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thegirl20See this post for notes and disclaimers.
As days went, it started off pleasantly enough. The wizard had commented that the sun was warm, but not scalding. The confessor had remarked upon the blueness of the sky. And the Seeker appeared to be relatively focused on the quest to find the Stone of Tears. Cara had very little interest in the weather, but keeping the Seeker’s attention on his quest was important to her. So as long as they were moving in the direction of the compass, Cara was happy to let the others babble about inanities as they saw fit.
Kahlan’s arm brushed against her own and she glanced over to find the Mother Confessor smiling at her, almost shy. Cara felt her own lips creep up in response, powerless to do anything else. When she realised that they were walking along, grinning stupidly at each other, she rolled her eyes. Kahlan laughed at her reaction and she attempted to scowl. Kahlan merely leaned in and kissed her cheek before lengthening her stride to catch up to Zedd, pointing out something on the horizon.
Cara fought to keep the smile off her face this time, but was unsuccessful. She sighed. She was still getting used to some of the aspects of ‘being in a relationship’ as Kahlan liked to call it. Publicly appearing like a lovesick schoolgirl was one such aspect that Cara was not fond of in the slightest. To her eternal gratitude, Kahlan did not attempt to force her to be overly demonstrative. And, in turn, Cara tried her very best to show her affection in ways she knew that Kahlan understood.
Finding herself in any kind of relationship, let alone one with Kahlan Amnell, was still something of a surprise to Cara. She had acknowledged her attraction to the Mother Confessor very quickly after meeting her. There was little point in pretending that she was not an attractive woman. However, what she did not expect, was that she would begin to develop feelings that went far beyond mere attraction.
As with most feelings she found herself experiencing, Cara had attempted to control them and quash them, applying herself completely to a life of servitude to Richard. She may well have succeeded, had Kahlan not declared her own feelings for Cara, in quite a lot of detail, one evening while Richard was off learning about his han at the Palace of the Prophets and Zedd was being held hostage by Denna.
Cara had been convinced that Kahlan was spelled. Or delirious from the pain in her leg. Or confused because of her feelings of missing Richard. Then Kahlan had kissed her. From there, Cara slowly came to accept that her feelings were returned, and everything that went along with that. It was a difficult process, at times.
She was drawn out of her musings by Zedd’s booming voice.
“If the compass continues pointing us south, we’ll go right past the Falls of Aldemont,” he announced.
“Is that someplace important?” Richard asked.
Kahlan smiled over her shoulder at him. “It’s considered the most romantic spot in all the Midlands,” she explained.
“Many a child was conceived beneath those cascading waters,” Zedd put in, his smile indicating that he may well have partaken in this procreative activity himself over the course of his long life. Cara tried not to think about that, and wondered instead what age the wizard must be, because he had seemingly been to every spot in the Midlands at least once.
“I was there once…” Kahlan said, her voice a little wistful. “It’s beautiful.”
Cara’s whole body immediately tensed and she gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the part of her that wanted to demand the name of Kahlan’s companion so that she could go and kill them, slowly and inventively. Kahlan seemed to sense the change in her and fell back to walk alongside her. She shoved the Mord’Sith gently, knocking her off balance.
“With my sister,” she continued, a laugh colouring her words.
Cara raised an eyebrow at her, but relaxed considerably. She could never be completely relaxed whenever Kahlan’s sister was mentioned.
“At sunset, when the light hits the falls, the water glistens red,” Kahlan continued, nudging Cara again, a smile tugging at her lips. “They say it’s the reflection of all the lovers’ hearts who’ve kissed there.”
“That or a reflection of the blood spilled at the Battle of Aldemont,” Cara said, before she had time to consider her words. “Two hundred men were killed in that spot! The rest threw their bodies into the rapids rather than surrender.”
She finished her story with a pointed glance at Richard, rolling the word around her tongue.
“Well that does sound romantic!” he agreed, amused by Cara’s behaviour.
Kahlan sighed, her head falling forward, her eyes on the ground. Cara clenched her teeth. She’d obviously upset Kahlan, and not for the first time. Cara found the confessor to be a whirlwind of constantly changing emotions and Cara had no idea how to keep up. Initially she had thought that admitting that she had feelings for Kahlan would have been enough to satisfy the woman. This was apparently not the case. In fact, Kahlan now seemed to expect her to talk about her feelings even more. Cara rolled her eyes and cleared her throat.
“Or maybe it’s as you say,” she said, though her face indicated that it pained her to speak of something so illogical. “The heart thing. I suppose we will be able to judge better once we reach these falls.”
Kahlan smiled over at her, seemingly enchanted by Cara’s attempt at fixing what she’d said. She ran her hand down Cara’s forearm, briefly tangling their fingers together before letting go. Cara barely resisted the urge to sigh; whether in relief or frustration, she wasn’t altogether sure.
“Well, if we move fast, maybe we can get there in time to see the sunset,” Richard interjected, attempting to help Cara out.
However, their progress towards the famed waters, and the Stone of Tears, was halted when the party spotted two bodies strung up from a tree just off the path they were on. Cara marched up to them, quickly making an assessment of the situation.
“These men have been tortured,” she said, her eyes taking in their injuries. “Not very inspired work.”
She saw Kahlan hide a smile. Cara was at least a little grateful that Kahlan was not surprised in the slightest that Cara was more comfortable discussing torture techniques than she was matters of the heart.
“Looks like they died before they were hanged,” Richard observed.
“Then why hang them?” Cara asked. It seemed unnecessary to expend energy on such a pointless task.
“Whoever did this wanted to put them on display...send a message,” Richard said, seemingly concerned that someone would go to so much trouble. Cara could tell that this was not boding well for the quest.
Zedd lifted the large wooden sign that was hung around one of the unfortunate men’s necks.
“’Whoever attempts to subvert justice will meet the same fate’,” he read aloud. “Kahlan, take a look at this.”
She moved over to stand beside the wizard, examining what he was holding. There was no mistaking it.
“It’s the seal of Aydindril.” She took the piece of wood and turned it over, reading what was written there. “By order of the High Lord Regent.”
“Who’s that?” Richard asked.
“There’s no such title,” Kahlan told him, confusion clear on her face and in her voice. “The only person with the authority to confer this seal is the Mother Confessor.”
Cara was familiar with the workings of Aydindril, having studied confessors during her training; know thine enemy. She knew that this was not a small aberration. To misuse the authority of the Mother Confessor was high treason and punishable by death. She looked to Kahlan.
“Then who ordered these men killed?” she asked.
Kahlan shook her head, her eyes still fixated on the seal burned into the wood she held. Sensing that this was causing Kahlan great turmoil, Cara stepped closer and placed a hand on her back, rubbing gently. The smile she earned for it was not as bright as she had hoped.
---
A short while later, Cara could hold her tongue no longer. Richard had taken it upon himself to investigate the deaths and was examining a trail that was as likely to have been a hunter or a farmer as the murderer. Cara understood the desire to make Kahlan feel better, she felt it herself and planned to do so when they stopped to make camp. But Richard seemed to think that the way to do it was to nobly follow a cold trail for the Creator only knew how long.
“Richard,” she began. “Those bodies we found were at least two days old. Whoever killed those men is long gone.”
Because, really, there was a limit to how far she would go on utterly pointless crusades, even for Lord Rahl. Richard looked like he might protest; perhaps by regaling them with tales of his legendary tracking skills. Again. But he didn’t have the chance as a huge flash of light a little distance away from the group deposited yet another seemingly lifeless body on the forest floor. Cara’s agiels were unsheathed in an instant, followed quickly by Kahlan’s daggers and the Sword of Truth. They approached the body with care.
It was an old man and he appeared unarmed. Not taking any chances, Cara used her foot to turn him over. Kahlan dropped to her knees at his side and Cara bit her lip to stop herself from snapping at this lack of self-preservation.
“Silas!” Kahlan breathed.
“You know him?” Richard asked, though that much seemed clear enough to Cara; Kahlan had used the man’s name.
“He’s a Wizard of the Second Order from Aydindril,” Zedd answered for her, coming to kneel by the fallen man.
“Cara!” Kahlan said, the urgency in her voice and the plaintive look on her face meant she didn’t have to say anything else; Cara knew what she wanted. She knelt down by the old man, leaning in to gauge his suitability. She picked her head up and looked over at Kahlan apologetically.
“He’s already cold. The Breath of Life won’t work.”
Kahlan nodded without lifting her eyes from the dead wizard.
“You can put your weapons down,” Zedd told Richard and Cara, both still ready for a fight. “Whoever shot him couldn’t follow him here. He used this.” He held up an intricate amulet which Kahlan seemed to recognise.
“Oloron’s amulet,” she whispered, looking at Zedd, who nodded his confirmation.
“What is it?” Richard asked, sheathing his sword and approaching for a closer look.
“It’s a magical device that’s kept in Aydindril,” Zedd explained, turning the amulet over in his hands. “It was devised hundreds of years ago as a safeguard. If the Mother Confessor were urgently needed...a skilled wizard could use the amulet to find her anywhere in the world and carry them both home.” He looked down at his fallen comrade. “He must’ve been shot in Aydindril and it seems he managed to recite the incantation just before he died.”
“He came here to tell you something,” Richard said, addressing Kahlan.
“It must’ve been important,” Kahlan murmured, eyeing the dead wizard again.
“My guess is that it has something to do with this ‘High Lord Regent’ who had those men killed,” Zedd ventured, saying what they were all thinking.
“I…I have to get to Aydindril,” Kahlan said, her eyes drifting to Cara.
“That’s hundreds of leagues from here,” Cara protested, trying to sound annoyed. She was well aware that the hollow feeling in her chest at the thought of Kahlan leaving had leaked into her voice.
“Can you use the amulet to take us all there, Zedd?” Richard asked, keen as ever to help out where he could.
“The amulet was only designed to carry a wizard and the Mother Confessor, its magics would not work on all of us.”
“Then Cara and I will meet up with you there,” Richard said, with a nod.
“That could take weeks,” Zedd told him. “Cara’s right, the longer the quest is delayed, the stronger the Keeper grows. You and Cara continue to search for the Stone and Kahlan and I will go to Aydindril.”
“The Seeker needs his wizard and his confessor by his side,” Kahlan insisted, trying to use duty as an excuse to stay. “If we leave him again…” Though she spoke of Richard, her eyes did not leave Cara’s.
