New Episode: 3.11 - "Allegiance" - part 1
Disclaimer: This is a fan-produced creation and is not affiliated in any way, shape or form to the official TV show Legend of the Seeker. Neither the characters nor the universe belong to us, and we are making no money from this whatsoever.
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Previously on Legend of the Seeker:
Episode 3.01 - "Tremors"
Episode 3.02 - "Restoration"
Episode 3.03 - "Madness"
Episode 3.04 - "Found"
Episode 3.05 - "Night"
Episode 3.06 - "Choice"
Episode 3.07 - "Doubt"
Episode 3.08 - "Trust"
Episode 3.09 - "Instinct"
Episode 3.10 - "Harmony"
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Episode 3.11 - "Allegiance"
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Evening had fallen on their makeshift camp. The early sounds of an argument could be heard over the crackle of the flames. Nicci ignored the voices and sat sullenly before the fire, idly tending a pot of stew. When they decided to stop flinging blame at each other and start doing something, maybe she would work up the energy to care - if only because the key to her Rada'Han had disappeared along with Richard and Darken Rahl.
She couldn't even muster the energy to taunt the Confessor, who was approaching awkwardly with a bowl in her hands. Without raising her eyes, she handed over the ladle. A smirk managed to barely touch her lips as Kahlan went out of her way not to let their hands touch, but it quickly melted back into her signature scowl.
Kahlan hurriedly filled the bowl with stew, all but shoving the ladle back into Nicci's hands. For all the progress she'd made, she was still unnerved by the presence of the sorceress. Turning away, she moved back to Zedd, handing him the bowl. He took it gratefully, his movements slow as he brought a spoonful to his mouth.
"You overexerted yourself, healing everyone," Kahlan chided. "You should have rested." The voices across the fire got louder, drawing Kahlan's attention. "And we could have used the peace and quiet."
Zedd followed her gaze, swallowing his mouthful of food. "The sooner we're all back to full strength, the sooner we can focus our efforts on tracking Denna. Who knows what nefarious plot she's cooked up this time."
Kahlan couldn't argue with that, but she wasn't convinced that the current discussion was going to be at all effective in rescuing Richard and his brother. She sighed, watching apprehensively as the argument grew more heated.
Cara was facing off against Berdine, who was flanked on either side by Dahlia and Raina. Her left hand rested on her agiels, her right clenched into a fist as Berdine laid into her.
"If you hadn't been so busy prancing through the forest with the Confessor, maybe you could have protected the Seeker." Her lips curled into a derisive sneer as she ran her eyes over Cara. "I can see the rumors are true. You have gone soft."
Guilt flashed through Cara's eyes, but she didn't miss a beat, a dangerous smile touching her lips. "And what's your excuse?" Her gaze flicked to the Mord-Sith on either side, then back to Berdine. "There are three of you to protect your precious Lord Rahl, and yet he was snatched from under your noses."
Berdine sniffed indignantly at the provocation. "Our strength is beyond question. You're the one with a bizarre affection for the sworn enemy of all Mord-Sith."
Cara refused to follow the woman's gaze, knowing full well where it led; she wasn't prepared to confront that truth for herself, let alone defend it to Berdine. Instead, she deflected, her voice mocking.
"And whose bedroll were you warming last night, Berdine? I seem to recall that it wasn't Lord Rahl's." She looked pointedly at Raina, smirking at the glare she received in response. "It looks to me like you're the one going soft." Green eyes sparkled dangerously as she pulled her agiels, advancing on the taller Mord-Sith. "I could help toughen you up again."
Raina stepped between them, stopping Cara in her tracks as she drew her own agiel. Cara's smirk only grew as her eyes flicked from the weapon back to Berdine.
"Still have your guard dog fighting your battles for you? It's a wonder Rahl trusts you with his washing, let alone his protection."
Raina's dark eyes were menacing as she pinned Cara with her gaze. "I'd watch what you say to her, Cara." Her voice was dark with warning. "You're still outnumbered, and even if the wizard wasn't exhausted, his magic is useless against us."
Cara laughed at the threat, refusing to back down. "It wasn't useless when he was waking you all up from your beauty rest." She let her eyes wander over Raina. "Such a shame. You could have used it."
"Just give us a reason, Cara," Berdine spat from behind Raina. "We'd obliterate you."
"I'd like to see you try," Cara replied through gritted teeth as she tried to push past Raina. She was stopped by a slender hand on her arm.
"That's enough," Kahlan said firmly, pulling at the leather-clad appendage. Cara sighed in frustration, but backed off nonetheless, her arms dropping to her sides. Berdine smiled smugly over Raina's shoulder, vindication shining in her eyes. "None of this is helping us figure out where Denna is taking Richard." Her icy glare shifted to the other three Mord-Sith. "And your Lord Rahl."
Cara slid her agiels back in their sheath, her eyes never leaving the three Mord-Sith even as she addressed Kahlan. "Denna's insane. She no doubt has some needlessly complicated scheme to gain power, as usual. Whatever it is, it's not likely to make sense to us."
Dahlia smirked, her eyes briefly catching Cara's. "She always was a bit...unbalanced."
In spite of herself, Cara's lips turned up slightly at the shared memories. Berdine glared coldly at Dahlia; treating Cara as anything other than the enemy was unacceptable.
Zedd broke the tense silence, speaking up from his place by the fire. "The last time I saw Denna, she was at a crossroads." The women turned their attention to him as he continued his musings. "I was very close to convincing her to turn over a new leaf, before she was killed."
"My apologies for saving your life, wizard." Cara waved her hand at him in exasperation. "What's your point?"
Kahlan pinned Cara with a stern look before changing the subject. "I think the more pressing question is, why isn't she dead?" She looked over to Zedd. "Even if the arrow Cara shot into her stomach didn't kill her, the fall would have."
Nicci chuckled darkly, drawing six sets of eyes to her. "Please. You speak of death as though it's something permanent." She finally raised her eyes from the fire, seeking out Kahlan's. "I would think you of all people would know better."
Kahlan averted her gaze, shifting uncomfortably as she considered Nicci's words.
*****
Richard blinked as he slowly regained consciousness. He became aware that he was moving, slumped over the saddle of a horse - the same saddle his hands were tied to. At this realization, he jerked fully awake, sitting up to take in his surroundings.
The Sword of Truth was still at his hip. He was relieved by that, at least. Looking to his left, he saw Rahl in a similar situation; still unconscious, still armed. Their horses were attached by lead ropes to another horse a few paces ahead of them. There was a woman in the saddle, wearing simple, unfamiliar clothes, with long blonde hair pulled into a loose braid. Richard knew that braid. The memories flooded into his mind, and he struggled against his bonds.
The sounds of his struggle traveled to Denna, and she looked back at him, a pleased smile on her face. "Oh good, you're awake."
Richard glared at her, giving up on the bindings on his wrists. "Denna." His voice was filled with resentment. "I thought you were dead."
"Nothing a little deal with the Keeper couldn't fix," Denna replied, turning forward again.
Realization dawned on Richard. "You're a baneling."
Denna laughed. "Don't be silly, Richard. If I were still a baneling, I would be back in the Underworld right now." Richard's brow furrowed as he tried to process this. Sensing his confusion, Denna took pity on him. "It's a shame I left South Caston so quickly; it would have been fun to reminisce on old times. But then, you were too busy trying to save your precious Cara."
Richard ignored the stab of pain at hearing the name, focusing instead on placing the information. The pieces came together. "You must have been one of the lucky ones who showed up before that peddler started diluting the Shadow water."
He was distracted from his train of thought by a loud grunt to his left. Looking over, he saw Rahl jolt awake, quickly making the same discoveries he had moments before. Rahl sneered as his gaze landed on his captor.
"Ah, Denna. I wish I could say it was a pleasure."
He struggled with his bonds, as Richard had, except he had little difficulty freeing his wrists. Bewildered, Richard looked back at his own hands, trying again to free them. They easily slipped loose of their bonds.
"Really, what's the point of abducting us if you're not going to tie us up properly?" Rahl sneered. "I thought I taught you better than that."
Denna's smile only grew as she stopped her horse, turning around to face the two men.
"The rope was just to make sure you stayed on your horses, my lord." The appellation dripped with disdain. "I have a much more reliable method of keeping you in line."
Her gaze focused on his neck, and Rahl's hands shot up to find a metal collar securely fastened around his throat. Richard checked his own neck, finding a similar collar.
"Rada'Han, Denna?" Rahl laughed. "Very clever, but also very pointless."
Richard tugged at the metal, finding it impossible to remove. "As much as I hate to agree with him, Rahl's right. Neither of us has any magic."
Denna just laughed, watching them tug uselessly at the collars. "Oh, those aren't ordinary Rada'Han. They're much more interesting than that."
A strangled sound escaped Rahl's throat, and he stared down at his hands in horror as they suddenly dropped from the collar, settling comfortably on the front of his saddle. Richard gaped, trying to understand what had just happened.
"You see, Seeker, these collars don't suppress magic." Her smile faded as her eyes turned hard. "They suppress your free will. Neither of you can so much as breathe without my permission."
Horrified, Richard watched as his own hands dropped to his saddle. He tried to resist, straining with all of his might, but his body wouldn't respond to him anymore.
It would only answer to Denna.
*****
ROLL CREDITS
*****
Denna looked on in amusement as Richard continued to struggle in vain. The effort showed in his face, but his hands didn't budge.
"You can struggle all you want," she offered, turning her horse back around so they could continue their journey. "You won't be able to do anything I don't want you to do."
"You must have powerful friends, to come across such potent magic devices," Rahl mused. "What would such friends want in return, I wonder?"
Denna shrugged, unperturbed. "It doesn't matter. I have what I wanted."
"Deceitful as always, Denna," Rahl sneered bitterly. "Loyalty never did mean much to you."
Denna's expression hardened as she looked over her shoulder at him. "My lord, stop talking."
His mouth snapped shut, leaving him with a sour look on his face and murder in his eyes. Unnerved by the sight, Richard shifted his gaze to Denna.
"So you have us. What's your big master plan this time? Where are you taking us?"
The smile returned to Denna's lips.
"My dear Richard, I thought that would be obvious."
*****
"Isn't it obvious?" Cara gestured with a gloved hand as she spoke. "She has Lord Rahl - both of them. She's going to D'Hara."
The reluctant team was gathered around the fire, an uneasy truce established. Zedd and Kahlan sat side by side on one side of the fire, across from Berdine and Nicci, who hadn't bothered to move. Raina stood behind Berdine, glaring daggers into Cara, who stood behind Kahlan in almost a mirror image of the two Mord-Sith. Dahlia stood off to the side, alternately glancing between Cara and Nicci, and looking away uncomfortably. The hesitant camaraderie that had developed as they'd all been forced to travel together had all but disappeared in the absence of their respective leaders.
"That would be the logical choice," Dahlia offered, earning another irritated glare from Berdine.
"She must be planning to break them, bend them to her will," Zedd mused, troubled by the thought.
"She tried to break Richard before," Cara said with a forced confidence. "It didn't work."
Zedd's gaze flickered between her and Kahlan, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Yes, well, things were...different, then," he said delicately. Kahlan met his gaze, her eyes filling with guilt and fear. It had been because of her that Richard had stayed strong enough to withstand being broken before; because of his love for her.
Pushing her conflicted feelings aside, Kahlan changed the subject. "The People's Palace has been deserted since Rahl was killed. Do you think the people would have even left it standing?"
"Of course," Berdine and Cara said in unison. Berdine closed her mouth abruptly, glaring at Cara. The blonde shrugged it off, continuing.
"The People's Palace has stood for thousands of years. It's a part of D'Hara's identity, and D'Harans are proud people. They may have looted it for anything that wasn't nailed down, but they would never allow it to be destroyed."
Berdine scoffed, muttering under her breath. "As though you would know anything about being D'Haran."
Cara pushed off of the tree, intending to give Berdine a more physical response, but Kahlan grabbed her hand, pulling her down to sit on the log next to her. This wasn't the time for bickering. Cara met Berdine's answering smirk with a vicious glare.
"If that's true, then do you think that's where Denna is taking them?" Kahlan asked, looking to Zedd for the answer. He rubbed at his chin as he pondered.
"It seems likely. She's familiar with the palace and its defenses, and with both Rahls under her control, she could easily fortify it indefinitely."
Berdine chimed in, eager to prove herself superior to Cara. "Not to mention the libraries contain all the knowledge she could ever want about ruling D'Hara."
