Chapter Eleven

Chaos broke out in the cell. Kahlan had lunged at Richard, but been intercepted by Berdine, the Captain had rushed to Cara's side, and Cara had tried to fall into the devotion. Richard tried to back out of the cell, but hit his head on the top of the doorway. The pain rushed through him again, and he fell to his knees with a scream that silenced everyone for a full three seconds.

Berdine rushed to his side, while Meiffert held Kahlan away from Richard, and Cara had given up the devotion and was sitting, confused, on the ground. The pain dribbled away until it was a phantom once again and Richard stood up, watching his head.

After he stood, Kahlan stopped fighting the Captain and her fists went to her sides. Cara seemed to think that standing was a good idea when Lord Rahl stood, and Meiffert slowly backed away from Kahlan to stand next to Cara, but between Richard and Kahlan. Berdine stood next to him.

"Well, that was interesting." Berdine said quietly, but the cell had become dead silent.

Richard heard feet pounding down the hall and carefully stuck his head out the doorway to see who it was. There were four guards running down the hall. "Stay here." He told the four people in the cell, and walked out to talk to the guards, making sure to bend his head as he went through the doorway.

"Lord Rahl." The guards said as the saluted, the fists going to their hearts. One of the guards continued, "We heard a scream, and wanted to make sure you were alright."

"Yes, that was very thoughtful of you, but I have everything under control. You can go back to your duties now." Richard said.

"We sent someone for Mistress Denna after you came. Is that alright, Lord Rahl?" The soldier seemed too sure that it was what Richard wanted.

"Just send her away when she gets here." Richard said, not wanting to be anywhere near Denna.

The soldier looked shocked for a moment, "As you wish, Lord Rahl." He saluted with the rest of his men and they walked away. Richard walked back to the cell slowly. He knew that Berdine wouldn't let anyone out of the cell until he returned.

"Berdine I didn't try to kill Lord Rahl." Cara was saying as he walked into the cell.

"I know you didn't Cara." Richard responded. "That's not what the message was meant for."

"The message, Lord Rahl?" Berdine asked confused.

"Yes, Cara had a message for me, but it wasn't from her. I think it was sent to taunt me." Richard told them. Kahlan didn't appear to be listening, but everyone else seemed to want to know what evidence proved Cara innocent.

"Taunting you, Lord Rahl? I don't know anyone who would dare to taunt you." Captain Meiffert said. "However, I don't know why Mistress Cara would try to kill you." He backtracked, thinking that denying that anyone else would taunt him would return suspicion to Cara.

Richard saw Kahlan's mouth move, and Cara who was standing a little closer, cave her a hot glare. "Did you say something, Kahlan?" Richard asked.

Kahlan looked at him, amazed that he had spoken to her, "No I did not, Richard."

"Oh, okay." He replied, not wanting to push her even though he knew she had said something. "I think I need to go visit Shota." Richard concluded getting back to his original topic.

"Shota? This witch woman?" Kahlan said not able to keep herself from speaking anymore. She looked afraid after she said it. She looked like she was expecting some kind of punishment; her eyes dropped to the floor and her back subconsciously touched the wall.

"Yes." Richard said, trying to make her feel more at ease. "Do you know anything about her?"

Kahlan slowly looked into his eyes. "The people of the Midlands feared her. Everyone in the Midlands feared her. I never met her personally, but I don't know of many people who did and lived through it."

Richard wanted to tell her that Shota had been interfering with their lives since he had been named Seeker and that he wasn't afraid of the witch woman, but he didn't get the chance, she probably wouldn't have believed him anyway.

"Lord Rahl, if this woman is as dangerous as the Mother Confessor says, I don't think you should go to see her." Cara said, trying to make up for earlier. "We can send the Dragon Corps to take her prisoner."

"Dragon Corps. Ha." The Captain said. "I can lead the mission, Lord Rahl. My Special Forces will be able to sneak into her lair and drag her out of bed with out her wakening up." Richard didn't miss the pleading look that Cara gave him as he was speaking.

"No, I need to visit Shota myself. She will be unhappy if we drag her out here, and I would not like to upset this woman." Richard said, and suddenly something Kahlan said hit him, 'I never met her personally, but I don't know of many people who did and lived through it.' He suddenly couldn't believe he had forgotten one very special, important person.

"Where's Zedd?"