A/N: This chapter is brought to you by Mountain Dew, guilt, love, an encouraging BardWisp and my husky. She tirelessly followed me no matter how much I paced and never minded how much I babbled about this story.
On a serious note, I hope you guys don't mind that the chapter's kind of long. There were a couple of points I thought about cutting it, but this felt right. It also felt like when I was playing Mass Effect 2 and I had those moments where some things were so huge they felt like an entirely different game. I was serious when I said this story would be a helluva ride and I'm starting to wonder if it's going to wind up with a sequel. I dunno. We'll find out together.
Cara didn't bother to look at her, but her Confessor mask stayed in place, hiding all her thoughts and feelings. The situation was troubling and she needed to think, but to make matters worse, Confessors couldn't read Mord'Sith. "I have no way of knowing if what you say is true." Although everything she'd said was plausible and made sense. But Kahlan didn't have to admit that.
She stoked the fire before letting her head fall back to turn a lazy gaze to the dark sky. "I could be lying."
In the light of the moon, Kahlan continued to study the Mord'Sith. Something lurked in her tone and the way she lounged against the log. As if it was a game and there weren't lives at stake. Anger stirred inside Kahlan, but the Mother Confessor in her felt something else, saw something else. "As a Mord'Sith is prone to."
"Confessors are just as deceptive."
"Is that so?
"If it needs to be done, a Confessor will try to get it done, but not as thoroughly as a Mord'Sith."
Kahlan leaned back against her own log. "You seem certain."
"There are exceptions to every rule."
She drew one of her daggers to examine it. "Such as yourself." Her expression remained neutral even as she ignored the smallest second that Cara allowed her eyes to flick toward her, no doubt trying to discern if she was being mocked or complimented.
"As are you." The dagger in Kahlan's hand embedded itself in Cara's log, just under her arm, but she didn't twitch a muscle. "Do all Confessors throw their daggers across their camp fires?"
"I wouldn't know." She knew she was being baited, but she couldn't turn it around if she didn't bite. Her other dagger found its way into her hand, twirling about her fingers.
"Going to throw that one too, Confessor?"
"Are you always this inquisitive at night?" She looked across the fire. "Or just when you're nervous?"
"Mord'Sith do not get nervous."
"Strange. I've seen a few. Some even looked terrified."
"They either needed to be broken or killed to save their honor."
"Is that why you're out to kill this Trianna?"
Cara's gaze fell from the sky to lock with emotionless blue eyes. Her tone was dead, factual. "She is beneath an honorable death."
She ignored the warning. "Because she left you for dead?"
"It is beyond your understanding." Her head fell back once more.
Her voice held a sense of finality, such heavy finality that it left Kahlan with not a single word, but a calm curiosity. However, the game they'd been playing at, Mother Confessor and Mord'Sith, ended the moment Kahlan decided to prod her. She didn't even know why she'd engaged in that… Spirits, she didn't know. Cara's posture hadn't changed, but her demeanor was entirely different. If Kahlan wasn't sitting there herself, she wouldn't have believed the Mord'Sith sat across the fire from anyone. Either that or there was someone so beneath her, so utterly outside of her world, she didn't acknowledge their existence. And that felt entirely new to her. She knew fear. People feared her simply for her touch. But this wasn't fear and it had nothing to do with her touch.
She couldn't even wish for Richard because he barely understood the woman, if at all. Never mind that she didn't much care to ask for his help with anything. Zedd wouldn't want anything to do with her… Shouldn't she be wishing for Richard's presence regardless? Her dagger bit into her finger. A mistake because of her distraction. She watched the blood well from it, pondering her situation with cold detachment. The dagger joined its twin beneath Cara's arm.
"Is your aim always this bad?" the Mord'Sith eventually drawled.
"Only when my target is moving." She felt herself return Cara's slow smirk with a cold smile.
"Perhaps I should sit still." She knew she was so still the Confessor could hardly tell she was breathing, but two could play this game. And damn if Cara didn't enjoy winning games.
"My aim is even worse when it comes to things that don't move."
Cocky. It was a little surprising, coming from the Confessor. Just a little, but pleasantly so. "Even when you have nothing to throw?"
"Well, I've got this." Cara's head rolled so that she could see. Her eyebrow arched when she spotted the pebble and Kahlan just shrugged.
"I don't think I've ever seen a weapon of such high quality."
She wasn't sure if it was the invitation she searched for—or why she searched for it at all. But despite the situation, which was perhaps the strangest one yet, the Mother Confessor felt amused, more so than she had in a long time. And if it turned out that she only managed to anger the Mord'Sith, that just meant she won. Besides, if things got out of hand, all she had to do was touch her.
Kahlan looked up to discover green eyes observing her. They didn't blink when she pulled her arm back.
The pebble bounced off Cara's forehead. "I don't see how you've come to live so long, it's a wonder you manage to hit anything."
Now Kahlan felt unsure if she was being mocked or complimented, but it didn't surprise her the Mord'Sith hadn't moved when the pebble struck her between the eyes. "Richard usually does the hunting."
"That explains why you weren't at all hungry when we took over this camp."
Her brow furrowed and she broke the eye contact to gaze at the fire. It was true she'd been ravenous when they made camp. How did they come to making fun of Richard? Mocking each other was fine, expected. But was she supposed to enjoy it so? Was it supposed to be a game?
Spirits, nothing in her life was simple.
And this damned woman—this Mord'Sith—incited her anger in a way she had never known, which was troubling all on its own. Saved her life when she should take it. More than once. Engaged in mocking… banter. Purposely angered her. Even with a hand at her throat, urged Kahlan to confess her. Twice. Wanted nothing to do with her other than use her to kill someone, then kill her. So why be this way? Richard was simple, made sense, as infuriating as he could be. Why couldn't this woman just be a Mord'Sith? Just be her enemy and be done with it.
Kahlan's own dagger thudded into the log, just beside her shoulder. Her eyes left it to settle on Cara. It looked as if she hadn't moved at all.
"Are you deaf, Confessor? Or did you fall asleep with your eyes open?"
She didn't know how the Mord'Sith could even see her with her face turned up to the sky like that. A witty retort rested on her tongue, but the brusque nature of the woman's tone gave her pause. "I'm only a novice at sleeping with my eyes open. Are you any better? Watch yourself, there's another dagger there."
Cara sat up, rolling her shoulders and plucking the dagger out the log as if it weren't halfway buried in it. "When your Seeker and I were stuck together, we were attacked before we could get our bearings. We fought them, not quite together but with the interest of staying alive in a foreign place with foreign enemies."
