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thegirl20See this post for notes and disclaimers.
Night was approaching on the third day of their journey, and Richard’s horse was beginning to lag. The pace that Cara was setting was brutal. It wasn’t just the horse who was having difficulty, Richard’s body ached and his stomach loudly protested its empty state. He was going to suggest that it was time to make camp when Cara held her hand up and slowed her horse.
She flicked a glance at him and the predatory look in her eyes was frightening. She launched off her mount and landed in a crouch. Richard’s body came to life. Cara’s actions telegraphed danger and his skin now prickled. He dismounted and drew the Sword of Truth.
The attack came swiftly with three approaching from the front and another three at their flank. Richard moved to fight back to back with Cara but she had already engaged the first of their opponents. Richard was forced to take the three approaching from the rear.
He had felled one and was managing to keep the other two at bay when Cara joined the fray. She landed on the back of the larger of the two and locked her hands around his head. She twisted her arm and the force of her movement snapped his neck. He crumpled to the ground and she stepped over his body as she approached the last of the men. He dropped his sword and held his hands up in surrender.
The Mord’Sith was blind to his actions. She kicked him in solar plexus forcing him to double over and then crashed her knee into his head. He fell sideways and she straddled him, reigning blows on his face. When he stopped moving she rolled him onto his back and placed her agiel in the centre of his chest.
The woman who rose terrified Richard. Her mouth was smeared with blood and there was no trace of humanity in her face.
“Cara,” Richard looked down at the broken body before him, “you didn’t need to kill him.”
“He was a threat,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“He was outnumbered and disarmed. He was no threat to you.”
“And if he were to live?”
“He would have known that you showed him compassion.”
Cara looked at him as though he were defective, “He would have known our position and could have bought reinforcements. I can assure you that if it were us who were outnumbered and unarmed he would have shown us no mercy.”
“That may well be but you didn’t need to kill him. For all you know these were common thieves and no reinforcements were to be had.”
She looked down at the corpse, “Perhaps I could have just broken both his legs.”
“That is not what I meant.”
“You would prefer that I risk your safety for the sake of a man who attacked us?”
“I would prefer that there is no senseless killing,” Richard stated.
“Then I fear your reign as Lord Rahl will be brief.” Cara replied as she mounted her horse as though nothing had happened.
---
To Richard’s surprise Cara allowed them to camp for the night. She even allowed him to eat, although she drew the line at a campfire. She seemed convinced that the woods were teeming with enemies.
Cara was taciturn throughout the evening which suited Richard. He really didn’t know what he would say to her. Cara informed him that he needed to rest so they could start before the sun rose to get better use of the horses. He had no objection and turned in soon after he had eaten.
Richard lay with his sword closer to him than usual. On some level he feared that Cara would slit his throat during the night. He was convinced that he would not be able to sleep but it appeared that he was wrong because he startled awake to find Cara lying on top of him.
His brain was still a little groggy from sleep but it didn’t take him long to process that Cara was naked and that her hand was massaging his crotch.
“Cara! What do you think you’re doing?”
“My duty, Lord Rahl. We fought hard today and release is warranted.”
Cara slid up so that she was sitting over the area that her hand had been attending to.
“We shouldn’t do this,” Richard said.
Cara rocked her hips against him and cupped her own breast with her hand. “I know that you like women.”
“That’s not the problem.”
Cara stilled and closed her eyes.
“Am I not pleasing to you. my lord?”
Richard wasn’t sure how someone could be terrifying and vulnerable at the same time but she had managed it.
“There is nothing wrong with you Cara.”
“Good.”
She attacked his neck with violent kisses. Richard tried to use his weight to push her off but she clung to him and he ended up on top on her.
“Cara we cannot do this.”
“Why not?”
“Because of Kahlan.”
Cara’s body went rigid and Richard was briefly worried that she may use the hand that was resting on the back of his neck to choke him.
“You’re still in love with her.”
“No.” A lie. “But you are.” The truth.
“Oh that,” Cara said dismissively and skimmed her hands down Richard’s body.
“What would Kahlan say if she was here now?”
“Kahlan might stab one of us. Probably you."
“So we can’t do this.”
“But Lord Rahl, Kahlan is not here.”
Richard was starting to worry about himself because during their brief exchange of words about Kahlan, Cara had managed to pull his pants down without him noticing.
It was difficult to find a face saving way to convince Cara to stop when she was stroking the shaft of his erect penis. She seemed to sense that the tide was changing and she slithered lower to claim him with her mouth.
She was far from gentle and she used her teeth on parts of his body that he felt should be treated more delicately but there was no denying that he enjoyed her ministrations. Her hands came to his ass and he felt the urge to thrust against her face but that was not how he wanted this to go.
“No,” he said.
Cara didn’t stop and he pulled roughly at her shoulders. She bit down in response and he yelped. Her lips decreased their pressure and he was certain that she was smiling.
He grabbed her again and this time managed to pull her up so that he could enter her. In return Cara forced her tongue into his mouth and dug her nails into his back.
Richard could feel Cara rocking against him and knew that he was moving close to the brink. He attempted to slow his own hips but that met with opposition from Cara.
“Harder my lord.”
He increased his pace and felt that he was slamming into her but this didn’t seem to be enough for Cara.
“Harder,” she insisted.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Pain and pleasure are closer than people think.” She nipped at his shoulder and he had to admit that the pain was satisfying. That may have been a moot point though because his movements had become less co-ordinated and he felt that may not have had much control from that point on.
He thrust as hard and as deep as he was able and was pleased to note that Cara arched her back and let out a long moan. Not long after that he spasmed for the last time.
There was certainly no snuggling to be had. There were not even words exchanged. Cara simply got up and returned to her part of the camp.
Richard’s post coital period wasn’t exactly blissful. Part of him had to admit that there were definite advantages to being the Lord Rahl but he knew that Cara was not herself and feared that Kahlan may never forever him for what he’d done. For that matter he may not be able to forgive himself.
---
Kahlan gradually became aware of movement in the bed beside her. She fought against the pull of sleep and managed to force her eyes open. Cara was shaking her head and grasping at the sheets, obviously caught in a nightmare. Kahlan couldn’t ever remember Cara mentioning dreaming, let alone having nightmares.
“No…” Cara whimpered, her head thrashing to one side. Kahlan could see in the moonlight that she was sweating.
She reached over and placed a hand on Cara’s abdomen, over the covers, careful not to startle her. She’d learned to her detriment never to wake a trained warrior suddenly. The look of pain on Cara’s face was breaking her heart and she shook her gently.
“Cara, Cara wake up,” she murmured, inching closer.
“No…” Cara said again, only this time it was drawn out into almost a wail. “Don’t hurt them…”
Kahlan’s brow creased in concern and she shook Cara harder.
“Cara, come on, you’re dreaming,” she said loudly.
Cara awoke with a jerk, sitting up and looking around wildly, trying to ascertain where she was. Kahlan sat up too, rubbing soothing circles into Cara’s lower back but not crowding her, letting her come back to herself.
Cara lifted a shaking hand to rake through her hair, her breathing slowly returning to normal. Kahlan moved closer and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
“Are you okay?” she whispered, leaving her lips against Cara’s skin.
Silence dragged out between them, only broken by the sound of Cara’s ragged breathing.
“I keep seeing them.”
The whispered admission was almost lost to the night but Kahlan caught it. She propped her chin on Cara’s shoulder, sliding her hand around to her belly.
“Who do you see?”
Again, the response wasn’t immediate, though Kahlan knew it was coming and waited without further prompting.
“All of them. All of the people I killed. And maimed. And tortured.”
Her voice caught on the last word and she covered her face with her hands. Kahlan closed her eyes, tightening her arm around Cara and turning her face into her hair.
“You’ve changed,” she whispered, fiercely. “You were a different person.”
But Cara was already shaking her head, forming a denial.
“It was me, Kahlan,” she said. “It was my hands, my eyes that looked into theirs...Creator, their eyes haunt me.”
Kahlan’s hand was gentle on her chin, turning her face around so that their eyes locked in the dim light. She shook her head. “But it wasn’t your choice, was it? It was Darken Rahl’s. It was his choice that you were taken as a child and tortured into accepting a life of obedience and servitude. It was his choice that you killed all those people, not yours.”
Kahlan had often wondered if Cara thought about her past deeds. It wasn’t a subject they discussed often. Kahlan assumed that Cara had accepted them for what they were: part of her past. That’s how Kahlan viewed them. Sometimes she marvelled at exactly how easy it was for her to separate Cara’s deeds from Cara as a person. She wondered if she would be so quick to forgive anyone else who had carried out the atrocities that Cara had. It gave Kahlan pause to think about the people that she killed in battle. She’d killed countless soldiers and scores of Mord’Sith, all of whom were only following orders. Those people never got the chance to redeem themselves.
Cara’s eyes dropped and Kahlan reined in the desire to kiss everything away. She could sense that there was more to come. She was right. Cara inhaled; her breath still shaky. She didn’t lift her eyes as she spoke.
“How can you look at me? Touch me? Bear to be near me?” Finally her eyes met Kahlan’s. “I killed your sister.”
Kahlan let her forehead drop forward to rest against Cara’s, closing her eyes. “I know. And it took me a long time to reconcile that image of you with the woman I travelled with every day.” Here she did kiss Cara, a tiny kiss on her lips. “You are here because you made the choice to be here...because you want to be here with us, saving the world, helping people. For the first time in your life, your choices are your own and you chose to be here.” She lifted her head to look into Cara’s eyes again. “How could I not admire that?”
Cara let out a short, bitter laugh, shaking her head. “You say that like anybody would feel the same.” She brought her hand to Kahlan’s cheek. “They wouldn’t. You, Kahlan Amnell, are uniquely compassionate.”