A look of horror came over Zedd's face. "Spirits! The information about magic contained in just one of those libraries could make her powerful enough to conquer more than just D'Hara."
At the mention of magic, Nicci perked up, listening more attentively.
"We've got to stop her," Zedd intoned seriously.
"But the People's Palace is in the opposite direction of Agaden Reach," Kahlan pointed out. "And as much as I hate to admit it, we need Shota's help."
"We could split up." Nicci's voice was neutral, but the fact that she had spoken at all was telling. Her eyes shone with the possibilities teeming through her mind. Dahlia shifted uncomfortably, her hand resting protectively over her corset.
Kahlan's eyes flicked over to Cara; she didn't relish the idea of being separated from her so soon after the revelation of her feelings, and when things were still unresolved between them.
Several tense gazes moved around the fire as they considered the possible combinations they could divide into. None of them made anyone less uneasy. Cara broke the silence.
"We'll just have to catch up to them quickly."
*****
Moonlight filtered through the trees as Richard moved methodically down the path. His mouth twisted into a scowl as he bent down to examine some tracks, reluctantly smoothing out the dirt and covering it with fallen leaves and twigs.
As he looked up, his gaze landed on a flowering bush. The white blossoms were familiar to him; they were the same flowers Zedd had used several times to leave a magical trail. Struck by an idea, he walked over to the bush and plucked one of the flowers.
Richard stood in the middle of the path, holding the flower out. He willed himself to drop it, to leave a clue for his friends to follow, but try as he might, he couldn't let go of the bud. Frustrated, he crushed the flower in his fist and turned on his heel, heading back to camp.
*****
Darken Rahl sat in front of the fire, poking irritably at the rather strange smelling concoction in the pot. Behind him sat a large pile of wood - more wood than could ever be needed for a single nights' campfire. His pout curled into a full-blown sneer as Denna sauntered over to him, plucking the spoon from his grasp and bringing it to her lips. Her nose scrunched at the flavor. It was edible, but only just.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you can't produce a halfway decent meal," she said disdainfully. "I'm impressed you know which end of the spoon to stir with."
He glared at her, unable to say anything in response as she handed said implement back to him. Peevishly, he continued stirring the pot as she smirked, her gaze flicking to the direction of the horses, where Richard was approaching. He stood at the edge of camp, glowering at his captor.
"Ah, Richard," Denna said brightly, a smug smile on her lips as she moved to her pack on the other side of the fire. "I trust our tracks are well concealed?"
"If you're so concerned, why are we stopping to camp?" he retorted bitterly. "We could put in a lot more distance if we just kept moving."
Denna looked over at him, taking note of his fists clenching at his sides. "We've been traveling all night. We'll cover a lot more ground tomorrow after a night of much-needed rest."
"Is that why I chopped enough wood to illuminate all of D'Hara?" Rahl complained irritably. "Not very restful, Denna."
Her gaze turned hard as she fixed it on the older man. "I was talking about the horses." Turning away from him, she knelt, laying out her bedroll. "You will keep moving as fast and as long as I order you to."
Richard watched her, his eyes glinting dangerously. "You have to sleep sometime, too, Denna."
Denna let out a hearty laugh, rising back to her feet. "Oh, I see. You're hoping I'll fall asleep, and you'll be able to break free of my control?"
Richard wanted to move away as she advanced toward him, but for all his effort, he could only stand there as she approached, reaching a hand out to stroke his cheek.
"Richard, you always were optimistic to a fault," she said fondly, dragging her fingers along his shoulder and down his arm as she spoke. "Those collars won't stop working just because I'm not awake to command you." She brought her lips to his ear as her hand worked its way into his, freeing the little white flower from his grip. Her tone turned intimate. "You need to accept the fact that I own you, now."
Rigid with anger, the only thing Richard found he could do was speak, so he channeled all of the anger he was feeling into his voice.
"You still haven't even told us what you want with us. What's the point of capturing us in the first place?"
She backed away, allowing his hand to drop back to his side as she admired the mangled blossom. Then she was back, resting her chin on his shoulder as she pressed against him from behind. "It's simple, my dear Seeker. If you want to control D'Hara, the logical place to start is by controlling Lord Rahl. And now I have both of them at my beck and call."
Richard clenched his jaw as she continued sliding around him, resting her chin on his other shoulder. "I'm not Lord Rahl."
Rahl spoke up, growing weary of the show Denna was putting on. "I must agree with my brother on that point, Denna. He'll never have what it takes to rule D'Hara."
Denna smiled, her lips brushing against Richard's ear. "Whether you accept your birthright or not is none of my concern. It's the people that matter. If they believe you're their Lord Rahl, then that's exactly what you are." She lifted the flower to his face, trailing it down his cheek affectionately before turning back to Darken. "You don't need to worry about Richard doing what needs to be done. I'll take care of that."
Richard tried to ignore the emotions she was blatantly manipulating, instead focusing on gathering as much information as possible. "So we're going to D'Hara, then? The People's Palace?"
There was just enough interest in his tone for Denna to notice, and her smile widened as she turned back to him. "You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?" She cradled his cheek in her hand as she leaned in closer. For a long moment he was afraid she was going to kiss him, but she only continued speaking. "Now, I suggest you choke down some of your brother's creation and get some rest. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
Rahl gaped as she tossed the flower onto the fire, then turned to settle herself down onto her bedroll. "Aren't you going to eat anything?"
"I'm not that hungry," Denna sneered, lying back with her arm curled under her head. "I trust you boys can take turns keeping watch while I sleep."
Richard stared in disbelief as she turned onto her side, not showing an inkling of concern about turning her back on them. Finally, he gave in and sat next to his brother by the fire. Seething, Rahl shoved a bowl into his hands. Richard opened his mouth to speak.
"And no talking," Denna called out from her bedroll. "I'm a light sleeper."
Finding his voice useless, Richard reluctantly lifted a spoonful of food to his mouth. Upon tasting it, he looked over at Darken, who answered with a murderous glare. He quickly looked back down at his bowl, debating the merits of going hungry for a night.
*****
The early rays of morning light shone down on Denna's peaceful face as her eyes drifted open. She slowly rolled into a sitting position, breathing in the crisp air. Letting out a contented sigh, she looked over to the fire, which Richard was poking at angrily with a stick. The lack of rest showed in his dismal expression, and the defeated slump of his shoulders. On the ground to his right, Rahl was curled up, sleeping fitfully.
"Good morning, Seeker. Did you sleep well? I know I did."
Richard looked up as Denna stood, stretching luxuriously. Uncomfortable, he dropped his eyes back to the fire. If he could just refuse to respond at all, it might feel like some semblance of control. Denna's lips pulled into an amused smile; she saw through the attempt, but it would be more fun to let him think it was working for now. She turned her attention to her other captive.
"Rise and shine, my lord," She all but sang as she gave the slumbering man a swift kick to the ribs. Darken grunted his irritation as he awoke.
"Can't you just command me to wake?" He asked peevishly, shading his squinting eyes from the bright morning light.
"Yes." Denna smirked. "But where's the fun in that?"
Her fun was cut short as the snapping of twigs nearby caught their attention. Denna's face instantly lost all trace of amusement as she reached for her agiel, her eyes scanning the tree line.
"Someone's coming."
Rahl pulled himself to his feet, straightening his robes. "Could it be our valiant rescuers already?"
Denna's gaze snapped back to him, cold and mirthless. "That's highly unlikely."
The sound of footsteps got louder, closer. Denna gripped her agiel tighter.
"And of no consequence. Prepare for battle."
Richard stood, apprehension clear in his expression. He didn't want to fight his friends - or temporary allies. Nonetheless, he drew his sword, unable to defy the command. To his right, Darken reached for his own sword, pulling it from the scabbard that had been lying next to him as he slept.
As the two brothers found their places on either side of Denna, a group of soldiers became visible as they approached through the trees. Richard appraised them warily, running through possible strategies in his mind. There were a dozen Blood of the Fold, led by a confident looking youth no more than eighteen or nineteen summers old. His face and uniform looked untouched by battle, but his eyes gleamed with a crazed sort of zeal. His gaze narrowed as he caught sight of Denna, and he quickly raised his fist to signal the soldiers to halt.
"Mord-Sith." He spat the word as though the Keeper might claim him simply for voicing it. His hand gripped the pommel of the sword at his side as he eyed Denna and her protectors carefully.
"Captain Ettore." Denna's voice was a contrast to the young captain's, silky and calm though she still held her agiel at the ready. Richard looked at her in wary confusion.
Captain Ettore stepped forward, his free hand gesturing to Rahl. "What is the meaning of this? You were meant to bring us the Mother Confessor, not this powerless abomination."
Darken's jaw tightened as he gripped his sword, pained by his inability to respond. Richard gaped at Denna. "What?"
Denna's gaze cut sharply to Richard, and his mouth snapped shut. His eyes burned with frustration.
"Plans have changed," she said smoothly, settling her attention back on the captain. Ettore's jaw clenched as he took another step closer to Denna, his eyes glinting dangerously.
"I hope for your sake that means the vile creature put up a fight, and is rotting in the Underworld along with the wizard you were supposed to kill."
Denna smirked, holding Ettore's attention as Darken and Richard slowly moved away from her, setting themselves up for the inevitable battle. "Not exactly."
Ettore spat viciously at Denna's feet, pulling his sword. "Traitor. I told General Brogan we couldn't trust a filthy witch to do the Creator's work."
Denna's lips curled into a derisive smile. "Oh, that's where you're wrong, Captain. I'm no witch."
In moments, Denna had ducked under his guard and slammed her agiel into his chest. His sword dropped to the ground as she murmured into his ear.
"I'm a Mord-Sith." The word was saturated with a harsh bitterness. Denna twisted her agiel, and in seconds Ettore collapsed to the ground, his eyes staring lifelessly up at the sky.
With their leader down, the soldiers charged. Richard intercepted the first two with the Sword of Truth, slashing through the chest of one to impale the second before they were replaced by new opponents. Rahl held his own against another soldier, parrying blows until the unpracticed youth slipped up, earning him a sword in his chest. The thrill of battle wasn't enough to distract him from his predicament, however; he risked a glance at his captor, debating his chances of manipulating the battle in a way that might lead to Denna's death, and his freedom.
His chance came in the form of three soldiers charging at him; he ducked under one's sword and used his low position to trip another, sending both soldiers barreling in Denna's direction. He turned to the last, the situation not permitting him to see the outcome of his attempt.
Denna blocked an oncoming sword with her agiel, incapacitating its owner with a backhand to the face before following him to the ground with a strike to his throat. She didn't see the two men tumbling at her, and one of them slammed into her side, knocking her to the ground at the feet of another soldier. She recovered, but not quickly enough; she looked up to see a sword slicing through the air, descending toward her neck.
The very next moment, she found herself watching the soldier crumple to the ground, the Sword of Truth buried in his chest. She struggled to catch her breath as she found herself lost in the fury in Richard's eyes. He stared back at her, unreadable, as the last of the soldiers fell to Darken's sword. The young man's last grunted breath shattered the moment, and Richard yanked his sword out of Denna's would-be assassin, wiping the blood on the boy's cape before returning it to the scabbard at his hip.
Turning his back on Denna, Richard examined the bodies. What he saw was both baffling and tragic.
"They were boys, all of them." His brow furrowed as he struggled to make sense of it. "What could make someone so young hate so much?"
Denna rose to her feet, brushing debris off of her leathers. She laughed mirthlessly as she returned her agiel to its holster. "Surely you're not that naive, Seeker."
Richard turned to meet her eyes, his own softening with realization. Denna was not that much older than these unlucky soldiers, and he had experienced her hatred first-hand.
The familiar sympathy in the Seeker's eyes shook Denna uncomfortably, as it always did. Fighting off an unexpected wave of emotion, she turned to Darken; her feelings for him were at least easier to understand.
"Douse that fire," she ordered. "Brogan won't give up when his trusted captain fails to return. He'll send reinforcements."
Turning back to Richard, her hand shot out to grab his pendant, yanking it from his neck. She ignored his indignant glare, tossing the trinket to the ground.
"Your stalwart friends will provide the perfect distraction."
Tossing the pendant to the ground, Denna moved to ready her horse. Richard stared, but could not force his hand to reach for it.
They saddled up and departed, leaving the pendant lying among the dirt and fallen leaves.
*****
A leather-clad hand closed around the pendant, bringing it closer for inspection.