She paused, but her eyes seemed too distant to truly be examining the dagger. Breaking the silence didn't cross Kahlan's mind, she just leaned forward. Whenever she'd asked about what happened in the mess of using the Boxes of Orden, Richard deflected. It grated on her nerves, really, that he kept something so important from her with the promise of it not mattering. As if she was some delicate woman. But here sat his companion for the journey, telling her about it without being asked. There was something more, though, something that prompted the Mord'Sith to mention it. The woman was nothing if not deliberate.
The silence dragged, her mind and heart equally raced. An urge for Cara to continue almost fell from her lips, but she contained it. The Mord'Sith, aloof and thoughtful, held an indifferent expression on her face, not a haughty, controlling one. She wasn't using her knowledge as a weapon, just as she hadn't been when telling of Trianna and the wizard.
So Kahlan waited.
"We fought around the stone the Boxes had rested on so they couldn't get any more advantages. I was finishing off one when something struck me from behind." Her gaze lifted to Kahlan's, a humorless smirk on her face. "Have I ever mentioned I loathe someone breaking an unspoken agreement without just cause, especially when it ends with a blow to the back of my head?"
Kahlan sympathized with the Mord'Sith that betrayed Cara—to some degree—and with Richard. However, the Mother Confessor in her was repulsed by it. The Mord'Sith gave no fair judgment, but their manner of handling the matter wasn't surprising. They were Mord'Sith after all. But Richard? She supposed he acted out of fear. Still, it was… pathetic. Sitting here with Cara only proved the woman wasn't short-sighted and stupid. If she was, she would've killed Richard the moment they got to that deranged future, never mind whatever threat was around.
Cara moving to stoke the fire stirred Kahlan from her thoughts. The question still hung in the air, obviously one to be answered. Definitely an interesting question, given the woman who posed it, and if it meant what Kahlan thought it did, all the more interesting. She sat back, studying her companion of the moment. What was her idea of "just cause" to break such agreements, anyway? "I didn't think it was something that had to be mentioned."
"Neither did I," she said drily, settling back to regard the Confessor and endlessly twirling the dagger.
"So, after the blow?"
"The Seeker stepped over me, cried like some fat nobleman breaking from the smallest touch as he picked up my agiel and ran away."
If she weren't the Mother Confessor, her jaw might have fallen open. But she was the Mother Confessor, her jaw stayed in place, her tone didn't betray her. "Why take your agiel?"
Cara shrugged a shoulder. "I managed to deal with those that hadn't run after him. Later, I found the Seeker and asked for what was mine. It—"
"How did you 'ask' him?"
Cara's face betrayed nothing, thought Kahlan guessed she was deciding whether or not to address the interruption. But only for a moment. Her lips curled into the beginnings of a cruel smile. "You know how I caught your ambushers by surprise?"
Strangely, she was more so curious than concerned. But then again, Richard made it through everything perfectly fine, so she supposed it didn't really matter. She rested her head on her fist. "Heroically?" The smile traded itself in for a twitching eyebrow. It was interesting, getting under the Mord'Sith's skin. And deathly satisfying.
Cara gave a shrug, her brow raised in mock wonder. "He was walking and some rock just flew and struck his face so hard he fell."
The image proved itself nothing short of hilarious, but Kahlan bit her tongue and simply nodded, fully aware that the Mord'Sith was watching for a reaction. Maybe she'd feel bad about it if Richard hadn't been grating her nerves, hadn't fled and left Cara to die. She frowned. It shouldn't matter. And what would she have done?
Blue eyes found green, observing her.
Kahlan would've killed her.
Maybe.
So many unknown things. Would they have given her pause? Creator, she didn't know.
Her other dagger thudded beneath her arm.
"There, both of your toys. Now you know what I know and had a nice story. I'll wake you at dawn."
"Still think I'm a disadvantage?"
"At least you haven't run off." Then Cara's head dropped back.
The Mord'Sith was obviously done with her, whether she slept or not, but—wait, did she just give a compliment? Kahlan stared, wondering if the woman actually examined the stars or just stared at nothing at all. As a Confessor, she'd never encountered a Mord'Sith like this one. As a person, she'd never encountered anyone like the Mord'Sith. At least, it seemed like she held the echoes of a person. Of Cara. Whoever that was.
Otherwise, why particularly look after a girl for someone else?
Otherwise, why make it a point she wouldn't betray her and didn't expect Kahlan to betray her? Why the temporary truce? Because there was no other reason to bring up what Richard did to her.
Spirits, it was like the Mord'Sith lived to drive her crazy, to shatter every reality Kahlan knew. Even after she got Zedd, Cara killed Trianna and they parted ways today, the damage was done. She would forever think of the Mord'Sith differently. And be permanently bothered just by the knowledge she existed, forever curious about the woman. Why was she thinking as if the day wouldn't end with the two of them trying to kill each other? She really did need sleep. She was the Mother Confessor. She would kill this Mord'Sith. Because that's what they were, Confessor and Mord'Sith. But if there was meaning to Kahlan, was there meaning to Cara? Was there more than just the Mord'Sith, like there was more than just the Mother Confessor?
Kahlan sheathed her daggers and crawled into a bedroll, focusing on the smell of it to cast all thoughts of the Mord'Sith from her mind. She was glad her fellow Confessors couldn't see her. See the Mother Confessor drifting off to sleep in the company of a Mord'Sith.
"Wake up, my boy."
He groaned. He tried to swat away the hand slapping his cheek, but his hands didn't cooperate. Richard's eyes fluttered open to discover an old face hovering over his. "Zedd?" Talking sent radiating pain through his skull.
"None other. I'm afraid you need to get up." He glanced to the side.
Pain shot through him, so he closed his mouth. Richard nearly fell in trying to brace himself, realizing his wrists were bound. The fog encasing his mind started floating away. He'd been stalking the Mord'Sith, ambushed and was now with Zedd. And bound. A boot sent flaring pain throughout his ribs.
"There's no need for that!"
"Hands off, wizard. He needsa get up faster."
Richard pushed off the ground, more so rolling to his knees than anything, and dragged himself to his feet. No sooner than the instant he succeeded, a strong hand propelled him sideways. He stumbled, barely managing to stay on his feet.
"Seeker, how nice to see you. This poor man has been carrying you through the woods. Isn't he kind?"
Richard took in the smirking, leather-clad woman and knew. This was the one he'd been looking for. And he was at her mercy. Anger thudded in his heart as he caught sight of something at her hip. "You aren't fit to bear the Sword of Truth."
"Don't worry, I don't care for your little toy."
Trianna gestured to the men behind her and Richard realized at least two dozen men were around, a few cleaning up the remains of camp. A glance told him dawn was approaching. They'd dragged him, judging by how his body ached, for quite some time and were heading somewhere. He hated not knowing where he was going, where he was. Hated not having his sword. It was his right. His.
"Are you alright?" Zedd whispered. "Don't do anything stupid, my boy. I'm sure Kahlan's safe and doing everything she can."
