New Episode: 3.12 - "Villains" - part 2
go back to Episode 3.12 - Villains - part 1
*****
Dahlia trudged along behind Berdine and Raina, somehow managing to be excluded even when there was no conversation taking place. She glared at their backs, her gloved fingers coming up to play with the ends of her braid.
"Stop." Cara's voice was quietly insistent, and everyone stopped to look at her. She reached for her agiels, and Kahlan knelt down to draw her daggers. She didn't see the threat yet, but Cara had clearly indicated the existence of one.
Berdine glared at her in irritation, but nonetheless drew her agiel, as did Raina. Dahlia followed suit, Nicci whipped out her dacra, and Zedd and Shota raised their hands in preparation. All in all, they made for a fearsome sight.
Which did not stop the soldiers from advancing through the trees, gripping their swords in desperate readiness. They fell on the group quickly, and the battle began in earnest. Zedd blasted the ones far enough apart from the battle with Wizard's Fire, while Shota chanted at his side. Several of the men froze in place, caught in Shota's web.
Kahlan and Cara fought fiercely together, Kahlan swirling and slashing with her daggers as Cara pressed straight through, felling men with a deadly efficiency. A particularly vicious slash from Kahlan's dagger opened one man's throat, the spray of blood catching Cara across the cheek. Cara grinned wildly at Kahlan, not missing a beat as the next soldier ran afoul of her agiels.
Dahlia looked around for her sisters, finding them fully occupied with protecting each other's backs. She defended valiantly against the three men surrounding her, dropping one with a strike to the throat, but she was outnumbered, and they fought with a crazed fervor that was impossible to predict. Panic flashed through her eyes as she realized she was not going to be able to fend off their attacks for very long.
Suddenly, Dahlia's vision was eclipsed by a storm of black fabric as Nicci stepped in front of her, slashing viciously with her dacra. The two men fell quickly, and Dahlia stared at the sorceress in shock. Nicci smirked at her, wiping her dacra on the shirt of one of the fallen men.
"You're welcome," Nicci offered wryly before running back into the fray. Dahlia stared for a moment, until another soldier advanced on her and drew her attention back to the battle.
Before long, the battle was over, the victors standing among a sea of red-caped bodies. The thrill of battle still shone in Cara's eyes as she looked back at Kahlan, sheathing her agiels. Chest heaving, Kahlan stepped forward, reaching up to wipe the blood from Cara's cheek. Jade eyes slammed shut at the contact, and when they opened again, Kahlan's breath caught at the hunger in them.
Cara was quick to claim Kahlan's mouth, kissing her with adrenaline-fueled fervor. Kahlan gripped Cara's shoulders as she responded with equal passion. They pulled apart as quickly as they had come together, matching grins on their lips as they caught their breath.
Zedd watched them smile at each other, his own expression clouded with sadness. Berdine's voice snapped him out of his melancholy.
"We must be getting close," Berdine noted, gesturing to the corpses. "To be greeted by such a large force."
"Yes," Zedd concurred, rubbing his chin idly with his hand. "And Tobias must have been in quite a state when he returned to camp to find his prisoners gone. These men fought with a desperation I've never seen, except perhaps among banelings. They feared his wrath more than they feared death itself."
Berdine smirked, catching Raina's eye as she slipped her agiel back into its holster. "If his men are this afraid of him, they're in for a nasty surprise when we show up."
*****
Light spilled into the tent as the flap was moved aside, drawing Richard's eyes. Jennsen stepped into the tent, her eyes zeroing in on Richard.
"Well, the paragon of virtue returns." Denna smirked as Jennsen's gaze flicked over to her, the girl's confidence faltering. "Come to tell us more about how very naughty we've been?"
Jennsen's face hardened, her voice trembling with conviction. "No one needs to tell you what a monster you are."
Denna met her gaze evenly, unfazed by the accusation. Her expression was curious, but not unkind, and it unnerved Jennsen. The girl flicked her eyes to the other side of Richard, where Darken was looking at her with piercing eyes.
"I'm glad you came back." Richard said with a gentle smile as Jennsen's eyes landed once again on him.
Jennsen crossed her arms over her chest, as she looked at Richard uneasily. "Tell me about the Minders."
Richard furrowed his brow, equally surprised by both the fire in Jennsen's voice, and the fact that she brought up the subject at all. "How do you even know about them?"
Jennsen ignored the question, pressing on with her own. "Did you lead them in slaughtering an entire village?"
Richard's eyes widened, his mouth falling open to form a quick response. He thought better of whatever it was he was going to say, and closed his mouth, breathing in slowly before proceeding with less defensive words. "It wasn't like that, Jennsen." He held her gaze steadily as he spoke. "The Minders' village had been taken from them by force, by a warlord and his men."
"So you had to take it back with the same force?" Jennsen countered. "Tobias said the people in the village were massacred, every last one."
Richard's jaw clenched. "Tobias said -" he shook his head, stopping himself before he lost control of his anger. "Yes, we killed them all," he admitted. He struggled to keep his voice even. "Every last man who would otherwise have gone on to rape, and torture, and kill even more people."
"So you took the time to judge every one of them? Question them about their crimes?" Jennsen asked, looking at Richard in disbelief as his eyes darkened with guilt. "I didn't think so."
Richard's hands went to his face, rubbing roughly at it before dropping so he could meet her eyes again. "There was magic involved," he forced out. Her eyes flashed triumphantly, and he rushed on before she could say anything. "It chained their will to mine, to my anger. But I didn't know about it at first, and Zedd helped me learn to overcome it."
Jennsen shook her head, squeezing herself with her crossed arms as she stepped forward. "Richard, I know we don't know each other that well, but I know that you're a good person." She met his eyes sadly. "But I was there when you put together the boxes of Orden. I saw magic turn you into a monster."
Denna shifted uncomfortably at the reminder, her eyes flicking between brother and sister as she watched the exchange. Rahl held his tongue, intrigued by the interplay between his younger siblings. Remorse flashed in Richard's eyes as he glanced at Denna, then back at his sister.
"Yes, magic can do horrible things," he said, "but it can also do wonderful things. Jennsen, if it weren't for magic, we would never have been born." Jennsen's expression twisted in confusion, and Richard hurried to explain. "Zedd cast a spell a long time ago. If it weren't for that spell, Panis Rahl would never have been able to father children at all."
Horror flickered across Darken's face at the revelation, and his mouth curled in distaste. Richard spared him a quick, uneasy glance before looking earnestly back at his sister.
Jennsen met his gaze with wide eyes. "You're using that as evidence that magic is good?" she scoffed, her eyes jumping over to Darken. "How much suffering and death has our brother caused?"