Kahlan blushed under such a direct compliment from Cara. Her smile was soft as she replied. “I think most people would respond to the changes you’ve made, Cara. But that’s not why I love you. I love you because you’re funny and smart and challenging and sweet.” Cara laughed at that and Kahlan’s smile stretched at the sound of it. ”You are. And because of those things and a million others I could list if you really want me to, I love you. And I think most people would too, if you gave them a chance. Because you, Cara Mason, are a loveable person.”
Cara rolled her eyes, as Kahlan had expected, but she was glad to see a small smile tug at the other woman’s lips.
“I don’t care to be loveable.” The grumble almost sounded like Cara was back to herself. “I care to be loved by you and you alone.” There was a short pause. “And Richard, I suppose. And maybe Zedd. A little.”
“Well, I think you can be safe in the knowledge that you have our love.” She leaned in a little closer to whisper. “Especially mine.”
The smile faded from Cara’s face and it was like watching a star falling out of the sky. She closed her eyes for a moment. Kahlan waited for her to speak. When Cara opened her eyes, they were shining.
“I want to spend my life trying to be deserving of that love. Of you.”
Kahlan felt her own eyes grow hot with tears. She slid her hand behind Cara’s neck, threading it up into her hair, pulling their faces together. When she spoke, her lips brushed against Cara’s.
“You already are. Please believe that.”
Cara pressed her lips against Kahlan’s in a firm kiss. “I’ll try.”
Kahlan reclaimed her lips, turning so that Cara was forced to lay back against the pillows with Kahlan hovering over her. She looked down at Cara and dipped her head to steal another sweet kiss. “Then let me help to convince you.”
Kahlan moved so that she was on her knees, fully straddling Cara’s waist. The Mord’Sith had taken to sleeping in the nude since their arrival in Aydindril and now, bathed in moonlight, her skin appeared to glow with a warmth that Kahlan knew would be borne out if she were to reach out and touch her. She held off, taking a moment just to drink in the sight of her lover stretched out and waiting. Cara’s eyes were so full of trust that Kahlan’s chest felt tight at the privilege. She brought her hands to the hem of the shift she’d been sleeping in and pulled it over her head, leaving her as naked as Cara. Almost immediately, Cara’s hands were at her hips, sliding upwards slowly. She covered them with her own to halt their progress, shaking her head.
“No.”
“No?” Cara’s brow was twisted in confusion and Kahlan smiled at the lines that had formed between her eyebrows; she’d always found them adorable.
“No. This is about your enjoyment tonight. Your pleasure.”
Cara’s lips slid into an easy smile. She rubbed her thumbs across the skin of Kahlan’s sides.
“Kahlan, if you think that touching you doesn’t bring me pleasure, you’re very much mistaken.”
Despite a long acquaintance with Cara’s ability to discuss these matters without embarrassment, Kahlan couldn’t fight the blush that bloomed across her neck and chest. She squeezed Cara’s hands, still trapped beneath her own.
“I know it does. But tonight I want to touch you…” Her voice was rich with humour when she continued. “If you have any energy left once I’m done with you, maybe I’ll let you touch me.”
The remark clearly took Cara by surprise and she let loose a peal of laughter that tickled Kahlan’s ears.
“Well, that sounds like a challenge if ever I heard one, Mother Confessor.” Cara’s eyes twinkled. “One I will gladly accept.”
Kahlan pulled Cara’s hands away from her sides and leaned forward to press them to the pillow above Cara’s head. She kissed her nose, highly aware that her breasts were pushing against Cara’s. “Mmmhmmm. We’ll see how long that lasts.” Kahlan was no fool. She knew that by insinuating that Cara couldn’t help but touch her, she was increasing the likelihood that Cara’s focus and stubbornness would actually allow her the time to explore the blonde’s body.
Cara grunted and lifted off the bed, pressing the length of their bodies together. Kahlan’s breath caught in her throat and she narrowed her eyes.
“Sorry.” Cara looked anything but. “Habit.”
With a final kiss, Kahlan released Cara’s wrists and pushed herself back up so that she was kneeling again, resting against Cara’s abdomen. She was sure that her arousal was evident against the other woman’s skin. She watched with approval as Cara’s hands moved to grasp the spokes of the headboard, giving Kahlan permission to do as she pleased. And Kahlan planned to.
She placed both hands on Cara’s ribs, framing her torso and revelling in the sharp intake of breath it caused. She slid her hands up and around, cupping Cara’s breasts, rubbing her thumbs over erect nipples and teasing them briefly before moving away. Cara let out a low keening sound at the loss, but this rapidly changed into a moan as Kahlan shifted and lowered her mouth to run her tongue over the hardened nub. She took her time worshipping Cara’s breasts, moving from one to the other, replacing mouth with hands and vice versa until she was sure Cara was well and truly worked up.
“Kahlan.” In one word Kahlan could hear the need and desire in Cara’s voice. She stretched up to see her face, A sheen of sweat coated Cara’s forehead, her eyes glassy and unfocussed. Kahlan glided up Cara’s body, making sure that every part of them that could be touching was touching. The move caused Cara to bite her lip and let her head drop back. Kahlan took advantage of this and licked a stripe up Cara’s neck, over her thundering pulse, to her earlobe which she bit gently.
Cara turned her head to meet Kahlan’s lips in a fierce kiss, their tongues clashing before settling into a familiar dance. Kahlan slipped her thigh between Cara’s, gasping at the evidence of her arousal. Cara’s hips began to move, seeking out contact, but Kahlan shifted again, making sure her leg was just out of reach. A half whine, half growl erupted from Cara and Kahlan smiled against her lips.
“Soon. I promise.”
Cara shook her head, desperately. “No. Now, Kahlan. Please.”
Kahlan’s brow creased in concern and she stroked Cara’s cheek, startled by the plea. Cara did not beg. Kahlan nodded, letting her hand drift downwards until she reached the source of Cara’s need. She ran her fingers through slick folds, coating them in wet heat and entering Cara suddenly. The blonde cried out, her hips rising to meet Kahlan’s hand, deepening her thrust. Kahlan withdrew her hand, bringing it up to coat Cara’s lips before covering them with her own, the taste making both of them moan and increasing their need.
When she drew back, Kahlan didn’t waste any time. She returned her hand to its previous position, playing with Cara’s clit but not applying nearly enough pressure to be satisfying. She kissed her way down Cara’s body, nipping at the skin with her teeth and leaving marks in her wake. She settled on her belly between Cara’s legs. Keeping up the gentle pressure with her fingers, she leaned in and pressed a kiss against Cara’s centre. She anticipated the rise of her pelvis and used her other arm to keep her in place.
“Kahlan.” Cara’s voice was no more than an exhalation now, but to her credit, she was still holding the bars of the headboard. Kahlan decided to reward her by cutting short her teasing. She flattened her tongue and dragged it over Cara’s clit, feeling Cara’s moan reverberate through her body. She could feel her own magic building as her arousal grew, but clamped down on it, keeping it at bay. She licked several short, sharp strokes where Cara needed them before sliding her tongue inside.
A tug at her hair indicated that Cara’s patience had run out and Kahlan smile against her. “What do you want?”
“Up.” Cara urged with voice and hand fisted in her hair. “Up here…with me.”
Kahlan knew they didn’t have much time and she dropped a final kiss on Cara’s pubic bone before moving up to drape her body over her lover’s. Cara’s breathing was heavy Kahlan swept away sweat soaked hair from her brow, kissing there and on her cheek and on her mouth. Her other hand quickly entered Cara, thrusting deeply, the heel of her hand adding much needed friction and her hips driving her thrusts. They moved together for long moments, Cara straining up against Kahlan. Her hands now moved freely over Kahlan’s body, pulling her closer and holding her.
The first tremors of Cara’s orgasm swept over Kahlan and she fought to keep her eyes from turning black. Cara’s body rose up, muscles screaming as she went rigid beneath Kahlan. She whispered Kahlan’s name and fell back down, boneless and gasping for air. Kahlan continued to stroke her gently, letting her come down, watching the emotions play across her face.
When she was finally able to open her eyes, Cara smiled up at Kahlan, pulling her down for a sweet kiss.
“I love you,” she breathed. “With everything in me, I love you.”
Kahlan swallowed hard against the sudden lump in her throat. Cara, though demonstrative in her own way, did not often say those words unprompted; generally she said them as a muttered response to Kahlan saying them first.
“I love you too,” Kahlan managed to get out. “If only you knew how much.”
Cara ran her forefinger from Kahlan’s brow, down her nose, to cover her lips. She smiled.
“Not half as much as I love you.”
Kahlan shook her head in protest, but the smile on Cara’s face showed she was mostly teasing. Kahlan sighed dramatically.
“Are you just trying to get me to show you again?”
In an unexpected move, Cara rolled them both over so that she was lying on top of Kahlan. She grinned. “I believe it’s my turn to show you.”
---
When Richard awoke he was no longer frightened that Cara might be waiting to kill him. He was much more concerned that she might be naked again. When he thought about it, a knife at his throat may have been the better option.
He cautiously opened his eyes and was pleased to discover that Cara was not in his field of vision. He hurried to gather his bedroll and to attend to his horse. Cara had already beaten him to the job and she stood between the horses holding their reins. He stuffed his bedding into the saddle bag and swung himself onto his mount.
Cara gracefully followed suit but then she walked her horse around his in a slow circle.
“You look pale, Lord Rahl.”
“I’m fine.”
“Did you not get enough sleep?”
That was something that Richard did not want to talk about. Ever. “I’m fine.”
She tilted her head to the side and smiled, “You are clearly worried. I’m just not sure if you fear that I will pounce on you or that I won’t.”
Things were skirting around a topic that he desperately wanted to avoid, “We should get going. There is still a lot of ground to cover.”