Richard's face settled into a scowl. What would Kahlan possibly do against all the slavers? Well, she had Cara, though they might kill each other. Or something. He didn't know anymore. But there was something she'd said, something about Cara hunting a Mord'Sith. And the truth of the matter was that whoever crossed Cara, well, they died. With the exception of himself. He smiled. "So what are you going to do with the sword?"
She didn't break stride. "That's not your concern anymore."
Zedd gave him a meaningful look, but Richard just smiled and put some cheer in his voice. "No, but it's yours now."
"Are you trying to threaten me, Seeker?"
"Not at all, I was just thinking how unfortunate it will be when a certain blonde Mord'Sith decides to cut you in half with it."
Trianna marched back to him so quickly he didn't have time to wipe the smile off his face, but her fist did a good job of it. Distantly, Richard could make out Zedd's protests. His vision burned white with pain. He couldn't form a thought about passing out before the white gave way to darkness.
Footsteps. Ringing. Panting. Richard opened his eyes to make sense of the sounds. Rather, he tried to. One wouldn't open and he had to squint so the warm sunlight wouldn't worsen the pain in his head. The little that he could see flashed black as his upper body slammed into the ground.
"Why have you stopped, wizard?"
"A…awa…awake," Zedd panted, bending to brace his hands on his knees. He was far too old for this.
It didn't make sense to Richard and he tried to speak, but only groaned. A boot pressed against his chest. Not to attack him, but to make him have a hard enough time breathing that it demanded his attention.
"Behave. Next time, Seeker, I'll use my agiels."
He wheezed something incomprehensible, so he just nodded. But then the boot pressed harder.
"What was that? I didn't hear you."
Men laughed. Some amused, some nervous. There wasn't a sound from Zedd other than labored breathing. Part of him understood the man's silence, but another part of him felt betrayed in some sense. "Okay," he breathed.
"You're going to behave?"
He wanted to kill her. He wanted to kill her more than anyone in his entire life, and it'd taken him a long time to deem Darken Rahl's death necessary. Even then he didn't really want to kill him. But this Mord'Sith? He—
The shock of an agiel made him hiss. It was the most fleeting touch he'd ever known, but the pain lingered. The Mord'Sith leaned forward, putting some of her weight down on his chest. "When I ask you questions, you answer them."
"Yes."
"Yes what?"
Seeing the joy, the pure relief, in her eyes, he knew what she wanted. Knew she wanted his defiance. She wanted to break him, but there was something else, some kind of need. "Yes… Mistress."
A smile promising pain answered him. She removed her boot, stepping back to gesture to someone. "Get him up."
Hands helped him to his feet and a voice in his ear said, "My boy, do shut up."
Richard stumbled a little, but kept his footing. Even though he wanted nothing more than to collapse on the ground and sleep for a week. No, he wanted something more. His eyes found Trianna's back. Yes, he wanted something much, much more.
Trudging along, he hardly managed to be distantly shocked at his own morbid thoughts. Then, he dismissed it. He wondered who would get to Trianna first. It'd be a terrible thing if he got a hold of her first He shouldn't let his anger grip him so, nor should he indulge in cruelty. But he had the Rahl blood, didn't he? This Mord'Sith should bend to his will. He was responsible for her power. He shouldn't be bound like a slave, bloodied by her hands.
This Mord'Sith was not his better.
"Whatever you're thinking, don't do it."
He'd forgotten Zedd walked along beside him. "There's nothing to worry about," he whispered back.
But Zedd just looked at him, his face a thoughtful mask. His eyes fell back on their path. Good. He didn't care to be questioned now. "So where are we going," he called out. No response, just a pointed look from Zedd. "I just want some idea of where we're going. I am the Seeker, you know."
"You know you're the Seeker, so know your place," came the bored reply.
"My place? Shouldn't you be more concerned with yours? You're my Mord'Sith, after all."
She stormed back, hissing, "I'm not your anything, unless you're calling me 'Mistress' like the dog you are."
"Don't you have somewhere you'd like to take us?" Zedd interrupted.
"Yeah," said one of the men. "Can we get goin'?"
Trianna's agiel crashed against his face once, twice, three times. He crumpled down and when someone moved to pick him up, she spat, "Leave him."
"Your control is terrible." Richard didn't flinch under the glare of the imposing Mord'Sith. In fact, he looked sympathetic, even as he glanced at her screaming agiel. "Don't worry, I'll have your mistress fix you."
She backhanded him, the veins in her neck stood out and her eyes were large, wild. "I have no mistress but myself!"
From the ground, he laughed despite how it hurt him. "I'll let Cara know about your delusion. But really, why don't you just kill me? You obviously want to." She yelled something about killing him, but he spoke softly. "Still not in charge, are y—"
Cloth filled his mouth and went around to be tied at the back of his head roughly. He was dragged to his feet and away by Zedd. "It's too early for my old bones."
Richard looked back to see men hurrying along. But Trianna? She was rooted to the spot. The only movement she'd made was to turn around to watch Richard stumble away. Her face screamed murder. His murder.
Screaming tore Kahlan from sleep. She almost fell in rising, but her daggers were ready, her heart raced, her eyes took in the scene. Rather, the lack of one. Cara was gone. Another scream. She took off in its direction, tearing through the trees. The screaming stopped, she didn't.
Kahlan caught a glimpse of red leather, but it was quickly obscured by a man's bulk. She flung a dagger without slowing. He cursed loudly, forsaking his weapon to reach for the dagger now buried in his back. But then he yelled, convulsing, and fell, revealing a victorious Cara. Green eyes found blue. Then Cara moved, likely finding another target.
Kahlan broke into the small clearing, running straight into a man. Her sheer speed bowled him over and the air was driven from both their lungs, but only he held a dagger between his ribs. She yanked it out, bringing it down again to finish him.
Air flew from Kahlan's lungs again as a boot slammed into her side. She landed a few feet away, just in time to see a great sword cutting the air where she was. It arced strangely, though, and she saw why. The ogre of a man put everything into it, intending to cut her in two, but there was Cara, holding an agiel to his shoulder. Her other agiel came around to his chest, but he abandoned the sword, wrenching Cara's hand away.
Kahlan scrambled to her dagger, pulling it from the corpse and driving it into the huge man's thigh in the same motion. The whine of an agiel sounded and he collapsed.
She looked up, rubbing her side, to discover Cara, tense and scanning the area for any possible dangers. "Nice kick."
"Nice entrance, Confessor."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
She sheathed her agiels and finally looked at Kahlan. "It wasn't one."
It was something automatic—holding her hand out for some help getting up—otherwise she would've realized how stupid it was. But that didn't matter because the blonde only lifted an eyebrow. Of course she wouldn't help Kahlan up, but there might just be something in that. "Afraid I'll confess you?" she asked as she stood, dusting herself off.
