Broken Chains 20/22
Author: chickinwhite
Pairing: Kahlan/Cara
Rating: PG 17
Word account: ~6850
Summary: This adventure starts a good time after tears. It is about old scars and new bonds, about friends and foes, about confidence and betraying,
Disclaimer: Nothing of LotS belongs to me (such a pity!) - no business, just fan-fun
AN: betaed by my lovely friend jolo_65... - well, the errors I´ve put in after that are mine, but I like to share them with you ;)
AN 2: YAY!! DONE! J
(I just hope there is still someone out there who wants to read this...and tells me so :) It took me much too long, I know; but it´s been an incredible hard and exhausting - and exciting! - work. And: I never gave up on it, so, hopefully you too haven´t... It will be posted in three parts, every day from today on. So: Welcome to “The Long Broken Chains Weekend!
Pa rt 1; Part 2; Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 part 8 part 9 part 10 part 11 part 12 part 13 part 14 part 15 part 16 part 17 part18 part 19
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Kahlan didn´t dare to shift her gaze openly when they entered the courtyard; Rahl now riding half a horse length ahead, she and Nicci following side by side. She held her head low, covertly studying the scene from under her lashes. Acknowledging the taut figure of her sister, who stood straight at the top of the marmoreal stairway, glancing at the arrivals with cold eyes…
She swallowed; shivers ran down her back.
Dennee wore white.
The color of the Mother Confessor...
In this very moment her blood seemed to freeze in her veins as Kahlan realized with some finality, that her sister had given up on her.
-
Rahl rode up to the stairs, showing his priggish smile as he reined his horse, a short nod his only offer of some respect to the Confessor.
Dennee looked him over, her eyes glowing in a dark grey shade. Hidden behind her Confessor mask her gaze travelled slowly over the little troop that lined quickly up behind him. Five rows of four soldiers at a time in D´Haran uniforms, flanked by ten proud members of her home guard whom she had sent to escort her guest; their royal blue shining defiantly against the red and golden colors of Rahl´s own men.
Finally her eyes settled on the Mord Sith who stayed close to their Lord, counting twelve women in red leather, looking each and every one over with a hostile glance. Her face grew a little harder as the corner of her lips dropped ever so slightly.
At last her gaze focused on the brunette at the sorceress´ side, holding her head low, avoiding her scrutiny. Kahlan struggled hard to keep her role as she felt her dark grey stare boring into her. Her hands already wanted to move, wanted to grab her sister´s arms and shake her to her senses; she felt as if trapped in a nightmare, wanted to yell but knew, no sound would leave her throat;
It was as if time had slowed into a vicous compound; seconds falling like heavy drops of blood from a gaping wound; bursting in small explosions on the bottom of her mind.
Finally she almost sighed relieved when Dennee shifted her gaze back to Rahl, who had watched her every reaction; a fox watching a rabbit.
“What have you done to her?” Dennee´s voice was low. Her left brow lifted, her eyes were shimmering with distrust.
Rahl smirked slyly.
“Well, your sister wasn´t willing to cooperate. So I allowed our dear Nicci here, to bind her to her will and thus make her an easy travel companion.” He shrugged a little amused.
“She is... confessed.”
His eyes raked over Kahlan´s tense body, now beside him, with a sadistic grin.
Dennee frowned.
“Didn´t you say you wanted her to be yours? And now you gave her to the sorceress?” Her voice held a sharp edge.
“Oh, that shouldn´t bother you. Kahlan is bound to Nicci; and since Nicci knows all too well that she is bound to me - Trust me. I have your sister under my control ...In time I will free her from Nicci´s will.” His hand reached out to stroke Kahlan´s cheek almost tenderly, a finger under her chin finally forcing her head to rise. The Mother Confessor set her jaw, still avoiding her sister´s gaze. She tried hard to keep control over the slight trembling of her muscles.
The very instant her eyes met her sister´s glare, Dennee´s expression changed ever so slightly. Kahlan felt her heart clenching tightly as grey eyes grew hard.
This was the moment of truth...
The charade was over!
She should have known it. Of course! What had she thought how she could stand her gaze! She couldn´t pretend when her own sister stared right into her soul. It had been an asinine attempt.
All her hopes crashed down on her as she held the gaze of her sister. Her face almost empty, yet trying to transfer her love; to remind the woman who she was; to wrap her into the comfort of their common history, their childhood, their destiny... All without saying a word, without even twitching a muscle.
