Fever of Perdition

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Legend of the Seeker Fan Story
Fever of Perdition

Chapter 1: Mord’sith

They were less then a day from getting to Aydindril when Kahlan started to act strange. At first it was stumbling when there was nothing to stumble on. Then a bit of confusion on what they were doing. Finally Richard called a stop when she sat down on the side of the road out of breath.

“What is wrong Kahlan?” She looked up at him as her breathing was coming in gasps. She shook her head. He put his hand on her head.

“Zedd! She is burning up with fever.” The wizard came over and knelt down by her side. He did a quick inspection of her. What he found made him stop and look at Richard in worry. The place she had taken the arrow from the Baneling in her thigh was swollen and red. There were dark lines starting to radiate out from it and there was fluid leaking through the bandage.

“It is infected. Badly infected.” Richard looked at Zedd.

“Can you do anything for her?” Zedd shook his head.

“Not at this stage. Not until we get her to Aydindril at least. Then I can help here there.” Richard nodded and lifted her up to help her walk. She leaned heavily into Richard, barely conscious. They were starting off when Cara hissed from behind them.

“Get going you guys. Fast.” Richard and Zedd both turned and stared down the road behind them. Walking toward them were four Mord’sith. Richard and Zedd both yelled at Cara.

“Run Cara.” She never moved from her spot. Zedd walked back to grab her. She shook out of his grip and watched the Mord’sith sisters walk closer.

“Go Zedd. I’ll hold them up here as long as I can.” Zedd grabbed at her again and she pulled out one of her agiel and held it up threateningly. “This is my fight Zedd. You can do no good against them and Richard needs to get Kahlan to Aydindril so YOU can heal her.” She looked back to the sisters. “Not one of you can afford to die. I can however.” She looked into Zedd’s eyes. He saw her pain there just before it was covered over by the stone façade of the Mord’sith. “Tell Avindas how I died. And that I love him.” She turned away and walked down the road toward the Mord’sith. Knowing she was going to die.

“Where is she going?” Richard said as Zedd rejoined him.

“She is giving us a head start.” Richard went to set Kahlan down and Zedd caught his arm. “Richard no. This is her fight. We have to think of Kahlan.” Richard looked at him and nodded.

“What about Avindas?” Zedd looked back down the road as the Mord’sith came face to face with each other.

“I have a message for him from her.” His voice was sad. They both knew that they wouldn’t see her again. They almost killed her last time. Their mistake had been leaving her for dead and having Richard find her. This time they wouldn’t be so lenient in their judgment. Cara was going to die on this road. They couldn’t wait around to see the outcome. They rushed off as fast as they could carry Kahlan. Soon they were out of sight around a corner and over a hill. Both men had tears as they hurried off, leaving a friend to die because they had to.

One of the thoughts that kept going through Richard’s mind was how he was going to tell Avindas that she was dead. And how would he stop him from hunting down every last Mord’sith in his grief and anger. He almost felt sorry for the Mord’sith…almost.

****

The two groups stopped a few paces apart. Four Mord’sith facing another of their kind. They had tried to kill Cara before on orders from Darken Rahl sent from the Underworld. Now they were back to finish the job it seems. Cara’s smile wasn’t friendly as she looked over the four in front of her.

“I’m not surprised to see you holding the leash Triana. Or that you are licking her boots Constance, which was always the way of things.” Triana smiled back at her.

“I see your tongue is still moving faster then your brain Cara. We serve the Lord Rahl, as you once did. Until you deserted us and helped that wretched Seeker and his high and mighty Confessor kill him.” Cara stepped forward slightly and pinned Triana with her gaze.

“I still serve the live Lord Rahl. Unlike you that are stuck serving a dead master who will just kill you in the end anyway.” Triana stepped forward and slapped her hard with an open hand. A small trickle of blood started at the corner of her mouth as she looked back on her with hatred.