"I'm not afraid of anything."
"Is that you or is it a Mord'Sith thing?"
She didn't answer immediately. It was an odd question. Stupid. She watched the Confessor retrieve her dagger and pause to look at the ogre of a man. "There is no difference."
Kahlan knelt beside the man. "You didn't kill him."
"You can't confess dead men," she said drily.
"You could've given him the Breath of Life."
"Unnecessary effort." Cara looked around as the Confessor did something or other. She breathed in deeply, breathed in air that held promise. She'd done a perimeter check, then went hunting, but didn't expect the men so soon. An invigorating start to her day. Today would be a good day. She could feel it. "Today you die."
"Excuse me?"
"Not you, Confessor." Her eyes rolled. She had no idea the Confessor was so conceited.
Blue eyes studied her companion a little longer. "Trianna," she said flatly. "Well, are you going to help me or not?"
An eyebrow lifted. When Kahlan gestured toward the man, Cara crossed her arms. "I don't believe Mord'Sith aid in confession."
"Creator, help me," Kahlan muttered.
"If that's whose help you require, I'll take me leave. You should try making sense, Confessor. It might actually suit you."
"Fine. Leave. I'll tell Trianna you said something really polite."
"You'll do no such thing."
"I would and if you leave, I will."
"Even if I leave, you will do nothing of the sort."
Kahlan crossed her arms, mirroring Cara's posture. "Are you attempting to order the Mother Confessor to do something?"
"No. I'm ordering you not to do something."
"And who are you to order me?"
"Cara Mason. Best damn Mord'Sith you'll ever encounter."
"I think you're missing the part about me being the Mother Confessor."
"What about it?"
Kahlan's mouth hung open a little. Just a little. "What do—Are you serious?"
"Do I look like I'm joking?"
"If I live a thousand years, you will still be the strangest person I have ever met."
Cara looked unimpressed. "And if I live a thousand years, you will still be the first person I suspect to have a failing mind."
"You're insufferable!"
"Forgive me, it seems I'm stealing your role."
Was she being funny? It was a bit of a gamble considering the utterly indifferent look on Cara's face and the way her voice held no inflections, but it felt different. And really, what business did they have arguing like this in the middle of hostile territory and over the body of an unconscious man, no less. They were enemies and here she was having her role… Her role? "I'm not insufferable!"
"Didn't you want something?" Cara asked calmly, as if the Mother Confessor weren't gaping at her. She ignored her and looked to the sky. "We don't have all day."
She followed Cara's gaze. It was still cool and the sun had yet to reach above the trees, but threw its rays around certain branches and throughout the forest in spots of light. "The day just started!"
"If you keep yelling like that, you're going to wake the dead and this time, I just might not save you."
"I somehow think only you would define kicking someone as saving them."
Cara's eyes rolled. "That's not necessarily true, but next time I won't pull it. I think I'd rather drag your body through the forest than suffer you."
"Can you at least have the decency to carry me?"
"What for? I already said I'd drag you. That's beyond decent."
"Cara, in what way is that possibly decent?"
She drew an agiel, turning it over and staring at it. "I don't have any obligations to you." Her eyes flicked to meet Kahlan's. "I've encountered plenty of Confessors who would rather die than receive the help of a Mord'Sith."
"Well I do believe I am the Mother Confessor, you're supposedly the best Mord'Sith, and we've already saved each other, so we might as well keep breaking the rules."
"What, do you want to bed me, too? Besides, you've never saved—"
"Ex—excuse me?" Kahlan felt her face burning even as her mouth fell open. The nerve of the woman! Seeing Cara's smirk, she purposely slapped her injured shoulder. Hard. "I want nothing of the sort!"
Really, the Confessor overreacted and she probably should've punched the woman right in the face, but there was a distinct satisfaction in the open frustration there. Cara had only twitched an eyebrow at the blow and it certainly paid off, but they were wasting time and she'd already gotten under the other woman's skin. Deeply, it seemed. They needed to move on, so she surprised herself when she asked, "Are you sure? You stare a lot."
"St—Cara! I'm glaring at you, there's—"
The slaver stirred and groaned loudly, but it cut off on account of Cara suddenly arcing an agiel from its holster and straight into the man's face, never looking away from Kahlan.
"—a difference," she finished as Cara sheathed her weapon.
"Whatever you say, Confessor."
A comment about the man drifted from her mind. The Mord'Sith just dismissed her, the Mother Confessor, and would continue to do so if she wasn't corrected. "Even if your twisted dream came true, you'd suffer terrible agony and die in the process."
"Well, you might be worth it." Cara openly looked the Confessor up and down, her eyes lingering in some places longer than others. By the time her eyes ventured back upward, Kahlan was sputtering. "And I'm pretty sure it won't be as bad as suffering you." She deflected a swing from Kahlan. "What is it that you wanted?"
Kahlan's fingers twitched, but that violent burning inside of her wasn't there. She could address Cara's manners later. "We need to get the dagger out his leg."
"That's it?"
"Yes, I—Stop!" She grabbed the Mord'Sith's wrist. Green eyes bored into her, but she didn't look away. "He'll bleed to death."
"You're the one that put it there. Now make up your mind."
"What?"
"Do you want to confess him or get it out? You can't have everything at once." She twisted out of Kahlan's grip and squatted beside the man, never breaking eye contact. "If you don't decide soon, I'll torture it out of him."
"Let's tie a tourniquet, then. We can—"
Cara ripped the dagger out his thigh. Kahlan's objection died in the yell of the man as he jerked up. He lashed out, barely missing her on account of Cara slamming an agiel into his elbow. "Do it, already."
Kahlan caught his forearm as he convulsed under Cara's agiel, holding on despite losing her balance. Her power rushed forth eagerly, diving into their connection and filling their eyes with black, stronger than it ever had. She felt entirely aware of herself and the man, a sense of strength filling her to the point of practically crawling across her skin. It ended too quickly, and she fell back, gasping for air and staring up at the sky as her vision cleared. In the wake of its surge, her dark gift settled into its prison, content, but she felt its perpetual hunger. Her senses calmed slowly, tingles still present on her skin. She'd never felt so good after confession.
"Shut up and make yourself a tourniquet."
"But my mistress."
Confusion made Kahlan sit up. Cara's hand restrained the man as he struggled to get closer to her, concern filling his eyes. She'd seen a similar look on Richard's face. "Do as she says."
He paused, but ripped a part of his shirt and shakily took to tying the strip of cloth around his thigh. "Mistress, are you okay?"
Good question. But she just stared at him, lips parted for words she didn't have.
"The Confessor is fine, but she does have questions."
