Chapter Fifteen

Kahlan stood up quickly, and almost fell back down, but her hand landed on Richard's shoulder. She quickly remembered a time when she would have rather fallen than touch him, but now his muscled shoulder felt nice in her hand.

Raina was standing in the doorway. She looked like she wanted to run to Berdine, but her eyes kept flickering to Richard. She was afraid of him. Kahlan didn't know how anyone could be afraid of Richard, but realized that she had been not an hour before.

"It's okay Raina. Come see Berdine." Kahlan said softly.

Richard hadn't moved from his spot on the floor, so Kahlan went to sit by him as Raina cautiously walked towards her. Raina fell to her knees when she reached Berdine. Kahlan grabbed Richard's hand and pulled out of the office. Raina needed to be alone with her.

"Who is that?" Richard asked as they got farther from the doorway. Kahlan didn't want Raina to hear them talking.

"That is Raina."

"She is a Mord – Sith." Richard didn't seem to know what else to say.

"Yes." Kahlan paused, trying to decide whether or not to tell Richard. "They love each other."

Richard looked shocked for a moment, and Kahlan thought she might have made the wrong choice, but then he smiled. "That's great." Kahlan felt tension run out of her shoulders. "I'm glad that more than one Mord – Sith has found some sort of love."

"More than one?" Kahlan said, confused. She didn't know many of the Mord – Sith personally, however, she thought that she would know better than Richard about the Mord – Sith personal lives.

"You don't . . . Never mind. Forget I said anything." Kahlan's mouth opened to protest, and Richard laughed at her.

"What? What is so funny?" She demanded.

"I was thinking about how you're the Mother Confessor and are supposed to be able to read people, and you don't know who I'm talking about." He was still smiling, and it made him look more handsome than when he was angry, and she was trying to be angry with him, but was failing.

"You can't do this to people Richard." Kahlan said, giving up on being angry and smiling,

"Do what?" Richard's smile seemed to have gotten bigger.

"I don't know. Dangle the truth in front of their faces and snap it back before they've had time to process." Kahlan said.

"'Snap it back.' Hum, I think I like that." Kahlan made an exasperated noise, and Richard's smile grew even bigger. He pulled her in to a hug unexpectedly, and it was one of the best moments of her life. "I'm so glad you're not afraid anymore." He whispered into her hair.

"Me too." She answered. She didn't think he had heard her though.

"Lord Rahl?" Somebody asked, but Kahlan couldn't tell who it was. Richard let the hug last a few seconds longer before turning to the intruder on their moment.

"Did you find a healer, Denna?" Kahlan was suddenly fully aware of her surroundings. Denna had seen Richard and Kahlan hugging. She would have settled for anyone but Denna intruding into the moment they shared.

"Yes, Lord Rahl. He's inside right now." Denna looked tired, and her braid was undone. She looked like she had run to the healers and back.

"Is Raina still in there?" Denna looked a little surprised by his question.

"Yes, Lord Rahl."

"Send her out here please. The healer will need as much space as possible."

"As you wish Lord Rahl." She said and turned to go back into Kahlan's office.

Kahlan wondered why Richard really wanted to see Raina. The fact that Richard had summoned her would have scared her, and she probably thought that Richard had inflicted the wound on Berdine.

It took some time for Raina to come out of the room. If Richard noticed, he didn't comment. Kahlan was sure that Richard had noticed, he noticed everything. When she did come out, she looked scared.

"Raina." Richard said softly, but Kahlan knew Berdine had heard him.

"Lord Rahl." She said. Her voice quivered, but she didn't even try to say the devotion.

"Raina, I didn't hurt Berdine. She is a friend and I have done nothing to harm her ever. The Mother Confessor and I must leave soon. Berdine was going to go with us; however, I don't think that is a good idea now. I want you to watch Denna for me. She is the one that hurt Berdine." Kahlan didn't think Raina would believe any of what Richard said, but she was wrong.

"Of course, Lord Rahl. Denna will die if she tries to hurt anyone." Raina's voice had become hard and cold.

"No." Raina's face almost looked sad. "If she hurts anyone, I want you to arrest her. I . . . I think that I need to be there when she dies." Kahlan looked down when Richard's hand grasped hers.

"Of course, Lord Rahl." Raina said, and without being dismissed, she went back into Kahlan's office.

"Why do you need to be there when Denna dies?" Kahlan asked.

Richard didn't answer for a long time; so long that Kahlan didn't think he would answer. He turned around finally and looked her directly in the eyes. There was pain and confusion in his grey eyes and Kahlan felt the need to comfort him.

"Denna was my mistress."