"No more than was necessary," Darken snapped harshly. Richard glared at him before addressing Jennsen again.
"And how much have we prevented?" Richard asked. "Magic is capable of so much more than just manipulation, and pain, and death. I've seen magic restore lost limbs, bring people back from beyond the brink of death. I've seen it put a smile on the faces of children who didn't think they'd ever smile again."
Jennsen was quiet, conflict evident in her face. Richard's gaze probed deeper, trying to see if his words were close to making a difference.
"Jennsen," he said with a quiet ferocity, "magic isn't good or bad. It's a tool. Just like a woodcutter's ax, it can be used to build, or to destroy. It's what you do with it that decides whether or not it's evil."
Darken cleared his throat, drawing three sets of eyes to him. "I know what you must think of me, dear sister." He reached up to adjust the collar of his robes. "Truth be told, I can't fault you for it. Every evil thing you can imagine, I have probably done - and enjoyed." His lips curled into a faint smile before he remembered his purpose. He shook his head slightly to clear it, steadily meeting her gaze. "I lied to you, happily, about many things. But I am not incapable of truth."
The other occupants of the tent eyed him with varying degrees of skepticism and curiosity as he continued. "Contrary to what you may believe, family means a great deal to me." Richard let out a derisive chuckle, unable to hide his disbelief, and Darken fixed him with a pointed glare. "When they are not trying to kill me." Richard's expression fell into contemplation as Rahl turned back to Jennsen. His eyes burned with a sincerity neither of his siblings had ever seen. "Despite what your Lord General may wish to do to me, I do not believe that you would go so far as to wish me dead. So I tell you this in all honesty, sister: you are being deceived."
Jennsen stepped back, shaking her head slowly back and forth. Her expression betrayed the uncertainty she felt. "No," she said weakly. "They're good people. They wouldn't do the things you're accusing them of."
Richard met her watery gaze with steady, gentle strength. "They already have," he said sadly. "And they'll do worse if we don't stop them."
She took another step back, her face twisted with conflict. "I have to go."
"Jennsen -" Richard's protest was cut short by Rahl's shackled hands nudging his shoulder.
"Let her go," he murmured, a calculating look on his face as Jennsen disappeared through the flap of the tent. "Patience is a virtue, brother. We've given her the rope. Now we have to wait and see who she hangs with it."
*****
"General Brogan?"
Tobias' hands clenched into fists as he looked up from his desk. A vicious scowl adorned his face as he looked up at his guard.
"Your messenger has returned from Aydindril, General," the guard said hesitantly.
Tobias relaxed when he realized it wasn't the ungifted girl, coming back with more ridiculous questions. He waved his hand at the guard. "Send him in."
The messenger was brimming with excitement as he rushed into the tent. He knelt before the desk, head bowed in respect. "Lord General."
"Rise, rise," Tobias urged, heartened by the man's eagerness. "What news do you bring me from Aydindril?"
The young man smiled. "The most excellent of news, Lord General. We are swiftly gaining the support of the townspeople. Rumors abound of the Mother Confessor threatening to confess our revered leader, simply because you asked her to stop using her powers."
Tobias smiled, sitting back in his chair. "Whispered into the right ear, a rumor can be more powerful than the sharpest sword." His fingers tapped against his jaw. "And what say those who witnessed my meeting with the witch? Have they taken issue with these rumors?"
"No, Lord General." The messenger shook his head. "Some few have voiced dissent, but they are drowned out by the rest. Most of the nobles relish the idea of dethroning the Mother Confessor. They're too concerned with getting their own hands on power to bother with petty details. The rest hesitate, biding their time to see who will come out victorious before declaring their allegiances."
The Lord General's smile spread into a full-blown grin. He leaned forward, slapping his open hand against the desk as he let out a triumphant laugh.
His boisterous laughter was audible as Jennsen approached. Pausing next to the wall of tent, she cocked her head, listening with interest to hear what had the man so happy.
"This is most welcome news!" his voice boomed, followed by the scraping of a chair against the ground as he stood. "Aydindril is ripe for the plucking. Soon I shall have the witch's cursed throne, and we will put an end to the treacherous race of Confessors once and for all!"
Jennsen gasped, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle the sound. The hatred in Tobias' voice was foreign to her ears, and her eyes widened as realization dawned. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she nearly jumped out of her skin when Lunetta's voice rang out mere steps away from her.
"What are you doing, child?" Her eyes raked over Jennsen suspiciously.
Jennsen fidgeted under the scrutiny. "I was just on my way to see Tobias," she said, forcing a smile onto her face. "I just came from talking to Richard," she said with a strained enthusiasm. "I think I'm starting to get through to him."
The older woman didn't appear to believe her, but before she could voice her suspicions, Tobias rounded the corner, followed dutifully by his messenger.
"I have no concern for the Seeker's loyalties," he said dismissively, his face still beaming with the flush of accomplishment. "He can rot in the dungeons of Aydindril with his brother until they see the error of their ways. The Mord-Sith will be executed for her treachery," he added as an afterthought. Jennsen fought to conceal her horror as Lunetta went to his side, her distrust temporarily forgotten as she gazed in awe at her brother. Tobias noticed Jennsen's lack of excitement, and reached out to place a hand on her shoulder. "Worry not about fools and villains, child. We are about to win a great victory!"
"Oh, Tobias!" Lunetta exclaimed, clasping her hands together happily. His hand fell from Jennsen's shoulder absently as he whirled on his sister, too swept up in the thrill to correct her informality. "Could we really take Aydindril?"
Tobias rushed to Lunetta, grabbing her shoulders enthusiastically. "No, Lunetta. We will take Aydindril. And soon." He turned to address his messenger. "I shall gather the men to tell them the joyous news. We will break camp immediately. I will need you to take a message back to our agents there, to prepare them for our arrival."
The messenger nodded, listening intently as they walked away from the tent. Jennsen stared after them, her presence forgotten in the flurry of excitement. She stood frozen, her expression caught between devastation and panic.
*****
The midday sun beat down on the tent, filling the air inside with an unbearable, thick heat. Richard reached up with shackled hands, wiping at the sweat rolling down his face. His hands dropped instantly when Jennsen rushed into the tent. Her breath came in short gasps as she knelt down, frantically pulling at his shackles in an attempt to free him.
Richard caught her hands with his own, his gaze steady. "Jennsen, calm down." She met his eyes, her own brimming with fear. "What's going on?"
"You were right about them, Richard," Jennsen whispered. She pulled her hands free, continuing to search the shackles for a weakness. "I have to get you out of here, fast. They're going to break camp soon -"
"Jennsen." Richard said again, his voice calm. He grabbed her hands again, holding them in a firm grip. "If there were a way to get out of these things, don't you think we would have found it already?" Jennsen sat back on her heels, clutching her hands to her chest. Her forehead was creased with worry. Richard leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "What's going on?" he repeated. "Why are they going to break camp?"