Dennee just stared at her for an endless moment; nothing in her eyes gave away her thoughts. At last she turned to her cortege, where Richard stood close to her, his hand resting tightly on the heel of his sword, his gaze filled with loathing as he watched Kahlan.
Appalled the brunette recognized this loathing giving way to that familiar devotion of the confessed as he shifted his eyes to Dennee and she couldn´t help a tiny moan escaping her throat, instantly feeling Rahl´s scrutiny at the barely audible sound. Quickly she resorted to Nicci, who had watched the scene with a deep scowl, silently praying that Rahl hadn´t rumbled her yet. The turmoil that brewed up inside her chest suddenly threatened to choke her; the deafening sound of her blood, howling through her veins, seemed so close to reach his ears...
But if Rahl was bothered, he gave no sign. Instead he dismounted his horse and winked his troop to do the same, and then mounted the stairs to approach the Confessor, who just called the leader of the home guard and gave her orders.
“Captain Meiffert! See that Lord Rahl will be shown to his chambers and my sister and... Nicci... to her rooms.” She turned and addressed Rahl personally in an arrogant voice.
“For your men I have rooms prepared in the stable tracts. As for them...” with obvious disgust her gaze drifted to the Mord Sith, who had followed their Lord closely; “if they do not want to return to the camp outside the walls, too. You certainly do not expect me to offer my hospitality to...“ She stopped her speech in an attempt to keep her nonchalance, only nodding towards the Mord Sith, now standing straight and warily, awaiting his answer.
Rahl smiled innocently, his oily voice sounding a little admonishing.
“Why, you shouldn´t fear the company of your own ally, Confessor. Have I ever given you any reason to distrust me? No. See, I am here to fulfill our contract. And my Mord Sith have nothing in mind then to serve me. So, denying them your hospitality could easily be mistaken as an offending act. I´m sure, you wouldn´t want that, would you?”
Dennee´s eyes narrowed as she set her jaw, recognizing the barely hidden threat. Though, after a tense moment she raised her chin and nodded shortly towards the Captain, who immediately winked to his men.
“Escort Lord Rahl and his cortege to their chambers. I will guide the Mother Confessor...”
“No!”
He turned and looked at Dennee questioningly.
“You will escort our guest Lord Rahl personally. We wouldn´t want him to get lost in the Palace.” Her eyes pierced him, saying what her mocking words kept hidden: - and don´t allow him a move on his own! -
He had no other choice than bowing respectfully and answering: “As you wish, Confessor Dennee.” Only then she turned and smiled at Richard, who broke into a happy grin, nodding eagerly as she asked him friendly.
“Would you be so kind and accompany me, showing Kahlan to her rooms, Richard?”
Still smiling she turned and, as if in expectation of a rejection, she added sweetly: “That´s the least I can do to welcome you home, sister!”
And so they entered the Palace and headed to the privacy of their chambers. Dennee nodded politely towards Rahl as their ways separated. They would meet in a candle mark for dinner. Her gaze admonished Captain Meiffert to be wary and then she turned to lead a tensely silent Kahlan beside a wary Nicci through the hallways to the private chambers of the Mother Confessor, followed by a few more home guards with empty faces, and by Richard, who shot distrusting glares at the brunette, his fist holding the Sword of Truth tight, ready to unsheathe it to defend his mistress if this monster, that he had formerly known as his beloved Kahlan, dared to attack her...
In some distance, hidden behind a pillar, a shadow watched them. Last rays of golden sunlight reflected briefly from blonde hair as the Mord Sith straightened. With her jaw set her fists tightened around her agiels; jade green eyes staring daggers into the back of the Confessor who strode beside Kahlan...
:::::::::::::::::
Benjamin Meiffert gritted his teeth. He knew Cara would be deeply disappointed that he hadn´t been able to guide the Mother Confessor himself. They had hoped to gain a little time to speak to her freely - and of course he had noticed Cara´s fierce glare at the mentioning that, perhaps, the Mord Sith could find a few moments to speak to her alone...
Now Dennee had taken six of her confessed guards and he only hoped the Mord Sith wouldn´t try something stupid when she saw Dennee at Kahlan´s side.
Most of the home guards were under Dennee´s control by now, some by their own will, some not. He was glad, though, that it hadn´t happened to one of the members of their little conspiracy. They would have been doomed if one of them wouldn´t have hesitated to tell their new Mistress everything...
