Chapter Thirty-Seven

"No!" Cara ran toward the body of Benjamin, but Richard stopped her.

"Wait. Cara we don't know what else is there, you could just get killed yourself, and then there would be no way to save him." Richard told her. She struggled with him a little bit longer, but then gave up.

"What are we going to do Richard?" Kahlan asked, the tears coming down her cheeks glistening in the sunlight.

Richard waited, trying to come up with an answer, but couldn't find one. "I . . . I don't know."

There was a scream, and Richard turned to see Chase on the ground, Cara standing over him. "What are you doing?" Richard screamed.

She removed her Agiel, but didn't turn towards him. "We all know that this man isn't your friend, Richard! He knew what would happen if the door was open! It's his fault. Its all his fault!" She moved her Agiel, and Chase let out another piercing scream.

"No, Cara, stop!" She didn't. "He might be able to help us, but he can't if you kill him now!" She still didn't stop. "I order you to stop!" He yelled. She stopped, and looked at him, loathing filling her expression.

"I thought you weren't the Lord Rahl." She said quietly, so quietly that Richard could barely hear her over Chase's moaning.

"I'm sorry Cara, but we need him." Richard whispered. He saw Cara look towards Kahlan, and suddenly, he thought they might kill him, but Kahlan took his hand and stood next to him.

"We live only to serve. Our lives are yours." Cara whispered, kneeling.

"Cara . . . " But she got up and walked away.

"What are we going to do now Richard?" Kahlan asked.

"We are going to get Benjamin back." Richard said, walking to Chase. "Are there anymore traps in the palace?" He asked.

"Richard – Richard, I didn't – didn't know about this one." Chase mumbled.

"Is he telling the truth?" He asked Kahlan, who nodded.

"Richard, what are you doing?" Kahlan asked as he walked towards Benjamin.

"They want us to come, Kahlan. They aren't going to make it that hard to get inside." Richard pulled Benjamin's body away from the gates. "Why don't you go get Cara, and tell her that she needs to save Benjamin?"

Kahlan nodded, and ran towards the place where Cara had stalked off. There was a loud noise, and suddenly a withered figure stood in front of Richard. The long brown hair was speckled with grey, and the skin looked baggy and aged, but Richard still knew who it was.

"Shota." He said dangerously.

"Hello, Richard." She paused. "Well, you look good, I expected you to look older."

"What?" Richard asked confused.

"Nothing. I see that you have passed the first test. You are now granted entry into my palace." She said.

"Shota, what are you talking about?"

"You'll find out eventually Richard, but until then I must go, you're friends are coming back now, and I can't be here when they arrive." She turned to leave, but stopped. "Oh, and Richard, don't tell anyone about this meeting. I'll find out if you do." Shota walked back towards the palace, stopping to pat the top of Chase's head on the way. Before she reached the door, there was a cracking sound like the one before and she was gone.

"You got him?" Cara said, running towards Benjamin's body.

"Um, yes. Give him the Breath of Life, so we can get going." Richard answered.

"Are you alright, Richard?" Kahlan whispered to him.

"What?" Richard asked. "Oh, yes I'm fine."

"Cara?" Benjamin groaned, and then Cara smiled, and they kissed.

Richard looked away. He had a horrible feeling that one of these tests that Shota was putting him through would involve someone dying and not coming back. He also didn't know what test he had been put through, and how he had passed.

Kahlan took his hand, and he didn't want anyone of them to die, even Chase, but he had to get home. "Alright, lets go."

So they walked into the golden palace.