"Richard?" They turned around to the sound of his name. "What- How did you get here?"
"I don't know. We were just leaving." He looked over to Kahlan, who started down at Addison, sleeping in her arms. "Kahlan?"
"I think she did it. It's the only thing that makes sense." she said as she looked up from their daughter. "She must have know where we were going."
"Your council has the army out here looking for you." Cara said as she stepped beside them. "If we keep moving, we'll be able to get in front of them, get into the city without them." The look in Kahlan's eyes surprised her. "Or we can wait for them and kill them all."
"I'll have to confess a few if you want to get into the city. The council will have every entry blocked."
"They don't think you would come back, do they? After they threatened to kill you and it."
They stared at the Mord'Sith, "They wouldn't take any chances." Kahlan answered as she handed Addison to her friend. "Her name is Addison." she said as Cara stared down, confused, at the tiny baby.
They all pretended not to see the small smile that crossed Cara's lips as she pulled Addison closer to her. "We should get moving." she said quickly laying the baby back in Kahlan's arms.
Holding back a laugh, Kahlan nodded and followed quickly behind her friend, noticing how Richard remained closely by her side, carefully scanning the area around them to be sure they were safe. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him closer, making him focus his attention on her once again.
They walked in silence, the only sound was the light crunch each time Zedd bit into an apple Richard had tossed to him when he started to complain about being hungry. Looking over to her, he smiled as she stared down at their daughter, unable to tear her eyes away for very long.
The wind was cooler as the sun began to set, making it easier for Richard to walk closer to her. Wrapping his arm protectively around her waist, he held her to him, enjoying the way her body moved as she walked. "We should stop for the night." He announced as he pulled his wife to a stop and turned around to Zedd. "I don't want to keep Addison from getting a good nights rest."
Knowing that Richard didn't want to say anything about his concern for Kahlan, Zedd quickly agreed and looked around them. "This seems like a good enough place. Cara will take first watch." he said, ignoring the eye roll coming from the Mord'Sith.
"Why can't it just make us appear at an Inn or just take us to The Confessor's Palace?" She asked crossing her arms.
"I don't think it works that way Cara." Zedd said as he watched Kahlan and Richard set up camp without a word, only exchanging quick glances at one another ever few seconds.
"Why not? She brought them here, she can -" She stopped talking when Kahlan laid Addison in her arms with a smile.
"You're right. You hold her and we'll see if she does it again." she stepped back quickly, making sure she couldn't hand the child back to her. She was surprised that Cara too took a step back, leaning back against a tree as she looked down at the small baby.
"Kahlan," Richard whispered as he grabbed her hand, pulling her back towards him and their bedrolls, laying closely together, giving the illusion that they were one. "We should get some sleep."
She smiled, remembering his words from before about not being able to sleep without her. "Alright." she replied as he pulled her down to her knees beside him.
Moving together, they laid down, Richard on his back and Kahlan on her side, resting her head on his shoulder and her right arm over his chest. They closed their eyes, both knowing that their daughter was safe in the arms of their friend. Almost instantly, they were asleep.
They had to move quickly, the sun had yet to rise and they were already on the run. Cara and Zedd had both allowed their friends to sleep, splitting the night watches between them. It hadn't been long ago, when they were awaken by Cara's foot, pushing them over as she scanned the area, watching as their new enemy grew closer. Laying Addison in Kahlan's arms, she helped Richard and Zedd shove what they could into their packs before leaving everything else and running for some safety.
He was slightly surprised at her speed. Clenching their baby tightly against her, she moved with an elegant speed, not needing anyone to wait for her. He remained close to her, almost brushing against her with each movement as he did what he could to protect her. If anyone came towards her, they'd have to get through him first.
As though she read his thoughts, she gave him a small smile. "I'm sure I'll be fine."
"How-"
"You're face says more than your words." she replied quickly, glancing at him for a moment before returning her attention to the rough trail beneath their feet.
