"Shota!" Kahlan exclaimed the following morning, she had met Richard outside the inn, he was packing his belongings onto his horse.

"Yes Shota, do you have any better ideas, we need to find a way to take down Darken Rahl" he fumed "At the moment I have no other ideas, are you going to help me or not"

I stepped forward wanting to put him in his place, I wanted to tell him to back off, but my words fell on deaf ears

"Of course i'm with you Richard, but maybe we shouldn't rush into things especially when it comes to Shota, Zed didn't trust her" Kahlan countered

Richard whirled around "Well Zed is gone, Thanatos saw to that" without another word he mounted the horse and looked down at Kahlan to follow, She exhaled closing her eyes for a moment before mounting as well.

I felt a plunge of guilt in my stomach, Richard was right I had murdered Zed, now all Richard had in his heart was vengeance, I walked behind them as they rode. They spoke very little, their relationship had defiantly changed since that day. We travelled north most of the day only stopping when Kahlan insisted they did because it was getting too dark to see the track ahead, Richard made the fire in silence and mumbled about going hunting. Kahlan sat by the fire, it was still summer but she huddled close to the warm flame as if she was cold, she watched the flames dance in the night air. I sat opposite her, she looked sad, her eyes didn't shine bright like they use to. Curiosity sparked within me as I looked into the bright flames, I felt no heat from them and so I began to wonder, without hesitation I put my hand into the fire. Nothing. Still nothing.

"I don't know if you can hear me"

I snapped my head up to see Kahlan looking to the sky, she continued in a quiet voice

"I need guidance Zed, I feel lost, Richard has chosen a dark path, one I fear will end in blood" she paused holding back a tear "Show me a sign, please" she begged

Richard returned soon after, a rabbit slung over his shoulder, he had it skinned and on the fire without a word,

"I want to move at first light" he said handing her a portion of cooked meat

"Richard…"

"Kahlan don't, I have made my decision" he slumped against a tree, closing his eyes and turning away. I watched as a tear escaped Kahlan's lashes. I leant forward reaching to wipe the tear away, my hand floating straight through her, her body shivering as it did. I dropped my hand as she curled by the fire closing her eyes.

"I'm sorry Kahlan" I whispered.

When the fire started to die down and the two of them had been asleep for a while my mind started to wonder, I wondered why I was following her, this is what Rahl wanted, wanted me to watch as she lived her life, to watch her sorrow knowing full well I could do nothing about it. But what was the alternative? To drift for eternity without knowing if she was alive or dead, whether she was happy or not, I couldn't do that. This is was my curse, for all the evil I had done this was my punishment. So I just sat there watching as she slept, unable to touch her or tell her everything will be alright.

Richard awoke first, he set about packing everything onto the horses, he cast a glance at Kahlan, I saw the regret in his eyes, I stood beside him, looking into his eyes

"I know you are a good man Richard and I know right now you are in pain and you may think that the only thing that can ease that pain is vengeance, it's not" I looked at Kahlan's sleeping form "She is worried about you, she cares for you a great deal and in a way she loves you, you are her only family and you are pushing her away, I know you cannot hear my but please keep her safe, your revenge is over, I killed Zed, my blade cut him down and in turn you took my life, go after Rahl by all means but use your friends and allies, if you continue down this path, it will lead to your destruction and possibly Kahlan's, she would follow you to the ends of the world without hesitation" I dropped my gaze from Kahlan to the floor, inhaling deeply feeling the same guilt that plagued me every time I looked into her eyes, after a moment Richard walked over to where Kahlan slept, his hand gentle on her shoulder, I felt a pang of jealousy as he touched her with such ease

"Kahlan" he rocked her slowly "Kahlan it's time to go"

Slowly her eyes flittered open, she blinked looking up at Richard

"We have to get moving" he offered her a hand, she took it slowly as he helped her to her feet

"We still travel to see Shota?" she asked

Richard nodded and turned away heading to mount his horse, Kahlan followed silently.