A/N: Update. I realised my own epic!fail the other day when watching olders episodes of the show. There's already been an episode called Cursed. Total fail on my part. Because of that, I've renamed the story and the new title actually fits in quite well with my plot. Anywho, apologies it has taken me a little while to get this up. I've got essays on the go which are draining me of my focus. I hope you enjoy this chapter, and would love it if you read and review. Reviews get updates. I'm hoping if I review MistressDarkness' awesome story 'Powerless' that it'll get an update too! Anyway, if you're reading please get to reviewin'. Thanks! I disclaim!
Cara smiled smugly to herself, shifting the rabbits hanging over her shoulder again so that the cords weren't pressing on her collar bone. She glanced behind her to see Richard following a few paces behind, an amused smile on his lips. It had been a successful hunt, with the Mord'Sith's instincts about the animals proving right. And she'd even had the opportunity to impress her Lord Rahl by demonstrating the techniques he'd taught her for capturing and killing the animals in the most painless way possible yet. As much as she found the teaching tedious and just a tad pointless, she resolutely refused to fail. Seeing Richard's pride in her oddly made Cara feel something like what she imagined happiness to be.
Very little penetrated the tough outer shell she had built up around herself over the years through brutal training and life as a Mord'Sith. Most emotions were dead to her now, and those few that still found their way in were heavily watered down versions of what they should have been. However since her journey with the Seeker had started, more had started to get beyond the cold exterior and touch her internally. Seeing Richard pleased with her made her happy, and happiness was not something she could recall feeling at any time even before becoming a Mord'Sith.
Unless she counted Leo.
He was the obvious downside to feeling anything. Cara had allowed her emotions to get the better of her and allowing herself to feel something for Leo had turned out to do more harm than good. Her heart had been partly exposed to him and was bruised because of it - because of his death. She couldn't help but wonder if the Mord'Sith were right in their mission to purge all affectionate emotions. It left you focused, detached and free from emotional burden. That life was gone now though, and there was really no way to get the emotional shield back. Whilst she may not have been ready to admit it, Cara knew that she would take heartache over never feeling affection for another any day of the week.
"You did well," Richard spoke from the side of her. Cara realised she'd been too caught up in herself and hadn't noticed his approach. "When this is all over, you should consider becoming a guide for the woods."
The Mord'Sith levelled him with an icy cold stare. "You cannot possibly be serious Seeker."
Richard smiled at her. "Why not? Your hunting skills are very good, and your tracking is getting better every day. If I teach you to recognise and name the different plants and trees and features of the wood, you'll be all set." He beamed at her. "You'd make a great guide."
She frowned. That was easily the most ridiculous suggestion he had ever come up with. And there had been plenty of idiotic, suicidal and life endangering suggestions to pick from. "I don't have the disposition for it." Translation, she would probably end up beating those travellers that got on her nerves.
"You pretend you don't," Richard replied, turning his head to look at her properly. His wide eyes seemed to be searching for something in her face. "But underneath all that leather and attitude, there's a heart beating. A good heart."
Cara shook her head. "You are incorrect. Beneath the leather is merely more leather." The surprised blinking of Richard's eyes didn't go unnoticed by her. "I am a Mord'Sith, sworn to protect the Lord Rahl at any cost," she explained, casting her gaze downward for a moment. "Training, fighting and killing are the only things I will ever know."
She was anything but ashamed of that. Cara was prepared to reconnect with her humanity, but there were parts of herself that were too deeply imbedded to change. First and foremost, she was a Mord'Sith. A mistress of pain and bodyguard of Richard Rahl, Lord and Master of D'Hara. If that was stripped away from her, Cara wasn't sure there would be anything left beneath it.
It was Richard's turn to frown. He stopped half in front of her, forcing her to pause as well. "You don't really believe that." Cara cut him with a side look through her slightly narrowed eyes. Richard sighed, clearly frustrated with her reluctance. "I know Leo didn't believe that."