"Well, Richard was definitely here," Cara said, holding it out for Kahlan and Zedd to see before clutching it in her fist. Nicci was standing off to the side, leaning against a tree in silent protest as Dahlia and Raina checked the bodies for signs of life. Berdine poked at the remains of the fire.
"The fire's gone cold; they've been gone for three, maybe four candlemarks," she reported, mostly to herself, as she moved to examine the outskirts of the campsite.
"These men were Blood of the Fold," Zedd observed, taking in the blood-red capes shrouding the bodies that littered the ground. He looked up to meet Kahlan's eyes. "Perhaps Denna ran into more trouble than she could handle."
"You think they were captured?" Kahlan's brow creased with worry as she considered the possibilities.
"We know they're still alive," Dahlia offered neutrally. "Our agiels still have their power."
Kahlan looked to the Mord-Sith, unsure if the comment was meant to be comforting or condescending. Dahlia quirked an eyebrow, amused by the Confessor's attempt to read her motives.
"If they were taken by the Blood of the Fold, they might not stay that way for long." Kahlan turned her gaze to see her own concern mirrored in Cara's eyes. Cara gripped one of the agiels at her side, either for reassurance or penance - Kahlan couldn't tell which.
"Then we should get moving." Berdine's voice broke the intimacy of the moment as she called to them from the edge of the camp. "They went this way."
*****
The encampment was swarming with red capes, tents dotting the open grassland haphazardly. There were easily a hundred tents or more, and what looked to be four or five times that number in soldiers.
"There's too many of them," Kahlan said quietly, looking over to her right, where Cara was watching alongside her. "Even with Zedd's magic, there's no way we could take all of them."
Cara considered this, surveying the scene before them. Something caught her eye. "Maybe we don't have to." At Kahlan's questioning glance, Cara gestured to the edge of the camp. "They're either overly confident or incredibly stupid; they have sentries in place, but the soldiers aren't keeping within the borders of their camp."
Kahlan watched as Cara's point was proven; for the most part, the soldiers stayed safely confined to camp, but here and there one would wander out past the sentries, perhaps to relieve themselves. The sentries themselves were easily distracted, joking with the soldiers as they came and went.
Cara put her hand on Kahlan's arm, drawing her gaze. "If we can get close enough for you to confess one of them, you could find out if they have Richard."
Kahlan's expression was conflicted; she was growing more comfortable with using her power again, but it was always in the heat of the moment, when there wasn't a second to waste. The idea of planning to use it still made her uneasy. Cara tilted her head, challenging Kahlan with her eyes as though she could hear the Confessor's thoughts.
Kahlan took a steadying breath, her left hand moving to cover Cara's on her arm. Gratitude and affection flashed through her eyes before she stiffened, gathering her resolve.
"Sounds like a plan."
*****
The soldier struggled as Cara and Dahlia shoved him to his knees with the help of an agiel to either shoulder. His face filled with horror as Kahlan advanced on him, hand outstretched. Then it closed around his throat, and his expression drained of all fear or pain. Time seemed to stop, and there was nothing but Kahlan, and her power slamming into him as first her eyes, then his, swirled black.
The contact was broken as Kahlan let her hand fall away, closing her eyes briefly as she recovered from the use of her power. When she opened them again, she was met with the familiar devoted gaze of the confessed.
"Command me, Confessor."
Kahlan nodded at Cara and Dahlia, and they released his shoulders. Cara kept her agiel out, however, ready to fight if the need arose. Kahlan donned the neutral mask of the Confessor as she looked down at his adoring face.
"What is your name?" She asked coolly.
"Branden, mistress." He replied eagerly.
"Branden. Have you taken any new prisoners in the last day?" Her voice was crisp and emotionless. The man smiled at the opportunity to please her.
"Just one, mistress. A witch woman." Kahlan froze, startled by the unexpected answer. "General Brogan returned from Agaden Reach with her just last night."
Horrified, Kahlan turned to seek out Zedd's gaze.
"Shota." Zedd's voice was filled with dread. Kahlan turned back to the confessed man, fumbling with her thoughts.
"General Brogan is here?"
"No, Confessor," he replied apologetically. "He left at midday. His sister had a vision -" Kahlan held a hand up to stop him.
"Lunetta has magic?" Kahlan asked, her shock evident in her tone.
"Yes, mistress," he answered. "The general says he keeps her around to remind us what we're fighting. She had a vision this morning, that he had been betrayed by the Mord-Sith." Cara's head tilted in interest as Branden rushed to continue. "Your presence here confirms the truth of that vision, regardless of its tainted source. I'm so pleased you're alright, mistress."
His euphoric smile faltered as he reached for Kahlan, only to be stopped by the press of an agiel to his arm. He winced in pain, holding the affected arm to his chest. He tried to shrink away, but Cara gripped his shoulder, glaring at him in warning as she held him in place.
"The Mord-Sith." Cara lifted her eyes to meet Kahlan's. "Must be Denna."
"That explains how she was able to capture Richard and Rahl," Zedd chimed in, realization dawning on him. "General Brogan must have supplied her with the means to render us all unconscious while she took what she wanted."
"Yes, mistress," the kneeling man confirmed. "Her task was to kill the wizard, then bring back the Seeker, and you, so that you could be publicly executed for your magical crimes."
Cara jerked him back by his shoulder as she held her agiel to his throat, just barely avoiding contact. "No one is going to be executed. Unless you want to volunteer."
"Cara," Kahlan murmured, stepping in to reach for the blonde's arm. "He's not a threat anymore."
Cara kept her gaze trained on the prisoner as she lowered her arm, aggression masking her unease. Her eyes raked over the cowering man, taking in the simple uniform and standard issue sword.
"You look to be nothing more than a common foot soldier." The man recoiled as she gestured toward him with her agiel. "How do you know all this?"
"I was stationed outside the command tent when the Mord-Sith returned from her mission," he answered, after a reassuring nod from Kahlan. "She'd gone to some hidden place; I think General Brogan gave her a map. He had her retrieve some magical items for him."
From across the camp, Nicci looked up from where she was leaning against a tree, her interest piqued. "What kind of items?"
The man looked hesitantly at Kahlan, who looked at him expectantly. "I only caught a glimpse of them. She had a book with her, and a small box -"
"The chimes." Nicci supplied, smirking as Zedd's expression clouded over. "It's what she used to knock us out."
Kahlan looked to Zedd, who was starting to look distinctly ill at ease, then back to the soldier, crossing her arms. "Was there anything else?"
"Yes, mistress," he nodded eagerly. "She had two collars. General Brogan said they would force you and the Seeker to come without a fight."
"Rada'Han?" Kahlan asked, looking back at Zedd. The wizard shook his head, lost in his thoughts.
"That would be absurd," Cara scoffed. "Richard doesn't have any magic. Nicci took it."
Nicci endured Cara's glare, her smug smile fading into a glower. "For all the good it's done me."
"That would merely suppress magic," Zedd said slowly, "not compel you to go with her willingly. The trail we've been following suggests that Denna is alone with Richard and Rahl. She would need more than a couple of Rada'Han to keep them from overpowering her and racing back to us."
Kahlan's brow furrowed as she looked at Zedd. "What else could they be?"
Zedd sighed deeply, searching his memory. Nicci rolled her eyes, letting out a dry chuckle.
"Your benevolence is once again your undoing, wizard," she said mockingly. "Anyone interested in true power would have heard of the Rada'Jin."
Zedd's face froze in horror as he looked back at Nicci. "The Rada'Jin haven't been spoken of in hundreds of years. They're thought to be lost to time, if they ever existed in the first place."
"It sounds like someone's found them." Nicci's eyes darkened with excitement. "The things you could do with that kind of power..."
"Would you mind explaining what you're talking about, wizard?" Cara waved her agiel at him irritably.
Zedd turned away from Nicci, glancing between Kahlan and Cara. His expression betrayed his apprehension as he sunk down to sit on a fallen log. "The Rada'Jin are magical collars, much like Rada'Han. According to the legends, only a handful were ever made - and of those, only two survived being destroyed. Those two are said to be hidden in some remote location, protected by powerful magical wards." At their questioning looks, he continued his explanation, gesturing with his hands as he spoke. "A Rada'Han is designed to suppress magic, control it. The Rada'Jin are much more powerful. When one of them is placed around a person's neck, that person's free will is linked to the owner of the collar. Used to the full extent of its power, a Rada'Jin can control a person's very life force."
"That's how Denna's planning to control them," Kahlan uttered with a deadly certainty, her eyes seeking out Cara's. "She won't need to waste time trying to break them if they're magically forced to do her bidding."
Cara's expression mirrored the rising dread that Kahlan felt. "We need to get them back."
Zedd cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. His features were lined with concern as he stood.
"I'm afraid we may have a more pressing concern."
*****
The tent was dark, empty save the woman huddled in the corner. Her bare arms, marred by angry finger-shaped bruises, curled around her knees as she rested her forehead on them. Long auburn hair brushed the dirt below her, contrasting with the dulled blue of her gown.
A strip of sunlight illuminated the dirty ground as the flap was opened to allow a soldier to enter. Shota raised her eyes to pin him with a hawk-like glare, stiffening proudly. The scabbed-over split in her lip and the sunken circles under her eyes gave her a fierce, wild look. Even with her wrists bound and a collar around her neck, the witch woman managed to exude regality.
"Come to gloat again?" Her throat was hoarse from lack of sleep and water, but her voice retained its solemn confidence.
The soldier's lips twisted into a hostile scowl as he straightened, his height making him tower over the seated woman. "Just making sure you haven't used any of your filthy witchcraft to try to escape."
Shota sneered. "You know very well I can't use my magic with the Rada'Han around my neck."
The soldier smirked, gripping the hilt of his sword. "I don't pretend to know how the Keeper's taint works. My only concern is wiping it from existence."
"Fool!" Shota's eyes blazed with righteous fury. "You have no concept of reality if you think you can purge magic from the lands without grave consequences for every living thing."
"Spare me the lecture. If it were up to any of us, you'd have been beheaded before setting foot in our camp." His confidence wavered; clearly he would have been more comfortable if that had been the case. "General Brogan is the one who wants you alive. He thinks you can be convinced to join us."
Her shoulders jumped as she scoffed arrogantly. "He's an even bigger fool than you are."
"We'll see about that, witch." The soldier spat on the ground at her feet, turning on his heel to exit the tent. The flap fell closed behind him, muffling the sounds of mocking laughter as he rejoined his brothers-in-arms.
Now alone once more, Shota's shoulders slumped as her confident façade fell away. The dim light in the tent was just enough to show the fear glinting in her eyes.
*****
Zedd paced nervously back and forth, his hand occasionally coming up to rub at his chin as he pondered. Nicci was pointedly ignoring him, idly examining her nails as she sat against a tree at the edge of the clearing. Berdine and Raina stood rigidly on the opposite side, keeping a watchful gaze on their surroundings. Dahlia was attempting to do the same, but found her eyes drifting to Cara. The blonde was standing next to Kahlan, her arms crossed as she waited for the wizard to speak.
"There's only one reason Tobias Brogan would take Shota prisoner, rather than killing her on the spot," he said, a grave surety in his voice. He stopped pacing, meeting Kahlan's questioning gaze. "He thinks she can be converted to his cause."
"That's absurd," Cara scoffed, drawing several pairs of eyes.
"It wouldn't be the first time the Blood of the Fold have sought to work beside the very thing they're intent on destroying," Zedd argued. "Remember the mage in Caddock, and the carnage at Ebynissia. The general's own sister has magic."
"The Blood of the Fold are hypocrites, there's no question of that." Cara gestured with a gloved hand as she continued. "But Shota would never join them. Without magic, she'd be nothing more than a bitter old woman. She loves her power too much."
Kahlan nodded her agreement. "You've said it yourself, Zedd, she only thinks of herself."
Zedd inhaled deeply, letting out a discouraged sigh as he stared through the trees. "I may have been too harsh in my judgment. I can't deny that with all her meddling, she's almost always had the greater good in mind," he confessed, guilt tinging his voice as he continued. "I fear my own magical transgressions may be all the evidence needed that magic is a threat to peace."
"Maybe so," Kahlan conceded, "but can you really see Shota working to eliminate magic altogether? Zedd, she knows as well as anyone how necessary magic is to the survival of our world."