The Confessor had told him blankly that it had been necessary, because these men had tried to conspire against the first seat. He had shown his understanding and hadn´t hesitated to assure her that the rest of the home guard was fully committed to her wise decisions.
If she had asked, he would have even sworn the oath.
Though, of course, it wouldn´t have meant anything...
But, obviously, since Cara had ordered them to openly offer their deep devotion to Dennee, the Confessor trusted that Wizard Connor´s insidious lies had stirred the men´s abhorrence enough to follow her unquestioningly, since she was the last Confessor, the one who would save the Midlands from the Mother Confessor´s madness...
Benjamin wondered if her confidence was the result of the Wizard´s forked tongue, too. The Wizard, whom he still had no idea what exactly his role was in this game.
He rushed back to their hide-out, after leaving Lord Rahl and his Mord Sith in their rooms; four guards kept watch to ensure that they´d stayed there until dinner.
Though they were guests to the Confessor, Dennee´s order had been unmistakable.
He was already too far away to hear them suddenly choking as a wizard web fell silently over them, while Wizard Connor knocked politely at Rahl´s door and grinned as he heard Rahl´s oily voice calling him in....
::::::::::::::::::::::::
“We need to talk, Kahlan. Alone!”
Nicci straightened and narrowed her eyes on Dennee. Hissing a scoffing snort. As if the Confessor had suggested some childish ideas.
“That wouldn´t make any sense, Confessor! You know what confession does to its victims. Your sister isn´t the one you knew before. If I am not with her, you can´t expect a single reasonable answer from her.”
Dennee´s cold eyes met hers for a brief moment, shooting dagger´s into the sorceress; then she nodded towards Richard.
“Take her out and do not let her come back in before I allow it!” Her voice held an edge as sharp as broken glass.
Richard grabbed Nicci´s arm and dragged her towards the door without circumstance, his vice like grip not leaving a choice for her. Furious she turned her head and shouted at Kahlan: “You will not say a single word, Kahlan!”
A mirthless smile graced the brunettes face.
“It´s okay, Nicci.” Sad blue eyes focused on Dennee´s slightly amused face. “She already knows....”
Kahlan heard the blonde hiss appalled, but then she and Richard were out and she was left alone with the woman, who was her sister - and yet wasn´t, somehow....
Being left alone, a moment passed in icy silence. Kahlan gritted her teeth, searching for words, but didn´t find the right opening; until her sister finally took over.
“So, you dare playing games with me, Kahlan?” Her eyes burned with deepest disdain.
The air around her held a chill that caused Kahlan a shiver. Her shoulders sagged as she turned, her face no longer held the mask of devotion. Suddenly she felt naked, stripped of her disguise that had felt like a second skin to her recently. Her emotions, her anxiety and her sorrow; her pain... Dennee could see all of it settling on her features, as she raised her gaze to her; as she looked at her with blue eyes filled with shimmering hurt.
“Isn´t it you, who has been playing games?” Her voice was a faint whisper. Her next words hauntingly, begging for answers.
“Hasn´t it been you, who wore a mask all this time? Pretending? What happened to my little sister, Dennee? I don´t know how to deal with you now. I look at you! But I can´t see you... All I see is disdain, and hatred, and odium.”
Kahlan made a step to approach her and almost winced as Dennee flinched, staring at her raised hand as if it were holding an invisible weapon.
“What have I done to deserve this madness, Dennee? What have I done that made you turn against me? You sold me to my worst enemy! You are conspiring against me - and against everything a confessor believes in! You´ve even confessed the Seeker!
Do you have a clue what that means to me? YOU... were everything I had! My family!” A lonely tear draw a sad trail down her cheek.
Her sister´s face had grown cold while she spoke. With eyes as hard as the marble stone under their feet she hissed a snide answer.
“Family?” She huffed. “You have long forgotten the meaning of the word!” The bitterness in her words scratched sharply into Kahlan´s ears.
„I believed in you, Kahlan!...
I tried my best to put my doubts aside; to comprehend you when I came back and found you in ally with that blonde monster; I tried to be the sister you wanted to see in me. But eventually I had to acknowledge that Rahl had been right. All the time I spent in the Underworld, listening to his accusations... - he had been right!
You have betrayed me!
Not alone that you tolerated this Mord Sith at your side; that monster that killed your own sister. The beast that caused my son - your only nephew! - to be drowned by his mother’s hands…
No, not enough so.
