Parallel Affinity

Part 16.

Ashford. Even from the distance of the hills, the women could see the outline of the town, promising a proper meal and accommodation, which they were both rather looking forward to.

With the heel of her boots, Cara nudged the horse in the sides, propelling him into a gentle gallop. They reached the town within the hour. However, the welcome they received from the locals upon their arrival was not the kind they were hoping for. One look at the pair on the horse, and one by one, the passers-by just about tripped up on themselves from shock at who it was that had just passed through the gates, entering their town. Kahlan and Cara stared in confusion as a multitude of eyes stared back at them with suspicion and mistrust, some of which glared in no less than pure contempt, before ultimately backing away in fear. Women clutched their children's hands and ushered them indoors as quickly as they could, bolting the door shut, while the men, those who were brave enough to remain on the streets, spat at the ground, and assumed a defiant stance as the horse bearing the two women slowly passed by. Kahlan was shocked to see one man, a farmer, carrying a pitchfork, upon seeing the Mother Confessor and the Mord'Sith, clutch tighter at the would-be weapon as though in warning.

"Is it just me or are the people of this town especially excited to see us?" Cara growled, tilting her head to the side so that only Kahlan could hear her.

Her eyes were fixed on the man with the pitchfork who glared back at her with an equally hard stare.

"Something's not right," Kahlan replied. She requested that they make a stop.

After dismounting the horse, she approached the man, trying to maintain a friendly disposition.

"Good day to you, sir," she said. "I am the Mother Confessor, Kahlan Amnell. This is Cara Mason, my guard. We are on our way to Aydindril. Would you be so kind as to point us in the direction of a lodge? We need a place to stay the night."

The man narrowed his eyes at Kahlan but said nothing in reply.

Confused, Kahlan looked from him back at Cara, who remained seated on the horse, eyeing her surroundings carefully, mentally and physically preparing herself for anything. Clearly, something was greatly amiss here and she was not willing to take any chances. Her hand tightened around the handle of an agiel at her belt.

"Will you not answer the Mother Confessor?" Kahlan asked incredulously when the farmer's attitude did not soften, a precarious edge playing in her voice. "Sir, we've come looking only for a room and a meal. We are but mere travellers passing through your town..."

The man pointed his gaze from Kahlan to Cara, then back to Kahlan again.

"That the Seeker's sword?" he asked, glancing at the Sword of Truth hanging at Kahlan's waist.

"Yes..." Kahlan replied.

Allowing the implication of this to sink in, that the Seeker was no more as the rumours had it, the farmer's expression contorted into deeper disdain. Looking at the Mother Confessor defiantly, he spat at her feet.

Disgusted by the gesture, Kahlan took a step backwards. Clenching her jaw, her posture stiffened and a hard look set over her features.

"I am Kahlan Amnell, the Mother Confessor. Your Mother Confessor. And you WILL answer me when I speak to you."

"You said as much the last time you came here with your Mord'Sith scum," the man growled. "Except this time, I will rather meet the Keeper than show respect to a treacherous tramp like you."

In a flash, Cara darted from the horse and implanted herself between Kahlan and the farmer. Agiels out and ready, she pointing them at the man in warning.