To make it harder for them to be followed, Richard had steered them through the trees, causing their enemy to split up in order to follow them any further. Once they were deep into the trees, the ground became soft and muddy before turning to rough and rocky, making them have to climb constantly. Kahlan had been grateful that she was not wearing her Mother Confessor's dress, fearing that she would have tripped over it and slowed them down.
"We've lost them for now." Cara said as she came to a stop, looking behind them all. "We can slow our pace for a while, but we shouldn't stop."
They all nodded in agreement as began to walk again, this time slowly. Looking over to Richard, she flowed his gaze back to the small bundle in her ams. Turning, she gently laid their daughter in his arms, smiling widely as Addison opened her eyes and gazed up at her father, who too smiled widely. Their eyes met for a moment, sharing a loving look for an all too brief moment.
"We will never make it through the towns unseen. Kahlan is well known and there is not one person who would not be able to recognize her." Zedd spoke softly as he poked a long stick at the fire, watching as the flames encircled it. They had settled down a short while away from the towns leading to Aydindril to be sure that they were not captured in town.
"There is an old trail that leads to the back of the Palace. My sister and I used to take it when we were children. It's been overgrown, so there will be none sent to watch it. Many of the council do not even know of its existence. It shouldn't be guarded." She spoke without opening her eyes, her head leaned back against the large trunk of an oak tree. "If we get there before sunrise, we wont be seen."
Richard, smiling down at Addison, watched intently as she grabbed hold of his fingers, holding them tightly in her tiny fists. "We can leave in a few hours. After we've all had time to rest." he said softly before looking over to Kahlan and having his smile widen at the peaceful look on her face as she rested. "I'll take first watch." the moment he finished talking, she leaned over, pulled his arm around him and laid her head down on his shoulder and went to sleep in the comfort of his arms.
Moving through the thick brush, Cara looked back to her friend, who walked sideways, using her shoulder to push back the branches so they wouldn't slam into her daughter. She doubled back quickly, grabbing the branches to help speed her pace. Richard had gone ahead to scout, while Zedd remained behind to cover their tracks.
"Maybe you two should find a safe place to hide."
Looking over to Cara, Kahlan smiled, "You're not getting rid of me that easily."
Rolling her eyes, she let go of a small branch, allowing it to lightly smack Kahlan in the face. Giving a small smirk, she turned and walked away, leaving her friend staring with a smile.
The continued to walk, until Richard was in their sights. He was hunched down in the bushes, staring off through the limbs of green around him. He put out one of his hands, motioning them to move slowly and held the other to his lips, signaling them to be quiet. Moving as he instructed, they inched closer to him, doing their best to remain unseen behind the branches.
"They're been circling the perimeter. You were right," he whispered, looking over to Kahlan, who gently rocked their daughter in her arms to keep her from crying. "they're not guarding the door. They're too far from it."
Three guards walked closer to them, several feet away through the thickest part of the trees, helping to keep them all hidden. "We need one of them." Kahlan whispered as they drew closer. "I can confess one, but the other two will be a problem."
"I'll take care of them." Cara said pulling her agiels and stepping beside her. She released a frustrated sigh as her friend laid her daughter in Richard's arms. "If we wait any longer, they'll have passed us."
The two women moved quickly through the brush, leaving a trail of red and white through the leaves as they left him. He watched carefully as they made their way towards the guards, both moving quietly and gracefully, ready to attack in an instant. They surprised the men, Kahlan, grabbing the throat of one, quickly released her magic into him, watching as he fell down on his knees before her. Pressing an agiel into the side of one of the men, Cara slammed her fist into the jaw of the last, giving her friend a moment to recover her strength. Within moments, they were dragging the bodies deeper into the trees to hide them.
"We have to hurry before they're missed." Kahlan said as Richard came through the trees. Turning to the man standing beside her, she handed him her daughter.
"Kahlan-"
"If we bring her inside, they're going to have a better chance of killing her." she replied, knowing what Richard was going to ask. "Take her and hide through there," she pointed through the trees, watching as he followed her gaze and nodded quickly in understanding. "No one other than one of us is to take her from you, do you understand?"
"Yes, mistress."
"You will give your life for her."