The evening you returned to Aydindril; when I had to hear from Richard that you had fallen for her seduction; I recognized then that you couldn´t be my sister any longer. That you had changed. Changed into a ruthless, selfish woman who didn´t care for the pain she caused.
I tried to bring you back. To lead you; I saw to it that she vanished from your life. I took care that Richard got the chance to regain your heart. Though I already loved him and dreamed of a life where he would join me instead of you; I´ve locked my own desires into the deepest prison of my heart.” She shook her head, a shadow washing over her features.
“He was so in love with you, so blind to your every ignorance. He had no eyes for me! You have no idea how much I suffered. How much I cursed you and that incredible spell you always weave around the people that surround you... But still, though I could see him hurt more and more, I did everything to support you.
Because it was the only thing I could do…
For him.”
Kahlan listened appalled. Her words raining acidly into her ears. Deep sorrow welling up in her chest , making it hard to suppress the tears.
“Why… You never said a word…”
Dennee´s steely grey stare bored a dark hole into her heart.
“What for? You had no sense for your surroundings...
Do you remember the day when you lost your child?
That was the day I started to truly hate you! For all the suffering you caused; for rejecting him; for almost destroying him.
You are not worth his love!!!
All the time I wished it would have been you who stayed back, when the Rahl´s quad shot me. They should have taken you, and not me! If I had gone to Westland instead of you, everything would have been better. Richard and I, we would have saved the world together and we would have lived happily, while your Mord Sith would have killed you...”
She stared at her with so much hostility in her eyes that her skin started prickling under its stitching.
“But now I will bring the Midlands to their right order. Rahl will take you to D´Hara, and I will take your place as the Mother Confessor and set things right!”
Kahlan felt the ground beneath her feet tremble and open a gap that threatened to engulf all and everything she had ever believed in. Memories of shared times; heated discussions; bitter rejections…all of them falling in place right now.
She swallowed against the sudden devastating trepidation that claimed her heart. Dennee spoke truth. She hadn´t seen what had bothered her sister all the years. She hadn´t been there for her; had lost her without even recognizing her heart breaking…
She had been occupied with her own grieving, with her own demons that haunted her.
She had failed! When her sister had needed her most…
It took all her strength now to raise her eyes and meet her sister´s gaze in honest dismay.
“Dennee…” she couldn´t help the tears welling up. “I´m sorry! ... So sorry! ... You are right, I was selfish, letting my own grief overwhelm me. I was blind to your feelings…” The brunette nodded sadly.
“I probably deserve your disgust. If only you had ever talked to me. Not the way you talked actually; not the accusatorial, the reproaches…if you had only had the heart to tell me…
You would have found me listening… I swear.” The latter just a whisper, trembling with dolorousness and regret…
Kahlan looked her over, hoping for something in response and since nothing came, the deep sadness in her eyes slowly gave way to determination.
“But…
Though I´ve hurt you like I never wanted to hurt anyone; though I can´t make things undone…
Dennee!!
There is nothing that lies between you and me that entitles you to sentence Aydindril, and all of the Midlands, to fall to Darken Rahl! Can´t you see that he uses you and your despair? Do you really think he is one to share? As much as he already succeeded poisoning your mind - He will not leave and let you reign over the Midlands. He will not let his brother survive! He will trick you. He has a troop of nearly a thousand men waiting for his orders; he will use Nicci´s powers…
Dennee! Wake up!
You may hate me, punish me for your hurt; but. PLEASE! Do not follow him.” Tensely she leaned closer, trying to catch her eyes, to touch something she wasn´t sure it was still alive, waiting for an answer and when no came her shoulders slumped resigned. Finally, barely hiding her hurt, she set her jaw and whispered:
“I will talk to the Council and reveal his plans…”
Dennee hadn´t stirred. Her features hadn´t softened. Kahlan didn´t even know if she had listened. Just now the corners of her lips twitched into a tight smile as she raised an eyebrow.
“The Council is not here to listen to you. I´ve seen to it that you will not poison their minds.… Say what you want; my contract with Rahl has been signed long ago. And he never disappointed me. He allowed me to come back to take vengeance.
You won´t change my mind, sister. I can see clearly what you´re doing: trying to save your Mord Sith. But soon I will make her regret that she ever betrayed her Lord by joining the Seeker… and that she seduced you.
