Chapter Twenty-Six

Richard could hear himself screaming, but he wasn't really feeling it. It took him a little while to stop thinking of Denna while they were torturing him, but soon he had started thinking about Kahlan. The worst part of the torture, the only thing that brought him out of his fantasy, was when Leo randomly hit Cara, mostly her screams where of surprise, however.

Leo didn't know how to use Cara's Agiel. Richard couldn't decide if that was worse or better than with Denna. Richard knew Leo had accidently killed him once, but he had barely been in the Underworld before he was brought back. Cara had seemed extremely relieved when he had been revived, and the Seeker had given them a fifteen-minute break.

Richard had to admit that he was impressed with the Seeker. He had tortured them for at least four hours without a break.

"What did you do to make him so proficient with an Agiel?" Richard asked Cara when they were alone.

To Richard's surprise, she laughed. "Lord Rahl, all I did was train him. His proficiency, as you call it, is just a side effect of that training. From what I heard, you apparently are quite proficient, yourself."

"Cara. I would never torture some one with an Agiel. I wouldn't even torture someone if I had another option." He said.

"I don't believe you." She said quietly.

"What?" He knew that Cara thought he was a monster, but didn't she didn't seem to be talking about the other Richard.

"I think that if someone did something to the Mother Confessor, you would torture them, even if you had another option. I think you would do anything to kill someone that harmed Kahlan." Cara was looking him straight in his eyes, and it was the most honest conversation he had had with her since he had awoken naked in the palace, maybe since he had been sent to the future with her.

Richard opened his mouth, but nothing came out. "Cara, I – I don't know what to say." He looked into her eyes, and she didn't look like she was afraid of him anymore. "How do you know I'm not him?"

"Lord Rahl, the Lord Rahl that decided I was a traitor, had never felt the pain of an Agiel. I can see that you have." She stopped. "I wish I could call you my Lord Rahl."

Richard sighed. "I'm glad that you've realized who I – " The door burst open.

"Richard!" Kahlan was standing in the doorway. "Dear Spirits! Are you all right?" She rushed over to him. Meiffert was standing behind her, and Richard saw him give Cara an affectionate smile.

Kahlan untied him and he tried to stand. He was uneasy on his feet, and he almost fell over. Kahlan caught him.

"I'm all right. I'm fine." He said, going over to the door. "Perfect timing Kahlan. You just missed Cara's and my heart felt moment."

"What?" Kahlan said, and Meiffert looked surprised.

"I don't know what he's talking." Cara said, and glared at Richard, which he returned with a smile.

"Someone's coming." Meiffert whispered.

"Sit back down Cara. You two, hid against the wall." Richard ordered. He was surprised that they followed his directions, but they did without question.

The doors opened, "Well, are you ready to start again – "

"Leo!" Kahlan said.

He turned around, and before his head was facing her, his sword was against her throat. "Kahlan." He whispered.

He never saw Richard jump out of his chair and punch him. He was knocked to the floor, out cold. The sword crashed to the floor. Kahlan released a breath, "Richard, that's Leo Dane, the Seeker."

Richard bent down and picked up the Sword the Truth. The magic rushed into him, and he had never felt so good. He closed his eyes, just feeling the rage rush through him. He took the baldric off of Leo, and took the other sword off of his belt. He attached the other sword to his right hip. It felt better on the right side, where he would never have to draw it again.

He slipped the baldric over his head. "This man is no Seeker." He walked out of the house, not even bothering to try and sneak out of the village.

"Richard!" He heard Kahlan scream his name in the back of his mind, but he paid no attention to it. The sword was drawn and nothing could stop him.

He was dancing with death.

The first man came at him, and he easily impaled him on his sword. He spun around, cutting off the heads of two other men. He lunged, dodging a swing from a man and killing him in the same motion. He swung the sword, killing another man. He thought of nothing else, letting instincts take over. All he thought was Cut.

At the end, Richard didn't know how many men he had killed. He was at the edge of the village, and he didn't want to look back at the carnage. He didn't wait for the rest of the group. He kept walking, he was positive that he had killed every single man in the village except for Meiffert. He didn't want to think about it anymore.

He walked in to the forest until he was completely lost. He didn't think anyone would be able to find him. He almost killed her when he felt her hand on his shoulder. "Richard." She whispered, and sat down on the rock next to him. "Do you know what the sword does to people?" She asked softly.

Richard wanted to laugh. He wanted to tell her how he was very aware of what the sword did to people. He couldn't tell her anything. He didn't want to frighten her away with tales of his world. "Of course." was all he could say.

"Then why did you take it?"

"Because he did not deserve the sword!" He stood up, trying not to get angry. He was tired of Kahlan not knowing who he really was. He sighed, trying to calm himself. "I am the Seeker of Truth, Kahlan."

She stared at him for a few moments. "Richard," She sighed. "I know that you've always thought that you would become the Seeker, but you aren't, Richard. You won't be able to change that by stealing the Sword of Truth." She was rubbing his back and whispering in his ear.

Richard knew that she thought she was speaking the truth, but Richard knew that he was the Seeker of Truth. The sword felt right in his hand, and as much as he hated it, the magic that rushed into him, the twin to his own anger, was something he had missed in the few weeks that he had wielded the other sword.

"Kahlan. I know that you don't believe me, but, where I'm from, I am the Seeker of Truth. If I wasn't, I would have been killed by the magic the first time I killed someone back in that town. I have felt the righteous anger of the sword, and I know who I am." Richard had pulled away from her. "I know who you are too. Come on," He said going off into the forest to find their camp. "There's something that I need to do."