Kahlan steadied her horse when coming upon the gates of Havelway. One of the many small kingdoms in the Midlands, Havelway was of a richer sector. The small kingdom was quite selfish, offering little to no support when the Council had called for help on behalf of the land. She had been visiting each area, giving wise words - words against D'Hara. When Darken Rahl started recruiting the Midlands itself, the idea shocked and disgusted Kahlan. The Midlands against the Midlands - it was blasphemy. Kahlan had managed to convince many small nations to abandon the notion of D'Hara's false ideals, but provinces with more wealth were much harder to persuade.
She also heard that Havelway was currently offering refuge to a Mord'Sith.
Kahlan thought the women were vile creatures, using human life as sport. She had no doubt that the woman was harboring a victim in the kingdom, and if she couldn't convince them to rid of D'Hara - and incidentally, the Mord'Sith - then she would have to free her prey herself. She held no qualms about killing the women, regardless if they were raised into duty much like Confessors had been.
Denying the Mother Confessor entrance into the area was a treasonous offense, often viewed as an obvious sign of guilt. Despite being a lone woman, nations bowed at her feet, following her every word without confession being necessary. Poorer provinces understood what D'Hara had in store, seeing as they were used to being abused by larger and more wealthy areas. The rich, however, believed allying with D'Hara would make them more prosperous. They refused to see reason.
Kahlan sighed as a small group of guards approached her, bowing their heads in her presence. She nodded, signaling them to look up at her. One of the younger men took the reigns to her horse, leading it along while she sat atop the saddle, observing the area nearby. The other men placed themselves around her, attempting to become a barrier from any sudden danger. They were of little value when it came to protecting. They were mere boys.
The gates opened and Kahlan noticed how congested the streets were. Women and children scurried to random stands that were set up, men leisurely walking around. Kahlan saw flesh peddlers, shaking her head before taking one of the soldiers hands to help her down off her horse. The streets stopped in movement, all falling to their knees and lowering their heads, addressing her by her title. She walked by, giving no acknowledgment of their greetings. They aren't the people she wished to appeal to - these people followed what their leaders said, regardless if she was the ultimate ruler.
The soldiers tripped over themselves catching up to her, unaware that she was going to start off walking straight to her destination. Truthfully, Kahlan was becoming tired of these meetings, of so many nations ignorance to reality. The men, she concluded, were sent to escort her into the palace. She didn't need to be escorted. The wealth of the kingdom was embodied in the palace, being far more elaborate than anything else in the surrounding city. She glanced at starving children holding tight to their mothers, her heart dropping. Kahlan hated richer nations, they always ignored their people in favor of extravagance.
The men stumbled to the door, clumsily pulling it open for her as she stood and waited, her hands clasped behind her back. When the door fully opened, she strolled in, heading straight towards the woman who sat upon the throne of the entrance.
Kahlan had found that women were much quicker to choose luxury over their people and were much more resistant to hear what she had to say. Kahlan had always felt it was a competition - which woman would have absolute rule. It was never a question, Kahlan had always won. The Mother Confessor ruled all.
The woman relaxed against her chair as everyone else in the room dropped to a knee, offering small greetings. Kahlan tilted her head, narrowing her eyes at the queen.
"I do believe you should be greeting me." Kahlan hated it when rulers refused to greet her in the proper manner, so sure that they were above the law - above her. The woman smiled and it infuriated Kahlan.
"I am under D'Hara's rule now, Mother Confessor." Her tone was condescending and Kahlan scoffed.
"And yet you still reside in the Midlands. Unless you plan to move your entire kingdom to D'Hara, you are still under my command." Kahlan narrowed her eyes at the woman, her words laced with venom. The woman rolled her eyes as she lifted herself out of her chair, her slim figure weighed down by large dressings. She knelt to a knee, bending her head down.
"Mother Confessor." Kahlan stood, looking down at her. She flicked her hand, informing the woman she could now take her place back on her throne. The woman glared at Kahlan before returning to her seat, shifting her skirts around her until she became comfortable.
Queen Victoria was incredibly vain. Her body was petite, her curves small. She piled her dull brown hair on the top of her head in a loose manner, causing tendrils to fall and frame her face - which was painted. Her corset was always laced too tightly, causing her to almost spill from her dress, which was already quite revealing. She used her womanly wiles to her advantage, often manipulating men of other nations to give her favors.
Worst of all, she thought she was better than Kahlan.
She was not.
Kahlan's eyes moved to the woman approaching Queen Victoria from behind. Red leather. Mord'Sith. Kahlan's lips pursed as she eyed the woman. From her previous experiences with these women, she had learned that most were quite attractive - with hard bodies and sometimes, incredibly soft faces. This blonde had a soft face, her features rather womanly and less worn than she had seen on previous Mord'Sith.
Other than defy the law, the blonde bent her head down, leaning to the ground as her knee made contact with the marble.
It disgusted Kahlan that a Mord'Sith would greet her properly, but a woman of her land would not. It felt odd and wrong. The whole situation did.
The Mord'Sith stood back on her feet when Kahlan nodded her head. The blonde mimicked Kahlan's pose, her hands clasped firmly behind her back, her feet spread slightly. She stared into Kahlan's eyes, offering a silent challenge.
Kahlan would make sure to see it through.