“Oh and Cara, I’m not the one holding the leash this time.” The four sisters parted and let a fifth sister step into the line. Cara stared at the Mord’sith that was clad in a black uniform. In her heart she felt fear.

“Garren. What hole did they drag you out of?” Mistress Garren smiled back at her and shook her head.

“Always the defiant one Cara. That ends today.” She motioned for the other four sisters to attack. And they did in force. While Cara fought valiantly they overwhelmed her with their agiels and other attacks. Soon Cara was down on the ground in a familure situation. Beaten and helpless. She knew she was dead. Mistress Garren was a special Mord’sith. One that is only called in for certain situations. Even for a Mord’sith she was cruel. It was her that stepped up and kicked Cara in the head, sending her into semi darkness as blood flowed into her eyes and she faded in and out of consciousness. She could barely hear Garren talk to her again.

“Before I kill you Cara and send you down to explain yourself to Darken Rahl, I’m going to let my band of Banelings have their way with you. I have told them to be extra cruel and make it painful. But not to kill you since that is my pleasure.” She motioned behind her. Nothing happened. She angrily turned around.

“Joseph! Get out here like I commanded.” There was no answer from behind her. She motioned for one of the sisters to go check it out. “Go and get him. Use your agiel to make him understand I will be followed.” The sister bowed and headed back up the road a little ways. She looked into the forest and didn’t see anything, or anyone. She pulled out her agiel and slowly moved toward the side of the road. She then saw the foot of a man sticking out of the brush. Her eyes soon found others lying dead in the bushes. She slowly backed up and looked back to the main group of Mord’sith.

“They are dead Mistress. All of them.” Her voice betrayed her sudden caution and fear. Mistress Garren took a couple steps down the road.

“Dead…all of them…how?” The sister shrugged and took a couple steps back up the road, holding her agiel at the ready as she watched the woods around her.

Without warning there was a flash of light. She stiffened and stood motionless for a moment. Her body fell in two pieces at the waist where she was cut in half. The other sisters stood shocked. As their sister fell they got a look at who caused it. There was a man standing behind her with a long spear in his hands and a sword hilt showing over his shoulder. Blood was dripping from the blade of the spear. He never said a word as he stepped over her severed body and began walking up the road. Triana, Constance and the other sister each pulled out their agiel and moved to intercept him. He stopped a few paces from them and stood calmly waiting with his spear grounded beside him.

They got a good look at his black and purple cloths. His arms were uncovered and showed their muscular nature even when he stood unmoving. He had just killed a Mord’sith without warning. For that he would die painfully. Garren spoke as they moved around him.

“Don’t kill him. I want to be the one to train him in my special way for killing a Mord’sith.”

The three sisters spread out around him to corner him in. He still hadn’t moved from his location. A hood covered his head and they could see it turn slowly to take all of them in. Triana was behind him where she was sure he couldn’t see. She lunged forward with her agiel aimed at his spine. She would put him down and then they would work from there. Her agiel hit him and the sounds of the weapon permeated the woods. He flinched slightly but never made a sound or moved away from the weapon. She was shocked. Even the most trained sisters couldn’t stand the pain from the agiel in that location. Now this simple man was denying her the pleasure of his pain. She was getting angry.

Cara moved her head to see what was going on. Through her tears and blood she couldn’t see anything, only hear sounds. Garren looked down and saw her move.

“Unfortunately Cara we can’t wait to kill you. Seems we have an interruption we have to deal with.” She pulled out a dagger and bent down pulling Cara’s broken body up to a kneeling position. Her dagger moved to her throat as she smiled a very pleasurable and evil smile. Cara focused through the blood. She spit a mouthful of blood into the Mord’sith’s face. Garren flinched back and then instead of slashing her throat she punched her in the face, knocking her to the ground again. She raised the dagger to stab the very helpless Cara. Cara knew she was looking at her death and laughed. The dagger started to fall. It never reached her. With a loud scream Garren flew over her and crashed to the ground behind her. She didn’t even have the strength to look at what happened. She passed out again.