The Mord'Sith almost stumbled from her stationary feet, her lips thinning into a line of displeasure. The experience was still too raw to be talked about in such a casual manner. Her involvement with Leo was not something that could be discussed around the camp fire, or at any time at all if she had her way. Logically, Cara knew Richard was just trying to reach the woman behind the torturous monster, but using the memory of Leo felt like a hammer blow to her aching chest. She was having trouble enough reconciling her heartache with her Mord'Sith training as it was. To have Leo used as a method to illustrate how she could become more than she thought possible was not something she could compute.
Cara opened her mouth to tell Richard as much, when the commotion on the other side of the trees stopped her. Richard's head whipped around first, his ears straining to hear the sounds clearly over the normal forest din as his body followed in turning. A man's voice yelled at something, the words lost in the distance between his mouth and Richard's ear. The thunder of horse hooves churned up the ground beneath them from the sounds of things, further muffling the voice until it became one single roar of anger. Richard couldn't make out how many beasts were riding, but it was definitely more than one.
From the distance of the sound, the Seeker guessed that it was heading toward the camp. Zedd would be there, along with Kahlan who should have returned by now. An angry horse rider did not bode well for either of them, nor did an angry horse rider with potential back up. Concern ignited in his veins, and all thoughts of heart to heart talks with Cara were forgotten.
"The camp. Now."
They were three simple words, but Cara was already a pace or two behind Richard as he began running through the trees toward where Zedd, and he hoped Kahlan, were waiting for them. Trees whipped passed him on all sides, branches snatching and scratching at his head and body as he battled his way forward. Cara was close behind, batting away the branches that sprang back in Richard's wake. She knew he had sensed trouble, and was more than willing to follow his instincts. As the Seeker of Truth, they were far more honed than most at picking up even the most subtle of dangers when they presented themselves.
Richard exploded through the trees first, leaping through the air and into the clearing. He thanked the spirits he had come when he had, for he appeared just in time to see Kahlan falling under the strike of a sword from a horse rider.
With his heart leaping into his throat, Richard was petrified that he had just seen his confessor slain before his very eyes. His breath whooshed from his lungs when he realised no blood spilled from where Kahlan was struck with the blade. Richard guessed that her attacker had used the flat edge of his weapon to knock her down rather than the edge, which meant she was still alive. He couldn't say the man who had struck her would remain that way for very long.
Kahlan had landed roughly on the ground, and was still face down. Her arms moved limply as she tried to right herself but she wasn't having much success.
Gripping the Sword of Truth, Richard brought it out in a lightning fast arc. The unique ring gave the horse riders reason to pause. There were five of them. Two horses had two men riding them, the other had one. All the men looked angry, and judging by their attire they were not simple farmers from the village nearby. They were armed with an array of knives and blades and would probably be deadly to any they met. Richard lifted his sword, aiming the tip as an offer of a challenge to the single rider who had struck Kahlan. The anger of the sword burned in his veins, his very soul linking to the magic of the weapon that gave him physical power.
The Seeker tore into action, striding across the camp toward his foe. He gave a great battle cry and launched himself into the air. The power of his leg muscles propelled him upwards, and with a hard swing of the Sword of Truth, he disarmed the rider in a single blow. The man looked stunned and put up little effort as Richard gripped him by the tunic and dragged him off the animal. Whining in terror, the horse broke into a gallop toward the opposite trees. The rider carefully got back to his feet, reaching for his sword that lay on the ground a few feet away. Once more armed, rider and Seeker began to circle each other slowly, their weapons raised ready to strike the other down. Richard did his best to put himself between the rider and Kahlan. He wanted to check if she was alright, but knew he had to dispatch the danger first.
Cara had wasted little time after Richard had charged off. She had gone straight for the other riders, unleashing her deadly Agiels as she closed the distance between them. With a weapon in either hand, she thrust them forward, pressing them into the thighs of the riders. Both men howled with pain, their entire bodies going rigid with the intense agony. Releasing them from the Agiel's touch, Cara watched as the men collapsed off the horses to the ground, both still moaning in pain, clutching at their legs.
That left the second horse, whose riders had attempted to back away after seeing the Mord'Sith. She took a menacing step toward them, and would have charged had it not been for the crackle of powerful magic in the air.