"I can't fathom it," Zedd admitted. "But what if she's had some sort of vision? Shota has been misled by prophecy in the past. She may have seen something suggesting that the Blood of the Fold will be successful in their mission. If she thinks that joining them is the only way to stay alive, I don't doubt for a minute that she would do it."
Kahlan's shoulders slumped as the hope left her eyes.
"Whether she would join them or not, we can't let her stay in their camp," Cara huffed, unwilling to accept defeat. "If they can't convince her, they'll just kill her. Either way, she won't be of any help to us."
Zedd began to pace again, his agitation clearly showing. "We've got to get her out of there," he reasoned. "But we can't risk a rescue attempt without knowing where Shota's allegiance lies. I need to talk to her."
Kahlan's eyes fell on the confessed soldier, kneeling silently where she had left him. He straightened as he realized he had her attention.
"You know where this witch woman is being held?"
His eyes brightened at her acknowledgment. "Yes, mistress. I can take you there."
"No." Kahlan shook her head, looking back at the wizard. "Zedd, if you disguise yourself as a soldier, no one will question your presence." She gestured back to the confessed man. "He can take you to Shota."
*****
The sun sank low in the sky, turning everything a muted shade of orange as they rode in silence. Denna led at a brisk pace, her captives following reluctantly behind. The horses were panting with exertion.
"We've been going non-stop since this morning, Denna," Richard said, his voice tinged with frustrated exhaustion. "We need to stop and rest."
Denna glanced over her shoulder at him, not slowing her pace. "I can tie you to your saddle again if you're tired, Seeker."
Richard narrowed his eyes at her. "The horses are going to collapse if they don't get a break."
"They've got enough distance in them yet," she said, her gaze trained ahead of her once more. "You should be more concerned with what the Blood of the Fold will do to us if we don't stay ahead of them. They'll make my plans for you seem downright pleasurable."
"You still haven't even told us what your plans are," he retorted moodily. Denna turned back to look at him, a disturbingly sweet smile on her face.
"You'll just have to trust me then, won't you?"
Richard snorted at the ridiculous notion, his voice bitter. "Like that would ever be possible."
Denna stiffened. She stopped her horse, turning it around so she could face Richard. He pulled at his horse's reins, rearing back sharply to avoid a collision. He patted the spooked animal's neck as Denna pierced him with a steely glare, unfazed by the horses' plight.
"You've given me just as much reason for mistrust, Seeker." Her voice was deadly serious. "I remember all too well how you ordered the Confessor to beat me to death as you watched."
"That wasn't me," Richard replied defensively. "That was Orden."
Denna's grave expression lightened as she chuckled. "Is that what you tell yourself, so you can sleep at night?" He shifted uncomfortably as she continued, her voice turning almost seductive. "That darkness is inside of you, Richard. Orden just fed on it."
Richard's eyes clouded with guilt as memories assaulted his mind; memories he wished he had never been granted.
"You don't know what you're talking about," he protested feebly. Denna easily spotted the weakness, and as she had been trained to do, she seized on it.
"You seem a tad sensitive about this, Seeker." Her voice filled with mock compassion, a predatory smile spreading across her lips. "Feeling guilty about something?"
Richard looked down, fumbling for a response, but Rahl beat him to it.
"If you're so worried about being caught, Denna, perhaps you and the Seeker should stop bickering loudly enough for everyone within a league to hear you," he suggested irritably.
The reminder sobered the Mord-Sith, though the vicious smirk remained on her face as she turned her horse forward again. As Denna drew ahead of them, Darken pulled his horse up alongside Richard's.
"There's nothing shameful in enjoying power, dear brother," He said plainly, his eyes fixed on their captor's back. "It's certainly nothing Denna didn't deserve."
"I'm sure you did much worse," Richard spat. Darken smiled as though overtaken with fond memories.
"What I wouldn't give to have witnessed that little scene," he said, his voice turning almost wistful. "The Mother Confessor is a formidable woman."
Richard clenched his jaw, setting his gaze forward. "I'm not going to talk to you about Kahlan."
Darken's smile only grew as he looked over at his brother. "Trouble in paradise?" When Richard refused to answer, he continued, his voice mocking. "And just when you thought you could actually be together."
Surprised, Richard risked a sideways glance. "What do you know about it?"
Rahl smirked. "I do have ears, you know. Abused though they may be from your merry little band's recent exploits."
Richard shifted his gaze forward again, his hands tightening on the reins. His expression clouded over.
"Oh, now I've touched a nerve. Did you fancy yourself a skilled musician?" he sneered. "Or is it perhaps that you and the Mother Confessor weren't singing the same tune?"
"I told you I'm not talking about Kahlan with you," Richard snapped irritably. "Whatever happened between us is none of your business."
Rahl's lip curled in amusement. He glanced at Richard knowingly, ignoring the warning implicit in his words. "I think it has more to do with what's happened between your beloved and a certain Mord-Sith no longer in my service."
Richard tensed, trying to force himself not to look over again, but Darken's eyes were sharp, and Richard was not very good at concealing his emotions.
"You know, Mord-Sith are trained for one purpose, Richard," Darken explained with a leer. "To serve the House of Rahl. In whatever way we see fit."
Richard suppressed a shudder of disgust. "You and I have very different ideas of service."
"Yes," Rahl smiled. "And of punishment as well. If one of my Mord-Sith even thought of taking what was mine, well...let's just say the fires of the Underworld would seem a pleasant warmth compared to what I would do to them."
Richard's expression hardened as he glared at his brother. "It's a good thing I'm not you, then."
Darken smiled wickedly as Richard snapped the reins of his horse, pulling ahead to signal the end of the conversation.
Ahead of them, Denna smiled to herself as she pressed onward.
*****
"They're on their way to Shota," Kahlan said, returning from sending Zedd and his guide on their way. "Now all we have to do is wait."
She stopped in her tracks, looking around the clearing. Berdine and Raina were off to one side, talking quietly. Nicci hadn't moved from her self-designated post, her face set in a perpetual scowl as she pondered what appeared to be dangerous thoughts. Dahlia stood slightly apart from the other two Mord-Sith, looking down at something in her hands. Someone was missing.
"Where's Cara?" Kahlan asked, her expression betraying her concern. Dahlia looked up, her hand closing into a fist as she turned to face the Confessor.
"She said she was going hunting," she replied, a sardonic smile playing on her lips as she stepped closer to Kahlan. "A rather senseless activity, considering we can't risk building a fire. But then, Cara hasn't exactly displayed an abundance of sense lately."
Kahlan clenched her jaw, ignoring the pointed jab. The fading sunlight glinted off of something metal, catching Kahlan's eye. Her gaze flicked to Dahlia's hand, tightly curled around...something. Dahlia noticed her scrutiny and quickly covered the bit of chain with her thumb. Kahlan tilted her head as she looked back up to study Dahlia's face. It gave away nothing. Her concern for Cara won out over her curiosity. She took a step toward Dahlia, her lips set in a thin line. "Which way did she go?"
Dahlia frowned, disappointed that the Confessor hadn't taken the bait, but relieved that Kahlan's attention had moved from her hand. Chafing under the icy gaze, she rolled her eyes and gestured in the direction she'd seen Cara stomp off.
Kahlan followed without a second glance at Dahlia, intent on finding her Mord-Sith.
Dahlia watched her go, a derisive smirk on her face as she muttered to herself. "Very subtle, Mother Confessor."
"You're one to talk." Dahlia jerked around, crossing her arms as she made eye contact with Nicci. Her eyes narrowed as she caught on to the implication. Nicci just smiled condescendingly. "You don't seem overly concerned about your Lord Rahl."
Unable to formulate a response, Dahlia scowled, turning away from the blonde sorceress. She opened her hand, a smug smile touching her lips as her eyes fell on the small key nestled among the red leather of her glove. Nicci could taunt her all she wanted; Dahlia had something far more powerful than words.
Aware of Nicci's eyes on her back, Dahlia closed her fist again, raising her eyes. Her expression softened as she stared in the direction Kahlan had gone, conflicting emotions warring in her eyes.
*****
Cara leaned against a large rock, the fading glow of twilight making her leather look almost black. Her eyes were troubled as she gazed intently into the trees, lost in thought. Hearing footsteps behind her, she stiffened, her palms pressing into the rock rather than moving to her weapons. Instinct told her exactly who it was that had sought her out.
"Dahlia said you were hunting," Kahlan said lightly, a teasing note to her voice telling Cara how likely she found the concept.
Cara forced herself to remain staring forward, her shoulders tensing as Kahlan stepped closer.
"I needed some air," she said neutrally. Kahlan smiled at the obvious deflection. They were outside, after all; there was no more air here than there had been back at camp. Rather than point this out, she simply stepped next to Cara, resting against the rock with barely a handsbreadth between them.
She fixed her gaze on the same imaginary point Cara was looking at, clasping her hands nervously in front of her as she searched for words. The silence weighed on them as they both realized that this was the first time they'd been alone since their shared near-admission.
"You must be worried," Cara said, clearing her throat awkwardly. "About Richard," she hastened to add, her throat nearly closing around the name. Startled, Kahlan turned to look at Cara.
"Of course I am." She lowered her gaze, a hint of guilt tinging her voice as she realized how far Richard was from her thoughts. Cara glanced at her sideways, her eyes flicking away when she took in the flush on Kahlan's cheeks. It unsettled her.
"There's no need to feel ashamed, Confessor." Kahlan looked up again, taken aback by the formality in the other woman's tone. Cara pressed on, turning her head to give Kahlan a pointed glance. "He is the man you love."
Kahlan looked away as Cara's eyes bore into hers. She'd been looking for a way to bring up the subject, but to have it blatantly laid before her threw her off-balance. She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Cara," she started shakily, staring at the ground as though it would give her strength. "I do love Richard. I always will. But he and I aren't together anymore."
"Obviously," Cara said plainly. Kahlan glanced up, confusion swirling in her eyes. Cara rotated her wrist, gesturing to illustrate her point. "Denna took him."
Kahlan's expression cleared, a fond smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Cara had mastered the art of being deliberately obtuse.
"Richard realized something recently," she said, her voice wavering. She pressed on, fidgeting with the buckle of her belt. "It took him saying the words for me to recognize the truth of it."
"What revelation could possibly come between the epic love of the Seeker and his Confessor?" The detached sarcasm of her tone was ruined by the way her voice shook as she spoke. She stubbornly refused to look at Kahlan, her arms crossing over her chest in an attempt to slow her racing heart.
"I'm in love with someone else." Kahlan glanced surreptitiously at Cara, trying to gauge her response. The Mord-Sith swallowed nervously, her left hand dropping to the agiels at her side. She opened her mouth to respond, but Richard's words rang in her mind. I want you to stop holding back. Her jaw snapped shut, clenching as she tried to rein in the emotions trying to fight their way to the surface.
"Cara." Kahlan's voice was thick with emotion as she reached for Cara's hand. She ignored the sting of pain as her own hand brushed the agiel, lacing her fingers with Cara's and tugging gently. "Please look at me."
It was the crack in her voice, more than the request itself, that drew Cara's gaze to hers. Cara's breath caught in her throat as she took in the depth of emotion glittering in Kahlan's eyes, threatening to spill out. The intensity of her gaze told Cara all she needed to know, confirming what she had both dreaded and longed for. Choking back her own feelings, Cara averted her eyes, focusing on some imaginary spot in the dirt.
"I'm Mord-Sith," she said weakly, the words heavy with their possible interpretations. Kahlan reached up with the hand that was not tangled with Cara's, brushing the backs of her fingers over the blonde's cheekbone.
"You're so much more than that," she murmured, her voice brimming with admiration.
Kahlan molded her hand to Cara's cheek, drawing the blonde's eyes to meet her own. Cara's breath quickened as Kahlan's eyes dropped to her lips, desire filling the space between them with a thick tension. Kahlan leaned in slowly, their lips just barely brushing before Cara froze, her unspoken promise to Richard at odds with the voice in her mind that berated her for allowing her emotions - her love - to distract her enough to allow him to be captured.
"I can't," she breathed, her voice hoarse with frustration and regret. She kept her gaze turned to the ground, hiding the moisture that was gathering at the corners of her eyes as she backed away, her hand returning to grip an agiel. She glanced up once; the bewildered look in Kahlan's eyes gave way to pain, and Cara turned her back, all but running back to camp.
Kahlan watched her go, bringing her fingers to her lips. Her shoulders trembled as a tear slid down her cheek.