Richard stepped forward and took hold of Kahlan’s arm in a gentle grip, making her look at him.
“Kahlan,” he began. “You’ve done more than enough for me. You’ve been by my side longer than necessary. When we defeated Darken Rahl, you should’ve gone to Aydindril then. It’s your home. It’s where you’re needed.”
Kahlan shook her head. “The quest was more important,” she argued, her eyes once again finding Cara’s.
Seeing that this was pointless, Cara moved to Kahlan and eased her arm out of Richard’s grip, drawing her away from the others to the side of the clearing.
“The quest will go on,” she said, her voice softer than usual.”You should go to your home and see what’s wrong. You won’t feel right until you do.”
Kahlan bit her lip, her eyes sparkling with tears as she searched Cara’s face. She placed her hand on Cara’s chest, her thumb brushing over the soft leather.
“My home is with you,” she whispered. “I won’t feel right if I’m not with you.”
Cara closed her eyes for the briefest of seconds, unable to stop the look of sadness that crossed her face. Perversely, it seemed to make Kahlan happy that this was difficult for Cara too. Cara had spoken in the past of the futility of missing people. It was unsettling for her to realise that perhaps her view didn’t hold true any longer. Cara brought her hand up to cover Kahlan’s where it still lay on her chest.
“We’ve been apart before,” she said, sticking to the practicalities. “The wizard will find a way to make sure we’re not separated for long.”
Kahlan nodded sadly. “It’ll still be too long,” she whispered.
Cara sighed, but not unkindly. “This isn’t making it easier,” she said, wondering again how Kahlan could possibly think that saying these things out loud made them better.
“I know,” Kahlan said with a nod and a sniff. She tried to smile, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Cara said, briskly. “But the sooner you leave, the sooner we’ll meet again.”
This was Cara’s way of saying she’d miss Kahlan too and Kahlan couldn’t stop her tears from falling. She pulled Cara into a tight embrace, burying her face in her neck and inhaling the scent there. Cara’s arms wrapped around her in return, strong and safe. Kahlan lifted her head and pressed her lips to Cara’s in a firm kiss of reassurance.
“I’ll be as quick as I can,” Kahlan murmured against Cara’s mouth, receiving a nod and a kiss in return.
“See that you are,” Cara said. “I like to keep you in my sight…how else do I know you’re not getting yourself into some trouble or other?”
Kahlan smiled and Cara attempted to return it. But that was probably the worst of this parting for Cara; the thought of something happening to Kahlan and not being there to prevent it. Kahlan gave Cara one last kiss and squeezed her gently before stepping back and wiping her face. The men had graciously moved to the other side of the clearing and were talking amongst themselves, allowing Cara and Kahlan to regain their composure.
“I’m ready,” Kahlan called to Zedd and he nodded, clapping Richard on the shoulder in goodbye before approaching Kahlan.
Cara moved to stand by Richard, her face stoic and composed, but her fingers were twisting the ends of her hair. Zedd held out his hand with the amulet facing upwards and Kahlan covered it with her own, grasping Zedd’s hand. As he began to recite the incantation, Kahlan turned to look at Cara.
“I wish I didn’t have to go,” she whispered, her voice almost drowned out by Zedd’s booming one.
“I wish I were going with you,” Cara whispered in return, just loud enough for Kahlan to hear before the world became nothing but a flash of white.
And they were gone. Richard and Cara were left alone, looking at the spot their companions had occupied. Richard turned to Cara.
“Well, it looks like it’s just you and me for a while,” he said, amiable as ever.
“Yes,” she agreed, grasping both of her agiels. “And with any luck, we might actually get to look for the Stone of Tears without being distracted by beautiful waterfalls or kittens up trees.”
Richard noticed her stance and the whine of her weapons and took this to be her way of her comforting herself. Rather than ignore it as he may have on another occasion, he decided to broach the subject. Cara had been getting better at talking lately and he wanted to do his part in encouraging that.
“It’s okay to miss her, Cara,” he said as they set off on their way.
“Why would I do that?” She picked up the pace, forcing Richard to jog a little to catch up to her.
“Fine,” he said. “But don’t think that you need to stay strong for my benefit. I’m here if you would like to talk about anything.”
She sighed. “Yes, Lord Rahl, I’m very aware that you’re in touch with your feelings,” she said, her voice dripping with scorn. “You seem to have enough of them for both of us. I’ll concentrate on the quest.”
Richard shook his head in amusement. It appeared that Cara’s willingness to discuss her feelings was directly proportionate to Kahlan’s proximity. He trod on something that made a noise against his boot and he stopped, looking down at it.
“Cara…look.” He stooped to pick up the object; it was part of the amulet Zedd had used. It was broken in half. Cara took it out of his hands and examined it.
“The amulet…” For a moment a ghost of an emotion seemed to dance across her face but it was quickly replaced with a mask. “Do you think the spell went wrong?”
Richard shrugged. “I don’t know,” he admitted.
“Their fate cannot be changed now. We should continue on as before.”
Richard realised that Cara knew no other way to deal with emotion. He would allow her to keep up her front and therefore he made the decision for both of them. “We’ll go to Aydindril to make sure they’re okay. If we get horses and ride hard it should take us less than a week.”
“The Stone of Tears is our priority.”
“And it will still be there in a week’s time,” Richard assured her. “We’ll all go after it together.”
“Should I take this as an order?”
Cara’s inability to admit distress meant that Richard felt he had no other choice, “Yes I suppose so.”
Cara stood up straight. “As you wish, Lord Rahl,” she said, tucking the broken piece of the amulet inside her leathers.
---
Meanwhile, Zedd and Kahlan found themselves in the marketplace in Aydindril.
“How do you feel?” Zedd asked, glancing around the corner of the building they’d appeared behind.
“All in one piece,” Kahlan said, a little shaken from the suddenness of the spell. A hand on her shoulder made her jump and assume a defensive position, hands going for her daggers as she spun around. Zedd also turned to get a look at Kahlan’s apparent assailant. They both gasped when their eyes landed on her.
Cara took a step back, her hands raise in surrender. “It’s me,” she said, needlessly.
“Cara…what…how?” Kahlan sputtered, replacing her daggers and moving to embrace Cara, a huge smile on her face.
“I don’t know,” Cara said, accepting Kahlan’s touch and looking just as bewildered as the other two. “I…I was watching the spell and I was thinking that I wanted to go with you and…here I am.”
Kahlan stepped back a little, lifting her hand to stroke Cara’s cheek briefly before turning to Zedd.
“Zedd?” she asked, looking for an explanation. “I thought you said it could only carry a wizard and the Mother Confessor.”
“It should!” he said, looking from one woman to the other as a grin spread over his Well, what do you know…the amulet clearly recognized the love the two of you have for each other.”
Kahlan turned to Cara, expecting an eyeroll and a sarcastic remark but was surprised to find only a soft smile.
“But perhaps the strain of bringing three people was too much for it,” Zedd mused, holding up the broken artefact.
Cara’s smile dissolved into a picture of concern.
“Richard…” she began. “He’s all alone.”
Kahlan tilted her head at Cara’s choice of words. That didn’t sound like her at all.
Zedd answered, not appearing to notice.
“He’ll make his way here,” he said, assuredly. “He’ll have figured out what’s happened.”
“Maybe…” Cara began, doubt of Richard’s deductive abilities clear in her voice.
Kahlan was unable to wait any longer, striding out into the square to view the Confessor’s Palace. She smiled as it loomed into view; imposing and welcoming at once. Cara and Zedd came to stand by her, the wizard placed a hand on her shoulder and she smiled up at him. She turned her smile on Cara.
“I’ve wanted to show you Aydindril for a long time,” she admitted. “I’m glad that you got to come with me, no matter how unconventional the route.”
Kahlan was surprised to feel Cara’s hand slip into hers, the Mord’Sith was not usually one for overt gestures, especially in public.
“It’s beautiful,” Cara said, looking up at the palace. “I look forward to seeing inside.”
Kahlan graced her with a beautiful smile. “Then let’s not wait.” She squeezed Cara’s hand. “It’s good to be home.”
---
On their way to the palace, they encountered Alferon, who explained Silas’ sacrifice and the need for the Mother Confessor to return. Kahlan’s interest was piqued when he mentioned a particular name.
“Prince Fyren?” she asked. “Of Kelton?”
“When Rahl fell, Fyren threw the D’Harans out of Kelton and Aydindril. Then he jailed the council members and proclaimed himself High Lord Regent. “
“At a forest near Gallimore we found two bodies hanging from a tree bearing the seal of Aydindril round their necks,” Zedd told him.
“Fyren’s work,” Alferon said, practically spitting as he spoke the Prince’s name. “He’s given bands of hoodlums the authority to enforce his laws, mostly archaic...or invented, demanding fines. When people can’t pay, or won’t, he makes examples out of them.”
“I’ve heard enough,” Kahlan said, her face stony. “Where can I find Prince Fyren?”
She felt Cara’s hand squeeze her own and it calmed her a little, but she still needed to see this for herself.
---
The throne room was full of people, waiting for their cases to be heard. Kahlan, Zedd and Cara hung back, listening to the judgments and growing increasingly uneasy. The punishments were harsh and not in proportion to the crimes that had been committed. Kahlan had heard enough. She pulled her hood up around her hair and took a step forward. Cara’s hand on her arm stopped her.
“Be careful,” she murmured. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Kahlan nodded her understanding and walked to where Fyren was seated on the throne. She kept her head bowed as she approached and he leaned forward, a smile crawling over his lips. His eyes drifted down to her cleavage.
“Well...what crime could this lovely young lady possibly have committed?” he asked, leaning his elbow on his knee and dipping his head to try to catch her eye.
“It’s a private matter,” Kahlan said, keeping her head bowed so that he couldn’t see her face.
Fyren grinned, expecting something salacious no doubt. He beckoned with his fingers. “Come closer.”
Kahlan approached the throne, head still down.
“Tell me what I can do for you,” Fyren oozed.
Kahlan lifted her head, meeting his eyes, seeing recognition there almost immediately. She took down her hood. “You can get out of my chair,” she said, calmly.
A gasp went up around the room as people began to sink to their knees in the presence of the Mother Confessor. Fyren sat back, his smile long since gone. He looked her up and down.