Zedd had come dashing out of the trees a moment before, furiously trying to retie his robes as he did so being interrupted during a call of nature. A quick glance at the happenings had seen the Wizard of the First Order act. Raising his skeletal hands, he aimed the stretched fingers toward the second horse which had backed away from Cara. Muttering an incantation under his breath, he unleashed a stream of shimmering white magic that streaked from him toward the riders. The impact was immediate, and sent both riders tumbling off the horse and to the ground as though they had been hit with a battering ram. Zedd's lips curled with pleasure and he stalked toward the fallen intruders.
One of them made the mistake of reaching for the axe he had dropped when falling. The blast of Wizard Fire that struck the ground just in front of the weapon made him recoil in terror. The intruders huddled together, almost back to back as they were trapped on either side by Wizard and Mord'Sith. They glanced to their leader who fared no better.
Richard was easily more than a match for the rider he had dismounted. He brought his sword up diagonally across himself, blocking the latest path of his opponent's sword. The metallic clang rang through the clearing, and Richard clenched his jaw. The Seeker pushed back hard, and launched himself into a front kick that sent the rider stumbling backwards. Cara was waiting for him and ducked down, bringing her Agiels across the back of his knees with the pin point velocity of a whip. The man hissed in pain as his knees crumbled beneath him, and toppled back into the other men behind on the ground.
With a flick of his hands, Zedd unleashed a Wizard's Web that trapped the group instantly. Fear shone in their eyes as they recognised their predicament. They were at the mercy of Zedd and Cara, but neither was paying attention to their captives. Instead all attention was on Richard, who had sheathed the Sword of Truth and gone to the aid of Kahlan.
The Mother Confessor still hadn't got back up after her fall, her arms lying motionless on either side of her now. Kneeling down next to her, Richard carefully slipped one arm underneath Kahlan and used the other to grip her arm. With as much care as he was capable of, Richard rolled Kahlan over toward him, so that she became safely tucked in his arms. He supported her back on his raised knee whilst his forearm gave her head something to rest against. Gently he brushed back the thick strands of dark hair from her features, caressing the skin of her face as it was revealed. He breathed a sigh of relief to see that her arctic blue eyes were open, and focused entirely upon him.
"Are you alright?" He asked softly, his eyes scanning her body for any immediate injuries. There were none apparent, but she'd taken a serious blow to the back. She could have been disorientated at the very least.
Kahlan nodded, placing her hand on Richard's upper arm. Her ears rang and her skull felt like it had been kicked by a horse. "Yes, aside from a headache. Do you think you could help me up?"
She asked, and immediately Richard gently helped Kahlan sit up before pulling her up to her feet. Even though she was standing now, he still held her within the circle of his arms and she made no effort to break free. Instead her hands rested against his broad chest as she took in several steadying breaths. The smack of the sword had sent the world spinning after she had run back from the village to the camp. She'd told Niall and the others to remain there and send for reinforcements from Rorick. No sooner had she taken the child that Finn had abducted back to the village did they try and seize her. She'd managed to escape, but they'd given chase. Kahlan was thankful she'd made it back to the clearing and the others were there waiting for her.
Back on her feet, it was only now that her vision was slowing down to normal again. The world was righting itself, but she wasn't ready to leave the support of the Seeker just yet.
Richard placed his chin on the top of Kahlan's head, turning to narrow his eyes toward the intruders who they had just fought. Kahlan responded by resting her head against his chest, and he listened as her breathing slowed back to its normal pace. Wrapped in his strength and warmth, Kahlan inhaled deeply of Richard's scent. It was masculine and intoxicating, and gave her the anchor she needed to get her senses back in focus. Her blue eyes flicked open and the world was right again.
Pulling back from Richard's embrace, she still held lightly to his arm as they began walking across the clearing toward the captured riders. Zedd stood with his arms folded, a scrawny sentry eyeballing the captives nearest to him. Cara moved in alternately wider and closer circles, letting her Agiels brush the air in front of the captives.
"Zedd, can you release their heads?" Richard enquired, placing a steadying hand on Kahlan's lower back as they stood before the riders.
The Wizard nodded. His fingers rolled one after the other, and a faint pop was heard as the Wizard's Web was lowered sufficiently enough to allow their captives to talk.
