CHAPTER FOUR

"Love Lies Bleeding"

They had been riding for what felt like hours. Kahlan's midsection ached. They were moving at a slow trot, and each step the horse took sent a shock through her ribs. Lying over the back of this damn horse in a corset was putting unbearable pressure on her stomach and chest, and she was nauseas and struggling to breath. Her mouth was unbearably dry thanks to the scrap of cloth in her mouth and the oat dust in the bag. Her eyes were bleary and full of dust. She didn't even want to think about what hours with her head in this damn canvas bag had done to her hair.

They stopped. She could feel Damark loosening the ropes binding her to the horse. She could have flopped right off the back of the horse if she wanted, but her hands were still chained behind her back, and her feet tied together. Patience, she thought, wait for the perfect moment, not a moment.

Damark ran his hand along the outside of her thigh, and down across her calves. He began tugging at the ropes binding her ankles, and inside the bag she smiled. Now Damark was pulling her off the horse, setting her on her feet, and turning her around to face him. As he pulled the bag off she crouched imperceptibly, tensing herself.

"You're friends can't find us now," chuckled Damark as he confidently removed the sack from her head, mocking words forming on his lips, his body language clearly indicating his certainty that he was in control of the situation. He leaned in close, close enough that she could feel his hot breath on her face as the bag came off.

Kahlan was sneering at him, her contempt for him clear, and for a heartbeat Damark paused. In that moment his certainty faltered and Kahlan struck, launching forward and straightening her legs, her back, her neck. Her whole body became her weapon. In all she moved only a few inches, but all of her strength was focused in that inch, and her forehead connected with Damark's surprised face with a thunderous crack.

Damark staggered backwards, blood spraying from his shattered nose. He tripped and landed hard on the seat of his pants, and immediately flopped on his belly as his tailbone protested angrily. Kahlan didn't pause to gloat, she transition smoothly from headbutt to full out run.

The forest was dark, but lightly wooded, with little overgrowth, and the bright starry sky allowed enough light for Kahlan to make her way. She had no idea which way she was going, and suddenly wished she had paid more attention to Richard's digression on woodlands lore. He was always sharing trivial information with her, and she swore he had mentioned something about moss only growing on a certain side of trees.

She tried to remember, and could recall the when and where of the conversation perfectly, but when she tried to remember what Richard had said, she could only think of the stormy blue of his eyes and the delicious curve of his lips. She dismissed the image with a shake of her head. She stopped, casting about, and cursed herself. Silly lovestruck little girl, she thought, should have paid more attention to what he was saying.

She looked at the moon, but it hung high in the sky, and she had no idea how late in the night it was. The moon provided no clue. If they had left through the Eastern gate of Gyrfalcon along the road to Brennidon, and if then turned North off the main road, she would need to head south and west to find the main road. She had to get back to Gyrfalcon and rescue Richard.

Damark was crashing through the woods behind her, hot on her trail. She had to get moving, but running around with no sense of where she was going would only exhaust her.

She concentrated, trying to remember what Richard had said. Again she found herself thinking of his lips, and her thoughts at the time, but the words were lost. She tried to dismiss the image again, the shape of his lips, his tongue flickering in his mouth as he formed a word. What was he saying? She imagined the movement of his lips, his tongue, repeating the movements herself, and found herself saying "North."

North! The moss Richard had described, it grew on the north side of trees. She rushed to the nearest tree, and walked slowly in a circle examining it. There was the lichen she had sought. She positioned herself so that she faced the tree. If she turned slightly to her right, and ran straightforward, that should take her to the road. If they'd left by the East Gate, and turned North. She sensed they had, but couldn't explain her reasoning to herself. It was just something she knew.

She looked up and saw Damark, closing fast and screaming obscenities at her. She sniffed indignantly, and started running, aiming for what she hoped would be the main road. She thanked the stars for small fortunes. She was wearing her green dress, which would make her harder for Damark to spot. Chancing a look over her shoulder, she saw that Damark was falling behind her. She was naturally swifter of foot than the heavily built soldier, and he was further burdened by his heavy chainmail and the multiple weapons slung from his belt. She was confident she could outrun him.