“You aren’t here and your people need leadership,” he said. “You’ve abandoned them, I have nurtured them.”
Kahlan raised an eyebrow at his insolence. She was the highest authority in the Midlands and he dared challenge her? From her own throne?
“You would defy my orders? I am the Mother Confessor,” she said, her voice low and dangerous.
“You have not proven yourself worthy of the title,” he announced, standing up and holding his arms out; showboating for the crowd. “Traipsing through the woods after the Seeker.” He turned his attention to Cara with a sneer. “Associating with Mord’Sith. I have yet to see anything of the greatness I hear tell of from the travelling bards.”
His reaction to Cara provoked enough rage in Kahlan that she felt the beginnings of her confessor power tickle the palms of her hands and she knew her eyes were darkening. But Fyren’s lack of recognition of her greatness also appeared to have provoked something in Cara and she pushed past Kahlan, hands poised over her agiels.
“How dare you speak to the Mother Confessor like that,” she seethed. “Get out of her chair. Now.”
Fyren had the gall to smile at her. “Guards,” he called out, not removing his eyes from Cara’s. “Take the three of them to the dungeon until I decide their fate.”
The room became a blur of action. The guards posted around the room surged forward. Kahlan drew her daggers and watched as Cara grasped her agiels. But something was wrong; the familiar whine was not there and Kahlan saw Cara look down at the weapons in her hands in confusion. A guard appeared behind Cara, his sword raised.
“Cara!” Kahlan screamed, letting fly one of her daggers straight into the man’s heart. Cara spun around in time to see her would be assailant fall, her eyes found Kahlan again, full of something Kahlan had never seen in them before; panic.
“My agiels aren’t working,” she called, elbowing another guard in the face without looking.
Kahlan fought down the implications of that and turned to Fyren, grabbing his neck and letting her fury flow through her, her eyes turning black. Fyren’s body went slack, sliding to his knees and gazing up at her.
“Command me, Confessor,” he breathed.
“Call off the guards,” she ordered.
“Stand down!” Fyren boomed, and all the fighting stopped immediately, the guards looking around in confusion.
“Clear this room,” Kahlan said, moving to Cara’s side and beckoning Zedd to come closer.
The room emptied quickly, leaving the three of them and Fyren alone. Kahlan sighed in frustration as she turned to her adoring prince.
“Go and clean out the stables,” she told him. “And then come back to receive further orders.”
“Yes, Mistress,” he said, with a bow and a grateful smile.
When the door was closed, Kahlan turned to find Zedd holding one of Cara’s agiels. Both of them looked worried.
“Is this…is Richard…” Kahlan began, unwilling to speak the words aloud.
Zedd shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he said, though he sounded far from sure. “Cara, may I try something?”
Cara nodded, her face open and trusting.
“What are you going to try?” Kahlan interjected, stepping closer to Cara instinctively.
“Cara, I’m going to throw a little magic at you…I want you to deflect it,” he said, assuming a spellcasting stance. “Kahlan, can you step aside for a moment?”
Kahlan squeezed Cara’s forearm, giving her a warm smile before stepping away a little distance. Zedd recited a few words, gathering up what looked like a ball of air in his hands. On his final word, he hurled it at Cara. She held up a hand, clearly expecting it to bounce back and knock the wizard off his feet, but it slammed into her chest with the force of a large fist and she ended up on her back, sliding across the floor.
“Zedd!” Kahlan yelped, running to Cara’s side. “I thought you said a ‘little’ magic.”
“It was only a little magic,” Zedd said, looking at his hand and then at the prone Mord’Sith who was sitting up, rubbing her head.
Kahlan ran a hand over Cara’s scalp, looking for cuts or bumps. Finding none she placed a kiss on the crown of her head.
“Something’s wrong with me,” Cara said, quietly. She looked between Kahlan and Zedd. “It’s like I’m not a Mord’Sith anymore.”
Kahlan let her hand slide to Cara’s shoulder, pulling her into a loose hug. “We’ll find out what’s happened,” she said, hoping she sounded more certain than she felt. She couldn’t imagine losing her confessor powers and her heart went out to Cara.
Cara nodded and tried to smile at Kahlan for her comforting words. “Perhaps it was the amulet?” she suggested. “Maybe coming here the way we did affected me because it was never supposed to work on anyone other than wizards and confessors?”
Kahlan nodded, it sounded plausible. “Zedd? Could it be the amulet?” she asked.
“It’s…possible,” he allowed, trying to turn the possibilities over in his head. “I’ll look into it tomorrow. For now I think we could all do with a good night’s rest.”
“Ambrosio’s?” Kahlan asked with a smile, pulling Cara to her feet and helping to dust off her leathers.
“I think I shall pay that particular establishment a visit, yes,” Zedd confirmed. “Would the two of you care to join me?”
Kahlan dipped her eyes, glancing at Cara before shaking her head.
“I think we’ll probably have a bath and retire early,” she said. “It’s been a tiring day.”
“Yes,” Cara agreed quickly. “I would very much like to retire early tonight.”
Zedd inclined his head, hiding a knowing smile. “Of course,” he said. “I’ll leave you to your evening.”
He moved towards the door but stopped by Cara, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“And don’t worry, we’ll find a way to fix you,” he said. She smiled at him and nodded.
“I know, Wizard,” she said. “I’m not worried.”
His chest swelled a little at the confidence she appeared to have in him and he left the room feeling very positive.
Kahlan waited until the door was closed behind Zedd and she turned to Cara, winding her arms around her waist and pulling her into her body.
“Are you really okay?” she murmured against honey coloured hair.
“Of course I am,” Cara said, kissing Kahlan’s collar bone. “It’s true, landing on my rear end didn’t do wonders for my pride, but I’m otherwise unscathed.”
Kahlan laughed gently. “No, I meant about…not being a Mord’Sith.” She felt uncomfortable even saying the words to Cara, knowing that being a Mord’Sith was a large part of Cara’s identity and how she viewed herself.
Cara lifted her head, her brow creased in thought. “I think I’ve become less and less of a Mord’Sith since the day I met you,” she mused, one side of her mouth quirking up in a smile. “I should have known that it would disappear completely one day.”
Kahlan searched Cara’s face for any sign of sadness or regret at her words, but found none. From nowhere she was struck by the realisation that not only could she not find any, she couldn’t sense any. She could read Cara. Despite the fact that Cara’s agiels didn’t work and she couldn’t deflect Zedd’s magic, this, more than anything else, brought it home to Kahlan that Cara really was not a Mord’Sith. Rather than add insult to injury and tell her this, Kahlan moved in to kiss her soundly, leaving both of them short of breath.
“So,” Cara panted. “You said something about an early night?”
Kahlan nodded, enjoying the way Cara’s eyes darkened as she spoke.
“I did.”
“Then show me to your bedchamber, Confessor.”
---
Having procured some horses – Richard didn’t like to ask how – the other two were making good time on their journey to Aydindril. Richard found himself watching Cara more than usual. He told himself that perhaps it was because she was currently his only companion, but he couldn’t silence the niggling worry at the back of his mind that something wasn’t quite right.
The way Cara held herself seemed to have changed since Zedd and Kahlan left. She was more rigid, more tense. And her face was different. It was harsher. Harsher than Richard had ever seen it. He could see no hint of the playfulness that was often apparent in Cara’s features. She seemed to be all focus and determination. He sighed; she really must be missing Kahlan.
Although his earlier efforts had not paid off, Richard was not deterred.
“So, it’ll be nice for you to see Aydindril with Kahlan,” he ventured, urging his horse up to walk alongside Cara’s.
Cara frowned.
“It will be nice to be done with this folly and to return to more important manners.”
“I know you want to see that Kahlan’s safe and it must interest you to see Aydindril.”
“Finding the confessor and the wizard safe would make this fool’s errand slightly more acceptable. As for Aydindril, it holds no interest for me beyond getting there quickly so that we can then return our attention to closing the veil.”
“Cara, it’s Kahlan’s home,” Richard said. “She wants to share it with you.” He clamped down on the part of himself that was still sad it wasn’t him Kahlan wanted to take home. At least he would want to see Aydindril with her but that wasn’t the point. He was over it. He really was. So he kept telling himself.
“Why would Kahlan’s home be of interest to anyone but Kahlan?”
Richard shook his head. “Because it’s where she belongs,” he said. “Just like I belong to Hartland. And you belong...”
She turned to look at him. “Yes, Lord Rahl. Where do I belong? Stowcroft? The People’s Palace? The Mord’Sith temple where I was broken?”
He couldn’t hold her eyes. She was right, the concept of home was a strange one when put to the test. “I guess you’re right,” he admitted. “But I think Kahlan would still like for you to see Aydindril and that you would like to see her.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true.”
They continued on in silence.
---
Later that night, a knock came at the door of Zedd’s bedchambers. The old wizard dragged himself out of bed.
“Who goes there?” he called through the wood, not keen to open the door in the middle of the night while he was still not fully awake.
“It’s me,” Kahlan hissed. “Open the door.”
Zedd quickly unbolted the lock and pulled the heavy wooden door open enough to see Kahlan, clad in her nightclothes and a robe and holding a lamp. He stood aside to let her enter. When she did, it became clear that she was agitated. She paced around the room, coming to a halt in front of Zedd after a moment, biting her lip in concern.
“I think something’s wrong with Cara.”
“What’s happened? Is she alright?” Zedd asked, immediately concerned.
“No she’s…I mean, yes, physically she’s okay,” Kahlan said, becoming increasingly more uncomfortable. “But…we were…doing something. And then she cried.”
The last vestiges of sleep clung to the wizard and he did not pick up on the meaning behind her words.
“What on earth were you doing that made her cry?” he demanded, having trouble picturing Kahlan ever making Cara cry.
Kahlan glared at him. “We were…doing intimate things.”
Realisation dawned and Zedd had trouble hiding his amusement, causing Kahlan to glare harder at him.
“Oh, I see,” Zedd said, clearing his throat. “And where is she now? Still crying?”
“No. She’s in the library,” Kahlan said, shifting from foot to foot. “Writing a poem about it.”
Zedd couldn’t hold in the chortle that issued forth at that.
“Zedd!” Kahlan scolded. “How can you laugh at this?”