You´ll get what you deserve, Kahlan. You will watch when I confess her. You will watch her die. And after that, being bound to Rahl´s side, you´ll be reminded of what you´ve done to Richard and me, every day of your life.”
Her eyes burned in a lunatic fever, sickening the air around her. The brunette watched helplessly as her sister turned and strode to the door, pausing before opening it. Looking back over her shoulder she showed a biting grin.
“You better come to terms with things, Kahlan. Though you´ll lose everything… At least you will finally conceive a few bastards and continue our line. Isn´t that what you always craved for?”
Her chuckle was left when she went out, ordering Richard to let Nicci enter and then vanished with her confessed mate.
Nicci rushed in, concern in her eyes as she came close to Kahlan, who stood rooted to the spot, tears spilling freely. The Confessor didn´t move, as if not aware her approaching.
“What has she said? Will she tell Rahl…?” Nicci feared the worst.
Kahlan shrugged faintly and shut her eyes close, feeling her stomach curl and twist. Finally she took a deep breath, trying to swallow her sobs. When her gaze shifted to meet Nicci´s alarmed stare, the look in her eyes was one of hopelessness.
“Does it still matter?”
With narrowed eyes Nicci watched her tears falling and her face grew hard, as did her voice.
“It does, Confessor! We have a deal, remember? We will not give up until Rahl gets what he deserves!”
:::::::::::::::::::::::
“Connor, my friend! Tell me, how are things here in Aydindril? Is everything prepared as I ordered?”
Rahl sat on his chair by the fireside, wearing a smug look on his face; one of his Mord Sith indulged in massaging his shoulders, another took care of his feet. He winked Connor to take a seat.
The sly smile on Connors face deepened as he approached.
“Everything is fine. Aydindril awaits his Master. The Keep is prepared. The rumors are spread widely. I do not expect much resistance. And the Confessor is a lamb that follows my guiding…”
Rahl lifted an eyebrow.
“Now is she? Actually I had the faint impression as if she´s a little... fractious?”
The Wizard shrugged lightheartedly.
“I let her indulge in her desire to be the one in charge. She has no idea that she´s just part of the game.”
“Hmm; well, that might be more fun like that. I´m really looking forward to see her face when she acknowledges that she will join her sister´s fate…” Rahl grinned amused.
“So, where is the wizard? Is he bound in the dungeons or do you have him chained in the Keep?”
“The Wizard...?” Connor frowned confused. „You´re speaking of Wizard Zorander??”
Rahl´s feature fell into a huffish scowl.
„Now, how many wizards do you have in your dungeons? - Of course I´m speaking of Zorander!”
“But…Milord. We´ve... we´ve sent you a falcon. To warn you. That the wizard followed the Mother Confessor to Comorra…”
He received an icy glare.
„The falcon arrived. Though it told me that Zorander is arrested! Here! in Aydindril! We prepared our departure immediately after that!” Rahl´s voice, though low and controlled, held a sharp edge. For a moment he stared at Connor pensively and then startled his Mord Sith as he stood abruptly and started pacing. These news were quite perturbing.
- If the old fool wasn´t imprisoned, he was out there; probably planning to frustrate his plans…
After all, time was running short.
“Go, see to it that the Keep will be ready. Tonight my troop will attack and take Aydindril…”
Nodding his agreement, Connor retreated hastily, heading for the Keep to prepare for his master´s battle.
Though he didn´t look forward to his task, he would do everything to make sure of Rahl´s victory. Everything! Too long he already craved for his reward - for gaining the first chair in his own realm, in order to reign over the Midlands in Rahl´s place…
“Garen!” Rahl´s angry voice called her to his side. In a second she stood straight before him, a barely visible smirk twitching at the corner of her lips, knowing his orders would be to her liking.
“Your time has come. Go and search for her. You´ll probably find her near Kahlan´s chambers. This is her weak point. Her loyalty will draw her close to her like moths are drawn by firelight;” A sneer tugged at his lips. “ ... and she will burn like they do…”
Garen´s eyes beamed, a spark of anticipation glowing in their darkness as she nodded. “Yes, Milord!” He grinned at her eagerness and playfully lifted an admonishing finger.
“You will not kill her! At least I will grant Kahlan´s little sister her reward before she loses everything else.”
And with that he sent her out, passing the guards who stood still paralyzed under the wizard´s web. Three of her sisters following close behind.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cara hasted through the hidden aisle, Jona close on her heels. Her thoughts whirled.