Jennsen glanced over her shoulder, carefully eyeing the opening of the tent before she turned back to her brother. "Tobias got a message - it made him really happy. He's gathering the men now, to tell them about his plans to take control of Aydindril."
Richard turned wide eyes to his brother; Darken returned the glance with a look of mild surprise. "I thought he'd given up on Aydindril," Richard said.
Jennsen shook her head solemnly. "I did too, but something must have changed. He was talking about putting an end to Confessors, and he seems pretty confident about it."
"We need to warn Kahlan, and the others." Richard fixed his gaze on his sister, urgency bleeding into his voice. "We need the keys to these chains, and our weapons. Do you know where they are?"
She nodded. "Tobias keeps them in his tent. But there are guards out front."
"Can you get past them?" Richard pressed.
"I think so," Jennsen said after some consideration. "I know most of the guards, and they like me." She paused at this, her eyes filling with concern. "Richard, they're not all bad people."
"I know," Richard said reassuringly. "And we're not going to hurt anyone if we don't have to. Once we have the keys and the weapons, we'll need a distraction."
Jennsen thought for a moment. "Tobias is gathering the men for a speech. I've seen him talk to them before - he likes to talk, a lot. Most of the men will be focused on him for a good while."
Richard nodded. "Hopefully we can slip out of camp without anyone even noticing until it's too late. Jennsen -" he reached out to grab Jennsen's hand as she stood. She looked back at him, hesitation in her eyes. "You're doing the right thing. I'm proud of you."
She smiled, squeezing his hand. "I won't let you down, brother."
*****
Jennsen was still struggling to come up with an excuse when she reached the command tent. The guards at the entrance put out their hands to stop her from entering.
"The Lord General is out gathering the men," one of them said. Jennsen chewed on her lip as she searched her mind. Her eyes brightened as an idea struck her.
"I know," she said urgently, pinning the guard with her gaze. "He was so excited about our coming victory that he left without his cloak," she lied smoothly. "The general wants to be fully outfitted when he gives his men the good news. He sent me to fetch it for him."
The guards glanced at one another, then shrugged and dropped their arms. Jennsen smiled at each of them before slipping between them.
Once inside, she hurried over to the desk, carefully pulling out the drawer. It let out a tiny creak, and she froze, waiting to see if the guards had heard. When no one came in, she turned her attention to the contents. There were some papers, a couple of pouches that undoubtedly contained coins, a plain black book, and - there! - a tiny metal ring with a small collection of keys attached. She grabbed them gingerly, careful not to let them clink together, and slowly pushed the drawer closed.
Straightening, she looked over at the table holding the weapons. She snatched up the Sword of Truth and, after a moment's deliberation, Darken's sword as well. She eyed the agiel warily, almost reaching for it, but she drew her hand back at the last moment, her expression hardening. She was about to turn away from the table when a ray of sunlight filtered through the seams of the tent to glint off of the two collars.
She shivered at the sight of them, knowing what they were. She looked around hurriedly, finding a sack lying on top of one of the chests. She tucked the swords under her arm, grabbed the sack and quickly stuffed the collars and the keyring inside, wincing when the metal rattled together in the bag. She pulled the bag taut, preventing the objects inside from moving.
She looked toward the entrance of the tent, then back down at the items in her hands. There was no way she could just walk out of here with them. Glancing around the tent, her eyes fell on her excuse for entering in the first place: Tobias' thick red cloak was slung over the back of his chair. She snatched it up, arranging it over her arms to hide her prize.
Inhaling deeply to control her breathing, Jennsen slipped out of the tent. With a smile and a nod to the guards, she rushed off to deliver the goods.
*****
"It looks like you'll be free soon, Seeker," Denna said with a wry smile. Richard cocked his head in her direction.
"You're coming with us, Denna," he said matter-of-factly, raising his eyebrows at her.
She chuckled bitterly. "You heard your sister. I'm a monster," she purred. "And if I recall, you're intimately familiar with my wicked ways." Her eyes darkened as they raked over Richard, her lips turning up in a provocative smile. When she failed to elicit a reaction from Richard, she sighed in disappointment. "The Blood of the Fold wants to punish me for my crimes. Who are you to stand in the way of justice?" Her eyes held a challenge as they burned into his, masking the hint of uncertainty that flashed briefly through them.
Richard scowled. "These zealots don't know the first thing about justice. We're taking you with us."
Denna opened her mouth to argue, but she was interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind their tent. There was a quiet ring of steel being drawn, then a low tearing sound as the point of Richard's sword sliced through the fabric.
Jennsen slipped through the hole, dropping the red cloak to the ground. She handed the Sword of Truth and its scabbard to Richard, then held out the other sword to Darken, freeing her hands to rummage in the bag for the keys.
"I'm impressed, sister," Darken remarked as Jennsen knelt to unlock his chains. "I didn't think you had it in you."
Jennsen looked up at him as his shackles snapped open. "You shouldn't be surprised," she replied boldly. "I did manage to break into the People's Palace and steal the boxes of Orden from under your nose."
A cocky smile curled the edges of her mouth as she moved on to Richard's shackles. She made quick work of the lock, and Richard flexed his newly freed wrists. Here, Jennsen froze. Denna held her wrists up, her eyes narrowed in challenge. Jennsen looked back at Richard, a question in her eyes.
"It's alright," Richard said softly, his eyes encouraging. "She's on our side."
Denna raised an eyebrow, but she didn't offer an argument. Jennsen reached warily for Denna's bonds, her eyes locked on the Mord-Sith as she slipped the key into the lock. The shackles popped open with a quiet snick. Denna smirked at Jennsen as she rubbed her wrists, enjoying the flash of fear in the steel blue eyes.
Jennsen looked back at Richard with uncertainty. "Richard, are you sure about this?"
Richard pulled himself to his feet, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Leaving her here is a death sentence."
"She killed our mother," Jennsen protested, her chin trembling. "It's what she deserves."
"Are you prepared to make that judgment?" he asked knowingly. "To have her blood on your hands?"
Jennsen glanced back at Denna, her shoulders sinking.
"I hate to interrupt this poignant bonding moment," Darken remarked, dusting off his robes, "but we really should get out of here."
*****
They crept through the camp slowly, Jennsen leading the way, looking out for soldiers not yet gathered for the general's address. Tobias' voice boomed in the background, triumphant tones articulating words that they couldn't quite make out from where they were. As they rounded the corner of a tent, Jennsen stopped abruptly and pushed them back. Peeking back around, she saw two soldiers standing guard in front of the tent. One of them was Vargus, the man Jennsen had seen bringing them in.