*****
continue to Episode 3.11 - Allegiance - part 2
*~*~*~*~*~
Previously on Legend of the Seeker:
Episode 3.01 - "Tremors"
Episode 3.02 - "Restoration"
Episode 3.03 - "Madness"
Episode 3.04 - "Found"
Episode 3.05 - "Night"
Episode 3.06 - "Choice"
Episode 3.07 - "Doubt"
Episode 3.08 - "Trust"
Episode 3.09 - "Instinct"
Episode 3.10 - "Harmony"
*~*~*~*~*~
Episode 3.11 - "Allegiance"
*~*~*~*~*~
Evening had fallen on their makeshift camp. The early sounds of an argument could be heard over the crackle of the flames. Nicci ignored the voices and sat sullenly before the fire, idly tending a pot of stew. When they decided to stop flinging blame at each other and start doing something, maybe she would work up the energy to care - if only because the key to her Rada'Han had disappeared along with Richard and Darken Rahl.
She couldn't even muster the energy to taunt the Confessor, who was approaching awkwardly with a bowl in her hands. Without raising her eyes, she handed over the ladle. A smirk managed to barely touch her lips as Kahlan went out of her way not to let their hands touch, but it quickly melted back into her signature scowl.
Kahlan hurriedly filled the bowl with stew, all but shoving the ladle back into Nicci's hands. For all the progress she'd made, she was still unnerved by the presence of the sorceress. Turning away, she moved back to Zedd, handing him the bowl. He took it gratefully, his movements slow as he brought a spoonful to his mouth.
"You overexerted yourself, healing everyone," Kahlan chided. "You should have rested." The voices across the fire got louder, drawing Kahlan's attention. "And we could have used the peace and quiet."
Zedd followed her gaze, swallowing his mouthful of food. "The sooner we're all back to full strength, the sooner we can focus our efforts on tracking Denna. Who knows what nefarious plot she's cooked up this time."
Kahlan couldn't argue with that, but she wasn't convinced that the current discussion was going to be at all effective in rescuing Richard and his brother. She sighed, watching apprehensively as the argument grew more heated.
Cara was facing off against Berdine, who was flanked on either side by Dahlia and Raina. Her left hand rested on her agiels, her right clenched into a fist as Berdine laid into her.
"If you hadn't been so busy prancing through the forest with the Confessor, maybe you could have protected the Seeker." Her lips curled into a derisive sneer as she ran her eyes over Cara. "I can see the rumors are true. You have gone soft."
Guilt flashed through Cara's eyes, but she didn't miss a beat, a dangerous smile touching her lips. "And what's your excuse?" Her gaze flicked to the Mord-Sith on either side, then back to Berdine. "There are three of you to protect your precious Lord Rahl, and yet he was snatched from under your noses."
Berdine sniffed indignantly at the provocation. "Our strength is beyond question. You're the one with a bizarre affection for the sworn enemy of all Mord-Sith."
Cara refused to follow the woman's gaze, knowing full well where it led; she wasn't prepared to confront that truth for herself, let alone defend it to Berdine. Instead, she deflected, her voice mocking.
"And whose bedroll were you warming last night, Berdine? I seem to recall that it wasn't Lord Rahl's." She looked pointedly at Raina, smirking at the glare she received in response. "It looks to me like you're the one going soft." Green eyes sparkled dangerously as she pulled her agiels, advancing on the taller Mord-Sith. "I could help toughen you up again."
Raina stepped between them, stopping Cara in her tracks as she drew her own agiel. Cara's smirk only grew as her eyes flicked from the weapon back to Berdine.
"Still have your guard dog fighting your battles for you? It's a wonder Rahl trusts you with his washing, let alone his protection."
Raina's dark eyes were menacing as she pinned Cara with her gaze. "I'd watch what you say to her, Cara." Her voice was dark with warning. "You're still outnumbered, and even if the wizard wasn't exhausted, his magic is useless against us."
Cara laughed at the threat, refusing to back down. "It wasn't useless when he was waking you all up from your beauty rest." She let her eyes wander over Raina. "Such a shame. You could have used it."
"Just give us a reason, Cara," Berdine spat from behind Raina. "We'd obliterate you."
"I'd like to see you try," Cara replied through gritted teeth as she tried to push past Raina. She was stopped by a slender hand on her arm.
"That's enough," Kahlan said firmly, pulling at the leather-clad appendage. Cara sighed in frustration, but backed off nonetheless, her arms dropping to her sides. Berdine smiled smugly over Raina's shoulder, vindication shining in her eyes. "None of this is helping us figure out where Denna is taking Richard." Her icy glare shifted to the other three Mord-Sith. "And your Lord Rahl."
Cara slid her agiels back in their sheath, her eyes never leaving the three Mord-Sith even as she addressed Kahlan. "Denna's insane. She no doubt has some needlessly complicated scheme to gain power, as usual. Whatever it is, it's not likely to make sense to us."
Dahlia smirked, her eyes briefly catching Cara's. "She always was a bit...unbalanced."
In spite of herself, Cara's lips turned up slightly at the shared memories. Berdine glared coldly at Dahlia; treating Cara as anything other than the enemy was unacceptable.
Zedd broke the tense silence, speaking up from his place by the fire. "The last time I saw Denna, she was at a crossroads." The women turned their attention to him as he continued his musings. "I was very close to convincing her to turn over a new leaf, before she was killed."
"My apologies for saving your life, wizard." Cara waved her hand at him in exasperation. "What's your point?"
Kahlan pinned Cara with a stern look before changing the subject. "I think the more pressing question is, why isn't she dead?" She looked over to Zedd. "Even if the arrow Cara shot into her stomach didn't kill her, the fall would have."
Nicci chuckled darkly, drawing six sets of eyes to her. "Please. You speak of death as though it's something permanent." She finally raised her eyes from the fire, seeking out Kahlan's. "I would think you of all people would know better."
Kahlan averted her gaze, shifting uncomfortably as she considered Nicci's words.
*****
Richard blinked as he slowly regained consciousness. He became aware that he was moving, slumped over the saddle of a horse - the same saddle his hands were tied to. At this realization, he jerked fully awake, sitting up to take in his surroundings.
The Sword of Truth was still at his hip. He was relieved by that, at least. Looking to his left, he saw Rahl in a similar situation; still unconscious, still armed. Their horses were attached by lead ropes to another horse a few paces ahead of them. There was a woman in the saddle, wearing simple, unfamiliar clothes, with long blonde hair pulled into a loose braid. Richard knew that braid. The memories flooded into his mind, and he struggled against his bonds.
The sounds of his struggle traveled to Denna, and she looked back at him, a pleased smile on her face. "Oh good, you're awake."
Richard glared at her, giving up on the bindings on his wrists. "Denna." His voice was filled with resentment. "I thought you were dead."
"Nothing a little deal with the Keeper couldn't fix," Denna replied, turning forward again.
Realization dawned on Richard. "You're a baneling."
Denna laughed. "Don't be silly, Richard. If I were still a baneling, I would be back in the Underworld right now." Richard's brow furrowed as he tried to process this. Sensing his confusion, Denna took pity on him. "It's a shame I left South Caston so quickly; it would have been fun to reminisce on old times. But then, you were too busy trying to save your precious Cara."
Richard ignored the stab of pain at hearing the name, focusing instead on placing the information. The pieces came together. "You must have been one of the lucky ones who showed up before that peddler started diluting the Shadow water."
He was distracted from his train of thought by a loud grunt to his left. Looking over, he saw Rahl jolt awake, quickly making the same discoveries he had moments before. Rahl sneered as his gaze landed on his captor.
"Ah, Denna. I wish I could say it was a pleasure."
He struggled with his bonds, as Richard had, except he had little difficulty freeing his wrists. Bewildered, Richard looked back at his own hands, trying again to free them. They easily slipped loose of their bonds.
"Really, what's the point of abducting us if you're not going to tie us up properly?" Rahl sneered. "I thought I taught you better than that."
Denna's smile only grew as she stopped her horse, turning around to face the two men.
"The rope was just to make sure you stayed on your horses, my lord." The appellation dripped with disdain. "I have a much more reliable method of keeping you in line."
Her gaze focused on his neck, and Rahl's hands shot up to find a metal collar securely fastened around his throat. Richard checked his own neck, finding a similar collar.
"Rada'Han, Denna?" Rahl laughed. "Very clever, but also very pointless."
Richard tugged at the metal, finding it impossible to remove. "As much as I hate to agree with him, Rahl's right. Neither of us has any magic."
Denna just laughed, watching them tug uselessly at the collars. "Oh, those aren't ordinary Rada'Han. They're much more interesting than that."
A strangled sound escaped Rahl's throat, and he stared down at his hands in horror as they suddenly dropped from the collar, settling comfortably on the front of his saddle. Richard gaped, trying to understand what had just happened.
"You see, Seeker, these collars don't suppress magic." Her smile faded as her eyes turned hard. "They suppress your free will. Neither of you can so much as breathe without my permission."
Horrified, Richard watched as his own hands dropped to his saddle. He tried to resist, straining with all of his might, but his body wouldn't respond to him anymore.
It would only answer to Denna.
*****
ROLL CREDITS
*****
Denna looked on in amusement as Richard continued to struggle in vain. The effort showed in his face, but his hands didn't budge.
"You can struggle all you want," she offered, turning her horse back around so they could continue their journey. "You won't be able to do anything I don't want you to do."
"You must have powerful friends, to come across such potent magic devices," Rahl mused. "What would such friends want in return, I wonder?"
Denna shrugged, unperturbed. "It doesn't matter. I have what I wanted."
"Deceitful as always, Denna," Rahl sneered bitterly. "Loyalty never did mean much to you."
Denna's expression hardened as she looked over her shoulder at him. "My lord, stop talking."
His mouth snapped shut, leaving him with a sour look on his face and murder in his eyes. Unnerved by the sight, Richard shifted his gaze to Denna.
"So you have us. What's your big master plan this time? Where are you taking us?"
The smile returned to Denna's lips.
"My dear Richard, I thought that would be obvious."
*****
"Isn't it obvious?" Cara gestured with a gloved hand as she spoke. "She has Lord Rahl - both of them. She's going to D'Hara."
The reluctant team was gathered around the fire, an uneasy truce established. Zedd and Kahlan sat side by side on one side of the fire, across from Berdine and Nicci, who hadn't bothered to move. Raina stood behind Berdine, glaring daggers into Cara, who stood behind Kahlan in almost a mirror image of the two Mord-Sith. Dahlia stood off to the side, alternately glancing between Cara and Nicci, and looking away uncomfortably. The hesitant camaraderie that had developed as they'd all been forced to travel together had all but disappeared in the absence of their respective leaders.
"That would be the logical choice," Dahlia offered, earning another irritated glare from Berdine.
"She must be planning to break them, bend them to her will," Zedd mused, troubled by the thought.
"She tried to break Richard before," Cara said with a forced confidence. "It didn't work."
Zedd's gaze flickered between her and Kahlan, and he cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Yes, well, things were...different, then," he said delicately. Kahlan met his gaze, her eyes filling with guilt and fear. It had been because of her that Richard had stayed strong enough to withstand being broken before; because of his love for her.
Pushing her conflicted feelings aside, Kahlan changed the subject. "The People's Palace has been deserted since Rahl was killed. Do you think the people would have even left it standing?"
"Of course," Berdine and Cara said in unison. Berdine closed her mouth abruptly, glaring at Cara. The blonde shrugged it off, continuing.
"The People's Palace has stood for thousands of years. It's a part of D'Hara's identity, and D'Harans are proud people. They may have looted it for anything that wasn't nailed down, but they would never allow it to be destroyed."
Berdine scoffed, muttering under her breath. "As though you would know anything about being D'Haran."
Cara pushed off of the tree, intending to give Berdine a more physical response, but Kahlan grabbed her hand, pulling her down to sit on the log next to her. This wasn't the time for bickering. Cara met Berdine's answering smirk with a vicious glare.
"If that's true, then do you think that's where Denna is taking them?" Kahlan asked, looking to Zedd for the answer. He rubbed at his chin as he pondered.
"It seems likely. She's familiar with the palace and its defenses, and with both Rahls under her control, she could easily fortify it indefinitely."
Berdine chimed in, eager to prove herself superior to Cara. "Not to mention the libraries contain all the knowledge she could ever want about ruling D'Hara."
A look of horror came over Zedd's face. "Spirits! The information about magic contained in just one of those libraries could make her powerful enough to conquer more than just D'Hara."
