"You're running out of skin. How much longer do you expect to last?"

Richard held a long pole in his hand, one with the Aydindril seal on the end. He spent over three hours trading it between the fire and her skin, making sure she would always remember who she had betrayed. He thought it would be more difficult, but as the moments past, it became easier and easier, knowing it may be the only way he would find the woman he loved. He was rapidly approaching her face and he knew that soon she would talk, she would give him what he wanted and the moment she did, he was fairly certain he would kill her.

Pressing the pole to her neck, he held it firmly as she screamed in pain, thriving off of the sound until she at last gave in an mumbled something other than an insult to his attempts to open her mouth.

"I don't know where they've taken her!" The words left her mouth through a cry, her body trembling before him. "I was to meet with one of the men after they had secured her."

"Where?!"

"The tavern on the edge of the city! Stop it! I've told you what you wanted to know!"

"You've given me nothing! The woman I love is being held somewhere and you've waisted my time! You selfish woman!" Dropping the pole, he reached for his sword, raising it high as he took a step back for a better angle.

"I'm sorry Sir, but this just arrived for you."

Richard stopped and instantly turned, surprised to be handed a bloody cloth. Opening it carefully, he returned the sword to its scabbard and rushed from the cell. "Lock it up, we can't have her escape. The Mother Confessor will return."

"Open it," he said over his shoulder as he stuffed one of Kahlan's dresses into his travel pack. "Someone wrote on it."

"Kahlan?"

"No. Zedd, that's her blood. I can't let her stay there any longer. I have to-"

"How can you be sure the blood is hers? Richard this could be a trap."

"Of course it's a trap," he snapped. "But she's there and I'm going after her. If I have to kill every person who steps in front of me, I will and I won't stop until she's safe. I've told her men to ready themselves, we leave in a few minutes. You should hurry."

"Richard-"

"She'll need you to heal her, I can't lose her- Zedd, get ready."

"Do you think it's wise to walk into their trap?"

"How- How can you ask me that? You know how I feel about her."

"And perhaps that is why you should think this through. You are walking into a trap and you don't even know if Kahlan is there."

Pulling on the travel pack, Richard walked past his grandfather. "She's there, the blood was still wet when someone wrote on the cloth. I don't care if they're waiting for me to arrive, they will not be expecting the hundred soldiers I'm taking with us. She's been there for two months, I won't wait- I can't leave her there any longer. I can't let her go through anything more. I've already let her down, I will not do it again."

He stopped at the door and turned on his heels, walking back to her wardrobe and reaching inside. Pulling out another travel pack, he almost smiled as he remembered the day she had made it. She had told him that she always wanted one ready, just in case anything ever happened and she needed to leave quickly. He questioned her on its contents and he could still see the smile on her face as she turned toward him with her reply. She told him that he would have to go with her to see what was inside and it had been in that moment, he knew that she wanted him to stay with her.

"These aren't getting any better." Thomas whispered as he cleaned a few of her wounds. "He hasn't made it easy on you, on them."

"I can't feel them anymore."

"I don't imagine you feel very much anymore. He knows how to brake people in very different ways."

"Are they infected?"

He sighed, understanding why she was changing the subject. "Yes, most of them. I don't think there is very much I can do." Laying the damp cloth over her stomach, he dropped his hands in his lap. "You're the first he stopped chaining."

"He knows I can't see my way out of here and he assures me you will no longer help."

"I sent word to him."

She jerked forward at his words, coming closer as she found his face with her hands. "What?"

"Your Seeker. I-" Lowering his voice, he brought his hands to her hips. "I sent him something that should lead him here." She kissed him, quickly and fully, smiling as he pulled back. "I can do no more."

"Thank you."

"Get back before he comes in to see you like this. He will-"

"I know; I'm sorry." Moving off of him, she lowered herself carefully back to the floor. "I- Thank you."

"I don't know how long your wounds- Your shoulder is swelling, I can see the infection beneath the skin, the same as your leg. The arrows must have been venenum. They've been known to use them to slow the- Your Seeker must get here before another week passes or you... I'm afraid you will not survive past it."

"I'll survive as long as I need to. He'll find me."

"You talk about him the way my mother did of my father."

"I love him."

"I know." Pushing on her shoulders, he helped her lay back, hoping that it would stop the pressure on her wounds. "I can slow the bleeding for a little while, but when Michael returns for you, they will rip far more."

"I know," she whispered. "He likes it that way."

"Why do you let him-"

"Because I'm afraid of what he would do if I tried to stop him."

"You're a brave woman."

"I'm terrified."

"Of him?"

"Of what I've done with him."

