Tabula Rasa

[rivaan]

“ Giller really failed this time.” Zed grunted out in annoyance when Maera got onto her own little tirade about how it was confessors' duty to look after the kingdoms' loyalties.” Alright then, Confessor.” He stated, placing the intonation under her title as she obviously used it. The old wizard's voice carried a lot of anger true, but also a lot of reprimand.” Tell me about this situation then.” He added and threw his hand at where a lil while ago there were D'Haran soldiers chasing them.

“So far Kelton was keeping low... they didn't openly rebel, didn't let Rahl's soldiers in force to enter.” He started and his face was as strict as an old wizard's face can be.” Now that a confessor walked herself into Kelton with the obvious intent to investigate what was happening, their hand was forced. D'Harans showed themselves. A Quad showed up with an escort... Those soldiers cannot return back to Kelton. At most Kelton would probably wait a day. After that it's obvious the soldiers were dealt with.” Zed explained, breaking his speech here and there to let them make conclusions.” What happens when they do not return?” He asked, waiting to hear their answer.

“They will openly side with Rahl.” Richard stated in realization as he was currently doing double duty of preparing the horses and also look at Hope who was still hunched by a tree nearby.

Zed was wondering if Maera understood how the action of confessors just caused even greater problem. He threw a evaluating look at Roderic before continuing for the uninitiated in the wizard's rules.” That's right Richard. The greatest harm can result from the best intentions. Congratulations, Confessor. You just pushed Kelton into the hands of Rahl. It's already know by a confessor no less that Kelton housed Quad and D'Haran soldiers, their only choice is to side with him.” He finally stated the last part of the explanation.

That explanation aside as Maera started to order the old wizard around, only to be warned and stopped by Roderic, Zed's face was about as red as tomato in anger. He looked ready to explode at that point, but held it in.

Hope nearby was currently finally getting over her weak stomach from her first kill. She looked at Zed and Richard. Then an instinct made her move closer to Maera and Roderic, to protect them. Hope didn't think Zed will try to harm them, but her instincts were screaming inside her non the less. What she did have though was this overwhelming fear growing inside her of killing people and being killed now. Her face immediately turned white as canvas when the old man's eyes fell on her.

“Why we came is simple. It's to stop Rahl...” Zed replied.” As of why we came it's because of Orden. What else would be a possible reason? Which would never have had to happen if you all didn't ignore my warning after the war! I warned htem, I warned them all that we should separate the boxes and hide them all away to places no one will every find them, but no. The council took them as prizes to decorate their treasuries and even the Mother Confessor intervened to keep one in Aydindril.” He stated and looked at the trio again. Noticing how deathly pale Hope looked out of fear finally made him pull back his emotions and calm properly.” I learned he put the magic of Orden in play, so here I am with a real Seeker. As for why we are here, it's because of revelation... Richard here befriended the mud people and they called a seer gathering for us. The seers told him to head to Kelton where we'd find the key to finding the way to stop him from getting the final box. Who would have guessed it would point us at the 3 of you.” Zed stated and finally took a deep breath as if he felt a whole better about it now, with everything off his chest, he threw a glance at Roderic.” You, I do not recognize you, you're after my time it seems. Looks like Giller at least still has eyes for the right people. You've really got the Callling. Did you pass the second order tests yet?” He said, which could quite well be taken as approval of Roderic as a wizard.

“Should we... get away form here?” Hope asked with weak voice, holding her stomach, still slightly hunched over, but at least not throwing her guts out.” Won't they send more soldiers after us?” She asked, but frankly she just wanted to just get in one of the wayward pines and sleep... forget.

[Keira Kelly]

Maera simply stood quiet at she stared at the old wizard. He was most certainly not what she had expected.. or hoped. When the old man began to speculate on Kelton's involvement with Rahl, she thrust a hand back at all that remained of the soldiers that had been chasing them. "They did let Rahl's forces enter, Wizard. These were merely the first. Had we not found out, they would have let small numbers enter and enter until a huge force swelled within Kelton, behind our lines!" she explained. She closed her eyes, pinching the bridge of her nose. It wouldn't do to stand her arguing. "I met with Fyren and let him believe that I accept his lies. He chose to send those murderers after me anyways. He could have chosen to keep up the pretext. This tells me that maybe there are even more of Rahl's forces where these came from than we know. Fyren was obviously confident that Rahl could protect him from our forces and he had to know if I didn't return, that he would be suspect at the very least. At least we can pull our forces back to the lands we know are loyal now rather than having such a breach in our defensive line."

