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Retribution (Chapter 7)
They stared at the Mord'Sith with stunned suspicion, refusing to release the fierce grip they had on their weapons despite her request for help. They both knew better than to trust anything that Denna said. She had promised to save Richard's birth mother all the while knowing full well that she couldn't after such a length of time. And that was just one of many atrocities she had committed, one of countless reasons not to trust her.
Denna calmly smoothed a hand down her long blond braid, playing with the end of it as she moved to stand before the Seeker and Mother Confessor. "I need your help in stopping the Mord'Sith from taking over Aydindril and the Midlands," she evenly stated, her face not revealing any hint of what she was really up to as she flipped her braid back over her shoulder.
Richard and Kahlan found themselves more shocked by her words than by her sudden appearance just moments ago. Why was Denna suddenly on their side and asking for help? Richard didn't know what the scheming Mord'Sith was up to, but he was bound and determined to find out.
"Have you suddenly seen the error of your ways and turned honorable since returning from the dead?" he asked, his eyes awash with distress.
"Let's just say rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated."
"I watched Cara shoot you with an arrow. I saw you fall over that cliff to your death," Kahlan said, her voice revealing the hatred she felt inside for this woman who had tortured and killed Richard. "No one could have survived that fall, Denna. Not even you."
"Tell us what you really want before I run you through." Richard was rapidly growing irritated, memories of all the pain this woman had caused him and thus Kahlan flooding his mind.
"Such hostility. I was hoping we could call a truce and be friends," she pouted, a pained look upon her porcelain face.
Richard took a determined step towards the Mord'Sith to prove that he meant what he said. He was in no mood to play games, especially with someone as threatening as Denna. Kahlan had been put through enough. He was not about to let anything else happen to hurt her.
"Alright, I'll tell you," she glared, putting her hands up in front of her in self-defense as she took a step backwards. "Kirsten is now in charge of the Mord'Sith army. She is on her way to take Aydindril."
"We already know that," Kahlan sneered, aching to put an end to this woman once and for all.
"She is also obsessed with getting revenge on you for killing her sister Kiana. She plans on capturing you so she can torture you mercilessly before she finally kills you."
Richard felt as if someone had just punched him in the stomach. His heart seized with terror at the thought of Kahlan going through that horrifying training by the Mord'Sith again, the thought of losing her forever overwhelming his soul. He knew that whatever Kirsten had planned would be much worse than what Kiana had already done to her. "They will get to Kahlan over my dead body," he seethed, his grip so tight on his sword that his knuckles were turning white with his anger.
"That won't be necessary. I have an idea to stop Kirsten and save Aydindril."
"Why should we believe anything you have to say?" Kahlan interjected, trying to hold back her fear. She couldn't let Richard die because of her.
"Listen, I didn't have to come here alone and risk my life, but I did it to save you. That is why I formed an alliance with them. I have been watching them for some time and had heard rumors of what they were up to. I formed this little partnership with Kirsten so I could find out what they were planning and hopefully get me close to you. There is something that I need from you in return for my help."
"I knew there had to be something more. What is that you want?" Richard asked as he stared at her, trying to read her true intentions.
"I want you, Richard," Denna firmly stated, her gaze never drifting from the Seeker's.
"No! I will not let you take him again!" Kahlan yelled, her eyes flashing with rage as she moved past Richard towards Denna. Too much had already been taken from her because of the Mord'Sith. She was not about to let them take Richard as well.
Richard quickly snatched her arm, pulling her back to stand behind him. He didn't want Kahlan anywhere near her. Although he did not trust her for one second, something in her eyes told him that she was telling them the truth or at least part of it.
"I promise you can have him back when I'm finished with him, Kahlan."
Feeling Kahlan about to bolt from behind him towards the Mord'Sith, Richard quickly put his arm out to his side, blocking her movement. "Richard, you can't listen to a word this devious monster has to say!"