“I’m sorry, Kahlan, truly,” he said. “I was merely imagining some future confessor finding the poem stuck in between the pages of a book during her studies.”
Kahlan’s eyes went wide and she immediately turned, Zedd’s laughter echoing in her ears as she fled to the library to ensure that whatever poetic masterpiece Cara was crafting, it did not become her legacy to the race of confessors.
---
“Could it be temporary?” Kahlan asked, hovering by Zedd’s shoulder as he pored over an ancient tome.
He sighed. She had appeared shortly after breakfast and had not left his side. He understood her concern for Cara. He shared it. No person who possessed magical abilities could fail to be disturbed by the loss of them in another. It was both worrying and intriguing; he wanted to do his utmost to help Cara, but if there was a way to strip Mord’Sith of their powers, it could be a very important piece of knowledge to the holder.
“Kahlan, I am doing as much as I can to find out what happened.” He had only been partly successful in keeping his frustration at her constant questions out of his voice. “I will keep you informed of my findings.”
She nodded, but did not move from her position. He sighed again, louder this time. He hoped that Kahlan’s innate ability to read people would perhaps kick in at some point and that she would realise that her constant interruptions were hindering rather than helping the search for answers.
“Have you ever heard of a Mord’Sith losing her powers before?”
It would appear that it had not kicked in as yet. Zedd turned around in his chair to face Kahlan.
“Does the Mother Confessor not have anything better to do upon her return to Aydindril than breathe down the neck of a busy old man?”
The impatient tone surprised her and she took a step back, her eyes dropping. She hadn’t realised that her presence was an annoyance. Her worry over Cara had blinded her to everything else. She was a little confused about the degree to which she was worried. Cara seemed perfectly happy. Happier, in fact, than usual. On the surface at least. But Kahlan’s newfound ability to read Cara told her that underneath, she was hiding something.
“I’m sorry. I just…I’m concerned.”
His face softened and he stood, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“I know, child. But the sooner you let me get on with what I need to get on with, the sooner we’ll be able to do something to help her.”
She lifted her eyes to meet his; for all the world looking more like a worried little girl than the Mother Confessor. She attempted a smile.
“I know. And you’re right. I really should be seeing what mess Fyren has left for me to clean up.”
Zedd nodded his encouragement. “Indeed. The people are overjoyed to have you here. Go and be with them. I’ll see about Cara’s predicament.”
Her smile faded. “She’ll be okay. I mean, she’s Cara so of course she’ll be okay.”
“Yes, I have no doubt that Cara can and will adapt to anything she comes up against. But, with a little luck, she’ll be back to her old self in no time at all.”
---
Although their route was lined with tall trees the foliage provided inadequate protection and Richard felt as though he was being slowly roasted from the inside out. His clothes were stuck to him and he could feel drops of sweat running like small rivers from his hair to his back.
Cara seemed unperturbed. Her leathers should have made the heat unbearable but she showed no sign of discomfort. If her hair had not have been plastered to her forehead, Richard would have been convinced that she had ordered her body not to sweat in case it somehow slowed their journey.
The tree line began to thin and Richard could hear the sound of running water. When they came to the crossing, Richard’s heart soared as he felt certain that Cara would allow them to rest and refresh the horses. He dismounted and stretched out his back.
It seems that his logic was flawed as Cara’s actions did not echo his. In fact she pushed her horse through the water and was on the other side glaring at him when he raised his head after washing his face.
She rode back across and looked down on him with disapproval, “This is wasting time.”
“I need to rest.”
“You can rest when we camp for the night.”
“The horses need to be watered,” he countered. “They will not last if we continue at this rate.”
“They will last as long as they last and when they fail we will find new horses.”
Richard was taken aback. Cara was many things, most of them confusing, but he had never thought of her as someone who would ride a horse until it died. She may not have been willing to admit it but it was clear that the separation from Kahlan and fears for the confessor’s safety were weighing heavily on her. “You are not familiar with these lands. It may well take longer to find new horses or to be forced to travel on foot than it will to stop and rest.”
“If you say so,” she replied, but it was clear that she was not happy with the plan.
She would not allow them to remain in the open and instead insisted that they move further upstream. They found a shaded area that seemed to meet with Cara’s approval and she finally dismounted and allowed her horse to drink.
Richard removed his shoes and waded into the water. Some stones tried to push their sharp points into his feet but that seemed insignificant compared with the relief that the water provided. He was going to recommend that Cara should also cool her feet when she strode into the water, naked, and disappeared beneath the surface.
He turned away, embarrassed to have caught her in that state, and focused on the horses.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m reasonably sure that you have seen a naked woman before.”
“It’s not that, I’m trying to give you privacy.”
“Lord Rahl, many people have seen me naked before. I am not ashamed of my body.”
She did have a reasonable point and it was not as though he was unaware of her form. Her leathers left little to the imagination. Still, it was not the same. “I think I’d feel more comfortable if I went for a short walk instead.”
“Pity,” Cara said, “I was going to ask you to join me.”
“Cara you really shouldn’t joke about things like that.”
“Why would I joke about something that is your right, my lord?” He heard a splash and knew that she had again submerged herself and so he disappeared into the trees before he had to reply.
He sat against a tree and allowed his libido to cool. He was embarrassed to admit that Cara’s offer had been compelling. It was strange, her behaviour in the water was the closest that she had been to her playful self and yet it was as concerning as her cold veneer had been. He was starting to think that maybe she was right to risk the horses and that they needed to make haste to Aydindril.
When he returned to the horses Cara was fully dressed. Fully dressed. She was wearing her Mord’Sith regalia and she looked ready to ride into battle. He made a mental note to himself to stop complaining and to never, ever again devise a plan that separated Kahlan and Cara.
---
Kahlan rubbed the area between her eyes as she sat alone in the throne room, reading through numerous ancient texts that made very little practical sense in the modern world. She looked up gratefully when the door opened, hoping that it would be something to distract her. She hadn’t counted on it being quite as distracting as it turned out to be. Cara entered, with a small girl riding on her back.
“Cara!” she barked, shock making her voice harsher than she’d intended. “Where did you get that child?”
“In the courtyard.” Cara seemed to be taken aback by Kahlan’s attitude. It was only then that Kahlan realised that Cara was not wearing her leathers. She was dressed instead in a pair of tight fitting brown breeches and a man’s shirt. The shirt was unbuttoned to where Cara’s neckline usually sat, and the sleeves were rolled up, revealing her tanned forearms. Kahlan felt her body start to react, but drew herself back to the task in hand.
“Did you just take her?” Kahlan asked, more gently, her mind going to Stowcroft and drowning caves and other things she usually tried not to think about.
“Of course not, Kahlan,” Cara said, exchanging a bewildered look with the little girl before putting her down on the floor. “Her mother works in the kitchens and she wanted to see the room with the big chair. Next we’re going to feed the ducks in the fountain outside.” Her eyes lit up. “You should come with us. You’ve been working so hard since we got here.”
Kahlan couldn’t help but be charmed by this softer, happier Cara. She didn’t have much time to contemplate it because the child was tugging on her dress. She looked down and smiled at the little face, smudged with dirt.
“Yes, little one?” she asked, wondering if there would be a mucky handprint when the urchin released her hold on her dress. The child didn’t reply, but she turned to Cara.
“You were right,” she said in her babyish voice. “She is the prettiest lady I ever see’d.”
Kahlan flushed a deep red but Cara just grinned easily.
“I told you so, didn’t I?” she said. “Now, do you want a seat in the big chair before we go find some ducks?”
The child nodded her head rapidly and Kahlan watched with growing affection as Cara helped her into the throne and pretended to bow in front of her. Kahlan walked over and placed a hand on the small of Cara’s back as she stood back up.
“I didn’t know you were so good with children,” Kahlan mumbled as the child proceeded to issue a number of royal decrees, mostly involving not eating vegetables.
“Neither did I,” Cara said with a shrug. “But she seemed to take a liking to me and I find her strangely enjoyable to be with.” She turned to Kahlan with a shy smile. “Perhaps this will allay some of the fears you have about us having our own children.”
“Having our…own children?” Kahlan squeaked.
This was not something they’d discussed. They hadn’t even gotten close to the subject.
“Yes,” Cara said. “I know you want them one day.”
“I…well,” Kahlan fumbled around for the words. “Yes…I…it’s expected of me. Required almost.”
Cara nodded. “I know. And I think you’ll make a wonderful mother. And now you can see that I might not be completely awful at it either.”
Kahlan took Cara’s hand, intertwining their fingers, a wondrous smile on her face.
“I didn’t ever think that,” she said. “I didn’t ever let myself think…that you’d want to have children with me. I mean, the thought of being with someone other than you fills me with disgu-“
She was cut off by Cara’s hand over her mouth.
“Don’t even say that,” she whispered. “You won’t need to lie with some fawning prince, or worse, some confessed soldier.”
Kahlan raised an eyebrow in question, unable to speak past Cara’s hand. Cara shook her head, an affectionate smile playing at her lips.
“Kahlan, we travel with a Wizard of the First Order. I’m sure he can find a way for us to produce a child that’s ours.”
A tear made its way from Kahlan’s eye and Cara moved her hand to catch it with her thumb.
“Don’t’ cry,” Cara whispered. “The child will think you’re sad.”
Kahlan shook her head and kissed Cara softly, wiping at her eyes and smiling.
“You’re full of surprises,” she mumbled.
“Ducks now?”
They both turned to the little voice and to find the girl sitting swinging her legs back and forth on Kahlan’s throne.
“Ducks now,” Cara confirmed.
“Is the pretty lady gonna come?”
Cara turned back to Kahlan with a bright smile.
“What do you say, pretty lady?” she asked with a wink. “Are you coming?”
Kahlan glanced at the paperwork scattered across the table and sighed. A smile crept over her lips and she looked at the wide-eyed excitement on the faces of both of her companions. She took Cara’s hand and held out her other one to the grubby child.
“Let’s go and feed the ducks.”
For now, Kahlan was content to enjoy the day and to ignore the part of her that knew that Cara would never, under normal circumstances, voluntarily talk about having children.
Part 2
As days went, it started off pleasantly enough. The wizard had commented that the sun was warm, but not scalding. The confessor had remarked upon the blueness of the sky. And the Seeker appeared to be relatively focused on the quest to find the Stone of Tears. Cara had very little interest in the weather, but keeping the Seeker’s attention on his quest was important to her. So as long as they were moving in the direction of the compass, Cara was happy to let the others babble about inanities as they saw fit.
