Kahlan pursed her lips as she measured up the blonde. Her uniform was different than the other Mord'Sith she had seen - it had less bulk and a dangerous dip in the neckline. Her hair was cut around her shoulders, some pieces longer than others. She was not the regulatory Mord'Sith.

Kahlan pursed her lips as she lifted her hand to dismiss her. "And I'm his favorite indulgence. Now, if you wouldn't mind." She turned back to Richard, who was still staring up at the ceiling, trying to gain moderate control over his body. These two women were dangerous and a feeling in the pit of his stomach told him that he needed to end the situation quickly. He lifted himself on his elbows, peering around Kahlan's body to meet the Mord'Sith's eyes.

"Yes, Cara?" His voice was husky from his arousal, which had not settled. Kahlan didn't bother looking back at her and was giving him a very impatient look. She moved her hands down to his thighs, where she started rubbing lightly with her fingertips. Richard coughed to cover up his moan.

Cara cocked her head to the side, pursing her lips while taking in the situation. "Why, Lord Rahl, I thought I was your favorite?" She asked, seemingly innocent. Richard could feel Kahlan tense up. She replaced her light touches with jabs. Richard knew if he gave into the Cara's taunts, then the situation could go badly very quickly. If he didn't address her proclamation of being his favorite, he was fairly certain Kahlan would remove herself from him. He definitely did not want that. Instead, he chose neither.

"Cara," his voice was stern, "this isn't the best time." As if on cue, Kahlan moved up to his lap, placing herself directly on his hips. She was now blocking his line of sight and wiggling around to get his attention. She pushed him down onto the bed and looked over her shoulder.

"I see he has chosen." Richard wished Kahlan hadn't said that, it would only egg Cara on. Normally, he was amused with Cara's antics. Not this time, not now. He wanted her out of the room as quickly as possible.

"Cara," he addressed her again, sure that the woman was giving him a scowl - and suddenly thankful that Kahlan had blocked his view, "it's good to see you. It'd be better to see you somewhere else, at some other time." Kahlan drew her bottom lip between her teeth as she waiting for the Mord'Sith to take her leave. Neither heard the door close.

"And let you become a slave to this," Richard heard the restrain in her voice. "woman?" Kahlan exhaled deeply, frustration lacing her breath. She slid off of Richard and turned to the blonde. Their blue eyes were both throwing daggers. Richard sat up, attempting to make his way off the bed only to receive a disapproving scowl from Kahlan. He resigned and sat back down.

"And if your Lord Rahl wants me, aren't you obliged to let him have me?" Kahlan retorted, crossing her arms over her corset.

"It is my duty to keep Lord Rahl safe. You are a threat. I need to remove you from him." Cara smirked, her right hand dancing on the handle to her agiel. This was going to end very badly. Richard cursed himself for not locking the door. It wouldn't matter anyway, he thought, she would end up busting through a locked door all the same.

"A threat to you."

Cara scoffed. "I'm Lord Rahl's favorite."

Kahlan slowly made her way to Cara and crept dangerously close to her face. Kahlan's words were full of venom, Richard wincing at even hearing her say them. "You've been replaced."

Before Richard could even open his eyes, Kahlan was already walking out the door - making no effort to re-lace her dress. Richard sighed as he flopped against the bed. Someone was always interrupting them. He wasn't stupid, he knew what he was doing. Why did everyone feel the need to tell him what to do? If he wanted to give his soul to this woman and become her mate, that was his own choice. It was his life, not theirs.

He pushed himself off the bed and placed his forearms on his legs, leaning forward toward the blonde - who was wearing a large smirk, her eyebrows raising.

"You realize, don't you," he began as he rubbed his eyes with his right hand, "that you just started a war." Cara scoffed again, arms crossed, stepping towards him.

"She's nothing I can't handle."

Richard glared up at her through his brows. "She's the Mother Confessor, as you surely know. If there were a person you couldn't handle, it would be her." Cara's eyebrows scrunched together, her eyes rolling as she sighed.

"And you can .. handle .. her, Lord Rahl?" Her eyebrows raised as she leaned forward. Richard smiled sarcastically while shaking his head.

"No one will give me the chance." His voice was flat, bitter. Cara straightened herself as she leaned down to pick up his discarded vest. She tossed it to him as she started to walk out of the room.

"I had no idea you wanted a dominant woman, Lord Rahl," she turned at the opening, resting her forearm on the door frame. "If I would have known, she wouldn't be competition." Cara smirked as she left the room.

Richard sighed as he put his vest back on. He was going to have Kahlan Amnell. No matter how many interruptions had taken place - he was determined to bed her. Before she found another mate. There was a very slim chance the next would have evil intentions. It would be harder to get rid of him.

He picked himself off the bed, dragging his feet to the door. He stepped out in the hall and pulled the door shut, leaning forward to rest his forehead on the wood. As he made his way to start walking down the hall, he felt someone come behind him and twist him around, slamming his back into the door with extreme force. When his focus came back, he saw it was Kahlan, dress still around her waist. She looked incredibly displeased as she grabbed the top of his vest and pulled his face to hers.

"There are too many interruptions in this palace. We need to relocate." Her eyes and voice held evidence of pent up frustration, the same Richard was feeling. He smiled as he hurriedly replaced her dress, lacing up the front. She grabbed him by the bottom of his vest and started dragging him down the hall.