She looked forward towards her path and her eyes went wide as saucers as the path dropped sharply, the open forest giving way to steep slope ending in a stream. Kahlan overextended her step, and her foot came down hard on the hem of her dress. The skirt was pulled tight and she stumbled, pitching forward. She cursed herself as she tumbled head over heels down the hill.

She reached the bottom of the slope, battered and bruised thanks to the chains binding her arms. As she rolled forward, she found her feet underneath and tried to hop forward and keep to her feet. She was too dizzy, and pitched forward. She tried to throw her arms out to catch her fall but the chains made it impossible. As she hurtled towards the ground a large smooth river rock caught her eye, and then she she crashed into it.

Unlike Damark's nose, it did not submit to her headbutt, and Kahlan's world went suddenly dark.

* * *

Richard spurred the horse again, racing ahead of the pack of guardsmen on his heels. Zedd spurred his horse as well, struggling to keep up with Richard. The Magistrate had been quite accommodating, lending him a dozen men to hunt down the Confessor and her captor, and a good thing too. When Kledd had explained the 'understandable blunder' he'd made, it had taken all of Richard's willpower, as well as Zedd and two of the Magistrate's men to prevent him from running the apologetic judge through.

Fortunately the Magistrate's City Guard was an efficient operation, and they were able to quickly determine that Damark had left through the East Gate after a brief stop at the Greedy Goblet. As the party raced down the East Road, Richard felt his stomach tighten and knot with growing anxiety.

Outside the gates of the city the forests of Midland stretched for a hundred miles and more, in every direction. Somewhere out there Kahlan was being held prisoner by a madman she couldn't confess. Richard had no idea how he would find her.

* * *

When Kahlan regained consciousness she found herself slung over Damark's shoulder. They were walking. She wondered how long she'd been out. The bag was back over her head, she noted with some frustration. It was lighter now, and instead of darkness she could see the warm beige of the canvas. The sun must have risen.

Her feet were still unbound, she could tell her knees were pressed against Damark's chest, his arm hooked behind her knees. She twisted about, and Damark's arm slid up to her rear, trying to push her back up on his shoulder. She took advantage of his imbalance to kick out and then bring her knees in quickly, knocking the wind out of Damark.

She tumbled to the ground as he fell, and rolled away from him. She curled her knees into her chest and forced the chain binding her wrists over her rear, and wiggled through. Her hands were still bound, but at least now she could catch herself if she fell.

She struggled to her knees, and then hopped to her feet. A wave of frustration and anger swept through her as she looked around and saw only the inside of the damn bag. Her head was pounding, and she'd already bashed it against a door frame and rock in the last few hours. She didn't need to run headlong into a tree.

A boot slammed into her calf, and she dropped to her knees, making the question of where to run moot. Damark put a heavy hand on her shoulder, pushing her down, as he pulled the bag off her. "You know you broke my nose, bitch."

Thanks to her headbutt, the words had came out 'oow whoa oow bwoke my wose, bwitch.' Kahlan suppressed a laugh as Damark hauled her to her feet and spun her around. She noted with satisfaction that she'd split the soldier's lip open wide. He'd have a permanent scar.

"Don't try to run again, or I'll break your legs." he threatened, but it came out "dwont twy twue wun oor owl bweak yoor wegs' and Kahlan couldn't help herself. She laughed. As she chuckled Damark's hand lashed out and smacked her across the face. 'Wont ooh waff at me' he screeched.

He dragged her forward and shoved her ahead of him, and she held her head up high as he marched her down the path, smiling to herself as the soldier grumbled and fiddled with his nose. She looked around her, trying to get a sense of where they were. Something about this stretch of forest seemed familiar.

"Where are you taking me," she asked nonchalantly.

"You'll find out," the soldier grumbled.

"I don't understand what happened Damark," she mused. "How can you hate me?"

"Don't act like you don't know what you did," he growled.

"I really don't," she said, shooting a glance at the warrior. He responded by shoving her forward and she turned her eyes back to the path.

After several minutes of walking in silence Damark muttered "You broke my heart."

Kahlan realized she where she knew this patch of forest from. They were heading to the spot where Rahl's patrol had attacked them, the place where she had confessed Damark. She felt her stomach knot with anxiety.