The old man began to tirade about his warnings to the council about the safety of the boxes of Orden. Maera cast a hard look at the man. "If WE didn't ignore your warnings? You have been gone for nearly three decades, Wizard." she rebutted tiredly. The fear had taken a lot out of her. She waved a hand, indicating everyone there except for the old man. "At most, we were perhaps a year or two old when you gave your warnings and left! The current Mother Confessor herself was not even born yet! And you place the guilt of not following your warnings upon us." She pulled herself up, emotion disappearing from her features until she was the calm, poised Confessor that people expected before she continued. "I think you will find the current Mother Confessor much different than the last one that you knew, Wizard." she said, not knowing the old wizard's last name. In fact, he had never even stated his own first name; his companion had let that slip only. "Will you hold us guilty for the actions of our predecessors? Actions we do hope to rectify?" she questioned.

She listened as the old wizard finally calmed down a bit and began telling them the story of him and his companion's travels. She couldn't stop the shocked expression from crossing her features at hearing that he had actually been allowed a Gathering by the Mud People. That was something that was unheard of. She glanced back at the direction Kelton's capital city lay in as she pondered their choices, only half listening as the old man began to speak to Roderic.

Roderic nodded at the old man's questions. More than Maera, he was in awe of the old man, the First Wizard in fact. A wizard by birth, unlike himself. "I was only accepted long after you had left, about ten years ago." he confirmed. The next question made Roderic feel ashamed. He cast his eyes downward, shaking his head. "I am only a wizard of the third order. Gillar never offered me the test for the Second Order." he answered. He knew very well that it could take considerably longer even for some with merely the calling to train as wizards. That Giller had never offered him the test for the higher ranking could mean a number of things: that he didn't think Roderic had the power for it, that there were still things Roderic needed to learn or perhaps that the time for it had just never come up, especially with how hectic the Midlands had been for quite a while now.

Maera put a consoling hand on Roderic's arm, well knowing how he felt about it, but they had other issues at the moment. She turned to the old wizard. "We think we know where the third box is." she said. "That was the other reason we came to Kelton to figure out their loyalty. Kelton is immediately north of Tamarang. It was the buffer between Rahl's forces and Tamarang...." she explained. "From what we can tell, Queen Milena of Tamarang has it. We needed to know of Fyren's involvement with Rahl because we are pretty sure that Milena IS involved with him. If we didn't find out, there would be an open path for Milena to hand it over to Rahl with us being none the wiser, but now, at least, we can have a head start to cut of that chance." she explained. "We know she hasn't sent it yet but now we know we can't rely on Kelton forces to intercept it either."

She looked over to Hope, wanting to help console the young woman, but again, there were more important matters at the moment. She took a deep breath, calming the knot of anxiety at the thought of more Quads on their heels. "Yes, I think we had better, Hope." she agreed. "I wouldn't be surprised if they had been merely the ones closest to horses. More could be upon up at any minute." She turned to the old wizard, this time giving him a slight deferential bow of her head. "First Wizard, I put it to you then. Would you suggest we go to Aydindril to gather forces first or go straight to Tamarang? Or any other idea?" She knew which choice she'd have made... it was the same choice they had made for coming to Kelton in rushed desperation but perhaps the old wizard had a better idea.

[rivaan]

"Bah... toads..." Zed grumbled out. Maera's arguments weren't really reaching him. He had his opinion on the matter and given that he was living for way longer than her, he was pretty sure his opinion was right. Granted there was probably some stubborness behind it too, but there was plenty of logic too. In his eyes the mother confessor could have send a single undercover agent to worm her way into Kelton and this all could have been avoided. That or they could have send a detatchment to guard this confessor... or another pair or two. So much better plans than to send a confessor, a single wizard form the third order and a by the looks of it untaught witch.

Still Maera's next words did reach him. Zed's eyes calmed down a little as he looked at her and Roderick, studying htem, before sighing." For that I trully cannot blame you. Those actions were beyond your control that much is true. That doesn't mean you are blamess on other accounts though." He finally said." Just remember your Mother Confessor almost lost a sister and a wizard today, just because of a single bad decision." He added." I will not bring this issue anymore, but better think about it."

"I see, perhaps..." Zed was mumbling while observing Roderic with a evaluating eye, not in the negative sense though." I see, indeed." He finally reached a conclusions of his own it seems." I will not honeycoat it, to reach the second order is an acomplishment that takes time and skill. I will tell you that you've got the potential." Zed finally judged." It's still a little distant for the moment, but so was Giller's when he started. Follow the path earnessly and you may one day stand in his shoes, having to teach others." The old wizard smiled." I see what you can become, if you can reach it has always been up to you. But I'm well pleased with you. Good to see at least the one most important place in the Midlands hasn't changed and still keeps it's vigour and prestige."

"Zed, the horses are ready." Richard called, attracting hte attention of hte old wizard. Meanwhile the younger man helped the still shacken Hope to get on her horse. The witch more or less laid down on the horse hugging it's neck.

"Your companion doesn't appear to be in condition for long journeys, but might as well get going indeed." Zed stated.

"I'm fine.. don't mind me. I will get better in a while." Hope objected weakly. The face of hte person she killed with her bare hands was still haunting her vision.