"You asked how I knew about the Minders," she explained in a whisper. "Two of them were brought in this morning. They're being held in that tent over there." Her forehead crinkled in concern. "If they really are peaceful, they don't deserve what Tobias will do to them. We have to save them too."
"I won't argue with that," Richard offered, leaning past Jennsen to assess the guards. He turned back to Darken. "We can each take out a guard, hopefully before they're able to raise an alarm."
Darken nodded, and they moved forward. Jennsen caught Richard by the arm, pulling him back.
"Richard, I know these men," she murmured. "They have wives, children."
Richard tilted his head in acknowledgment, pinning Darken with his gaze. "We won't kill them unless we have to."
Darken reluctantly nodded his agreement, gripping the hilt of his sword with both hands. The men split up, moving around either side of the tent. They each knocked a guard out with the hilt of their sword, before the soldiers had time to react.
Richard peeked around the back of the tent. "It's safe." Jennsen and Denna followed him into the tent, stepping over the prone bodies of the guards.
"Seeker!" Kur exclaimed happily.
"Kur! Roga!" Richard rushed to the two Minders, staring in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" He motioned to Jennsen, who rushed forward with the keys.
Before either prisoner could respond, Rahl interjected from the entrance of the tent. "There's no time for catching up, Richard. We've got to get out of here."
Richard nodded, helping Jennsen remove the shackles. He offered Kur an arm, pulling him up before turning to help Roga to her feet. He locked gazes with the older woman. "We're not going to hurt anyone if we can help it. But we are going to get out of here."
Roga nodded her understanding, though it was clear she wasn't pleased by the possibility of violence.
"Quickly!" Darken urged, hearing approaching footsteps. They hurried out of the tent. Denna knelt down to pluck a dagger from the belt of one of the guards, slipping it into her own belt. At Richard's questioning glance, she shrugged.
"A girl's got to have a weapon," she smirked, following as Jennsen led them all away from the tent.
There was a commotion behind them as the two unconscious soldiers were discovered. At the first alarmed shouts, Richard caught Jennsen's gaze. "Run."
*****
The escapees slowed to a stop, collapsing against the surrounding trees to catch their breath.
"I think we lost them," Richard panted, holding his side. He looked around at his companions, assuring himself that they all made it safely.
Kur rushed to Richard, clapping his hands on the Seeker's shoulders. "Seeker! I can't tell you how good it is to see you!"
Richard smiled, reaching up to pat Kur's arms. He looked over at Roga, who gave him a reserved smile and nod.
"It's good to see you, too," he replied. "We could use your help." Roga started to protest, but Richard held up his hand to cut her off. "I wouldn't dream of asking you to fight," he assured them. "But the Blood of the Fold is about to march on Aydindril. They won't be tricked like Caldor's men were. There's going to be fighting," he said regretfully. "Skilled healers like yourselves would be a great asset."
To Richard's surprise, Roga offered no argument. "I have seen the deeds these men do in the name of the Creator," she said with disgust. "I cannot condone violence; but if it will save lives, I would be glad to offer what help we can."
"Thank you," Richard said simply, meeting Roga's gaze. He looked back in the direction of the encampment. "Moving an army of that size will be a slow process. You should have time to gather your people and meet us outside Aydindril."
Roga nodded, and Kur clasped Richard's forearm. "Until we meet again, Seeker."
Richard returned the gesture, shaking their joined arms before turning back to his own companions. "We'd better get moving. Between your Mord-Sith's tracking abilities and Zedd's magic, they're probably not far behind."
*****
Cara and Kahlan walked together, slightly apart from the rest of the group. Cara's arms swung at her sides as she trudged along, and Kahlan eyed the hand closest to her with a sneaky grin. She reached for it casually, pulling back when Cara flinched away from the touch.
Cara clenched her hand into a fist as she looked over at Kahlan, a guilty expression on her face. "You'll have to give me some time to get used to this," she explained, gesturing with her hand. "The touching."
Kahlan smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I guess I can do that," she teased, her hand moving to adjust the strap of her pack. "You're lucky I'm a patient woman."
Cara's lips turned up in a smirk as she ran her eyes over Kahlan. "I'm definitely lucky," she purred. Kahlan blushed, a shy smile painting her lips as she turned her gaze forward. Her hand fell from her shoulder to swing at her side as she walked.
After a few moments, a leather-clad hand slipped into hers, and Kahlan looked up in surprise. Cara kept her eyes focused ahead of her, stubbornly pretending she hadn't done anything, though Kahlan could see the blonde's full lips hinting at a smile. Kahlan squeezed Cara's hand, lacing their fingers together as her smile grew into a full-blown giddy grin.
"Grandfather!"
Eight heads whipped around at the sound of Jennsen's voice. The girl caught sight of Zedd, rushing ahead to embrace him. He returned the embrace heartily.
"Oh, child, you have no idea how glad I am to see you." He pulled back just enough to smile down at his granddaughter.
As Richard approached, his eyes fell on Cara and Kahlan's joined hands, and his smile faltered. Kahlan felt Cara's hand loosen, and she squeezed it reassuringly, smiling softly at Richard.
"Kahlan," he nodded to her, then shifted his gaze to the other woman. "Cara." She raised her eyes to meet his, and he took in the slight flush of her cheeks, the traces of a smile she was trying to conceal, and a bittersweet smile managed to return to his own lips. Their happiness was infectious, even if it did come at the expense of his own. "It's good to see you both."
Kahlan squeezed Cara's hand again before releasing it, sharing a glance with the blonde before she stepped forward. "I'm glad you're all right," she said sincerely. She looked at him awkwardly for a moment, debating with herself, before she finally settled on reaching out to gently squeeze his arm.
Darken brushed past them, rejoining his Mord-Sith. They greeted him with respectfully bowed heads. He turned to face Nicci, a pleased smile on his lips. "Still here, I see." Nicci glowered at him in response, while Dahlia's gaze shifted between them.
Kahlan dropped her hand back to her side, stepping back as her eyes fell on the last member of the approaching group. Denna stood a few paces back, arms crossed defiantly though her expression screamed of uncertainty.
Kahlan's eyes hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "What is she doing here?"
Cara caught Denna's eyes, raising an eyebrow in challenge. Denna responded with an unyielding gaze, jaw set and eyes blazing.
Richard glanced between the three women, then sighed, rubbing his hand over his face to comb through his hair. When he raised his eyes to Kahlan's once more, his gaze was steady and unflinching.
"We can have that argument later," he said firmly. "Tobias Brogan is marching on Aydindril."
*****
TO BE CONTINUED ...
... in Episode 3.13!