“You don’t need to be embarrassed. I’m here to do your bidding. Whatever that may be.” She shot him a lust filled glance and suddenly the crotch of his pants seemed way too tight. This was not in any way helping the situation.
“Cara, we really need to get to Kahlan.”
Cara’s body went rigid and she dropped her eyes, “As you wish.” She flicked her reins and her horse took off leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Only a few days ago he had judged Cara for putting the horses at risk but when he kicked his heels into the horse’s flank he had no concerns for its safety. Sparing the horses was no longer an option. They needed to get to Aydindril as quickly as possible.
Richard did not allow him himself to contemplate what would happen if they got there and could not find Zedd and Kahlan. They absolutely had to be there because the alternative was unbearable. Something was very wrong with Cara and if Zedd and Kahlan were not there fix it, people were going to suffer.
---
Kahlan had finished hearing supplicants for the day and was heading to the library to see if Zedd had made any progress in his quest for answers. She knew in her heart that he had not or he would have sent word to her. She pushed open the heavy wooden door to find the wizard with his elbows on the table and his face in his hands. She froze in the doorway.
“Zedd?”
Her voice was barely above a whisper as she was using all of her effort not to panic at his desolate pose. He looked up and offered her a weary smile.
“Kahlan. How has your day been?”
Her body relaxed a little at the conversational tone in his voice and she stepped further into the room, taking a seat beside Zedd at the table. She placed her hand over his where it lay on an open book between them.
“My day has been unremarkable,” she said, squeezing his hand. “How has your day been?”
“Uninspiring.”
She watched him deflate, sinking down in his seat. He looked older since their arrival in Aydindril. She tried to smile for his benefit but it came off a half-hearted at best.
“You’ll find something. You’ll fix this.” She nodded as she was speaking but she could not shake the niggling voice in her head, wondering what would become of them all if he couldn’t.
“I’ve…sensed a change in her these past days,” Zedd ventured, watching Kahlan’s face for a reaction. “You seem to be more concerned than you were.”
Kahlan closed her eyes and tried to think of a way to put her thoughts into words because it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what was wrong. She looked at Zedd.
“It’s like she’s feeling too much,” she began, her words hesitant, almost as if saying them aloud made them more real. “I don’t know if that explains what’s happening, but it seems as if being a Mord’Sith allowed her to control her thoughts and feelings and now she can’t and it’s hurting her.” A sob caught in her throat. “I can’t bear to see her hurting.”
His hand came to rest on her shoulder.
“I know, child. I know. I saw her in the courtyard this morning and I was trying to think of a word to describe how she appeared to me. ‘Haunted’ was the one that wouldn’t leave.”
Kahlan nodded, wiping at the few tears that had escaped her eyes. “That’s it. I can see how much pain she’s in. I don’t know if she was before and I just couldn’t read it, but there’s so much pain and regret in her…I don’t know how she can stand it and I have to believe that being a Mord’Sith has something to do with it; that she doesn’t hurt like this all the time.” Kahlan sighed. “I want her back to normal. I want her to be Cara again.”
Zedd had no chance to respond as another voice entered the conversation.
“You seem very intent on ‘fixing’ me, Kahlan.”
They looked over to see Cara standing in the doorway, the hurt expression on her face went straight to Kahlan’s heart and she stood immediately, moving to the other woman. But Cara drew back from Kahlan’s outstretched hand, refusing to look at her. She turned her attention to Zedd.
“And you, Wizard, you seem to be devoting all of your time to make sure the Mother Confessor’s desire for me to be back to ‘normal’ is fulfilled.”
“Cara, I’m merely trying to find out what’s happened to you.” Zedd said, standing too. “Kahlan’s worried about you. We both are.”
“What is it exactly that you’re both so worried about?” Cara asked. “Are you worried about me no longer being a cold-blooded killer? Worried about me no longer being tied to Richard and your quest?” Her eyes swung to meet Kahlan’s. “Worried that a single touch from you no longer holds the threat of an excruciating death over my head if I ever get out of line?”
Kahlan’s mouth formed an exclamation of disbelief but no sound came out. Cara’s words had hit her like a kick to the stomach and she couldn’t get air into or out of her lungs. Zedd came to stand at Kahlan’s shoulder.
“Cara, you don’t mean that.”
“Don’t I?” she challenged. “This from the man who slept with a dagger under his pillow until more recently than he admits to. Don’t stand there and pretend that you’re not still afraid of me on some level.”
“Cara,” Kahlan’s voice was a plea; an appeal for her to stop saying these things. Because Kahlan knew that Cara believed them to be true.
When Cara looked at her this time there was a spark of determination there. Cara had made up her mind about something and Kahlan was afraid to find out what it might be. She didn’t have to wait long.
“Confess me.”
Both Kahlan and Zedd stared at her, unspeaking. Cara lunged forward and grabbed Kahlan’s right hand, lifting it to her neck and pressing it against her flesh as if to emphasise what she was asking.
“Confess me. Then you’ll never have to be afraid of me again. Any of you.”
Kahlan shook her head, trying to wrest her hand out of Cara’s grip. “No. Cara, stop this.”
“But it’s perfect,” Cara protested. “You won’t kill me. I’m not a Mord’Sith And I already love you more than I thought it possible, so it wouldn’t make any difference if I were confessed. I’m already yours, Kahlan. Just take the rest of me and we can be together like we want to be.”
Kahlan managed to get her hand free and she backed away, moving slightly behind Zedd. The depth of feeling and the force of the truth behind Cara’s words was almost overwhelming.
“Cara,” she said, not quite managing to keep her voice from trembling. “I will not confess you. I’d sooner cut off my hand than destroy the person you are.”
Zedd looked like he wished he were anywhere but in the middle of this exchange, but he valiantly tried to get through to Cara.
“Cara, listen to Kahlan. This is not you. You would never ask her to take away your freewill.”
Cara didn’t even glance at the old man as he spoke; her attention remained with Kahlan. The light seemed to have completely gone from her eyes.
“If you will not take this opportunity to allow us to be together completely, I can only assume you don’t want to be with me. Perhaps you are keeping your options open. There’s always Prince Fyren, I’m sure he’d make an excellent sire. Or Richard, of course, who still holds a torch for you. I hope you’re happy with whichever you choose.”
Kahlan pushed past Zedd but Cara had already gone and Kahlan knew that she had no chance of catching her if she didn’t want to be caught. Kahlan turned back to Zedd and he raised his eyebrows.
“I’ll get back to the books.”
“Please,” Kahlan begged, her eyes filling with tears. “Find something soon.”
It was many hours later when Cara showed up at Kahlan’s bedchamber. The quiet knock and the shamefaced expression that greeted her when she opened the door almost prompted a fresh onslaught of tears. But she was determined that she would remain composed and have the conversation that she needed to. She reached out and pulled Cara into the room, dragging her to the bed and seating them both on the edge. She kept hold of Cara’s hand.
“I’m sorry.” Cara looked into her eyes, the skin between her eyebrows creased in worry. “I don’t know why I said those things to you and Zedd. Especially to you. I didn’t…I don’t want you to be with Fyren and I…”
Kahlan placed a gentle finger on Cara’s lips to quiet her. She brought both hands to Cara’s cheeks, making sure that they were looking directly into each other’s eyes before she spoke.
“Cara, I want to be with you.” She left no room for argument as she continued. “I want to be with all of you. I want you to push me and challenge me and argue with me and make fun of me. I don’t want some soulless devotee who follows me round like a puppydog. I want you.”
She punctuated her statement with a long, slow kiss of reassurance which Cara returned, eagerly. Kahlan pulled away enough to speak.
“I want you to talk to me about anything you want to, anything you need to, okay?” she urged. “I don’t want you to get to this point again…where you’re this worried. Just talk to me, okay?”
Cara nodded, moving in for another chaste kiss. She looked up into Kahlan’s eyes and for a moment Kahlan thought she might actually start to talk about what she was feeling. Cara nodded.
“I will, when I need to. But right now, can you hold me?”
Kahlan smiled and moved further onto the bed, waiting for Cara to join her. Neither of them bothered to undress. Kahlan waited until Cara was lying down before moving in behind her, moulding her curves to Cara’s. She wound her arm around Cara’s torso and pulled her closer, her chin coming to settle against the other woman’s shoulder.
“Are you okay?” she mumbled into Cara’s hair, wondering if she’d get an honest answer.
There was a pause and then Cara squeezed her arm.
“I’m okay right now.”
Kahlan nodded. Everything considered, that was all she could really ask for.
---
It was dark when they entered Aydindril. Richard could not help but find that fact ominous.
They had released the horses before their arrival. He had suspected Cara would insist that they sell, or a least trade them, but she made no comment. Although she had been quiet for most of the journey she somehow seemed more withdrawn as they neared their destination.
Their arrival failed to provide him any relief. He had felt a sense of certainty during their trip but that had completely evaporated. A large object had apparently lodged itself in his throat and the sensation he felt in the pit of his stomach suggested that he knew the outcome would not be favourable.
He contemplated asking passersby whether Kahlan and Zedd had arrived but he knew that he was just trying to stall. They made their way toward the Confessor’s Palace and whatever awaited them there.
As Richard entered the courtyard he spied a tall figure that simply could not be mistaken for anyone else.
“Zedd!” Richard called and was pleased that the person who turned to face him was indeed his grandfather.
“Richard!” Zedd cried. “You’ve made good time.”
If he hadn’t been focused on more urgent matters Richard might have paused to wonder why Zedd seemed unperturbed that he’d been swayed from his quest for the Stone.
“It’s good to see you too,” Richard grumbled.
“My boy it is a pleasure to see you but it pains me that things did not go entirely to plan.”