"No point in going to Aydindril." Richard suddenly said as he petted Maera's and Roderic's horses, checking them and with a pleased smile he concluded the animals were indeed in good condition." Darken Rahl has a dragon... Your buffer between Tamarang and him is meaningless to begin with." Richard said flatly as he too hopped onto his horse.

"Drago... what?!" The word Dragon, rose Hope from her depressed condition, only to cause her to nearly fall from the horse as her limbs as if give out all their strength." Now I know why I had a brief vision with him in the dark skies above a forest...slightly before I escaped D'Hara." She suddenly turned even more depressed, slumming back on hte horse as if everything was pointless.

"Yes, somehow he found out about us quite in time just as we were at the Mud people... A few were killed while we were at Gathering. The magic of their ancestors protected us from his senses. A child was taken too. He arrived on a Red Dragon." Zed explained.

"I told you, Maera... He takes children." Hope weakly added as she ushed her horse to slowly start moving, which didn't help her nausea.

[Keira Kelly]

Maera sighed at the continued reprimands the old wizard now placed upon the Mother Confessor. Slowly she shook her head. "Yes, we could have all been lost here today, that is true. However... we were out of options at this point." she replied slowly, wanting to defend the choice of one she considered family. "We had sent spies and others but none could get close enough to Fyren to be able to really see what was going on. The few that did get into the castle.. we never saw again." she told him gravely. "This was our last chance. We knew that time was running out to find out the truth. We came knowing this might very well be a suicide mission but we needed to know. It was done out of desperation, Wizard. The decision was bad either way.. but we needed to know the truth." she added.

As the conversation moved on to wizard speaking to wizard, Maera moved over to Hope, seeing how the younger woman was doing finally. She had wanted to before but a Confessor was nothing if not trained for duty. It had been her duty to act as the interface in this meeting, despite her concern over one she was now beginning to consider a friend. Her head snapped up though, looking over at the conversation when the old wizard mentioned that Roderic had the potential to rise much higher than his current station in his studies. She couldn't help but smile and feel proud of her wizard at hearing that. She had known how long Roderic had been striving to grow his powers, to learn what he needed to. It had been a hard road, especially for one not born with the Gift, but she had always told Roderic that he was stronger than he knew. He glanced her way, catching her eye as they shared a quick, private look that said much to anyone paying attention, even if they didn't realize that it was so obvious.

When the other young man spoke up that it was time to be going, Maera couldn't have more wholeheartedly agreed. She felt too vulnerable out here, even with two wizards. The young man helped Hope up, though Maera stayed a bit close, keeping an eye out on the unknowns. The young man, only slightly younger than her and Roderic, seemed kind enough but.. she knew enough never to simply assume. She glanced back towards where they had come from, the capital of Kelton and then at the old wizard. "It really doesn't matter if she, or any of us, aren't in a condition for a long journey... There is no other choice." she said, simply matter-of-factly.

The next statement the young man made caught Maera up short. She had almost forgotten about that... She wasn't sure how this young man knew... perhaps the old wizard had had some way of getting that information but... it didn't matter. It was truth. Her jaw dropped at hearing that the old wizard and the younger man had been with the Mud People, people she knew fairly well. Not as well as Kahlan, but Maera had been to visit them a fair number of times in the past. To hear that some had been killed jabbed at her heart. Most of them were kind, simple people, naive to the ways of the rest of the world. She felt in shock, but the last words were like lightning. Her worried face turned to the old wizard. "He took a child? Why.. why would he do that?" The second the words were out of her mouth, she regretted them. She wasn't so sure she wanted to know. She thought she knew though. She couldn't even imagine how heartbroken the parents must be.. Hopefully though, they would not even be able to imagine what the fate of their child would likely come to.

She felt numb at hearing all of this. Truth be told, she knew what was said of Demmin Nass, Rahl's right hand... It had been horrifying to hear that someone could be like that.. but Maera knew the Mud People. She knew many of the children of their village. To now know that someone she had met might be given to that monster... She felt sick. She felt Roderic come up beside her, giving her a quick but comforting hug. He had been with her on some of her visits there. He knew what she knew. In the back of her mind, she registered that this was one of the few times that he had not been at all hesitant about touching her, but that thought was a distant cloud behind all of the rest she had just taken in.

Strong. She needed to be strong. She could be of no help to that one child, and even less so if she didn't push past everything. Nor to all the other children of the Midlands. She touched a hand gently to Roderic, a gesture thanking him for his attempts to comfort her, as she steeled herself, her face becoming blank once more as she had been taught since she was young. She turned to the old wizard and his companion. "Thank you for the information, both of you." she said sincerely. "Dragon or not though, we now know that the buffer between the two lands was false anyways. You are right. As much as I'd like to return home and gather more forces, we don't have the time. The more boxes we can keep away from Rahl the better." she agreed. She glanced quickly at the old wizard, unwilling to assume now that they would help, that they would abide with the decision. The last time she tried to outline a plan of action, the old man had taken it rather badly. Maera wasn't used to people not accepting the words of a Confessor but it seemed this old man was an exception. She needed to know though, if it would be three headed to Tamarang.. or five. Right now though, they just needed to get away.

