. "See that she is taken somewhere where she can rest, General," she said.
The man gave a nod and, with deft skill, lifted the tired sorceress into his arms and carried her out of the cell. After seeing that her friend was safely on her way, Kahlan turned to her Mord'Sith protector.
"Rikka, gather up the Mord'Sith," she said. "We have a wizard to hunt."
Rikka gave her a smirk that remained Kahlan of Cara. "With pleasure, Mother Confessor."
XXX
Sister Bree was a little worried when her moon blood did not come. Out of all the men she could have a child with, she did not want it be with the Emperor. Slowly, while he slept, she secreted away, and used her magic to destroy his abomination. As she watched the thick blood seep down her thighs, Bree smiled. She'd just sent a soul to her eternal father, the Keeper of the Underworld.
After cleaning herself off, she returned to the Emperor's bedchambers only to find him awake and angry. His dark storm-like eyes glared at her with fierce rage.
"Where have you been!" he snarled, his lips curling up.
Bree narrowed her eyes, indignantly. "I had to make water," she lied. "Or would you have preferred that I wet the bed?"
The Emperor narrowed his eyes as he watched her remove her flaxen robe and rejoined him on the bed. His big hand immediately went out and wrapped around her small neck. He growled and his chest heaved.
"Why can I not see your mind, Sister Bree?" he spoke through clenched teeth. "Two nights ago… when you…" When I died, Bree thought. He could not even bring himself to say it. Had the brute actually deceived himself into believing he loved her? She laughed inwardly. This man could never love. He did not know how. To him, his sexual appetite and lust was love. Did he really believe that him taking her so many times was proof that he loved her?
"I am my father's daughter," she responded.
"What?" he was genuinely shocked and she could tell it scared him.
He let go of her throat and sat back on the bed, staring at her. Bree let a small smile trickle across her lips. "I am a daughter of the Keeper," she said. "He has heard my cries and granted me protection from your powers."
The dreamwalker's brow furrowed. "If I can no longer control you with your mind, then why do you stay?" he asked. Then his eyebrows rose in what looked like hope. "Do you love me?"
She laughed bitterly. "Love," she scoffed. "You do not know what that is, my lord." She pushed him down onto his back. "All you know is lust and you mistake that for love." Bree grabbed him in her small hand and directed him toward her. "What I do is not for you or love, my lord. What I do, I do for the Keeper. For my eternal father."
Bree pulled him into her, and she gasped as she felt him fill her. The Emperor grinned and placed his hands on her hips. "I don't care why you do this, Bree," he muttered softly. "As long as you do it."
The Emperor spun her around and plopped her on the bed and drove into her until he filled her with his seed. As he did, Bree laughed knowingly. The monster would never know that she had just killed his child.
XXX
Cara stepped away from the rest of the group and ducked into a side room where no one was present. She backed up into the corner, hidden in the shadows, and began to cry. She slumped down to the floor, clutching her knees to her chest.
She had failed him. She had failed Kahlan. She had failed D'Hara. She'd failed herself. Cara, the Mord'Sith, had lost the Lord Rahl.
No longer caring that the others knew what she was doing, Cara dropped her head and sobbed openly. Her cries echoed off the walls and came back to her, as if to taunt her. She had let everyone down. All she had to do was look after Richard, but she couldn't even do that. Cara had seen how distressed he was last night, but she had allowed her desire for Benjamin to override her normal Mord'Sith tendencies to protect the Lord Rahl.
She scoffed and raged. Emotions! They were such a terrible thing. Because she allowed herself to feel love for Benjamin, she had lost the Lord Rahl. She had lost Richard! If Kahlan had not hated her before when she found out that Cara had killed Dennee and Richard had eased that anger, she would certainly hate her now. She had lost the man the confessor loved. What greater crime could Cara have committed?
The door opened and Captain Meiffert—her Benjamin—came in. He immediately spotted her and rushed to her side. He knelt down next to her and she willingly leaned into his comforting arms. She had never found such an act to be comforting before. It had always been weak. But Richard had changed her. He'd shown her what it was like to be human. What is was like to live.
She shook her head. No, emotions were good. If she did not have them, she would not care that Richard was gone. As she continued to wail in her grief over her failure and for the lost of her Lord Rahl, her lover soothed her as best he could.