"Yes, mistress." he nodded eagerly, pulling the small child close to him, being sure to keep the blanket wrapped tightly around her. "You can count on me, Mistress. I will not let you down."
"I know." she replied softly, looking to Richard for a moment and then back again. "Go."
Instantly, he turned and ran through the trees, leaving the three of them standing alone. "Kahlan-"
"I can't lose her." she whispered as she looked over to him, her eyes wet with tears. "She is safer out there than she will be in here."
"Who's going to get us inside?" Cara asked, "I thought that you were going to confess him so he could get us inside."
Shaking her head Kahlan smiled. "We don't need someone to get us inside." Turning away from them, she started walking towards the palace. Not waiting for them to follow, she moved skillfully through the brush, as though she traveled the way daily.
They caught up with her when she reached the door. If Kahlan hadn't grabbed hold of the handle, they never would have seen it. Carefully, she pulled at the nob, opening the heavy door. Surprising them, she walked inside without checking to see if it was clear. Richard grabbed her arm, pulling her to a stop as he moved before her to see if it was safe.
"There's not going to be anyone around. The area has been closed off from everyone other than Confessor's since my mother died. We'll be able to move freely through here until we get to our room." Richard looked at her confused, "The door is behind our wardrobe." she smiled, taking his hand and leading him through the small hallway.
"How did you find this place?" he asked, looking around.
"My sister and I used to play in here. It was the only place we could be alone." she replied softly, her mind replaying images of running through the halls with her sister, laughing.
Cara, walking behind them, rolled her eyes at the sight of her friends. They walked close together, hand in hand as they leaned closer and spoke in loving whispers.
"There will be weapons we can use through there." Kahlan pointed ahead of them, to a door that looked exactly like the one that held them in the dungeon.
Pushing between them, Cara walked to the door and opened it, curious to see what was inside. She was surprised by the amount within the small opening. Instantly, she stepped forward, grabbing a knife and handing it to Richard who entered slowly behind her, tucking the blade into his boot so that it wouldn't be seen if they were captured. After Kahlan grabbed a small knife, she quickly left the room and waited quietly for them to return to her. Her actions didn't go unnoticed, but Richard knew that she had everything on her mind, so he wasn't going to say anything.
The moment he was close enough, he grabbed her hand and pulled it to him, giving her what little comfort he could. She gave him a small, warm smile of thanks before she started walking again. The hallway turned three more times before they reached the last door. They stood there for a moment in silence, each thinking about what could be on the other side of the door.
"What if someone is in there?" Richard asked softly, afraid that if someone was in there, they might hear him.
"No one will be in our room." she assured him, gently laying her hand on his forearm. "They don't expect us to walk through the wall behind our wardrobe." she smiled widely as she turned back to the door and pulled it towards her. Moving around her, Richard, carefully, began to push against the wardrobe, making a small space for them to slip around it. "Someone will see me the moment we leave our room."
"What are you going to do?" Richard asked her quickly, grabbing her arm and holding her in place, just as she started to walk away. "You just said that someone will see you- not us. Kahlan, what are you going to do?"
"I'm going to get someone to bring me to the closest member of the council."
"Why would you do something so stupid?"
"Because I'm going to confess one of the council members while they send men out to look for you."
"You're going to walk right into their hands."
"They're not going to hurt me. It was never us they were after. It was Addison. If they see me without her, they're going to assume that you have her. When they find you and you don't have her either, they're going to ask me what's happened to her."
Richard took a step back, away from her. "You're going to tell them that she died." She nodded slowly, "Why?"
"Because that's when they are going to take all three of us to the rest of the council."
He was still shocked by her nod, but her plan made sense and he knew that she wanted the council to pay for threatening their daughter and their lives. "What if this doesn't work?"
"Then we'll kill everyone who tries to hurt her." He could see the anger in her eyes and knew that she meant each word. "We're not going to let them near her."
He nodded slowly, taking a deep breath, as closed his eyes. "Alright. Go."
Giving him a small smile, she pressed her lips quickly to his and then pulled back before he had the chance to kiss her back. "Give me a few minutes before you follow." And then she was gone.