Chapter 5
Frederick's gaze remained fixed on the horizon as they rode along the snow-covered path that meandered through the mountains. He rolled his shoulders, stretching his neck in a futile attempt to remove the stiffness that had settled into his muscles.
Stifling a yawn, he turned his attention towards the Wizard riding beside him. "How much further do you think, Zedd?"
The old Wizard's forehead wrinkled in thought, his wiry white eyebrows knitting together as he turned to respond. "I would imagine we should reach the Lo'Gaire Mountains some time tomorrow. I'm afraid that the hard part could be trying to find Caelinus though."
"I thought you knew where he lived?" Sister Deryn frowned.
"Of course I do!" Zedd exclaimed. "He lives in the Lo'Gaire Mountains…I'm just not completely certain where in the mountain range he lives."
"It's going to take us months to find him," Deryn groused, pulling her cloak tighter around her with a huff. "We don't have time…Michael doesn't have time for this. I need to get back to him and Richard."
It had thankfully stopped snowing, the biting wind finally dying down. The sun peeked out behind wispy white clouds that slowly scudded along, a bright blue sky a beautiful backdrop. Still, Deryn found it cold and miserable as they traipsed through the mountains to find a man who may or may not be able to help them, to find someone who may or may not still be alive somewhere up here.
"Don't worry, my dear," Zedd calmly said in an attempt to quiet her scoffing. "I have a general idea as to his whereabouts."
"Is the wizard even still alive?" she complained, angrily blowing a lock of hair out of her face.
"He's too contrary to let anything happen to him," Zedd wistfully informed her with a gleam in his eye as distant memories long forgotten worked their way to the surface of his mind. "That stubborn old wizard could survive anything."
"I'm not feeling very confident right now despite you being a Wizard of the First Order," she huffed under her breath.
Frederick shared a bemused smile with Zedd. Both had equally been a target of the petulant Sister of the Light and her endless grumbling. She had been a less than stellar travelling companion so far, but Zedd and Frederick were hoping to change her heart before their journey came to an end.
They knew that Sister Deryn wasn't going to give up on the notion of making Richard hers despite the Prelate's admission of her involvement in Michael's creation. They had decided to take advantage of this extended time alone with her to help her see that Richard wasn't about to leave Kahlan and his family for her.
Zedd had a feeling there was a good heart beating beneath that cold negative exterior of hers, a person who was worthy of saving, keeping from destroying her life along with Richard and Kahlan's.
She had a son that she needed to concentrate on, one that she obviously loved and not just because he also belonged to Richard as well. The poor girl had been manipulated and deceived, her mind twisted to believe in things that never were there, a mutual longing that never existed.
She needed some grandfatherly guidance right now and Frederick and Zedd were determined to give that to her no matter how hard she fought them. They had to for Richard and Kahlan's sake as well as the Sister's.
Even though she didn't see it, Deryn was on a very dangerous path, one that would only lead to heartache and destruction. And they were not about to let her hurt Richard and Kahlan again. She and the Prelate had already caused more than their fair share of trouble and anguish as it was.
Pulling an apple from his pack, Zedd cast a glance at Frederick. He could tell that something was on his new friend's mind. "How are you fairing, Frederick? Need to stop and rest?"
"No, I'm fine, thank you," Frederick quickly replied with a tight-lipped smile. "Just wondering how Kahlan and Richard are doing. I'm sure they have their hands full with the unrest in the Midlands."
"If anyone can handle it, it'll be those two," Zedd confidently reassured him as he munched on his apple, wiping juice off his lip with the back of a weathered hand.
"I imagine so," Frederick said, pride in his voice. "Kahlan could always handle anything that came her way. I envision Richard to be the same way. I know Kahlan would never marry someone less than her equal."
"Those two are very much equals in every way imaginable," Zedd nodded in agreement as he pitched the apple core to the side. "I've never seen two people more created for each other than those two. I swear they share a part of the same soul."
"I've already seen it just by the way that they look at each," Frederick replied. "I've never seen two people more in love in my entire life."
Frederick could hear an irritated snort coming from behind them, their conversation obviously striking a nerve with a certain Sister of the Light. He couldn't help smiling to himself, though. He knew the truth of Zedd's words despite not knowing Richard very well yet. It made him happy to know that his daughter had found love with a man without the touch of confession.
He could only hope the same for his granddaughters someday. It saddened him to know what their future possibly held for them.
"It's a beautiful thing to see," Zedd agreed.
"Can we talk about something else?" Deryn suddenly snapped.
Zedd cast a glance over his shoulder at the fuming Sister riding close behind them. Her pale green eyes were twin daggers, the anger swimming there causing the fine hairs to prickle on the back of the Wizard's neck. They had a very long ways to go if they were ever going to get through to her, her hatred for Kahlan running very deep.
"What would you like to talk about, my dear?" Zedd pleasantly inquired of her, pretending not to know what she was referring to.
"Anything but Kahlan Rahl," she spit out.
"You're going to have to get over your dislike of my daughter if you plan on staying with Michael at the Palace," Frederick reminded her. "Once you get to know her, I know you'll find Kahlan to be a very compassionate, kind person."
