Adventure of...
Cara's adventure.
They had defeated the Keeper. The source of all evil, master of the underworld - what more was there to come? Every challenge that now lay ahead of them would be nothing compared to what they'd already gone through.
So what use was there to stay any longer? Richard would claim his place as the rightful Lord Rahl. He would marry Kahlan and with her being the Mother Confessor they would unite the lands and lead the people into a future of peace and prosperity. Zedd would probably inspect every single tavern along the way while supporting the happy couple.
A couple, that is what they were now. They had overcome the boundaries of magic and would be able to be together, really be together. Soon little Richards and little Kahlans were going to see the light of day of a world their parents had managed to protect.
Cara stood and all eyes turned to her. The looks they were giving her were something akin to worry and had been that way ever since they’d left the Pillars of Creation behind.
They would reach Aydindril in less than a day and had decided to take a break to enjoy the cold water of a nearby stream. The only one who was still dry was Cara. She looked at Zedd as his gray hair clung to his wrinkled cheeks. Kahlan was hanging her white dress over a branch to let it dry while Richard sat on a tree stump with bare upper body, handing Kahlan pieces of clothing.
“I am going to leave” Cara announced, squaring her shoulders and lifting her chin.
“When will you be back?” Richard asked.
“I'm sure it's time for dinner soon” Zedd added.
“No” Cara growled, her prepared nonchalance somewhat deflated. “I request to be freed of my duties to Lord Rahl.”
Richard wrinkled his forehead as he looked at Cara thoughtfully. “You know that I've never seen you as a servant Cara. Of course you are free to do as you please. But why do you want to leave us?”
“You're leaving us?” Kahlan asked irritated, turning away from her Confessor dress.
Cara couldn't help but smirk at the absurdity of it - the woman who should've been her mortal enemy now sported a worried and hurt expression.
“There are things I need to care of” the Mord'Sith boldly announced.
“We'll come with you” Kahlan replied, as if it was that simple.
“You have duties, all of you” Cara shot back.
“They can wait” Richard answered. “They've been waiting for quite a long time now and a few more weeks won't change anything. Whether you like it or not Cara but we care about you, more than you think.”
“If that is the truth, then I ask you to accept my decision. I need to do it alone.”
“We have already suspected something like that” Zedd piped up. “You've been distant the last couple of days even for your standard and I think we all agree that if it is your wish to go by yourself we will let you leave.”
Cara nodded her thanks to the wizard and simply grabbed her pack. “Just like that?” Kahlan asked a little aghast. “After everything we've been through, after all that has happened you leave just like that?!”
“What do you want me to say?” Cara huffed, raising an eyebrow.
Kahlan glared at the Mord'Sith for a moment and then simply strutted across the little clearing and pulled Cara into a full-fledged hug.
Richard and Zedd shared worried glances but decided to remain quiet.
The Mord'Sith body was a stiff as a board as Kahlan stepped back. “If there's nothing we can do to change your mind then please promise me to stay safe and to return to us unharmed.”
Cara nodded her head once and the expression on her face stopped Richard and Zedd from doing anything foolish. She simply looked at each of them before turning around and marching into the forest.
Now she was alone again, the way it had always been. She'd gotten used to being surrounded by people and that had made her weak... But who was she kidding? She'd enjoyed their company, their warmth, the way they truly cared for her even though she was broken.
But whatever she had gone through before, the only thing she could not take was becoming useless. When they returned to Aydindril and later the People's Palace there would've been no place for her. Surely not beside the Mother Confessor and also not as the protector of the Lord Rahl. He had an entire army for his protection, and didn't need a Mord'Sith who was confused about her life and her feelings. Being a tool was easy, being human not so much.
She needed time to think, to reflect and to put the pieces of herself together again.
Triana was gone, and so was Dahlia, even Denna was no more and so the strongest and most cunning Mord'Sith had ceased to exist. She'd had a hand in all of their deaths, and what did that make her? A traitor or a true Mord'Sith? Did something like loyalty even exist between them?
