Chapter Twenty-Three

Richard was still a little delirious when they brought Cara into the room. "Nice to see you could join me." He said, not really sure why.

Cara looked a little scared, but not because of the four men who were dragging her into the small house. "Sorry, Lord Rahl." She whispered, and Richard could barely hear it.

Cara was thrown into a chair and tied to it, like Richard. The Seeker walked into the room. He started pacing and he kept glancing over at Cara, who was sitting up straight and tall in the chair. For once, Richard saw this Seeker look nervous.

"What are you doing here?" The Seeker's voice was angry and intense, and he was pointing at Cara. It was the first time that Richard had heard him yell.

Cara didn't seem like she was going to talk, so Richard decided to step in. "Well, you didn't think I'd come alone, did you?" He gave the man a smile, feeling blood run from the corner of his mouth.

Richard saw the Seeker's hand go to his sword, Richard's sword. He could see the magic in his eyes. For a second, Richard thought the man was going to kill them both. Then, the Seeker released the sword, the rage dying, and smiled back at Richard.

"Of course, I just wasn't expecting you to bring her." He said pointing to Cara.

"Why wouldn't I bring Cara?" Richard asked. He looked over to see Cara's reaction, but she didn't have one.

"I had heard that you're favorite Mord – Sith was Denna. That when you traveled you always brought her along." The Seeker replied. Richard still didn't know his name.

"Well, my favoritism has left Denna, and moved on." The Seeker smiled at Richard, but he didn't know why.

"Well, the last time I saw Cara, I was fairly sure you were going to kill her." Richard saw Cara sit up straighter.

"Lord Rahl has graciously given me another chance." Her voice was cold, and Richard could see that whatever she was talking about wasn't something she liked to think about.

The Seeker laughed, "Graciously? He probably tortured you to death a few times. The merciful, Lord Rahl, only killed you five times, not six. Yes, I can see how his favoritism has moved on."

Richard couldn't believe what he was hearing. "What are you talking about?"

The Seeker's eyes were wild, and Richard thought he might be crazy. He laughed again, and Richard could hear madness in his laughter. "You see Cara? He doesn't even remember what he did to you. He's a great hero."

"What's wrong with him?" Richard asked Cara, not trying to hide his words from the manic Seeker.

"I don't know, Lord Rahl. He wasn't like this during his training."

"What? His training? Who trained him?" Richard couldn't believe that this man had been trained.

"I tried, Lord Rahl, but before I could complete his training, he was rescued. He doesn't seem to have recovered very well." Cara was looking down her nose at their captor. She didn't think he was mentally stable either.

"Yes, and what happen when you failed in training me? Did your precious, Father Rahl, go easy on you?" Cara didn't answer. "No? I didn't think so."

"Now, if you would please tell me where she is, I will think about letting you go."

"I still don't know who you're talking about." Richard answered, trying to make his voice sound bored.

"The Mother Confessor, Lord Rahl. That's who he's talking about." Cara answered, and suddenly, Richard felt stupid for not realizing that earlier. If the real Cara were here, she would have rolled her eyes at him.

"You want Kahlan?" The Seeker nodded. "Why? She is perfectly happy with me. She even likes to sleep next to – " Richard was interrupted by the Seeker's fist slamming into his face. Cara was struggling to break the ropes holding her to the chair.

"Kahlan would never sleep next to the Lord Rahl!" Richard could see how jealous the man looked, but he didn't think Kahlan would be involved with this man.

"Whatever you say . . . what is you name?" Richard looked over to Cara who would probably give him an answer.

"His name is Leo, Lord Rahl."

"Yes, I am the Seeker of Truth, and now." He seemed to have calmed down a little. The Seeker walked over to Cara, who tried to bit him. "Since Mistress Cara was so nice in bringing her Agiel, we can begin."