Raw Power

Chapter 2

"There isn't much we can do until Nikki breaks through the boundary. It'd be extremely stupid to send a battalion of Mord-Sith after one woman before she becomes an eminent threat." Was my father, the Seeker of Truth, really being this ignorant?

"She's already an eminent threat, father. She attacked me. With a Dacra! I could be dead. I would be if I hadn't have been careful in how I deflected the weapon. Even still it almost pierced me.

"This wouldn't be a problem if you wouldn't have been in town, now would it?"

"Richard," Kahlan started, warningly. "Let her be. Whatever her reason for being in town, I'm sure it was important and we don't need to know."

"My daughter was almost killed!"

"Our daughter, Richard. And she can handle herself. She carries three daggers, and an agiel with her everywhere, and she wields the powers of confession and sorcery. Just calm down, okay?" My mother's voice seemed to sooth him, calming the anger rising up inside my father.

"Don't go into town without my permission again, do you understand, Katrina?"

"Wait," Benjamin interrupted. "It's my fault. I'm the reason she was in town. Blame me."

"Benjamin! I told you to stay back there." Upon hearing my panic, Cara wrapped an arm around Benjamin's waist, holding her agiel inches from his neck. "Cara, let him go." She released him, but didn't relax her defensive stance. Mord-Sith rarely let their guard down.

"Who's this?" my father asked.

"Umm...this is Benjamin." My mother looked at him, or rather into him. Into his heart. Something I'd done myself a hundred times. That's how I knew I loved him. That's how I knew confession would completely ruin him. Just by looking into his heart, my mother knew that he loved me and that he was protecting me. Exactly what I saw. I thought to myself if she saw what I saw the first time I looked at him. I saw someone who was broken. And he still was. Not so much anymore, but not all breaks could be repaired. Especially not heartbreak. Not one like he'd suffered.

"Hello, Benjamin," my mother said pleasantly. Thats the one thing I loved most about my mother. She's always been kind and sweet. Except in battle. Confessors are lethal in battle, even before they unleash their power.

Benjamin bowed. "Hello, your majesty," he said respectfully.

"Benjamin, these are my parents," I said taking a deep breath both before and after I said that.

"You don't have to call me that, Benjamin. Kahlan is just fine," my mother said in her ever sweet voice. Her beautiful green eyes shimmered kindly.

Benjamin just nodded. He seemed uncomfortable. "What's wrong?" I whispered to him.

"Amelia," he said quietly. That's right. His sister was still at Chloe's. I nodded.

"Constance," I snapped. "Take him to cell 313 to wait for me. I'll go change into my leather and meet you there." Constance nodded and took Benjamin by the arm.

"Cell?" he asked me, panic shining in his eyes.

"Trust me," I reminded him.. He nodded and allowed Constance to lead him to the Mord-Sith temple. "Cara," I began. She snapped to attention. We had an awkward professional relationship. I was basically the princess, so she obeyed me. But she was also my mistress in the Mord-Sith sense, so I obeyed her. But we somehow made it work. "I'm going to get Amelia from Chloe. I'll be back at the temple in an hour." She nodded.

I unlocked my room with the small key around my neck. The large golden doors swung open silently. I looked around the room. Where was my leather? I finally found it under my bed? Why there? Nobody looks under my bed for anything. They're afraid something might bite. Occasionally, my pet cat, Velvet, has.

Pants, shirt, neck piece, waist belt, leg agiel holster, boots, gloves, braid. And it took all of thirty minutes to put myself together. I looked my image up and down in the full length mirror. Well, I looked like a Mord-Sith. I still have no idea how Cara puts her leather on in five minutes.

I grabbed my agiel from the top of the dresser and slid the gold chain onto my wrist. The lethal leather rod dangled from the chain, my own blood stains glinting in the light. It was tradition for Mord-Sith to use the agiel they were trained with so they would know the pain they inflicted on those they wielded their agiel against.

I needed to go. Any later and Chloe would come looking for Benjamin. And she'd find me. And I really didn't need her asking me questions, as much as I loved the brunette.