Benjamin´s report had been short and precisely describing her worst fears. To her it was obvious:
Rahl planned to overtake Aydindril. With his troops alert outside the walls, his Mord Sith close around him, it was just a matter of time. Hours rather than days. The blonde Mord Sith was convinced that Connor had a part in this game, so she didn´t waste a thought on the wizard to defend Dennee or the Midlands in any way. Instead she had a clue that the Keep would be involved in Rahl´s plan and that Connor was the one who would strike fiercely and unexpectedly with some unknown magic...
Their former plan had been quickly adapted. Once again Cara had enjoined them to remember their oath, to be ready to give their lives for the Midlands; for Aydindril...
...and for Kahlan´s sake, if need be.
With proudly beaming eyes she had watched their fists flying to their chests, knowing that they had long come to see her as their leader in this battle. The blonde didn´t doubt any longer that they wouldn´t hesitate to kill - or to be killed. They all knew their places and when they rushed out to fulfill their own little missions, the air had brimmed with determination.
Her fists clenched tightly; Cara gritted her teeth.
She so needed to see Kahlan. The longing so powerful, that it threatened to shatter her urgently needed control. She couldn´t allow her hopes to overrule her reason.
Though, perhaps there was a chance to get through to her, to see her; If ever so shortly.
For a moment Cara could almost catch her low, soft voice stroking her ear, nearly felt her lips brushing feather lightly against her own...The Mord Sith closed her eyes, inhaling deeply, as if trying to catch a hint of Kahlan´s precious scent on the breeze.
Perhaps she could even free her now, while she was left alone with Nicci who had the power to release the collar and allow the brunette to regain her full strength. Of course, Rahl would acknowledge that Nicci used her magic, but, being locked in his own chambers, he wouldn´t be able to react quick enough; so there would be a chance that Zedd could free the sorceress from her own collar before...
The Mord Sith felt her heart thundering in her chest like a cracked up beast warping against the bars of its cage in helpless despair...
How often had she walked this path in the past? Watching over Kahlan from her secretly hidden spots, in times when the brunette had stubbornly rejected her every proximity. Feeling so close and yet so separated... A spark of pain shot through the blonde.
They had come such a long way...
We´ve wasted so much time Kahlan...What for? To end up here? Finally knowing that I am made to love you, but yet, separated? Has it all been in vain? ....what if we die today?
The thought shot up from the darkest pit inside her mind, briefly catching her breath. Cara barely noticed how she swallowed and gritted her teeth, straightening involuntarily.
- Kahlan wouldn´t die!
After all she was Mord Sith. And among all the strong warriors that were her former sisters, she was one of the strongest. She would certainly not fail her Confessor, her Queen;
... her love!
To see Dennee walking arrogantly beside her sister earlier had caused an immense wave of hatred washing through her mind. She had to struggle to not drown in it.
Kahlan had looked so exhausted, so vulnerable... While Dennee had worn that look of triumph on her smug face...
Cara hardly heard soft steps coming close behind her as they reached the hidden door that led to a small hall close to the Mother Confessor´s chambers.
Jona´s warm hand settling suddenly on her shoulder confused her for a short instant; she turned hastily, almost expecting to meet the azure brilliance of Kahlan´s eyes...
Her young companion looked at her with light concern. A shy smile graced her lips as she whispered.
“You´re okay?”
Immediately the soft shimmer in Cara´s eyes vanished into thin air. Her glare went hard.
“Of course I am” she snapped lowly. “Let´s go.”
Carefully avoiding any sound she opened the door. Half-stepping outside, her eyes shifted left then right, alert for any movements in the hall. Though, obviously nobody was near, so they stealthily rushed out.
The two of them found themselves in a short distance to the alley that led to Kahlan´s private chambers. Cautiously Cara sneaked along the walls until she could peek into the alley, at its end counting two guards at the doors, standing straight, their lances crossed in front of the entrance. The blonde frowned. If Dennee had ordered only two of her confessed to guard the Mother Confessor and a very powerful sorceress, then she had to be either very stupid or extremely self-confident. And though Cara believed that both were possible, she didn´t make the fault to underestimate the Confessor.
Scowling the blonde retreated in a soundless move. She had reckoned with a minimum of four, probably even six guards, two at the door, and respectively two at both sides of the alley.
