Promethean Heat, Chapter 9
Disclaimer: Oh, how I wish they were mine, but they aren't. Be brave.
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Zedd staggered through the forest, supported by Devlin and Anson, debating what to do. He had to find Richard and Kahlan before something terrible happened. But he wasn't sure he had enough strength right now to enchant a flea, let alone break a spell like he suspected had hold of Richard.
"It's not much farther," Anson said, worried about how heavily the wizard was leaning on him. "What will we do when we get there?"
"Well, I don't think it's a good idea for you to be seen," Devlin said. "If he's already this angry…"
Anson nodded. "But what about Kahlan?"
Zedd didn't answer.
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Kahlan lay on her side, eyes closed, and for a moment she was a child again, listening to Dennee cry as her father stood over her.
Then she remembered it was Richard standing over her, and that was worse. Far worse. What is happening? She didn't move, feeling blood in her mouth, but she was stunned less by the blow than by the knowledge of who had delivered it. She finally looked up, and Richard was staring down at her, his eyes wide, and for a moment she thought, It's him. He's in there.
But whatever it was she'd seen, it was gone an instant later, and the look that replaced it was hard and cold. No, Richard, no! Please, come back. She heard the rasp of metal on leather, and she realized he'd drawn the Sword of Truth. He held it above her.
"If I can't have you, then no one can," Richard said venomously.
Kahlan rolled to her back, propped on her elbows, trying to think, to understand what was happening, but nothing made sense. "Richard--"
"Shut up!" he shouted, and pointed the sword at her, the tip dangerously close. Kahlan tried to crawl backwards, but he kept advancing. "Every word is a lie!"
"Richard, stop this madness!" Zedd shouted from behind him. Richard turned to look at Zedd as he came into the clearing, leaning heavily on Devlin.
"Stay out of this, Zedd," Richard said, his voice a feral growl.
"Richard, Kahlan is innocent," Zedd said quietly, edging forward carefully, his eyes on the sword at Kahlan's throat. "She loves you. She's always loved you."
"Lies!" Richard shouted. "I heard what he said!"
"None of that was real!" Zedd said harshly, hoping to lead him back to reality. "Richard, what's happening here isn't her fault. And it isn't yours, either."
"What are you talking about, wizard?!" Richard snapped. "She betrayed me!" He turned to look back at her. "She deserves a traitor's death!"
There was nothing of Richard in his eyes, and the hope that had flared in Kahlan when Zedd arrived faded. "Then kill me," she whispered.
"Kahlan, no!" Zedd said.
But Richard looked momentarily confused. "What?" he said.
Kahlan looked up at him, and there was no anger, no fear in her eyes. Only infinite hurt. "If you really believe that of me, then whatever love you had for me is gone. And I can't live without it."
"More lies," he said, but this time it didn't have the bitter hate in it. He sounded uncertain.
"I mean it, Richard." She leaned forward so the sword was touching her throat. "Please," she whispered, and she wasn't sure what she was asking him to do.
He didn't move, but the sword at her throat wavered slightly. Behind him, Zedd was murmuring something Kahlan couldn't make out, but it didn't matter. Her eyes were locked on Richard's, and something was happening, she could see it. The darkness behind his eyes seemed different somehow. The moment stretched, seconds turning into hours, as she felt the edge of the sword at her throat, and she held her breath.
There was a sensation, like the ringing of a bell, only without sound, and Richard seemed to be surrounded for an instant in green light. Then it was gone, and the clearing was silent except for the ragged sound of Richard's breathing.
Richard swallowed, blinking, the Sword of Truth falling from his hand, and a look of revulsion came over his face. "Kahlan," he whispered, looking first at her, then at his hand. "What…what did I do?" He stumbled backwards, dropping the torch at her feet. He looked at Zedd, who was lowering his hands to his side, exhausted, then turned back to Kahlan. There was a spot of blood on the corner of her mouth. Richard's eyes widened in horror as he realized what it meant. He made a strangled sound, turned, and ran headlong into the forest.
Kahlan watched him disappear into the darkness, part of her longing to go after him, and part of her wanting to run the other way. Instead, she lay there, spent, and looked across the clearing at Zedd. He came to her, bending to pick up the sword, turning to hand it to Devlin behind him when he noticed her recoil from it. "It's all right," he said gently, holding out his hand to her. "It's over."
She stared up at him, unable to feel anything. She'd been prepared to die, actually wanted to die, moments ago, and now… What? she thought. What do I do now?
"Kahlan," Zedd said, and he knelt down next to her. "It's all right. You're safe."
"All right?" she said, and felt the hollowness inside her filling with an almost unbearable ache. "Zedd, he wanted to kill me. How can it be all right?"
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