Kahlan could not believe this was happening. She distraughtly tried to force herself into the blood rage, desperate to confess Denna and eliminate her from their lives completely. She would make sure there was no way for her to come back from the dead this time.
"I will help you stop Kirsten and the Mord'Sith, ensuring Kahlan's safety if you help me with a little quest I have been on."
"What kind of quest?" Richard spat out, warily watching her while trying to keep Kahlan behind him.
"I need you to save my life," she simply stated, her gaze shifting from Seeker to Confessor and back again.
XXX
"Where is Denna?" Kirsten asked, frustration growing by the minute.
"I haven't seen her since we set up camp a few hours ago, Mistress," Rachel nervously admitted. She could tell by the look on Kirsten's face that she was finished with Denna and whatever deal they had made.
"I thought I told you to keep track of her at all times!" Kirsten glared at her friend, her hand tightly gripping the agiel that hung at her slim waist.
"I have two Sisters following her every move," Rachel confidently replied, knowing that Stacey and Alla wouldn't let her down.
"I don't trust her; she's up to something. I'm putting an end to this partnership. We don't need her to seize the Mother Confessor or to take over Aydindril."
Rachel followed Mistress Kirsten as they made their way towards Denna's tent. Rachel noticed that Kirsten's agiels was no longer hanging at her waist, but was firmly gripped in her hands. She would be relieved when they had eliminated this so-called alliance with Denna and they could move on as planned to Aydindril.
XXX
"You need my help to save your life from whom?" Richard stared at her, confused. He would do whatever he had to do to save Kahlan's life even if it meant helping someone like Denna.
"From Darken Rahl and the Keeper," she quietly said, fear flashing in her cold eyes.
"You're a baneling," Kahlan gasped as she watched the Mord'Sith. It wasn't until that moment that Kahlan noticed a gray tint to Denna's face, the subtle lines that were beginning to appear on her forehead.
"I did die that day when Cara shot me and fell off that cliff. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in the Underworld. Darken Rahl came to me with an offer I couldn't refuse. I had to take it," Denna defended herself.
"What kind of deal?" Richard warily asked.
"Deliver the Mother Confessor to Darken Rahl and the Keeper in exchange for my life," Denna informed them, her gaze falling upon Kahlan.
Richard became incensed, his breathing becoming ragged with the fear and anger that suddenly besieged his soul. His blood surged with the magical forces that inundated him from the Sword of Truth, his death-like grip on the hilt causing the blade to glow brightly. "You will not have her!" he yelled at the Mord'Sith, the force and tone of his voice causing Kahlan to internally shudder.
Kahlan wanted to place a hand on his shoulder, telling him that it was alright, that she wasn't going to let him sacrifice himself for her, but she was afraid to touch him with the rage that had seized him. She wasn't even sure that he remembered that she was standing behind him. There was no telling how he would react to a hand suddenly on his shoulder.
"I took the deal, but I'm not going through with it. That is why I need your help. If I don't send Kahlan to Darken Rahl by the setting of the sun in three days, I will be taken back to the Underworld. If I fail, Darken Rahl has promised me punishment beyond anything I have ever experienced or could imagine for all of eternity."
Richard and Kahlan listened, stunned by what they heard. They watched as she visibly trembled. Richard didn't know what to believe, but he had no choice but to accept what Denna was saying. Kahlan's life was at stake and it was not a risk he was willing to take.
"What do you need me to do?" Richard finally asked, lowering his sword.
"Richard!" Kahlan angrily cried. She was not about to let him do this. The fragile wall she had built around her heart after losing their baby suddenly came crashing down.
"I need your help in finding the hidden location of the Shadow Water in order to avoid being taken back to the Underworld."
"Why don't you find it yourself?" Kahlan hissed, fuming at what Denna was proposing.
"Because I have been searching for months and I'm running out of time. If I don't find it in the next three days, I will be Darken Rahl's personal play toy forever."