* * *

The sun hung low over the horizon, and already the morning dew was burning away as Richard pulled up his horse. It whinnied in protest. Abbazar was right, his horses were fine. They'd run all night, and the mare was chomping at the bit to keep going. Zedd pulled up along side him, followed by the dozen guardsmen.

"What's the problem Richard?" he asked.

"We have no idea where Kahlan is," he shouted angrily. "We've already passed a dozen turn offs and paths he could have taken. For all we know we're ahead of them!"

Zedd looked up and down the road, but had no response.

"I'm sorry Richard," he said. "We may have to accept that we've lost Kahlan."

Richard starred at the wizard incredulously, but Zedd would not meet his gaze.

"There is one hope," the wizard offered. "I put an enchantment on her corset. It will alert me should if be unlaced."

"What?" Richard asked loudly, not sure he'd heard the wizard right. "Why in the world would you put an enchantment on Kahlan's corset."

The guardsmen whispered amongst themselves, and a hushed round of snickers passed through the men.

"I see how the two of you look at each other," he explained weakly. "I was just...ah...taking precautions."

"Wonderful," muttered Richard as glared at Zedd. "So if Damark decides to strip down Kahlan, we'll know he's doing it."

"I should get a sense of what direction and how far as well," Zedd offered, not that it made Richard any less angry.

He looked up and down the road. He still had no idea how to find Kahlan.

* * *

"Stop," commanded Damark as he grabbed Kahlan. "This is far enough."

He spun her around and considered her. She held herself up tall and proud, refusing to let the soldier see any of the fear she felt.

Damark dropped his small knapsack to the ground and began rummaging through it. He quickly retrieved a broad bundle of cloth, and Kahlan realized with a shock that it was her Confessor's gown. In his other hand he held a key, which he handed her.

"Take off those manacles," Damark sneered as he held up the dress. "Then strip. I want you wearing this."

"And then what?" she asked, suppressing the urge to shudder as she unlocked the steel cuffs and let them drop to the ground.

"Then we're going to head up there," he said, indicating the ridge beyond them. "And I'm going to slit your throat."

Kahlan and the soldier locked eyes and glared at each other. Slowly she reached behind her back and began to unfasten the dress, her eyes never leaving his. Once it was loose she squirmed and pulled it down, and it dropped to ground,leaving her only wearing her corset and slip.

Damark's eyes drifted down to her cleavage, and he wetted his lips hungrily. Sensing an advantage, Kahlan inhaled and arched her back, giving the soldier a full view. Delicately she traced a finger along the ties that bound the corset across her chest. Damark shifted uncomfortably, his eyes magnetized to her breasts. With a casual tug she unbound the knot and pulled the first lace free.

* * *

Zedd pulled his horse up sharply as the sound of a gong reverberated through his mind. He cast a glance behind them. The sound had come from the northwest. Casting a quick glance around, Zedd quickly cataloged the points they'd passed so far, and realized he knew exactly where Damark had taken Kahlan. In a way it was so obvious he felt a fool for not realizing it earlier. He signaled to Richard, and announced "I know where she is."

"How?" Richard asked, his eyes anxiously scanning the horizon Zedd faced.

"I heard the alarm," he noted, and Richard leaned forward in his saddle, clearly perturbed by the news. Zedd continued, explaining "He's taken her back to where she confessed him. To where this all started."

Richard needed to hear no more, and spurred his horse forward, racing back down the road they'd just traveled. The guardsmen wheeled their horses about and gave pursuit. Richard's brow furrowed as he prayed he would arrive in time to save Kahlan, but he feared the worst.

* * *

Kahlan was toying with the second lace, and a wry smile twisted her lips as Damark unconsciously leaned forward. She brought her hands together and then swung up powerfully, throwing her full weight into a two-fisted wallop. Her balled fists crashed into Damark's broken nose and sent a fresh gout of blood pouring down his face. He flew backwards, laid out by the blow, and Kahlan pounced on him. Her hands found her daggers, tucked in her belt, and she pulled them free.

Damark got his foot up under her and kicked, sending her flying backwards. He rolled and sprung to his feet as she regain her balance. His sword leapt to his hand, and the pair circled each other like angry wolves, each waiting for the other to show a moment's weakness.

