Legend of the Seeker
The Male Confessed

Before I begin, liperfun, it wasn't Wizard's fire. Remember, Jessica noticed a piece of the knight's skin on the ground. I should have made that bit clear. Basically, Zedd tore the knight's skin off and set him on fire. Which is why the piece of skin went up in flames.

Anyway, I would like to firstly apologise for the absence. I've had a lot on. Secondly, thank you for your reviews. They mean a lot to me as always. So, the wait is finally over. Here is the next instalment. Sit back, read and enjoy. Don't forget to review.

Previously, on The Male Confessed: Zedd awoke to a burning house, a place called home by its final resident, 16 year old Jessica. She had woken him up but fell unconscious by the smoke. Zedd managed to get them both out and as the house tumbled into a heap, Jessica told him of three white knights being responsible. Then, the three knights attacks. Zedd kills one but another throws a potion which blinds Zedd. When his vision clears, Jessica is mortally wounded. Before both are killed, a saviour in black kills the knights. Zedd frantically takes Jessica to the village Eden which, too, is in flames.
In desperate need to save Jessica, Zedd asks for help. When none comes, and Jessica near death, he attempts to ease her pain. Suddenly, the saviour in black, a sorceress, heals Jessica from the brink of death. She vanishes as Jessica begs Zedd to look after her.

Chapter 6
The lone stranger.

"There's no one here" she muttered, her stomach rumbling. He could hear it and his stomach responded in kind. It had been a while since they had both properly eaten, or slept. Holding her hand tightly, they continued to stroll through the dead village. It had been over 30 minutes since the near death encounter and both were still shaken up. Jessica remained in Zedd's arms in uncontrolled tears. He tried best he could, with addictive magic, to make her feel better. She hadn't had a real time to grieve since the death of her mother. She let it all out then, her shields went down and she was a child again. Zedd admired that through that solid representation she always put up, it broke down before her. She didn't hold back and Zedd didn't stop her. When she had begun to calm down Zedd remained quiet until she was ready to walk.

"We've not been looking long" Zedd reminded with a smile. She smiled back up at him. She pointed over to a small house. The blackened logs, caused by the fire, looked like ash. For the slightest touch would send it all crumbling down. The roof, presumed to be twigs and straw, was gone leaving the black skeletal frame. The door had been kicked off the hinges and lay in a heap in front of the house. Chairs were tipped inside, clothes were scattered in disarray. It looked like a tornado had ripped through the small one floor house.

"People left in a hurry" she said deep in concentration, she then pointed over to a dead female body over at another house. Unlike the one previous, only one side wall remained upright. Rubble, debris and ash remained in what was a house. Clay pots were smashed, paintings were melted and torn. It looked to be a house of beauty and creativity ripped apart by this brutal fire. The woman, a burnt blue dress, laid across the rubble on her stomach. Her right leg was in an impossible position. It seemed to Zedd she had tried to run but tripped and broke her leg. Bones stuck out, dried blood splattered on the rubble. It pained their eyes.

The skin of the female was black and crisp. Flesh was clearly burnt off, the body already beyond recognisable. She had short brown hair which was covered with soot and dust from clay pots and plates. Jessica spoke solemnly, respectful, as if in pray for the fallen woman. "Others didn't make it out alive" she spoke quietly. She squinted her eyes and let go of Zedd's hand slowly as she ran towards her. Zedd immediately sprinted after her.

"Jessica!" he called. Worry suddenly flooded into his very soul. The last time he let her out of his reach she almost died. He wont make that same mistake again. He suddenly stopped when he saw her kneel down beside the dead female. The air was humid, wind hardly blew and when it did it was like tiny whispers. His robes swayed as he stopped abruptly and his pale skeletal body stood still. He remained mute, transfixed. Curious as to what she was doing. Her small black dress draped some of the muddy ground beneath her. With the darkness of her dress the mud was barely noticeable. Her long red ringlets of hair fell in front of her face which she didn't bother to place back behind her ears. The illuminating purple of the moon cascaded across her hair and body. Zedd realised how pretty she actually was and was so happy to know she was alive.

"She has something!" she told him looking behind her shoulder. She gave him a thankful and earnest smile of appreciation for his caring. She missed feeling loved and cared for. After her mother left on urgent business, she hadn't seen her until that fateful night where she watched her mother become mutilated by a Gar. She hadn't known then that her mother was already dead. That eased her pain somewhat to know she didn't suffer. She smiled at the memory of her mother.

