Another year of college, here I am. Unfortunately it seems like I've missed the Hogwarts Express...for the eighth year in a row, so I'm stuck in boring old Connecticut. Drop some reviews for faster updates!
Chapter XIV
When Kahlan had asked the fair-haired duo to accompany her on her mission, she failed to take into the account that they were in fact, a couple. From day one, the Confessor had sensed some slight tension between the two but figured that it would work its way out. She was wrong. As much as she cared for Cara and Ben, Kahlan would do anything to be able to sew their mouths shut for just five minutes. It was either they were ignoring her completely and too busy sending each other suggestive looks that they thought she didn't notice or they were at each other's throat about one menial topic or another. Their current 'discussion' was on whether or not the use of bits on horses should be considered abusive. Cara- being Cara- insisted that they were just animals while Ben was adamant about their needs and desires, firmly believing that animals had rights too. To be quite honest, Kahlan would rather wear her horse's bit than listen to it for a second longer.
"I'm begging you." She cried, startling to couple as they swayed in their saddles. "Stop arguing or my head will explode."
"It's been a week, Mother Confessor." Cara smirked. "Think of how much further we have yet to go." Kahlan ignored the smug grin on the D'Haran's faces as she rolled her eyes. They also took enormous amounts of pleasure in toying with her. Unfortunately for them, Kahlan was equally as good in returning the favor.
"Can it or I'll be more than happy to tell Ben all about your adventures in Rothenberg." Kahlan shot the blonde a look and took in her shocked expression.
"To save your life!" the woman cried. Kahlan simply waved a hand in dismissal and raised an eyebrow. The blonde immediately quieted.
"Now I need to know." Ben whined and Kahlan could hear the distinct sound of the slap Cara laid on his arm.
"Where are we going anyway?" Cara asked a few minutes later, her eyes cast upwards towards the now setting sun.
"To Hali Cove." Kahlan informed them. The D'Harans frowned at the name. "The queen is a friend. She'll make a more than adequate ally. Besides, it wouldn't hurt it have a home cooked meal before the long journey to Renwold."
"Being the Mother Confessor has its perks then." Ben joked and Kahlan offered him a small smile.
"Travelling with her is equally as fun." Cara grumbled sarcastically, hating the grand entrance Kahlan always had to make. It was too big of a security risk for the Mord'Sith.
"Well, you can find out for yourself." Kahlan smiled at the man before spurring her horse over the nearest hill. When the two had caught up, they saw what Kahlan was staring at. The city of Hali Cove, properly named, sat in the center of a large harbor. Cara and Ben could tell that the city was primarily a naval one, their grand ships practically toppling over the palace walls. The Cove was placed in the middle of the Midland's greatest river, the Blackcourt- named after its black sand- that spewed into the great ocean that lay beyond the horizon. Any city or town worth anything wanted to be on Hali Cove's trading list seeing as they offered the best prices for the largest variety of goods. It was easy to see why Kahlan believed they would make a good ally in the war against Torren. It didn't take long for the people of the Cove to notice who was walking amongst them. They parted like the sea and made way for the Mother Confessor and her retinue. Ben struggled to keep his mouth from dropping at the amount of respect the people of the Midlands had for Kahlan. Of course, she deserved it, but he couldn't help but think that every time Darken Rahl would show up somewhere, people would fall to their knees in fear- not love or respect. It was a nice change to be helping someone so different.
"The Mother Confessor, Kahlan Amnell, to see Queen Sephya." Cara's voice echoed against the stone walls before the entrance to the palace. Seconds past before the gates swung open and a battalion of guards dressed in deep emerald and gold emerged, surrounding the trio in a protective stance. They led the three past the palace walls and into the citadel made completely of marble before finally opening the door to the throne room where Queen Sephya Airis awaited them. At the sound of the opening door, the Queen and her court rose from their seats and waited for the Mother Confessor to approach them. When she did, everyone- including Queen Sephya- knelt before her. Only when Kahlan allowed them to did they begin to stand. As they did, Cara took in the Queen of the Cove and noticed that she was no older than Aria. Her raven hair matched Kahlan's in everything but length and her golden eyes seemed to examine her guests intently. The queen wore a deep green gown embroidered with golden leaves at the hem and strings of gold at the sleeves. Her crown was small but sat perfectly on her thick curls and gave her a sense of regal beauty that shouldn't be bestowed on someone so young. Sephya caught Cara's eyes and wisely chose to ignore the blonde's blatant judgment of her appearance before turning to face Kahlan with a small smile.
"Mother Confessor." She lowered her head slowly. "The people of the Cove welcome you and your companions. What brings you to our city?"
"Thank you, Your Majesty." Kahlan smiled thinly back. "We're undergoing a long and dangerous journey and we were hoping to stop here before our trek begins."
"You're more than welcome." Sephya smiled again and Cara couldn't help the chill that ran down her spine. The girl-queen made her uncomfortable. "I'll have rooms and a meal prepared at once." The queen motioned to her hand maiden who immediately took off towards the exit.
"Thank you." Kahlan said appreciatively. "I was also hoping to discuss certain matters with you." Kahlan's eyes swept the room filled with different shades of nobility. "In private."