Cara sighed as she looked around. She'd been walking straight ahead pretty aimlessly and the darkening sky told her that she needed to find shelter for the night soon.
Luckily she discovered a small village with an inn before the sun had finally disappeared. The entire tavern went deadly silent as she entered, fearful faces as far as she could see. She'd gotten used to the joyous welcomings whenever she'd been with the Seeker and the Mother Confessor.Even though it had annoyed her that people seemed to forget that she was to be treated with respect it had still been a different way of being looked at.
Now the hostile glares followed her through the room as she strode over to the owner to request a chamber with a bed.
He was scared enough to not demand pay and Cara simply took the key. She didn't even look back as she climbed the stairs to the upper story where the rooms for guests were located.
The bed was small and uncomfortable, but she didn't care. It was luxury compared to sleeping on the ground.
Her thoughts immediately returned to Richard, Kahlan and Zedd. Did they miss her? What were they doing?
Cara rolled her eyes at her own train of thought. She lay there in the darkness, the moon casting a pale light through the small window into her room. She'd stripped out of her leather a while ago, but sleep refused to come. She couldn't help but feel something like loneliness creep up on her.
It wasn’t the sun that woke her the next morning, but a loud scream right beneath her window. Cara groaned and rolled out of bed. She pushed the window open and looked around. Another scream was heard right before someone cursed loudly. A woman came running around a corner to Cara’s left and headed straight for the inn, but before she could reach the door a burly man caught up with her and wrapped his massive arms around her slender waist.
Some kind of feeling rolled up and down Cara’s spine and she realized that it must’ve been something like compassion. She quickly turned around, pulled on her leathers, grabbed her Agiel and hurried downstairs. There hadn’t been enough time to tie all of the laces so she showed quite a lot of skin when she stormed outside and over to the struggling woman and her captor.
“Let go of her” Cara growled. The man opened his mouth but didn’t say a word as he saw who he was dealing with. Seemingly having encountered Mord’Sith before he dropped the woman and raised his arms in defeat. “She’s yours, ain’t making anything but trouble anyway…”
He simply turned around a walked away, leaving Cara and a quietly sobbing woman alone in the street.
She’d saved the woman from this disgusting looking man, and that was about what one could ask of her. Had Kahlan been there, she surely would’ve comforted the poor stranger, but that wasn’t Cara’s strength.
The woman then looked up at Cara with steely gray eyes. She stared at the Mord’Sith for a short moment and then got up from the ground. She sniffed a few times and wiped tears from her cheeks. She was wearing a dark brown dress that reached mid-thigh, her boots were worn and dirty, but her long brown hair was braided in an intricate way. “Asalaah” she said bowing her head.
“Uhm… you’re welcome?” Cara replied. The woman began talking immediately but Cara didn’t understand a single word. She’d encountered several languages during her travels, but none like the one the woman was speaking at this moment.
The Mord’Sith held up her hands to silence the stranger. The woman seemed to understand and fell quiet. She looked at Cara expectantly but the blonde only shrugged. “You can go. You’re free.” Cara motioned to her with her hands like she would be shooing away a clingy puppy.
The woman raised her eyebrows and shook her head. Cara was about to reply something when she felt her leathers sliding off her arms. She quickly grabbed them and pulled them up again. Immediately the woman was by her side and began tying the laces. First on her arms and then on her legs. They did this in complete silence until the woman again stood before Cara, regarding her with gray eyes.
“Alright fine. Where do you need to go? Is this your home?” Cara gestured with her arms towards the village.
The woman shook her head no and pointed at the horizon.
Cara inhaled deeply and nodded. “I’ll take you to the next road that will lead you in this direction. Alright? But first I need something to eat.”
Cara turned around and walked back into the inn where she shot the owner a cold stare. “Some bread, cheese and whatever you have to drink” she ordered.