At the mention of magic, Nicci perked up, listening more attentively.
"We've got to stop her," Zedd intoned seriously.
"But the People's Palace is in the opposite direction of Agaden Reach," Kahlan pointed out. "And as much as I hate to admit it, we need Shota's help."
"We could split up." Nicci's voice was neutral, but the fact that she had spoken at all was telling. Her eyes shone with the possibilities teeming through her mind. Dahlia shifted uncomfortably, her hand resting protectively over her corset.
Kahlan's eyes flicked over to Cara; she didn't relish the idea of being separated from her so soon after the revelation of her feelings, and when things were still unresolved between them.
Several tense gazes moved around the fire as they considered the possible combinations they could divide into. None of them made anyone less uneasy. Cara broke the silence.
"We'll just have to catch up to them quickly."
*****
Moonlight filtered through the trees as Richard moved methodically down the path. His mouth twisted into a scowl as he bent down to examine some tracks, reluctantly smoothing out the dirt and covering it with fallen leaves and twigs.
As he looked up, his gaze landed on a flowering bush. The white blossoms were familiar to him; they were the same flowers Zedd had used several times to leave a magical trail. Struck by an idea, he walked over to the bush and plucked one of the flowers.
Richard stood in the middle of the path, holding the flower out. He willed himself to drop it, to leave a clue for his friends to follow, but try as he might, he couldn't let go of the bud. Frustrated, he crushed the flower in his fist and turned on his heel, heading back to camp.
*****
Darken Rahl sat in front of the fire, poking irritably at the rather strange smelling concoction in the pot. Behind him sat a large pile of wood - more wood than could ever be needed for a single nights' campfire. His pout curled into a full-blown sneer as Denna sauntered over to him, plucking the spoon from his grasp and bringing it to her lips. Her nose scrunched at the flavor. It was edible, but only just.
"I suppose I shouldn't be surprised that you can't produce a halfway decent meal," she said disdainfully. "I'm impressed you know which end of the spoon to stir with."
He glared at her, unable to say anything in response as she handed said implement back to him. Peevishly, he continued stirring the pot as she smirked, her gaze flicking to the direction of the horses, where Richard was approaching. He stood at the edge of camp, glowering at his captor.
"Ah, Richard," Denna said brightly, a smug smile on her lips as she moved to her pack on the other side of the fire. "I trust our tracks are well concealed?"
"If you're so concerned, why are we stopping to camp?" he retorted bitterly. "We could put in a lot more distance if we just kept moving."
Denna looked over at him, taking note of his fists clenching at his sides. "We've been traveling all night. We'll cover a lot more ground tomorrow after a night of much-needed rest."
"Is that why I chopped enough wood to illuminate all of D'Hara?" Rahl complained irritably. "Not very restful, Denna."
Her gaze turned hard as she fixed it on the older man. "I was talking about the horses." Turning away from him, she knelt, laying out her bedroll. "You will keep moving as fast and as long as I order you to."
Richard watched her, his eyes glinting dangerously. "You have to sleep sometime, too, Denna."
Denna let out a hearty laugh, rising back to her feet. "Oh, I see. You're hoping I'll fall asleep, and you'll be able to break free of my control?"
Richard wanted to move away as she advanced toward him, but for all his effort, he could only stand there as she approached, reaching a hand out to stroke his cheek.
"Richard, you always were optimistic to a fault," she said fondly, dragging her fingers along his shoulder and down his arm as she spoke. "Those collars won't stop working just because I'm not awake to command you." She brought her lips to his ear as her hand worked its way into his, freeing the little white flower from his grip. Her tone turned intimate. "You need to accept the fact that I own you, now."
Rigid with anger, the only thing Richard found he could do was speak, so he channeled all of the anger he was feeling into his voice.
"You still haven't even told us what you want with us. What's the point of capturing us in the first place?"
She backed away, allowing his hand to drop back to his side as she admired the mangled blossom. Then she was back, resting her chin on his shoulder as she pressed against him from behind. "It's simple, my dear Seeker. If you want to control D'Hara, the logical place to start is by controlling Lord Rahl. And now I have both of them at my beck and call."
Richard clenched his jaw as she continued sliding around him, resting her chin on his other shoulder. "I'm not Lord Rahl."
Rahl spoke up, growing weary of the show Denna was putting on. "I must agree with my brother on that point, Denna. He'll never have what it takes to rule D'Hara."
Denna smiled, her lips brushing against Richard's ear. "Whether you accept your birthright or not is none of my concern. It's the people that matter. If they believe you're their Lord Rahl, then that's exactly what you are." She lifted the flower to his face, trailing it down his cheek affectionately before turning back to Darken. "You don't need to worry about Richard doing what needs to be done. I'll take care of that."
Richard tried to ignore the emotions she was blatantly manipulating, instead focusing on gathering as much information as possible. "So we're going to D'Hara, then? The People's Palace?"
There was just enough interest in his tone for Denna to notice, and her smile widened as she turned back to him. "You'll just have to wait and see, won't you?" She cradled his cheek in her hand as she leaned in closer. For a long moment he was afraid she was going to kiss him, but she only continued speaking. "Now, I suggest you choke down some of your brother's creation and get some rest. We've got a long day ahead of us tomorrow."
Rahl gaped as she tossed the flower onto the fire, then turned to settle herself down onto her bedroll. "Aren't you going to eat anything?"
"I'm not that hungry," Denna sneered, lying back with her arm curled under her head. "I trust you boys can take turns keeping watch while I sleep."
Richard stared in disbelief as she turned onto her side, not showing an inkling of concern about turning her back on them. Finally, he gave in and sat next to his brother by the fire. Seething, Rahl shoved a bowl into his hands. Richard opened his mouth to speak.
"And no talking," Denna called out from her bedroll. "I'm a light sleeper."
Finding his voice useless, Richard reluctantly lifted a spoonful of food to his mouth. Upon tasting it, he looked over at Darken, who answered with a murderous glare. He quickly looked back down at his bowl, debating the merits of going hungry for a night.
*****
The early rays of morning light shone down on Denna's peaceful face as her eyes drifted open. She slowly rolled into a sitting position, breathing in the crisp air. Letting out a contented sigh, she looked over to the fire, which Richard was poking at angrily with a stick. The lack of rest showed in his dismal expression, and the defeated slump of his shoulders. On the ground to his right, Rahl was curled up, sleeping fitfully.
"Good morning, Seeker. Did you sleep well? I know I did."
Richard looked up as Denna stood, stretching luxuriously. Uncomfortable, he dropped his eyes back to the fire. If he could just refuse to respond at all, it might feel like some semblance of control. Denna's lips pulled into an amused smile; she saw through the attempt, but it would be more fun to let him think it was working for now. She turned her attention to her other captive.
"Rise and shine, my lord," She all but sang as she gave the slumbering man a swift kick to the ribs. Darken grunted his irritation as he awoke.
"Can't you just command me to wake?" He asked peevishly, shading his squinting eyes from the bright morning light.
"Yes." Denna smirked. "But where's the fun in that?"
Her fun was cut short as the snapping of twigs nearby caught their attention. Denna's face instantly lost all trace of amusement as she reached for her agiel, her eyes scanning the tree line.
"Someone's coming."
Rahl pulled himself to his feet, straightening his robes. "Could it be our valiant rescuers already?"
Denna's gaze snapped back to him, cold and mirthless. "That's highly unlikely."
The sound of footsteps got louder, closer. Denna gripped her agiel tighter.
"And of no consequence. Prepare for battle."
Richard stood, apprehension clear in his expression. He didn't want to fight his friends - or temporary allies. Nonetheless, he drew his sword, unable to defy the command. To his right, Darken reached for his own sword, pulling it from the scabbard that had been lying next to him as he slept.
As the two brothers found their places on either side of Denna, a group of soldiers became visible as they approached through the trees. Richard appraised them warily, running through possible strategies in his mind. There were a dozen Blood of the Fold, led by a confident looking youth no more than eighteen or nineteen summers old. His face and uniform looked untouched by battle, but his eyes gleamed with a crazed sort of zeal. His gaze narrowed as he caught sight of Denna, and he quickly raised his fist to signal the soldiers to halt.
"Mord-Sith." He spat the word as though the Keeper might claim him simply for voicing it. His hand gripped the pommel of the sword at his side as he eyed Denna and her protectors carefully.
"Captain Ettore." Denna's voice was a contrast to the young captain's, silky and calm though she still held her agiel at the ready. Richard looked at her in wary confusion.
Captain Ettore stepped forward, his free hand gesturing to Rahl. "What is the meaning of this? You were meant to bring us the Mother Confessor, not this powerless abomination."
Darken's jaw tightened as he gripped his sword, pained by his inability to respond. Richard gaped at Denna. "What?"
Denna's gaze cut sharply to Richard, and his mouth snapped shut. His eyes burned with frustration.
"Plans have changed," she said smoothly, settling her attention back on the captain. Ettore's jaw clenched as he took another step closer to Denna, his eyes glinting dangerously.
"I hope for your sake that means the vile creature put up a fight, and is rotting in the Underworld along with the wizard you were supposed to kill."
Denna smirked, holding Ettore's attention as Darken and Richard slowly moved away from her, setting themselves up for the inevitable battle. "Not exactly."
Ettore spat viciously at Denna's feet, pulling his sword. "Traitor. I told General Brogan we couldn't trust a filthy witch to do the Creator's work."
Denna's lips curled into a derisive smile. "Oh, that's where you're wrong, Captain. I'm no witch."
In moments, Denna had ducked under his guard and slammed her agiel into his chest. His sword dropped to the ground as she murmured into his ear.
"I'm a Mord-Sith." The word was saturated with a harsh bitterness. Denna twisted her agiel, and in seconds Ettore collapsed to the ground, his eyes staring lifelessly up at the sky.
With their leader down, the soldiers charged. Richard intercepted the first two with the Sword of Truth, slashing through the chest of one to impale the second before they were replaced by new opponents. Rahl held his own against another soldier, parrying blows until the unpracticed youth slipped up, earning him a sword in his chest. The thrill of battle wasn't enough to distract him from his predicament, however; he risked a glance at his captor, debating his chances of manipulating the battle in a way that might lead to Denna's death, and his freedom.
His chance came in the form of three soldiers charging at him; he ducked under one's sword and used his low position to trip another, sending both soldiers barreling in Denna's direction. He turned to the last, the situation not permitting him to see the outcome of his attempt.
Denna blocked an oncoming sword with her agiel, incapacitating its owner with a backhand to the face before following him to the ground with a strike to his throat. She didn't see the two men tumbling at her, and one of them slammed into her side, knocking her to the ground at the feet of another soldier. She recovered, but not quickly enough; she looked up to see a sword slicing through the air, descending toward her neck.
The very next moment, she found herself watching the soldier crumple to the ground, the Sword of Truth buried in his chest. She struggled to catch her breath as she found herself lost in the fury in Richard's eyes. He stared back at her, unreadable, as the last of the soldiers fell to Darken's sword. The young man's last grunted breath shattered the moment, and Richard yanked his sword out of Denna's would-be assassin, wiping the blood on the boy's cape before returning it to the scabbard at his hip.
Turning his back on Denna, Richard examined the bodies. What he saw was both baffling and tragic.
"They were boys, all of them." His brow furrowed as he struggled to make sense of it. "What could make someone so young hate so much?"
Denna rose to her feet, brushing debris off of her leathers. She laughed mirthlessly as she returned her agiel to its holster. "Surely you're not that naive, Seeker."
Richard turned to meet her eyes, his own softening with realization. Denna was not that much older than these unlucky soldiers, and he had experienced her hatred first-hand.
The familiar sympathy in the Seeker's eyes shook Denna uncomfortably, as it always did. Fighting off an unexpected wave of emotion, she turned to Darken; her feelings for him were at least easier to understand.
"Douse that fire," she ordered. "Brogan won't give up when his trusted captain fails to return. He'll send reinforcements."
Turning back to Richard, her hand shot out to grab his pendant, yanking it from his neck. She ignored his indignant glare, tossing the trinket to the ground.
"Your stalwart friends will provide the perfect distraction."
Tossing the pendant to the ground, Denna moved to ready her horse. Richard stared, but could not force his hand to reach for it.
They saddled up and departed, leaving the pendant lying among the dirt and fallen leaves.
*****
A leather-clad hand closed around the pendant, bringing it closer for inspection.
