Richard clenched his eyes shut, the light making his head throb. The room was silent and he no longer felt a dull pain in his chest. He mustered up the strength to lift his lids, hearing commotion before his eyes adjusted to the light.
Zedd and Cara were hovering over him, both with tears in their eyes. Richard moved his head to the side, focusing in on a cup of water. Cara quickly grabbed it, moving to help Richard sit up and drink it. Zedd batted at the blonde, telling her to let him stay still, but Richard shook his head as he accepted her help, sitting against the head board of the bed. He made a few quick swallows, his throat dry and scratchy.
"My boy, you're alive!"
Richard pressed a hand to his chest, expecting to see it soaked in blood. The wound was gone and he smiled.
"Kahlan was distraught! She sent the nearest guard she could find to come and fetch us. She was hovering over your body, her tears soaking your shirt along with your blood." The old man spouted out.
Richard was disgusted at her false care. In a bitter tone, he asked, "And where is she now?"
Cara's eyebrow shot up. "I told her she should get some rest, she could barely stand." Richard nodded his head, taking another sip of water.
"How long?"
"Two days."
"I survived for two days?" Richard looked curiously at the old man as he dry washed his hands.
"I used magic to slow down the bleeding, I'm surprised you lasted that long." Zedd looked down at his hands, his eyes welling up with tears. Then his head snapped up, and excitement crept across his features. "What did you see, my boy?"
"Excuse me?" Richard's eyes grew wide.
"The wizard has heard some story of how if you are caught between life and death, then you see things that reveal truths." Cara scoffed, waving her leather clad hand in the air towards Zedd. Richard gave him a puzzled look.
"It is said that if a person is stuck between the world of life and death, a great truth will appear before them. An epiphany, a realization that they never once thought of. Or a thought they never wished to believe. When, in this limbo, the person dying will know the truths as if by instinct, a random thought or action spurring the realization."
Richard stared at him, holding the mug of water in front of his mouth. "I saw nothing of the sort."
Zedd sighed and Cara laughed, slapping a hard hand on the old man's back.
"Well, what was it like, my boy?"
Richard put the mug down, and grabbed his blood stained pendent in his hand, rolling it between his fingers. "A void of all emotions. Nothing." He dropped the pendent and looked up at the two, Zedd leaned back in his chair while Cara stood by Richard's bed.
"Lord Rahl, your magic brought you back from the brink of death." Cara's voice was small as Zedd nodded.
"No," Richard said, looking between the two and their questioning gazes. "Kahlan did." He swung his legs over the bed, steadying himself on the ground as he stood. His shirt was still soaked in blood and he needed to bathe. He knew the two had questions, but he didn't wish to answer them at this time. He didn't offer them a chance to ambush him with words, quickly reaching the door. When he left the room, Zedd and Cara were wearing smiles.