Damark broke first, charging at the confessor and screaming obscenities. He thrust out with his sword, but she deflected the blow and spun around, drawing her second dagger across Damark's already ruined face, leaving a deep crimson gash from cheek to cheek and bisecting his already battered nose. Blood poured down his face as he howled.

Their blades clashed again, and Kahlan ducked under his swing, striking out like a snake with her dagger, and it's blade bit into the soldier's belly. If he noticed, he gave no indication. Damark was in a frenzy, and she feared that his rage would overpower her. Most men would have been felled by a cut like the one she'd landed on him, but he seemed only more angry now. She turned and ran. She was still faster than him.

She charged up the hill and Damark came crashing after her. A clearing opened up before her, and she realized this was the spot, the very spot where she had confessed Damark. She turned and saw he was right behind her.

Why had he brought her here, to this place? Why was it so significant to him? She'd allowed herself to think that Damark had somehow slipped free of her control, and was acting of his own free will, but she was realizing this was something more. Something had changed the love Damark felt for her, and the angry warrior attacking her was no more the true Damark than the spineless fawning slave he'd been reduced to when she had first confessed him.

What had happened, she wondered. She realized that she needed to know.

"Damark," she shouted. "Damark something happened to you. I need to know what it was."

"This is where you broke my heart, temptress!" the soldier screamed. "This is where I fell in love with you and you turned me away."

He charged her, swinging his sword high, and she caught his blow between crossed daggers. He pressed the attack, pushing her back. Their eyes met and they snarled at each other.

"That's not what happened," protested Kahlan. "I didn't turn you away. You left!"

"Don't you lie to me," screamed the soldier as he relented from the attack only to launch another. "I was there, I remember what you did! You said you loved me, and then you sent me away!"

"I never said I loved you!" Kahlan argued as she retreated. Damark unleashed a flurry of rapid blows, but Kahlan's daggers were too swift, and she parried each. "I never promised you anything!"

"You think you're too good for me," he screamed as he pressed the attack. "You think you're better than me!"

"That's not true, I don't think that!"

"I loved you and you turned me away you lying witch!'

His sword landed on Kahlan's dagger like a hammer, and the blades sparked as the metal screamed in protest. His blade was notched and blunted from the blows, but that only made it more dangerous to the unarmored Kahlan. Her arms trembled with each blow. If he kept battering away at her like this, her arms would go numb.

Realizing what needed to be done, she stepped back and flung her daggers to the side. She just stood before him, her arms outstretched, completely vulnerable. He raised his sword, ready to run her through, and she said "I accept you."

"I know you love me," she said and the warrior paused, looking at her, confused and lost. He stepped forward, his arms trembling as he held the sword poised over her chest, ready to plunge the blade in. "And I accept you."

The sword fell from Damark's trembling fingers as he fell to his knees and threw his arms around her waist, pressing his face against her stomach, and began sobbing.

"Shhh," she cooed as the warrior sobbed. "Everything is alright now."

She stroked her fingers across the soldier's shaved head, and felt...something. A crackle of energy, and suddenly they were connected. Her eyes grew dark as the power flowed through her and touched the soldier's soul. She could sense it now, something she hadn't felt when she'd touched the soldier. Something dark and twisted had taken hold of the power she had placed in him, and as she connected with that power again, she willed it to be undone. In her mind's eye she saw a skull-like face laughing at her, and she focused her power on that image, obliterating it. The laugh turned to a shriek and she knew the dark spell's power over Damark was broken.

Her knees trembled and she sagged against the soldier, tears streaming down her face as relief swept through her. The dark knots inside Damark unbound, and his body relaxed as he slipped into unconsciousness.

"Kahlan!" came a cry from the forest. Kahlan looked up, disbelieving. It couldn't be.

"Kahlan!" came the cry again, and she was certain.

"Richard!' she yelled, tears of anguish giving way to tears of joy.

"Kahlan!" came the response, as Richard closed on her position. Moment later he came crashing into the clearing. Kahlan was kneeling in the middle of the field, Damark laying curled up like a baby, his head resting in her lap. She was stroking his head, just as one would a child.

Richard drew to stop, and looked at her quizzically. She raised a finger to her lips and shushed him

"It's alright," she whispered as she looked down at the soldier. "It's over now."