*****
Dahlia trudged along behind Berdine and Raina, somehow managing to be excluded even when there was no conversation taking place. She glared at their backs, her gloved fingers coming up to play with the ends of her braid.
"Stop." Cara's voice was quietly insistent, and everyone stopped to look at her. She reached for her agiels, and Kahlan knelt down to draw her daggers. She didn't see the threat yet, but Cara had clearly indicated the existence of one.
Berdine glared at her in irritation, but nonetheless drew her agiel, as did Raina. Dahlia followed suit, Nicci whipped out her dacra, and Zedd and Shota raised their hands in preparation. All in all, they made for a fearsome sight.
Which did not stop the soldiers from advancing through the trees, gripping their swords in desperate readiness. They fell on the group quickly, and the battle began in earnest. Zedd blasted the ones far enough apart from the battle with Wizard's Fire, while Shota chanted at his side. Several of the men froze in place, caught in Shota's web.
Kahlan and Cara fought fiercely together, Kahlan swirling and slashing with her daggers as Cara pressed straight through, felling men with a deadly efficiency. A particularly vicious slash from Kahlan's dagger opened one man's throat, the spray of blood catching Cara across the cheek. Cara grinned wildly at Kahlan, not missing a beat as the next soldier ran afoul of her agiels.
Dahlia looked around for her sisters, finding them fully occupied with protecting each other's backs. She defended valiantly against the three men surrounding her, dropping one with a strike to the throat, but she was outnumbered, and they fought with a crazed fervor that was impossible to predict. Panic flashed through her eyes as she realized she was not going to be able to fend off their attacks for very long.
Suddenly, Dahlia's vision was eclipsed by a storm of black fabric as Nicci stepped in front of her, slashing viciously with her dacra. The two men fell quickly, and Dahlia stared at the sorceress in shock. Nicci smirked at her, wiping her dacra on the shirt of one of the fallen men.
"You're welcome," Nicci offered wryly before running back into the fray. Dahlia stared for a moment, until another soldier advanced on her and drew her attention back to the battle.
Before long, the battle was over, the victors standing among a sea of red-caped bodies. The thrill of battle still shone in Cara's eyes as she looked back at Kahlan, sheathing her agiels. Chest heaving, Kahlan stepped forward, reaching up to wipe the blood from Cara's cheek. Jade eyes slammed shut at the contact, and when they opened again, Kahlan's breath caught at the hunger in them.
Cara was quick to claim Kahlan's mouth, kissing her with adrenaline-fueled fervor. Kahlan gripped Cara's shoulders as she responded with equal passion. They pulled apart as quickly as they had come together, matching grins on their lips as they caught their breath.
Zedd watched them smile at each other, his own expression clouded with sadness. Berdine's voice snapped him out of his melancholy.
"We must be getting close," Berdine noted, gesturing to the corpses. "To be greeted by such a large force."
"Yes," Zedd concurred, rubbing his chin idly with his hand. "And Tobias must have been in quite a state when he returned to camp to find his prisoners gone. These men fought with a desperation I've never seen, except perhaps among banelings. They feared his wrath more than they feared death itself."
Berdine smirked, catching Raina's eye as she slipped her agiel back into its holster. "If his men are this afraid of him, they're in for a nasty surprise when we show up."
*****
Light spilled into the tent as the flap was moved aside, drawing Richard's eyes. Jennsen stepped into the tent, her eyes zeroing in on Richard.
"Well, the paragon of virtue returns." Denna smirked as Jennsen's gaze flicked over to her, the girl's confidence faltering. "Come to tell us more about how very naughty we've been?"
Jennsen's face hardened, her voice trembling with conviction. "No one needs to tell you what a monster you are."
Denna met her gaze evenly, unfazed by the accusation. Her expression was curious, but not unkind, and it unnerved Jennsen. The girl flicked her eyes to the other side of Richard, where Darken was looking at her with piercing eyes.
"I'm glad you came back." Richard said with a gentle smile as Jennsen's eyes landed once again on him.
Jennsen crossed her arms over her chest, as she looked at Richard uneasily. "Tell me about the Minders."
Richard furrowed his brow, equally surprised by both the fire in Jennsen's voice, and the fact that she brought up the subject at all. "How do you even know about them?"
Jennsen ignored the question, pressing on with her own. "Did you lead them in slaughtering an entire village?"
Richard's eyes widened, his mouth falling open to form a quick response. He thought better of whatever it was he was going to say, and closed his mouth, breathing in slowly before proceeding with less defensive words. "It wasn't like that, Jennsen." He held her gaze steadily as he spoke. "The Minders' village had been taken from them by force, by a warlord and his men."
"So you had to take it back with the same force?" Jennsen countered. "Tobias said the people in the village were massacred, every last one."
Richard's jaw clenched. "Tobias said -" he shook his head, stopping himself before he lost control of his anger. "Yes, we killed them all," he admitted. He struggled to keep his voice even. "Every last man who would otherwise have gone on to rape, and torture, and kill even more people."
"So you took the time to judge every one of them? Question them about their crimes?" Jennsen asked, looking at Richard in disbelief as his eyes darkened with guilt. "I didn't think so."
Richard's hands went to his face, rubbing roughly at it before dropping so he could meet her eyes again. "There was magic involved," he forced out. Her eyes flashed triumphantly, and he rushed on before she could say anything. "It chained their will to mine, to my anger. But I didn't know about it at first, and Zedd helped me learn to overcome it."
Jennsen shook her head, squeezing herself with her crossed arms as she stepped forward. "Richard, I know we don't know each other that well, but I know that you're a good person." She met his eyes sadly. "But I was there when you put together the boxes of Orden. I saw magic turn you into a monster."
Denna shifted uncomfortably at the reminder, her eyes flicking between brother and sister as she watched the exchange. Rahl held his tongue, intrigued by the interplay between his younger siblings. Remorse flashed in Richard's eyes as he glanced at Denna, then back at his sister.
"Yes, magic can do horrible things," he said, "but it can also do wonderful things. Jennsen, if it weren't for magic, we would never have been born." Jennsen's expression twisted in confusion, and Richard hurried to explain. "Zedd cast a spell a long time ago. If it weren't for that spell, Panis Rahl would never have been able to father children at all."
Horror flickered across Darken's face at the revelation, and his mouth curled in distaste. Richard spared him a quick, uneasy glance before looking earnestly back at his sister.
Jennsen met his gaze with wide eyes. "You're using that as evidence that magic is good?" she scoffed, her eyes jumping over to Darken. "How much suffering and death has our brother caused?"
"No more than was necessary," Darken snapped harshly. Richard glared at him before addressing Jennsen again.