"And what makes you think that I can find it?"
"Because you're the Seeker and if you don't help me find it, I will kill Kahlan. I'm sorry, but right now my life is more important than hers," she glared at them.
"If I die, the Keeper wins," Kahlan interjected, grinding her teeth. She couldn't believe this was happening. It was taking everything inside of her to keep her from slicing Denna to shreds. She tried desperately to think of something, anything to persuade her from trapping Richard into helping her.
"If I die, I suffer for eternity with the Keeper anyway so it doesn't really matter much to me at this point," she shot back. She wasn't going to back down for anything. "Time is ticking, Seeker. Do you want my help in saving the Mother Confessor from Kirsten or would you like to risk it alone?"
"I thought I smelled a rat. Didn't I kill you once already?"
Denna spun on her heel at the sudden intrusion to find Cara and Zedd entering the small clearing, her agiels in hand. Cara's lips were twisted into a sneer as she stared at her former Sister.
"I guess I just don't know when to stay away."
"Cara, it's alright; lower your agiels. Denna needs my help and I'm going to go with her," Richard informed his friend.
"Well, isn't this cozy? Starting the party without me?"
They all turned to find themselves greatly outnumbered and completely surrounded by Kirsten, Rachel, and several Mord'Sith. Denna snatched her agiel from her waist, turning her back towards the Seeker and Mother Confessor.
"Kirsten, I'm glad you arrived when you did. I was just about…"
"Don't even bother, Denna. There is no way you're going to be able to talk yourself out of this one. Kill them, but leave the Mother Confessor for me!" Kirsten shouted the order.
Rachel immediately led the attack as she ran straight for Cara. Agiels clashed with daggers and the Sword of Truth as Wizard's fire blasted here and there. Zedd attempted to help where he could, but his magic was useless against the Mord'Sith.
Kirsten watched in amusement as her Mord'Sith attacked with a vengeance. Waiting for the best opportunity to capture the Mother Confessor, she observed Kahlan taking on three of her Sisters. They swung their agiels in an attempt to knock her down, but Kahlan ducked, coming up with her daggers ready. Slicing as she came up, she quickly eliminated one of her attackers.
Her graceful, fluid movement was like a dance, her fighting skills almost equal to that of the Seeker's. She spun on her heel, her arm slicing back as she plunged her sword into the neck of the nearest Sister, sending her to meet the Keeper.
Blood was spraying everywhere as the battle continued on. Richard held his own against four Sisters, one of which connected her agiel with his side when he allowed himself a momentary glance to check on Kahlan. It was a price he was willing to pay and then some. Crying out in pain, he quickly swung his sword at the source, causing the Mord'Sith to collapse in a heap of blood. Despite hearing Kahlan scream his name, Richard continued to press on in the fight, the pain lessening as he focused his anger on the Mord'Sith for what they had done to his lover and unborn child.
Kirsten caught a glance of Cara finishing off Rachel before moving on to her next victim. Kirsten felt a stab of sorrow seeing her fallen friend lying on the ground, her eyes cold and lifeless as she stared back at nothing. The sorrow quickly morphed into rage, fueling her need for revenge for Kiana. She swiftly ran towards Kahlan, agiels in hand, ready to end this once and for all. She would not go on to take Aydindril until she knew that Kahlan Amnell was in the arms of the Keeper.
Slicing her daggers crosswise before her, Kahlan swiftly finished off another Sister before releasing a bone chilling scream of agony as two agiels connected with her body. With one agiel pressed into her spine and another pressed into her neck, Kahlan arched her back, dropping her daggers as she fell to her knees in agonizing pain. Her mind immediately went numb in a desperate attempt to block out the pain that would not be denied entrance.
Kahlan grabbed her head as she became immobilized by the blinding pain that streaked like lightning throughout her body. Memories of the torture she had endured and survived just mere days ago flashed through her mind, remembering how she lost the baby.
