For the peoplespalace 12 Prompts of Rahlmas
Title: Misunderstanding
Prompt: Chestnuts roasting on an open fire
"I said I was sorry," Cara said again. She stamped along the path, making a left turn when she saw a bush that had been trampled on in someone's haste.
"Let's just find him," Richard said. He cupped his hands around his mouth. "Zedd!" His voice echoed around the forest but there was no answer from the wizard.
"If he wasn't so distrustful he would not have misunderstood." Cara was fairly certain that this was not her fault. She'd explained to the others what had happened just before Zedd had fled the campsite and Kahlan had then given her perspective on it - blushing only once.
"Or perhaps if his mind did not tend towards the lewd so frequently, then my offer might not have sounded so threatening." Cara, being a Mord'Sith, had no problem with lewdness - except when, as here, it led to problems.
Richard nodded and gestured. "This way."
"I was trying to be nice," Cara went on. It was important to her – to her annoyance - that Richard understood. "I'd even gathered the damn things already."
After a moment of silence, she added, "I have to say that I've never heard of such a thing, not even amongst the most bloodthirsty of Mord'Sith. Why he would assume the worst of me I have no idea."
"Cara, it's all right," Richard said distractedly. "We'll explain it to him when we find him."
The problem with being a Mord'Sith was that even innocent phrases could become laced with innuendo. Add a wizard with a rather dirty mind of his own and it was inevitable that some sort of miscommunication would occur sooner or later.
"Chestnuts roasting on an open fire is a fine winter tradition," Cara said. "When I said let's roast your nuts on the campfire, that's all I meant."