Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [327]
A closed carriage stood waiting for them in the dark. Clouds from the horses’ breath rose and drifted slowly in the cold, still air. Richard stumbled a few times as he walked behind her, trying to keep the proper slack to the chain. He had absolutely no idea how long it had been since she had decided he was to be her mate, nor did it matter to him. A guard opened the carriage door.
Denna tossed the end of his chain on the floor. “Get in.”
Richard grabbed the sides of the door. He dimly heard someone approach in a huff. Denna gave a little tug to the chain, indicating she wanted him to wait where he was.
“Denna!” It was the Queen, at the head of her advisors.
“Mistress Denna,” she corrected.
The Queen looked to be in a foul mood. “Where do you think you are going with him?”
“That is none of your concern. It is time we were on our way. How is the Princess?”
The Queen glowered. “We don’t know if she will live. I will be taking the Seeker. He is to pay.”
“The Seeker is the property of myself and of Master Rahl. He is being punished, and will continue to be punished until either Master Rahl, or myself, kills him. There is nothing you could do to him that could equal what is already being done.”
“He is to be executed. Right now.”
Denna’s voice was as cold as the night air. “Go back to your castle, Queen Milena, while you still have a castle.”
Richard saw a knife in the Queen’s hand. The guard standing next to him unhooked his battle-axe, gripping it tightly in his fist. There was a crystal clear moment of silence.
The Queen backhanded Denna and lunged with the knife for Richard. Denna effortlessly caught her with the Agiel against her large chest.
As the guard went past him, raising the axe to Denna, the strange power roared awake. Richard summoned all his strength, became one with the power. He hooked his left arm around the guard’s throat and drove his knife home. Denna gave a casual glance back as the man let out a death scream. She smiled, and her eyes glided back to the Queen, who stood shaking, paralyzed in place, the Agiel between her breasts. Denna gave a twist to the Agiel. The Queen dropped straight down in a heap.
Denna turned her glare to the Queen’s advisors. “The Queen’s heart has given out.” She arched an eyebrow. “Unexpectedly. Please express my condolence to the people of Tamarang on the death of their ruler. I would suggest you find a new ruler who is more attentive to the wishes of Master Rahl.”
They all gave a quick bow. The awakened power flickered and was gone. The effort of stopping the guard had taken all the strength Richard had left. His shaking legs would no longer hold him. The ground tilted and came up to meet him.
Denna grabbed his chain near the collar, raising his head off the ground. “I didn’t tell you to lie down! You were not given permission! On your feet!”
He couldn’t move. She drove the Agiel into his stomach, dragged it up his chest, to his throat. Richard convulsed in pain, but could not make his body respond to her wishes.
“Sorry…” he breathed.
She let his head drop to the ground when she realized he wasn’t able to move and turned to the guards. “Put him inside.”
She climbed in after him, yelling up to the driver to be off, and pulled the door shut. Richard slumped back as the carriage jerked ahead.
“Please, Mistress Denna,” he said in a slur, “forgive me for letting you down, for failing to stand as you wished. I’m sorry. I will do better in the future. Please punish me to teach me to be better.”
She gripped the chain, close to the collar, her knuckles white, lifting him from the seat back. Her lips curled in a sneer over gritted teeth. “Don’t you dare die on me now, not yet; you have things to do first.”
His eyes were closed. “As you command… Mistress Denna.”
She let go of the chain, took his shoulders, laid him across the seat, and gave him a kiss on his forehead. “You have my permission to rest now, my love. It’s a long way. You will have a long time to rest, before it starts again.”
Richard