"And how much have we prevented?" Richard asked. "Magic is capable of so much more than just manipulation, and pain, and death. I've seen magic restore lost limbs, bring people back from beyond the brink of death. I've seen it put a smile on the faces of children who didn't think they'd ever smile again."
Jennsen was quiet, conflict evident in her face. Richard's gaze probed deeper, trying to see if his words were close to making a difference.
"Jennsen," he said with a quiet ferocity, "magic isn't good or bad. It's a tool. Just like a woodcutter's ax, it can be used to build, or to destroy. It's what you do with it that decides whether or not it's evil."
Darken cleared his throat, drawing three sets of eyes to him. "I know what you must think of me, dear sister." He reached up to adjust the collar of his robes. "Truth be told, I can't fault you for it. Every evil thing you can imagine, I have probably done - and enjoyed." His lips curled into a faint smile before he remembered his purpose. He shook his head slightly to clear it, steadily meeting her gaze. "I lied to you, happily, about many things. But I am not incapable of truth."
The other occupants of the tent eyed him with varying degrees of skepticism and curiosity as he continued. "Contrary to what you may believe, family means a great deal to me." Richard let out a derisive chuckle, unable to hide his disbelief, and Darken fixed him with a pointed glare. "When they are not trying to kill me." Richard's expression fell into contemplation as Rahl turned back to Jennsen. His eyes burned with a sincerity neither of his siblings had ever seen. "Despite what your Lord General may wish to do to me, I do not believe that you would go so far as to wish me dead. So I tell you this in all honesty, sister: you are being deceived."
Jennsen stepped back, shaking her head slowly back and forth. Her expression betrayed the uncertainty she felt. "No," she said weakly. "They're good people. They wouldn't do the things you're accusing them of."
Richard met her watery gaze with steady, gentle strength. "They already have," he said sadly. "And they'll do worse if we don't stop them."
She took another step back, her face twisted with conflict. "I have to go."
"Jennsen -" Richard's protest was cut short by Rahl's shackled hands nudging his shoulder.
"Let her go," he murmured, a calculating look on his face as Jennsen disappeared through the flap of the tent. "Patience is a virtue, brother. We've given her the rope. Now we have to wait and see who she hangs with it."
*****
"General Brogan?"
Tobias' hands clenched into fists as he looked up from his desk. A vicious scowl adorned his face as he looked up at his guard.
"Your messenger has returned from Aydindril, General," the guard said hesitantly.
Tobias relaxed when he realized it wasn't the ungifted girl, coming back with more ridiculous questions. He waved his hand at the guard. "Send him in."
The messenger was brimming with excitement as he rushed into the tent. He knelt before the desk, head bowed in respect. "Lord General."
"Rise, rise," Tobias urged, heartened by the man's eagerness. "What news do you bring me from Aydindril?"
The young man smiled. "The most excellent of news, Lord General. We are swiftly gaining the support of the townspeople. Rumors abound of the Mother Confessor threatening to confess our revered leader, simply because you asked her to stop using her powers."
Tobias smiled, sitting back in his chair. "Whispered into the right ear, a rumor can be more powerful than the sharpest sword." His fingers tapped against his jaw. "And what say those who witnessed my meeting with the witch? Have they taken issue with these rumors?"
"No, Lord General." The messenger shook his head. "Some few have voiced dissent, but they are drowned out by the rest. Most of the nobles relish the idea of dethroning the Mother Confessor. They're too concerned with getting their own hands on power to bother with petty details. The rest hesitate, biding their time to see who will come out victorious before declaring their allegiances."
The Lord General's smile spread into a full-blown grin. He leaned forward, slapping his open hand against the desk as he let out a triumphant laugh.
His boisterous laughter was audible as Jennsen approached. Pausing next to the wall of tent, she cocked her head, listening with interest to hear what had the man so happy.
"This is most welcome news!" his voice boomed, followed by the scraping of a chair against the ground as he stood. "Aydindril is ripe for the plucking. Soon I shall have the witch's cursed throne, and we will put an end to the treacherous race of Confessors once and for all!"
Jennsen gasped, covering her mouth with her hand to stifle the sound. The hatred in Tobias' voice was foreign to her ears, and her eyes widened as realization dawned. She was so caught up in her thoughts that she nearly jumped out of her skin when Lunetta's voice rang out mere steps away from her.
"What are you doing, child?" Her eyes raked over Jennsen suspiciously.
Jennsen fidgeted under the scrutiny. "I was just on my way to see Tobias," she said, forcing a smile onto her face. "I just came from talking to Richard," she said with a strained enthusiasm. "I think I'm starting to get through to him."
The older woman didn't appear to believe her, but before she could voice her suspicions, Tobias rounded the corner, followed dutifully by his messenger.
"I have no concern for the Seeker's loyalties," he said dismissively, his face still beaming with the flush of accomplishment. "He can rot in the dungeons of Aydindril with his brother until they see the error of their ways. The Mord-Sith will be executed for her treachery," he added as an afterthought. Jennsen fought to conceal her horror as Lunetta went to his side, her distrust temporarily forgotten as she gazed in awe at her brother. Tobias noticed Jennsen's lack of excitement, and reached out to place a hand on her shoulder. "Worry not about fools and villains, child. We are about to win a great victory!"
"Oh, Tobias!" Lunetta exclaimed, clasping her hands together happily. His hand fell from Jennsen's shoulder absently as he whirled on his sister, too swept up in the thrill to correct her informality. "Could we really take Aydindril?"
Tobias rushed to Lunetta, grabbing her shoulders enthusiastically. "No, Lunetta. We will take Aydindril. And soon." He turned to address his messenger. "I shall gather the men to tell them the joyous news. We will break camp immediately. I will need you to take a message back to our agents there, to prepare them for our arrival."
The messenger nodded, listening intently as they walked away from the tent. Jennsen stared after them, her presence forgotten in the flurry of excitement. She stood frozen, her expression caught between devastation and panic.
*****
The midday sun beat down on the tent, filling the air inside with an unbearable, thick heat. Richard reached up with shackled hands, wiping at the sweat rolling down his face. His hands dropped instantly when Jennsen rushed into the tent. Her breath came in short gasps as she knelt down, frantically pulling at his shackles in an attempt to free him.
Richard caught her hands with his own, his gaze steady. "Jennsen, calm down." She met his eyes, her own brimming with fear. "What's going on?"
"You were right about them, Richard," Jennsen whispered. She pulled her hands free, continuing to search the shackles for a weakness. "I have to get you out of here, fast. They're going to break camp soon -"
"Jennsen." Richard said again, his voice calm. He grabbed her hands again, holding them in a firm grip. "If there were a way to get out of these things, don't you think we would have found it already?" Jennsen sat back on her heels, clutching her hands to her chest. Her forehead was creased with worry. Richard leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "What's going on?" he repeated. "Why are they going to break camp?"
