Water Under The Bridge, Chapter 5
*****************************************************************************
At dawn, Richard followed the river slowly downstream, studying every sign, every possible hint of Kahlan's presence. But there were none. He came to the conclusion that if Kahlan had made it out of the river—she made it out, damn you!—she'd done so on the other side. He stopped to consider his options. Obviously he needed to get back across the river. Honestly, I think I'm going to spend the rest of my life risking it to get back and forth across this bloody river. He'd have to either find a boat, or go all the way down to the bridge they'd bypassed two days earlier because there'd been a small contingent of D'Haran guards. I should have expected those soldiers to be at the north bridge, he berated himself. I should have seen it coming.
Richard resolutely pushed aside his self-recrimination and continued his slow pace downstream, unwilling to give up on the chance that he'd find Kahlan on his side yet.
***
Marlena sighed in exasperation as the pounding on the door resumed. "Just a moment!" she called. "I'm not exactly presentable." She looked down at Kahlan, who looked as though she'd given up. "Right then, don't you worry, my dear. Khalema! Rhos thema, al amato rhos!" Khalan's eyes fluttered open as she heard the incantation, and saw a brief flare of light. "Now you just go back to sleep, dear, and I'll take care of those nasty soldiers," Marlena whispered. "If they come in here, just keep quiet and don't move. This spell works best on stationary objects."
She grabbed the lamp and left the room, and Kahlan heard her opening a door, then the soldiers bursting in. "What are you hiding, woman?" a rough man's voice shouted.
"Hiding? Since when did it become a crime to get your clothes on before entertaining guests? No man has seen me in that state since my dear William passed, and—"
"Who else is in here?" the soldier snapped, though he sounded a bit less angry.
"Only my dear aunt Corinne. She's sleeping in that room there. She's been ill, I'm afraid."
"We need to search this house," the soldier said, and this time he sounded almost apologetic. Kahlan was becoming more impressed by Marlena with every moment.
The door to her room slammed open, and Kahlan controlled her urge to open her eyes, to spring to her feet and defend herself. It wasn't really hard given her state, but she suddenly felt that she'd be in danger if she even looked. She heard the sound of chain mail, then a hand pulled her coverlet back slightly. Kahlan shivered at the cold, which hurt, but the soldier quickly threw the covers back. Footsteps, furniture being shoved around roughly, then the footsteps receding, and the door slammed. "The Confessor isn't here, just an old woman. Move on. And woman, if anyone in this village is caught harboring enemies of Lord Rahl, the whole village will be punished. Do you understand?"
Kahlan's breath caught as she thought again of the deaths in Kalley Glen, and she immediately regretted it. Spirits, I'd forgotten how much broken ribs hurt. She faintly heard the soldiers leaving, and then the door opened again. "Now then, let's see what we can do for you. You look like you spent a month inside a butter churn."
Kahlan didn't answer, trying to avoid breathing again.
"Ribs hurting you, are they?" Marlena said. "Here, drink this." She helped Kahlan lift her head slightly and offered her a mug with something warm and very bitter in it. Kahlan's nose wrinkled at the taste. "Yes, I know, it isn't the most pleasant taste. I've tried to find ways to make it better—sugar, molasses—but it always ends up tasting bitter and vile instead of just bitter, so I gave up. But it will help with the pain, and help you sleep. That's what you need most right now." She lowered Kahlan's head to the pillow gently.
The warmth of the drink felt good, but despite that Kahlan still felt chilled. Even under the covers it seemed like she'd never get warm.
Marlena's hand touched her forehead. "I was afraid of that. You have a fever," she said. "All that water in your lungs. Well, the tea may help with that, as well. I'll bring you a warming pan—"
"Wait," Kahlan said, trying to free a hand from the covers and failing. "I can't stay here. I have to leave—you're—" She caught a shallow breath. "—you're not safe with me here."
Marlena waved her hand airily. "I'm no less safe with you here than I've been on my own. Even if those soldiers come back, they'll only see what they expect to see—my elderly aunt Corinne. Besides, how far do you think you could get as you are right now?"
"But—"
"No buts. You're here, and you'll stay till you can move on your own. Hush, now, and sleep."
Kahlan gave up trying to convince her, suddenly too tired to think clearly. I wonder what was in that tea. But one thought persisted, even as she felt sleep overwhelming her. Richard. I have to tell her to find Richard.