Chapter XXXVIII
Eliza Crane cried for hours. She cried until the sounds of the Mother Confessor's humming lulled her into a dreamless sleep and when she awoke, she cried some more. As she leaned her head against the renowned woman's chest, Eliza couldn't help but think back to all the things her parents had told her of confessors.
Confessors are the most powerful people in our world, Liza. Powerful people should be feared and respected.
Eliza had proceeded to ask her parents why everyone was so afraid of Kahlan Amnell and others of her kind.
Because, sweet girl. Confessors have the power to take away a person's soul- their very being- with a simple touch. Should you ever meet one, beware of their hand on you.
As the child glanced up at a sleeping Mother Confessor, she realized that there was nothing to fear from this woman. Kahlan Amnell had saved her from what she knew to be an unimaginable fate. She had saved her from the fate her mother and sister had suffered merely days before. Eliza was grateful and no longer wary of the woman's touch. She moved closer to the sleeping confessor as someone walked heavily past the door to their prison. Kahlan stiffened and woke, her eyes snapping open in anticipation of another threat. Thankfully, no one entered and both occupants relaxed once more. Kahlan glanced down at the girl whose wide eyes remained fixed on the bolted door and pitied her. Reaching down, she stroked a handful of fiery hair out of the girl's face. Eliza looked up at her, tears still brimming on the corners of her eyes.
"It's alright. No one's going to hurt you." Kahlan smiled softly as she continued to stroke the girl's cheek. Eliza seemed to melt into her further.
"M'scared." she heard the girl mumble into the rag she wore. Kahlan tilted her head and took a gentle hold on the girl's chin, lifting it to see her olive-colored eyes.
"Don't be afraid, little one." Kahlan leaned forward and pressed her lips against the girl's forehead. "This will all be over soon and when it is, I'm going to make sure you and your family are taken care of."
"B-But my mommy." Eliza whimpered as more sobs began to escape her lips. "He has my mommy and Talia."
"Is Talia your sister?" Kahlan asked and Eliza nodded against her. "And your father?" At the mention of her father, Eliza let out an open mouth wail and Kahlan knew what had become of the man.
"He-he tried to fight them." the redheaded girl began to explain through her sobs. "My brother too. They-they told the bad man that they didn't want to help him. They said they wanted to help you." Kahlan stiffened, knowing that the girl now realized that she was the cause of her family's demise.
"I'm so sorry, Eliza." Kahlan closed her eyes tightly as she wrapped her arm around the trembling seven year old. "I promise, the bad man isn't going to hurt you again."
"But he's hurting mommy and Talia!" Eliza cried, forcing herself out of Kahlan's high embrace. "He's hurting them right now!"
"I know, sweetheart but there's-"
"Then go help them!" Eliza's angered face brought tears to Kahlan's eyes. "You're supposed to help them!"
"Yes, I'm going to. I swear, Eliza-"
"No, help them now!" the girl clenched her fists at her sides as she demanded. She took a step closer to Kahlan and the older woman stood, reaching out to the girl only to be shoved away. "Why aren't you helping them?! Why didn't you stop him?!"
"Eliza, I will. I just need time to-"
"No!" suddenly the redheaded girl flung herself towards Kahlan, tiny fists raised to the side of her head as she ran. Kahlan immediately wrapped her arms around her stomach, blocking the girl's assault. Eliza continued to pound her fists against Kahlan's arms as she cried and yelled at the woman to help her family. Kahlan, her arms beginning to hurt, shut her eyes tightly in an attempt to stop the panic rising from within her. She had ruined this girl's life. How many other families had she destroyed just by being taken prisoner? How many more will die on Torren's quest for her throne? As Eliza's blows grew weaker and weaker, Kahlan reopened her eyes and watched the little girl fall into a heap of exhaustion at her feet. Waiting a moment to make sure that she wouldn't attack her again, Kahlan knelt before the girl and took up her now red hands.