"What is it?" Zedd asked even more eager to find out what it was. Bringing her back to the world, she looked down and looked at a crumpled letter in her crisp hand. The corners had been burnt but it didn't look damaging. Shaking, she slowly reached down to the woman's hand and begun to prise her fingers apart. Every inch they moved they cracked horridly and sickenly. She felt terrible doing this but she had to see what she had clutched into her hand. Zedd could hear it from where he was standing. From where Jessica was positioned he couldn't see what she was doing. He trusted in her and allowed her to continue.

She then stood up slowly, unscrambling the piece of paper. With a sigh she looked at the paper, her eyes brimming with tears at the words before her. Zedd frowned and stepped closer as she looked up and then back at the woman. "I will" she told her with distraught and understanding. Before Zedd could ask what she meant, there was a loud crack from behind Jessica which echoed the entire village. With how dead and quiet it was, it was deafening. Crows, from hidden shadows, fluttered out, squawking into the night's sky. Another crack followed, then another. Zedd's frown transformed into agonized dread. His eyes wide, he lurched forward.

"Move!" he yelled. Jessica spun around as the last remainder of the house begun to collapse and it headed straight for her. Paralyzed with fear, she was only able to scream as she shut her eyes and prepared herself to be flattened. Her whole life flashed before her eyes. Her father reading her bedtime stories of the seeker. Her mother stroking her hair when she was sick, insisting she remained with her. Picking flowers with her mother. Sword play fighting with her father. Then Zedd holding her. Then, nothing. Confused she slowly, cautiously, opened her eyes. Around her were pillars of smoke spreading around her. Looking around stunned, she found what had stopped her immediate death – Zedd.

The old man had both hands out raised in front of him with lethal intent. Looking up, she found the wall tipped diagonally inches from touching her. Zedd saved her life once more by holding up the house. He was shaking and was taking a lot of effort she didn't think needed for, what she presumed, simple magic. About to run out the way she suddenly felt her feet become separated with the floor. The wind and air in her lungs was knocked out from her with the impact of strong arms ramming into her. Lifted from the ground she screamed Zedd's name. Forcefully jolted side to side with whatever had her, she feared it to be a gar. Their kind returning to finish her off.

It was one thing after another and she was even more fearful for her life. She screamed Zedd's name once more before she fell into a pit of darkness which consumed her screams. Zedd struggled to keep the house afloat above Jessica from flattening her and killing her. The logs used were heavy and durable. He couldn't speak with all the concentrated power he was using in the struggling effort. Panting hard he thought desperately for Jessica to run. He could barely see her in the dust which erupted from the crevices where the wall once stood. Before she could even attempt to run, he noticed a brown blur run through the smoke and dust. The cloak billowed out behind this person and slammed into Jessica, lifting her from the ground like a doll. "No!" he bellowed releasing his power. The last of the house slammed onto the ground with a mammoth eruption. It splintered and cracked apart, most turning to ash from the smoke.

Zedd's world was descending into a nightmare. Who would want Jessica so badly? She had gone through enough. But now he blamed himself. He told himself he wouldn't let her go and look what happened. Quickly, he reprimanded himself and told himself to think of the solution, not the problem. He had to stop thinking about the past, what he could have done and start thinking about what he could do. No, will do. What he'll do now. The smoke spat out thickening Zedd's vision even more. Frantically, he searched through the smoke. When it became futile, he took in a deep meaningful breath and blew. White gusts of air whooshed out, dancing in the air. The thick breath quickly cleared the smoke until what he was left with was four men wielding daggers. Zedd's alarm and caution went on high alert. Standing guard, the wizard took a stance and rose his hands.

Each of the four wore brown cloaked robes, none having their hoods up on this occasion. They wore black shoes and three had brown hair, the other blonde. He eyed them all slowly, importantly. None had any distinguished features. They all looked pretty ordinary except for the daggers they held. Each were silver and smaller then 15 inches. They had no real design, except for a snake plated around the hilt. "Get out of the way" he told them in a hushed tone. One twirled his dagger in his hands and stepped closer to Zedd. "I'm warning you!" he demanded now with a deeper threatening tone. He meant business and didn't want to pussyfoot around them when Jessica's life was in danger.