Kahlan’s arm brushed against her own and she glanced over to find the Mother Confessor smiling at her, almost shy. Cara felt her own lips creep up in response, powerless to do anything else. When she realised that they were walking along, grinning stupidly at each other, she rolled her eyes. Kahlan laughed at her reaction and she attempted to scowl. Kahlan merely leaned in and kissed her cheek before lengthening her stride to catch up to Zedd, pointing out something on the horizon.
Cara fought to keep the smile off her face this time, but was unsuccessful. She sighed. She was still getting used to some of the aspects of ‘being in a relationship’ as Kahlan liked to call it. Publicly appearing like a lovesick schoolgirl was one such aspect that Cara was not fond of in the slightest. To her eternal gratitude, Kahlan did not attempt to force her to be overly demonstrative. And, in turn, Cara tried her very best to show her affection in ways she knew that Kahlan understood.
Finding herself in any kind of relationship, let alone one with Kahlan Amnell, was still something of a surprise to Cara. She had acknowledged her attraction to the Mother Confessor very quickly after meeting her. There was little point in pretending that she was not an attractive woman. However, what she did not expect, was that she would begin to develop feelings that went far beyond mere attraction.
As with most feelings she found herself experiencing, Cara had attempted to control them and quash them, applying herself completely to a life of servitude to Richard. She may well have succeeded, had Kahlan not declared her own feelings for Cara, in quite a lot of detail, one evening while Richard was off learning about his han at the Palace of the Prophets and Zedd was being held hostage by Denna.
Cara had been convinced that Kahlan was spelled. Or delirious from the pain in her leg. Or confused because of her feelings of missing Richard. Then Kahlan had kissed her. From there, Cara slowly came to accept that her feelings were returned, and everything that went along with that. It was a difficult process, at times.
She was drawn out of her musings by Zedd’s booming voice.
“If the compass continues pointing us south, we’ll go right past the Falls of Aldemont,” he announced.
“Is that someplace important?” Richard asked.
Kahlan smiled over her shoulder at him. “It’s considered the most romantic spot in all the Midlands,” she explained.
“Many a child was conceived beneath those cascading waters,” Zedd put in, his smile indicating that he may well have partaken in this procreative activity himself over the course of his long life. Cara tried not to think about that, and wondered instead what age the wizard must be, because he had seemingly been to every spot in the Midlands at least once.
“I was there once…” Kahlan said, her voice a little wistful. “It’s beautiful.”
Cara’s whole body immediately tensed and she gritted her teeth, trying to ignore the part of her that wanted to demand the name of Kahlan’s companion so that she could go and kill them, slowly and inventively. Kahlan seemed to sense the change in her and fell back to walk alongside her. She shoved the Mord’Sith gently, knocking her off balance.
“With my sister,” she continued, a laugh colouring her words.
Cara raised an eyebrow at her, but relaxed considerably. She could never be completely relaxed whenever Kahlan’s sister was mentioned.
“At sunset, when the light hits the falls, the water glistens red,” Kahlan continued, nudging Cara again, a smile tugging at her lips. “They say it’s the reflection of all the lovers’ hearts who’ve kissed there.”
“That or a reflection of the blood spilled at the Battle of Aldemont,” Cara said, before she had time to consider her words. “Two hundred men were killed in that spot! The rest threw their bodies into the rapids rather than surrender.”
She finished her story with a pointed glance at Richard, rolling the word around her tongue.
“Well that does sound romantic!” he agreed, amused by Cara’s behaviour.
Kahlan sighed, her head falling forward, her eyes on the ground. Cara clenched her teeth. She’d obviously upset Kahlan, and not for the first time. Cara found the confessor to be a whirlwind of constantly changing emotions and Cara had no idea how to keep up. Initially she had thought that admitting that she had feelings for Kahlan would have been enough to satisfy the woman. This was apparently not the case. In fact, Kahlan now seemed to expect her to talk about her feelings even more. Cara rolled her eyes and cleared her throat.
“Or maybe it’s as you say,” she said, though her face indicated that it pained her to speak of something so illogical. “The heart thing. I suppose we will be able to judge better once we reach these falls.”
Kahlan smiled over at her, seemingly enchanted by Cara’s attempt at fixing what she’d said. She ran her hand down Cara’s forearm, briefly tangling their fingers together before letting go. Cara barely resisted the urge to sigh; whether in relief or frustration, she wasn’t altogether sure.
“Well, if we move fast, maybe we can get there in time to see the sunset,” Richard interjected, attempting to help Cara out.
However, their progress towards the famed waters, and the Stone of Tears, was halted when the party spotted two bodies strung up from a tree just off the path they were on. Cara marched up to them, quickly making an assessment of the situation.
“These men have been tortured,” she said, her eyes taking in their injuries. “Not very inspired work.”
She saw Kahlan hide a smile. Cara was at least a little grateful that Kahlan was not surprised in the slightest that Cara was more comfortable discussing torture techniques than she was matters of the heart.
“Looks like they died before they were hanged,” Richard observed.
“Then why hang them?” Cara asked. It seemed unnecessary to expend energy on such a pointless task.
“Whoever did this wanted to put them on display...send a message,” Richard said, seemingly concerned that someone would go to so much trouble. Cara could tell that this was not boding well for the quest.
Zedd lifted the large wooden sign that was hung around one of the unfortunate men’s necks.
“’Whoever attempts to subvert justice will meet the same fate’,” he read aloud. “Kahlan, take a look at this.”
She moved over to stand beside the wizard, examining what he was holding. There was no mistaking it.
“It’s the seal of Aydindril.” She took the piece of wood and turned it over, reading what was written there. “By order of the High Lord Regent.”
“Who’s that?” Richard asked.
“There’s no such title,” Kahlan told him, confusion clear on her face and in her voice. “The only person with the authority to confer this seal is the Mother Confessor.”
Cara was familiar with the workings of Aydindril, having studied confessors during her training; know thine enemy. She knew that this was not a small aberration. To misuse the authority of the Mother Confessor was high treason and punishable by death. She looked to Kahlan.
“Then who ordered these men killed?” she asked.
Kahlan shook her head, her eyes still fixated on the seal burned into the wood she held. Sensing that this was causing Kahlan great turmoil, Cara stepped closer and placed a hand on her back, rubbing gently. The smile she earned for it was not as bright as she had hoped.
---
A short while later, Cara could hold her tongue no longer. Richard had taken it upon himself to investigate the deaths and was examining a trail that was as likely to have been a hunter or a farmer as the murderer. Cara understood the desire to make Kahlan feel better, she felt it herself and planned to do so when they stopped to make camp. But Richard seemed to think that the way to do it was to nobly follow a cold trail for the Creator only knew how long.
“Richard,” she began. “Those bodies we found were at least two days old. Whoever killed those men is long gone.”
Because, really, there was a limit to how far she would go on utterly pointless crusades, even for Lord Rahl. Richard looked like he might protest; perhaps by regaling them with tales of his legendary tracking skills. Again. But he didn’t have the chance as a huge flash of light a little distance away from the group deposited yet another seemingly lifeless body on the forest floor. Cara’s agiels were unsheathed in an instant, followed quickly by Kahlan’s daggers and the Sword of Truth. They approached the body with care.
It was an old man and he appeared unarmed. Not taking any chances, Cara used her foot to turn him over. Kahlan dropped to her knees at his side and Cara bit her lip to stop herself from snapping at this lack of self-preservation.
“Silas!” Kahlan breathed.
“You know him?” Richard asked, though that much seemed clear enough to Cara; Kahlan had used the man’s name.
“He’s a Wizard of the Second Order from Aydindril,” Zedd answered for her, coming to kneel by the fallen man.
“Cara!” Kahlan said, the urgency in her voice and the plaintive look on her face meant she didn’t have to say anything else; Cara knew what she wanted. She knelt down by the old man, leaning in to gauge his suitability. She picked her head up and looked over at Kahlan apologetically.
“He’s already cold. The Breath of Life won’t work.”
Kahlan nodded without lifting her eyes from the dead wizard.
“You can put your weapons down,” Zedd told Richard and Cara, both still ready for a fight. “Whoever shot him couldn’t follow him here. He used this.” He held up an intricate amulet which Kahlan seemed to recognise.
“Oloron’s amulet,” she whispered, looking at Zedd, who nodded his confirmation.
“What is it?” Richard asked, sheathing his sword and approaching for a closer look.
“It’s a magical device that’s kept in Aydindril,” Zedd explained, turning the amulet over in his hands. “It was devised hundreds of years ago as a safeguard. If the Mother Confessor were urgently needed...a skilled wizard could use the amulet to find her anywhere in the world and carry them both home.” He looked down at his fallen comrade. “He must’ve been shot in Aydindril and it seems he managed to recite the incantation just before he died.”
“He came here to tell you something,” Richard said, addressing Kahlan.
“It must’ve been important,” Kahlan murmured, eyeing the dead wizard again.
“My guess is that it has something to do with this ‘High Lord Regent’ who had those men killed,” Zedd ventured, saying what they were all thinking.
“I…I have to get to Aydindril,” Kahlan said, her eyes drifting to Cara.
“That’s hundreds of leagues from here,” Cara protested, trying to sound annoyed. She was well aware that the hollow feeling in her chest at the thought of Kahlan leaving had leaked into her voice.
“Can you use the amulet to take us all there, Zedd?” Richard asked, keen as ever to help out where he could.
“The amulet was only designed to carry a wizard and the Mother Confessor, its magics would not work on all of us.”
“Then Cara and I will meet up with you there,” Richard said, with a nod.
“That could take weeks,” Zedd told him. “Cara’s right, the longer the quest is delayed, the stronger the Keeper grows. You and Cara continue to search for the Stone and Kahlan and I will go to Aydindril.”
“The Seeker needs his wizard and his confessor by his side,” Kahlan insisted, trying to use duty as an excuse to stay. “If we leave him again…” Though she spoke of Richard, her eyes did not leave Cara’s.
Richard stepped forward and took hold of Kahlan’s arm in a gentle grip, making her look at him.
