Chapter 3

Chase stood in the door of her room as she pulled on her boots. "I can't let you go Kahlan. Richard would have my head if I let you."

"He may not be in a position to have anyone's head. I'm going, Chase. Something has happened to him and I won't just sit here waiting for news. I have to go find him."

Though the outcome still grim, he tried to dissuade her "You don't know that it's Richard…Something may have happened to Zedd. Give me some time; let me see if I can find anything out before you go running off."

She shook her head as she finished tucking her daggers into her boots. "He may not have time, Chase." She blew an errant strand of hair from her face. "I could really use your tracking skills." She walked up and stood before him, her eyes intently on his. "I'd like you to come with me but I'm going either way. Make your choice."

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The hood of Kahlan's cloak flapped behind her as she rode hard through the night. The heavy mist was soaking through everything leaving her chilled to the bone. She didn't let it slow her down. Chase followed close behind. She had taken the lead, knowing the way to the temple, using the same route she had returned home on some time ago.

They had slowed little since leaving town. Kahlan thought she should feel tired but she was too consumed with finding Richard. Fear left a lump in her throat and a knot in her stomach. She ignored a pang of hunger and pushed her horse harder. Martha had filled their packs with cheese, bread and fruit along with some hard boiled eggs, admonishing Kahlan to eat and take care of the baby. She had wagged a finger at her as she left "You feed that baby proper or your Richard will be angry when you reach him." She knew it was her way of saying it would all be okay. She promised herself she would have a suitable meal the next time they stopped.

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Kahlan couldn't shake the damp chill in her bones. During the night, she and Chase had taken shelter under the boughs of pine trees but they had offered little protection from the falling snow and cold. Her bones ached. She didn't know if it was her condition or the journey. Probably both she decided.

They were giving the horses a short break from the ride, walking next to them through the forest, crunching in the snow and eating their lunch on the move. The air was cold, showing their puffs of breath as they walked along.

Chase had been leading the way since they'd found the abandoned temple. Like Richard, he was an expert tracker and was following what was left of their trail. Fortunately, Richard had not been concerned about being followed, actually hoping to be found if Reetha were nearby, and he hadn't wasted time covering their path. Snow covered much of their tracks but Chase was able to follow along, looking for broken branches or abrasions on tree bark.

"Last one…" Chase said handing her an apple. They had relied heavily on what Martha had packed for them though they had caught a few rabbits along the way when necessary. Kahlan didn't want to waste time setting traps and cleaning and cooking game. She wanted to keep moving. The snow already slowed their progress more than she would like.

"I've already had one today. You go ahead." She took her hand from where it rested on the small swell below her belly, letting it drop to her side. The change in her shape was slight, but she was sorry she wasn't able to show Rachel as she had promised.

"Kahlan Cypher, you eat this apple or not only will Richard have my head, but so will Martha." She let out a small laugh at the use of her last name. He knew she was still known as Kahlan Amnell, but he was trying to lighten the mood.

She smiled, took the fruit and thanked him for it.

"I'd feel better, Kahlan, if you took a little time to rest."

Her hand was clasped around the tooth that hung at her neck. "I'll rest when I find Richard."

Chase was amazed at her resolve. She was as stubborn as her husband he thought.

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Richard's arms were in shackles, his legs bound by chains keeping him securely fastened to the wall. The stone walls and floor offered no relief from the cold chill of winter seeping into his bones. A few windows near the ceiling allowed for a bit of fresh air to flow in as well as small swirls of snowflakes caught by the constant winds. Several danced their way toward him now. He could hear the haunting whisper of the trees in the wind. His thin shirt provided little warmth; his teeth chattered with the cold.

He and Zedd had entered Whispering Pass before the sun came up and had been met by a small troop of D'Haran soldiers, close to thirty men. Reetha soon joined in with the soldiers. Richard alone managed to kill two quads before being taken down by her magic and the remaining men. He had no idea what had become of Zedd. He no longer felt his connection with Kahlan and feared the worst for him. Richard didn't know how long he had been here. He'd had little to eat and even less sleep. Just as he again wondered what they wanted from him he heard someone coming. It was the Captain he had seen during the battle. Richard had been making his way toward him to kill him when he was taken down by Reetha and the others.

Richard's eyes fell to the sword the Captain carried. His sword. The Sword of Truth. He felt its magic even as it sat on the hip of the D'Haran. A spark of anger flickered within him.

"Where's the Wizard?" Richard demanded.

"You should be concerned with own hide right now Seeker." He stood before Richard just out of his reach, looking him in the eye. "Reetha did away with him. She was in a hurry to get to Holly Meade..." He waited for Richard's reaction at hearing she was on her way to where Kahlan was. He was disappointed. Richard only stared back at him without so much as a blink. Trying to provoke him he went on, "She took the rest of my men with her, just to ensure her success." Richard's anger raged within him but still he showed no emotion.

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Zedd sat bound by ropes to a large chair carved out of stone. A Rada' han clasped around his neck. "Why don't you just finish me off Reetha; be done with me?"

"Zeddicus…you underestimate your worth. You must realize how useful a Wizard of the First Order would be…once he's confessed." She told him of her plan to offer the pregnant Mother Confessor to the highest bidder. "Any man wishing to fill the void left by Lord Rahl would be foolish not to have her under his control. Adding you to the bargain would certainly be beneficial."

"Kahlan would never do such a thing. She won't confess me."

"Oh I think she will, Zeddicus. She carries a child now…and when it comes down to the life of her beloved or your confession…she will see my side of it."

Zedd now knew Richard still lived. He hadn't even been sure of that until just this moment.

She came to stand close to him. "The Seeker has made my task an easy one. The descendants spell tells me the Mother Confessor draws near, that I have no need to travel to her as I intended. Tell me Zeddicus, would she be so foolish as to come here looking for him?"

An idea seemed to spring to her mind, her eyes darted with a wicked delight and she smiled a cunning smile. "It's hard to imagine how powerful one would be with a confessed Wizard of the First Order along with the Mother Confessor who holds the promise of future confessors within her." She took a step back from him. The air surrounding her seemed to swirl and lift and she was bathed in a glow of light. When the air stilled she stood before him as the complete image of Kahlan. When she spoke, her voice was that of Kahlan's and was filled with satisfaction, "Why, the only possible way to add to that would be for me, the last of the sorroral women to bear the Seeker's child…that would be a powerful bloodline, don't you think, Zeddicus, sorceress and Seeker?"

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