His eyes turned to her, ready and waiting, eager, but Kahlan blinked at him. She felt better. Tired, but better. And she finally knew what was different when she held Richard's and Cara's necks. One inadvertently woke the rage inside of her and one beckoned it like an old friend. At least, it felt like that. Maybe. When the man prompted her, she looked to Cara, still too lost in her thoughts to question the man.
The Mord'Sith crossed her arms with a large sigh. "What are you supposed to be doing?"
"Looking for missing men, seeing if I see another Mord'Sith or the Confessor. I won't tell her anything, Mistress." He moved toward her, trying to emphasize his promise, but a gloved hand jerked his shirt and he stayed put.
"That's right. What else?"
"Mord'Sith ordered me to bring who I found to her."
Cara looked up to find the Confessor staring at her with some expression she didn't recognize. She cocked her head in silent question, but it went unnoticed. Whatever. She could deal with it in a moment. "And where is she?"
"Base."
A loud smack startled Kahlan and before she could process anything, the man was apologizing to her. "I, Cara what did you do?"
"Nothing," she snapped. The Confessor picked a fine time to pay attention. "Where's the base?"
"Waterfall," he blurted, desperately looking to Kahlan.
That's when it dawned on her. He said something to make Cara hit him and he was afraid he'd displeased his mistress. "What's your name," she asked, smiling lightly.
"Ogre." He glanced at Cara when she snorted, but only reacted to the look on Kahlan's face. "People've called me Ogre for, for a long time."
A sliver of sympathy stirred in Kahlan, but she didn't focus on it too heavily. The man was a slaver, after all. "How's your leg?"
"It—"
"What about the waterfall?" Cara cut in sharply.
Ogre stared at Kahlan, waiting for some indication of which question to answer first. Cara had a point, they needed to know about their situation. Besides, the blonde seemed agitated enough to hit him again. "Answer her question."
"Base is under it."
"Who's there?"
"The wizard."
"That's it?"
Kahlan closed her mouth since Cara beat her to the question, almost sorry for the man. Her intent on obtaining information rivaled a Confessor's.
"Mord'Sith's taking some men and the Seeker and the other wiz—"
Cara grabbed his jaw, making him face her. "She's going to the waterfall?" He nodded. She smiled. "You're going to show us where this waterfall is."
Ogre's face gave away how unsettled he was by Cara's expression, which was doubled by her proximity, so Kahlan broke in despite the remnants of her disorientation. "Let's get some food and get going."
The Mord'Sith moved away from them without a word and Kahlan didn't get to question it because she had to throw a reassuring smile in Ogre's direction to keep him from blurting out whatever was on his mind. By the time, her gaze returned to Cara's direction, she was stooping to pick up a fallen bow and Kahlan didn't have a question anymore. The blonde going off to hunt left her alone with yet another man desperately in love with her. Only some control she didn't know she had left kept her from grimacing, but her smile grew awkward, just something stuck on her face. The way he stared did nothing to help the situation so she did the only thing she could, aside from run after the Mord'Sith. "So, how's your leg?"
"Fine, Mistress. What's wrong?"
"Nothing." The lie slipped past her lips before she could think about it and the smile stayed on her face. Her eyes cut toward the direction Cara had went. If someone asked her days ago if she'd be comforted by a Mord'Sith's presence, she would've thought them utterly mad and been offended. Yet here she was. "Our camp is over there." She jerked her thumb behind her for emphasis.
"Wanna go?"
A dull ache settled into her cheeks, but she just nodded and stood, waiting for him to do the same. He just stared, however, taking a full minute to understand that she wanted him to follow her. Well, follow was a strong word, a strong and wrong word, but she didn't have much choice. As it turned out, even favoring a leg, he was tall enough she had to awkwardly tilt her head back to look him in the eyes.
"Can I get my blade, Mistress?" He wouldn't meet her eyes and hung his head to a small degree, shifting around as if he didn't know what to do with himself.
Her brow furrowed and his anxious movements worsened under her scrutiny, but, really, she didn't know why he was acting in such a way. "Please do." Not able to stand the situation anymore, she abruptly started back toward their soon to be abandoned camp. Otherwise, she might've went after the damned Mord'Sith. Shame and guilt caught up with her, slowing her pace so that she wasn't entirely leaving Ogre behind, but it gave her mind time to think. She tried to think of something else, but, Spirits, just about everything in her life troubled her. A depressing realization. She fiddled with the sleeves of her dress as she walked, doing her best to focus solely on the dress itself. Some part of her noticed it wasn't the white of the Mother Confessor, and she took comfort in that.
She stopped just in front of the log she'd sat against last night, memories coming to her and mixing into her already troubled thoughts. Some moments passed and she shook herself, moving to sit, but the realization that Ogre stood so close to her triggered her reflexes to attack. However, at the same time, she registered that he wasn't a threat. So, in the end, the great Mother Confessor flailed about and fell over the log in a heap.
"Confessor, that had to be about the most graceful thing I've ever seen."
Kahlan rolled over with a groan, covering her face. The Mord'Sith would never let her live this down, she knew it. Not ever. Worse, it was the woman's normal tone. She wasn't even being especially mocking, just dry and factual with the typical sardonic undertones. Kahlan wasn't even sure why she cared, but, Spirits, she was embarrassed.
"Don't."
She sat up awkwardly, wincing at the lance of pain in her side. It made her jerk upright to ease it and she sighed, sitting on the log. Of course, the kick had to land where the agiels had struck her last week. She'd thought her ribs were fine, but really luck seemed to find her an interesting joke lately.
"I said don't."
Cara's voice held the air of an order instead of a firm suggestion, tearing Kahlan from her musings in time to see Ogre looking thoroughly chastised and staring at the ground. Meanwhile Cara stood just within the camp, eyeing him with her arms crossed. Kahlan guessed it was to keep from hitting the man, but there wasn't much to be sure about in regards to the woman. Not even the pack over her shoulder diminished her intimidating air, though Kahlan wondered where she got it. "You're back sooner than I expected." Thankfully, too. Being alone with Ogre might've made her throw herself into the river. Though, it wouldn't have killed the Mord'Sith to arrive a minute later. The river looked pretty nice right about now.
"Yes," she eventually drawled, still boring her gaze into the large man.
Kahlan's eyebrow rose. She didn't have a clue about whatever was going on between the two of them and wasn't entirely sure she wanted to know. "Short hunting trip."
Green eyes didn't stray from the man as she tossed the pack toward Kahlan. "Turns out our friends dropped something when they spotted me and decided to say hello."
Honestly, the fact the Mord'Sith wouldn't look away from Ogre relieved her. She could feel the heat in her cheeks still and didn't care for the woman to see it. So she just opened the pack, discovering some bread and a few pieces of cheese wrapped up, like the remnants of whatever food they'd set out with. She didn't find much reason to say anything, even if she could think of something to say, so she just set about the task of dividing them. Cara and Ogre could keep their strange silence for all she cared.
