Richard rubbed his eyes and tried to focus his thoughts. It had taken him half an hour to read a page of the book Zedd had handed him concerning the fundamental basics of being a war wizard. Zedd hovered over him, the constant pacing grating on Richard's nerves. It took everything he had not to slam the book shut and throw it at the old man.

It had taken very little convincing on Kahlan's part to get Richard to embrace his magic more. When he tried to argue with her, she cut him off, saying that if she was willing to keep her mind open about love, then he should keep his mind open about his magic. He huffed as he stormed off, Kahlan laughing in the distance.

"Zedd, you are going to wear a rut into the floor if you don't stop." Richard's voice was groggy, drowsiness sinking into his features. There weren't many books about a war wizard's magic, and Zedd gave him the few there were and then explained that he would need to learn more about additive and subtractive magic separately. When Richard complained, Zedd scolded him, stating that if he wasn't so ignorant to magic then examples would work better to teach him.

The few times Zedd had tried to teach by example, Richard just kept asking questions, claiming all that he was doing was a contradiction of some sort. Although his grandfather had tried numerous times to explain it to him, it was to no avail. The only magic Richard had now understood thoroughly was Confessor's magic, and it didn't even apply to him. Zedd's final resort was books, hoping that Richard would grasp the basics and then Zedd could teach him how to use his magic through experience instead of words.

Richard, however, was easily distracted from the task. The only time he ever really paid attention to the words in the books were when Kahlan would come down and sit next to him, threatening that if he didn't finish a certain number of pages then she would lock him out of their room. Richard then read the pages with ease, fully comprehending what he had read.

Kahlan didn't have very much time to scold him and push him further in his studies. Richard was surprised at how many meetings the Mother Confessor actually had to attend, how the counselors advised her. Richard didn't understand why Kahlan had counselors - she didn't listen to them. She did what she thought was necessary and no one questioned her. Richard was disgusted with the fact that the men who were supposed to guide her would cower away when she chose an opposing path. He suggested she be rid of them, but she laughed and said they were there for traditional purposes, nothing more.

Zedd hadn't stopped pacing and the rhythm from the old man's boots was playing steadily in Richard's head. He closed the book and stood, turning to face his grandfather.

"Kahlan and I need to work on making great grand children for you." Richard found that this argument worked best to divert the old man's attentions away from the books. Zedd would often step aside and let Richard go on his way, making no remark but grinning from cheek to cheek.

"My boy! With all the 'working' you've been doing, I'm surprised a wee one hasn't started growing in her belly!" Zedd was booming with a deep and hearty laugh. Richard smiled and chuckled, slightly shaking his head.

"Goodnight, Zedd." The old man moved his hands to shoo him away, shouting good luck wishes behind him. Come to think of it, Richard was quite surprised she wasn't with child yet either. It had been a week since Kahlan decided to take Richard's words seriously, and every night since then she allowed him to do what he knew would please her most. Not to mention all the previous times they had made love since the loss of their first child. Richard started to worry that maybe the subtractive magic affected her fertility, causing her to become sterile. The thought crushed him.

Lost in his thoughts, he almost ran straight into Kahlan, whose head was buried in various papers. Richard caught himself before they collided, reaching his hands for her hips and lightly guiding her against the wall. He laughed as she lowered the papers just below her eyes, peering up at him.

"Cypher."

"Amnell."

"Richard."

"Kahlan."

"Lord Rahl."

"Mother Confessor."

"Seeker."

Richard's eyebrows furrowed as she smiled in her victory. Kahlan loved this game, mostly because she knew she would win. Richard simply had one more title than her and Kahlan viewed it as his disadvantage, not hers. Once he teased her about it, claiming that his titles offered him more power than her. She scoffed and playfully punched his arm, stating that her one title trumped his two.

"I have work to do." Kahlan waved the papers in his face.

"I see that." He plucked the papers from Kahlan's hand, causing her face to distort and her to huff at him and cross her arms. She scrunched her nose and pouted at him. He smiled down at her.

Richard heard a maidservant walk down the hallway and glanced in her direction long enough for Kahlan to snatch the documents from Richard's hand and run down the hallway, gathering her Confessor's dress in her other hand as she made the corner and disappeared. Richard laughed as he chased after her, following her into the room with her chair.

Richard almost slammed straight into her back and had to slam his heel into the ground to keep from knocking her over. He regained his composure and was about to ask her what had happened when his eyes surveyed the room. Kahlan had dropped her papers to the floor, her body stiff.

He lifted his gaze and saw a wall of red.

Sisters of the Dark.