As many writers do, I apologize equally for my absence and this relatively short installment. I hope to write more frequently in the new year, with renewed inspiration. I have every intention of finishing this story- the love between Kahlan and Cara brings an incomparable warmth to my heart.
Enjoy,
Wayward Pine
1
Richard laid in bed and stared up at the ceiling. Six long months he had spent in this knowledge-gilded prison, and another two weeks he had spent concocting a plan of escape. Now that he knew that ten days outside the palace was one day inside the palace, it was a race against time. Richard's head was spinning with ideas of how the world looked. Were Kahlan, Zedd, and Cara able to find the Stone of Tears without him? Had they already sealed the Keeper into the Underworld? Or was the world broken apart, and the Palace of the Prophets was the only structure left standing? It sickened Richard to think of the possibilities, and to make matters worse no one had any news of the outside. Some of these acolytes had been there for decades without even realizing it. Their families dying in the outside world, wars they had no idea about, oblivious to the life they were missing.
But his headaches were gone, and miraculously he was able to harness enough of his Han to be somewhat useful. Not entirely a wizard, and he wouldn't stay to become one, but he was sure that Zedd would be more than happy to teach him the ways of the order. The thought of learning again under his grandfather made him smile. He missed them, his chosen family. Even Cara, who wanted so badly not to be loved, and especially Kahlan, whom he vowed never to leave again.
Richard heard the steps going down the hallway and counted backwards from ten. When he reached one, he slowly rose from bed and strapped his purple grimoire to his back. Each acolyte got one with which they could channel their Han more easily, as well as remember spells and incantations. They were supposed to return their grimoire to a Sister of the Light to symbolize the end of their training, but that wasn't going to happen for Richard.
Looking both ways through the small window on his bedroom door, Richard knew it was safe to leave and head towards the kitchen. He had watched and listened for long enough to recognize the patterns of every person in the Palace. He was right in time for Sister Aleane to have come and gone from the kitchen for her evening snack, and just before Sister Roselle would come and check to make sure the dishes were done. Richard quickly went down the hall and kept to the walls.
Making it to the kitchen with his heart in his chest, Richard went to the back room and began to move the baskets which hid the exit chute that Bron had shown him. Richard knew that he had one chance to get through without alerting the Sisters, and once he was through they wouldn't find him. The hall was silent, but he only had about ten minutes before someone would potentially see him. Richard's heart was racing, but he knew he had to go.
"Richard," whispered a young voice. Richard whirled around to see Merri and Bron behind him.
"What are you doing? Leave!" Richard said. "I have to go."
"We're coming with you," Merri said. "We've been here for too long. I don't ever think we will be allowed to leave. Please Richard, we feel safe with you."
Richard looked to Bron, the young man's eyes welled up with tears. Merri looked at him and squeezed his hand. Although the two weren't each more than fourteen summers old, in that instant they looked much, much older. Richard sighed, he couldn't say no— he was the first true Seeker in the last thousand years. He was the hope this world had waited for. Richard wordlessly motioned towards the chute, which Merri and Bron immediately jumped through. After waiting a moment, Richard dove in head first too.
2
Cara had the largest pint of beer in her hand and was already halfway through drinking it by the time the four of them sat down. Zedd had declined a pint, opting for food instead, and Cara had conveniently forgotten Panis' food and drink.
"What did you find out?" Kahlan asked, her icy blue eyes fixed on Zedd. The wizard took another large bite of his shepherd's pie and shook his head.
"Have you no patience for a hungry old man?" Zedd reasoned. "Young people are always so quick to snap at heels but have no time to wait for the consequences."
"The more proverbs you prattle on about, the less time we have, wizard," Cara protested idly, her pint nearly empty. It felt like a playful conversation with friends, not a war room meeting regarding what to do to avoid the end of days.
"Mord-Sith are the most impatient creatures I have ever encountered," Panis said, following the remark with a warm guffaw. "We must take the stone to the Pillars of Creation, on the sunset of the Summer Solstice. Only then is it at its most powerful; strong enough to seal the rift to the Underworld and restore balance to our world."
"The Pillars of Creation, aren't those in-"
"The Old World, yes. Which becomes exceedingly more difficult to find if one doesn't know where to look," Panis sighed. "Even for an explorer like me, I wouldn't even know where to begin. It could take months."
"We don't have months to find the Pillars, we have weeks. The Summer Solstice is thirteen days away," Kahlan said wearily.
The golden sun was melting into the thick, glass paned windows of the bar. Another day lost to time. Another inch of the Keeper's victory was secured. How long would they spend fighting through throngs of Banelings in order to get to the Pillars of Creation? Would they be able to finish the quest without Richard? Would Kahlan be able to go on without him?
"We got a message from Richard, at least we think. It said we should go to Aydindril," Cara cut in. Kahlan hadn't realized that the conversation moved on without her. She looked up to see Zedd's eyes trained on her, but she could only muster a nod.
"How did he send a message? He should be deep in his studies," Zedd questioned.
"Through a scrawny, pathetic blue creature," Cara told him simply, attempting to mimic the Mist Ephemer using her hands. She crooked her fingers in different directions while Zedd tried to determine what being in the Creator's Light she was referring to. "It gave us the message."
"A Mist Ephemer?" Panis asked, which forced Cara to roll her eyes.
"Now look at who's back in the conversation. Welcome, Lord Rahl," Cara said, dropping the last word hard on the table. She noticed that Kahlan hadn't spoken in a while, and based on the expression on her face, it looked like she wouldn't come into the banter anytime soon.
"If Richard is planning an escape from the Sisters of the Light, something must have gone wrong. I can't imagine he's gotten control of his Han so soon," Zedd murmured. "However, we cannot risk losing time getting the Stone to the Pillars. As much as it worries me…"
"We need to split the party," Kahlan interjected. "We have to find Richard, he may be in trouble. Panis would be the best idea, since he is inconspicuous and not associated with the Seeker. But, I don't trust him at all, nor do I trust him with Zedd and the Stone. I don't like leaving Richard either, but…" Kahlan paused. She was afraid to say what was lurking deep in her stomach. Kahlan felt the Confessor suppressing the woman, Kahlan sinking down until she couldn't hear anymore. Kahlan wanted to find Richard, run into his arms, and stay with him forever. The Mother Confessor knew better, knew that the end of the world couldn't wait, but Richard would. She hoped, at least.
"We need to save the world first. Lord Rahl will be fine on his own," Cara said simply. Kahlan could always count on her to say what was terrifying. To cut to the chase and leave no stone unturned. Cara was braver than she let on. "We'll sleep here tonight, then leave together first thing in the morning. That's the final decision." For once Zedd was speechless, and simply nodded. Cara pushed herself up from the table, finished her beer, then looked directly in Panis' eyes.
"We don't need you anymore, Rahl. Get the fuck out of my sight before I show you exactly what unrelenting, soulless monsters the Mord'Sith you created are," Cara hissed, pulling Panis close to her by the collar of his tattered travelling coat. "And the next time I see you, I don't care what secrets you have, or how many magical artifacts you own. I'll gut you, bring you back to life, and gut you again."
Cara left Kahlan to stare, Zedd with his mouth agape, and Panis to scramble from the table without another word. She had more interesting tasks to attend to, like trying to get two rooms at the inn for the night- one for Zedd and Kahlan, and one for herself and the barmaid. Cara had some steam to blow off, and it was better that it was sex than torture.