"Give him less."
"Excuse me?"
"He's a liability already and we need to be the best we can be."
"Cara, I'm giving him the same amount of food."
"Mistress, she's right."
Kahlan shot a glare his way, only turning it on Cara when he looked at the ground once more. Naturally, the ice in those eyes didn't faze the blonde and she cocked her head to the side after a few moments. Kahlan tilted her own head, having no problem with the battle of their wills. Neither of them said anything and Ogre could be heard shifting around, likely at a loss, but there was no room for him in this moment of theirs. There was no Keeper, no missing Zedd, no troublesome Richard, no weight of the world, no Confessors, no Mord'Sith. It was Kahlan and Cara, daring the other with only their eyes, no words, no movement. A certain excitement made Kahlan's heart thrum faster in her chest and sent tingles of restrained energy across her skin, but she had the upper hand and her satisfaction in it was slighter than she thought it would be. She would've liked for it to be on even ground, for it to be something more. Kahlan shoved away her disappointment and raised her eyebrows in silent challenge as she held out Ogre's share of the food.
A few tense heartbeats passed and Ogre practically snatched the food from Kahlan, still looking between the two women. They continued their soundless duel for a few minutes longer than he could stand, so he blurted, "Sorry. Thanks."
The world itself came back to Kahlan, the forest, the river, the camp, all her troubles. Everything. Kahlan looked around as if seeing her surroundings for the first time before focusing on Ogre. "What?"
"I'm sorry. Thanks."
He wouldn't meet her eyes and, given his vague speech, it was a wonder Cara hadn't said anything. Cara. Kahlan discovered the woman had moved off from them, hip cocked and arms crossed as the river—or forest, it was hard to tell—held her attention. She seemed stiff, not alert, but something else. Spirits, Kahlan didn't know. She just didn't know a lot of things lately. She turned back to Ogre. "Explain."
"I, I'm sorry I tried," his speech dwindled to a sort of shamed mutter.
"Speak up."
He regarded her desperately, throwing himself to his knees in front of her. "I'm sorry I tried to kill you, Mistress!"
Oh. That certainly explained a lot of his behavior. She was essentially indifferent about it, a lot of people tried to kill her, after all, but it occurred to her that she was staring at him as if he'd gone mad so she cleared her throat, composing herself. "It's quite alright, I forgive you."
"I can't forgive me."
Whether this man or Richard was worse, she didn't really know. What she did know was that no matter how much she might've wished it, she couldn't order the man to forgive himself. "Then perhaps that is your punishment."
"Yes, Mistress."
Her eyes wandered. Cara could've rivaled a statue. "You were thankful for something?"
Ogre nodded fervently before following Kahlan's gaze. "Thankful she saved you."
"That makes two of us," Kahlan muttered.
"Mistress?"
"Nothing." Her brow furrowed as she stared at the Mord'Sith, a line of thought going in circles in her mind until it connected with itself. She turned to Ogre so abruptly the large man flinched. "Did you know I was with her?"
"Seeker didn't tell us that."
"You have the Seeker?"
"I'm sorry, Mistress."
She sighed heavily, rubbing her temple. Of course things had to get worse. It'd be too simple if only Zedd was captured. But she wasn't… distressed. Just stressed. Really, she should care more about her Seeker. About Richard. But she was just so damned frustrated with him. Guilt crawled around inside of her anyway and she buried her face in her hands, uncaring about how she appeared at the moment.
"I'm sor—"
"Stop apologizing." Kahlan didn't know if he heard her muffled order or just guessed, but it didn't matter. At first she welcomed the silence, but it only served to intensify her headache. She sat up, sighing again. "Eat," she said simply, gathering the rest of the food despite how completely her hunger had left her.
Cara's head turned slightly at the sound of Kahlan's footsteps, but made no other movement. When the Confessor stood beside her, she studied her. The woman stared into the river, giving no indication of noticing Cara aside from the food she held out to her. Cara wasn't a lot of things, but she was observant. Confessors read people based on whatever nonsense, but Cara had stalked people, beaten and tortured them. Turned them inside out and used their own strengths to destroy them. And while there may be a lot of facial expressions that puzzled her, she knew the one the Confessor wore. A few more well-placed touches and she'd snap like a bowstring. Cara took the food and went back to staring at nothing in particular.
Kahlan felt like she'd been offering a wild animal food and was now permitted to be near it, which wasn't entirely a comfortable feeling. Yet she felt more at ease. They stood there, eating bits of the food without a passing word. She'd never known silence to be so comforting, so dense she could feel the Mord'Sith, though they didn't touch. It encased the two of them with understanding serving as a method of conversation. The blonde did nothing foolish, did not question her, well, she did—a lot—but not in same way Richard did. Last night proved she knew when something needed to happened, proved she wasn't a mindless drone oblivious to humanity. Even if in doing so she'd flung a dagger at Kahlan to snap her from troubling thoughts. But to be fair, Kahlan had started the dagger-throwing so she supposed there wasn't anything wrong with the Mord'Sith's execution. Execution. Mord'Sith. The gravity of the situation rushed over Kahlan again, provoking another sigh.
"Is your side going to make you a disadvantage, Confessor?"
"I'm no disadvantage."
"Whatever you say, Confessor."
"I say we have an advantage."
Cara's eyes flicked to her. "Is that so?" When the Confessor nodded, she uncrossed her arms. "I had no idea you thought so highly of me."
"Oh, hush." She gave the woman's shoulder a small push.
"Suit yourself."
Kahlan felt a smile tugging at her lips, but it vanished. This was a Mord'Sith. Her mortal enemy. Nothing to smile about. Yet the woman had done it again, hadn't she? Pulled Kahlan from the vast ocean of her troubles? She closed her eyes.
"What's the advantage?"
She inhaled deeply, focusing on the task at hand. "They don't know we're working together."
Cara laughed, loud and unabashed.
And Kahlan nearly toppled into the river in surprise. She gaped at the woman, watching the subtle shaking of her head as she indulged herself. Kahlan had heard Cara laugh before, but this was something she didn't know the woman could produce. It wasn't haughty or cruel or false, just plain amusement. Kahlan laughed. They stood there, sharing a moment of pure mirth until Kahlan doubled over and Cara decided to drop into a sit.
"Of course they don't know."
Kahlan held her side, still having small fits of laughter, but they died swiftly when she turned to Cara. The woman was grinning at her, something like delight in her eyes. She was beautiful, Kahlan realized. Maybe there really was more to her than the outside suggested.