“Kahlan,” he began. “You’ve done more than enough for me. You’ve been by my side longer than necessary. When we defeated Darken Rahl, you should’ve gone to Aydindril then. It’s your home. It’s where you’re needed.”
Kahlan shook her head. “The quest was more important,” she argued, her eyes once again finding Cara’s.
Seeing that this was pointless, Cara moved to Kahlan and eased her arm out of Richard’s grip, drawing her away from the others to the side of the clearing.
“The quest will go on,” she said, her voice softer than usual.”You should go to your home and see what’s wrong. You won’t feel right until you do.”
Kahlan bit her lip, her eyes sparkling with tears as she searched Cara’s face. She placed her hand on Cara’s chest, her thumb brushing over the soft leather.
“My home is with you,” she whispered. “I won’t feel right if I’m not with you.”
Cara closed her eyes for the briefest of seconds, unable to stop the look of sadness that crossed her face. Perversely, it seemed to make Kahlan happy that this was difficult for Cara too. Cara had spoken in the past of the futility of missing people. It was unsettling for her to realise that perhaps her view didn’t hold true any longer. Cara brought her hand up to cover Kahlan’s where it still lay on her chest.
“We’ve been apart before,” she said, sticking to the practicalities. “The wizard will find a way to make sure we’re not separated for long.”
Kahlan nodded sadly. “It’ll still be too long,” she whispered.
Cara sighed, but not unkindly. “This isn’t making it easier,” she said, wondering again how Kahlan could possibly think that saying these things out loud made them better.
“I know,” Kahlan said with a nod and a sniff. She tried to smile, “I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be sorry,” Cara said, briskly. “But the sooner you leave, the sooner we’ll meet again.”
This was Cara’s way of saying she’d miss Kahlan too and Kahlan couldn’t stop her tears from falling. She pulled Cara into a tight embrace, burying her face in her neck and inhaling the scent there. Cara’s arms wrapped around her in return, strong and safe. Kahlan lifted her head and pressed her lips to Cara’s in a firm kiss of reassurance.
“I’ll be as quick as I can,” Kahlan murmured against Cara’s mouth, receiving a nod and a kiss in return.
“See that you are,” Cara said. “I like to keep you in my sight…how else do I know you’re not getting yourself into some trouble or other?”
Kahlan smiled and Cara attempted to return it. But that was probably the worst of this parting for Cara; the thought of something happening to Kahlan and not being there to prevent it. Kahlan gave Cara one last kiss and squeezed her gently before stepping back and wiping her face. The men had graciously moved to the other side of the clearing and were talking amongst themselves, allowing Cara and Kahlan to regain their composure.
“I’m ready,” Kahlan called to Zedd and he nodded, clapping Richard on the shoulder in goodbye before approaching Kahlan.
Cara moved to stand by Richard, her face stoic and composed, but her fingers were twisting the ends of her hair. Zedd held out his hand with the amulet facing upwards and Kahlan covered it with her own, grasping Zedd’s hand. As he began to recite the incantation, Kahlan turned to look at Cara.
“I wish I didn’t have to go,” she whispered, her voice almost drowned out by Zedd’s booming one.
“I wish I were going with you,” Cara whispered in return, just loud enough for Kahlan to hear before the world became nothing but a flash of white.
And they were gone. Richard and Cara were left alone, looking at the spot their companions had occupied. Richard turned to Cara.
“Well, it looks like it’s just you and me for a while,” he said, amiable as ever.
“Yes,” she agreed, grasping both of her agiels. “And with any luck, we might actually get to look for the Stone of Tears without being distracted by beautiful waterfalls or kittens up trees.”
Richard noticed her stance and the whine of her weapons and took this to be her way of her comforting herself. Rather than ignore it as he may have on another occasion, he decided to broach the subject. Cara had been getting better at talking lately and he wanted to do his part in encouraging that.
“It’s okay to miss her, Cara,” he said as they set off on their way.
“Why would I do that?” She picked up the pace, forcing Richard to jog a little to catch up to her.
“Fine,” he said. “But don’t think that you need to stay strong for my benefit. I’m here if you would like to talk about anything.”
She sighed. “Yes, Lord Rahl, I’m very aware that you’re in touch with your feelings,” she said, her voice dripping with scorn. “You seem to have enough of them for both of us. I’ll concentrate on the quest.”
Richard shook his head in amusement. It appeared that Cara’s willingness to discuss her feelings was directly proportionate to Kahlan’s proximity. He trod on something that made a noise against his boot and he stopped, looking down at it.
“Cara…look.” He stooped to pick up the object; it was part of the amulet Zedd had used. It was broken in half. Cara took it out of his hands and examined it.
“The amulet…” For a moment a ghost of an emotion seemed to dance across her face but it was quickly replaced with a mask. “Do you think the spell went wrong?”
Richard shrugged. “I don’t know,” he admitted.
“Their fate cannot be changed now. We should continue on as before.”
Richard realised that Cara knew no other way to deal with emotion. He would allow her to keep up her front and therefore he made the decision for both of them. “We’ll go to Aydindril to make sure they’re okay. If we get horses and ride hard it should take us less than a week.”
“The Stone of Tears is our priority.”
“And it will still be there in a week’s time,” Richard assured her. “We’ll all go after it together.”
“Should I take this as an order?”
Cara’s inability to admit distress meant that Richard felt he had no other choice, “Yes I suppose so.”
Cara stood up straight. “As you wish, Lord Rahl,” she said, tucking the broken piece of the amulet inside her leathers.
---
Meanwhile, Zedd and Kahlan found themselves in the marketplace in Aydindril.
“How do you feel?” Zedd asked, glancing around the corner of the building they’d appeared behind.
“All in one piece,” Kahlan said, a little shaken from the suddenness of the spell. A hand on her shoulder made her jump and assume a defensive position, hands going for her daggers as she spun around. Zedd also turned to get a look at Kahlan’s apparent assailant. They both gasped when their eyes landed on her.
Cara took a step back, her hands raise in surrender. “It’s me,” she said, needlessly.
“Cara…what…how?” Kahlan sputtered, replacing her daggers and moving to embrace Cara, a huge smile on her face.
“I don’t know,” Cara said, accepting Kahlan’s touch and looking just as bewildered as the other two. “I…I was watching the spell and I was thinking that I wanted to go with you and…here I am.”
Kahlan stepped back a little, lifting her hand to stroke Cara’s cheek briefly before turning to Zedd.
“Zedd?” she asked, looking for an explanation. “I thought you said it could only carry a wizard and the Mother Confessor.”
“It should!” he said, looking from one woman to the other as a grin spread over his Well, what do you know…the amulet clearly recognized the love the two of you have for each other.”
Kahlan turned to Cara, expecting an eyeroll and a sarcastic remark but was surprised to find only a soft smile.
“But perhaps the strain of bringing three people was too much for it,” Zedd mused, holding up the broken artefact.
Cara’s smile dissolved into a picture of concern.
“Richard…” she began. “He’s all alone.”
Kahlan tilted her head at Cara’s choice of words. That didn’t sound like her at all.
Zedd answered, not appearing to notice.
“He’ll make his way here,” he said, assuredly. “He’ll have figured out what’s happened.”
“Maybe…” Cara began, doubt of Richard’s deductive abilities clear in her voice.
Kahlan was unable to wait any longer, striding out into the square to view the Confessor’s Palace. She smiled as it loomed into view; imposing and welcoming at once. Cara and Zedd came to stand by her, the wizard placed a hand on her shoulder and she smiled up at him. She turned her smile on Cara.
“I’ve wanted to show you Aydindril for a long time,” she admitted. “I’m glad that you got to come with me, no matter how unconventional the route.”
Kahlan was surprised to feel Cara’s hand slip into hers, the Mord’Sith was not usually one for overt gestures, especially in public.
“It’s beautiful,” Cara said, looking up at the palace. “I look forward to seeing inside.”
Kahlan graced her with a beautiful smile. “Then let’s not wait.” She squeezed Cara’s hand. “It’s good to be home.”
---
On their way to the palace, they encountered Alferon, who explained Silas’ sacrifice and the need for the Mother Confessor to return. Kahlan’s interest was piqued when he mentioned a particular name.
“Prince Fyren?” she asked. “Of Kelton?”
“When Rahl fell, Fyren threw the D’Harans out of Kelton and Aydindril. Then he jailed the council members and proclaimed himself High Lord Regent. “
“At a forest near Gallimore we found two bodies hanging from a tree bearing the seal of Aydindril round their necks,” Zedd told him.
“Fyren’s work,” Alferon said, practically spitting as he spoke the Prince’s name. “He’s given bands of hoodlums the authority to enforce his laws, mostly archaic...or invented, demanding fines. When people can’t pay, or won’t, he makes examples out of them.”
“I’ve heard enough,” Kahlan said, her face stony. “Where can I find Prince Fyren?”
She felt Cara’s hand squeeze her own and it calmed her a little, but she still needed to see this for herself.
---
The throne room was full of people, waiting for their cases to be heard. Kahlan, Zedd and Cara hung back, listening to the judgments and growing increasingly uneasy. The punishments were harsh and not in proportion to the crimes that had been committed. Kahlan had heard enough. She pulled her hood up around her hair and took a step forward. Cara’s hand on her arm stopped her.
“Be careful,” she murmured. “I’ll be right behind you.”
Kahlan nodded her understanding and walked to where Fyren was seated on the throne. She kept her head bowed as she approached and he leaned forward, a smile crawling over his lips. His eyes drifted down to her cleavage.
“Well...what crime could this lovely young lady possibly have committed?” he asked, leaning his elbow on his knee and dipping his head to try to catch her eye.
“It’s a private matter,” Kahlan said, keeping her head bowed so that he couldn’t see her face.
Fyren grinned, expecting something salacious no doubt. He beckoned with his fingers. “Come closer.”
Kahlan approached the throne, head still down.
“Tell me what I can do for you,” Fyren oozed.
Kahlan lifted her head, meeting his eyes, seeing recognition there almost immediately. She took down her hood. “You can get out of my chair,” she said, calmly.
A gasp went up around the room as people began to sink to their knees in the presence of the Mother Confessor. Fyren sat back, his smile long since gone. He looked her up and down.
“You aren’t here and your people need leadership,” he said. “You’ve abandoned them, I have nurtured them.”