Something was wrong. She could feel the hairs on her arms standing up to all end in sudden anticipation; the air seemed to thicken around her and when she spun around, her eyes seeking Jona, she found the girl standing with her back pressed against one of the pillars, scanning warily their surroundings.
A soft chuckle came from another pillar.
“Looks like we´re detected, sisters.” And from behind the shining marble a Mord Sith stepped into their sight. Three others following her example, shoving the corpses of four guards they had held hidden behind their pillars, away and all of them sauntering closer, slowly encircling Cara.
“Garen!” The blonde huffed annoyed.”.... Still hoping to be in charge?” Cara, though smirking smugly, tried to keep an eye on all four Mord Sith, following their pliant moves from the corner of her eyes; widely aware of their every motions, while apparently focusing on the one who grinned at her, her viperish almond eyes shining cattily. Faintly the blonde noticed Jona still leaning tensely against the pillar, not stirring, watching the scene as though she wasn´t involved. A frown sneaked onto Cara´s face.
The four Mord Sith apparently completely ignored the girl.
Garen nodded to her sisters, who approached Cara from three sides, their agiels humming in expectation.
“You might not appreciate it, Mistress Cara... but actually it´s been me all the time who was in charge! See - We knew we would find you at last nearby the Mother Confessor. And now I´m here to collect Lord Rahl´s silly little pet and bring it back to its master, who allowed it to stroll around for a little time, feeling free to make its own decision... which were so very foreseeable.” The Mord Sith reveled in Cara´s obvious confusion.
“Surprised?” She laughed venomously. Her eyes literally beamed a dark fire as she mocked her:
“Lord Rahl has tricked you! He let you escape, knowing you would be a vexation on the journey; knowing you would come here and try to help your beloved Confessor.
He knows you, Cara! Better than you know yourself!” Garen grinned perfidiously as Cara´s eyes narrowed, shooting daggers at her.
“He created you, or had you forgotten?”
A barely visible nod made two of her sisters suddenly lunge at Cara before she had a chance to answer. Her agiels screaming in rage, the blonde was instantly prepared to strike back; whirling around she blocked a mean strike from behind and, spinning forcefully, she hit her agiel across the face of her attacker. Not faltering she used the momentum to run her shoulder into the woman at her right, her left boot wiping her feet off the ground, using her full weight and landing with a satisfying crack on a madly wrinkled arm. A scream of pain erupted from her foe. Cara stopped it with her agiel crashing to the throat of the woman, ending her agony - and her life.
In the same moment she winced harshly as another agiel bit into her back like a rabid dog, scratching along her spine; it made her bones explode in a red blur behind her eyes.
Cara gasped and gritted her teeth; trying to shove the excruciating pain aside. She gathered all her strength to suddenly jump to her feet and swiftly turn, shooting the power of her weapon into the chest of her opponent, watching with narrowed eyes how the body went limp, as the corpse fell to the ground...
It was not more than an eye-blink later, that she felt an ugly metal click around her throat, the sound of a chain rattling behind her.
Cara screamed in rage. In an instant she turned, vehemently blowing her agiel against the third Mord Sith holding the chain in hands, which led to the collar around the blonde’s neck. Cara ripped it free with a surprisingly powerful turnaround, the other woman staring stunned at her as she closed the gap between them, stepping close and burning her gaze right into her, her hands coming up and stoking her agiels, one to the pulse point of her throat, the other on the deadly spot over her heart...
The last the woman saw was beaming hatred in green eyes that stared at her from the face of an avenging angel.
Cara stood over her, gasping, then slowly shifting her eyes to meet Jona, who stood still at the pillar, her face as expressionless as Cara remembered her young guard had looked in the dungeons of Comorra.
The frown on the blonde´s face deepened. “Jona?”
A rough jerk at her neck forced her to turn around with a growl, only to be met with a new attack as Garen surprised her with a quick grip at her hand, closing another metal ring around her wrist while her agiel blew into thin air as she tried to strike at Garen´s smug face.
After all it was almost too easy to chain the blonde, her obvious confusion distracting her from striking effectively. Her resistance disappointingly weak...
Garen had Cara´s agiels snatched out of her hands in a blink; her dark almond eyes glaring triumphantly at the blonde. With a spiteful smirk she leaned in and whispered:
“I told you, I´m in charge, remember?