Roderic helped her up onto her own horse before he got up onto his own. Maera nudged her heels into the side of her mount, urging it to begin to walk, angling it slightly towards the north-east though keeping it slow enough that, with the old wizard ahead, he could make the choice in where to lead the party.. for now. When they had all been riding for a good few minutes with, as of yet, no sign of pursuit, she decided that it would be important to make at least something in the way of introductions. She had already introduced the three of them but neither the old man nor the younger had replied to it. The old wizard had spoken the younger man's name a couple of times but... the old wizard had referred to himself differently than what the young man seemed to call him.

"While we have a moment, First Wizard, I regret that I am unsure of how to address you or your companion." she said formally. "As I mentioned earlier, I am Maera Ralik, this is Roderic Amagren, and Hope." she said, gesturing towards the other two as she said their names. She hoped that this time, they would be decent enough to respond with their names. "First Wizard, do we head for Tamarang then?" she asked.

[rivaan]

The old wizard threw a glance at Maera, then at Roderic and Hope in turns. He then turned back forwards, directing his horse to keep in the proper direction." Fist Wizard Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander at your service." He finally introduced himself with calm voice." Do not tell anyone though. It's better to have as less people know as possible. My name's not exactly safe to know given Rahl's hatred towards me." Zedd added, reminding to Maera, Roderic and Hope to preferrably keep their mouths shuts for their own sakes as well as his. He didn't really introduce Richard, but the man slowed down his horse to get in line with Maera.

"My name is Richard Cypher." He introduced himself with friendly polite voice to all 3 of the group." I'm a forest guide... and the Seeker of truth as it turned out without my knowledge." He casually mentioned, throwing a joking glance at Zedd who smiled." Call me Richard. Rahl killed my father and somehow that led to other things and here we are."

"Hmm..." Hope made a thinking sound as she had her eyes locked on Richard's face while hse rode behind him and Maera. Something was familiar about his face... She couldn't quite remember where it was though. She had seen him in a vision when she made them head in his and the old man's direction, but now that she looked at him, she couldn't shake off the feeling she might have seen him before too. Probably in one of the countless visions she had forgotten over the years. She she remembered vividly to this very moment, other she barely could recall. She was suddenly torn from her thoughts though when the man named Richard started speaking again.

"That's the plan. Now that we picked the 3 of you, we should attempt to get the box. The information we got fro mthe spirits of the ancestors of the mud people indicated that here we will find a really important part of what we'd need to stop Rahl, so it's now turn to resume the box hunting." He explained.

"How do we get the box though?" Hope suddenly made her presence known as she asked." If F... Rahl's trying to get the box, it's likely he's got eyes on it too. We might be walking right into a trap! The 3 of us cannot touch him with our powers. If he jumps us with that dragon of his we are done for!" The young witch stated quite concerned.

"Neither can we." Zedd stated." And I do not think pulling a confessor visit stunt is a good idea this time either. We can try to infiltrate, Tamarang shouldn't have the box too well guarded against magic unless Rahl himself did it. We can check for traps and worm our way out." The old wizard casually proposed a way of action before throwing a look at Maera." A confessor can sweep through a castle in the matter of days without being found out. Is that not so, Confessor Ralik?" Zedd asked with iced voice, but it didn't reveal negative feelings towards the woman. No it was more like a cold statement of fact, that was going to requrie proving soon.

"You mean...?!" Hope asked with widely opened eyes of shock, realizing what Zedd was implying with his statement of facts. Maera had mentioned her powers and what it did, only now Hope realized quite why confessors were feared and respected by the rulers of the Midlands." Have you ever done that, Maera?" She asked with big innocent, slightly afraid, but also curious eyes.

[Keira Kelly]

Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander. Maera spoke the name in her head over a few times. It was a name that no one had truly remembered for.. well, nearly as long as she'd been alive. This was the man, the wizard who had separated the three lands.. She could only imagine such power as this old and skinny man who rode before her possessed. Right at that moment, she could think of no better definition of not judging by appearances. She nodded her head at his request. "Of course not, Wizard Zorander. From now on, at least in public anyways, Cloud Reader... was it, Ruben Rybnik? it shall be." she agreed.

She glanced over questioningly for a moment as the younger man slowed to let his hose walk beside hers. Though the younger man introduced himself by name, asking they call him by his given name and joking with the older wizard, Maera couldn't help but remain formal. This young man was the one, the only one, who could end the threat from Rahl, if the wizards at the Keep were right.