Richard felt an overwhelming sense of dread. Zedd’s words confirmed that something bad had indeed happened to Kahlan. He should have asked about her wellbeing but he really didn’t want to know the answer. “We encountered some problems,” Richard felt that was an appropriate synopsis and it neatly avoided the painful subject of Kahlan. .
Zedd’s brow creased. “We?”
Richard spun around and was surprised to find that Cara was not behind him. She had shadowed his every move since they reached Aydindril and he could not understand why she had disappeared.
“Mainly we were worried that something went wrong with the spell?”
“We?” Zedd asked again and Richard became concerned that the backfiring spell had not just harmed Kahlan. It seemed that his grandfather was now senile.
“Yes, Wizard, it means more than one person,” Cara said stepping from the shadows and startling both Richard and Zedd. “As in, Richard and I…we.”
“By the spirits!” Zedd’s eyes almost fell out of his head, he clutched his chest in shock and reeled back. Richard immediately went to him and Cara frowned.
“Zedd? What’s wrong?” Richard asked, leading him to a chair. The wizard’s eyes never left Cara, taking in her full Mord’Sith uniform and blank expression. He turned to Richard for a moment, and then back to the young woman.
“Cara, could you excuse us for a moment?” he asked.
“You’re excused,” Cara said, not moving. Richard sighed.
“Cara, give as a moment alone, would you?” he said.
“As you wish, Lord Rahl,” Cara said, rolling the words around her tongue seductively before turning and melting into the shadows. Zedd watched her disappear and then turned his attention to the Seeker.
“Have you, perhaps, noticed anything strange about Cara on your journey?” he asked in a low voice.
Richard raised both of his eyebrows. He had no idea how Zedd could possibly know that there was something wrong with Cara. “She is a Mord’Sith.”
“Well, naturally,” Zedd replied.
“No, I mean only a Mord’Sith. It’s like the Cara that we know has completely gone.”
Zedd nodded. It was all starting to make sense.
“Richard,” he began. “Cara’s here.”
“I know Zedd. We just arrived together. You just saw her.” Richard spoke slowly. Zedd’s faculties had clearly been damaged.
“No, Richard,” Zedd said, grasping his shoulder and looking at him very seriously. “Cara has been here, with Kahlan and I, since we left.”
Richard took a moment to process the words, his whole face contorting with the effort. Kahlan was clearly alive and Zedd did not seemed concerned about her.
“So…if Cara’s been here…who’s been travelling with me?” he asked, slowly.
“Also Cara!” Zedd announced. “I think she was split into two when I cast the spell. The side of her that has a duty to protect and obey you stayed behind, and her heart came with Kahlan. Neither of them are actually Cara…they’re two sides of the same coin.”
“Her…heart?” Richard questioned. “So the Cara here…?”
“Probably has to be seen to be believed,” Zedd said, inclining his head meaningfully. “Let’s go. She and Kahlan are taking an evening meal in the dining hall.”
---
Servants placed plates containing generous slices of rich fig tart in front of Cara and Kahlan. They were seated at a banquet table that could easily take thirty people. Kahlan was at the head of the table, as was befitting of her station, with Cara to her right. She watched as Cara toyed with the dessert with her fork, without eating any of it. She’d barely touched her meal. Although Cara could endure days without food if necessary, she always ate when it was plentiful; a survival mentality.
Since Cara’s nightmares began, she’d grown quiet, introspective. Her outburst the previous day had only intensified it. With each passing day, Kahlan grew more worried. At first Cara had seemed happy enough. But as time moved on, it was clear that more than just her Mord’Sith abilities had been affected. She was withdrawn and troubled. The nightmares had given Kahlan an insight into what was preying on her mind and she was concerned that it was going to engulf her if she let it go on much longer.
Aside from any of that, Kahlan missed the Cara she knew. She just wanted that Cara back.
“Would you like anything else, Mother Confessor?”
Kahlan looked up, almost having forgotten anyone but Cara was in the room.
“No, thank you. We’ll call if we need anything.”
The servant nodded and turned to leave and Kahlan returned her attention to her dining companion. She sighed as Cara laid her fork down, her dessert untouched. Kahlan picked up her own fork and dug into her tart, taking a large bite.
“It’s good,” she told Cara as she chewed. “You should try it.”
“I’m not hungry,” Cara replied, giving Kahlan a small smile.
“Neither am I, really,” Kahlan admitted, taking another mouthful. “And I really shouldn’t eat any more rich food or this dress isn’t going to fit me.”
“Nonsense!” Cara scoffed. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. A little more meat on your bones would only accentuate your beauty.”
Kahlan laughed in wonder at the effusive praise.
“So you’re saying you’d love me even if I was fat?” she teased.
Cara reached up to brush some crumbs from the side of Kahlan’s mouth, cupping her cheek once she’d done so. She looked into Kahlan’s eyes, her face growing serious.
“Kahlan, perhaps I haven’t said this to you often enough, but I love you to the ends of the earth and back again,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “No matter what.”
Kahlan covered the hand on her face, leaning in to press her lips to Cara’s, her eyes brimming with tears at the simple, heartfelt declaration. They were so caught up in the kiss that neither of them noticed the door opening.
“Get your hands off her!”
Kahlan’s head whipped around at the sound of the rage-filled voice to find Cara, in full Mord’Sith regalia, advancing on them. The Cara whose hand she was still holding recoiled in fear and shock.
Kahlan looked from one to the other and swiftly stood up, standing in front of Cara and holding her hands up in surrender. The other Cara stopped just short of ramming an agiel into Kahlan’s stomach. Her eyes were blazing and Kahlan felt her heart speed up at the sight of it. Tentatively she reached out a hand and placed it on Cara’s shoulder. She had expected the Mord’Sith to jerk away, what she had not expected was to have her hand whacked away by an agiel.
“Cara…” Kahlan placed a hand around her injured wrist.
“What are you doing with this impostor?” Cara demanded, baring her teeth at her counterpart. “She’s obviously tricked you into thinking she’s me.” She took a moment to take in what the other one was wearing, a simple pink dress. “Although apparently you are easily fooled. Her disguise could use a lot of work.”
Kahlan felt movement behind her and Cara’s hands came to rest on her hips, she could feel the fear rolling off her and she wanted nothing more than to turn and pull her into her arms. But she felt like that might not go down well with the Cara who was currently brandishing two fully functioning agiels.
The Mord’Sith moved closer, “Get out of the way, Kahlan and let me deal with her.”
“You will not harm her,” Kahlan warned.
“No? And who’s going to stop me, Mother Confessor?” Cara challenged. “You? You would confess someone you claim to love?”
“I will not confess you,” Kahlan said making sure that her body was shielding the Cara behind her. “But I won’t let you touch her. ”
The leather clad woman stepped forward and pressed her body against Kahlan. “Did you touch her, Kahlan?” Cara bit the confessor’s neck and dropped her voice. “Did you lay with her and whisper sweet nothings in her ear all night long? Is that what you want from your lover, Mother Confessor?”
Kahlan was sandwiched between two Caras. There was no doubt in her mind that they both were Cara. Well, at least they both were, and weren’t, Cara. The Cara at her back whimpered in fear and the Cara in front of her stared at her with a frightening intensity. “You need to understand. She is you.”
“She most certainly is not,” the leather clad woman snarled. “But you don’t need to worry about having betrayed me. When I am done with her I will remind you of what a real lover can do.” Cara had not let go of her agiels and as she stroked Kahlan’s cheek with the back of a gloved hand the confessor could hear the weapon whirring loudly.
The Mord’Sith licked at Kahlan’s lip and the other Cara cried out in pain. Before Kahlan could stop it, the gentler Cara had flung herself at the aggressor screaming, “You will not touch her.”
The fight was short lived. The battle ready Cara swept the legs out from under her counterpart and she fell to the ground with a thud. No version of Cara gives up easily and the downed Cara rose to her feet and attempted to wrestle an agiel away. When the weapon touched Cara’s bare flesh she howled in pain and crumbled to her knees.
Tears were falling from her eyes as she turned to the confessor. “Kahlan what is wrong with me?”
The other Cara also turned to Kahlan, “This is who you tried to replace me with?” She rolled her eyes and for a second she actually looked like the Cara that Kahlan knew and loved. That feeling was short lived because Cara’s next words were, “I will end her.”
The Mord’Sith pressed her agiel to her double’s neck, causing her to scream. Immediately Kahlan tackled Cara away, sending them both sprawling across the floor. To Kahlan’s disbelief and horror Cara thrust an agiel into her stomach. Searing pain sliced through the Mother Confessor’s body and she could barely move. She was in no position to help the version of Cara who was again about to be under attack and fought back the only way she could.
“Please don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything.”
Cara turned and removed the agiel that was once again spreading black lines across the skin on her double’s neck. She left her adversary, but not before she kicked her in the head, and came to kneel at Kahlan’s side.
“Define anything, my dear.”
“Anything,” Kahlan confirmed solemnly.
“Will you let me make you my mate?”
Kahlan was aware of what was being asked of her, but as she heard the soft cries of the Cara who was not able to defend herself she knew she had no choice.
“I will.”
Cara straddled Kahlan and she closed her eyes, “Good choice. You will not regret it. Well not by the time I am done.”
“Just promise me that you won’t hurt her.”
“You are in no position to make demands, Confessor.” Cara highlighted her point by squeezing Kahlan’s breast. “She is a disgrace and she should not be allowed to live.”
“Please just do this for me.”
“As you wish Kahlan,” Cara leant down and kissed her. “We will have to leave here.”
“Of course,” Kahlan replied.
“I’m sorry to have to do this, but I can’t trust you not to alert the others.”
Kahlan saw the agiel swing towards her head and the then the world went black.