"It won't change the way the Seeker feels about you."

"Yes, it will." Thomas smiled weakly, pushing against another one of her wounds. "He hasn't raped me in days. I've allowed him to- I've taken control and I... When he learns what I've done, he will despise me."

"You're wrong."

"I can't see him feeling any other way. I've betrayed him."

"You protected yourself."

"I crawled onto another man."

"He will understand."

Shaking her head, she covered her face with her hands. "I can't believe I've done this to him."

"He won't see it the way you do."

"How can you sound so sure?"

"Because of the way you talk about him. The only thing that will bother him is that he couldn't protect you. You don't have to tell him what happened."

"I can't hide it from him. He's going to know what happened the instant he sees me."

"I don't think he will see past the wounds. It's hard to look past them." Moving the cloth to another wound, he pushed a little rougher, stopping the blood for a moment. "He won't question anything you say."

"I can't lie to him."

Releasing the bloody cloth, he nodded. "I'm sorry."

"Me too."

"You're not very playful today." Kahlan remained quiet as Michael ran his hands over her chest, her mind now completely on the upcoming rescue. "What's wrong with you?"

"I can't feel anything below my neck," she whispered, hoping it would be a working explanation.

"Can you feel my touch?"

Nodding, she forced a smile. "But I can't make myself move to help."

It was quiet for a moment and she began to fear what he was thinking, but suddenly, he grabbed her breasts. "I suppose you're allowed to enjoy my pleasures for a while." He continued moving his hands over her, more gently than ever before and she couldn't help the soft moan that escaped her throat. "When you took your mate, did you wish he touched you like this?"

Shaking her head, she sighed. "I didn't know what to want."

"Now you do."

"Yes," she agreed quietly, losing herself in his actions. "Harder... Please." The smile that came to his lips echoed around her, making her positive she was doing the right thing. Before, when she had taken control, she gave him orders, small ones that he never failed to go through and now that she wasn't above him, she feared her control had gone. "Spirits..."

His hands and lips covered her chest, breasts and stomach, never slowing as she ordered more. He gladly did as she asked, biting at her skin between kisses, holding her breasts in his mouth until he needed a breath of air.

"Lower," she gasped, his tongue dipping into her bellybutton. He let loose a low growl and moved down, trailing his fingers over her until he could no longer take his own torture.

Bringing his mouth to hers, Michael let her pull on his bottom lip with her teeth, a soft moan escaping them both as he positioned himself above her. He wanted her to touch him, to hold his shoulders to her as she had done before, but she didn't. Her body hadn't moved since he begun and it was starting to bother him. Taking one of her hands, he brought it to his face, pushing her fingers up into his hair as though it was something she always did. When she began to pant, he dropped her arm and lifted himself up higher and began to thrust harder. He watched her carefully, enjoying the sight of her beneath him, her head pushed back and a shallow breath on her lips. He wouldn't admit it, but it was the most beautiful thing he had ever seen.

He grew frustrated at the lack of her touch, the missing hands on his hips that told him when to move faster and harder. The feel of her legs wrapping around him as she raked her nails down his arms, he wanted it back and she could give none. With a loud grunt, he reached between them, changing the angle as he grabbed both of her legs and pounded freely. She seemed to enjoy it more and the instant he rushed to touch her, she was gone.

He continued to move as she tightened around him, again, Richard's name on her lips. It had angered him at first, hearing her cry out another man's name while he pumped himself into her, but there was no other for her call, she wasn't to know his name. He knew there was a chance she would go free and his name would bring him to a prison cell. The thought of her with his name on her tongue set him off, his control lost as he pushed forward and let go within her. She was still thriving as he lowered her legs, an action that only aided her pleasure as he dropped down upon her.

"Spirits," she whispered. Though it was a prayer for forgiveness, the man above her thought differently.

"There is no need to thank them for our pleasure, Mother Confessor."

Swallowing her pain she nodded with a small smile in case he was looking at her. "It seems to be fair."

He laughed, loudly and rolled off of her, taking himself from her body with a short groan. "I suppose." He remained quiet for a moment and she knew he was watching her. Her chest heaved and she struggled for air, a sign also given from torture, she assumed that was why he liked it. "I'll bring someone to tend to the wounds. You should be able to participate when I return."

Kahlan turned her head toward him, wishing once again that she was able to see his face. "I'm sorry."

She expected him to laugh and tell her that she should be or that if she didn't improve, she would be, but he didn't. "I'll send for the healer." Kahlan only nodded, not knowing what to say as he began to dress. He was still watching her, she could feel his stare, but she was almost certain that he was concerned. "Did you eat what was brought to you last night?"

