Richard swayed on his feet, the insistent tug of the collar around his neck forcing his stance to falter. Denna held the end of his leash in her white leathered hand, standing like a statue in the front of the cellar as she waited for Darken Rahl to arrive. She would flick her hand occasionally, causing Richard to jerk as the metal around his neck bit into his skin. Denna hadn't said anything to him all morning, but he was clear on his instructions. Succumb to the Lord Rahl.
It seemed like an eternity before the man walked into the room, flanked by two D'Haran soldiers. Richard blinked and tried to keep still, his swaying causing him to feel sick and nauseated. Although he was positioned behind her, he was sure Denna was smiling at her victory.
"Lord Rahl," she dipped her head, lowering herself slightly before returning his gaze.
"Mistress Denna," he greeted as he eyed her up and down, no doubt assessing her and appraising her body. She didn't mind. "I see this is the Seeker, no doubt broken?" Darken asked as he walked over to Richard, taking in his cowering form.
"Yes, my lord." She stated bluntly, tugging on the leash and forcing Richard to take a step towards the man Richard had known as an enemy for so long.
"Your incompetence has benefited you, Richard. I have had a change in plans and no longer wish to have the Mother Confessor killed." Richard warily glanced between Darken and Denna, unsure of what to do. He had been punished for so long for allowing her to live, and now it was viewed as a good choice. Richard swallowed as he looked at his mistress.
"Do you mind my asking why, Lord Rahl?" Denna's composure quickly came back, her shock no longer evident, but still hidden beneath her features. Darken smiled as he looked at her.
"She is, after all, the only living Confessor that we know the location of. Not only that, but she is the most powerful Confessor of them all. We can use her," his gaze returned to Richard as his finger slipped into one of the links in the chain around his neck. Darken tugged at it. "You are going to deliver her here." Richard nodded as Darken and Denna both smiled.
"What can we use her for,my lord?" Denna asked incredulously.
"As much as I appreciate the methods of the Mord'Sith," Darken reached over and placed a hand on her cheek. "It would be much easier to confess my enemies than to break them. Giller has been experimenting with prisoners, he may be on the breakthrough of harnessing the Confessor's power. If he has a very powerful, very alive Confessor, his progress would greatly increase." Denna's facial faltered and Darken dropped his hand from her flesh, redirecting his gaze towards Richard. "Don't worry, Denna, you will still be of very great use to me." Denna smiled and nodded, relieved to know that she would still be needed.
"Now, Richard, are you sure you are up to this task? You have failed once before, and regardless that that very failure has benefited me, it was a failure none the less." Richard nodded, glancing at Denna and then nodding more furiously. "Good," Darken drawled out, turning his back and dismissing the other soldiers that had accompanied him.
xx
Richard walked along the forest, adjusting the pack on his shoulder. Lord Rahl had given him specific instructions, well, namely just two: do not kill the Mother Confessor, and bring her back to his holding cell. He vowed to himself that he would not fail.
Denna had done her job effectively, he now thoroughly hated the Mother Confessor through and through. Richard blamed Kahlan for his weaknesses, for his failures. Denna was right, if Kahlan did love him she would have ended his suffering. She didn't, therefore, she didn't love him. She had lied to him once again.
Richard scoffed as he ducked under branches, his body still sore and beaten. He was surprised he could travel as fast as he did. Denna denied him the privilege of a horse, claiming that he needed to accommodate to his wounds and learn to maneuver with them, in case the Mother Confessor wouldn't come willingly. Richard was sure she would.
He sighed in relief as he saw the huge city rise before him. After a week of traveling, he had finally reached his destination: Aydindril. Richard smiled as he trucked forward. The city was loosely guarded, the men at the front gates not asking Richard anything as he passed through. It didn't take long for him to find the Confessor's Palace, where Darken Rahl said Kahlan would be residing.
However, acquiring entrance into the palace wasn't as easy as it was to get into the city. He sighed as two guards blocked him from the main door.
"State your business." The burlier of the men spat.
"I'm a friend of the Mother Confessor." Richard put all his confidence behind the statement, hoping it was believable. After all, he had once been a friend of Kahlan. He had once hoped to be more than a friend to her. The men didn't look convinced. "She is my Confessor." The men laughed.
"She is everyone's Confessor, boy." Richard scowled, resenting being called a boy. It was only a term of endearment from his grandfather, whom he no longer cared about. The only person he cared about was Denna, and whoever she informed him to care about.
"But everyone is not the Seeker," Richard hissed through clenched teeth. The men froze in shock, their previous demeanor withering away. The two nodded at each other before gesturing for Richard to follow them. He smiled to himself as he treaded through the halls of the Confessor's Palace.
The hallways themselves were grand, the vast expanse of marble seeming never ending. Tapestries were hung along the stone, rich mahogany tables by the walls. If the building wasn't built for the use of Confessors, he might have found joy in it. Instead, he was disgusted.
The men led him to two large doors, gently pushing them open. Richard didn't wait for their cue and quickly shuffled into the room, finding it packed. Kahlan was standing at the front of the room, informing everyone of the sentence she was giving the criminal that stood before her. Richard walked in as Kahlan ordered the guards to take the man to something known as 'the pit.'
It didn't take long for Kahlan's gaze to find Richard. Her mouth fell open as her eyes grew wide, unsure of how to proceed. She couldn't tell if he was still broken or not, but from the cold, dead look in his eyes - she knew her answer. Kahlan swallowed past the lump in her throat before finding her voice.
"Thank you for attending this meeting, you are all dismissed." She continued to stand as everyone made their way through the door, some cursing that Richard wouldn't step aside and let them through. Kahlan watched as the people parted around him, his body still as stone. She gestured for the guards to close the doors behind Richard as he took a few steps forward.
"What are you doing here, Richard?" She cautiously stepped down from her seat.
"I need you to come with me, Mother Confessor." Kahlan flinched, her concerns now set in stone. He was still broken. Despite this, she still felt like he stabbed her in the heart by calling her by her title.
"What? You do not wish to kill me?"
"Not any longer, there are new plans for you." Kahlan pursed her lips as she sighed and shook her head.
"I will not come with you, Richard .." Kahlan trailed off, her mind racing. What were these new plans?
"There is a D'Haran army stationed only a day's ride from Aydindril," Kahlan's head jerked up to meet his gaze, which was still cold. "If you do not come with me, they will attack and lay waste to your precious city." Richard's words were laced with venom and she stared in shock.
"What are these newly developed plans?" Kahlan asked meekly, her voice failing her.
"You will find out soon enough," Richard took another step forward, now dangerously close to Kahlan. "Come with me." It was a command, not a question. Kahlan sighed as she glanced around the room, looking desperately for an escape, for Zedd to come booming into the room and finding a way to fix this. No one came. She swallowed as she returned her gaze to him.
Un-expectantly, Richard lifted his hand towards her, urging her to take it and come with him. Kahlan knew she shouldn't do this, shouldn't succumb to this and go with him to what she assumed would be her death. However, she wasn't stupid. She had no doubt there was a D'Haran army close by, and she knew they would attack. Kahlan had a nagging feeling they would attack regardless, but if she could possibly stop the ordeal by going with Richard, then that's what she was going to do. She was the Mother Confessor, she must protect the Midlands at all costs. Kahlan swallowed past the lump in her throat, resting one had on her stomach to try and settle her sudden nausea.
Kahlan's blue eyes met Richard's cold ones as she extended her hand and allowed Richard to tug her forward.