"I'm sorry Eliza." Kahlan whispered, her voice much softer than she had anticipated. "I'm so sorry that this has happened to you. I'm going to make it right, I promise. I just need a little bit more time."
"I want my mommy." Eliza managed to let out between pants and tears. Kahlan blinked away the stray tears from her own eyes before enveloping the girl once more into her embrace. She shushed her as she mumbled apology after apology. The last thing Kahlan needed was for Eliza to believe she was going to punish her for lashing out. Kahlan stared blankly at the door of their prison as hot tears rolled down her cheeks and onto the girl's head.
"I'm going to get you back to her, ok?" Kahlan promised. "You are going to see your mommy again." Eliza sniffled and wiped her nose against her sleeve before retracting slightly from Kahlan's arms.
"You're going to be a mommy too, right?" the girl looked up at her with kind eyes as she played with the hem of her shirt. Kahlan smiled warmly before nodding.
"Yes. Yes, I am." she watched as Eliza's gaze went to her stomach and a little hand pressed up against it. Eliza then proceeded to lean down and whisper,
"I'm sorry baby. I hope you're as nice as your mommy." The words were more than enough to make Kahlan cry but when Eliza pressed her ear against her as if listening for a response, the Confessor let out a teary laugh.
"I can't wait for you to meet her, Eliza." At the words, the girl's head shot back up with a gasp.
"It's a girl?!" she asked, excitement brimming on her features. Kahlan chuckled.
"Yes. Confessors rarely give birth to boys." Kahlan explained. Eliza nodded, finally understanding why every Confessor she had heard of was a woman.
"Can I be a Confessor too?" Eliza asked with growing interest. Kahlan shook her head lightly.
"No, my dear. You have to be born a Confessor." she said, noticing the girl's sullen look. "But trust me, all Confessors wish they were like you."
"Really?" Eliza perked up at her confession. "Why?" Kahlan sighed before smiling. It was going to be a long night.
—
"What do you want to do?" Cara sighed as Ben asked behind her shoulder, both looking down on what used to be a bridge.
"We don't have much of a choice do we?" the blonde turned on her heels, a sour expression on her face. "We go around."
"But that'll add days!" Will cried from atop his horse. Cara spun to face him, her frown causing him to draw back.
"You don't think I know that?" she spat. "I'm acutely aware of how every day we're not there more lives are lost and I sure as hell don't you to remind me." William opened his mouth to apologize but saw the look Ben shot him and stopped. Cara leapt onto her horse and pulled the reins hard. The beast shook its head in disapproval but turned nonetheless. Even he knew better than to argue with the Mord'Sith in her current state.
"Mount up!" Ben ordered from behind her and the army of almost 10,000 obeyed.
"We head for Callion's Pass!" Cara's voice echoed, her glare daring any to ask why. The men before her turned to look at one another, expressions of confusion and fear radiating through the ranks. They knew how narrow and dangerous the Pass was but Cara was right- it was the only way to reach Aidyndril on time. As the army progressed in almost complete silence, Cara caught sight of Ben trotting up to her side and glanced warily at him.
"We'll get there. Don't worry." he tried to assure her. She merely scoffed. "Cara, when was the last time you slept?"
"There are more important things to worry about right now." she shrugged the question off but Ben's gaze only hardened.
"I'm serious. If you don't sleep, you'll be too tired to fight when we reach Aidyndril." he reasoned. Cara's lightened eyes flashed in his direction.
"Why does everyone insist on updating me of the most obvious information?" she shot at him. "Don't you think I know that? Don't you think I try to sleep?"
"What's bothering you?" he asked. "Maybe I can help." Cara laughed harshly at the suggestion.