Part 3
Night was approaching on the third day of their journey, and Richard’s horse was beginning to lag. The pace that Cara was setting was brutal. It wasn’t just the horse who was having difficulty, Richard’s body ached and his stomach loudly protested its empty state. He was going to suggest that it was time to make camp when Cara held her hand up and slowed her horse.
She flicked a glance at him and the predatory look in her eyes was frightening. She launched off her mount and landed in a crouch. Richard’s body came to life. Cara’s actions telegraphed danger and his skin now prickled. He dismounted and drew the Sword of Truth.
The attack came swiftly with three approaching from the front and another three at their flank. Richard moved to fight back to back with Cara but she had already engaged the first of their opponents. Richard was forced to take the three approaching from the rear.
He had felled one and was managing to keep the other two at bay when Cara joined the fray. She landed on the back of the larger of the two and locked her hands around his head. She twisted her arm and the force of her movement snapped his neck. He crumpled to the ground and she stepped over his body as she approached the last of the men. He dropped his sword and held his hands up in surrender.
The Mord’Sith was blind to his actions. She kicked him in solar plexus forcing him to double over and then crashed her knee into his head. He fell sideways and she straddled him, reigning blows on his face. When he stopped moving she rolled him onto his back and placed her agiel in the centre of his chest.
The woman who rose terrified Richard. Her mouth was smeared with blood and there was no trace of humanity in her face.
“Cara,” Richard looked down at the broken body before him, “you didn’t need to kill him.”
“He was a threat,” she stated matter-of-factly.
“He was outnumbered and disarmed. He was no threat to you.”
“And if he were to live?”
“He would have known that you showed him compassion.”
Cara looked at him as though he were defective, “He would have known our position and could have bought reinforcements. I can assure you that if it were us who were outnumbered and unarmed he would have shown us no mercy.”
“That may well be but you didn’t need to kill him. For all you know these were common thieves and no reinforcements were to be had.”
She looked down at the corpse, “Perhaps I could have just broken both his legs.”
“That is not what I meant.”
“You would prefer that I risk your safety for the sake of a man who attacked us?”
“I would prefer that there is no senseless killing,” Richard stated.
“Then I fear your reign as Lord Rahl will be brief.” Cara replied as she mounted her horse as though nothing had happened.
---
To Richard’s surprise Cara allowed them to camp for the night. She even allowed him to eat, although she drew the line at a campfire. She seemed convinced that the woods were teeming with enemies.
Cara was taciturn throughout the evening which suited Richard. He really didn’t know what he would say to her. Cara informed him that he needed to rest so they could start before the sun rose to get better use of the horses. He had no objection and turned in soon after he had eaten.
Richard lay with his sword closer to him than usual. On some level he feared that Cara would slit his throat during the night. He was convinced that he would not be able to sleep but it appeared that he was wrong because he startled awake to find Cara lying on top of him.
His brain was still a little groggy from sleep but it didn’t take him long to process that Cara was naked and that her hand was massaging his crotch.
“Cara! What do you think you’re doing?”
“My duty, Lord Rahl. We fought hard today and release is warranted.”
Cara slid up so that she was sitting over the area that her hand had been attending to.
“We shouldn’t do this,” Richard said.
Cara rocked her hips against him and cupped her own breast with her hand. “I know that you like women.”
“That’s not the problem.”
Cara stilled and closed her eyes.
“Am I not pleasing to you. my lord?”
Richard wasn’t sure how someone could be terrifying and vulnerable at the same time but she had managed it.
“There is nothing wrong with you Cara.”
“Good.”
She attacked his neck with violent kisses. Richard tried to use his weight to push her off but she clung to him and he ended up on top on her.
“Cara we cannot do this.”
“Why not?”
“Because of Kahlan.”
Cara’s body went rigid and Richard was briefly worried that she may use the hand that was resting on the back of his neck to choke him.
“You’re still in love with her.”
“No.” A lie. “But you are.” The truth.
“Oh that,” Cara said dismissively and skimmed her hands down Richard’s body.
“What would Kahlan say if she was here now?”
“Kahlan might stab one of us. Probably you."
“So we can’t do this.”
“But Lord Rahl, Kahlan is not here.”
Richard was starting to worry about himself because during their brief exchange of words about Kahlan, Cara had managed to pull his pants down without him noticing.
It was difficult to find a face saving way to convince Cara to stop when she was stroking the shaft of his erect penis. She seemed to sense that the tide was changing and she slithered lower to claim him with her mouth.
She was far from gentle and she used her teeth on parts of his body that he felt should be treated more delicately but there was no denying that he enjoyed her ministrations. Her hands came to his ass and he felt the urge to thrust against her face but that was not how he wanted this to go.
“No,” he said.
Cara didn’t stop and he pulled roughly at her shoulders. She bit down in response and he yelped. Her lips decreased their pressure and he was certain that she was smiling.
He grabbed her again and this time managed to pull her up so that he could enter her. In return Cara forced her tongue into his mouth and dug her nails into his back.
Richard could feel Cara rocking against him and knew that he was moving close to the brink. He attempted to slow his own hips but that met with opposition from Cara.
“Harder my lord.”
He increased his pace and felt that he was slamming into her but this didn’t seem to be enough for Cara.
“Harder,” she insisted.
“I don’t want to hurt you.”
“Pain and pleasure are closer than people think.” She nipped at his shoulder and he had to admit that the pain was satisfying. That may have been a moot point though because his movements had become less co-ordinated and he felt that may not have had much control from that point on.
He thrust as hard and as deep as he was able and was pleased to note that Cara arched her back and let out a long moan. Not long after that he spasmed for the last time.
There was certainly no snuggling to be had. There were not even words exchanged. Cara simply got up and returned to her part of the camp.
Richard’s post coital period wasn’t exactly blissful. Part of him had to admit that there were definite advantages to being the Lord Rahl but he knew that Cara was not herself and feared that Kahlan may never forever him for what he’d done. For that matter he may not be able to forgive himself.
---
Kahlan gradually became aware of movement in the bed beside her. She fought against the pull of sleep and managed to force her eyes open. Cara was shaking her head and grasping at the sheets, obviously caught in a nightmare. Kahlan couldn’t ever remember Cara mentioning dreaming, let alone having nightmares.
“No…” Cara whimpered, her head thrashing to one side. Kahlan could see in the moonlight that she was sweating.
She reached over and placed a hand on Cara’s abdomen, over the covers, careful not to startle her. She’d learned to her detriment never to wake a trained warrior suddenly. The look of pain on Cara’s face was breaking her heart and she shook her gently.
“Cara, Cara wake up,” she murmured, inching closer.
“No…” Cara said again, only this time it was drawn out into almost a wail. “Don’t hurt them…”
Kahlan’s brow creased in concern and she shook Cara harder.
“Cara, come on, you’re dreaming,” she said loudly.
Cara awoke with a jerk, sitting up and looking around wildly, trying to ascertain where she was. Kahlan sat up too, rubbing soothing circles into Cara’s lower back but not crowding her, letting her come back to herself.
Cara lifted a shaking hand to rake through her hair, her breathing slowly returning to normal. Kahlan moved closer and pressed a kiss to her shoulder.
“Are you okay?” she whispered, leaving her lips against Cara’s skin.
Silence dragged out between them, only broken by the sound of Cara’s ragged breathing.
“I keep seeing them.”
The whispered admission was almost lost to the night but Kahlan caught it. She propped her chin on Cara’s shoulder, sliding her hand around to her belly.
“Who do you see?”
Again, the response wasn’t immediate, though Kahlan knew it was coming and waited without further prompting.
“All of them. All of the people I killed. And maimed. And tortured.”
Her voice caught on the last word and she covered her face with her hands. Kahlan closed her eyes, tightening her arm around Cara and turning her face into her hair.
“You’ve changed,” she whispered, fiercely. “You were a different person.”
But Cara was already shaking her head, forming a denial.
“It was me, Kahlan,” she said. “It was my hands, my eyes that looked into theirs...Creator, their eyes haunt me.”
Kahlan’s hand was gentle on her chin, turning her face around so that their eyes locked in the dim light. She shook her head. “But it wasn’t your choice, was it? It was Darken Rahl’s. It was his choice that you were taken as a child and tortured into accepting a life of obedience and servitude. It was his choice that you killed all those people, not yours.”
Kahlan had often wondered if Cara thought about her past deeds. It wasn’t a subject they discussed often. Kahlan assumed that Cara had accepted them for what they were: part of her past. That’s how Kahlan viewed them. Sometimes she marvelled at exactly how easy it was for her to separate Cara’s deeds from Cara as a person. She wondered if she would be so quick to forgive anyone else who had carried out the atrocities that Cara had. It gave Kahlan pause to think about the people that she killed in battle. She’d killed countless soldiers and scores of Mord’Sith, all of whom were only following orders. Those people never got the chance to redeem themselves.
Cara’s eyes dropped and Kahlan reined in the desire to kiss everything away. She could sense that there was more to come. She was right. Cara inhaled; her breath still shaky. She didn’t lift her eyes as she spoke.
“How can you look at me? Touch me? Bear to be near me?” Finally her eyes met Kahlan’s. “I killed your sister.”
Kahlan let her forehead drop forward to rest against Cara’s, closing her eyes. “I know. And it took me a long time to reconcile that image of you with the woman I travelled with every day.” Here she did kiss Cara, a tiny kiss on her lips. “You are here because you made the choice to be here...because you want to be here with us, saving the world, helping people. For the first time in your life, your choices are your own and you chose to be here.” She lifted her head to look into Cara’s eyes again. “How could I not admire that?”
Cara let out a short, bitter laugh, shaking her head. “You say that like anybody would feel the same.” She brought her hand to Kahlan’s cheek. “They wouldn’t. You, Kahlan Amnell, are uniquely compassionate.”