"Give us all the money you have old man" said the one at the front, a smirk beseeching his lips. Zedd noticed the guy was missing three of his teeth from the front. Zedd didn't want to question them or play games like he did with the knights earlier. He wasn't in the mood for any of it. Like a venomous viper, Zedd reared closer to the men. The three at the back took a step back, the one at front remained firm. Zedd's intimidating raptor glare made the ones at the back shake at the knees. The one at the front didn't seem to care and did not look amused.

"Get out the way. Last warning!" ordered Zedd. The thief suddenly lunged forward with vicious intent. Screaming his way through the air, Zedd sidestepped easily out the way from the inexperienced thief. With a tired gesture, he threw his arm up in the air unleashing a stream of simple wizard's fire. The red and orange flames illuminated the darkness and grew with every passing second the air got into it. It didn't speed down, simply shot through the gathering cold wind. The fire slammed into the ground, mere feet before the male. The ground erupted with dust and dirt sending the male hurtling through the air and face first into the ground. Zedd spun around to the others who quickly stepped out the way. He nodded once, satisfied with their decision.

He then raised out his hand and, palm down, uttered a small spell in a language no one could understand. When he was done, a small ball of yellow glowing light formed. Despite the size, it produced a lot of light. White laces swirled through the globe, a white mass in the centre giving it the desired energy. Zedd momentarily watched mesmerised until he remembered what he needed to get done. "Find her" he whispered with anguished conviction. With that, the ball whizzed out of Zedd's hand and went straight past the thief's. It stopped, confused as it started to shift positions. Content with where was needed to go it emitted a small chirping sound before whizzing off once more.

Zedd smiled and ran after it. As he followed the light, it lit up broken bottles, photo frames, dead burnt bodies. He could smell their rotting flesh which almost made him gag. He found dolls, he found other small toys; wooden swords, plastic balls of different sizes and colours, many faded from the fire. Suddenly something caught his eye as the ball of light whizzed past. When Zedd stopped, it stopped, confused why its host wasn't following it. Zedd slowly moved towards the torn piece of fabric as the ball of light bounced frantically, impatient. Zedd grabbed the white fabric and felt a surge of power from it. "Kahlan…" he whispered, sure it was from her dress. Looking to the ground he saw it- hoof prints. Two sets. Kahlan and Richard had been here.

As much as he wanted to follow, he couldn't worry about that and turned back to the glowing ball of light. The moon was beginning to set and the sun very slightly starting to rise. Taking a breath he nodded to the light and it bounced, as if happy, and continued. In its travels it winded up down a dark alleyway and then into a building situated at the end. Rats were scattered everywhere, some dead from fire or being trampled on. Gone off food stung at his nostrils. His stomach roiled before he went into the tiny room consisting of nothing but a small black rug. The ball of light was nowhere to be seen. Had his magic failed him? This locator spell had never failed on him before. Why now? Angry with himself and blaming himself for not casting it correctly he heard the tingle from the ball. Bemused, Zedd found the sound coming from below.

Kneeling down, he noticed the rug was turned from the corner. It suddenly hit him with understanding. Grabbing the corner, he tore away the carpet and chucked it into the alley. There, on the ground, rested a hatch and the ball of light could be seen in the cracks. Lifting up the rusted metal handle the hatch door opened with a loud creak. Spiralling down were some stairs to which Zedd quickly ran down. Now out of breath, the ball of light ran down small tunnels. There was water leaking through the cracks in the walls. The walls were stained and smelt of rotten sewage. For such a village which found proud in themselves for water, it smelt awfully bad. Come to think of it, he saw no wells, no machines to compress, clean or fertilize water. Nothing to tell him what the village of Eden was all about. These droplets of water was the only liquid source in this barren village.

With each drop of water, it echoed down the halls in river beating patterns. They sent chills down his spine but he continued in pursuit with the ball and when it rounded a corner he saw another light source around the corner from there. It flickered and he heard whimpering. Jessica's whimpering. The ball, happy and complete, vanished into nothing causing the hallway to be descended into darkness once more. Zedd ran forward and turned the corner. At the end was a much larger room which has a small mattress with burnt and old thin sheets. A wooden crate sat a simple black lantern with the fire burning brightly. The crackling fire looked beautiful dancing about. Zedd tore his eyes away and looked ahead at Jessica being held tightly.