The man was still unmoved by the touch of the agiel. Triana moved it away from his spine and moved to put it on the back of his head. She never got the chance as he suddenly moved with lighting quick speed and launched his spear into the back of Mistress Garren. Triana and the other two sisters looked in horror as she flew through the air and landed past Cara with the spear in her back. She was obviously dead as the blood pooled around her. No matter, they could revive her with the Breath of Life when they were done with this man. He was once again standing calmly before them.

Constance tried her agiel this time as she lunged at his ribs. It never touched the man. He turned slightly and caught her wrist in his hands. She felt her arm bone snap as he brought it up and twisted it violently. Her grip on the agiel failed and she screamed in pain as the man kept twisting her arm around and grinding the bone against flesh. He nearly twisted her arm off and blood started showing where the broken bone pierced and tore at her skin just below her elbow. Her watery eyes opened just in time to see him shove her own agiel down her throat. The pain was massive as blood vessels and nerve endings exploded. She was dead before she hit the ground. The sounds of the agiel never stopped even in her death.

Triana was frozen in fear as she realized what this man had just done. With no effort he had taken an agiel from a sister and killed her with it. Before all this registered the other sister lunged with her agiel at his other side. The man spun and slapped her wrist out wide of him before she could get it to him. His hooded head had never even turned to look at her. In a blur of motion the man pulled a sword from over his shoulder and cleaved the sister from her shoulder to her hip as he spun her direction. In the same motion his sword came up and Triana could feel the tip of the blade come to rest on her throat.

She stood unmoving. The scent of fresh blood came to her nose from his sword and she had no doubts this man would kill her and not think twice about it. She swallowed hard and looked at the dark hood he was wearing. Slowly she dropped her agiel and kept her arms away from her body. She knew she was going to die.

“Who are you?” The man stepped up close to her and reached up to push back his hood. She looked at a man with a shaven head and face. A pair of deep purple eyes looked at her with no mercy in them. He stunned her with one word she had only heard spoken of in myths and legends.

“Raakvu’Taal.” His sword effortlessly slid through her throat and up to come out the back of her head. He stood there a moment looking into her eyes from inches away until the light of life left them. He then jerked his sword up and sliced her skull in half. In the same motion he sheathed the sword over his shoulder. In seconds he had left four Mord’sith dead in the road. He normally did not enjoy taking someone’s life if there was another way. For the Mord’sith, he would make an exception.

With one last glance around he moved to Cara and knelt down beside her. She was a mess of blood, cuts, and bruises. He almost didn’t recognize her. His hand slowly reached down to brush against her cheek. She flinched and her eyes flew open in panic. Ever so softly he brushed the bloody hair from her eyes.

“You are ok Cara. I’m here.” His voice gently whispered to her. The panic left her eyes as she tried to focus on him.

“Avindas?” He smiled at her with tears in his eyes. He picked her up and gently held her body against his. He carried her off into the woods not caring about the blood his hands or clothes were covered with.

“Yes Cara. I’m here. You don’t have to worry anymore.” She smiled and relaxed to his touch. She had a smile on her face as she slipped into unconsciousness.

Chapter 2: Confessor Council

Kahlan was interrupted from her writing by one of the scribes in Aydindril. “Your presence is requested in the council chamber Confessor.” She nodded at him. After setting her work aside she rose and headed down the hallway toward the council chambers. The doors were pulled open by the two guards and she strode into the council chamber to see what the council wanted. She was shocked by what awaited her.

Sitting in the chair reserved for the Mother Confessor was her sister Dennee. Kahlan was torn between joy at her sister being alive and the confusion about her sitting in the chair that belonged to Kahlan. She walked forward and stood before her sister.

“What’s going on Dennee?” She fought back tears as he voice became emotional. “You are supposed to be dead. And why are you sitting in the chair of the Mother Confessor?” Dennee looked down calmly.