"Ben, the only way to help is to win this war. Maybe then I'll sleep through the night." The blonde resumed her half-heartened gaze at the hills ahead of them, signaling that the conversation had ended. Ben shook his head as he rubbed his eyes. There was just no reasoning with her recently. Everything was about getting to Aidyndril and stopping the war. A part of him couldn't blame her and he knew that Cara also blamed herself for Kahlan's capture and would give her life to bring her friend back. Ben watched the woman's back as she swayed in her saddle- he watched her braid lifting slightly from the wind and how her shoulders slumped in exhaustion and made a vow that nothing would happen to her. She was his and no one would lay a hand on her unless it was over his dead body. He swallowed hard at the memory of Cara's poisoning but quickly shook it from his mind. Turning his head slightly, he saw William staring at him intently as if trying to read his mind. The general frowned as he remembered that there was a possibility that he could.
"What?" he asked with a raised eyebrow. Although the two had yet to come to blows, no part of Ben harbored any affection for the younger man. William, on the other hand, didn't seem to give Ben a passing glance.
"You're worried about her." the dark-haired man stated plainly and Ben scoffed. Now he knew why it annoyed Cara so much.
"And you're not?" he rolled his eyes. William's gaze hardened at his sarcasm.
"Of course I am but I'm not in position to help her." the man stated sourly.
"So you're saying that I'm not doing enough for her?" Ben tilted his head in curiosity and anger as he ground his teeth. It was William's turn to roll his eyes.
"That's not what I'm saying." the younger man glanced ahead of them at Cara and his gaze softened immediately. "I'm saying that while I know you two have had your struggles, it's not hard to see how much you love her…and how much she loves you."
"You love her too." Ben didn't ask. He watched as William turned away and began to chew on his bottom lip.
"What I feel is irrelevant. She is happy with you." he sat up straighter in his saddle. "I may not know much about women or romance but I do know the definition of 'love' is putting someone else's desires above your own. I'm not about to come between what you two have. I just ask that you help her. Please."
"Of course I will." Ben's voice softened at the man's confession. He respected William for admitting the truth and for acknowledging that Cara did, in fact, love someone else.
"And Ben?"
"Mmm?" the blond man turned back to face the man he once perceived as a threat.
"If anything happens to me," Will's jade eyes caught his in an intense gaze. "Tell her?" Although Ben didn't like the thought of Will's death- mainly because it would upset Cara- he knew that there would be no need to inform her of his growing affections. Regardless, he agreed with a sharp nod and spurred his horse forward to catch up with Cara's who had- for some reason- stopped at the top of the hill they were on. As Ben turned to ask her why she delayed, his eyes traveled down towards the beginning of the Pass and saw why.
"They've been through here." Cara stated grimly as her eyes wandered over what was once a town. Smoke still rose from the burning houses and mills as Will made his way towards them. His eyes wide and mouth slightly ajar, it took him a moment to turn and address the men behind him.
"Search for survivors!" Thousands of men hurried to comply, kicking their horses into gallops down the hill and into the remains of the town. Cara remained stationary for the briefest of moments before intaking a sharp breath and following the men down. Ben raced behind her, wary of any threats that may have been left behind. As the two reined their horses to a stop in the town centre, they glanced around the ruins. Bodies lay sprawled all over the square- blood making its way into the smallest of cracks in the ground. The moment they dismounted, their boots were covered in it. Cara's eyes danced wildly from building to building as if anticipating an attack while Ben quickly made sure that there were no living victims in the square. The smell of ash and burning flesh stung their nostrils and Cara caught sight of a handful of her men vomiting in the alleyways. She didn't blame them. As Cara groggily stepped over the body of a young man, she nearly fell as a hand wrapped around her ankle. Her agiels were at the ready as she knelt down to dispatch the man at her feet when she realized that he was only a farmer. A pitchfork rested in his right hand as blood pooled around him by the pint.
"P-Please." he croaked. "Help m-me." Cara immediately knelt at the boy's side and ran her hand across his abdomen in search of a wound. When she reached his stomach, the boy cried out and Cara could feel the blood from beneath her gloves. She lifted his shirt and held back a frown at what lay underneath. The only reason this boy was still alive was because his left hand had kept his innards from falling out. The gash across his belly was too deep to be treated.
