LOTS - CARA/KAHLAN

Sweat

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Title:Sweat 1/?

Pairing: Richard/Kahlan, Cara/Kahlan

Summary: In the vein of an episode, the companions struggle with magical illness and a murderous child.

Disclaimer: I don’t own anything. No infringement is intended.

Rating: R

ETA I realized I uploaded my working copy! Below is the correct version, which should be much easier/grammatically pleasing to read! Sorry : )

Sweat

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Just inside of D’Hara’s borders, Cara’s spirits seem to lift. Richard grows more introspective with each step, conscious of the heavy weight of the empire that is his birthright, but Cara is invigorated by the nearness of the land from which she draws her strength. She is careful not to reveal any feelings but Kahlan can sense the purpose in Cara’s movements.

“Just over the ridge there is a tavern,” Cara tells Zedd over her shoulder. Kahlan hazards a glance in Richard’s direction to see if he has caught the latest in what has been a lively exchange between the wizard and the Mord’Sith.

Richard smiles reassuringly and Kahlan hopes it is a sign that he is coming out of his thoughts.

Zedd grumbles, “It’s about time. I was beginning to wonder if this forsaken place had any creature comforts.” Laughing lightly at Zedd’s attempt to needle Cara, Richard steps between the two, saying, “I, for one, am more than ready to tuck into a decent meal. One more bowl of rabbit stew might have killed me.” Snorting, Zedd teases, “Only if Cara cooked it, my boy.” Unable to repress a smile, Kahlan moves to take Cara’s arm. Much to her surprise, Cara allows it. Cara, Kahlan thinks, must be more pleased to be back in D’Hara than anyone guessed.

* * * * *

They are less than a mile from the tavern when a blur of red bolts across the road in front of them.

Richard draws his sword immediately, questioning, “What was that?” Tracking the blur with her eyes, Cara mutters, “It’s either an enormous turkey or a very small gar.” Fighting the powerful urge to crack their heads together, Kahlan exclaims, “It was a boy!” She’s already running after the small child when she vaguely registers the sound of the others’ footsteps behind her.

* * * * *

Kahlan is hidden behind a boulder when Cara crouches beside her, purring dangerously, “If you try to take off without mine or Richard’s protection again I won’t hesitate to hobble you.” Richard drops beside them, cutting through the tension around Cara’s baiting comment, and demands, “Did you see the boy?” Kahlan nods in the direction of a dilapidated farmhouse, saying, “He ran in there.” Cara raises her eyebrows, glancing between the two of them before prompting, “And? Was he hurt? Why are we following after a strange child?” Kahlan stares incredulously, crying, “He’s covered in blood!” Richard’s face tenses at the information. Peering around the small valley in which the farmhouse is situated, he quickly formulates a loose plan.

“I’ll go around back. Kahlan, you try to coax him out.” Cara purses her lips.

* * * * *

Zedd’s noisy gait catches Cara’s ear while Kahlan and Richard are still slipping down the mossy embankment and into the valley.

The wizard’s footsteps are clumsy, but they are not the only ones whispering against the autumn leaves that cover the ground.

Cara is surprised to find a pudgy, bald monk trailing after the lanky, grizzled wizard, though she gives no outward sign.

* * * * *

Kahlan nudges the worn door of the farmhouse with her foot, wincing as it creaks noisily.

Lifting her hands, she calls, “Boy, I mean you no harm.” The farmhouse certainly seems abandoned. The dirt floor is strewn with discarded bits of clothing and cookery. Swiping her hand over the mantle, her fingers come away with a thick layer of dust.

Trying again to penetrate the boy’s fear, she murmurs, “My name is Kahlan. I am a friend of the Seeker.” An angry little growl fills the room, leaving Kahlan with a sense of dread that seems incongruous to what is only a small boy.After a moment, Kahlan sees the top of a dusky blond head emerge from behind a stone cook stove. His light eyes pierce her with an intensity she has never known in any child.