“What about her?” he asked gruffly, pointing at the woman behind Cara.
“Just double it” the Mord’Sith mumbled and soon she found herself sitting across from her new companion eating silently.
The woman kept looking at Cara curiously and eventually pointed at herself. “Kaleesa” she said smiling.
Cara narrowed her eyes, unsure of how to reply. Normally she would’ve had anyone call her mistress, but ever since she’d traveled with Richard, Kahlan and Zedd she’d gotten used to being referred to simply as Cara.
“Kaleesa” the woman tried again.
“Yeah yeah, call me Cara, alright? Cara.”
Kaleesa grinned happily as she nodded. “Cara.”
They finished their small meal and soon were back on the road. Cara wasn’t exactly sure where she was going anyway, so this little detour didn’t really matter.
She’d briefly thought of returning to her sister and her family, but what good would it do if she suddenly showed up at their doorstep? The last time it had not been a pleasant experience at all.
The Mord’Sith sighed and let her gaze travel to Kaleesa. The woman seemed to be her age and she was actually quite beautiful. Her gray eyes were very intriguing as was her lean body.
Cara raised an eyebrow at herself, realizing that the last time she’d done anything remotely considered intimate had been her little encounter with Dahlia.
Kaleesa looked curiously at her and smiled friendly. Cara knew that the other woman wanted to say something, it was obvious, but what use was there if they did not understand one another?
Cara remembered her walk with the Night Wisp through the forest which had been similarly frustrating due to problems of communication.
They kept on walking until it was almost midday and it promised to be a very hot and sticky day. The sun shone mercilessly and Cara felt sweat trickle down her spine. There were certain advantages to wearing Mord’Sith leathers but sometimes they were just plain uncomfortable. Imagining that she once had to wear neck guard and corset made her transpire even more.
“Cas la mea au tar” Kaleesa said, looking around.
Cara only looked at her blankly. Grinning the other woman gently wrapped her fingers around Cara’s wrist and guided her into the forest beside the road. They walked through underbrush for a while until Cara could hear the faint sound of water.
She’d not taken a bath when Richard had suggested stopping at a stream and now regretted her decision bitterly, but it seemed like her new companion knew exactly what she needed. How Kaleesa had known that there was river near them was quite a mystery to Cara, but she wouldn’t have been able to ask anyway.
When they reached the shore Cara looked around. The scenery was quite beautiful and she’d only learned to appreciate landscapes through Kahlan’s constant babbling about wonderful places.
The sun reflected on the water made everything seem just a little bit brighter, and the gentle waves swayed back and forth. The sand beneath her feet was moist and Cara inhaled the clean air. A nice cool bath was just the right thing.
Kaleesa smiled happily and simply shrugged out of her brown dress, in a mere moment she’d gotten rid of her boots and was running into the water.
Finally someone who didn’t die of blushing when some skin was revealed Cara thought. She worked on the laces of her leathers and soon had shed them. She didn’t drop them into the sand though but carefully placed them onto a nearby rock.
A quick bath was incredibly refreshing and Kaleesa seemed to feel the same way. By the time they continued their little journey both of them had a little spring in their step.
Making a short rest after half a day of walking they shared some dried meat, everything in complete silence.
The road Cara had wanted to reach was soon in sight and she gestured towards it, trying to make the other woman understand that it was the way she needed to take if she wanted to travel further in this direction. Kaleesa nodded happily. “Asaalah.”
Cara gathered that it meant something like thank you and simply nodded in return.
Gracing her with a last bright smile Kaleesa turned around and simply walked away, to whatever destination.
Cara looked after the young woman for a few moments, wondering if she would be alright all by herself. But even if she wouldn’t, it was none of the Mord’Sith’ concern. She’d done what she could and now she was going to concentrate on her own aimless journey again.
“Where to?”she said looking up into the sky.
