Chapter 5

The heavy iron door was unlocked and opened, making way for the Mother Confessor and the Seeker. Greer held the heavy bars aside as they passed through.

"This way" he indicated to the cell where the prisoner was being held. Kahlan's dress gathered around her feet as she came to stop before the cell. Richard stood at her side, hand on sword.

"Prince Edan. I'm sorry that our first meeting finds you behind bars."

He stood at her approach. He was an imposing figure: tall and broad. His dark full beard added to his rugged features. His eyes took her in before he answered, setting Richard on edge. "As am I".

"Are you guilty of the crimes as accused by the Confessor's Council?"

Piercing blue eyes stared back into hers.

Richard didn't like the way he looked at her. He gritted his teeth. "Answer the Mother Confessor".

Kahlan prompted him, "If you admit your guilt, there's no need for confession."

His eyes never left hers. "I'm prepared to be confessed."

Stepping close to the bars Kahlan's voice was firm. "The Council has found you guilty of Treason. You have 24 hours to admit your guilt for a swift execution or you will be confessed."

Watching the Mother Confessor in action made Greer shake in his boots. He knew that death was more merciful than confession. If Prince Edan refused to admit his guilt and was confessed, he would spend the rest of his tormented days in this dark cell longing for his Mistress. From having seen confessed prisoners in the past, Greer knew the pain and anguish would be so great, the Prince would die a slow, agonizing death. A chill ran down his spine. Yes, a swift execution was much more merciful. Prince Edan would be a fool not to take it.

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"Are you alright?" Richard noticed Kahlan had been acting skittish all day.

She absently reached for a pillow from the settee, fluffing it. "I'm fine. I just, don't feel up to this banquet tonight." Her stomach twisted in knots. She wondered if she would ever see him again after tonight. The thought terrified her.

Richard put his hands on her shoulders. "It can't be that bad…it's in your honor." He smiled trying to lift her spirits. "It'll be over before you know it." Kahlan wanted to collapse in his arms right there, beg him to stay with her forever even if they could never be together. She pulled the pillow to her chest and hugged it tight, lest she give in. She knew how unfair and unreasonable that idea was, but the thought of never seeing him again broke her heart.

She needed to put some distance between them before she changed her mind. She quickly shooed him from her room. "Let me get ready, I feel a mess having been down in that dungeon today."

##

Kahlan had decided that if this was the last time she and Richard would see each other, she was going to make sure he saw her the way she wanted him to. She might be bound to her title and be forced to live with the yoke of duty, but she didn't want to feel the weight of it. Not tonight. Tonight, she wanted to feel like a woman: a beautiful woman.

She brushed her freshly washed hair until it was silky and shining while Agatha pulled several white dresses from the Mother Confessor's closets for Kahlan to choose from, all of them in varying shades of white.

She decided on a simple two-piece dress of elegant pearl white silk. The skirt was long and flowing, softly hugging her hips before gracefully falling around her. The bodice was low cut and form fitting with pearl buttons from breast to waist, its edge trimmed in silver-white lace at the waist and wrists.

"That dress looks like it was made for you alone."

"Thank you Agatha." Kahlan felt very much a beautiful woman.

Richard knocked on Kahlan's chamber door. Agatha allowed him in on her way out, leaving them alone. When Kahlan stepped from her bedroom into the parlor, she took his very breath away. Her thick, dark hair framed her face, cascading over her shoulders, contrasting with the pearl white of the dress. Richard's eyes roamed over her curves. She was a striking woman. Mesmerized, he took in the deep blue of her eyes, the beautiful features of her face. Unsure if his legs would hold him, he took a step toward her. Beyond her name he was speechless. His eyes fell to the swell of her breasts, rising and falling with each breath. He ached to feel her softness, kiss the creamy smoothness of her skin that beckoned to him now.

He looked again to her face. Kahlan could see the passion smoldering in his eyes. She dared not fan the embers. Taking a deep breath she headed for the door. "We should be on our way. It wouldn't be right for the Mother Confessor to be late to her own banquet."

Richard was taken aback at how quickly she went past him, though understood she would be uneasy with her first official appearance in Aydindril as Mother Confessor.

##

By Richard's side, Kahlan found she was actually enjoying the night. He never took his eyes off her which made her feel uneasy and wonderful at the same time. She felt them on her now as she watched couples dancing. Richard's easy manner and smile filled her with warmth. She was dreading the night's end when she knew she must tell him to go on without her.

They stood near the center of the room watching as people danced. The Supreme Councilor, Governor Nolen, asked if Kahlan would join him. It was rare that a man dare ask a Confessor to dance, knowing her ability to enslave him with a mere touch. Kahlan surmised Governor Nolen was comfortable, having been surrounded by Confessors his entire life, growing up in Aydindril and then serving on the Council of Confessor's. Though she would have much preferred to stay where she was, she knew diplomacy required she accept. She took his hand with an apologetic smile back at Richard. He nodded, letting her know he understood.

Richard was feeling cloaked once more by the gray cloud. He wished he had learned how to dance when he was younger. Watching her with another man's arms around her left a gnawing knot in his stomach. He decided it was best not to watch and let his gaze fall to the floor.

Governor Nolan noticed Richard's changed demeanor and danced Kahlan over closer to him, placing her hands into Richard's. "Perhaps you should take over from here." He smiled and made his way through the crowd.

Richard looked down at their hands for a moment before he sheepishly smiled up at her. "I don't know how to dance."

She squeezed his hands in surprise. Her smile disarmed him. "You mean you never danced with Anna?"

His eyes intently on hers implied the true meaning of his words. "There're a lot of things Anna and I never did."

"But you loved Anna."

Richard's eyes softened and he slowly shook his head, looking at her for a long moment. "That wasn't love Kahlan."

Kahlan didn't know why she was so happy to hear his words. He'd known Anna long before he'd met her. She fought the urge to kiss him and instead, guided his arm around her waist. He rested his warm hand on the small of her back as she held his other near her shoulder.

Richard liked the feel of her in his arms. He would have been happy to just hold her like that for the rest of the night.

"Fortunately for you, I know how to dance," she said with a grin. "Just follow my lead."

Richard's self-consciousness soon faded as they slowly moved to the music. He gave her a sideways glance. "And how is it that you know how to dance?"

She told him a story of her time at the Valley of Thandor. She had been a girl of 10 or so years of age, when a young wizard named Warren, not much older than her, had taught her to dance. "You could one day very well be the Mother Confessor, Kahlan Amnell. You may find you're able to prevent wars by dancing with kings rather than confessing them."

"Smart wizard. What else did he teach you?" Richard's eyes danced mischievously.

Kahlan didn't take the bait. "He was soon sent to the Palace of the Prophets. I never saw him again." Her thoughts then drifted to never seeing Richard again. She doubted she ever would after she sent him away. Instinctively, she held tighter to him. The feel of her stirred Richard's blood. He pulled her close to his frame, so her cheek rested against his neck. He let his thumb slip under the scalloped edge of her bodice, resting against her back. Kahlan could barely breathe at his warm touch on her skin. Her knees grew weak when he kissed her temple, his mouth slowly making its way to her ear. She felt his breath against her soft and warm. Rather than pulling back, Kahlan clung to him, leaving her own warm kiss on his neck. Richard swallowed hard. Barely able to move, he stopped dancing.

Kahlan stopped her feet as well and stood soaking in the feel of him. In a room full of people she never felt more alone, knowing the end was near. Richard, feeling like she was finally beginning to let him in, looked forward to the end of the banquet.

As the music ended she pulled free of his arms. "How about some cider?"

Unable to form words, Richard only nodded.

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