Her icy blue eyes, full of fear, turned to desperation when she saw Zedd. Desperation to be saved. She tried to scream but the woman clamped her hand firmly around her mouth. Zedd's hands formed fists when he remembered he was holding Kahlan's confessor dress and quickly tucked it into his pocket. The woman, a thin pale woman with short cut blonde hair, hair not done evenly and which looked tattered and frayed stood out in a mess. She wore a brown cloak. She had kidnapped Jessica. Zedd's anger boiled as his fists got tighter, his knuckles turning white.

"Calm down, wizard" she told him in a calm voice. The woman gently, with her free hand stroked Jessica's red hair. She whimpered and shook from the horror and distraught. "There, there little one" she soothed. Her words, despite how peaceful it sounded, held no effect on Jessica and made Zedd's heat soar.

"Let her go" demanded Zedd with a death-like growl. A voice which could murder anyone or thing if it had the power to do so. Zedd's eyes leered at the woman and would not move. "She's not yours. Now leave her be!". The woman looked away, eyes closed. Zedd's heat softened. "You lost a child, didn't you?" asked Zedd. Now it was this woman's turn to shake. Her skin was black from smoke and debris. She had cuts on her arms and cheeks.

"My baby" she said in a hushed tone. Jessica found the grip around her weaken but dared not move just encase. She allowed Zedd to talk and slowly approach her. The woman opened her green eyes, tears already falling down her stained cheeks. Zedd stood, listening, unmoving and un-empathetic. "I gave birth two moons ago. She died in the fire. Men in white did it. They took my baby!" she screamed and gripped Jessica tighter. Zedd wanted to unleash magic, any magic, but with the confined space and how close Jessica was, he didn't want to risk it. He had to stay calm or he'd kill them all. Zedd hooked his hands behind him. Jessica yelped from the intensity of the grip. Zedd had to act quick.

"I'm deeply sorry for your loss" said Zedd softly. She shot him a death glare.

"No you're not! You don't care! You never lost a daughter. You can never understand!" she screamed. Jessica shut her eyes with pain from the scream bellowing in her frail ears.

"My daughter died" he told the distraught woman. She looked at him stunned. Jessica looked at him pained. Zedd's facial expression didn't change. He had a neutral look about him which allowed no one to even guess what he was feeling. "I remember the pain. I remember holding her in my arms as she died. She told me she loved me and for me to-," he stopped himself. Not from emotion, but from revealing something he shouldn't. The two women before him listened. "I would have done anything to have made her live. Anything to have her in my arms again. But I couldn't dwell on the past. Life is the future, not the past. I had bigger priorities, bigger responsibilities.

I had to stay strong for myself. I had to continue on. Life is unfair. It deals blows you never expect. Everyone is affected. No one is left out. Death is the only guarantee in life. What you do before then however. Now that's the wonderment of what we live for. The pain you feel won't ever go away. You'll forever live with guilt, sorrow and anger. The only way you can do the dead justice is to carry on. Their spirit will be with you forever" finalized Zedd. The woman couldn't stop her silent tears. She knew it true despite what she battled within herself. "I understand the need to take Jessica, to fill the empty void. But she's not yours. She's my daughter" Jessica gasped with happy surprise, her own tears were replaced with happy tears. "Please" said Zedd, his voice breaking up, finally filling with emotion. "Give her back to me".

The woman, bawling, released Jessica who ran into Zedd's arms with hoarse crying. He clung onto her and squeezed her tightly. He couldn't stop smiling but breathed out with relief that he had her back. "We have to go" he told her, she eagerly nodded. She didn't need to be told twice. Before they left, Jessica turned towards the hysterical woman.

"I'm sorry you lost your daughter. May the spirits watch over her. May the creator bless you in his light and offer you the strength you need to continue". The woman, through her tears, managed a smile. Zedd, holding onto Jessica's hand, ran down the hallway. Their footsteps echoed rebounding off the narrow walls. They left the fading quiet behind them.

-o-o-o-0-o-o-o-

The sun had risen just in the horizon. Faint wisps of smoke was still drifting in the air. Zedd was stunned at the realization at how long he had been down there for. None the matter, he was here now, with Jessica, safe. For now. The sudden brightness caught them both off guard when they stepped out the alleyway which was over covered with thick black sheets. They looked fresh and not part of the blaze which swept through the village he now knew was caused by the white knights. They would pay for what they had done. "You really think me your daughter?" asked Jessica looking up at Zedd beaming. He smiled down at her.