Of course the question wasn’t answered and she sighed loudly. She wasn’t exactly sure where the road was leading her but she walked into the opposite direction from the one Kaleesa had taken. The day went on as she kept moving, hoping to find a town or at least a hint to where exactly she was.
She couldn’t possibly be bored. It was her second day without the Seeker and she already had nothing to do. Back in the day when Darken Rahl had still held the Mord’Sith in his iron grip she’d been suffering immensely but at least she’d always been busy.
Cara sighed loudly. This road seemed to go on forever and not even a damn carriage was anywhere in sight.
By the time her feet started to ache she heard a scream coming from somewhere to her left. “Well…” Cara considered just walking by, but she had no idea what to do with her life anyway so why not save some peasants along the way? Richard and Kahlan had obviously rubbed off on her, in a very annoying kind of way.
She pulled her Agiel out of its holster and held it tightly in her fist as she moved toward the bushes by the side of the road.
Another scream was heard but also the sound of steel hitting steel. A fight.
Cara’s muscles immediately tensed as she crept closer.
When she’d pushed the bushed aside and stepped onto a small clearing she saw two figures. Two soldiers in dark armor were attacking a single man while a woman sat on the ground screaming and crying helplessly.
Whatever was going on, it sure wasn’t fair that those soldiers attacked a man who could barely defend himself.
Cara strode onto the clearing and before anyone could even raise a sword in her direction she’d already disposed of the first soldier. The second was just as easy to come by and soon both of them lay on the ground groaning in pain.
The man had immediately hurried over to the woman on the ground and was now cradling her in his arms.
Cara slowly moved closer to them, holding her Agiel still tightly.
Before she could even warn not to come any closer the man had thrown himself onto his knees before her. “Thank you for your help!” he exclaimed. “Those men attacked us, and we…”
“Yeah” Cara interrupted. She wondered how Richard had always known that he was helping the right kind of people. For all she knew this couple could be thieves or worse.
But she wasn’t going to get into all the moral complications, it wasn’t her way of dealing with things.
“You better return to where you’ve come from” she continued. It seemed like brown was the color most people preferred these days. The woman had on a loose fitting blueish top and a brown skirt while the man wore the same thing only with pants.
It somehow reminded her of the way Kaleesa had looked. Cara wondered in what kind of region she’d walked into. She couldn’t remember a province near Aydindril that…
She couldn’t even finish her own thought because the young woman had gotten up from the ground and was suddenly moving toward her. Cara held out her free hand to stop the approach.
“Thank you” the woman mumbled shyly.
The man wrapped his arm around her shoulders and nodded toward Cara one last time before both of them simply walked away, leaving Cara with two unconscious guards.
…
Three months later.
Cara’s hair had grown a little longer and she’d refrained from cutting it. It still wasn’t long enough to braid but it had become a little lighter in color from her constantly being outside.
The small house she’d found near a village had served as her contemporary ‘home’ for almost two months now. The stream that flowed nearby was more than useful. She often caught fish to smoke dry them, and bathed as much as possible. The people in the village had somehow managed to simply get accustomed to her presence whenever she came to get some supplies.
Who would’ve thought that she, Cara, would one day live in a cottage-like house all by herself? She’d needed the time to center herself, make sense of what she was and of who she was. And in the past weeks she’d realized that she’d never been useless. She knew that Richard, Kahlan and Zedd would’ve never sent her away, they valued her not as a tool to be used but as a friend to be together with. Wherever those insights might’ve come from, they were there now and she only needed to decide what she was going to do next.
Rumor had it that Lord Rahl and his fiancée were in Aydindril, seemingly bringing the Midlands and D’Hara back to prosperity and peace.
It took the blond Mord’Sith another month to finally make up her mind. The solitude had been good for her spirit and her inner balance. But she now admitted that she missed the presence of Richard, Kahlan and even Zedd.
Packing up her few belongings she left the cottage and again traveled through the land, only this time with a destination in mind.
Aydindril was quite far away and she could only walk so much in day, and that was why she needed another half a month to get back to the large city.