"Why did you attack the Mother Confessor?" Richard demanded, directing his question at the leader of the band of riders.
His eyes narrowed, glancing between Richard and Kahlan. "She murdered my brother!" He bellowed, the veins in his neck bulging as he obviously struggled against his magical bonds. "She allowed a monster to be unleashed on the world and she has to pay, Mother Confessor or not!"
Richard's eyes widened as he saw how the man's words affected Kahlan. She looked crestfallen and defeated at the same time, as though his words had been a physical slap across her face. She subtly leaned closer to Richard, and he knew then that she felt responsible in some way and needed him. He tightened the grip of his arm around her, giving her as much strength as he could.
"I didn't murder Makin," Kahlan answered, her voice soft against the roar she had been attacked with. "And I didn't know what Finn was. If I had," Kahlan faltered a moment, cringing at the sound of her own failure. "I would never have set him free. I didn't know Niall."
"You didn't know," Niall mocked, eyes glaring at Kahlan. "Your ignorance will be the death of us all. And you may not have killed Makin, but because of you my brother is no more. Even now he's being restrained in the village so that he doesn't go following that abomination that twisted him. Someone has to be accountable for all this, and I say it is you!" Niall spat at the ground before Kahlan's feet, forcing her to take a step back. "You're no more a Mother Confessor than a village whore!"
Niall grunted with pain as Cara slapped an Agiel across his face. Her hand gripped the back of his head and tilted it back to look her in the eyes, the Agiel waving dangerously close to his throat. "Watch your mouth," Cara's voice lowered to an intimidating level. "Or I'll give you something truly painful to shout about."
Richard frowned at Cara's methods, but did nothing to stop them. Instead he turned to Kahlan, placing his hands on her shoulders to make her face him fully. She looked devastated, and it hurt him to see her in such a state. "Kahlan," he said softly, catching her chin with his fore finger. "Look at me. Tell me what happened."
With little insistence from Richard, Kahlan slowly raised her crystal blue eyes to his. They swam with unshed tears, and the Seeker wanted nothing more than to take the woman he loved into his arms and hold her until the pain went away. Duty and responsibility steadied his hands however, and he simply hoped Kahlan knew that he would never judge her no matter what had happened.
"In the village," she began hesitantly, aware of all eyes being upon her. "There was a boy locked in a cell built onto a wagon. He was hurt, and had been left outside all night in that rain. The villagers said that he was being transported to some man named Rorick and I got the impression that Rorick wasn't too popular with the locals."
Niall scoffed, and was rewarded with another snap of the Agiel to silence him.
Kahlan swallowed, and continued. "I wanted to know his crimes, to decide for myself whether such treatment was necessary. Niall and his men refused to comply, and tried to move me along. When I tried to free the boy, the villagers intervened to stop me. The boy, Finn, freed himself of his chains with my dagger and prevented Niall's brother from killing me. But then...then..."
The Mother Confessor's voice cracked on the last word as she realised the horror of what she had done. If she'd just picked up the bread and returned to her friends without interfering, none of this would have happened. Niall was right to be angry with her. It was her fault Makin was confessed, and that a male confessor was free to unleash havoc all across the lands.
"It's okay Kahlan, just tell me what happened." Richard whispered, holding her head between both of his hands.
"When Finn was freed, Makin tried to attack him. And Finn he...he confessed him." Kahlan let the words hang between them all before she admitted her part in the whole affair. Zedd looked horrified, and even Cara looked faintly confused. Kahlan could see the muscle working furiously in Richard's jaw, and knew despite his mask of compassion that he was probably terribly disappointed with her. "I released him, Richard. I released a male confessor and he ran away. There's no telling where he's gone or what he'll do now that he's free." Kahlan turned her gaze on Niall who looked furious. "Niall is right to be angry with me. I deserve to be punished for my stupidity, as well as my hand in freeing such a threat."
"See? Even the Mother Confessor agrees she should be judged and punished for what she's done." Niall's voice filled with emotion, his anger tempered by raw sorrow. "I've lost my brother because she released the boy. He's still breathing, but the brother I've known all my life is gone. Someone has to pay for that."