“You of all people should know why I’m here. You are the one that recommended me for this position because you said I could do what was right in difficult situations. And today is one of those days.” Kahlan went to move forward and was blocked by two guards from getting close to the council. She looked confused.

“What is going on Dennee?” She asked again. Her sister leaned forward.

“The council has decided your fate.” Kahlan was even more confused.

“My fate? What are you talking about Dennee.” Dennee looked at the council members one by one. Then looked back to Kahlan.

“You Kahlan Amnell, are found guilty of betraying your oath as a Confessor.” Kahlan stood in shock. She was even more in shock as a Radahan was snapped on her from behind to keep her from using her powers.

“This has to be a mistake. You of all people should know how faithfully I have served as a Confessor. I have followed the code…” She was silenced with an upraised hand from Dennee.

“There is no mistake Kahlan. For your crimes against the Confessors you are sentenced to death by hanging.” Tears flowed from Kahlan’s eyes. She stumbled forward and was stopped by the guards again.

“Dennee…please. What about the Seeker? What about our oath to protect him? What about Richard?” There was no mercy in her sister’s eyes.

“He has already been sentenced and his punishment carried out.” Dennee pointed out the window. Kahlan screamed and fell to her knees. Swinging by a rope around his neck outside was Richard. His face was blue and it was apparent that he suffered before dying. She was still screaming and crying as she was pulled from the council chambers.

Chapter 3: Denna

Kahlan found herself back in the horror of the Mord’sith tower as she begged for Richard’s life. On the platform stood Denna with Richard at her side. He was bloody and thin. His eyes were locked on Denna every time she talked to him. She relived being hit by the agiel and forced to the ground. Denna handed Richard the dagger and told him to kill her. She could see the blade shake as he got closer to her. They locked eyes and she could see him struggle against the training Denna had put him through and his love for Kahlan. This time the training won out and he plunged the dagger into her heart. She felt the pain, the disbelief, the betrayal. As her blood pooled on the floor she heard Denna talk to Richard.

“You are ready to bow before Lord Rahl my pet. Let’s get you cleaned up.” As her life faded out of her she watched Richard walk off with Denna into the hallway. Her last memory was of Richard talking.

“Yes Mistress Denna.”

Chapter 4: Blood Rage

Gillar had just put the pins in her to suck her powers dry. Darken Rahl had picked up the Sword of Truth and walked to where Richard was bound up behind her. She felt the fear of his death. She felt the need to protect him. She felt herself slipping into the Con-Dar…then it stopped. She couldn’t keep going. She screamed in pain as the needles began to work. But before it finished they turned her around to see Richard. Their eyes met and the love and pain passed between them…just before Darken Rahl shoved the Sword of Truth through his heart. She screamed out in horror as she watched the life fade from his eyes.

“Now that is done. What should we do with you Mother Confessor?” She couldn’t take her eyes off Richard. Even as her powers were sucked from her and she was left powerless she couldn’t take her eyes off him. Her last memory was of Darken Rahl plunging a dagger through her heart.

Chapter 5: Brigette

Richard walked into the chamber where she was playing with their daughter Brigette. He had a huge smile on his face as he walked up to the two of them.

“Oh my dear Brigette. Today is your seventh birthday isn’t it.” She smiled up at her daddy and nodded.

“Yes daddy it is. Can I have my presents now?” Richard laughed as did Kahlan. He took her hand and led her from the room toward the main hallway and the audience chamber. Kahlan followed close behind them. She was so happy with her life. She and Richard were together, they had a great child. This was all she wanted.

They entered the main chamber and she noticed that no one else was gathered for her daughter’s birthday. She thought that weird since in the past the whole kingdom had shown up for the event. This year something was different.

Richard took Brigette up to the throne and sat down with her on his lap. They talked and laughed for a few minutes until Richard sat back and made an announcement.

