Chapter One

The Seeker trio was tired. They had been running from Darken Rahl's men for a fortnight with little sleep. Though they hoped the town they were approaching would give them some help.

"Be careful, Darken Rahl...oh dear," Zedd whispered as they took in the House Rahl sigils everywhere.

"Welcome, Seeker, Mother Confessor, Wizard. We have been waiting for you," a man in a captain's uniform said from a building on their right.

Upon seeing him they saw that, while small, he wore an intricate pendant over his uniform.

"Interesting pendant Captain. Does it protect you from magic?" Zedd asked as they prepared to fight their way out...again.

"While that is one of it's abilities, that is not it's main function. It is to remind us of what we have lost at the hand of Pernal Rahl."

"Pernal Rahl dies decades ago. Are you still in mourning?" Kahlan asked, her knives ready.

"Pernal Rahl was not dead for long. In the night, his most loyal Mord'Sith used the Breath of Life to revive him. Since then, our Confessors, Mord'Sith, and soldiers have been on the mainlines of the battle to bring him down. Please, this way. No one here means you any harm," he said as he gestured to the left.

Sighing when they didn't move, he nodded a command to a soldier, who promptly walked off.

"Why did you say there are Confessors here? I thought that Darken Rahl had them all hunted down," Richard asked, lowering his sword slightly, eyes darting around.

"The only Confessors that were killed were those that were in villages loyal to Pernal Rahl. Most villages and soldiers are loyal to the real Lord Rahl, sister Confessor," a new voice said.

"Emmalyne? I..." Kahlan whispered as she barely managed to keep from crying.

"Hello, Kahlan. Please, I will explain. Come, there is food and drink inside. Follow."

Following her, they soon found themselves in a room far grander than the cell they had been almost anticipating.

"Kahlan, rumor has it that you were named Mother Confessor?"

"Yes. We thought that they few who were there were all that was left."

"Well, now you know different. There are a dozen here in this village alone. Five have mates, two have young children and I am expecting myself."

"Emmalyne...I know that you have wanted nothing more for a long time...I am happy for you," Kahlan said, squeezing her hand.

"Thank you. My mate is the Captain, Charis. He has lost the most in the fight against Rahl."

"Then why does he fight for him?" Richard asked as he accepted some tea.

"We fight for Lord Rahl. He who should be ruling the Midlands. All the dark happenings are the doing of Pernal Rahl as he plays with forces that were sent to sleep long ago. He has no hope of controlling them. Lord Rahl, his son Darken, seeks to end his father's tyranny."

The three could only stare before they turned to each other.

"Does this mean that Darken Rahl doesn't want me dead? Instead it's...Pernal Rahl?"

"Yes. If Zeddicus hadn't taken you from your mother that night in Brennidan, your elder brother had plans in place to evacuate as many of the pregnant women and theor families as possible. Including yours. Those who remained behind out of sheer stubbornness, are the only ones who lost their sons that day," the captain explained as he entered and sat next to his mate. "You should eat more of the fruit."

"I was going to Lyonel. You worry too much."

"You hardly eat enough for one person. Now that you eat for two..."

"Are you Confessed? I ask because I've never seen a Confessed argue with their Confessor before," Richard asked as he sliced an apple.

"We both have had feelings for each other for some time. He wished for me to Confess him so we could be together. The next morning...he was not under Confession."

"What? How could he have not been Confessed?"

This only confirms that I am totally evil...