"My poor child," Zedd rumbled in his deep voice, ignoring the impassioned claim from Niall. "I understand your feelings of guilt, but you couldn't have known what the boy was. You simply did as any of us would have in that situation. You saw injustice and tried to right it. No-one can blame you for that."
Niall spluttered with indigence. "We're not talking about a petty grain thief sorcerer! This devil has destroyed countless lives and will do even more harm now that he's free! All thanks to the Mother Confessor. She should be punish..."
He wasn't given the change to finish his sentence as Cara held the Agiel against his throat. "I think we've heard quite enough out of you. Speak again without my permission and I'll remove your tongue."
"Cara." Richard warned with his voice low and full of authority.
The Mord'Sith rolled her eyes and sighed with irritation before finally tearing the rod away from the neck, leaving Niall gasping in pain. Replacing the weapon at her hip, she walked to where the others were gathered. Her leather squeaked as she folded her arms across her chest, her hip jutting to the side as she rested her weight on one leg.
"I don't understand what the big problem is. It's only one confessor." Cara glanced between her three companions. Confessors wielded a mighty power, but between the three of them she was sure they could capture and subdue just one. "What's so bad about a male confessor anyway? I don't think I've ever heard of one before."
Kahlan looked grief stricken, unable to answer Cara's question. Instead Zedd took the responsibility, sparing Kahlan the task. "Male confessors are killed at birth Cara. They cannot control the bloodlust that comes with wielding the confessor's magic, only women can temper its hunger. Men turn to terror and darkness and cannot be allowed to live as their power drives them mad. They abuse their magic, and confess any and all they come into contact with." Cara nodded with new understanding, as Zedd tapped his chin thoughtfully. "I cannot understand how one has lived beyond birth."
"I don't know," Kahlan whispered, not bothering to catch the tear that fell down her cheek. "But he's seen at least sixteen winters. How could a confessor have allowed him to live? We all know the danger male confessors represent, we're taught it from childhood. The Creator only knows the horrors he's been allowed to commit whilst roaming the countryside. And I set him free to continue doing it."
"A living, breathing male confessor." Zedd sighed, the burden weighing heavily on his bony shoulders for the Wizards' part in creating confessors in the first place. "There can be no greater danger to the free people."
Cara frowned, finding no logic in their heavy concern. "Then we hunt him down and do what his spineless mother couldn't do." Her hand rested on her Agiels. "We kill him."
"His touch will be deadly to you Cara," Kahlan sniffed. "You must stay out of his reach at all costs. That's assuming we can find him. He could be anywhere by now." Kahlan hesitated a moment, thinking through the logic of what she'd said. "I don't understand why he ran off. He could've confessed everyone in that village before I'd come close to stopping him, but he didn't. He used a child as a distraction and then fled."
Zedd looked repulsed. "We can never know how his twisted mind works child. They are prone to madness and a life free of reason. The important thing now is that we quickly track him and put an end to his terrorizing whilst we still have the chance. What do you say Seeker?"
Everyone turned their eyes on Richard, who had remained silent during and after Kahlan's explanation of what had happened. Kahlan expected him to be disappointed with her, and to tell her as such. She should've known better than to go to the rescue of someone so blindly. Part of Kahlan wanted Richard to admonish her. She felt like she needed to be chastised for her mistake from one that she cared about.
Unfortunately Kahlan wasn't going to get it from Richard. He was furious at the situation, but none of that fury was directed at her. He was just angry. Angry at the confessor magic that twisted boys in murderous creatures, and the burden placed on the female confessors to kill their sons. He was angry that Kahlan felt she was responsible for his existence, and that responsibility fell to her to stop the boy before he caused any more harm. More than anything else, he was angry at himself. Angry that he had gone against his better judgement and allowed Kahlan to go to the village alone, and that he didn't have the words to comfort her now that she felt so guilty, even though there was no need for her to feel that way.
Richard inhaled deeply, looking at Zedd and Cara before finally focusing on the Mother Confessor in his arms. "Zedd is right Kahlan," his features softened as he saw her tear stained cheeks. "This is not your fault. You had no way of knowing what he was and you cannot blame yourself for that. Nor will I let you feel responsible for those that he confesses now." Kahlan tried to look away, but his finger beneath her chin stopped her. "I mean it Kahlan. None of this is your fault. But I promise you we will make this right. We'll find the confessor and stop him before he hurts anyone else."