Kahlan blushed under such a direct compliment from Cara. Her smile was soft as she replied. “I think most people would respond to the changes you’ve made, Cara. But that’s not why I love you. I love you because you’re funny and smart and challenging and sweet.” Cara laughed at that and Kahlan’s smile stretched at the sound of it. ”You are. And because of those things and a million others I could list if you really want me to, I love you. And I think most people would too, if you gave them a chance. Because you, Cara Mason, are a loveable person.”
Cara rolled her eyes, as Kahlan had expected, but she was glad to see a small smile tug at the other woman’s lips.
“I don’t care to be loveable.” The grumble almost sounded like Cara was back to herself. “I care to be loved by you and you alone.” There was a short pause. “And Richard, I suppose. And maybe Zedd. A little.”
“Well, I think you can be safe in the knowledge that you have our love.” She leaned in a little closer to whisper. “Especially mine.”
The smile faded from Cara’s face and it was like watching a star falling out of the sky. She closed her eyes for a moment. Kahlan waited for her to speak. When Cara opened her eyes, they were shining.
“I want to spend my life trying to be deserving of that love. Of you.”
Kahlan felt her own eyes grow hot with tears. She slid her hand behind Cara’s neck, threading it up into her hair, pulling their faces together. When she spoke, her lips brushed against Cara’s.
“You already are. Please believe that.”
Cara pressed her lips against Kahlan’s in a firm kiss. “I’ll try.”
Kahlan reclaimed her lips, turning so that Cara was forced to lay back against the pillows with Kahlan hovering over her. She looked down at Cara and dipped her head to steal another sweet kiss. “Then let me help to convince you.”
Kahlan moved so that she was on her knees, fully straddling Cara’s waist. The Mord’Sith had taken to sleeping in the nude since their arrival in Aydindril and now, bathed in moonlight, her skin appeared to glow with a warmth that Kahlan knew would be borne out if she were to reach out and touch her. She held off, taking a moment just to drink in the sight of her lover stretched out and waiting. Cara’s eyes were so full of trust that Kahlan’s chest felt tight at the privilege. She brought her hands to the hem of the shift she’d been sleeping in and pulled it over her head, leaving her as naked as Cara. Almost immediately, Cara’s hands were at her hips, sliding upwards slowly. She covered them with her own to halt their progress, shaking her head.
“No.”
“No?” Cara’s brow was twisted in confusion and Kahlan smiled at the lines that had formed between her eyebrows; she’d always found them adorable.
“No. This is about your enjoyment tonight. Your pleasure.”
Cara’s lips slid into an easy smile. She rubbed her thumbs across the skin of Kahlan’s sides.
“Kahlan, if you think that touching you doesn’t bring me pleasure, you’re very much mistaken.”
Despite a long acquaintance with Cara’s ability to discuss these matters without embarrassment, Kahlan couldn’t fight the blush that bloomed across her neck and chest. She squeezed Cara’s hands, still trapped beneath her own.
“I know it does. But tonight I want to touch you…” Her voice was rich with humour when she continued. “If you have any energy left once I’m done with you, maybe I’ll let you touch me.”
The remark clearly took Cara by surprise and she let loose a peal of laughter that tickled Kahlan’s ears.
“Well, that sounds like a challenge if ever I heard one, Mother Confessor.” Cara’s eyes twinkled. “One I will gladly accept.”
Kahlan pulled Cara’s hands away from her sides and leaned forward to press them to the pillow above Cara’s head. She kissed her nose, highly aware that her breasts were pushing against Cara’s. “Mmmhmmm. We’ll see how long that lasts.” Kahlan was no fool. She knew that by insinuating that Cara couldn’t help but touch her, she was increasing the likelihood that Cara’s focus and stubbornness would actually allow her the time to explore the blonde’s body.
Cara grunted and lifted off the bed, pressing the length of their bodies together. Kahlan’s breath caught in her throat and she narrowed her eyes.
“Sorry.” Cara looked anything but. “Habit.”
With a final kiss, Kahlan released Cara’s wrists and pushed herself back up so that she was kneeling again, resting against Cara’s abdomen. She was sure that her arousal was evident against the other woman’s skin. She watched with approval as Cara’s hands moved to grasp the spokes of the headboard, giving Kahlan permission to do as she pleased. And Kahlan planned to.
She placed both hands on Cara’s ribs, framing her torso and revelling in the sharp intake of breath it caused. She slid her hands up and around, cupping Cara’s breasts, rubbing her thumbs over erect nipples and teasing them briefly before moving away. Cara let out a low keening sound at the loss, but this rapidly changed into a moan as Kahlan shifted and lowered her mouth to run her tongue over the hardened nub. She took her time worshipping Cara’s breasts, moving from one to the other, replacing mouth with hands and vice versa until she was sure Cara was well and truly worked up.
“Kahlan.” In one word Kahlan could hear the need and desire in Cara’s voice. She stretched up to see her face, A sheen of sweat coated Cara’s forehead, her eyes glassy and unfocussed. Kahlan glided up Cara’s body, making sure that every part of them that could be touching was touching. The move caused Cara to bite her lip and let her head drop back. Kahlan took advantage of this and licked a stripe up Cara’s neck, over her thundering pulse, to her earlobe which she bit gently.
Cara turned her head to meet Kahlan’s lips in a fierce kiss, their tongues clashing before settling into a familiar dance. Kahlan slipped her thigh between Cara’s, gasping at the evidence of her arousal. Cara’s hips began to move, seeking out contact, but Kahlan shifted again, making sure her leg was just out of reach. A half whine, half growl erupted from Cara and Kahlan smiled against her lips.
“Soon. I promise.”
Cara shook her head, desperately. “No. Now, Kahlan. Please.”
Kahlan’s brow creased in concern and she stroked Cara’s cheek, startled by the plea. Cara did not beg. Kahlan nodded, letting her hand drift downwards until she reached the source of Cara’s need. She ran her fingers through slick folds, coating them in wet heat and entering Cara suddenly. The blonde cried out, her hips rising to meet Kahlan’s hand, deepening her thrust. Kahlan withdrew her hand, bringing it up to coat Cara’s lips before covering them with her own, the taste making both of them moan and increasing their need.
When she drew back, Kahlan didn’t waste any time. She returned her hand to its previous position, playing with Cara’s clit but not applying nearly enough pressure to be satisfying. She kissed her way down Cara’s body, nipping at the skin with her teeth and leaving marks in her wake. She settled on her belly between Cara’s legs. Keeping up the gentle pressure with her fingers, she leaned in and pressed a kiss against Cara’s centre. She anticipated the rise of her pelvis and used her other arm to keep her in place.
“Kahlan.” Cara’s voice was no more than an exhalation now, but to her credit, she was still holding the bars of the headboard. Kahlan decided to reward her by cutting short her teasing. She flattened her tongue and dragged it over Cara’s clit, feeling Cara’s moan reverberate through her body. She could feel her own magic building as her arousal grew, but clamped down on it, keeping it at bay. She licked several short, sharp strokes where Cara needed them before sliding her tongue inside.
A tug at her hair indicated that Cara’s patience had run out and Kahlan smile against her. “What do you want?”
“Up.” Cara urged with voice and hand fisted in her hair. “Up here…with me.”
Kahlan knew they didn’t have much time and she dropped a final kiss on Cara’s pubic bone before moving up to drape her body over her lover’s. Cara’s breathing was heavy Kahlan swept away sweat soaked hair from her brow, kissing there and on her cheek and on her mouth. Her other hand quickly entered Cara, thrusting deeply, the heel of her hand adding much needed friction and her hips driving her thrusts. They moved together for long moments, Cara straining up against Kahlan. Her hands now moved freely over Kahlan’s body, pulling her closer and holding her.
The first tremors of Cara’s orgasm swept over Kahlan and she fought to keep her eyes from turning black. Cara’s body rose up, muscles screaming as she went rigid beneath Kahlan. She whispered Kahlan’s name and fell back down, boneless and gasping for air. Kahlan continued to stroke her gently, letting her come down, watching the emotions play across her face.
When she was finally able to open her eyes, Cara smiled up at Kahlan, pulling her down for a sweet kiss.
“I love you,” she breathed. “With everything in me, I love you.”
Kahlan swallowed hard against the sudden lump in her throat. Cara, though demonstrative in her own way, did not often say those words unprompted; generally she said them as a muttered response to Kahlan saying them first.
“I love you too,” Kahlan managed to get out. “If only you knew how much.”
Cara ran her forefinger from Kahlan’s brow, down her nose, to cover her lips. She smiled.
“Not half as much as I love you.”
Kahlan shook her head in protest, but the smile on Cara’s face showed she was mostly teasing. Kahlan sighed dramatically.
“Are you just trying to get me to show you again?”
In an unexpected move, Cara rolled them both over so that she was lying on top of Kahlan. She grinned. “I believe it’s my turn to show you.”
---
When Richard awoke he was no longer frightened that Cara might be waiting to kill him. He was much more concerned that she might be naked again. When he thought about it, a knife at his throat may have been the better option.
He cautiously opened his eyes and was pleased to discover that Cara was not in his field of vision. He hurried to gather his bedroll and to attend to his horse. Cara had already beaten him to the job and she stood between the horses holding their reins. He stuffed his bedding into the saddle bag and swung himself onto his mount.
Cara gracefully followed suit but then she walked her horse around his in a slow circle.
“You look pale, Lord Rahl.”
“I’m fine.”
“Did you not get enough sleep?”
That was something that Richard did not want to talk about. Ever. “I’m fine.”
She tilted her head to the side and smiled, “You are clearly worried. I’m just not sure if you fear that I will pounce on you or that I won’t.”
Things were skirting around a topic that he desperately wanted to avoid, “We should get going. There is still a lot of ground to cover.”