Kahlan raised an eyebrow at his insolence. She was the highest authority in the Midlands and he dared challenge her? From her own throne?
“You would defy my orders? I am the Mother Confessor,” she said, her voice low and dangerous.
“You have not proven yourself worthy of the title,” he announced, standing up and holding his arms out; showboating for the crowd. “Traipsing through the woods after the Seeker.” He turned his attention to Cara with a sneer. “Associating with Mord’Sith. I have yet to see anything of the greatness I hear tell of from the travelling bards.”
His reaction to Cara provoked enough rage in Kahlan that she felt the beginnings of her confessor power tickle the palms of her hands and she knew her eyes were darkening. But Fyren’s lack of recognition of her greatness also appeared to have provoked something in Cara and she pushed past Kahlan, hands poised over her agiels.
“How dare you speak to the Mother Confessor like that,” she seethed. “Get out of her chair. Now.”
Fyren had the gall to smile at her. “Guards,” he called out, not removing his eyes from Cara’s. “Take the three of them to the dungeon until I decide their fate.”
The room became a blur of action. The guards posted around the room surged forward. Kahlan drew her daggers and watched as Cara grasped her agiels. But something was wrong; the familiar whine was not there and Kahlan saw Cara look down at the weapons in her hands in confusion. A guard appeared behind Cara, his sword raised.
“Cara!” Kahlan screamed, letting fly one of her daggers straight into the man’s heart. Cara spun around in time to see her would be assailant fall, her eyes found Kahlan again, full of something Kahlan had never seen in them before; panic.
“My agiels aren’t working,” she called, elbowing another guard in the face without looking.
Kahlan fought down the implications of that and turned to Fyren, grabbing his neck and letting her fury flow through her, her eyes turning black. Fyren’s body went slack, sliding to his knees and gazing up at her.
“Command me, Confessor,” he breathed.
“Call off the guards,” she ordered.
“Stand down!” Fyren boomed, and all the fighting stopped immediately, the guards looking around in confusion.
“Clear this room,” Kahlan said, moving to Cara’s side and beckoning Zedd to come closer.
The room emptied quickly, leaving the three of them and Fyren alone. Kahlan sighed in frustration as she turned to her adoring prince.
“Go and clean out the stables,” she told him. “And then come back to receive further orders.”
“Yes, Mistress,” he said, with a bow and a grateful smile.
When the door was closed, Kahlan turned to find Zedd holding one of Cara’s agiels. Both of them looked worried.
“Is this…is Richard…” Kahlan began, unwilling to speak the words aloud.
Zedd shook his head. “I don’t think so,” he said, though he sounded far from sure. “Cara, may I try something?”
Cara nodded, her face open and trusting.
“What are you going to try?” Kahlan interjected, stepping closer to Cara instinctively.
“Cara, I’m going to throw a little magic at you…I want you to deflect it,” he said, assuming a spellcasting stance. “Kahlan, can you step aside for a moment?”
Kahlan squeezed Cara’s forearm, giving her a warm smile before stepping away a little distance. Zedd recited a few words, gathering up what looked like a ball of air in his hands. On his final word, he hurled it at Cara. She held up a hand, clearly expecting it to bounce back and knock the wizard off his feet, but it slammed into her chest with the force of a large fist and she ended up on her back, sliding across the floor.
“Zedd!” Kahlan yelped, running to Cara’s side. “I thought you said a ‘little’ magic.”
“It was only a little magic,” Zedd said, looking at his hand and then at the prone Mord’Sith who was sitting up, rubbing her head.
Kahlan ran a hand over Cara’s scalp, looking for cuts or bumps. Finding none she placed a kiss on the crown of her head.
“Something’s wrong with me,” Cara said, quietly. She looked between Kahlan and Zedd. “It’s like I’m not a Mord’Sith anymore.”
Kahlan let her hand slide to Cara’s shoulder, pulling her into a loose hug. “We’ll find out what’s happened,” she said, hoping she sounded more certain than she felt. She couldn’t imagine losing her confessor powers and her heart went out to Cara.
Cara nodded and tried to smile at Kahlan for her comforting words. “Perhaps it was the amulet?” she suggested. “Maybe coming here the way we did affected me because it was never supposed to work on anyone other than wizards and confessors?”
Kahlan nodded, it sounded plausible. “Zedd? Could it be the amulet?” she asked.
“It’s…possible,” he allowed, trying to turn the possibilities over in his head. “I’ll look into it tomorrow. For now I think we could all do with a good night’s rest.”
“Ambrosio’s?” Kahlan asked with a smile, pulling Cara to her feet and helping to dust off her leathers.
“I think I shall pay that particular establishment a visit, yes,” Zedd confirmed. “Would the two of you care to join me?”
Kahlan dipped her eyes, glancing at Cara before shaking her head.
“I think we’ll probably have a bath and retire early,” she said. “It’s been a tiring day.”
“Yes,” Cara agreed quickly. “I would very much like to retire early tonight.”
Zedd inclined his head, hiding a knowing smile. “Of course,” he said. “I’ll leave you to your evening.”
He moved towards the door but stopped by Cara, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“And don’t worry, we’ll find a way to fix you,” he said. She smiled at him and nodded.
“I know, Wizard,” she said. “I’m not worried.”
His chest swelled a little at the confidence she appeared to have in him and he left the room feeling very positive.
Kahlan waited until the door was closed behind Zedd and she turned to Cara, winding her arms around her waist and pulling her into her body.
“Are you really okay?” she murmured against honey coloured hair.
“Of course I am,” Cara said, kissing Kahlan’s collar bone. “It’s true, landing on my rear end didn’t do wonders for my pride, but I’m otherwise unscathed.”
Kahlan laughed gently. “No, I meant about…not being a Mord’Sith.” She felt uncomfortable even saying the words to Cara, knowing that being a Mord’Sith was a large part of Cara’s identity and how she viewed herself.
Cara lifted her head, her brow creased in thought. “I think I’ve become less and less of a Mord’Sith since the day I met you,” she mused, one side of her mouth quirking up in a smile. “I should have known that it would disappear completely one day.”
Kahlan searched Cara’s face for any sign of sadness or regret at her words, but found none. From nowhere she was struck by the realisation that not only could she not find any, she couldn’t sense any. She could read Cara. Despite the fact that Cara’s agiels didn’t work and she couldn’t deflect Zedd’s magic, this, more than anything else, brought it home to Kahlan that Cara really was not a Mord’Sith. Rather than add insult to injury and tell her this, Kahlan moved in to kiss her soundly, leaving both of them short of breath.
“So,” Cara panted. “You said something about an early night?”
Kahlan nodded, enjoying the way Cara’s eyes darkened as she spoke.
“I did.”
“Then show me to your bedchamber, Confessor.”
---
Having procured some horses – Richard didn’t like to ask how – the other two were making good time on their journey to Aydindril. Richard found himself watching Cara more than usual. He told himself that perhaps it was because she was currently his only companion, but he couldn’t silence the niggling worry at the back of his mind that something wasn’t quite right.
The way Cara held herself seemed to have changed since Zedd and Kahlan left. She was more rigid, more tense. And her face was different. It was harsher. Harsher than Richard had ever seen it. He could see no hint of the playfulness that was often apparent in Cara’s features. She seemed to be all focus and determination. He sighed; she really must be missing Kahlan.
Although his earlier efforts had not paid off, Richard was not deterred.
“So, it’ll be nice for you to see Aydindril with Kahlan,” he ventured, urging his horse up to walk alongside Cara’s.
Cara frowned.
“It will be nice to be done with this folly and to return to more important manners.”
“I know you want to see that Kahlan’s safe and it must interest you to see Aydindril.”
“Finding the confessor and the wizard safe would make this fool’s errand slightly more acceptable. As for Aydindril, it holds no interest for me beyond getting there quickly so that we can then return our attention to closing the veil.”
“Cara, it’s Kahlan’s home,” Richard said. “She wants to share it with you.” He clamped down on the part of himself that was still sad it wasn’t him Kahlan wanted to take home. At least he would want to see Aydindril with her but that wasn’t the point. He was over it. He really was. So he kept telling himself.
“Why would Kahlan’s home be of interest to anyone but Kahlan?”
Richard shook his head. “Because it’s where she belongs,” he said. “Just like I belong to Hartland. And you belong...”
She turned to look at him. “Yes, Lord Rahl. Where do I belong? Stowcroft? The People’s Palace? The Mord’Sith temple where I was broken?”
He couldn’t hold her eyes. She was right, the concept of home was a strange one when put to the test. “I guess you’re right,” he admitted. “But I think Kahlan would still like for you to see Aydindril and that you would like to see her.”
“Yes, I suppose that’s true.”
They continued on in silence.
---
Later that night, a knock came at the door of Zedd’s bedchambers. The old wizard dragged himself out of bed.
“Who goes there?” he called through the wood, not keen to open the door in the middle of the night while he was still not fully awake.
“It’s me,” Kahlan hissed. “Open the door.”
Zedd quickly unbolted the lock and pulled the heavy wooden door open enough to see Kahlan, clad in her nightclothes and a robe and holding a lamp. He stood aside to let her enter. When she did, it became clear that she was agitated. She paced around the room, coming to a halt in front of Zedd after a moment, biting her lip in concern.
“I think something’s wrong with Cara.”
“What’s happened? Is she alright?” Zedd asked, immediately concerned.
“No she’s…I mean, yes, physically she’s okay,” Kahlan said, becoming increasingly more uncomfortable. “But…we were…doing something. And then she cried.”
The last vestiges of sleep clung to the wizard and he did not pick up on the meaning behind her words.
“What on earth were you doing that made her cry?” he demanded, having trouble picturing Kahlan ever making Cara cry.
Kahlan glared at him. “We were…doing intimate things.”
Realisation dawned and Zedd had trouble hiding his amusement, causing Kahlan to glare harder at him.
“Oh, I see,” Zedd said, clearing his throat. “And where is she now? Still crying?”
“No. She’s in the library,” Kahlan said, shifting from foot to foot. “Writing a poem about it.”
Zedd couldn’t hold in the chortle that issued forth at that.
“Zedd!” Kahlan scolded. “How can you laugh at this?”
“I’m sorry, Kahlan, truly,” he said. “I was merely imagining some future confessor finding the poem stuck in between the pages of a book during her studies.”