So now, be a good pet and return devotedly to your master´s side, as it behooves you.” She laughed and straightened, jerking violently at the chain, and then giving Cara another blow of her agiel cross her face. Still smirking satisfied she watched blood trickling from the blonde´s temple, then turned to finally address the girl in a patronizing voice, who still hadn´t moved, her eyes glued to Garen with an almost empty devotion:
“You´ve done well, Jona. Lord Rahl will be very pleased with you. I think you have earned your reward. Come here, you may hold her chain... You´ll see, I didn´t lie when I told you there is nothing as satisfying as the very first time you walk a pet...“ Finally Jona stirred, slowly sauntering closer, a shy smile playing on her lips.
“Thank you, Mistress.”
Cara, still gasping, crouched in her defeated position, watching her. Her voice dripped with disgust as she snarled:
“Jona, don´t do that! She´s not your Mistress! You´re not dependent on her! You are above her, above her wishes and orders!”
It gained her another fierce yanking at her chain. Cara hissed as the collar threatened to choke her. Her gaze spoke murder as she stared at Garen, who almost laughed.
“Better you take your agiel out, Jona. This pet isn´t ready to behave...”
Jona nodded and slowly unsheathed her agiel, considerately viewing Garen, who´s gaze kept focused on the blonde, who obviously, though her hands were bound and a chain controlled her, still threatened to attack every moment.
The young girl couldn´t help a smile when she found the spot she´d searched for. Her gaze briefly shifted and met Cara´s, beaming as she saw the blonde´s short nod.
Garen too saw it and a frown shadowed her face; but she had no time to interpret the blonde´s expression, since in this moment a sneaky dagger found its way between her rips straight into her heart, stopping its beating before she could make a sound; she was dead before she acknowledged Cara´s smug grin under a mockingly raised eyebrow...
Jona lowered the corpse carefully and pulled the dagger free. Shifting her eyes it was the first time that Cara saw her openly pleased, a glimmer lying in the depth of her moss-green gaze. She literally beamed with pride and even Cara couldn´t help a tight small smile as she stated:
“I did it!”
The blonde nodded approvingly. “Yes; you did it.” She bent down and grabbed Garen´s agiel with both of her bound hands, offering it to the younger while a smirk settled on her lips.
“Looks like you´ve just earned a second agiel.”
Jona took it carefully and shook her head as if in wonder, but then focused on Cara.
“What about your chains?”
„The collar will stay where it is. But I´ll need my hands free if we are to disturb their dinner...”
Jona quickly checked Garen´s pockets for the key and loosened Cara´s handcuffs. Then they went back to the hidden door in the wall and Cara knocked briefly.
The door opened immediately and Berdine and Raina, wearing their full leathers, stepped out, and quickly collected the agiels from the dead Mord Sith. Raina eyed Cara carefully.
“You´re okay?”
“Of course I am.” She shot a brief glance to Jona, who still had a faint smile of excitement on her face. “Though, if Jona hadn´t told us... I´m not certain Rahl wouldn´t have dumbfounded me...”
Berdine approached, pouting openly as she looked the corpses over.
“Why is it that you always get the fun part, Cara? While we are to stay stuck in a narrow aisle and get bored to death.”
Her Mistress granted her an eye roll. “We need to take care of that mess before Dennee sends for Kahlan and Nicci; which would be very soon if I´m right. And you should be there too when Rahl arrives with the rest of his Mord Sith.”
While they hid the corpses in the secret aisle, Raina sneaked to the entrance of the alley to get a peek at the lasting guards, who hadn´t stirred, their lances still crossed, as if they hadn´t noticed the fight. Now she returned with a small frown on her features.
“What about the guards?”
Cara shrugged. „They are confessed and their Mistress ordered them to keep watch over Kahlan and Nicci. Nothing else is of any interest for them. So, even if they´ll be questioned, they will only tell that Mord Sith came to kill their companions - and then vanished. I doubt Dennee will interrogate them adequately.”
The faint sound of thundering boots, announcing the soon arrival of their owners made them turn to leave; just the blonde looked back at the doorway, a shadow briefly sweeping over her face, her jaw clenched.
Berdine watched thoughtfully as she sighed and reluctantly turned to vanish in the depth behind that small door, her chain rattling lowly with her every move.
Before following her friend the tall brunette tilted her head and eyed the doorway pensively.
You must be a very special person, Kahlan Amnell, if she allows herself get chained for your sake... Though... You´ll better be worth it...
t.b.c.
... on to part 21...
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