Chapter Twenty

"He should be back by now." Kahlan said.

"Mother Confessor," Cara replied, exasperated. "It has only been an hour since he walked out of the camp. Lord Rahl will be fine." She didn't sound like she believed that.

"I think we should check on him." Kahlan couldn't help but worry about Richard. He had become something she didn't remember ever having before, something more than a friend.

"Mother Confessor, while I still don't agree that he should have gone alone, he was right when he said all of us would be recognized." Captain Meiffert had gotten back from hunting a few minutes after Richard had left. He had been upset that they had let Richard go out alone, especially into a town. However, he had soon realized why it was the best choice and accepted it, something Kahlan still had done.

"Something isn't right. I have a bad feeling." Kahlan had felt cold ever since Richard had left, even though it was a warm day. Cara rolled her eyes and took the one rabbit from Meiffert.

"Wait, wait, wait. I don't think you should have that." He said. Cara growled at him, but tossed the rabbit back anyways.

Kahlan smiled a little at the Captain's joke, but could get her mind off the feeling for very long. "I'm going to go check on him." She said getting up.

Cara suddenly pushed her back onto the ground. "No."

"Cara, I can – "

"No. Lord Rahl would not want me to let you put yourself in danger because of a feeling." Cara was glaring at her and Kahlan wanted to shrink back and pretend like she had never suggested the idea.

"Maybe she's right, Cara." Cara turned to glare at him, but it didn't seem to faze him at all. "I mean, obviously we can't let the Mother Confessor go, but some one should go check on him. If Lord Rahl got into any trouble, it would probably be alone."

Cara turned her gaze back to Kahlan who nodded. She rolled her eyes and sat back down. "Is today double team the Mord – Sith day?" She asked and they both laughed. Cara wasn't smiling though.

"So who should go?" Meiffert asked. He looked at Cara, but it seemed to say let Kahlan go so we can have the camp to our selves.

So of course Cara answered, "The Mother Confessor will not be allowed to go anywhere by herself."

Meiffert sighed. "So then you should go."

Kahlan was confused. "Why does Cara have to go?"

Cara gave Meiffert a small smile and answered. "People are more afraid of me, and won't cause as much trouble to a lone Mord – Sith."

Meiffert huffed and Cara rolled her eyes. Kahlan couldn't help but smile at the way they talked to each other. Their relationship was unlike anything she had seen before. "I still think I should be going. People don't bother Confessors."

"Maybe when they have their powers." Meiffert said, and Cara smacked his arm. "What? She had the chance to get it ff and she wasted it." He whispered to Cara, but Kahlan heard him.

She whished that she hadn't reacted the way she had to Richard's declaration of love. If she had she would probably have the metal collar off by now. She was surprised that he hadn't brought it up again, but most nights he went hunting, and they didn't get to talk. He had started taking Meiffert with him, but he was learning slowly.

"Lord Rahl, would kill me if anything happened to you." Cara said softly, genuinely seeming to regret the possibility of death.

"I don't think he would Cara. He would be really upset, but I don't think Richard would ever kill you." Kahlan said.

"Maybe." She stood up. "I have to go. If I'm going to follow Lord Rahl, I need to start out before dark." She walked off, leaving Kahlan and Meiffert alone.

"I . . . I'll be back in a minute." He said, and ran off after Cara. Kahlan started skinning the rabbit. She wasn't as worried about Richard, now that Cara was going after him. Now she was worried if there would be any food left when he got back. Meiffert appetite was almost as bad as Zedd's.

Kahlan still had a hard time believing he was alive. The last time she'd seen him; he was about to be burnt by Wizard's Fire. She remembered that day like it was an hour ago.

They had no other options but to attack the Rahl brothers at the People's Palace. The brothers had all three boxes and they couldn't let them enslave everyone. Sometimes Kahlan regretted the Seeker's decision. A year under Rahl and anyone would regret his decision.

Author's Note: Tomorrow's chapter will be a flashback. The identity of the Seeker will be reveled the next time the Chapter is from Richard's prospective. I thought some people might like to know how Kahlan was captured.