When Zedd heard of the sparring match that was going to take place between Richard and Kahlan, he automatically objected.
"Richard, my boy!" Zedd came barreling through the doors to Richard's chambers, arms flailing and face red. Richard rose from his seat on the edge of the bed, confused and bewildered. He rushed over to Zedd, and took a hold of his arms to keep them from flinging about.
"Zedd?" Richard was concerned that something had gone wrong - and his mind instantly went to Kahlan. What if something happened to her?
"Bags, boy! Do you have a deathwish? Sparring with the Mother Confessor!" Richard chuckled, and backed away, scratching at his hairline.
"Is that what this is all about?" Richard said with a laugh, Zedd's face not conveying the same amusement Richard's was. He quickly gathered his thoughts and tried to put his grandfather at rest.
"Zedd, it's just sparring - no harm will be done. She just wants to prove to me that she can fight in the dress effectively, that's all." Why was he so concerned? They weren't actually going to fight - this was just so she could prove she was right. Zedd's glare heated, and Richard felt like he was shrinking before his grandfather's form.
"Haven't I told you that she was deadly with her daggers? Kahlan is the single most dangerous woman I have ever met, and you challenged her to a fighting match!" Zedd was now yelling. Richard stumbled over his words.
"I didn't! She was the one who suggested it."
"But you didn't object!" Zedd was right, he didn't object, even after hearing how competent she was with weapons. Richard took a few steps back, sighing and slumping his shoulders forward. He couldn't defend this. Now that Zedd had put it into retrospect, Richard realized that fighting with the Mother Confessor could indeed be a deathwish. Yet, he didn't care.
Zedd's face softened as he looked at his grandson, realization seeming to dawn on him. "My boy, I know why you are doing this, sparring her." Richard looked up, how could Zedd know? He didn't even know why he was.
"Richard, I know you just want to get close to her, but she is unattainable to you." Richard felt like a sword had pierced through his heart, even though he knew that it was true. He frowned. Zedd patted his soldier, and got up to leave. When he reached the door, he looked back at Richard.
"Try not to get yourself killed, my boy." After he closed the door, Richard sat back down on the edge of his bed. Light from the window played on the floor, reflecting specs that were in the marble. He turned his head and looked outside, he only left Kahlan to wander in the sunlight an hour ago. He wondered what she was doing, and how she knew her way around the People's Palace as if she lived there her whole life.
He wondered who her mate was.
It wasn't long before Richard found himself out in the courtyard, the sun shining brightly overhead.