Chapter Thirty-Six
"We'll be there soon Richard. What's the plan?" Chase asked a few hours later.
"I don't really have one." Richard answered. Everyone stopped moving but him. He walked a little further, but turned around when no one was following. "Am I going the wrong way?"
"Um . . . no." Chase answered. "But – "
"What do you mean you don't have a plan?" Cara asked, yelling at him.
Richard stared at her for a moment, seeming to contemplate the best answer. "Well, I guess I do have a plan. I was going to follow Dell until he led us to whoever has his family." Richard had insisted on calling Chase, Dell.
Cara started at him in disbelief. "Richard . . . maybe we should have a plan before we just walk into a probable ambush." Kahlan said before Cara could start accusing Richard of being insane.
"Do you have a suggestion?" He asked, keeping his voice level.
"No." Kahlan answered, and sighed. "I hope you know what you're doing Richard." She said and started walking again. Chase and Benjamin followed.
Cara stood for a moment longer, but then rolled her eyes and followed them. "You better not get us killed, Richard." She called up to him.
"I'll try Cara." He answered.
"They're coming." Shota said. She turned from her pool of water to look at the man in the shadows.
"I suppose they are." He answered. "That's good. It will be easier to kill Richard Rahl when he is in your palace."
"I still don't trust Chase. How do you know that we are not the ones being led into a trap?" Shota retorted.
"I've known Dell Bradstone for a very long time. He would not endanger his family for Richard Rahl." The man answered.
"Are we going to give him back his family after this is over?" Shota asked.
"That remains to be seen."
Richard stopped at the edge of the clearing. "Its incredible." He heard Benjamin whisper to Cara behind him.
"Its evil." Chase grumbled without much conviction.
"The inhabitants don't define the place." Richard spoke, and everyone fell silent. He stood, admiring the gleaming, golden palace. It was nothing compared to the People's Palace, but it was still a remarkable piece of architecture.
"Lets go." Richard said, and started towards the palace. It took them an hour to get all the way across the clearing, the palace forever looming in front of them. They said nothing the whole way, but they were all alert. Cara kept jumping at the slightest noise, which kept everyone on edge.
Once they made it to the gates they stopped. As Richard walked towards the door, Kahlan spoke. "Richard . . . maybe be we shouldn't do this. Who knows what could be waiting on the other side of that door. We could all be dead a few seconds from now."
"Dell knows what's on the other side of that door." Richard said, but continued to walk towards it.
"Then why don't we make Dell open it?" Cara asked sarcastically, just like the Cara from his world.
"I'll open it." Benjamin said, stepping in front of Richard.
"No. I will open the door." Richard ordered.
"Over the past few weeks, I've come to realize that you are not the Lord Rahl." The Captain answered. "However you are my friend, and I will open the door." He walked slowly to the door, and Richard didn't stop him.
"No!" Cara cried out, but it was too late, the door was already open.
And Captain Benjamin Meiffert lay dead on the ground.