Cara let her gaze stray from the woman, unsure of the soft smile offered to her. No one had ever looked at her such a way, nor had she thought anyone would. They had no reason to. She didn't even know how to describe it because it was so damned foreign to her. She knew something like it from Dahlia, but, hm. Dahlia. That was someone she hadn't thought about in a while. In either case, the Confessor's look was something else altogether. No, it was closer to the smile she'd beaten Raina for. Cara shook herself, realizing the Confessor still smiled at her. She smirked, settling into what she knew. "A Mord'Sith and the Mother Confessor, fighting side by side. It's madness, isn't it?"
Her smile fell. "That's the first time you called me the Mother Confessor instead of just some Confessor."
"For impact alone, I assure you." Seeing Kahlan starting to grin, she narrowed her eyes. "Don't get used to it."
"Sure, sure."
Cara huffed, fingers twitching. "On days where I'm feeling kind, I usually backhand someone for such insolence."
She crouched in front of Cara, taking in the tightness of her jaw before she stared into the woman's eyes, challenging her. Excitement nearly made her shiver. "What's stopping you?"
"Our mutual agreement."
"I didn't know kindness was part of it."
Cara's features eased, the smile of a predator taking over. "It's not. I just don't think it's a good idea to render you a complete, broken disadvantage with a single blow for something so petty."
Madness danced in Cara's eyes. Nothing else could describe it. Madness. It was the closest to what Kahlan felt inside, more than she'd ever known. Right there, in green eyes focused only on her. It scared her as much as it thrilled her, but she gave into it, slapping the woman as hard as she could. Kahlan heard Ogre jump to his feet or something, his sword clattering to the ground, but she didn't look, just held up a hand to ward him off. Her heart raged in her chest and she couldn't see Cara's face through her hair, but her shoulders shook. She was laughing. Darkly. She finally turned and Kahlan saw her mad grin, mischief in her eyes. The Mord'Sith moved and before Kahlan could process any of it, she was being heaved into the river.
She flailed about, sputtering as she got her head above water. It was a deeper part of the river, something she figured the Mord'Sith knew. By the time she got out, practically raining water, Cara stood with a pack and twitching lips. There was a distinct, red handprint on her cheek. Her eyes roamed Kahlan's body as she tossed the pack to her feet. "You hit like a man, Confessor. Wear your white and I might call you by your proper title."
Kahlan stared at the woman, caught between amused and offended. Right, Mord'Sith felt men were weaker. So was it a compliment or criticism? Her gaze travelled to an anxious Ogre, who, under her staring, apologized profusely and faced the other way. Kahlan blushed slightly, remembering that her dress was drenched, and opened the pack. Sure enough, it was hers, Mother Confessor's dress and all. So the Mord'Sith was considerate—or was it just practicality?—even in her, her coldness? She was anything but. Kahlan simply didn't have words for the woman. Well, obnoxious might be a word. She wrung most of the water out of her hair. "You seriously think you're going to watch?"
Cara shrugged.
Kahlan made a circular motion with her finger.
After a moment of silence, the Mord'Sith rolled her eyes and turned around. "We should play to our advantage."
"What do you have in mind?"
"You go in with lover boy and start a commotion."
Kahlan nodded even though no one could see it. "Then you come in as a surprise?"
"Yes, but if we can manage it, it should seem like we're not on the same side."
"Is there ever going to be a plan where I'm not bait?"
"I don't think I make for good bait."
"You should try it sometime. Hey! Don't turn around."
Cara crossed her arms, scowling.
"So," Kahlan smiled, "Next time we plan something, I think you should be bait."
"And I disagree."
Kahlan laced up her dress, as burdened by the white as she was comforted. "You say that now, but just wait and see."
"Whatever you say, Confessor."
It was a pity her dress wouldn't get to dry properly, but she put it away in the pack anyway, aware of the fact more important things required her attention. She moved to Cara's side. "Mother Confessor, actually." Cara eyed her, something she was starting to get used to. "Oh, something else." The blonde merely tilted her head. Something else she was getting used to. It was strange, the easy exchanges they shared. A blonde eyebrow twitched up and Kahlan realized she'd been staring a while. "They have the Seeker, you know."
"It makes no difference."
"No difference?"
"None," she said firmly. "We go in, we handle it, it's over."
Kahlan took in the lightening sky. "When today's over, we're going to kill each other, aren't we?" Cara didn't answer, but Kahlan heard her walking away. "Ready, Ogre?"
"Yes, Mistress."
She got her pack and started into the forest after the Mord'Sith, but stopped when he called to her. "Yes?"
"If I live, I'll fight her."
Kahlan walked right up to him, staring the tall man in the eyes. "You'll do no such thing. Even if she's killing me, you'll do no such thing."
"Mi-Mistress, why?"
She swallowed heavily, every moment with the Mord'Sith flittering through her mind before settling on the look in those green eyes before Kahlan slapped her. "Because it's just us."
Kahlan left then, heading toward the small clearing they'd fought in earlier, Ogre trailing behind her slightly. They found Cara standing there, back to them.
"Which way?"
Kahlan didn't know what kept him from speaking, but simply went after him as he walked past Cara. His limp didn't seem to deter him and she briefly wondered how much it bothered him, but no one seemed to mind the pace he set. The forest was quieter than it should have been, a lot of the animals gone, but Kahlan didn't think on it too much. She didn't think on much of anything. When Cara had walked away from her, a cold acceptance pumped from her heart, through her veins and seeped into her bones. She didn't quite feel it inside of her, though, it was still a physical thing, not entirely taking over her person yet. She would see this day through.
No one bothered to say anything, not as they walked, not when they stopped for breaks, mostly on account of Ogre's leg. It wasn't even awkward. Just somber silence, each too locked in their thoughts or too focused on the task at hand. Sometime after noon they could hear the river again and it came into sight after a while. Ogre stopped, everyone else following suit.
"Not far now."
Kahlan saw Cara lean against a tree and she would've sat on the ground, but a white dress didn't go well with dirt. She took in the area before addressing Ogre. "Any guards or patrols?"
"Elysan says he doesn't need 'em."
"Foolish."
Kahlan agreed with Cara, but didn't say anything else. After a few minutes, they moved on again, following the river until they reached its origin. It was a pretty sight and Kahlan spent a moment forgetting that there was so much evil in such a place. The waterfall was small, but it still formed a small lake of sorts before it thinned out to form a river. Ogre led them closer, the water rushing down just mere feet from them, and pointed at a small recess in the rock that created a path, if it could be called that.
"Little ways in's the opening."
Kahlan abandoned her pack behind a tree with a small sigh and started toward the little pathway, but a strong hand caught her arm.
"Watch your footing."
Kahlan took a moment to look for some change in those inexpressive green eyes, for something there, but found nothing. So she just nodded. Cara released her arm and Kahlan pressed against the rock, edging her way along the slippery lip of rock. Ogre joined her slowly, mindful of his leg and for a moment, the sheet of falling water tantalized her and she wanted to reach out and touch it, but feared she'd fall.
"Mistress?"
