Chapter 4
Richard made his way thru the forest back to their camp, not far from where he'd left Kahlan. He almost wished she'd followed him. He actually thought she might. But he didn't wait for her. At the moment, he needed the solitude. His mind was filled with so many thoughts, trying to think of a way to stop this from happening. He didn't have an answer for her. She hadn't really asked him for one, but he knew she was counting on him to find a way. He was furious with Zedd. First Wizard or not, he was his grandfather and Kahlan's friend. How could he do this to them? But Richard knew how. He understood it was Zedd's duty as First Wizard. But he didn't like it. Not one bit. He tried to quiet his thoughts. It wouldn't do any good to get into an argument with him, but they did need to talk about it. Richard felt confident that he and Zedd together could figure something out. They had to be able to find a way he and Kahlan could be together. They had to. Trying to calm his mind, he let his thoughts drift to the kiss they'd shared. His heart lifted when he recalled how she had welcomed his kiss. She hadn't pulled away in fear. Her lips were so soft, her touch so warm. It had taken all his strength to pull away.
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Still feeling numb from all that had happened, Kahlan continued to sit near the pine tree, the spot where Richard had left her sometime earlier. She wanted to just stay there forever, remembering his gentle kiss.
She heard his words in her head, 'choose me for your mate. Have my child. Our child.' The very thing she wanted more than anything in life, he was willing to give her, at the cost of his soul. It tore her heart that it could never be.
She knew Richard wasn't angry, he was hurt. And she had been the cause of that pain. Like her, he probably didn't know what to think, what to feel. She had wanted so badly to go after him, but what was the point? It would only cause more heartache.
From behind a small stand of trees, Tyra kept a watchful eye on the Mother Confessor. Having used a silencing spell, she had been able to follow the couple closely without being heard. She wanted to find their camp and had hoped for an opportunity such as this. Having watched the tender kiss between them, she knew she had the right plan for getting the sword. The Seeker would pay any price for the return of his love. And here she now sat, alone.
She'd have to be quick, but with the element of surprise, she knew she had the upper hand. She laid the crossbow she carried on the ground close by as she silently slipped up behind the woman. The confessor was in such distress, Tyra thought she would not have heard her even without the silencing spell. Quick as light, she clasped the collar around the woman's neck and jumped to retrieve the crossbow.
Kahlan's hands grabbed at the collar around her neck. She wasn't sure what just happened. She felt her power drain from her. She now knew all to well what was around her neck. She spun around to see a young woman before her, holding a crossbow pointed at Kahlan's heart. For a moment Kahlan thought to let her shoot, her heart was broken anyway. But instinct told her to resist, to fight. She might be under the control of a Rada' Han, but she could still fight. She pulled both daggers from her boots. Just as she was about to release one of the blades into the night air, the woman shot the bolt from her weapon. She had adjusted her aim before shooting, she didn't want the Mother Confessor dead, at least, not yet. The bolt hit Kahlan's shoulder, sending the dagger it held flying into the trees. She threw her remaining dagger, but her left arm did not provide her with the best aim and the woman managed to avoid the weapon. Tyra loaded another bolt taking aim again at her heart. Kahlan looked to her blood soaked arm. The bolt had gone clean thru leaving a one-inch hole in her body. The blood streamed steadily down her arm, thru her fingers, dripping to the ground below. In a voice much stronger than the woman looked capable of, she told Kahlan "I could fill you full of bolts right now. I suggest you come with me Mother Confessor".
At the moment, the woman had the upper hand. Kahlan would go with her for now. She would wait for an opportunity to strike when the odds were more in her favor.
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Richard was becoming more agitated. He intentionally hadn't gone to sleep when he returned to camp. Instead, he'd sat down by the fire. He didn't want Kahlan to think he was angry at her, and wanted to be awake when she returned. He'd been sitting there for more than an hour, but she still wasn't back yet. He thought she too probably needed some time alone, but now he was getting worried. With Rahl dead and much of the D'Haran army disbanded, there shouldn't be much cause for concern, and they were near a town that had been loyal to the resistance. But then again, a thief in the night could be just as deadly.
Richard woke Zedd. He told him what had happened on the walk back from town. He told him he knew what Zedd wanted Kahlan to do, and he let him know his displeasure. But right now, he was concerned for her safety and he wanted Zedd to go with him, back to where he and Kahlan last were.
Richard had hoped they would meet up with her on the path, Kahlan having taken some time to be alone and just now making her way back to camp. He kept a close eye for anything that looked suspicious. Before long, he and Zedd had reached the spot Richard had last been with her. Where he'd left her. He berated himself for leaving her all alone. There was no one there. From where he stood he pointed out the spot to Zedd. "There, by that pine tree. That's where I left her" the words catching in his throat. Quietly he added "Where I kissed her". The two walked over to the pine tree to have a closer look. Richard's knees buckled when he saw blood in the very spot Kahlan had stood. He dropped to the ground to inspect the area more closely. There was a lot of blood. "Zedd" was all he could manage to say. The old man put a gentle hand on his shoulder "Dear Spirits".
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