Chapter 6

Zedd had explained as delicately as he could to Richard that the order of sororal women were able to travel over vast distances, much like Darken Rahl once did when he traveled in the blue flames of passage from the People's Palace to the Keep of Edron. Zedd knew of the temple where the women practiced their magic and they were headed there now. Though they had horses borrowed from Martha, he was trying to gently let Richard know that it was a long way off and that Kahlan and the women would likely be there long before they arrived.

They were well into their second week of hard traveling, moving as swiftly as possible to reach the temple. It had been hard on the old wizard; the constant riding, little sleep and eating on the go, but neither dared slow the pace. He knew it had not been nearly as hard on him as it had been on Richard, who often paced their camp into the early morning hours or stared intently into the fire while Zedd slept. Zedd encouraged him to eat when he didn't have the stomach for it, failing more often than not.

After yet another day of long hard riding, they stopped at a stream to water their horses. Zedd could see his grandson's exhaustion, how his hands trembled with lack of food and rest. Richard sank to the ground next to his horse. He reached his hand into the swift running stream and ran his fingers through his hair, gaining a small measure of relief from the cool water. He dipped his hand back into the stream and ran a wet palm over his face kneading at the tension in his eyes.

Reaching into his pocket, he pulled free the ribbon Kahlan had worn in her hair on their wedding day, smoothing it between his shaking fingers. Zedd knelt down beside him, resting a hand on his shoulder. "We'll find her Richard. Don't lose hope now." Richard looked up at him, the grip of anxiety showed on his face as tears slipped from his eyes. "I need Kahlan with me, Zedd; now more than ever. And she needs me. Dear spirits, she's carrying our child." Wracked with grief, Richard clung to his grandfather and let his sobs come.

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Reetha removed the spell surrounding Kahlan's room, bringing her out to the main center of the temple.

"I want you to meet Marcus, Mother Confessor."

A large man was standing off to the side of the room. He looked solid and powerfully built. Kahlan took in his menacing brow. He had a bushy mustache over his thick lips and was bald but for a pony tail that hung between his shoulder blades. His chest bare, he had thick leather pads covering his shoulders and arms. Tight buckskin pants revealed immense thighs. Already uncomfortable in her gossamer dress, Kahlan felt it had become even more revealing as he leered at her through his small, dark eyes.

"Marcus is indispensible to us around here. He's an excellent hunter and fisherman; he keeps our cisterns full with water and our fires stoked with wood. Anything, really, we need him to do, we have but to ask, he is very loyal. He's going for firewood now. I'd like you go with him, you can gather roots and berries for us. I think the fresh air would be good for the baby. I'm sure you'd rather that to sitting in your room?"

Kahlan welcomed the idea of getting out of the temple, into the woods, where she might find an opportunity for escape. She affirmed her agreement with a nod.

Reetha handed her a canvas bag to use in gathering the food. "Don't get any ideas, Confessor. Marcus here is not only strong and an expert shot with a bow, he's also pristinely ungifted.

Kahlan's heart sank, realizing her power would have no affect on him.

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Once in the woods, Kahlan determined that her first instincts of Marcus had been right. He may be big and good with a crossbow, but he wasn't very bright. He could follow orders though and made sure Kahlan stayed close to him as Reetha had instructed. She would have to figure out a way of escape that wouldn't require her magic. She eyed his many weapons. If she could be quick and get her hands on one, she might be able to slit his throat before he knew what happened. She wouldn't have a second chance; he was too big and powerful. His strength would overwhelm her in an instant.

As he set several snares for catching rabbits, Kahlan sat in the dirt, digging for karrow roots. Her bag about half full, she moved without looking to change her position and saw two huge boots planted next to her. She slowly looked up to see Marcus there, like an imposing oak tree towering over her. He was looking at her like he had inside the temple. Kahlan tried to use the canvass bag as cover from the sheerness of her dress and block his eyes from the view he sought. Marcus licked his lips. Like him, his voice was beefy, "Reetha says I get to have you."

Kahlan could feel the blood draining from her face. She felt totally defenseless against this mountain of a man. Her mind spun quickly trying to think of a way out, some way other than having to physically fight him. She tried to speak calmly. "I am with child, Marcus. A child Reetha wants very badly. I'm sure she wouldn't want you to do anything that might hurt the baby."

His leer grew more intense, "She said she needs more babies. She told me I get to make them with you."

Kahlan did her best to smile at him, trying to keep him calm. The last thing she needed was this brute to be in a violent frame of mind. "Yes, she told me that too" she lied. She knew Reetha wanted more Confessors, but not with this beast. "Once the child arrives, Marcus, then she'll want me to have another. But now, well, it might hurt the baby. You wouldn't want to do that now would you? Reetha would be very unhappy I'm sure. She might even send you away."

He seemed to consider her words as he continued staring at her. After a long moment, he reached down and yanked her up by her wrist, causing her to drop the bag of roots. He didn't move toward her, he just stood holding her wrist, breathing heavily, staring through her thin veil of a dress. "We chop wood now." He dropped her wrist and headed back into the woods. Kahlan's legs nearly gave out from under her with relief. She picked-up the bag and caught up to where he waited for her.

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