Jennsen glanced over her shoulder, carefully eyeing the opening of the tent before she turned back to her brother. "Tobias got a message - it made him really happy. He's gathering the men now, to tell them about his plans to take control of Aydindril."
Richard turned wide eyes to his brother; Darken returned the glance with a look of mild surprise. "I thought he'd given up on Aydindril," Richard said.
Jennsen shook her head solemnly. "I did too, but something must have changed. He was talking about putting an end to Confessors, and he seems pretty confident about it."
"We need to warn Kahlan, and the others." Richard fixed his gaze on his sister, urgency bleeding into his voice. "We need the keys to these chains, and our weapons. Do you know where they are?"
She nodded. "Tobias keeps them in his tent. But there are guards out front."
"Can you get past them?" Richard pressed.
"I think so," Jennsen said after some consideration. "I know most of the guards, and they like me." She paused at this, her eyes filling with concern. "Richard, they're not all bad people."
"I know," Richard said reassuringly. "And we're not going to hurt anyone if we don't have to. Once we have the keys and the weapons, we'll need a distraction."
Jennsen thought for a moment. "Tobias is gathering the men for a speech. I've seen him talk to them before - he likes to talk, a lot. Most of the men will be focused on him for a good while."
Richard nodded. "Hopefully we can slip out of camp without anyone even noticing until it's too late. Jennsen -" he reached out to grab Jennsen's hand as she stood. She looked back at him, hesitation in her eyes. "You're doing the right thing. I'm proud of you."
She smiled, squeezing his hand. "I won't let you down, brother."
*****
Jennsen was still struggling to come up with an excuse when she reached the command tent. The guards at the entrance put out their hands to stop her from entering.
"The Lord General is out gathering the men," one of them said. Jennsen chewed on her lip as she searched her mind. Her eyes brightened as an idea struck her.
"I know," she said urgently, pinning the guard with her gaze. "He was so excited about our coming victory that he left without his cloak," she lied smoothly. "The general wants to be fully outfitted when he gives his men the good news. He sent me to fetch it for him."
The guards glanced at one another, then shrugged and dropped their arms. Jennsen smiled at each of them before slipping between them.
Once inside, she hurried over to the desk, carefully pulling out the drawer. It let out a tiny creak, and she froze, waiting to see if the guards had heard. When no one came in, she turned her attention to the contents. There were some papers, a couple of pouches that undoubtedly contained coins, a plain black book, and - there! - a tiny metal ring with a small collection of keys attached. She grabbed them gingerly, careful not to let them clink together, and slowly pushed the drawer closed.
Straightening, she looked over at the table holding the weapons. She snatched up the Sword of Truth and, after a moment's deliberation, Darken's sword as well. She eyed the agiel warily, almost reaching for it, but she drew her hand back at the last moment, her expression hardening. She was about to turn away from the table when a ray of sunlight filtered through the seams of the tent to glint off of the two collars.
She shivered at the sight of them, knowing what they were. She looked around hurriedly, finding a sack lying on top of one of the chests. She tucked the swords under her arm, grabbed the sack and quickly stuffed the collars and the keyring inside, wincing when the metal rattled together in the bag. She pulled the bag taut, preventing the objects inside from moving.
She looked toward the entrance of the tent, then back down at the items in her hands. There was no way she could just walk out of here with them. Glancing around the tent, her eyes fell on her excuse for entering in the first place: Tobias' thick red cloak was slung over the back of his chair. She snatched it up, arranging it over her arms to hide her prize.
Inhaling deeply to control her breathing, Jennsen slipped out of the tent. With a smile and a nod to the guards, she rushed off to deliver the goods.
*****
"It looks like you'll be free soon, Seeker," Denna said with a wry smile. Richard cocked his head in her direction.
"You're coming with us, Denna," he said matter-of-factly, raising his eyebrows at her.
She chuckled bitterly. "You heard your sister. I'm a monster," she purred. "And if I recall, you're intimately familiar with my wicked ways." Her eyes darkened as they raked over Richard, her lips turning up in a provocative smile. When she failed to elicit a reaction from Richard, she sighed in disappointment. "The Blood of the Fold wants to punish me for my crimes. Who are you to stand in the way of justice?" Her eyes held a challenge as they burned into his, masking the hint of uncertainty that flashed briefly through them.
Richard scowled. "These zealots don't know the first thing about justice. We're taking you with us."
Denna opened her mouth to argue, but she was interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind their tent. There was a quiet ring of steel being drawn, then a low tearing sound as the point of Richard's sword sliced through the fabric.
Jennsen slipped through the hole, dropping the red cloak to the ground. She handed the Sword of Truth and its scabbard to Richard, then held out the other sword to Darken, freeing her hands to rummage in the bag for the keys.
"I'm impressed, sister," Darken remarked as Jennsen knelt to unlock his chains. "I didn't think you had it in you."
Jennsen looked up at him as his shackles snapped open. "You shouldn't be surprised," she replied boldly. "I did manage to break into the People's Palace and steal the boxes of Orden from under your nose."
A cocky smile curled the edges of her mouth as she moved on to Richard's shackles. She made quick work of the lock, and Richard flexed his newly freed wrists. Here, Jennsen froze. Denna held her wrists up, her eyes narrowed in challenge. Jennsen looked back at Richard, a question in her eyes.
"It's alright," Richard said softly, his eyes encouraging. "She's on our side."
Denna raised an eyebrow, but she didn't offer an argument. Jennsen reached warily for Denna's bonds, her eyes locked on the Mord-Sith as she slipped the key into the lock. The shackles popped open with a quiet snick. Denna smirked at Jennsen as she rubbed her wrists, enjoying the flash of fear in the steel blue eyes.
Jennsen looked back at Richard with uncertainty. "Richard, are you sure about this?"
Richard pulled himself to his feet, resting a hand on her shoulder. "Leaving her here is a death sentence."
"She killed our mother," Jennsen protested, her chin trembling. "It's what she deserves."
"Are you prepared to make that judgment?" he asked knowingly. "To have her blood on your hands?"
Jennsen glanced back at Denna, her shoulders sinking.
"I hate to interrupt this poignant bonding moment," Darken remarked, dusting off his robes, "but we really should get out of here."
*****
They crept through the camp slowly, Jennsen leading the way, looking out for soldiers not yet gathered for the general's address. Tobias' voice boomed in the background, triumphant tones articulating words that they couldn't quite make out from where they were. As they rounded the corner of a tent, Jennsen stopped abruptly and pushed them back. Peeking back around, she saw two soldiers standing guard in front of the tent. One of them was Vargus, the man Jennsen had seen bringing them in.