“I have someone special I want you to meet Brigitte.” He motioned to a side door and through it stepped Cara. Kahlan’s eyes lit up as she saw her friend come into the hall. She went to move forward and was blocked by guards. She looked at Richard questionably.

“What is going on Richard? Why can’t I go greet Cara?” Richard looked down at her and smiled.

“Cara is here to take Brigitte to the Tower of the Mord’sith to start her training.” Kahlan’s eyes just about fell out of her skull.

“You can’t be serious Richard. That is our daughter you are talking about. A Confessor child.” Her voice was disbelieving and was growing angry. She hoped this was a joke. She realized he was serious as Cara led Brigitte from the room out the side door. She looked up at Richard and saw him lounging back in his chair.

“Yes Kahlan she is a Confessor child. And now she will become the first Mord’sith Confessor ever. She will serve me as her Master and Father.” Kahlan clenched her jaw.

“Richard…I can’t let you do this.” Richard looked down and smiled.

“I figured that would be your reply.” He motioned and from behind someone clamped a Radahan on her that would prohibit her from using her Confessor powers. She struggled against it but knew it was fruitless. She stood still and for the first time had hatred in her eyes for Richard.

“So what happens to me now?” Richard looked at her for a moment.

“Take her to the dungeon. There she can wait until our daughter is ready to prove her worth as a Mord’sith. Brigitte can kill her own mother to prove she is ready to be at my side.” The guards began to lead her out. She was too stunned to even reply. They were stopped at the door as Richard had them wait. He walked over to them and smiled down at Kahlan.

“And just to be certain she can’t confess anyone if she does get the collar off…cut off her hands. But make sure you bandage them up nice and neat. She is after all my wife.” Richard turned and walked away as Kahlan screamed at him. She was ignored as she was led down into the dungeon.

Chapter 6: There is No Richard

She had just breached the barrier and was running through the woods with a D’Haren quad right behind her. She ducked as she was just missed by an arrow. After tumbling down an embankment she got up and ran again. She came to the familure cliff and stopped to keep from falling off. Just like the day her and Richard met she turned and faced her attackers. Fain ordered his archer to shoot her, just like before. Only this time…there was no Richard to save her.

The arrow took her through the heart. She tumbled backward off the cliff and fell. She could feel herself falling as she looked up. Fain looked over the edge of the cliff and watched her fall. She never felt the impact at the bottom…just the engulfing darkness of death…and failure.

****

Betrayal at the hands of her family, her love, her people were hard enough for her to take. But the very thought of there not being a Richard to begin with. That she had failed even before she had gotten started was the worst pain she had known. She knew with Richard she could deal with anything that came her way. He wasn’t here though. If he didn’t save her how could she save him? She failed…it was too much for her and she cried out in frustration in the darkness of the Underworld.

Chapter 7: Awake

She lunged up in bed as she screamed out. Instantly Richard was there to pull her close, making sure to keep her hands away from his neck as she fought him, pounding at him and screaming at him for all the things he had done to her. She screamed at him for dying and for not being there. Only after her anger and frustration played itself out did she realize she was in a bed room. She pulled back and looked at Richard with tear filled eyes. Her hand moved up to his face, making sure he was actually here. Without saying anything she pulled him close again and cried into his shoulder. Her body shook with the sobs that escaped her. Richard, not knowing quite what to do, held her close and let her release her emotions. It took a long time before the sobs subsided and she could sit back.

“Are you ok Kahlan?” Richard asked quietly. She sat quietly with her eyes closed. It took her a few moments to answer him.

“I think so.” Tears leaked from her eyes as she remembered what she saw. She proceeded to tell him about everything she had seen. He held her close as she talked. There were tears in both their eyes by the time she finished. Silence wrapped around them.

“I have been so worried Kahlan. You have been so sick.” She looked at him.

“What do you mean sick?” Richard squeezed her tight in his arms.