Kahlan felt like dissolving into tears there and then. Leave it to Richard to know the right words to say to make her guilt that little bit more manageable. She smiled through her tears, nodding her head to agree with him.
That only left the riders. Richard brushed a strand of hair behind Kahlan's ear, smiling affectionately at her before advancing on the magically restrained captives. His hand moved to the Sword of Truth, and it was unleashed with its characteristic ring. He held the blade before him, aimed at Niall who assumed he was about to be beheaded.
"I am sorry for what happened to your brother Niall, but you cannot blame Kahlan for what transpired." Niall shook his head, still obviously angry and needed to take it out on something. "Anyone who tries to do so will answer to me. And I won't be as merciful as the Mother Confessor." Richard turned and nodded to Zedd who released the Wizard's Web binding the men. "You have my word as the Seeker that we will help you track and defeat the male confessor before he has the chance to do anymore harm. Will you work with us Niall? We'll need your courage and that of your men if we're going to stop him."
Rising to his feet, Niall glanced at the faces looking at him before nodding his head. He could speak for the men who worked for Rorick because that was his right. He was still angry with the Mother Confessor and blamed her solely for what had happened. But he could see the logic in having the Seeker of Truth and his mighty friends as allies for the hunt. "We will Seeker. My brother will be avenged and we will see the abomination slain. What do you propose we do?"
Sheathing the sword, Richard stepped closer. "Take your men and go back to the village. Send word to Rorick that reinforcements are needed to protect the people in the area. We will proceed into the forest and begin tracking the male confessor. You'll know we've found him when your brother becomes unconfessed."
Niall nodded slowly, understanding what that entailed. The moment Finn died, those held under his power would automatically be freed. It was just a shame he couldn't deliver the killing blow himself. With a quick word to his men, they returned to round up their horses and mounted up, ready to ride back under the Seeker's orders. Niall glanced at Kahlan who had been guided to a seat by Zedd, his own gaze burning with fury. Whilst he was prepared to abide by the Seeker's wishes because they aligned with his own, that didn't mean he wasn't still angry at Kahlan for her part in things. In his eyes, she was still responsible and he would find a way to make her pay.
Unfortunately for Niall, Richard noticed the look of hate on his face. The love he held for Kahlan turned his protective side into overdrive and he had to stop himself for taking a shot at the rider. He knew what Niall was planning, from the way his scowl lingered on the Mother Confessor. He would pay lip service to working with them, but as soon as he got his chance he would slay Kahlan. Richard vowed to prevent that.
Seeing that Zedd and Cara were with Kahlan, the Seeker headed over to Niall who was preparing to lead his band of men back to the village. He positioned himself close enough to the horse Niall had mounted so that he had to stop and manoeuvre around him before he could leave.
"One more thing Niall," Richard spoke so that only Niall heard him. "You ever lay a hand on Kahlan again in anger or otherwise, and I swear to you it will be the last thing you ever do."
Niall looked shocked, pretending that it was the suggestion that he would hurt Kahlan rather than being found out. The pretence lasted a moment when he saw Richard casually laid his hand on the hilt of his sword. He finally nodded slowly, knowing full well that Richard would make good on his threat. It wasn't a question of it Richard would do as he threatened. It just meant Niall knew he needed to make sure he got the Mother Confessor alone before he took his vengeance upon her. By the time her enslaved Seeker realised what had happened, Niall planned on being far, far away with the rest of Rorick's private army between him and the Seeker.
Richard may have considered Kahlan Amnell to be infallible, but Niall didn't. He was a practical man and believed she should be punished. And if the Creator willed it, he would be the one to do it.
"Do not fail in your duty Seeker." Niall's parting words were delivered with cold disdain, bordering on a threat contained in what was unsaid. Richard didn't have the chance to respond as Niall urged his horse onward and galloped away through the clearing, his men following closely behind as they tore away from the clearing in a great thunder of hooves and disturbed earth.