She gave him a nod, this one grateful. "Seeker... I am sorry about your father. I understand you want to do this for your own reasons.. and I very much comprehend those reasons as well, but I just want to... thank you for agreeing to help in this conflict, agreeing to help defeat Darken Rahl." she told him sincerely. "You may be doing this out of self-preservation or vengeance or justice or all three but, in the end, you are doing this for all of us too, all the people of the Midlands in addition to the people of Westland. The people of the Midlands are my duty as they are the duty of each and every Confessor that has survived so far and... we are all grateful that you would risk your own life to help. It is rare to find someone thrust into such dangers who is willing to stand up and fight. Thank you." she concluded.

Confessors like herself, Kahlan, and the others had been born into such duty. They really knew no other way to live.. but for this young man, nothing more than a wood's guide, to be willing to join into the fight.. that spoke of a nobility of the soul. Time would tell when the danger became more real though, if this young man would live up to what she hoped of a Seeker of Truth. The air he gave off though, his very presence, gave her hope.

Almost on cue to that thought, Hope made a sound, drawing Maera's attention. The young D'Haran still looked shaken up from earlier, but the way Hope was staring at the Seeker concerned the Confessor. Her attention was quickly diverted back to Richard though. She would see to Hope later when they had a chance but.. in the end, the duty instilled within her gave her no other belief except that this plan, this objective was more important than the lives of any of them and the lives of the rest of them even less so than the Seeker's. She nodded as Richard explained the next step and how they had come to that decision. She was about to say something in reply when Hope cut in.

And she cut right to the heart of the matter. The reason they had sought the true Seeker of Truth, someone who could figure out what seemed an impossible task. When Zorander chimed in, at one time Maera might have taken exception to his words but.. in this, she knew they were true. With Fyren, the 'stunt' as the First Wizard put it had been necessary. With Queen Mileena of Tamarang, however, it would be throwing oil on the fire if they were to attempt the same things, likely only earning them a chance for Mileena to escape with the box of Orden. Throughout Zedd's proposal of a plan, Maera remained quiet, even as the others asked small questions or gave ideas of their own. The key to this plan was her. She held no fear of it, nor doubts that it would work... just the cost in human lives it would take. Knowing Queen Mileena, it would be innocent lives who had no idea of what they were losing themselves over.

Her head snapped towards the First Wizard as he addressed his question to her. "Most other Confessors, perhaps week. Days for me, certainly, at the most." she agreed, her voice, pained, in reply. "If the Mother Confessor were here, it would be considerably shorter even but.. with just me, a few days if we are very cautious. Less if we choose our targets well enough." Her head turned towards Hope's outburst as Maera's face fell into the Confessor's mask. She was silent for a long moment before answering. "It has been a long time since it was necessary for such a thing, Hope. Since before I was born, even." she replied slowly. "However.. it is something we Confessors are trained well in how to accomplish, knowing that it can be the final solution to save innocent lives." she added.

She turned back to the First Wizard, a stoic expression on her face. "I agree that this is likely our best chance in this. Having allies inside the Tamarang palace will be instrumental, in finding out if the box is even there, where it is... and ultimately in getting it out." she said. She glanced at the others, feeling the exhaustion finally of having used her power previously at the Kelton palace. She did not like the idea of giving away her limits to others but.. if they were going to do this, they would need to be able to plan around it. "I recover my power in several hours.. perhaps eight hours so, at best, I could take... three people with it per day." she admitted.

"If we want no indication of the presence of a Confessor, I would propose that one of you draw away a single guard to begin with, a guard at the outer walls, preferably near a door." she continued. "I will touch him, have him let us in, and we can send him back on duty with instructions to have his commander come to a predefined location of our choice after eight hours have passed. We can work up through the chain of command like this, likely by the next day, we will have access into the inner workings of the castle." Maera said. "From there.. we can choose our targets with more intent on whom might know anything about the box." She risked a quick glance over at Hope, wondering what the younger woman might be thinking at hearing at what a Confessor could truly accomplish. She looked back to Zedd. "Unless you have other ideas for targets, Wizard Zorander?"

Choosing such targets were the way Confessors were taught was most effective. Because it was such a rare occurrence though, in the past, when they had had to infiltrate a kingdom in such a way and the speed and stealth at which they accomplished the task, their methods, their targets, had never really been deduced by the general population of the Midlands. In the chaos that ensued at the de-throning of a monarch, very little attention had ever been paid to the targets the Confessors had used to gain entry in the first place. It was the most effective tactic still but Maera would defer to the First Wizard or the Seeker. That brought her to another thing that needed to be done.

She turned back to look at the younger man near her still. "Before we go any further, one last thing." she said. "I pledge my life in defence of the Seeker, the only one who can stop Rahl. I will sacrifice myself before I allow harm to find the Seeker." she pledged. She bowed her head to Richard. "My life is yours."