The villages she’d come through had brought unsettling news to her ears. Apparently a foreign nation somewhere in the south had declared war - for no apparent reason.
At least Cara would be needed when there was a battle. Maybe other Mord'Sith had also decided to return to the true Lord Rahl and were now serving Richard.
He would surely make her his right hand, mistress of all other Mord'Sith. A small smile curved her lips as she thought of being in command again. There were certain needs in a Mord'Sith that had to be satisfied from time to time, and wielding power was one of them.
Shouldering her bag and she looked around as she stood before the gates of Aydindril. For a moment she wondered if they would stop her from entering, thinking that she was a possible threat to the Mother Confessor. So Cara turned around and walked a few steps until she was out of sight. She dug into her bag again and pulled out an old worn-looking cloak. She put it around her shoulders and let the hood cover her face.
This would do, she decided. It wouldn't be the first time she slipped past the guards unnoticed, but on the previous occasion they'd had to deal with two Kahlans.
It took her another half a day to make her way through the crowded streets of the large city, but soon enough the Confessor's Palace came into view.
Cara wasn't exactly sure what she was supposed to feel. Excitement because she would see Richard, Kahlan and Zedd again, or fear that they might reject her.
Shaking her head she banned all the thoughts that had made her leave them in the first place. There was no turning around now that she'd finally admitted to herself that she wanted their company back.
The guards at the gate however had not been too well trained or even suspicious, but the tones protecting the palace were an entirely different matter.
But she was Mord'Sith. No one here was expecting a Mord'Sith and she would use that to her advantage.
…
Rolling her eyes at the more than weak protection of the palace Cara continued her way through the halls that were more or less bustling with people.
She'd overheard a conversation, telling her that the Mother Confessor was currently in the main hall listening to petitions and even the concerns of common villages.
That would be Cara's chance to actually make her presence known. How Kahlan would react though, she couldn't even fathom.
The doors to the main hall were opened wide, while a crowd had gathered to watch the Mother Confessor fulfilling her duty. She was sitting at the far end of the room, on her throne, looking as regal as ever.
Cara pulled her hood even further down as she got in line. In front of her was a man who smelled like a chicken, a dead one at that. She turned away from the stench and instead let her gaze travel over the crowd.
Nothing seemed out of place, but she wasn't entirely sure that the guards hadn't let any assassins slip through. It was easy enough.
The line moved steadily forward while the sun moved toward the horizon, the night already about to fall. Luckily Kahlan took her duties very seriously and tried to hear everyone who came to her.
It was eventually time for Cara to speak her request. She stepped forward confidently and knelt down before the Mother Confessor, her face still obscured. Kahlan seemed a little more alert now that a cloaked figure was before her. Her eyes quickly darted over to the guards while her hand twitched. It seemed like she still was the same woman with brilliant skill she'd had been a few months prior.
“What is that you need?” the brunette asked.
Cara smirked. “I am offering my services” she announced. Blue eyes widened as Kahlan rose from her chair. The guards immediately pushed the crowd back, some even drew their swords.
“Show yourself” Kahlan demanded.
Cara rose from her kneeling position and in a fluid movement pulled the hood down. Blonde hair spilled over her shoulders as her green eyes looked up at the Mother Confessor, a smirk firmly in place.
“Cara!” The brightest smile spread across Kahlan's features and it was obvious that she wanted nothing more than to hug the blonde, but she held herself back and squared her shoulders instead.
“I am done for today” she announced, and with a little nod of her head the people began to file out of the room. Some were grumbling unhappily for missing out on whatever had been going on between the two women.
“To my chambers” Kahlan said quietly as she strode past Cara. The blonde simply turned on her heels and followed without uttering a sound. She knew that the rules of being the Mother Confessor were strict, there was a reputation to uphold and protocol to follow. Cara briefly wondered how Richard had dealt with all the restrictions.