"No. I wasn't hungry until I could no longer remember where it was."

"Someone will bring you lunch, be sure to eat."

"I will," she said in a weaker tone than she intended. Her strength was failing with each breath and she couldn't be sure how much longer she could remain awake.

It was a trap, he knew it had to be, but he and the men pushed forward. They abandoned their horses to keep most of them hidden, though Richard would have been fine with riding in quickly and stealing her away. They were attacked by a large group of men, many of them held off in the distance, shooting arrows their way to take out as many as possible to aid their own men before them. The Seeker managed to duck behind a tree, avoiding a few bolts, only to then have to use another man to shield some more. His sword swung rapidly, changing between taking down an enemy soldier to stopping an arrow from hitting his face. He wasn't sure he had ever moved so quickly before.

It was dark all around them, making it all harder, but he could see the small movement in the trees, telling him where the next man would be. They called out to each other in warning, threatening him at times as he came closer without a single wound. He had grown tired of the battle at once, moving on to killing each man on sight until he could see the large building that held her. Running the Sword of Truth through the throat of a young man, Richard grunted angrily, slamming his shoulder into another who tried to cut into his side. Their numbers were large and he had lost track of his own, leading him to fear the loss of them all. His shirt, pants and sword were stain with blood, a heavy splatter upon his face as he stepped out of the trees and into the clearing, directly before the door.

Thirty men stumbled to his side, at last making it through their own battle to now aid him in the rest of the rescue. Richard walked forward, cutting down the man who coward behind the wine barrels as they entered the building. The inside was large, made completely of stone and echoed their arrival as he shouted her name. There was no reply, sending a wave of panic through him as he ran down the hall to his left. He would search every room and kill anyone who stood in his way. There were almost as many men on the inside, each waiting for him as he rounded a corner, forcing him to act faster to stay out of their reach.

The enemy was well trained, they had been doing this for some time and Richard couldn't help but feel that they were the kind of men who should be protecting her, not holding her captive. He walked passed a dark room, freezing suddenly as he passed, his mind locked on finding a reason for the lack of door. Turning on his heels, he rushed in, stumbling forward as he found a quick set of stairs. Gabbing one of the lit torches from the wall, he strained his eyes to see farther, ignoring the small pool on his left. Moving forward, he saw movement and his heart stopped.

Running forward, he dropped the torch and got to his knees, grabbing her shoulders, instantly pushed backward with a loud cry at the contact. He tried again, only to be shoved away as he was before. Bringing the torch toward her, he nearly gasped at the sight. "Kahlan, it's me."

Her mouth fell open, her hands instantly reaching out toward the sound of his voice. Grabbing his face, she yanked herself off of the floor and into his arms, holding her forehead to his with a desperate cry of pain.

Zedd entered the room, stopping frozen at the sight before him. Kahlan was pressed against him, her tears raining down her face as she tried to get closer, to get safe. He remained still as Richard tried to calm her, trying to get a better look at her without pushing her away. She was bleeding heavily, though she didn't seem to notice when his hands slid through the red liquid.

"Spirits, Kahlan. Here, lay back-"

"No!" she shouted, bringing herself back to his chest. "No, no, no... Please don't make me-"

"Alright, I'm sorry." Turning his head, he met his grandfather's eyes as he used his magic to light the rest of the torches around the room. "Zedd's going to heal you." She clung to him as the wizard came closer, the sound of his unfamiliar footsteps frightening her. Richard held her firmly, even as she struggled against him. Her heart was pounding and he could feel it through her skin, through the palm of her hands. "I'm not going to let go of you, but you have to lay back. Here, come with me so Zedd can work."

He lowered them slowly, holding her to him as she quivered in his arms. She refused to lie on her back, her face and chest pressed into him, her tears continuing to fall and soak his shirt.

"Kahlan, I need you to turn so I can see them."

Richard urged her on, whispering in her ear as he rolled forward . He laid above her for a moment before she loosened her hold on him and allowed him to settle at her side. It was the first time he was able to see her, the torches around them lighting her perfectly and making him grow sick. Her body was stained in her blood, her veins showing through her skin, dark and puffy around each wound that seemed to cover her completely.

She held her face toward him, fighting the urge to cry as she tried desperately to see him. He laid his hand on her cheek, softly stroking his thumb across it while doing his best to reassure her that she was safe. It was hard to see her that way, her body broken and shaking.

Bringing her hands back to his cheeks, she swallowed through the pain. "I'm sorry, Richard." Using the last of her strength, she kissed him roughly and the moment after his return, she was unconscious.