"You heard the Mother Confessor." Sephya's voice was carried easily in the marble hall. The room was emptied in seconds, leaving none but the four. The moment the room was cleared, Sephya shocked Ben and Cara as she took a step forward and wrapped her arms around Kahlan's neck. Ben reached out and stopped the blonde's hand as it instinctively wrapped around her Agiel. Kahlan smiled against the girl's shoulder and returned the embrace with equal warmth.
"How are you, Sephya?" Kahlan asked as the two parted. "How is your sister?"
"As well as can be expected." The queen shrugged with a sad smile. "She still hasn't spoken a word but our healers say she's improving."
"I pray that she is." Kahlan said sincerely.
"What's this about a dangerous journey?" the queen's golden eyes narrowed as she took in Kahlan's expression.
"Aidyndril was attacked. A good friend of mine- of ours-" Kahlan motioned behind her to Cara and Ben, "was murdered. Another was brutally attacked and almost killed."
"We had heard rumors of an attack on the capitol." Sephya frowned. "I didn't want to give the people cause to worry. With the war over for barely a decade, the last thing we need is another one."
"So you ignored it?" Cara raised an eyebrow at the queen who in turn, seemed surprised at her intervention. "Someone attacks your capitol city and you just let your people believe that everything's alright?"
"Cara." Kahlan scowled the blonde who refused to waver. Sephya didn't need Kahlan's assistance.
"I chose to keep panic from plaguing my city. Should Aidyndril ever need help, they need only ask." Sephya's gaze hardened at the sight of the Mord'Sith. It was hard to accept that their Mother Confessor- that Kahlan- would be so closely aligned with someone like her.
"We need your help now, Sephya." Kahlan returned the girl's attention to her. "Your navy is the finest in the three territories. We need everything we've got to defeat the man who did this."
"Another war simply because one man was killed?" Sephya crossed her arms. "You've changed, Kahlan."
"You don't understand." Kahlan shook her head slowly. "They infiltrated our ranks and murdered him inside the Confessor's Palace. The man they follow- Torren- he's bent on destroying the Mord'Sith and taking everyone else with them."
"I'm sorry," Sephya stepped away from the older brunette and frowned. "You're starting a war for Mord'Sith? After everything they've done to our people- to their own people?!"
"Sephya, he almost killed a Confessor- a pregnant Confessor." Kahlan tried to reason with the girl.
"Almost." The girl pointed a long finger, sweeping her dress behind her before taking a seat on her golden throne. "She's alive isn't she?" Kahlan nodded. "So you want to go to war because one man was murdered and her kind is in danger?" Sephya didn't even glance at Cara as she swept her hand in the Mord'Sith's direction.
"The war is over." Kahlan stated firmly. "In case you've forgotten, we are no longer allied against the D'Harans. Darken Rahl is dead, replaced by the Seeker- his brother. There's no reason to hold the D'Harans accountable for everything their former master forced them to do."
"Are you suggesting we locate Rahl's corpse and punish it instead?" Sephya's frown deepened with every word. "I will not sacrifice the lives of my people simply because you have grown to love the Mord'Sith- for whatever twisted reason it may be."
"They've proven themselves time and time again as valuable and loyal allies." Kahlan approached the throne slowly. "If a Confessor can grow to accept them, why can't you?"
"I will never accept the people that murder and torture innocent people for the fun of it." Sephya stood from her seat defiantly, anger evident in her features. Cara and Ben had remained stoic during the women's argument but as Sephya towered over Kahlan, the two grew uneasy. They took several steps towards the Mother Confessor. "Do you honestly think I'm going to try to hurt her?" the queen asked the blonde-haired duo.
"Do you honestly think we trust you enough to dismiss the possibility?" Ben replied, his tone harsh.
"How dare you speak to me like that?" Sephya asked, her own voice low and threatening. "I am the Queen, D'Haran," she spat the word, "and you will treat me as such."
"Enough." Kahlan growled, immediately halting any confrontation between the two. "Yes, you are the Queen of the Cove, Sephya so think about how Torren would react when he learns that you harbored the Mother Confessor and her friends after the war officially begins." Sephya seemed to mull the thought over slowly. "Do not be a fool. He will come for you and all of Aidyndril's allies when he is through with us. Protect your people. Help us defeat him." Several moments of silence crept by as the queen contemplated her options. Her jaw set, she turned and narrowed her gaze.
"You should just give him what he wants. The world is better off without them." Sephya grumbled as her penetrating gaze glanced over Cara with disgust. Kahlan and Cara both moved with surprising speed as the sound of Ben's blade being removed from its scabbard echoed in the marble room. Both women held the Queen's gaze as they held the man back. Sephya stood in shock, more than surprised that he would threaten her so blatantly in her own throne room. A knock on the grand door shattered the deafening silence as a head poked in.
"Everything is prepared, Your Majesty." Sephya's hand maiden appeared and quickly regretted it as she took in the tension in the room.
"Escort the Mother Confessor and her…companions to their rooms. Make sure they have everything they need for the night." Sephya moved to walk past the group of three, wary of Ben's sword hand, only to be stopped as Kahlan moved in front of her.
"This conversation will continue." Kahlan held the girl's stone gaze and eventually won as the queen nodded once and quickly moved around the Confessor, exiting the room and leaving them with a more than terrified servant girl.