“Your leg had become infected. You had a fever we thought would never go away. We managed to get you to Aydindril where Zedd and several other wizards worked to get the infection out of you. Even then your fever wouldn’t break. All we could do is watch and wait.” He paused and took a deep breath. “You have been unresponsive for over a month Kahlan.” She gasped and sat up.

“Over a month?” Richard nodded. “And you stayed here the whole time?”

“Yes.” Richard replied. Kahlan smiled and planted a kiss on his lips. He kept his eyes closed as the kiss broke. “Your fever is gone.” She nodded even though his eyes were closed.

“I can’t wait to see everyone else. How are they doing?” Richard opened his eyes and she could see the tears start up in them again. “What happened Richard?”

“Cara faced down four Mord’sith so we could get away with you and reach Aydindril. We haven’t heard anything since. Zedd went to check the area out and only found blood…a lot of blood.” Kahlan put her hand over her mouth.

“And Avindas?” She softly asked. Richard shook his head.

“We haven’t heard from him since we left him in the valley.” Kahlan had fresh tears in her eyes. She leaned her body against his and they both cried for a while. Richard finally broke the embrace. “I need to go let Zedd know you are awake. He will want to know.” Kahlan caught his arm.

“Please don’t leave yet. Just hold me Richard.” He smiled and lay down beside her on the bed. He wrapped his arms around her and just held her against him. Things had really changed. And none of it for the good it seemed.


Chapter 8: Duty Calls

Another three weeks had passed since Kahlan had woken up from her fever. She had fully recovered shortly after and had taken her place in the hall as the Mother Confessor. Her duty called her to do what she must. There were times she just wanted to scream at everyone to get out. Those were the times she had to excuse herself for a few moments and retire to her chambers. Richard was always there with a shoulder for her to cry on. He would wipe her tears away and she would return to her duties. She couldn’t do this much longer. They all knew they had to get back on the quest they were called to do. But no one really wanted to go out again. It wouldn’t be the same without Cara. She had been with them for so long it was hard to think of doing anything without her sharp wit and stinging comments; although they had been tempered by Avindas. She missed him greatly. For some reason she felt safe when he was around…completely safe. She knew too that Richard missed him. They would hold each other at night and cry as they talked about them.

Today was no different for her. She was swamped with people needing her to mitigate problems for them. She wanted to scream at them to fix their own problems. But her duty as the Mother Confessor prevented that from happening. She did her duty.

The day was finally coming to a close and people were starting to file out of the audience chamber. Kahlan closed her eyes and let her body try to relax. Richard set a comforting hand on her shoulder and she leaned over to kiss his knuckles. He sat his forehead on top of hers and they didn’t say anything for a long time. It was then that Richard looked up and reached for the Sword of Truth. Kahlan sensed his tension and looked up.

Standing just in front of them were two brown robed figures. Neither person moved as Kahlan and Richard looked them over. Richard moved forward to put himself between them and Kahlan.

“I am done with my audiences for today. If you could come back tomorrow I would be happy to hear your petition.” Kahlan spoke in the commanding tone of the Mother Confessor. One of the figures answered in a deep voice back to her.

“What we are here for cannot wait.” Richard tensed and pulled the sword from his hip as the two figures pushed their hoods down. Both he and Kahlan were on high alert and ready to fight. They were stunned by what stood before them and for long moments they couldn’t move. Finally Kahlan screamed.

“CARA! AVINDAS! But how…” They both bowed to her. They all rushed together to shake hands and hug in greeting. Kahlan felt the weight of her duty lift as they stood talking all at once and trying to tell stories all at once. She invited them back to her chamber in the back of the building. They all retired to there so they could talk about what all happened.

They were all sitting around a fire with drinks and a plate of food. Avindas and Cara shared part of their story about what happened. Kahlan and Richard both watched Cara as she told about the confrontation with the Mord’sith, at least the parts she remembered. Avindas filled in the rest as best as he could without going into gory detail. Kahlan and Richard shared the story of Kahlan’s fever and all that had transpired during the last couple of months. It was a great evening for everyone. Soon they decided to keep talking tomorrow so everyone could get some rest. Kahlan and Richard slept very well that night knowing their friends were safe and not dead like they had feared.