"Well, Richard was definitely here," Cara said, holding it out for Kahlan and Zedd to see before clutching it in her fist. Nicci was standing off to the side, leaning against a tree in silent protest as Dahlia and Raina checked the bodies for signs of life. Berdine poked at the remains of the fire.
"The fire's gone cold; they've been gone for three, maybe four candlemarks," she reported, mostly to herself, as she moved to examine the outskirts of the campsite.
"These men were Blood of the Fold," Zedd observed, taking in the blood-red capes shrouding the bodies that littered the ground. He looked up to meet Kahlan's eyes. "Perhaps Denna ran into more trouble than she could handle."
"You think they were captured?" Kahlan's brow creased with worry as she considered the possibilities.
"We know they're still alive," Dahlia offered neutrally. "Our agiels still have their power."
Kahlan looked to the Mord-Sith, unsure if the comment was meant to be comforting or condescending. Dahlia quirked an eyebrow, amused by the Confessor's attempt to read her motives.
"If they were taken by the Blood of the Fold, they might not stay that way for long." Kahlan turned her gaze to see her own concern mirrored in Cara's eyes. Cara gripped one of the agiels at her side, either for reassurance or penance - Kahlan couldn't tell which.
"Then we should get moving." Berdine's voice broke the intimacy of the moment as she called to them from the edge of the camp. "They went this way."
*****
The encampment was swarming with red capes, tents dotting the open grassland haphazardly. There were easily a hundred tents or more, and what looked to be four or five times that number in soldiers.
"There's too many of them," Kahlan said quietly, looking over to her right, where Cara was watching alongside her. "Even with Zedd's magic, there's no way we could take all of them."
Cara considered this, surveying the scene before them. Something caught her eye. "Maybe we don't have to." At Kahlan's questioning glance, Cara gestured to the edge of the camp. "They're either overly confident or incredibly stupid; they have sentries in place, but the soldiers aren't keeping within the borders of their camp."
Kahlan watched as Cara's point was proven; for the most part, the soldiers stayed safely confined to camp, but here and there one would wander out past the sentries, perhaps to relieve themselves. The sentries themselves were easily distracted, joking with the soldiers as they came and went.
Cara put her hand on Kahlan's arm, drawing her gaze. "If we can get close enough for you to confess one of them, you could find out if they have Richard."
Kahlan's expression was conflicted; she was growing more comfortable with using her power again, but it was always in the heat of the moment, when there wasn't a second to waste. The idea of planning to use it still made her uneasy. Cara tilted her head, challenging Kahlan with her eyes as though she could hear the Confessor's thoughts.
Kahlan took a steadying breath, her left hand moving to cover Cara's on her arm. Gratitude and affection flashed through her eyes before she stiffened, gathering her resolve.
"Sounds like a plan."
*****
The soldier struggled as Cara and Dahlia shoved him to his knees with the help of an agiel to either shoulder. His face filled with horror as Kahlan advanced on him, hand outstretched. Then it closed around his throat, and his expression drained of all fear or pain. Time seemed to stop, and there was nothing but Kahlan, and her power slamming into him as first her eyes, then his, swirled black.
The contact was broken as Kahlan let her hand fall away, closing her eyes briefly as she recovered from the use of her power. When she opened them again, she was met with the familiar devoted gaze of the confessed.
"Command me, Confessor."
Kahlan nodded at Cara and Dahlia, and they released his shoulders. Cara kept her agiel out, however, ready to fight if the need arose. Kahlan donned the neutral mask of the Confessor as she looked down at his adoring face.
"What is your name?" She asked coolly.
"Branden, mistress." He replied eagerly.
"Branden. Have you taken any new prisoners in the last day?" Her voice was crisp and emotionless. The man smiled at the opportunity to please her.
"Just one, mistress. A witch woman." Kahlan froze, startled by the unexpected answer. "General Brogan returned from Agaden Reach with her just last night."
Horrified, Kahlan turned to seek out Zedd's gaze.
"Shota." Zedd's voice was filled with dread. Kahlan turned back to the confessed man, fumbling with her thoughts.
"General Brogan is here?"
"No, Confessor," he replied apologetically. "He left at midday. His sister had a vision -" Kahlan held a hand up to stop him.
"Lunetta has magic?" Kahlan asked, her shock evident in her tone.
"Yes, mistress," he answered. "The general says he keeps her around to remind us what we're fighting. She had a vision this morning, that he had been betrayed by the Mord-Sith." Cara's head tilted in interest as Branden rushed to continue. "Your presence here confirms the truth of that vision, regardless of its tainted source. I'm so pleased you're alright, mistress."
His euphoric smile faltered as he reached for Kahlan, only to be stopped by the press of an agiel to his arm. He winced in pain, holding the affected arm to his chest. He tried to shrink away, but Cara gripped his shoulder, glaring at him in warning as she held him in place.
"The Mord-Sith." Cara lifted her eyes to meet Kahlan's. "Must be Denna."
"That explains how she was able to capture Richard and Rahl," Zedd chimed in, realization dawning on him. "General Brogan must have supplied her with the means to render us all unconscious while she took what she wanted."
"Yes, mistress," the kneeling man confirmed. "Her task was to kill the wizard, then bring back the Seeker, and you, so that you could be publicly executed for your magical crimes."
Cara jerked him back by his shoulder as she held her agiel to his throat, just barely avoiding contact. "No one is going to be executed. Unless you want to volunteer."
"Cara," Kahlan murmured, stepping in to reach for the blonde's arm. "He's not a threat anymore."
Cara kept her gaze trained on the prisoner as she lowered her arm, aggression masking her unease. Her eyes raked over the cowering man, taking in the simple uniform and standard issue sword.
"You look to be nothing more than a common foot soldier." The man recoiled as she gestured toward him with her agiel. "How do you know all this?"
"I was stationed outside the command tent when the Mord-Sith returned from her mission," he answered, after a reassuring nod from Kahlan. "She'd gone to some hidden place; I think General Brogan gave her a map. He had her retrieve some magical items for him."
From across the camp, Nicci looked up from where she was leaning against a tree, her interest piqued. "What kind of items?"
The man looked hesitantly at Kahlan, who looked at him expectantly. "I only caught a glimpse of them. She had a book with her, and a small box -"
"The chimes." Nicci supplied, smirking as Zedd's expression clouded over. "It's what she used to knock us out."
Kahlan looked to Zedd, who was starting to look distinctly ill at ease, then back to the soldier, crossing her arms. "Was there anything else?"
"Yes, mistress," he nodded eagerly. "She had two collars. General Brogan said they would force you and the Seeker to come without a fight."
"Rada'Han?" Kahlan asked, looking back at Zedd. The wizard shook his head, lost in his thoughts.
"That would be absurd," Cara scoffed. "Richard doesn't have any magic. Nicci took it."
Nicci endured Cara's glare, her smug smile fading into a glower. "For all the good it's done me."
"That would merely suppress magic," Zedd said slowly, "not compel you to go with her willingly. The trail we've been following suggests that Denna is alone with Richard and Rahl. She would need more than a couple of Rada'Han to keep them from overpowering her and racing back to us."
Kahlan's brow furrowed as she looked at Zedd. "What else could they be?"
Zedd sighed deeply, searching his memory. Nicci rolled her eyes, letting out a dry chuckle.
"Your benevolence is once again your undoing, wizard," she said mockingly. "Anyone interested in true power would have heard of the Rada'Jin."
Zedd's face froze in horror as he looked back at Nicci. "The Rada'Jin haven't been spoken of in hundreds of years. They're thought to be lost to time, if they ever existed in the first place."
"It sounds like someone's found them." Nicci's eyes darkened with excitement. "The things you could do with that kind of power..."
"Would you mind explaining what you're talking about, wizard?" Cara waved her agiel at him irritably.
Zedd turned away from Nicci, glancing between Kahlan and Cara. His expression betrayed his apprehension as he sunk down to sit on a fallen log. "The Rada'Jin are magical collars, much like Rada'Han. According to the legends, only a handful were ever made - and of those, only two survived being destroyed. Those two are said to be hidden in some remote location, protected by powerful magical wards." At their questioning looks, he continued his explanation, gesturing with his hands as he spoke. "A Rada'Han is designed to suppress magic, control it. The Rada'Jin are much more powerful. When one of them is placed around a person's neck, that person's free will is linked to the owner of the collar. Used to the full extent of its power, a Rada'Jin can control a person's very life force."
"That's how Denna's planning to control them," Kahlan uttered with a deadly certainty, her eyes seeking out Cara's. "She won't need to waste time trying to break them if they're magically forced to do her bidding."
Cara's expression mirrored the rising dread that Kahlan felt. "We need to get them back."
Zedd cleared his throat, drawing their attention back to him. His features were lined with concern as he stood.
"I'm afraid we may have a more pressing concern."
*****
The tent was dark, empty save the woman huddled in the corner. Her bare arms, marred by angry finger-shaped bruises, curled around her knees as she rested her forehead on them. Long auburn hair brushed the dirt below her, contrasting with the dulled blue of her gown.
A strip of sunlight illuminated the dirty ground as the flap was opened to allow a soldier to enter. Shota raised her eyes to pin him with a hawk-like glare, stiffening proudly. The scabbed-over split in her lip and the sunken circles under her eyes gave her a fierce, wild look. Even with her wrists bound and a collar around her neck, the witch woman managed to exude regality.
"Come to gloat again?" Her throat was hoarse from lack of sleep and water, but her voice retained its solemn confidence.
The soldier's lips twisted into a hostile scowl as he straightened, his height making him tower over the seated woman. "Just making sure you haven't used any of your filthy witchcraft to try to escape."
Shota sneered. "You know very well I can't use my magic with the Rada'Han around my neck."
The soldier smirked, gripping the hilt of his sword. "I don't pretend to know how the Keeper's taint works. My only concern is wiping it from existence."
"Fool!" Shota's eyes blazed with righteous fury. "You have no concept of reality if you think you can purge magic from the lands without grave consequences for every living thing."
"Spare me the lecture. If it were up to any of us, you'd have been beheaded before setting foot in our camp." His confidence wavered; clearly he would have been more comfortable if that had been the case. "General Brogan is the one who wants you alive. He thinks you can be convinced to join us."
Her shoulders jumped as she scoffed arrogantly. "He's an even bigger fool than you are."
"We'll see about that, witch." The soldier spat on the ground at her feet, turning on his heel to exit the tent. The flap fell closed behind him, muffling the sounds of mocking laughter as he rejoined his brothers-in-arms.
Now alone once more, Shota's shoulders slumped as her confident façade fell away. The dim light in the tent was just enough to show the fear glinting in her eyes.
*****
Zedd paced nervously back and forth, his hand occasionally coming up to rub at his chin as he pondered. Nicci was pointedly ignoring him, idly examining her nails as she sat against a tree at the edge of the clearing. Berdine and Raina stood rigidly on the opposite side, keeping a watchful gaze on their surroundings. Dahlia was attempting to do the same, but found her eyes drifting to Cara. The blonde was standing next to Kahlan, her arms crossed as she waited for the wizard to speak.
"There's only one reason Tobias Brogan would take Shota prisoner, rather than killing her on the spot," he said, a grave surety in his voice. He stopped pacing, meeting Kahlan's questioning gaze. "He thinks she can be converted to his cause."
"That's absurd," Cara scoffed, drawing several pairs of eyes.
"It wouldn't be the first time the Blood of the Fold have sought to work beside the very thing they're intent on destroying," Zedd argued. "Remember the mage in Caddock, and the carnage at Ebynissia. The general's own sister has magic."
"The Blood of the Fold are hypocrites, there's no question of that." Cara gestured with a gloved hand as she continued. "But Shota would never join them. Without magic, she'd be nothing more than a bitter old woman. She loves her power too much."
Kahlan nodded her agreement. "You've said it yourself, Zedd, she only thinks of herself."
Zedd inhaled deeply, letting out a discouraged sigh as he stared through the trees. "I may have been too harsh in my judgment. I can't deny that with all her meddling, she's almost always had the greater good in mind," he confessed, guilt tinging his voice as he continued. "I fear my own magical transgressions may be all the evidence needed that magic is a threat to peace."
"Maybe so," Kahlan conceded, "but can you really see Shota working to eliminate magic altogether? Zedd, she knows as well as anyone how necessary magic is to the survival of our world."
"I can't fathom it," Zedd admitted. "But what if she's had some sort of vision? Shota has been misled by prophecy in the past. She may have seen something suggesting that the Blood of the Fold will be successful in their mission. If she thinks that joining them is the only way to stay alive, I don't doubt for a minute that she would do it."