Kahlan’s eyes went wide and she immediately turned, Zedd’s laughter echoing in her ears as she fled to the library to ensure that whatever poetic masterpiece Cara was crafting, it did not become her legacy to the race of confessors.
---
“Could it be temporary?” Kahlan asked, hovering by Zedd’s shoulder as he pored over an ancient tome.
He sighed. She had appeared shortly after breakfast and had not left his side. He understood her concern for Cara. He shared it. No person who possessed magical abilities could fail to be disturbed by the loss of them in another. It was both worrying and intriguing; he wanted to do his utmost to help Cara, but if there was a way to strip Mord’Sith of their powers, it could be a very important piece of knowledge to the holder.
“Kahlan, I am doing as much as I can to find out what happened.” He had only been partly successful in keeping his frustration at her constant questions out of his voice. “I will keep you informed of my findings.”
She nodded, but did not move from her position. He sighed again, louder this time. He hoped that Kahlan’s innate ability to read people would perhaps kick in at some point and that she would realise that her constant interruptions were hindering rather than helping the search for answers.
“Have you ever heard of a Mord’Sith losing her powers before?”
It would appear that it had not kicked in as yet. Zedd turned around in his chair to face Kahlan.
“Does the Mother Confessor not have anything better to do upon her return to Aydindril than breathe down the neck of a busy old man?”
The impatient tone surprised her and she took a step back, her eyes dropping. She hadn’t realised that her presence was an annoyance. Her worry over Cara had blinded her to everything else. She was a little confused about the degree to which she was worried. Cara seemed perfectly happy. Happier, in fact, than usual. On the surface at least. But Kahlan’s newfound ability to read Cara told her that underneath, she was hiding something.
“I’m sorry. I just…I’m concerned.”
His face softened and he stood, placing a hand on her shoulder.
“I know, child. But the sooner you let me get on with what I need to get on with, the sooner we’ll be able to do something to help her.”
She lifted her eyes to meet his; for all the world looking more like a worried little girl than the Mother Confessor. She attempted a smile.
“I know. And you’re right. I really should be seeing what mess Fyren has left for me to clean up.”
Zedd nodded his encouragement. “Indeed. The people are overjoyed to have you here. Go and be with them. I’ll see about Cara’s predicament.”
Her smile faded. “She’ll be okay. I mean, she’s Cara so of course she’ll be okay.”
“Yes, I have no doubt that Cara can and will adapt to anything she comes up against. But, with a little luck, she’ll be back to her old self in no time at all.”
---
Although their route was lined with tall trees the foliage provided inadequate protection and Richard felt as though he was being slowly roasted from the inside out. His clothes were stuck to him and he could feel drops of sweat running like small rivers from his hair to his back.
Cara seemed unperturbed. Her leathers should have made the heat unbearable but she showed no sign of discomfort. If her hair had not have been plastered to her forehead, Richard would have been convinced that she had ordered her body not to sweat in case it somehow slowed their journey.
The tree line began to thin and Richard could hear the sound of running water. When they came to the crossing, Richard’s heart soared as he felt certain that Cara would allow them to rest and refresh the horses. He dismounted and stretched out his back.
It seems that his logic was flawed as Cara’s actions did not echo his. In fact she pushed her horse through the water and was on the other side glaring at him when he raised his head after washing his face.
She rode back across and looked down on him with disapproval, “This is wasting time.”
“I need to rest.”
“You can rest when we camp for the night.”
“The horses need to be watered,” he countered. “They will not last if we continue at this rate.”
“They will last as long as they last and when they fail we will find new horses.”
Richard was taken aback. Cara was many things, most of them confusing, but he had never thought of her as someone who would ride a horse until it died. She may not have been willing to admit it but it was clear that the separation from Kahlan and fears for the confessor’s safety were weighing heavily on her. “You are not familiar with these lands. It may well take longer to find new horses or to be forced to travel on foot than it will to stop and rest.”
“If you say so,” she replied, but it was clear that she was not happy with the plan.
She would not allow them to remain in the open and instead insisted that they move further upstream. They found a shaded area that seemed to meet with Cara’s approval and she finally dismounted and allowed her horse to drink.
Richard removed his shoes and waded into the water. Some stones tried to push their sharp points into his feet but that seemed insignificant compared with the relief that the water provided. He was going to recommend that Cara should also cool her feet when she strode into the water, naked, and disappeared beneath the surface.
He turned away, embarrassed to have caught her in that state, and focused on the horses.
“You don’t have to do that. I’m reasonably sure that you have seen a naked woman before.”
“It’s not that, I’m trying to give you privacy.”
“Lord Rahl, many people have seen me naked before. I am not ashamed of my body.”
She did have a reasonable point and it was not as though he was unaware of her form. Her leathers left little to the imagination. Still, it was not the same. “I think I’d feel more comfortable if I went for a short walk instead.”
“Pity,” Cara said, “I was going to ask you to join me.”
“Cara you really shouldn’t joke about things like that.”
“Why would I joke about something that is your right, my lord?” He heard a splash and knew that she had again submerged herself and so he disappeared into the trees before he had to reply.
He sat against a tree and allowed his libido to cool. He was embarrassed to admit that Cara’s offer had been compelling. It was strange, her behaviour in the water was the closest that she had been to her playful self and yet it was as concerning as her cold veneer had been. He was starting to think that maybe she was right to risk the horses and that they needed to make haste to Aydindril.
When he returned to the horses Cara was fully dressed. Fully dressed. She was wearing her Mord’Sith regalia and she looked ready to ride into battle. He made a mental note to himself to stop complaining and to never, ever again devise a plan that separated Kahlan and Cara.
---
Kahlan rubbed the area between her eyes as she sat alone in the throne room, reading through numerous ancient texts that made very little practical sense in the modern world. She looked up gratefully when the door opened, hoping that it would be something to distract her. She hadn’t counted on it being quite as distracting as it turned out to be. Cara entered, with a small girl riding on her back.
“Cara!” she barked, shock making her voice harsher than she’d intended. “Where did you get that child?”
“In the courtyard.” Cara seemed to be taken aback by Kahlan’s attitude. It was only then that Kahlan realised that Cara was not wearing her leathers. She was dressed instead in a pair of tight fitting brown breeches and a man’s shirt. The shirt was unbuttoned to where Cara’s neckline usually sat, and the sleeves were rolled up, revealing her tanned forearms. Kahlan felt her body start to react, but drew herself back to the task in hand.
“Did you just take her?” Kahlan asked, more gently, her mind going to Stowcroft and drowning caves and other things she usually tried not to think about.
“Of course not, Kahlan,” Cara said, exchanging a bewildered look with the little girl before putting her down on the floor. “Her mother works in the kitchens and she wanted to see the room with the big chair. Next we’re going to feed the ducks in the fountain outside.” Her eyes lit up. “You should come with us. You’ve been working so hard since we got here.”
Kahlan couldn’t help but be charmed by this softer, happier Cara. She didn’t have much time to contemplate it because the child was tugging on her dress. She looked down and smiled at the little face, smudged with dirt.
“Yes, little one?” she asked, wondering if there would be a mucky handprint when the urchin released her hold on her dress. The child didn’t reply, but she turned to Cara.
“You were right,” she said in her babyish voice. “She is the prettiest lady I ever see’d.”
Kahlan flushed a deep red but Cara just grinned easily.
“I told you so, didn’t I?” she said. “Now, do you want a seat in the big chair before we go find some ducks?”
The child nodded her head rapidly and Kahlan watched with growing affection as Cara helped her into the throne and pretended to bow in front of her. Kahlan walked over and placed a hand on the small of Cara’s back as she stood back up.
“I didn’t know you were so good with children,” Kahlan mumbled as the child proceeded to issue a number of royal decrees, mostly involving not eating vegetables.
“Neither did I,” Cara said with a shrug. “But she seemed to take a liking to me and I find her strangely enjoyable to be with.” She turned to Kahlan with a shy smile. “Perhaps this will allay some of the fears you have about us having our own children.”
“Having our…own children?” Kahlan squeaked.
This was not something they’d discussed. They hadn’t even gotten close to the subject.
“Yes,” Cara said. “I know you want them one day.”
“I…well,” Kahlan fumbled around for the words. “Yes…I…it’s expected of me. Required almost.”
Cara nodded. “I know. And I think you’ll make a wonderful mother. And now you can see that I might not be completely awful at it either.”
Kahlan took Cara’s hand, intertwining their fingers, a wondrous smile on her face.
“I didn’t ever think that,” she said. “I didn’t ever let myself think…that you’d want to have children with me. I mean, the thought of being with someone other than you fills me with disgu-“
She was cut off by Cara’s hand over her mouth.
“Don’t even say that,” she whispered. “You won’t need to lie with some fawning prince, or worse, some confessed soldier.”
Kahlan raised an eyebrow in question, unable to speak past Cara’s hand. Cara shook her head, an affectionate smile playing at her lips.
“Kahlan, we travel with a Wizard of the First Order. I’m sure he can find a way for us to produce a child that’s ours.”
A tear made its way from Kahlan’s eye and Cara moved her hand to catch it with her thumb.
“Don’t’ cry,” Cara whispered. “The child will think you’re sad.”
Kahlan shook her head and kissed Cara softly, wiping at her eyes and smiling.
“You’re full of surprises,” she mumbled.
“Ducks now?”
They both turned to the little voice and to find the girl sitting swinging her legs back and forth on Kahlan’s throne.
“Ducks now,” Cara confirmed.
“Is the pretty lady gonna come?”
Cara turned back to Kahlan with a bright smile.
“What do you say, pretty lady?” she asked with a wink. “Are you coming?”
Kahlan glanced at the paperwork scattered across the table and sighed. A smile crept over her lips and she looked at the wide-eyed excitement on the faces of both of her companions. She took Cara’s hand and held out her other one to the grubby child.
“Let’s go and feed the ducks.”
For now, Kahlan was content to enjoy the day and to ignore the part of her that knew that Cara would never, under normal circumstances, voluntarily talk about having children.
Part 2
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Asunder 1/5
Date: 2011-05-17 07:11 am (UTC)Re: Asunder 1/5
Date: 2011-05-18 06:29 pm (UTC)Re: Asunder 1/5
Date: 2011-05-18 11:38 pm (UTC)