Daring

"Was that wise?" Kahlan asked, her hands gripped tight around Richard's belt as they rode double through the woods, an eye out for Zedd or any of the missing horses.

"What?"

"Sending those three off together alone. I thought you were worried about Cara."

"I am," Richard frowned, "but we need to find Zedd and it made the most sense to split up."

They ducked under a low hanging branch and then Richard continued, "And I don't think Rahl will hurt Cara and I trust her to watch him. Hali means too much to him because of the stone… I never realized before how much Cara gave up when she helped me defeat Rahl."

"Whatever she did then, Richard, she did for her own purposes," Kahlan said, alarmed at his naiveté. Richard was so obsessed with longing for a family of his own, he was letting that fantasy obscure his view.

Richard said, "She's not like that anymore."

"We're all like that in some way, no matter how small," rebutted Kahlan, her gaze turned inward, voice quiet.

Richard never answered, bringing their horse to a halt as he caught sight of the tree line ahead of them.

A circle of trees had been burned at chest height.

Wizard Fire.

Darken was quite satisfied with the turn of events. He could feel Cara's resolve wavering. Soon she would be his again. Not only that, but his brother had ordered him in the direction he most wished to go, the place he had been attempting to reach when he was captured in the Wizard's Web.

They passed the gates of Cavernsfolly, the village that Hali had visited with the Mother Confessor just the day before. Darken wrapped his coarse black cloak around his shoulders, pulling the hood forward to hang over his face. Cara walked openly as a Mord'Sith, daring any to challenge her presence in the village. Hali they kept between them, guiding her through the crowd.

"Hali, what was the name of the merchant you bought my tunic from?"

"Ema."

Cara watched him, her look calculating. He twitched a brow at her.

"I will go see this Ema. Perhaps she has seen the wizard."

"Why look there?"

Cara had been glad when Richard ordered her to go with Darken. It had saved her from having to choose where her allegiance lie. But now she thought it would have been better to be forced away from Darken's side, lest Richard hold her accountable for Darken's deeds.

An image of Hali's blue lips stole across the edge of her memory. Would Richard punish her in the future? And if so, how?

At least with Darken she knew it would be a day of painful games followed by a night of pleasing him in whatever way he wished, or if she was particularly bad, some time deprived of his presence. It made it easy to assess if the action was worth the punishment.

With Richard she wasn't sure anymore and that in itself was worse than any pain inflicted.

"Meet me here in two hours time," Darken ordered, not even considering the possibility that he would be disobeyed. "I need new boots," he quipped as he headed toward the village market square.

The stand Hali had described was unmanned as it was not a market day, but after some discrete inquiries Darken was able to find the tailor's workshop, a sign depicting a needle and pair of shears hanging outside the door.

A bell jangled as he entered and a young woman rushed into the front room.

"Hello sir, welcome to Tailor's," she smiled brightly as she took in his clothes. "Oh, you must be Miss Hali's beau. She said you liked red and wouldn't mind about the D'Haran crest."

She was softly pretty in a plain way, though a little too doll-like for Darken's tastes with her rosy plump cheeks and equally rounded body.

"Ema, I trust?" his voice filled with rich charm.

"Oh, yes sir," she answered earnestly, "is there anything I can do to help you?"

"Yes there is," he purred as he pushed her into the back room.

She gasped when she saw his face, her eyes widened in fright.

He left the shop with the information he needed and a pair of hunting boots that had been reserved for a rich trader.

The girl was still alive because he did not have time to hide his trail. He had left her with the impression that he was still a wizard and would know if she told any of his presence. Fear would do the rest.

He turned west down the dirt road, enjoying the feel of his new boots. He arrived at a boarding house run by an old widow. There was a man standing in the yard, his back to Darken as he watered a horse.

Darken allowed himself a tiny measure of relief and triumph as he recognized the tattoo on the man's shoulder. Third Battalion, the most loyal of his soldiers.

"Captain Vorq."

The man swiveled, teeth bared.

"Ain't no one here by that name," he said.

Darken moved into the yard, pushing back his hood just enough to allow light to hit his face.

"Lord Rahl," the man breathed, dropping to his knees with a fist over his heart.

"Rise," Darken said shortly, hoping none would see the idiot, "I have a task for you."