Chapter Twenty-One

Kahlan was scared. She knew that they had no choice. The Seeker had said so, Zedd had told her as well, but Kahlan didn't believe that they would win. She couldn't tell the Seeker. He wouldn't listen to her, and Zedd had long ago started to blindly follow him.

They were going to attack tomorrow. Looking at the People's Palace, she had no idea how their plan was going to work. The Rahls would be ready for them. Time had run out and it was a last desperate act to try and save the world.

She didn't sleep that night. Zedd had offered to help her, but she refused. The Seeker had had no problem. He believed in himself. He was to blind to see how hopeless the situation was. The Rahls had the three boxes of Orden. It was a wonder that they hadn't been used already.

Zedd had tried to explain why. They need the Book of Counted Shadows. Kahlan had told him they already had a copy of it. He had tried to tell her that the Rahl brother squabbled with each other, that they hadn't decided who would rule the world yet. Kahlan didn't think they would squabble over that.

Kahlan knew why they were waiting. After all, it was the first words in the Book of Counted Shadows. The truth of the words of the Book of Counted Shadows can only be confirmed by the use of a Confessor. A Confessor. She was the only Confessor left. The brothers needed her, and the Seeker was going to give them what they needed.

She hadn't slept that night. She had sharpened her knives.

The next morning the Seeker had tried to comfort her. "Don't worry, Kahlan. Everything will be all right. I won't let them have you. I promise."

It had done little good to calm her down. It had never helped her before. She had smiled at him though. She couldn't speak. He was still the Seeker of Truth; he would be able to tell if she was lying.

Zedd magically disguised them. It had gotten them into the palace without difficulty. No one had even looked their way. Kahlan knew why.

They were waiting for them in the Garden of Life. Even then, she had to stop and admire its beauty. The boxes were in the middle on a pedestal, one Rahl to each side. Richard had been on her right. It was a strange thing to remember, but she did.

"So, the Seeker has finally come." Darken Rahl had spoken first, but Kahlan had seen the way Richard smirked. He hadn't looked at the Seeker. He had looked at her.

"Brother," He had spoken, the smirk still on his lips, but his head to Darken Rahl. "We can not forget the Seeker's lovely companions." He looked back to Kahlan and she had felt a shiver go down her spine. "It is an honor to meet one so esteemed as the Mother Confessor." His eyes quickly looked to Zedd, "And of course the First Wizard."

"Yes, dear brother, you always were one for the formalities." Darken Rahl seemed bored. Richard Rahl hadn't seemed to notice. He continued to talk to the Seeker, "Now, why don't you just had over the Confessor so we can end this business. I have – "

Richard, who still hadn't taken his eyes off of Kahlan, had interrupted him. "We have, brother. We have agreed to control the world together."

"Yes, of course, brother. My mistake." Darken Rahl hadn't looked at Richard since they had walked through the door.

He never saw Richard's hand move to his knife.

"We have no quarrel with you, Seeker. You are free to leave." Darken continued.

"I will never abandon my friends." Kahlan remember the anger in his voice. How sure he was that they were all friends. How her eyes had turned from Richard Rahl to look at him in astonishment.

They were not friends.

Richard had noticed. He interrupted his brother again. "You are so sure that you and the Mother Confessor are friends?" He laughed, still never looking away from Kahlan. She saw the Seeker look over to her, his face like a hurt puppy.

"Don't listen to him. He's just trying to weaken your – " Richard interrupted her, and she remembered thinking how rude he was. How much he interrupted people.

"Don't listen to him." He was mimicking her. "Are you prepared to give up your life, a lot of people's lives, just to save someone who doesn't even respect you?"

"I do respect you." She said quietly, trying to ignore the way Richard was mimicking her, like a child. "I have given you everything I have. Do not listen to him."

"Enough!" Darken Rahl had been ignored too long for his ego. His hand had shot out to restrain Richard, and Richard had continued to smirk at Kahlan. Gloating in his victory.

Kahlan saw the glint of a knife go behind Richard's back.

The doors burst open. It was the first time Kahlan had seen a Mord – Sith in person. The women hadn't even looked at the three strangers.

"Lord Rahl! He's going to kill you!" Kahlan didn't know which Rahl she was talking to, but Darken Rahl's eyes went wide.

"No!" The Mord – Sith screamed as Richard's knife protruded from Darken Rahl's chest. The Mord – Sith had almost made it in time to save her master. She caught his body as it fell.

"And so I have fulfilled the prophecy." Kahlan heard Richard speak, but it did not seem like he was gloating.

The Mord – Sith slowly lowered the now dead Darken Rahl to the floor. Her head was down, and she went into the position for devotion. Her forehead was half way to the ground before Richard Rahl kicked her in the head. She fell on to her back. Kahlan could see the fear in her eyes.

He leaned down over her, his black cape with the Rahl emblem in white, Kahlan had noted this as odd, covered the Mord – Sith entirely. Kahlan could hear the words spoken to her, however.

"You are a traitor and do not deserve the honor of being my Mord – Sith. You will be punished for this treachery." Kahlan heard the Mord – Sith let out a little scream, and then there was a long pause of silence. Suddenly, Rahl straightened, and Kahlan could see the bruise forming on the head of the Mord – Sith.

"Denna!" Rahl commanded.

"Yes, Lord Rahl?" Her voice was silken and quiet, but it Kahlan jumped at the closeness of it. Another Mord – Sith pushed by Kahlan.

"Take her to the dungeon." Rahl was looking at the boxes. After she left, he continued.

"Now, if you don't hand over the Confessor," He said the word jealously, and it made Kahlan fear his intentions. "I will cause you great pain." He wasn't even looking at the Seeker, or Kahlan.

"Never."

"Very well," Richard said. He turned around, and there was fire shooting out of his palm.

It was heading straight for Zedd.

"No!" Kahlan wasn't sure if she or the Seeker had screamed. She saw the fire racing towards Zedd, but before it hit him a magical force pushed her. Her head hit the wall. She could hear the Seeker saying something, his voice slowly getting fainter.

She opened her eyes, barely able to tell that Rahl was standing over her.

"Welcome home, Mother Confessor."

Author's Note: Guess's on Darken Rahl's loyal Mord – Sith? It's not Denna. People who guess correctly get to know who the Seeker is. I promise.