"You asked how I knew about the Minders," she explained in a whisper. "Two of them were brought in this morning. They're being held in that tent over there." Her forehead crinkled in concern. "If they really are peaceful, they don't deserve what Tobias will do to them. We have to save them too."
"I won't argue with that," Richard offered, leaning past Jennsen to assess the guards. He turned back to Darken. "We can each take out a guard, hopefully before they're able to raise an alarm."
Darken nodded, and they moved forward. Jennsen caught Richard by the arm, pulling him back.
"Richard, I know these men," she murmured. "They have wives, children."
Richard tilted his head in acknowledgment, pinning Darken with his gaze. "We won't kill them unless we have to."
Darken reluctantly nodded his agreement, gripping the hilt of his sword with both hands. The men split up, moving around either side of the tent. They each knocked a guard out with the hilt of their sword, before the soldiers had time to react.
Richard peeked around the back of the tent. "It's safe." Jennsen and Denna followed him into the tent, stepping over the prone bodies of the guards.
"Seeker!" Kur exclaimed happily.
"Kur! Roga!" Richard rushed to the two Minders, staring in disbelief. "What are you doing here?" He motioned to Jennsen, who rushed forward with the keys.
Before either prisoner could respond, Rahl interjected from the entrance of the tent. "There's no time for catching up, Richard. We've got to get out of here."
Richard nodded, helping Jennsen remove the shackles. He offered Kur an arm, pulling him up before turning to help Roga to her feet. He locked gazes with the older woman. "We're not going to hurt anyone if we can help it. But we are going to get out of here."
Roga nodded her understanding, though it was clear she wasn't pleased by the possibility of violence.
"Quickly!" Darken urged, hearing approaching footsteps. They hurried out of the tent. Denna knelt down to pluck a dagger from the belt of one of the guards, slipping it into her own belt. At Richard's questioning glance, she shrugged.
"A girl's got to have a weapon," she smirked, following as Jennsen led them all away from the tent.
There was a commotion behind them as the two unconscious soldiers were discovered. At the first alarmed shouts, Richard caught Jennsen's gaze. "Run."
*****
The escapees slowed to a stop, collapsing against the surrounding trees to catch their breath.
"I think we lost them," Richard panted, holding his side. He looked around at his companions, assuring himself that they all made it safely.
Kur rushed to Richard, clapping his hands on the Seeker's shoulders. "Seeker! I can't tell you how good it is to see you!"
Richard smiled, reaching up to pat Kur's arms. He looked over at Roga, who gave him a reserved smile and nod.
"It's good to see you, too," he replied. "We could use your help." Roga started to protest, but Richard held up his hand to cut her off. "I wouldn't dream of asking you to fight," he assured them. "But the Blood of the Fold is about to march on Aydindril. They won't be tricked like Caldor's men were. There's going to be fighting," he said regretfully. "Skilled healers like yourselves would be a great asset."
To Richard's surprise, Roga offered no argument. "I have seen the deeds these men do in the name of the Creator," she said with disgust. "I cannot condone violence; but if it will save lives, I would be glad to offer what help we can."
"Thank you," Richard said simply, meeting Roga's gaze. He looked back in the direction of the encampment. "Moving an army of that size will be a slow process. You should have time to gather your people and meet us outside Aydindril."
Roga nodded, and Kur clasped Richard's forearm. "Until we meet again, Seeker."
Richard returned the gesture, shaking their joined arms before turning back to his own companions. "We'd better get moving. Between your Mord-Sith's tracking abilities and Zedd's magic, they're probably not far behind."
*****
Cara and Kahlan walked together, slightly apart from the rest of the group. Cara's arms swung at her sides as she trudged along, and Kahlan eyed the hand closest to her with a sneaky grin. She reached for it casually, pulling back when Cara flinched away from the touch.
Cara clenched her hand into a fist as she looked over at Kahlan, a guilty expression on her face. "You'll have to give me some time to get used to this," she explained, gesturing with her hand. "The touching."
Kahlan smiled, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "I guess I can do that," she teased, her hand moving to adjust the strap of her pack. "You're lucky I'm a patient woman."
Cara's lips turned up in a smirk as she ran her eyes over Kahlan. "I'm definitely lucky," she purred. Kahlan blushed, a shy smile painting her lips as she turned her gaze forward. Her hand fell from her shoulder to swing at her side as she walked.
After a few moments, a leather-clad hand slipped into hers, and Kahlan looked up in surprise. Cara kept her eyes focused ahead of her, stubbornly pretending she hadn't done anything, though Kahlan could see the blonde's full lips hinting at a smile. Kahlan squeezed Cara's hand, lacing their fingers together as her smile grew into a full-blown giddy grin.
"Grandfather!"
Eight heads whipped around at the sound of Jennsen's voice. The girl caught sight of Zedd, rushing ahead to embrace him. He returned the embrace heartily.
"Oh, child, you have no idea how glad I am to see you." He pulled back just enough to smile down at his granddaughter.
As Richard approached, his eyes fell on Cara and Kahlan's joined hands, and his smile faltered. Kahlan felt Cara's hand loosen, and she squeezed it reassuringly, smiling softly at Richard.
"Kahlan," he nodded to her, then shifted his gaze to the other woman. "Cara." She raised her eyes to meet his, and he took in the slight flush of her cheeks, the traces of a smile she was trying to conceal, and a bittersweet smile managed to return to his own lips. Their happiness was infectious, even if it did come at the expense of his own. "It's good to see you both."
Kahlan squeezed Cara's hand again before releasing it, sharing a glance with the blonde before she stepped forward. "I'm glad you're all right," she said sincerely. She looked at him awkwardly for a moment, debating with herself, before she finally settled on reaching out to gently squeeze his arm.
Darken brushed past them, rejoining his Mord-Sith. They greeted him with respectfully bowed heads. He turned to face Nicci, a pleased smile on his lips. "Still here, I see." Nicci glowered at him in response, while Dahlia's gaze shifted between them.
Kahlan dropped her hand back to her side, stepping back as her eyes fell on the last member of the approaching group. Denna stood a few paces back, arms crossed defiantly though her expression screamed of uncertainty.
Kahlan's eyes hardened, her lips pressing into a thin line. "What is she doing here?"
Cara caught Denna's eyes, raising an eyebrow in challenge. Denna responded with an unyielding gaze, jaw set and eyes blazing.
Richard glanced between the three women, then sighed, rubbing his hand over his face to comb through his hair. When he raised his eyes to Kahlan's once more, his gaze was steady and unflinching.
"We can have that argument later," he said firmly. "Tobias Brogan is marching on Aydindril."
*****
TO BE CONTINUED ...
... in Episode 3.13!