[rivaan]

Hope felt a little horrified at how the wizard and Maera talked about commiting something so terrible with such ease. She already knew this old man was not just nice and harmless. It was clear by the way he decimated the D'Haran soldiers, but there was something else. She had caught a glimpse of his past now that she knew who he was. Old visions interconnected now that his spell to hide his identity was removed for her. He was used to war... He was dangerous... in a way she feared that he might be more dangerous than Darken Rahl if he's angered. This man had raised the boundries... This required knowledge and skills that she couldn't even imagine. Who knew if Rahl was his equal on that front alone despite his ability to weird the dark magics.

"Let's not be hasty..." Richard suddenly interjected in the discussion after Zed and Maera had spoken about commiting mass murder more or less. He didn't appear really amused even with the idea, which made Hope think even more positive of him! The seeker threw a glance at Roderic, studying something about him, then Maera and finally Hope." We still have a lot of days of travel ahead of us to plan this out and if it's needed we will go with that plan, but if there's another option we can use that. For now let's just focus on gaining distance from Kelton's capital and get some rest for the 3 of you."

Hope smiled and relaxed on the horse, happy that the decision for that was put off for now at least. She even seemingly started to fall asleep on the horse, snapping awake every few seconds, just enough to keep hold of her reigns over hte horse, which still made it dangerous in case she falls from it.

"Wake up, Hope..." Zed said as he moved his horse by hers and placed a hand on her shoulder, using his magic in some way because moments later she opened her eyes wide awake in confusion. With that Zed moved his horse towards Maera.

Using his magic he kept their voices from reaching the others in their merry group Since they were moving in a forest and trying to gain distance they had to move decently fast and somewhat scattered because of the trees. Thus keeping their voices from reaching the others was easy." Tell me, how long have this continued?" He asked throwing a look that demanded no lies or beating around the bush." Yes I mean the love between you and your wizard, Maera." Zed stated with surprisingly kind voice given the situation." The reason I am asking this is because the two of you should have been separated a long while ago if things have progressed this far. It will only lead to endless pain for both of you if you keep together for any longer."

Meanwhile Hope who was now wide awake and energetic once more was occupying her mind by trying to keep up with Richard who was riding on the very front of hte group. Since he was a forest guide he seemingly had a knack for moving in forest even be it on horse's back!" Hey, you said you are a forest guide, right? What's a forest guide or rather what do you do as one?" She asked with great curiousity. After all in the People's palace there were no forests. Hell it was a giant fortress city after all. She knew it was pretty self explanatory a name, but she couldn't figure out why people would need a forest guide.

"Well I've never really had anyone ask me that before." Richard replied." It has always been just what I am. Sometimes you'd need someone to guide you through the forest to some location you cannot reach without someone who knows how to read trails or where to find herbs and plants. That's what I am, I can guide you to such places." Richard quickly explained as hope looked at him with big amazed eyes. Well for a city child it wouldn't be unusual to be amazed, especially if you spend your life in one massive building that is." Let's see, do you see that over there?" He asked and pointed at some area of hte snow that at first didn't look any different from the rest, but when he brought his horse to a stop and she followed suit, Hope finally noticed hte fresh snow seemed just a tad different across a line. She couldn't see it until she was literally on top of it though. When they got close enough the snow as if hopped up and away." That was a fox with it's winter coat. It was hiding in the tall snow in hope of probably catching some prey." Richard explained and made his horse start moving again, pointing at some really hard to see tracks." You see the fox's long fur in winter sweeps snow as it moves which makes it's tracks sometimes hard to see. That's my job as forest guide, to guide you in the forest's ways." He smiled.

"Can you show me more?!" Hope asked with great enthusiasm. This was also the first time she had seen a fox! Of course she had seen fox furs as scarfs in the People's palace among some of the weathier ladies, but a life one was a first time.

"Of course, we have a long journey ahead of us. I will teach you more things about the forests if you so want." Richard replied with a smile, ready to guide the younger girl into the ways of the ... FOREST GUIDE! It seemed he was happy he didn't have to do things as a seeker once in a while.

[Keira Kelly]

Maera looked over at Richard's objection to the plan, her face unreadable. At least it was on the surface. "Don't think that that's what I want to do, or that destroying lives doesn't weigh heavily on me. It does. More than you can know, Seeker." she said sincerely. It was bad enough to have to confess the guilty but.. at times, it was necessary to touch the innocent with her power as well. "But sometimes sacrifices must be made to protect all. I am open to another plan but.. this currently serves the best chance for our success. Any that may be.. destroyed in it, they may be unknowingly serving the cause of evil but they still serve evil and that must be stopped by any means necessary. As Seeker, I will follow your lead in this, I trust in you to lead us in this, especially if you can think of another way that gives us the same chance at success, but I hope that you keep this option open to us if needed." She nodded her head once, gratefully when Richard agreed that he was willing to consider the option of using her power.