Kahlan's shoulders slumped as the hope left her eyes.
"Whether she would join them or not, we can't let her stay in their camp," Cara huffed, unwilling to accept defeat. "If they can't convince her, they'll just kill her. Either way, she won't be of any help to us."
Zedd began to pace again, his agitation clearly showing. "We've got to get her out of there," he reasoned. "But we can't risk a rescue attempt without knowing where Shota's allegiance lies. I need to talk to her."
Kahlan's eyes fell on the confessed soldier, kneeling silently where she had left him. He straightened as he realized he had her attention.
"You know where this witch woman is being held?"
His eyes brightened at her acknowledgment. "Yes, mistress. I can take you there."
"No." Kahlan shook her head, looking back at the wizard. "Zedd, if you disguise yourself as a soldier, no one will question your presence." She gestured back to the confessed man. "He can take you to Shota."
*****
The sun sank low in the sky, turning everything a muted shade of orange as they rode in silence. Denna led at a brisk pace, her captives following reluctantly behind. The horses were panting with exertion.
"We've been going non-stop since this morning, Denna," Richard said, his voice tinged with frustrated exhaustion. "We need to stop and rest."
Denna glanced over her shoulder at him, not slowing her pace. "I can tie you to your saddle again if you're tired, Seeker."
Richard narrowed his eyes at her. "The horses are going to collapse if they don't get a break."
"They've got enough distance in them yet," she said, her gaze trained ahead of her once more. "You should be more concerned with what the Blood of the Fold will do to us if we don't stay ahead of them. They'll make my plans for you seem downright pleasurable."
"You still haven't even told us what your plans are," he retorted moodily. Denna turned back to look at him, a disturbingly sweet smile on her face.
"You'll just have to trust me then, won't you?"
Richard snorted at the ridiculous notion, his voice bitter. "Like that would ever be possible."
Denna stiffened. She stopped her horse, turning it around so she could face Richard. He pulled at his horse's reins, rearing back sharply to avoid a collision. He patted the spooked animal's neck as Denna pierced him with a steely glare, unfazed by the horses' plight.
"You've given me just as much reason for mistrust, Seeker." Her voice was deadly serious. "I remember all too well how you ordered the Confessor to beat me to death as you watched."
"That wasn't me," Richard replied defensively. "That was Orden."
Denna's grave expression lightened as she chuckled. "Is that what you tell yourself, so you can sleep at night?" He shifted uncomfortably as she continued, her voice turning almost seductive. "That darkness is inside of you, Richard. Orden just fed on it."
Richard's eyes clouded with guilt as memories assaulted his mind; memories he wished he had never been granted.
"You don't know what you're talking about," he protested feebly. Denna easily spotted the weakness, and as she had been trained to do, she seized on it.
"You seem a tad sensitive about this, Seeker." Her voice filled with mock compassion, a predatory smile spreading across her lips. "Feeling guilty about something?"
Richard looked down, fumbling for a response, but Rahl beat him to it.
"If you're so worried about being caught, Denna, perhaps you and the Seeker should stop bickering loudly enough for everyone within a league to hear you," he suggested irritably.
The reminder sobered the Mord-Sith, though the vicious smirk remained on her face as she turned her horse forward again. As Denna drew ahead of them, Darken pulled his horse up alongside Richard's.
"There's nothing shameful in enjoying power, dear brother," He said plainly, his eyes fixed on their captor's back. "It's certainly nothing Denna didn't deserve."
"I'm sure you did much worse," Richard spat. Darken smiled as though overtaken with fond memories.
"What I wouldn't give to have witnessed that little scene," he said, his voice turning almost wistful. "The Mother Confessor is a formidable woman."
Richard clenched his jaw, setting his gaze forward. "I'm not going to talk to you about Kahlan."
Darken's smile only grew as he looked over at his brother. "Trouble in paradise?" When Richard refused to answer, he continued, his voice mocking. "And just when you thought you could actually be together."
Surprised, Richard risked a sideways glance. "What do you know about it?"
Rahl smirked. "I do have ears, you know. Abused though they may be from your merry little band's recent exploits."
Richard shifted his gaze forward again, his hands tightening on the reins. His expression clouded over.
"Oh, now I've touched a nerve. Did you fancy yourself a skilled musician?" he sneered. "Or is it perhaps that you and the Mother Confessor weren't singing the same tune?"
"I told you I'm not talking about Kahlan with you," Richard snapped irritably. "Whatever happened between us is none of your business."
Rahl's lip curled in amusement. He glanced at Richard knowingly, ignoring the warning implicit in his words. "I think it has more to do with what's happened between your beloved and a certain Mord-Sith no longer in my service."
Richard tensed, trying to force himself not to look over again, but Darken's eyes were sharp, and Richard was not very good at concealing his emotions.
"You know, Mord-Sith are trained for one purpose, Richard," Darken explained with a leer. "To serve the House of Rahl. In whatever way we see fit."
Richard suppressed a shudder of disgust. "You and I have very different ideas of service."
"Yes," Rahl smiled. "And of punishment as well. If one of my Mord-Sith even thought of taking what was mine, well...let's just say the fires of the Underworld would seem a pleasant warmth compared to what I would do to them."
Richard's expression hardened as he glared at his brother. "It's a good thing I'm not you, then."
Darken smiled wickedly as Richard snapped the reins of his horse, pulling ahead to signal the end of the conversation.
Ahead of them, Denna smiled to herself as she pressed onward.
*****
"They're on their way to Shota," Kahlan said, returning from sending Zedd and his guide on their way. "Now all we have to do is wait."
She stopped in her tracks, looking around the clearing. Berdine and Raina were off to one side, talking quietly. Nicci hadn't moved from her self-designated post, her face set in a perpetual scowl as she pondered what appeared to be dangerous thoughts. Dahlia stood slightly apart from the other two Mord-Sith, looking down at something in her hands. Someone was missing.
"Where's Cara?" Kahlan asked, her expression betraying her concern. Dahlia looked up, her hand closing into a fist as she turned to face the Confessor.
"She said she was going hunting," she replied, a sardonic smile playing on her lips as she stepped closer to Kahlan. "A rather senseless activity, considering we can't risk building a fire. But then, Cara hasn't exactly displayed an abundance of sense lately."
Kahlan clenched her jaw, ignoring the pointed jab. The fading sunlight glinted off of something metal, catching Kahlan's eye. Her gaze flicked to Dahlia's hand, tightly curled around...something. Dahlia noticed her scrutiny and quickly covered the bit of chain with her thumb. Kahlan tilted her head as she looked back up to study Dahlia's face. It gave away nothing. Her concern for Cara won out over her curiosity. She took a step toward Dahlia, her lips set in a thin line. "Which way did she go?"
Dahlia frowned, disappointed that the Confessor hadn't taken the bait, but relieved that Kahlan's attention had moved from her hand. Chafing under the icy gaze, she rolled her eyes and gestured in the direction she'd seen Cara stomp off.
Kahlan followed without a second glance at Dahlia, intent on finding her Mord-Sith.
Dahlia watched her go, a derisive smirk on her face as she muttered to herself. "Very subtle, Mother Confessor."
"You're one to talk." Dahlia jerked around, crossing her arms as she made eye contact with Nicci. Her eyes narrowed as she caught on to the implication. Nicci just smiled condescendingly. "You don't seem overly concerned about your Lord Rahl."
Unable to formulate a response, Dahlia scowled, turning away from the blonde sorceress. She opened her hand, a smug smile touching her lips as her eyes fell on the small key nestled among the red leather of her glove. Nicci could taunt her all she wanted; Dahlia had something far more powerful than words.
Aware of Nicci's eyes on her back, Dahlia closed her fist again, raising her eyes. Her expression softened as she stared in the direction Kahlan had gone, conflicting emotions warring in her eyes.
*****
Cara leaned against a large rock, the fading glow of twilight making her leather look almost black. Her eyes were troubled as she gazed intently into the trees, lost in thought. Hearing footsteps behind her, she stiffened, her palms pressing into the rock rather than moving to her weapons. Instinct told her exactly who it was that had sought her out.
"Dahlia said you were hunting," Kahlan said lightly, a teasing note to her voice telling Cara how likely she found the concept.
Cara forced herself to remain staring forward, her shoulders tensing as Kahlan stepped closer.
"I needed some air," she said neutrally. Kahlan smiled at the obvious deflection. They were outside, after all; there was no more air here than there had been back at camp. Rather than point this out, she simply stepped next to Cara, resting against the rock with barely a handsbreadth between them.
She fixed her gaze on the same imaginary point Cara was looking at, clasping her hands nervously in front of her as she searched for words. The silence weighed on them as they both realized that this was the first time they'd been alone since their shared near-admission.
"You must be worried," Cara said, clearing her throat awkwardly. "About Richard," she hastened to add, her throat nearly closing around the name. Startled, Kahlan turned to look at Cara.
"Of course I am." She lowered her gaze, a hint of guilt tinging her voice as she realized how far Richard was from her thoughts. Cara glanced at her sideways, her eyes flicking away when she took in the flush on Kahlan's cheeks. It unsettled her.
"There's no need to feel ashamed, Confessor." Kahlan looked up again, taken aback by the formality in the other woman's tone. Cara pressed on, turning her head to give Kahlan a pointed glance. "He is the man you love."
Kahlan looked away as Cara's eyes bore into hers. She'd been looking for a way to bring up the subject, but to have it blatantly laid before her threw her off-balance. She took a deep breath, steadying herself.
"Cara," she started shakily, staring at the ground as though it would give her strength. "I do love Richard. I always will. But he and I aren't together anymore."
"Obviously," Cara said plainly. Kahlan glanced up, confusion swirling in her eyes. Cara rotated her wrist, gesturing to illustrate her point. "Denna took him."
Kahlan's expression cleared, a fond smile playing at the corners of her mouth. Cara had mastered the art of being deliberately obtuse.
"Richard realized something recently," she said, her voice wavering. She pressed on, fidgeting with the buckle of her belt. "It took him saying the words for me to recognize the truth of it."
"What revelation could possibly come between the epic love of the Seeker and his Confessor?" The detached sarcasm of her tone was ruined by the way her voice shook as she spoke. She stubbornly refused to look at Kahlan, her arms crossing over her chest in an attempt to slow her racing heart.
"I'm in love with someone else." Kahlan glanced surreptitiously at Cara, trying to gauge her response. The Mord-Sith swallowed nervously, her left hand dropping to the agiels at her side. She opened her mouth to respond, but Richard's words rang in her mind. I want you to stop holding back. Her jaw snapped shut, clenching as she tried to rein in the emotions trying to fight their way to the surface.
"Cara." Kahlan's voice was thick with emotion as she reached for Cara's hand. She ignored the sting of pain as her own hand brushed the agiel, lacing her fingers with Cara's and tugging gently. "Please look at me."
It was the crack in her voice, more than the request itself, that drew Cara's gaze to hers. Cara's breath caught in her throat as she took in the depth of emotion glittering in Kahlan's eyes, threatening to spill out. The intensity of her gaze told Cara all she needed to know, confirming what she had both dreaded and longed for. Choking back her own feelings, Cara averted her eyes, focusing on some imaginary spot in the dirt.
"I'm Mord-Sith," she said weakly, the words heavy with their possible interpretations. Kahlan reached up with the hand that was not tangled with Cara's, brushing the backs of her fingers over the blonde's cheekbone.
"You're so much more than that," she murmured, her voice brimming with admiration.
Kahlan molded her hand to Cara's cheek, drawing the blonde's eyes to meet her own. Cara's breath quickened as Kahlan's eyes dropped to her lips, desire filling the space between them with a thick tension. Kahlan leaned in slowly, their lips just barely brushing before Cara froze, her unspoken promise to Richard at odds with the voice in her mind that berated her for allowing her emotions - her love - to distract her enough to allow him to be captured.
"I can't," she breathed, her voice hoarse with frustration and regret. She kept her gaze turned to the ground, hiding the moisture that was gathering at the corners of her eyes as she backed away, her hand returning to grip an agiel. She glanced up once; the bewildered look in Kahlan's eyes gave way to pain, and Cara turned her back, all but running back to camp.
Kahlan watched her go, bringing her fingers to her lips. Her shoulders trembled as a tear slid down her cheek.
*****
continue to Episode 3.11 - Allegiance - part 2