Chapter 9: The Gift

The next day the Mother Confessor wasn’t seeing any petitioners. No one was quite sure why but they accepted her decision not to see anyone. The council took over the duties of the day. In the chambers in the back of the building, where they could relax and talk in privacy the friends had gathered again.

“I was wondering where you two have been for the past weeks? I know you said it took a couple weeks for Cara to be ready to travel and that you were less then a day from here. Why didn’t you come here to see us?” Richard asked. Avindas smiled.

“I did come here.” Richard looked at Kahlan then back to Avindas. “I kind of snuck in here and took a look around. I bought stuff we needed. During this time I snuck in here and looked in on you two.” Kahlan blinked and tried to look stern at him. He smiled at her and winked. “Richard was asleep and I didn’t want to bother him. Besides I had heard about the situation and knew I could do nothing to help. So I did something that I was going to need to do at some point. And this way I knew you were safe as I did it.”

“What did you have to do that was so important to not let us know you were alive?” Kahlan had leaned forward and stared at Avindas. She was very much a Confessor at that moment. She wasn’t very happy.

“Cara and I traveled to the Old World. We went to the hidden keep of the Raakvu’Taal to pick up a few things and allow me to re-arm.” He looked at Cara and smiled. She took a hold of his arm and smiled back. “Then we came back here as quick as we could.” He took a deep breath. “I am sorry to have worried you more then was needed. This was something I had to do. There was something I decided I needed from there…a gift for you.”

Richard and Kahlan looked at each other in confusion. They understood their friends were only thinking of things in their best interests so they couldn’t stay angry at them for what they did. They were curious about this gift though.

“So what kind of gift could you get for us from the Old World?” Richard asked. Avindas took a deep breath and looked over at Cara. She nodded and smiled at him.

From under his cloak he pulled out a small wooden box. It didn’t look like anything special, just a wooden box that would fit in the palm of your hand with a clasp on the front of it. Avindas put a hand on top the box and chanted a few soft words. The clasp unlatched. He reached across and handed it to Richard. Richard held it in his hand and slowly opened the box.

Inside he could see a small vial of golden liquid. It was no bigger then Kahlan’s little finger. It was held in very soft velvet and he could tell it was well protected in the box. He looked up at Avindas.

“Ummm…thank you?” Kahlan looked up at them.

“Ok so what is it?” Avindas closed his eyes. Cara set a soft hand on his arm. He looked at her and nodded. Avindas started into a story.

“Over ten thousand years ago a clan of powerful wizards needed someone to protect them from their enemies. They chose three bloodlines to carry out that mission of protection as they traveled through the lands. These were the three bloodlines of the Raakvu’Taal. They created an elixir that would give limited protective magical powers to the bodyguards. They made four vials. Three went to the founders of the Raakvu’Taal bloodlines that had been chosen. They drank them and were granted the powers the Raakvu’Taal are known to have. They trained endlessly in magic and weapons to hone their skills and become the best they could be in what they were chosen to do.” Avindas paused and took a drink. He then continued. “The elixir was only made for the three specific bloodlines that had been chosen. For anyone else the effects were very limited.” He stopped and looked at Cara again. Kahlan and Richard could sense that something about this was difficult for him. Neither said anything though as the silence deepened. Eventually Avindas continued.

“What you hold is the fourth vial of the magic that has been passed down through the generations.” Richard and Kahlan both looked at the vial differently now. They understood the significance of it.

“So why are you giving this to us?” They both looked up with questions in their eyes. Avindas leaned forward and looked Richard dead in the eyes.

“What this elixir offers you Richard…is one night, from sunset to sunrise, where you would be immune from the touch of a Confessor.”

End of Fever of Perdition…Stand by for the next installment…

Keep of Confusion