How could she tell them how each and every confession weighed on her. Like the man back at the Kelton city's gates. He had merely been a soldier, unknowingly following orders most likely. Probably fearing Confessors the same as any other Midlander but probably not wishing them harm. And yet she had touched him, destroying who he was so that she might live. So that Hope and Roderic would live and the three of them could escape unknowable torture before they were granted their deaths. It had been a necessity but it would weigh on her. She would always remember the young man's face at the moment her power tore through the very fabric of who he was. It was the least.. and only thing she could do for what she did to people in the cause of duty. It hurt her but... times before and this time, she could think of no other way as effective. Time would tell.

Now that the attention had moved on from her for the moment, the full weight of the exhaustion of using her power came back. Maera hunched forward in her saddle, her head hanging, her muscles feeling like wet rags for the moment. Using her power, the running, the arguments of the past half an hour or so.. she couldn't remember ever having felt more drained. She needed sleep... but she couldn't get it. Not here, not now. As she closed her eyes, listening to the sound of the horses clomping on the forest floor, she heard one move towards her own mount. Cracking one eye open, she expected to see Roderic checking up on her but was surprised instead to see the First Wizard. She raised her head up with some effort.

"Wizard Zor..." she began but got cut off by the old man's question. She could feel colour flow into her cheeks at it. She supposed it was likely rather obvious; she held no illusions about that, she supposed. She risked a quick glance back at Roderic. She couldn't help it. At least he was just out of earshot for the moment with the noises the horses were making and the volume Wizard Zorander was using. She paused for a moment before answering.. not sure how to answer, or what the answer was truly. She was glad at least that the old man's voice at least sounding somewhat sympathetic this time, not critical. "We've known each other since he came to the Keep, nearly ten years ago. I can't say there wasn't an attraction from the start... But that is where it stops." she explained. "It's not something that we can just turn off. Dear spirits, I wish we could..." she admitted. "It would make everything so much easier. But we can't."

"That being said, I know that we can be nothing. And we have kept our relationship... as friends." she added. There was the incident of the one kiss, which she refrained from mentioning, but there had been extenuating circumstances there. It was to help Roderic resist Hope's glamour, which would have only made the situation worse. That both Maera and Roderic had enjoyed the kiss was merely a byproduct and that act would never be repeated.

She nodded. "Yes, Wizard Zorander, we should have been separated, had the situation been ideal. In fact, I requested a new wizard be assigned to me... but the number of wizards still alive is.. waning, just as the number of my sister Confessors. There is a short supply to reassign and.. we had to leave quickly on short notice." she explained. "Roderic made a case that we did not have the time to bring another wizard up to speed on everything before setting out, as well as none of the remaining wizards were in as much of physical prime as would be needed for a quick a journey as we intended to make, not to mention with the terrible weather we travelled through."

She took a deep breath and nodded again. "I know very well.. and fear, the pain it would bring. I do not need to be reminded, First Wizard. The thought of it haunts me day and night. As I said though, I had requested another wizard. Our continued partnership was to be only for this mission of finding you and the the Seeker. Once we return to Aydindril, I am sure that the Mother Confessor and Wizard Giller will work on finding others we will each be able to better work with upon our return." she told him earnestly. This time, Roderic wouldn't be able to talk her out of it, as much as she wished it could have been otherwise.

Maera took notice of Hope talking to Richard at that moment and while she had the First Wizard's private attention, perhaps she should mention something before things could have a chance to get out of hand. "Wizard Zorander.. there may.. be an issue. Perhaps you might have some experience in dealing with it." she began. "I would hesitate to bring up an.. intimate matter as it pertained to someone else but this will affect all here. As you noticed, Hope is a witch-woman, albeit a young one. One that was never taught her powers which seems to be growing into." she explained.

"She is a good person, a naive girl.. but she carries great power. It seems that.. well, she tends to bewitch people sometimes, especially men.." she trailed off, hoping that Zorander would understand. "It's.. already happened once during our journey down here. I was luckily able to halt it but..." she trailed off again, staring over at Hope and Richard talking. "It wouldn't do to have it happen again.. with any of you. I can only pray that you know of some defence against it short of sending her off on her way. She is a lost young woman who needs a safe place to learn who she is becoming and learn to control and use her powers morally." she said. "I tried suggesting some techniques as we Confessors learn, as my own power is all that I know, but... it seems her powers and mine are just too different. Perhaps you can help in some way?"

[rivaan]

"Please, just Zed. No need to go all formal when it's not required and this will be a rather long journey. Calling each other Confessor and Wizard will get tiring way too soon." Zed said with a kind voice to Maera who was still calling him rather formally.

"Ahh..." Zed made a sound of understanding as he truly looked at Maera with kind eyes as if she was his own child." This child, he still has so much to learn. He fell victim to the third and second rules at the same time." Zed sighed with sad tone." It will hurt you both when you separate, but time will heal all wounds." Zed said and placed his hand on her shoulder in reassuring manner." You two are not hte first confessor and her wizard to fall in love, you know. It will hurt but eventually one day you will wake up and you will realize that the pain is no longer the same as before and you will find the strength to move forward." He encouraged her.