“You don’t need to be embarrassed. I’m here to do your bidding. Whatever that may be.” She shot him a lust filled glance and suddenly the crotch of his pants seemed way too tight. This was not in any way helping the situation.
“Cara, we really need to get to Kahlan.”
Cara’s body went rigid and she dropped her eyes, “As you wish.” She flicked her reins and her horse took off leaving him alone with his thoughts.
Only a few days ago he had judged Cara for putting the horses at risk but when he kicked his heels into the horse’s flank he had no concerns for its safety. Sparing the horses was no longer an option. They needed to get to Aydindril as quickly as possible.
Richard did not allow him himself to contemplate what would happen if they got there and could not find Zedd and Kahlan. They absolutely had to be there because the alternative was unbearable. Something was very wrong with Cara and if Zedd and Kahlan were not there fix it, people were going to suffer.
---
Kahlan had finished hearing supplicants for the day and was heading to the library to see if Zedd had made any progress in his quest for answers. She knew in her heart that he had not or he would have sent word to her. She pushed open the heavy wooden door to find the wizard with his elbows on the table and his face in his hands. She froze in the doorway.
“Zedd?”
Her voice was barely above a whisper as she was using all of her effort not to panic at his desolate pose. He looked up and offered her a weary smile.
“Kahlan. How has your day been?”
Her body relaxed a little at the conversational tone in his voice and she stepped further into the room, taking a seat beside Zedd at the table. She placed her hand over his where it lay on an open book between them.
“My day has been unremarkable,” she said, squeezing his hand. “How has your day been?”
“Uninspiring.”
She watched him deflate, sinking down in his seat. He looked older since their arrival in Aydindril. She tried to smile for his benefit but it came off a half-hearted at best.
“You’ll find something. You’ll fix this.” She nodded as she was speaking but she could not shake the niggling voice in her head, wondering what would become of them all if he couldn’t.
“I’ve…sensed a change in her these past days,” Zedd ventured, watching Kahlan’s face for a reaction. “You seem to be more concerned than you were.”
Kahlan closed her eyes and tried to think of a way to put her thoughts into words because it was difficult to pinpoint exactly what was wrong. She looked at Zedd.
“It’s like she’s feeling too much,” she began, her words hesitant, almost as if saying them aloud made them more real. “I don’t know if that explains what’s happening, but it seems as if being a Mord’Sith allowed her to control her thoughts and feelings and now she can’t and it’s hurting her.” A sob caught in her throat. “I can’t bear to see her hurting.”
His hand came to rest on her shoulder.
“I know, child. I know. I saw her in the courtyard this morning and I was trying to think of a word to describe how she appeared to me. ‘Haunted’ was the one that wouldn’t leave.”
Kahlan nodded, wiping at the few tears that had escaped her eyes. “That’s it. I can see how much pain she’s in. I don’t know if she was before and I just couldn’t read it, but there’s so much pain and regret in her…I don’t know how she can stand it and I have to believe that being a Mord’Sith has something to do with it; that she doesn’t hurt like this all the time.” Kahlan sighed. “I want her back to normal. I want her to be Cara again.”
Zedd had no chance to respond as another voice entered the conversation.
“You seem very intent on ‘fixing’ me, Kahlan.”
They looked over to see Cara standing in the doorway, the hurt expression on her face went straight to Kahlan’s heart and she stood immediately, moving to the other woman. But Cara drew back from Kahlan’s outstretched hand, refusing to look at her. She turned her attention to Zedd.
“And you, Wizard, you seem to be devoting all of your time to make sure the Mother Confessor’s desire for me to be back to ‘normal’ is fulfilled.”
“Cara, I’m merely trying to find out what’s happened to you.” Zedd said, standing too. “Kahlan’s worried about you. We both are.”
“What is it exactly that you’re both so worried about?” Cara asked. “Are you worried about me no longer being a cold-blooded killer? Worried about me no longer being tied to Richard and your quest?” Her eyes swung to meet Kahlan’s. “Worried that a single touch from you no longer holds the threat of an excruciating death over my head if I ever get out of line?”
Kahlan’s mouth formed an exclamation of disbelief but no sound came out. Cara’s words had hit her like a kick to the stomach and she couldn’t get air into or out of her lungs. Zedd came to stand at Kahlan’s shoulder.
“Cara, you don’t mean that.”
“Don’t I?” she challenged. “This from the man who slept with a dagger under his pillow until more recently than he admits to. Don’t stand there and pretend that you’re not still afraid of me on some level.”
“Cara,” Kahlan’s voice was a plea; an appeal for her to stop saying these things. Because Kahlan knew that Cara believed them to be true.
When Cara looked at her this time there was a spark of determination there. Cara had made up her mind about something and Kahlan was afraid to find out what it might be. She didn’t have to wait long.
“Confess me.”
Both Kahlan and Zedd stared at her, unspeaking. Cara lunged forward and grabbed Kahlan’s right hand, lifting it to her neck and pressing it against her flesh as if to emphasise what she was asking.
“Confess me. Then you’ll never have to be afraid of me again. Any of you.”
Kahlan shook her head, trying to wrest her hand out of Cara’s grip. “No. Cara, stop this.”
“But it’s perfect,” Cara protested. “You won’t kill me. I’m not a Mord’Sith And I already love you more than I thought it possible, so it wouldn’t make any difference if I were confessed. I’m already yours, Kahlan. Just take the rest of me and we can be together like we want to be.”
Kahlan managed to get her hand free and she backed away, moving slightly behind Zedd. The depth of feeling and the force of the truth behind Cara’s words was almost overwhelming.
“Cara,” she said, not quite managing to keep her voice from trembling. “I will not confess you. I’d sooner cut off my hand than destroy the person you are.”
Zedd looked like he wished he were anywhere but in the middle of this exchange, but he valiantly tried to get through to Cara.
“Cara, listen to Kahlan. This is not you. You would never ask her to take away your freewill.”
Cara didn’t even glance at the old man as he spoke; her attention remained with Kahlan. The light seemed to have completely gone from her eyes.
“If you will not take this opportunity to allow us to be together completely, I can only assume you don’t want to be with me. Perhaps you are keeping your options open. There’s always Prince Fyren, I’m sure he’d make an excellent sire. Or Richard, of course, who still holds a torch for you. I hope you’re happy with whichever you choose.”
Kahlan pushed past Zedd but Cara had already gone and Kahlan knew that she had no chance of catching her if she didn’t want to be caught. Kahlan turned back to Zedd and he raised his eyebrows.
“I’ll get back to the books.”
“Please,” Kahlan begged, her eyes filling with tears. “Find something soon.”
It was many hours later when Cara showed up at Kahlan’s bedchamber. The quiet knock and the shamefaced expression that greeted her when she opened the door almost prompted a fresh onslaught of tears. But she was determined that she would remain composed and have the conversation that she needed to. She reached out and pulled Cara into the room, dragging her to the bed and seating them both on the edge. She kept hold of Cara’s hand.
“I’m sorry.” Cara looked into her eyes, the skin between her eyebrows creased in worry. “I don’t know why I said those things to you and Zedd. Especially to you. I didn’t…I don’t want you to be with Fyren and I…”
Kahlan placed a gentle finger on Cara’s lips to quiet her. She brought both hands to Cara’s cheeks, making sure that they were looking directly into each other’s eyes before she spoke.
“Cara, I want to be with you.” She left no room for argument as she continued. “I want to be with all of you. I want you to push me and challenge me and argue with me and make fun of me. I don’t want some soulless devotee who follows me round like a puppydog. I want you.”
She punctuated her statement with a long, slow kiss of reassurance which Cara returned, eagerly. Kahlan pulled away enough to speak.
“I want you to talk to me about anything you want to, anything you need to, okay?” she urged. “I don’t want you to get to this point again…where you’re this worried. Just talk to me, okay?”
Cara nodded, moving in for another chaste kiss. She looked up into Kahlan’s eyes and for a moment Kahlan thought she might actually start to talk about what she was feeling. Cara nodded.
“I will, when I need to. But right now, can you hold me?”
Kahlan smiled and moved further onto the bed, waiting for Cara to join her. Neither of them bothered to undress. Kahlan waited until Cara was lying down before moving in behind her, moulding her curves to Cara’s. She wound her arm around Cara’s torso and pulled her closer, her chin coming to settle against the other woman’s shoulder.
“Are you okay?” she mumbled into Cara’s hair, wondering if she’d get an honest answer.
There was a pause and then Cara squeezed her arm.
“I’m okay right now.”
Kahlan nodded. Everything considered, that was all she could really ask for.
---
It was dark when they entered Aydindril. Richard could not help but find that fact ominous.
They had released the horses before their arrival. He had suspected Cara would insist that they sell, or a least trade them, but she made no comment. Although she had been quiet for most of the journey she somehow seemed more withdrawn as they neared their destination.
Their arrival failed to provide him any relief. He had felt a sense of certainty during their trip but that had completely evaporated. A large object had apparently lodged itself in his throat and the sensation he felt in the pit of his stomach suggested that he knew the outcome would not be favourable.
He contemplated asking passersby whether Kahlan and Zedd had arrived but he knew that he was just trying to stall. They made their way toward the Confessor’s Palace and whatever awaited them there.
As Richard entered the courtyard he spied a tall figure that simply could not be mistaken for anyone else.
“Zedd!” Richard called and was pleased that the person who turned to face him was indeed his grandfather.
“Richard!” Zedd cried. “You’ve made good time.”
If he hadn’t been focused on more urgent matters Richard might have paused to wonder why Zedd seemed unperturbed that he’d been swayed from his quest for the Stone.
“It’s good to see you too,” Richard grumbled.
“My boy it is a pleasure to see you but it pains me that things did not go entirely to plan.”