"Sure. Why not?" she giggled happily. "Now, we must find a horse. I need to find Richard and Kahlan" he said trying to set off but Jessica abruptly stopped him.

"Kahlan Amnell?" she asked. Zedd stood still, perplexed.

"You know of her?" he asked.

"Kahlan Amnell. Mother Confessor" she said simply, matter of factly. Zedd stood dumbfounded.

"How do you know her status? She hid that from the world before -," Zedd stopped himself, unwilling to continue. She grimly smiled, knowing the truth behind it.

"My mother, before she went away on this urgent business. The last time I saw her" she said, anguish in her voice. Zedd gently squeezed her hand. "She said she needed to speak with Kahlan Amnell. That she was in the area."

"Speak with her about what?"

"She had a message for her. About her as the mother confessor."

"What was it?" asked Zedd intently.

"I don't know" admitted Jessica. Zedd sighed. He nodded his head and looked around where to go next before remembering the hoof tracks. About to leave, someone called him by his name. He turned to find the woman before him. Her tear stained face wasn't cleaned off. She didn't look like she had the energy to do so. Zedd stood still, guarding Jessica behind him. The woman looked exhausted. Her energy was low. It was a miracle she was still standing. Jessica kept up her guard too, she wasn't about to be taken again. She then heard the crunching of stones behind her and looked at the four thieves' from earlier. A whimper escaped her as Zedd turned. Widened eyes, he picked her up and went to raise his hand.

"Save your strength, old man" said the woman. He turned back. "They're not here to harm you"

"Then what do you want?" growled the wizard. She smiled.

"Your friends took east, towards Tamarang. I saw them ride past three moons ago. You'll find a horse suitable for riding not far east from here at the stables. The only place the white knights didn't attack. They kept their horses there. Luckily, they didn't get their hands on my horse. He's a gentle horse. Go now. The confessor is in grave danger" she gave no other emotion. Zedd nodded his thanks, gave one last cautionary look to the thieves and ran off to the stables just over the hill. The four thieves crept forward, confused.

"Why did you let him go?" asked one of them in a hushed, respectful tone.

"That wasn't the plan" said another, fearing the words he spoke as if handling glass. She simply smiled at him, shaking her head with disapproval. They felt ashamed and begun to whimper, tears forming.

"Do you not know me better then that? This is part of the plan. Quinton, Jake and Daniel" she addressed with a business strict and professional tone. The three brunettes looked up immediately, eager to hear her words. "Follow them. Keep out of sight. But follow them and make sure they are in the predicament like we planned. Go now!" she ordered and they ran off without hesitation. The blonde one fell to one knee. Out of the other three, he had a chiselled jaw. More handsome features and a beard growing. "You, Tommy, are needed for something far greater"

"Yes, anything" he said in a rushed tone. "Command me. What do you wish of me, Mistress Dennee?". The sunlight hit her face as she slowly unbuttoned her black blouse. He looked up and smiled.

To be continued…

So there you have it. Another chapter complete and I think one of my favourites thus far. It'll only get better too! What did you think of what transpired? The woman who took Jessica is in fact Dennee- Kahlan's sister! She had her baby (like in the show), but she (not he) died in the village fire caused by the white knights. Dennee ordered three of her confessed to follow Zedd whilst telling the other, Tommy, he has more important business. That, I think, was made clear with what she done.

Zedd finds a piece of Kahlan's dress. Jessica knows who Kahlan is and says of how her mother had a message to deliver to Kahlan on her as mother confessor. Did you guys forget about Nell telling Kahlan she had something to tell her? Zedd made comment that not many people know about Kahlan as mother confessor before- but then he stopped himself. Remember how shocked Kahlan was when that white knight called her by status at the cave? Why is it so shocking?

Also you finally learn where Richard and Kahlan are headed- Tamarang. Everyone knows who lives there, so how will I introduce these characters? Similar to the book or the TV show? Maybe completely different. Who knows? Well I know, and you can know too if you review. I will however give you a small teaser on upcoming chapter titles, in no particular order:

The only way forward, is death.

The breaking of the damned.

The sleeping confessor.

Intrigued? I hope you. Please review and until next time…