She jerked in surprise, losing her footing and only Ogre's sound grip on her gave her time to gain purchase. Kahlan thought she heard Cara snort, but chose not to address it, instead continuing along until she stumbled backward into the entrance. Ogre followed suit, but his leg gave out as he tried to step into it and his weight pulled him toward the sheet of water. Kahlan grabbed his arm. There was a loud grunt and a lot of force that knocked Kahlan backward. She tumbled down awkwardly, jarring certain parts of her body a few times before she managed to stop herself. Before she could sit up, a dirty boot came dangerously close to her face. "Ogre? Cara?"
Two grunts answered her.
Kahlan stood, realizing Cara must've bodily shoved Ogre inside and caused them all to roll down the tunnel a bit. If the situation weren't so dire, she might've laughed at how entangled the Mord'Sith was with the man.
"Mistress! Are you okay?"
Cara shoved him down as she got up. Her eyes cut in Kahlan's direction before they rolled.
"I'm fine, let's go. Cara, what are you doing?" She wasn't concerned so much as curious as to why the woman took hold of her arm. She followed the blonde's gaze to see that she'd scraped her arm against the rock when she fell.
"It's shallow but bleeding like that makes you a bigger target than you already are. This won't take long."
Kahlan raised an eyebrow at the insult. "Too bad there's not much we can do about it."
Cara's grip tightened. "Don't make a sound."
"Why would—"
Cara's agiel screamed against her wound and she hissed, grabbing the blonde's arm, nails digging into leather so deeply it hurt her fingers, but she barely noticed. Then the agiel quieted. The pain lingered and she released a breath she didn't know she held. She found green eyes observing her. Kahlan didn't think to say anything because there weren't any words. She just stared back, knowing the woman indulged in pain for her benefit, however insignificant the pain was to the Mord'Sith. An ache crept up Kahlan's other arm and she realized she still held a death grip on Cara's. She let go, Cara letting go of her in turn.
Kahlan cleared her throat, noticing she'd once again forgot about Ogre's existence. "You and I are going first. Ready?"
He nodded, following after his Mistress while the Mord'Sith trailed behind him. Ogre knew he wasn't the smartest person and he'd spit on anyone that suggested he was—unless it'd upset his Mistress—but he wasn't exactly stupid, either. There was something to the women, something more than he could understand, something beyond the roles life assigned them. If they started to fight each other, he'd get between them. He wouldn't let them kill each other. He'd die to make sure his Mistress was happy.
The tunnel opened into a relatively small but empty cavern. Well, empty aside from abandoned cages, some of the doors broken off. As Ogre and Kahlan reached the middle of it, still looking around, Cara entered, taking in the place herself. Kahlan caught her eyes, finding that the woman liked it as much as she did. As in, not at all. There was a sense of warning there, then Cara's gaze travelled. Kahlan found another tunnel, this one winding in a downward spiral of sorts, and her sense of foreboding grew with each step. There were holes in the walls, like some animal had clawed its way in or out, and she drew her daggers, trying not to let the scraping sounds from within the holes distract her. She heard Ogre draw his blade behind her.
It led into a cavern, this one of larger size, but it wasn't what Kahlan expected. There were candles on tables, an upper area, and large objects covered in ragged sheets of cloth. They were about the same size as the broken cages she'd seen. Most notable, however, was the crack taking up a large portion of the far side of the cavern, green, ominous light spilling out of it. But she didn't take in much beyond that because something else demanded her attention. Something like the silence that took over the place as more than a dozen pairs of eyes bored into her and a Mord'Sith with the Sword of Truth at her hip turned, smirking. "Confessor, we were—"
Kahlan laughed. It was terrible timing, really just not appropriate for the situation, but she couldn't help it. After spending time with Cara, this woman's attempt at being intimidating was a joke.
"What's funny, Confessor?" Her voice was high, strained in anger.
She cleared her throat and put on a straight face, though her lips kept trying to twitch into a smile. "Nothing."
"I insist." She took a few steps, the men drawing their weapons behind her. "Share with us."
"Please do," came a smooth, male voice.
Kahlan smiled an unfriendly smile, her gaze finding the man casually leaning against a railing in the upper area of the cavern, dark hair framing his face. "It's just that I know someone whose eyebrow is more intimidating than her."
The Mord'Sith wrenched her agiel from its holster and halted mid-step as the man's voice called for her to stop. Kahlan had never seen so much hate in someone's eyes.
"Dear Trianna, I'm sorry but the Mother Confessor does have a point. Forgive me, I'm being rude. I'm Elysan, current owner of the Seeker of Truth with no sword, a Wizard of the First Order with a Rada'Han and a small army. You have, what, an injured man?"
"I can't help but notice there wasn't a Mord'Sith on the list." Sure, she was stalling, but she couldn't figure if it was better to force them into the tunnel or go out there. She still wondered about those possible cages.
"That's because he doesn't own me, Confessor."
"I don't know. He says stop, you stop. I'm sure you understand my mistake."
Elysan's laugh cut short as a scuffle broke out behind him. "Control the Seeker," he barked.
Trianna and a number of the men looked toward the disturbance, but not Kahlan. She stepped into a punch, knocking the Mord'Sith back and darted off to practically jump a man to confess him. She heard Ogre making a commotion, but her world condensed as her power flooded through her. Kahlan rolled off of him just in time to deflect a man's attack, but she fell backward, not quite recovered from the Confession. Her new ally moved to defend her. What Ogre lacked in mobility, he made up for in brute strength. Kahlan noted at least five bodies on account of the man as she rushed a slaver, the both of them trying to find an opening. Really, Cara could arrive any second now, no reason to delay.
Kahlan heard the distinct whine of an agiel and felt dread as her newest ally fell dead. She parried with Trianna, ducking the stray swing of a sword and running through a break in the men after Ogre did something she hadn't seen.
"Come back, Confessor!"
No thank you. Kahlan managed another Confession and thought she heard chanting. She wasn't sure. She continued her fight, having brief meetings with a determined Trianna. After another, harder and longer Confession, her reflexes weren't what they should be. She was draining herself, not even sure which man was on her side apart from a very bloody Ogre and judging from his swings, he wasn't going to last long at all. She struck at a flash of red, but it was deflected and she found green eyes. Kahlan grinned, some vigor returning to her. Cara lingered only to smirk before disappearing to fight.
The chanting grew, undeniable now, and it distracted a man long enough for Kahlan to run him through. She looked, finding Elysan to be the source of the noise and it stopped. He waved at her before disappearing. Anger blossomed in her chest. A new opponent took up the Confessor's attention, but she could hear bars rattling and the unmistakable shearing of metal. Only a scream broke out over the calamity in the cavern and Kahlan caught a glimpse of Cara standing over a dead Trianna.
Kahlan had no allies.