Chapter Thirty-Five

Richard woke uneasily, sitting up fast, and startling Cara who was on watch. Something was wrong, and with the haze of sleep he didn't know exactly what it was yet. Cara walked over to him stealthily, easily not waking the others. She knelt beside him.

"Are you alright, Richard?" She asked, and for some reason it didn't sound sarcastic at all.

Richard still wasn't thinking clearly. "Why are you here? Shouldn't you be patrolling the woods?" It sounded more accusing than he meant it to sound, and Cara's eyes lit up in defiance.

"I was just coming to wake the Mother Confessor for her turn for watch, but if you think I should continue, I will." She said sarcastically.

Richard's head was much clearer after Cara's remark. "Sorry. I'm just a little confused I guess. While you were on watch, was there anything strange?" He said, trying to find the right word.

Cara's eyebrows scrunched up while she was thinking. "Well, there was a strange noise not to long age, but I went too look, and could find the cause of it." Cara said.

The feeling continued to increase, and Richard could no longer ignore it. "Wake everyone up, Cara. We need to move. I think Shota knows we're here." He whispered.

Suddenly there was a loud crash through the brush, and a large man came charging into the clearing. His weapons reflecting the firelight, and his muscles gleamed from sweat.

"Richard! Richard you have to help me! They have my family!" The ring of metal was heard distinctively from the sword of truth being drawn, and pointed towards Chase.

He pulled up short, about an inch away from being skewered alive by the Sword of Truth. Chase looked around at the small group. He eyed Benjamin for a few seconds longer than the others, sizing him up. Richard couldn't decide who would win in a fight between the two. They were both the same size and had the same muscled build.

"Richard . . . Chase said a little apprehensively. "Why are you with a D' Haran who isn't confessed?" Chase looked to Kahlan. "Is he feeling alright? He hasn't taken the throne yet has he?" Kahlan stared back at him a little confused. Richard could feel the sword weighing more heavily in his hand. He had been on the way to have this conversation with Chase back in his own world.

"What is he talking about Richard?" Cara asked.

"He's trying to convince me that he is from my world." Richard said, and knew that there was no way that this man could be from his world. The sword rose back up. "Now, you are going to walk right back out of this camp and go back to Shota, or who ever may be controlling you, or I will kill you right now." Richard said softly, letting the hardness of his voice give the threat meaning.

Chase's face fell into a look of confusion. "Richard . . . what are you talking about? I've never met Shota, and I don't plan on it, and . . . come on Richard. You know me. Would I ever let somebody control me?" He asked, even though his hands wne up and he took a few steps backwards out of immediate range of the sword.

"You already told us they have your family Chase. I know that you would do anything to save them. I want you to leave right now." Richard spoke to Cara without taking his eyes off of Chase. "Start packing we need to move out before Shota sends something that could actually hurt us."

He heard the campsite start to be dismembered before he went back to Chase who was still not gone. "Richard . . . please. I really need your help. I can't get my family back without your help." Richard took a step forward, back into range, were one swift motion could kill Chase.

"Richard they're watching you." Chase says as he backs away from Richard more, farther back into the forest. "If you don't help me, my family will be dead when I get back, and I will die shortly after them. Do you really want that, Richard? I know that I don't. I'm your friend, and now you're turning your back on me."

Richard just stared at him. He knew that this was not the Chase of his world, but at the same time, he felt the connection of friendship trying to pull him into helping this man. It was like everyone else he knew in this world. Not who they were in his world, but enough to still make him feel the same feelings towards them. He found the sword lower a few inches, something that wouldn't have escaped Chase's notice.

"Can you take me to them?" He asked quietly, and almost thought that Chase had not heard his question when the answer was long in coming.

"Yes, but . . . you will not like what you find Richard." He answered just as softly, and over the noise from the others packing the campsite up he was fairly sure whoever they were could not hear the conversation.

"I think I'll have to take my chances." Richard replied. "It's good to see you, old friend." He smiled and sheathed the sword, which made everyone pause and watch as the two men embraced.

While still in the hug, Richard whispered into Chase's ear. "I wish you truly were my old friend."

Author's Note: Sorry this took so long. Things have been kind of crazy with school starting, and marching band practice that I haven't had much time to write. I'm going to start writing more regularly. Thanks for waiting though.

IndependenceDayChild17