"I'd rather not," she bit out, a sullen look filling her face. "She will have to get used to the fact that Michael and I are a part of Richard's life now."
"She's not going to step aside and allow you to have Richard," Zedd interjected, shaking his head in stunned disbelief at the Sister's unwavering delusion.
"She won't have to," Deryn replied, a triumphant smirk quickly forming on her lips. "Richard will see that he still loves me. He'll leave Kahlan for me in the end and she'll no longer be around."
The lines around Frederick's eyes softened despite Sister Deryn's ludicrous prediction, the veiled threat against his daughter. "I feel sorry for you, Deryn," he truthfully said. "You truly have been manipulated and deceived into thinking that my son-in-law felt something for you at one time. I'm afraid that you're going to have to learn to accept what the Prelate did to the both of you and move on. You need to make a new life for yourself, your son."
"I have to accept nothing," she coldly retorted. "I know what the Prelate did was wrong, but it would have happened anyway in time. She was just helping along something that was inevitable."
Frederick sighed heavily. This was going nowhere. He didn't think that they'd ever be able to help Sister Deryn see that her dreams were just that before they returned to the People's Palace. If they were unsuccessful, he feared that Richard and Kahlan would be dealing with an even bigger problem than before.
This woman was convinced of something that never was, clinging to a fantasy that would never become a reality. He feared that Michael would end up paying the biggest price of all because of it.
A loud cracking noise suddenly filtered its way into Frederick's mind, pulling him from his worrisome thoughts. "What was that?" he asked, immediately looking around.
Zedd pulled his horse to an abrupt stop, carefully studying the snowy landscape that surrounded them. "I don't know," he murmured more to himself than to his companions.
Another deafening crack unexpectedly split the air causing them all to freeze where they were, the ground shaking as snow began to tremble and fall from tree branches.
XXX
Kahlan entered her suite only to be greeted by the loud sounds of squeals and excited giggles. It immediately brought a smile to her lips as she made her way through the greeting room to her bedchambers. Coming to a stop in the doorway, she found Richard on all fours, her daughters sitting on his back. They had his shirt fisted tightly in their tiny grasps, their faces filled with joy.
The smell of food drifted to her nostrils, reminding her of just how hungry she was. Looking to her right, she saw a couple of covered trays of food on the table by the fireplace waiting for her arrival.
Her attention was immediately captured again by the laughter spilling from her husband's lips that competed with that of their daughters', the look of amusement on his face warming her clear to her toes.
No matter what happened with his duties as Lord Rahl, Richard never allowed it to affect his time with his children. Regardless of the worries and frustrations that he continually carried, he never took it out on her or their family. It was one of the things that she loved so much about him.
Setting down her packages, Kahlan removed her cloak, draping it over the back of a chair. She lingered near the door, watching them for the longest time. This was what family was all about – having fun and enjoying spending time together with the ones that she loved, to share in the laughter and the tears, the good and the bad.
And it was beyond magical to be able to have some laughter right now in the midst of the chaos that stormed around them, to see Richard's smile lighting his entire face and caressing her soul, her daughters' giggles tickling her ears and putting a smile on her lips.
Kahlan wanted to commit the lively scene playing out before her to memory, never wanting to ever forget these special moments of Richard playing with their girls like this, the mighty Seeker and Lord Rahl pretending to be a Shadrin.
Richard suddenly growled some throaty snarl that only made the girls squeal in delight as he continued to lumber about the room on all fours, careful to make sure they didn't fall off. Paige and Priya kicked their legs in excitement, tightening their hold on his shirt. They could barely catch their breaths between fits of giggles and squeals.
Only their daughters would be excited by a Shadrin's growl instead of being scared.
They chanted "dada", wanting him to go faster, but he didn't dare. They were still too small to become any more aggressive than he already was. Their cheers grew louder the longer that he resisted their pleas, but he refused to give in.
Kahlan knew the only thing keeping him from giving his girls anything they wanted was the fear for their safety. She knew that their children already had him wrapped around their little fingers and it would only grow worse the older they got.
Just then, Richard turned, catching a glimpse of his wife standing near the doorway, his special smile playing on her lips. He immediately grinned in return, his chocolate eyes lighting up at the sight of her.
"Mama!" Paige and Priya cried in delight before he could respond.
Richard slowly lowered himself to the ground, carefully helping his daughters climb down off of his back. They toddled over to Kahlan, their arms already stretching out to her. She knelt down to the ground, wrapping them both up in her arms and holding them close.
"Are you having fun with daddy?" she asked, gazing over their heads to look at her husband.
Richard sat back on his heels, his palms resting on his thighs as he watched his wife with his daughters. A smile played on his face as he stared at her, longing and warmth swimming in his brown eyes. It made her heart stutter.
Kahlan tilted her head, kissing the crowns of their heads. They jabbered incessantly, pointing at Richard and bursting out into more giggles. Even though they couldn't understand a word they were saying, it was obvious they were telling mommy every bit of what daddy had been doing.