Smiling, she says, “I’ll not harm you.” The boy blinks dark lashes at her in between long glances from his serious eyes. He is tall and thin, but no more than five years old. To her immense surprise, she finds herself thinking that he looks much like Cara, even sharing the generous lips and powerful cheekbones. But there is something else in his bearing that is even more familiar, and she is ashamed to admit that she finds it ominous.

From just outside, Richard calls, “Kahlan, is everything alright?” The boy’s nostrils flare and Kahlan hurries to assure him, That is my friend, Richard; the Seeker.” His eyes glint beneath his sandy brows and he says harshly, “The Seeker killed my father.”

* * * * *

Cara cannot contain an irritated groan when the monk finishes his tale.

Glancing fiercely at the wizard, Cara demands, “You believe him?” Zedd shrugs violently, saying, “We need the Confessor to be sure, but I am inclined to believe his story.” Cara observes the monk dispassionately, murmuring, “If he is telling the truth, he has been trying to murder a child– an important child, at that.” Returning her intense gaze to Zedd, Cara continues, “I cannot imagine that Richard or Kahlan will approve of this monk’s actions.” Zedd nods, saying, “I am not sure that I do, either.” Cara pins him with a look, saying, “If he is telling the truth, there may be no other choice.” Zedd meets her eyes darkly, “It has not escaped my attention.”

* * * * *

Richard paces outside the cottage, torn between barging in or waiting for Kahlan to emerge with the boy. He is resigning himself to spending a few more minutes waiting when Cara joins him.

Looking up, he asks, “Everything alright with Zedd?” Cara nods once, deciding to let Zedd explain the situation to his grandson once the young boy is in their possession.If Richard is concerned by Cara’s laconic response it is overshadowed by his worry for Kahlan.

“I think I should go in there,” he says. “I don’t like her being alone.” Cara mutters sulkily, “I don’t like this boy.” Despite his worry, Richard laughs, watching her from the corner of his amused brown eyes, before he says, “Somehow, I’m not surprised.”

* * * * *

Kahlan watches the boy through wide, surprised eyes. His admission shakes her. His certainty is chilling. Grudgingly, she admits to herself that it might be possible. They had killed many D’Harans on the quest.

Trying something different, Kahlan questions, “Will you tell me why you’re covered in blood?” The boy looks down, noticing that his leather jerkin is covered in dried blood. The sleeves of his white woven shirt are stained red.

“I am not hurt,” he admits.

Kahlan offers him a smile, truly relieved to hear that he is not harmed.

“Will you come outside with me and meet my friends?” For the first time, she notices that he wears a satchel over his small shoulder; made of good, quality leather, but bearing no distinguishing marks that might give her a clue as to his parentage.

Stubbornly, the boy says, “Your friends are not my friends.” Kahlan wheedles, “One of them is a wizard. And another, a Mord’Sith.” She had gambled, telling him about Cara, but as a male child of D’Hara, he would have nothing to fear from her.

His eyes lit up at the mention of the Mord’Sith, though she couldn’t fathom why he might be so excited.

“I will meet them.”

* * * * *

Cara taps Richard’s boot with the toe of her own, inclining her head toward the door to the cottage when he glances at her in confusion.

Kahlan emerges, a troubled expression on her face, followed by the boy.

Cara feels a strange pulse in her mind; a deviation from the calm, controlled rhythm that usually prevails. His face is that of a true D’Haran; bold and handsome, even in extreme youth.

Richard offers Kahlan a smile, then turns to the boy, introducing them as equals, “I’m Richard, and this is Cara.” The boy’s eyebrows arch importantly and he takes something from his pack, offering it to Richard as he says insolently, “My name is Bowen. Bowen Rahl.” Richard and Kahlan goggle at the boy, but Cara reaches out quicker than either of them, snatching the proffered leather cylinder from the boy. She stares down at it, curiously aware of it when the leather starts to disintegrate in her palm, burning through her glove. The last thing she feels is a burn that would shame the Agiel.