Richard spun around at the sound of her agonizing cry to see her on her knees, Kirsten standing behind her, a wicked smile spread across her face. Tears were streaming down Kahlan's face, her body trembling from the overwhelming pain that enveloped her. "KAHLAN!"
He raced towards her, chest heaving and his heart thundering with wrath, only to be abruptly brought to a stop by three more Mord'Sith. He immediately began attacking them, frantic to get to Kahlan in time. Kirsten was slowly killing her and he was helpless to do anything to stop her.
Kahlan could feel the life draining from her body. Her breathing was becoming more difficult and ragged, her heart hammered in her chest ready to explode at any moment, her vision was blurred from her tears, her head pounded mercilessly as her blood rushed in her ears. She felt as if her body was on fire.
Then, it all stopped. The pain still flowed through her body, but it was diminishing. It was suddenly easier to breathe, the rushing in her ears ceasing, her pounding headache dwindling into a dull throbbing. Her mind still felt like mud, but something had kept her from dying.
Richard finished off the three Sisters in time to see Denna slam two agiels into either side of Kirsten's neck, causing her to stop her attack on Kahlan. Kirsten began struggling violently against Denna's efforts, but it was no use. Denna had her right where she wanted her. He watched as Denna whispered something into Kirsten's ear before she fell to the ground dead. Denna then leaned over, placing a hand on Kahlan's neck.
Richard quickly raced to Kahlan, falling to his knees before her. Grabbing her hands from her head, he pulled her to him in a frantic embrace. "It's alright, Kahlan. It's over," he breathed heavily, feeling her relax in his arms.
Richard tilted his head, pressing a kiss to her forehead before raising his eyes to look at Denna who stood behind Kahlan. She watched as he comforted his lover, no hint of emotion on her face. Pulling back, he cradled Kahlan's face with his hands. "Are you alright?" he asked, brow furrowed with worry.
"I…I think so," she dazedly stammered as he helped her to her feet.
He turned to see that Zedd and Cara had finished off the remaining Mord'Sith. He stared down at the lifeless body of Kirsten, thankful that one more threat to Kahlan's life had just been extinguished. "Thank you," he hoarsely muttered, terror still gripping his soul.
"You owe me no gratitude. The only thing I want is your help in finding the Shadow Water," she replied as she reattached her agiels at her waist. "I only saved Kahlan's life because I must be the one to send her to Darken Rahl and the Keeper if I am to save myself."
"What is Denna talking about?" Cara interjected, confusion evident in her face as she still kept a firm grip on her agiels. She was prepared to send the Mord'Sith to the Keeper right now.
"I'm going with Denna to help her find the Shadow Water," Richard informed them as held Kahlan to him. "I need you to protect Kahlan while I'm gone."
"Richard, no!" Kahlan screamed as she pulled away from him, enraged by his willingness to go along with Denna's deal just to save her. She grabbed him by the arms, making him look at her. "Don't do this, Richard, please! You can't go with her!" she pleaded with him, frantic to make him see that they could find another way. "She can't be trusted!"
"Kahlan, I have to go with her or you'll die. I couldn't live with myself if that happened. It's only for three days and then I will come back for you."
"Why don't you just let me kill her now? Then you won't have to go with her and we can continue on our way," Cara readily offered as she took a step towards Denna.
"I wouldn't if I were you. You see, I've already thought of that. To ensure the Seeker doesn't go against his word, I injected Kahlan with a deadly poison. If you don't help me, she'll be dead in three days. If I get the Shadow Water I want, I will give you the antidote."
Richard quickly turned back towards Kahlan. Staring at her, he suddenly noticed a small stab wound on the side of her throat, tiny drops of blood trickling down her neck. He gently hooked her hair behind her ear, revealing more of the wound for him to inspect. He tenderly ran trembling fingers over the small wound as his heart raced with fear. He had no choice but to do exactly what Denna wanted or Kahlan would pay the price…