Richard couldn't stop laughing at the scene before him. This was why he fought so hard for what he wanted most, what he loved most. It was for moments like these with his children and every precious moment spent in Kahlan's presence.
It made all the worries and frustrations of the world worthwhile, making them suddenly seem so miniscule.
Kahlan listened patiently, gently stroking their hair as they told of their adventures with their father this afternoon. "And what about Aiden?" she asked.
"He decided to sit this one out," Richard told her with a grin. "He's asleep already."
"Probably a good idea," she smiled in return, her piercing blue eyes never leaving his handsome face.
Richard felt his insides grow warmer by the moment the longer she gazed at him. "Any luck in the market place?"
"Found some gifts for these two," she replied as the girls continued to babble to one another now. "I'll show you later."
He watched as a curious expression suddenly flickered across her face, his eyes narrowing. "What is it?"
Kahlan shook her head. "I just saw a woman there at the market place," she thoughtfully said. "There was just something about her that struck me as unusual."
"Who was she?"
"I don't know," she told him. "She was very beautiful with long silver hair and intense eyes. She was watching Rachel and me from across the street."
"Do you think she's dangerous?" Richard asked, sitting up a little straighter as worry began to rise.
"I'm not sure. It was just odd," she replied. "I only saw her from across the street for a brief moment. I looked away for a second and when I turned back, she was gone. She's probably one of the dignitaries' wives or something."
"Could be," he frowned as he got to his feet, not liking what he was hearing one bit. "Let me know if you see her again. I'll have the guards be on the lookout for her."
"I'm sure it was nothing, Richard," she said, feeling bad for even mentioning it. "It was just unusual that's all. It was probably just an ambassador's wife."
Richard sighed heavily, still unconvinced. "If you say so."
Coming over, he bent down and picked up Paige, swinging her up high in the air. Paige shrieked with delight as she reached out her hands for his face, kicking her legs wildly. Priya immediately joined in, toddling over to her father and wrapping her arms around his boot as if trying to make him set her twin down.
Kahlan got to her feet, walking over to join him. She picked up her daughter, prying her little arms loose from her father's leg. Priya immediately nestled into her mother's embrace, burying her face in the crook of Kahlan's neck as she fought a yawn.
"Did daddy wear you out this afternoon?" she cooed as she tightened her hold on her daughter, resting her check on top of Priya's head.
"I think they wore me out," he confessed.
"I hope you're not too worn out, Lord Rahl," she murmured, leaning in and brushing her lips softly against his.
"Never too tired for you, Mother Confessor," he softly replied, kissing her again.
"How did the meeting go today with the representatives?" she asked, her nose nuzzling against his a moment longer, relishing his nearness.
"They want special concessions made for them, but I told them where we stand," he told her, holding Paige against his chest. "I told them we will not change our minds on this."
"Good," she nodded her head in approval. "I know how hard it can be, Richard, but we're doing the right thing. We're in this together. Don't forget that."
"Actually, they want to talk to you themselves. They think that I've corrupted you," he smirked. "They think that I've brainwashed you into obediently following along with whatever I want you to do."
Kahlan chuckled softly at the thought. "So you've confessed me?" she asked in surprise.
"Evidently I have new magical powers that I didn't know I possessed."
"You know, now that you mention it, you've always had a very captivating way about you, Seeker," she purred, mischievousness shining in her eyes.
Richard's hand found the side of her face, cupping her cheek as he kissed her once more. His lips grew more insistent against hers as his fingers slid up into her hair and held her where he wanted her. Spirits, he could never get enough of this, of her.
"And here I thought I was the one who had been confessed the very moment that I saw you," he murmured as he pressed his lips to her forehead.
"I'm fairly certain that it was mutual," she softly breathed, closing her eyes as she found his lips again.
Breaking the kiss, Richard looked down to see Paige was already fast asleep as was Priya in Kahlan's arms. "Asleep already," he said with pride. "Not bad if I do say so myself."
"Let's put them to bed and you can tell me all about your meeting over dinner," she suggested as she began to make her way to the girls' room.
"And I want to know more about this mysterious woman you saw," he replied, his brow furrowing in thought. He couldn't help the uneasy feeling that had settled in his core as Kahlan had told him about her.
"Richard…" Kahlan sighed as she tucked her daughter into bed.
"Just humor me," he begged her.
"I'd rather do something else with you instead," she seductively replied as she turned to leave the nursery, casting a bewitching glance at him as she did.
"We can do both," he smirked as he followed her back into the bedchambers.
Kahlan suddenly cried in surprise as he swept her off her feet, holding her in his arms, his lips capturing hers. She quickly melted into him as she her arms settled around his neck. "You know you are incredibly handsome when you play a Shadrin with our girls."
"I love it, but I most love playing with you," he seductively teased, his voice husky with arousal as his teeth slowly grazed her lower lip.
Before Kahlan could respond, she felt her back suddenly hitting the bed, Richard's body swiftly covering hers as he pressed her fully into the mattress, their mutual hunger igniting. His lips quickly sought out hers as his fingers found the laces of her dress, her fingers just anxiously finding the laces of his breeches.