Wizard's First Rule

His breathing stopped momentarily with the sharpness of the hurt. He felt all of her hurt; it mixed with his own pain, threatening to overwhelm him, until he was able to put it down at last. He felt the bone knit together, and added more magic to protect and strengthen it until it could heal the rest of the way on its own. He removed his hands from her at last, finished. Her green eyes came up to his, and the cold anger in them was frightening.

"Thank you," she said softly. "Wait here."

She returned to Demmin Nass, who stood where he had been told to wait.

There were tears in his eyes. "Please, Mistress, command me."

Kahlan pulled a knife from his belt, ignoring his request. With her other hand she unfastened the flanged battle mace from its hook. "Take off your pants." She waited until he had pulled them off and stood once more before her. "Kneel."

The coldness of her voice sent a shiver through Zedd as he watched the big man kneel before her.

Chase grabbed a fistful of his robes. "Zedd, we have to stop her! She's going to kill him! We need information. Once he tells us what we need to know, then she can do whatever she wants, but not until we question him first!"

Zedd gave him a stern look. "As much as I agree with you, there is nothing we can do. If we interfere, she will kill us. If you take two steps toward her, she will kill you before you can take the third. A Confessor in the Blood Rage cannot be reasoned with. It's like trying to reason with a thunderstorm it will only get you hit by lightning."»

Chase released the wizard's robes with a frustrated huff and folded his arms in resignation. Kahlan turned the mace around, holding the handle down to Nass.

"Hold this for me."

He took it and held it at his side. Kahlan kneeled down in front of him, close.

"Spread your legs," she ordered in an icy voice. She reached down between his legs, gripping him in one hand. He flinched, grimaced. "Don't move," she warned. He became still. "How many of the little boys you've molested have you killed?"

"I don't know, Mistress, I don't keep count. I've done it for many years, since I was young. I don't always kill them. Most live."

"Make a good guess."

He thought a moment. "More than eighty. Less than one hundred twenty."

Zedd could see a glint off the knife as she put it under him. Chase unfolded his arms and stood up straighter, his jaw muscles tightening when he heard what Demmin Nass had done.

"I'm going to cut these off. When I do, I don't want you to make a sound," she whispered. "Not one sound. Don't even flinch."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Look into my eyes. I wish to see it in your eyes."

Her arm with the knife strained, and jerked up. The blade came up red.

Demmin's knuckles around the mace were white.

The Mother Confessor rose to her feet in front of him. "Hold out your hand."

Demmin held a shaking hand before her. She put the bloody sack in his palm.

"Eat them."

Chase smiled as he watched. "Good for her," he whispered to no one in particular. "A woman who knows the meaning of justice." She stood before him, watching, until he finished. She tossed the knife aside. "Give me the mace."

He handed it up. "Mistress, I am losing a lot of blood. I don't know if I can remain upright."

"It will displease me greatly if you don't. Just hold on. It won't be long."

"Yes, Mistress."

"Was what you told me about Richard, the Seeker, true?"

"Yes, Mistress."

Kahlan's voice was deadly calm. "All of it?"

Demmin thought a moment, to be sure. "All that I told you, Mistress."

"There is some you did not tell me?"

"Yes, Mistress. I did not tell you that Mord-Sith Denna also took him as her mate. I presume so that she might hurt him more."

There was an eternity of silence. Kahlan stood motionless over Demmin. Zedd could hardly breathe with the pain, could hardly breath past the lump in his throat. His knees shook.

Kahlan's voice came so soft, Zedd could hardly hear it. "And you are sure he is dead?"

"I did not see him killed, Mistress. But I am sure."

"Why is that?"

"It looked to me as if Master Rahl was in the mood to kill him, and even if he didn't, Denna would have. That is what Mord-Sith do. Mates of Mord-Sith do not live this long: I was surprised he was still alive when I left him. He looked to be in bad shape. I have not seen a man have the Agiel put to the base of his skull that many times and still be alive.