When they'd reached the Mother Confessor's chambers and the guards were dismissed Kahlan couldn't hold out any longer. She simply wrapped Cara into a massive hug, pulling her close.
“I'm so happy to see you” she exclaimed. She pushed Cara back and rested her hands on the blonde's shoulders. “You look different.”
Cara cocked her head to the side, seemingly not too uncomfortable with the physical contact. “In a good way I hope.”
“Yes. Very good. You seem more...I don't know, content maybe? But I am glad that you've returned, I knew you would. We've all been missing you immensely.”
“Where are Richard and Zedd?” Cara then asked.
Kahlan's eyes immediately dimmed. “Have you heard from the war that is about to break loose?”
Cara nodded silently.
“Richard and Zedd have traveled to the southern border to prevent that from happening. They're trying to find out what exactly has caused the foreign nation to declare war.” Kahlan sighed unhappily. “I had to remain here to keep control over Aydindril and the Midlands, in case there should be a battle.”
Cara again nodded. “I will travel to the south then” she stated.
“Richard will be happy to see you. Please be careful and bring them back to me unharmed.”
Cara decided to stay for another day in the city. She enjoyed taking a nice long bath and sleeping in a comfortable bed. She'd gotten used to traveling by herself, so the journey south was not a great challenge. Neither was finding Lord Rahl and the First Wizard. They'd caused quite a stir. The people living near the borders had never had much contact with the nation beyond, but the sudden aggressiveness had shocked them, the last thing they wanted was a war.
Cara made her way through the large encampment. Parts of the D'Haran army as well as a soldiers from Aydindril had accompanied the Seeker, making sure he wasn't running into a disaster.
She found out that Richard had managed to arrange a meeting with the leaders of the foreign nation to discuss their sudden readiness for war.
They'd seemingly decided to meet on neutral ground somewhere on an open field. By the time Cara decided to remove her cloak she was immediately saluted by the D'Haran soldiers. One of them came running and stood in front of her, slamming his fist onto his chest. “Mistress...”
“Cara” she supplied. The man lowered his eyes. “Mistress Cara, Lord Rahl is momentarily leading negotiations.”
A white tent was clearly visible in the distance, in the middle of the open field.
“I will join him” Cara declared. The soldier looked nervous but didn't dare disagree with her.
She threw her cloak and her bag into the soldier's arms and marched off toward the tent.
The closer she came the better she could hear voices coming from within.
Two guards stood in front of the entrance, one D'Haran and one in brown clothing. The D'Haran slammed his fist onto his chest while the other one eyed her suspiciously but he stepped aside when a low growl left her throat.
The blonde Mord'Sith entered the large tent and her eyes needed a moment to adjust to the sudden dimness.
Richard turned around after Zedd had elbowed him into the ribs. His eyes widened as a smile spread across his features. “Cara!”
“Cara!” a female voice called. The blonde's eyebrows rose as she leaned to the side to look past Richard.
To her utmost surprise Kaleesa stood on the far end of the tent. She was now wearing a heavy fur cloak and looked overall more regal.
“You...you know her?” Richard stuttered.
“Uhm...sure” Cara shrugged.
Kaleesa began speaking in her foreign language and the woman beside her translated. “She asks what Cara is doing here?”
“I am in service of Lord Rahl” the blonde replied, nodding toward Richard.
The woman translated and Kaleesa's eyes grew wide. She shook her head vehemently, again speaking.
“She says that if Cara is with you, then you can't be a bad person” she translated, now speaking to Richard.
And so it turned out that Kaleesa, Queen of Tsalah, and the Midlands had been played against one another. They had declared war because Tsalah had been repeatedly attacked. Kaleesa and a few of her family members had been kidnapped, but the abductors obviously hadn't been too smart, letting the queen escape and all.
In the end, a war was prevented because Cara had decided to spend some time by herself. Not too bad, she decided as she, Richard and Zedd returned to Aydindril where Kahlan was already excitedly waiting for them.
The End