Richard made sure they were gone before he headed back to his own party. He felt uneasy, not just because they were after a powerful male confessor, but also that he was working with a man he wasn't sure he could trust around Kahlan. Richard concluded that he'd just have to keep her in his sight, particularly when Niall was around.
He saw that Kahlan didn't look as devastated as she had before, instead had become quiet and sat alone on a rock with her arms folded loosely around herself. Cara and Zedd were busily making preparations, packing away what they needed ahead of their journey. The Wizard had been right in his estimation of Finn's potential for danger. It would take a great deal of stealth and skill to catch and subdue him. Richard preferred to focus on the hunt and the capture because he knew there could be no other ending other than Finn's death. Male confessors were condemned to death, and the Seeker felt sorrow for the boy. He would die for no reason other than being born to a power that he couldn't control.
It wouldn't sway him from the task though, and Richard knew he would be the one to make the killing blow. He couldn't ask it of Kahlan, she already had enough to deal with on her own. Taking a seat next to her, Richard eased his arm around her and Kahlan automatically melted into him, her head falling onto his shoulder.
"We have to stop him Richard," Kahlan murmured softly. "No matter what it takes, Finn has to be killed. He can't be allowed to harm innocent people any more than he already has."
Richard shushed her gently, pressing his lips against the crown of her head. "We will Kahlan. As soon as we're prepared, you can lead us to where Finn was last seen and we can track him. Realistically he can't have gone far and there are no other towns around here for leagues." Richard glanced at the trees to where he knew the village was. "If he does come back this way, Niall and his men will make sure the people are safe. Either way, he won't be able to confess anyone for now."
"You're right." Kahlan agreed, finding comfort in Richard's wisdom. There were no people anywhere near for Finn to enslave. They would catch up to him longer before he got close to any of the other towns or villages, she was sure.
" Just promise me one thing Kahlan..."
She lifted her head from his shoulder, her perfect blue orbs focusing on his face. His tone was soft yet serious, and Kahlan had the feeling she wouldn't like what came next. is toneHis"Promise you what?"
"Promise me that no matter what happens, you will not go after Finn yourself." Kahlan's mouth opened to object, and Richard hurried on before she could. "I know you feel responsible for setting him free, but rushing after him to stop him could end with you getting hurt. It's my fault that you were put in the position in the first place and I won't let it happen again." Kahlan's eyes glittered with fresh tears as she realised Richard felt responsible for her own guilt. "We will track Finn and stop him together, not you alone. Promise me that, please Kahlan?"
The Mother Confessor hesitated a moment. If the opportunity presented itself, she knew she would have taken Finn down herself. But looking into Richard's wide eyes weakened her resolve. She wouldn't do anything to intentionally hurt him, and right now he was asking her to save herself from harm which wasn't an unreasonable request. And of course she could trust Richard to get the task done. How could she refuse him his request to just stay out of harms way?
"I promise."
Richard exhaled a sigh of relief, a faint smile coming to his lips. Those had been the words he wanted to hear, and he dearly wished he could have believed her when she said them. However he knew Kahlan well, perhaps better than she knew herself. At this moment he was sure she meant what she said. When faced with Finn however, Richard feared what Kahlan would do to right her perceived mistake. It would split his focus watching Kahlan and defeating the male confessor, but he would do it somehow. Kahlan was too important to him to do anything else.
Both Mother Confessor and Seeker stood up from the rock as one as the Wizard of the First Order approached them. "Everything is ready. We should leave now before Niall and his ruffians come back. Something tells me they won't listen to your orders for very long Seeker and will be out hunting for the boy long before lunchtime."
The Seeker nodded and turned to Kahlan. She felt the expectant eyes of her companions on her, and vowed not to disappoint them. It may have been her fault that Finn had been freed to unleash terror on the countryside, but she would put right that wrong as soon as she possible could.
Kahlan threw her shoulders back and inhaled deeply to ignite her confidence. Looking every inch the Mother Confessor, she started for the exit of the clearing with the Seeker, Wizard and Mord'Sith falling into step behind her. The mission would be dangerous, but Kahlan was resolute in her refusal to fail.
No matter what happened, Kahlan would make things right.