"What's your name?" she asked softly, not wanting to frighten him further. She watched as he struggled to make a sentence, blood collecting in his mouth and running to the ground.
"O-Oliver." the boy spouted. Cara reached down and pulled his head into her lap. He seemed confused as to why a Mord'Sith would be showing him such kindness but shrugged the notion away. What did it matter?
"Oliver, are there any survivors?" Cara asked as she pressed a hand to his wound. After the flash of pain passed, the teen nodded.
"They took them." he coughed out. Cara frowned.
"Took who, Oliver?"
"The women." he sobbed. "My mother and my-my sisters." Cara raised her chin slightly at the thought of Torren capturing a town full of women. She knew what would become of them.
"Tell me about your sisters." she said soothingly. The boy seemed to relax against her as he began to speak.
"Talia is fourteen and-and Eliza's only seven." Oliver winced and began coughing, blood shooting out of his mouth and hitting Cara. She ignored it. "Please, you-you have to help them."
"I swear to you on my life that I will stop him." Cara's steel gaze was promise enough for the boy. He gave her a bloody smile as tears began to make their way down his cheeks.
"Hurts." he whimpered. "It hurts so bad." Cara nodded as she stroked the boy's strawberry hair out of his eyes. He glanced up at her and seemed to be forcing himself to keep his eyes open.
"I know." she cooed.
"Don't leave. Please." he begged. The words cut Cara deeper than she imagined they would and she shook her head quickly.
"I'm not going anywhere. Promise." she offered him a warm smile as she reached behind herself slowly. "Everything's going to be ok, Oliver. Just relax." Cara continued to offer the boy kind words as she drew the knife she held in her boot. "I'm going to find your mother and sisters and make sure they're safe. I swear it."
"T-Thank you." his eyelids began to drop as he smiled up at her once more. "At least I got to know what it's like to be held by a beautiful woman." Cara almost laughed at the joke as the teen slurred his words.
"Bet you'd thought it'd be the opposite, huh?" she joked back. Oliver began to chuckle until the pain shot through him once more and he squirmed against her. "Shh, just close your eyes. It'll be over soon." As Oliver did as he was told, he mumbled another 'thank you' and Cara knew that he knew what she was about to do. The blonde held the knife in a tight grip as she thrust it hard into the back of the boy's skull. He was dead instantly, his body going limp against hers and his eyes closing forever. Cara withdrew the knife and she leaned down to place a gentle kiss on his forehead, ignoring the hole in her stomach as she stowed the weapon without looking at it. As she stood, Cara noticed that her men had surrounded the town square and had witnessed the exchange. Some looked at her with disgust while most wiped their eyes as their respect for the woman grew. She saw William and Ben and nodded curtly to them.
"To the Pass." Ben's voice echoed in the graveyard of a town. Slowly, the men fell to the command and remounted their horses, still processing what they had seen. As Cara watched her horse approach her, she looked back at Oliver's body. Never before had she been so grateful that her leather was the color of blood. She mounted and swiftly began trotting out of the town and into Callion's Pass, leaving no time for either Ben or Will to say anything. As the wind blew through her crooked braid, it gave her a reason to release some of the tears she had withheld in the square. They flew through the air soundlessly as Cara led the men into one of the most treacherous passageways in all the Midlands. She slowed only when it began too dangerous to trot and they were forced to form a single file line. Pushing thoughts of Oliver and the town to the back of her mind, Cara focused on getting her army out of the Pass before nightfall. If they spent the night here, there was no telling what sort of horrors the Pass had in store for them. Glancing up, she took stock of the sun and noted that they had approximately ten hours left of daylight. If they were lucky, they would be leagues away from the town and Pass by then. If they were lucky, they would never have to witness the trail of blood Torren's army left behind them again.
And you've officially caught up with my writing. Better start going faster!