Richard felt an overwhelming sense of dread. Zedd’s words confirmed that something bad had indeed happened to Kahlan. He should have asked about her wellbeing but he really didn’t want to know the answer. “We encountered some problems,” Richard felt that was an appropriate synopsis and it neatly avoided the painful subject of Kahlan. .
Zedd’s brow creased. “We?”
Richard spun around and was surprised to find that Cara was not behind him. She had shadowed his every move since they reached Aydindril and he could not understand why she had disappeared.
“Mainly we were worried that something went wrong with the spell?”
“We?” Zedd asked again and Richard became concerned that the backfiring spell had not just harmed Kahlan. It seemed that his grandfather was now senile.
“Yes, Wizard, it means more than one person,” Cara said stepping from the shadows and startling both Richard and Zedd. “As in, Richard and I…we.”
“By the spirits!” Zedd’s eyes almost fell out of his head, he clutched his chest in shock and reeled back. Richard immediately went to him and Cara frowned.
“Zedd? What’s wrong?” Richard asked, leading him to a chair. The wizard’s eyes never left Cara, taking in her full Mord’Sith uniform and blank expression. He turned to Richard for a moment, and then back to the young woman.
“Cara, could you excuse us for a moment?” he asked.
“You’re excused,” Cara said, not moving. Richard sighed.
“Cara, give as a moment alone, would you?” he said.
“As you wish, Lord Rahl,” Cara said, rolling the words around her tongue seductively before turning and melting into the shadows. Zedd watched her disappear and then turned his attention to the Seeker.
“Have you, perhaps, noticed anything strange about Cara on your journey?” he asked in a low voice.
Richard raised both of his eyebrows. He had no idea how Zedd could possibly know that there was something wrong with Cara. “She is a Mord’Sith.”
“Well, naturally,” Zedd replied.
“No, I mean only a Mord’Sith. It’s like the Cara that we know has completely gone.”
Zedd nodded. It was all starting to make sense.
“Richard,” he began. “Cara’s here.”
“I know Zedd. We just arrived together. You just saw her.” Richard spoke slowly. Zedd’s faculties had clearly been damaged.
“No, Richard,” Zedd said, grasping his shoulder and looking at him very seriously. “Cara has been here, with Kahlan and I, since we left.”
Richard took a moment to process the words, his whole face contorting with the effort. Kahlan was clearly alive and Zedd did not seemed concerned about her.
“So…if Cara’s been here…who’s been travelling with me?” he asked, slowly.
“Also Cara!” Zedd announced. “I think she was split into two when I cast the spell. The side of her that has a duty to protect and obey you stayed behind, and her heart came with Kahlan. Neither of them are actually Cara…they’re two sides of the same coin.”
“Her…heart?” Richard questioned. “So the Cara here…?”
“Probably has to be seen to be believed,” Zedd said, inclining his head meaningfully. “Let’s go. She and Kahlan are taking an evening meal in the dining hall.”
---
Servants placed plates containing generous slices of rich fig tart in front of Cara and Kahlan. They were seated at a banquet table that could easily take thirty people. Kahlan was at the head of the table, as was befitting of her station, with Cara to her right. She watched as Cara toyed with the dessert with her fork, without eating any of it. She’d barely touched her meal. Although Cara could endure days without food if necessary, she always ate when it was plentiful; a survival mentality.
Since Cara’s nightmares began, she’d grown quiet, introspective. Her outburst the previous day had only intensified it. With each passing day, Kahlan grew more worried. At first Cara had seemed happy enough. But as time moved on, it was clear that more than just her Mord’Sith abilities had been affected. She was withdrawn and troubled. The nightmares had given Kahlan an insight into what was preying on her mind and she was concerned that it was going to engulf her if she let it go on much longer.
Aside from any of that, Kahlan missed the Cara she knew. She just wanted that Cara back.
“Would you like anything else, Mother Confessor?”
Kahlan looked up, almost having forgotten anyone but Cara was in the room.
“No, thank you. We’ll call if we need anything.”
The servant nodded and turned to leave and Kahlan returned her attention to her dining companion. She sighed as Cara laid her fork down, her dessert untouched. Kahlan picked up her own fork and dug into her tart, taking a large bite.
“It’s good,” she told Cara as she chewed. “You should try it.”
“I’m not hungry,” Cara replied, giving Kahlan a small smile.
“Neither am I, really,” Kahlan admitted, taking another mouthful. “And I really shouldn’t eat any more rich food or this dress isn’t going to fit me.”
“Nonsense!” Cara scoffed. “You are the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. A little more meat on your bones would only accentuate your beauty.”
Kahlan laughed in wonder at the effusive praise.
“So you’re saying you’d love me even if I was fat?” she teased.
Cara reached up to brush some crumbs from the side of Kahlan’s mouth, cupping her cheek once she’d done so. She looked into Kahlan’s eyes, her face growing serious.
“Kahlan, perhaps I haven’t said this to you often enough, but I love you to the ends of the earth and back again,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “No matter what.”
Kahlan covered the hand on her face, leaning in to press her lips to Cara’s, her eyes brimming with tears at the simple, heartfelt declaration. They were so caught up in the kiss that neither of them noticed the door opening.
“Get your hands off her!”
Kahlan’s head whipped around at the sound of the rage-filled voice to find Cara, in full Mord’Sith regalia, advancing on them. The Cara whose hand she was still holding recoiled in fear and shock.
Kahlan looked from one to the other and swiftly stood up, standing in front of Cara and holding her hands up in surrender. The other Cara stopped just short of ramming an agiel into Kahlan’s stomach. Her eyes were blazing and Kahlan felt her heart speed up at the sight of it. Tentatively she reached out a hand and placed it on Cara’s shoulder. She had expected the Mord’Sith to jerk away, what she had not expected was to have her hand whacked away by an agiel.
“Cara…” Kahlan placed a hand around her injured wrist.
“What are you doing with this impostor?” Cara demanded, baring her teeth at her counterpart. “She’s obviously tricked you into thinking she’s me.” She took a moment to take in what the other one was wearing, a simple pink dress. “Although apparently you are easily fooled. Her disguise could use a lot of work.”
Kahlan felt movement behind her and Cara’s hands came to rest on her hips, she could feel the fear rolling off her and she wanted nothing more than to turn and pull her into her arms. But she felt like that might not go down well with the Cara who was currently brandishing two fully functioning agiels.
The Mord’Sith moved closer, “Get out of the way, Kahlan and let me deal with her.”
“You will not harm her,” Kahlan warned.
“No? And who’s going to stop me, Mother Confessor?” Cara challenged. “You? You would confess someone you claim to love?”
“I will not confess you,” Kahlan said making sure that her body was shielding the Cara behind her. “But I won’t let you touch her. ”
The leather clad woman stepped forward and pressed her body against Kahlan. “Did you touch her, Kahlan?” Cara bit the confessor’s neck and dropped her voice. “Did you lay with her and whisper sweet nothings in her ear all night long? Is that what you want from your lover, Mother Confessor?”
Kahlan was sandwiched between two Caras. There was no doubt in her mind that they both were Cara. Well, at least they both were, and weren’t, Cara. The Cara at her back whimpered in fear and the Cara in front of her stared at her with a frightening intensity. “You need to understand. She is you.”
“She most certainly is not,” the leather clad woman snarled. “But you don’t need to worry about having betrayed me. When I am done with her I will remind you of what a real lover can do.” Cara had not let go of her agiels and as she stroked Kahlan’s cheek with the back of a gloved hand the confessor could hear the weapon whirring loudly.
The Mord’Sith licked at Kahlan’s lip and the other Cara cried out in pain. Before Kahlan could stop it, the gentler Cara had flung herself at the aggressor screaming, “You will not touch her.”
The fight was short lived. The battle ready Cara swept the legs out from under her counterpart and she fell to the ground with a thud. No version of Cara gives up easily and the downed Cara rose to her feet and attempted to wrestle an agiel away. When the weapon touched Cara’s bare flesh she howled in pain and crumbled to her knees.
Tears were falling from her eyes as she turned to the confessor. “Kahlan what is wrong with me?”
The other Cara also turned to Kahlan, “This is who you tried to replace me with?” She rolled her eyes and for a second she actually looked like the Cara that Kahlan knew and loved. That feeling was short lived because Cara’s next words were, “I will end her.”
The Mord’Sith pressed her agiel to her double’s neck, causing her to scream. Immediately Kahlan tackled Cara away, sending them both sprawling across the floor. To Kahlan’s disbelief and horror Cara thrust an agiel into her stomach. Searing pain sliced through the Mother Confessor’s body and she could barely move. She was in no position to help the version of Cara who was again about to be under attack and fought back the only way she could.
“Please don’t hurt her. I’ll do anything.”
Cara turned and removed the agiel that was once again spreading black lines across the skin on her double’s neck. She left her adversary, but not before she kicked her in the head, and came to kneel at Kahlan’s side.
“Define anything, my dear.”
“Anything,” Kahlan confirmed solemnly.
“Will you let me make you my mate?”
Kahlan was aware of what was being asked of her, but as she heard the soft cries of the Cara who was not able to defend herself she knew she had no choice.
“I will.”
Cara straddled Kahlan and she closed her eyes, “Good choice. You will not regret it. Well not by the time I am done.”
“Just promise me that you won’t hurt her.”
“You are in no position to make demands, Confessor.” Cara highlighted her point by squeezing Kahlan’s breast. “She is a disgrace and she should not be allowed to live.”
“Please just do this for me.”
“As you wish Kahlan,” Cara leant down and kissed her. “We will have to leave here.”
“Of course,” Kahlan replied.
“I’m sorry to have to do this, but I can’t trust you not to alert the others.”
Kahlan saw the agiel swing towards her head and the then the world went black.
Part 3