Zed raised a curious eyebrow as Maera brought a different topic and directed his attention towards Hope who was currently following Richard like a duckling. He smiled, nodded and laughed softly." I know." He replied with a smile." I knew she was a witchwoman from the moment we met, remember?" He added and nodded before his expression turned into complete amusement at Maera's words." You thaught a witchwoman, confessor ways of magic control? Now I've heard everything!" He laughed." A confessor's way of controling her power will not really help a witch-woman indeed. Witchwomen cannot stop themselves from bewitching people around them. It's in their very nature. To ask a witchwoman to stop bewitching those around her would be like asking a person to stop breathing." He smiled." Worry not, I will deal with it. There are ways around that charm of hers. Richard sword can protect him when he's using it's magic for example, but I can weave a spell around him to block her power temporary. I myself had dealt with witchwomen before, do not worry about me." Zed added and looked at hte pair in front of them, deciding to not do it right now though. They seemed to be having a lot of fun. He couldn't remember Richard smiling like that since his father was killed. Looking at them reminded Zed of the times Richard was following his father around to learn form him.

"Still as for a great power, her power is great indeed. It wouldn't be surprising if she would have been targeted for her gift." Zed said quietly with grim voice, studying Hope before throwing a look at Maera." She's D'haran." He stated it as a matter of fact." Judging by the looks very pure D'haran. As a matter of fact usually it's a mother's duty to train her daughter, similarly to confessors actually. Since she's here and untrained... and living... Was she living in the People's palace before she came to these lands?" Zed suddenly asked with really serious voice. The look in his eyes once more had turned to something that didn't allow for beating around the bush.

Meanwhile Richard was showing to Hope how to tie rope to make traps with a piece of string.

[Keira Kelly]

Maera smiled. "True enough.. Zedd." she replied, pleased that the old wizard was not nearly as harsh and strict as he had seemed at first. In that moment of relief that the journey wouldn't be an absolute nightmare, the tiredness took hold all the more and Maera nearly had to fight to keep her eyes open. It wouldn't do to nod off in the saddle and fall out. When she'd been young, she had once fallen off a horse and broken her arm, quite severely. It had taken the talents of one of the Keep's wizards to mend it. She had been grateful to have had access to magic to have that sort of pain fixed. Her brow furrowed as the old wizard seemed almost to be talking to himself as he stared at her. Who fell victim? Roderic? Probably.

She frowned and then sighed, then giving a small, sad smile. "It hurts either way." she agreed. "But I do understand that it will hurt less apart. I..." she began but trailed off. "I just wish there was a way... It's not fair. I know... I know... Life isn't fair and what is, is, but.. I wish it wasn't. There are times that I wish I hadn't been born a Confessor." she confided. Then again, it wasn't much of a confession; there was almost no doubt that every Confessor felt the same way at one time or another. Being born for duty and having no choice but to forsake any chance at love in one's life was... harsh to say the least. She loved the difference that she and her sisters made in the Midlands but... they had been forced to pay a steep price for merely the crime of their birth.

She nodded, surprised but comforted by Zedd's hand on her shoulder. After his earlier tirade, she hadn't expected such a compassionate side. "I know we aren't the first. Given the situation where a man and a woman are paired and often have to spend much time together, rely on each other at times for their lives... of course it's bound to happen." she agreed. She gave a bit of a crooked smile. "So easy to explain and predict form the outside, isn't it? It's not quite the same living it..." She sighed lightly again. "Perhaps the pain will not be the same but.. I fear it may never truly go away." Her gaze turned back to the trail in front, her face slipping into the Confessor's mask. "As much as it hurts though, if I were to touch Roderic with my power, that would hurt a million times more. That is enough of a nightmare to keep me at a distance." she added, swallowing back the pain.

Maera winced at Zedd's amusement in her attempted teachings for Hope. "I just thought that, much like a Confessor's power, Hope's is always there, always.. ready so to speak. I admit to knowing nothing about a witch-woman's powers.. but nobody else at the Keep knew much either and Hope certainly doesn't. I figured any chance at control was better than no chance." she explained with an amused grimace. She was relieved though to hear that Zedd had a way to combat the effects of Hope's glamour. Her brow furrowed as Zedd spoke only of himself and Richard. "And can you teach Roderic as well?" she asked. "He didn't like the idea of being.. drawn to..." she paused, stopping herself from saying 'someone else' and instead said, "someone barely older than a child." Both reasons were true, in any case.

She turned back to Zedd at his grave pronouncement about Hope's origins. Rather than look surprised, Maera merely nodded. "She is." she confirmed about the fact Hope was D'Haran. "She told us herself." She wanted to make it clear that Hope had not tried to hide anything from them. "From what she told us, she was in an orphanage as a child. And yes, she was at the People's Palace." she confirmed. She frowned. "Why?" She was very curious about the reason for Zedd's charged questioning.