The Bard's Tales: Children of the Earth

Chapter 1

Author's Note: So I had a story I was working on, and then Reckoning happened. And somehow that other story lost steam. There was one element of Reckoning that I thought was glossed over a bit too much (okay, there were a lot of things—could they have crammed anything else into that episode?). The one that hit me was how Kahlan was able to keep going until Shota confirmed to her that Richard was alive. So here I am, writing this out of my system. Consider this a hint of a backstory to that part of Reckoning, though it stands on its own. This takes place somewhere after the events of my The Blessed Sun, which was somewhere after Mirror.

We're back into BuggyQ's House of Angst again—not as grim as Promethean Heat, but not the fluffy-bunny Blessed Sun.

Disclaimer: Kahlan, Richard and Zedd are not mine, and I'm far more likely to make money off my mad tapdancing skilz.

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"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Kahlan asked as they stood just inside the treeline at the edge of the small valley that held the town of Varden.

Richard frowned. "We need supplies, Kahlan. Why are you so nervous?"

Kahlan gave him a look. "Because in the last month, we've entered towns twice, and both times--"

"You worry too much, Kahlan," Zedd interrupted, reluctant to remember the events she was thinking of.

"Which may be part of the reason we're all still alive," she said pointedly. "Look, why don't we just check out the situation first? One of us can go in, make sure it's safe, and come back and get the others."

"But I was looking forward to a hot breakfast," Zedd said. "When was the last time you had bacon?"

Kahlan glared at him, then said, "I can be in and out in no time. You'll still get your breakfast." She turned to Richard. "Humor me."

Richard looked at Zedd, then shrugged. "If that's what you want, Kahlan."

She nodded, and set off immediately, and Richard watched her go with a vaguely uneasy feeling.

"If I starve before she gets back, it's on your head, Seeker," Zedd said sourly.

"Maybe she's right, Zedd," Richard said. "It doesn't hurt to play it safe, and there's something weird about this village."

Zedd frowned. "I've been to Varden before. The people there are good and kind. They have no love for Darken Rahl," he said.

Richard shook his head. "That's not what I mean. There's something missing. It's a bright summer day, the weather's fine, but…" He trailed off, and Zedd looked at him closely. Richard took a few steps toward the town, looking down into the valley where Kahlan was still visible, walking purposefully toward the collection of small dwellings. Richard shook his head again, turning to look back at Zedd. "I don't know. I can't put my finger on it, but Kahlan's right."

"I think you might be on to something," Zedd said slowly, looking past him, and Richard turned back to look. Kahlan was approaching the first building, and a woman had come out and was running toward her. Kahlan stopped, and the woman ran up and flung herself at Kahlan's feet, her arms around Kahlan's legs.

"What the--?" Richard said, and started toward the town, Zedd at his heels.

Kahlan had extricated herself from the woman's grasp and was listening and watching her closely as she spoke. "--and he's not the only one! There are five others, and that's just from our village," Richard heard her say as they came up. "Please, you have to help us!"

"We'll do everything we can," Kahlan said reassuringly.

"What is it?" Richard said. "What do they need help with?"

Kahlan turned to him with a troubled expression. "It's her son," she said quietly. "He's missing. There have been six children taken from this village. No one knows where they've been taken."

And Richard finally realized what it was that had made him uneasy. There were no children to be seen anywhere.

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It didn't take long for the rest of the village to find out they were there, and that they'd offered to help. Zedd's breakfast was a feast, but it was interrupted by one villager after another pleading for them to find their son, their daughter, to protect the children that were still there. "I won't let my boy go outside anymore," one woman said. "What kind of life is that for a child?"

What struck Richard was how hopeful they all were, despite there being little reason for hope.

"I know you'll be able to help us, Seeker!" a man named Henry said. "My Elric wants to join the Resistance when he's old enough. I'd be proud to have him fight for you."

Richard thanked him, but he was troubled. What if I can't get them back? he thought.

"So this has been going on for three months?" Kahlan asked another villager, a woman named Rayna, whose son was the first taken.

Rayna nodded tearfully. "Bran's only seven! Why would anyone do such a thing?"

Richard looked at Zedd questioningly, but Zedd shook his head imperceptibly.

"I don't know, Rayna, but we'll find out," Kahlan said. Richard noticed she was being careful in what she promised. She's afraid the children are dead, too, he realized with a sick feeling.

After several hours of questioning villagers, Kahlan finally convinced the people of Varden to let them have time to develop a plan. When they were finally alone in the small tavern, Richard turned back to Zedd. "So why is this happening, Zedd?"

Zedd shook his head. "I don't know, Richard. There are any number of dark magic rituals that require a child. It could be any of them."

"But it has to be Rahl, doesn't it?" Richard said. "Who else would be this cruel?"

"We'll find out for certain when we find them," Kahlan said grimly. "And I have an idea of how to do that."

"How?" Richard said.

Kahlan looked up at Zedd. "We let them take another child."

"What?!" Richard exploded. "Are you crazy?"

She shook her head. "Not one of the village children, Richard." She looked steadily at Zedd, and after a moment he seemed to realize what she was suggesting. "Can you do it, Zedd?"

"Do what?" Richard said, irritated. "Would one of you tell me what you're talking about?"

"I can, Kahlan, but it would take a great deal of power," Zedd said slowly. "Are you sure you want to try this?"

"Try--?" Richard started to say, then looked at Kahlan, his eyes widening. "You're going to turn her into a child?" he said to Zedd, who nodded, still looking at Kahlan.

"I don't want to risk losing any more of these children," Kahlan said, "and we need to find out who has been taking them. When they take me, then I can confess one of them, and--"

"And maybe get yourself killed!" Richard said.

"You can stay close," she said reasonably. "If it looks like I'm in danger, you can come to my rescue."

Richard still looked reluctant. "I don't like--"

"I could come with you," came a voice from nearby. "I could help."

Kahlan turned to see a young girl, no more than ten, standing next to the back door of the tavern. She had dark hair, and equally dark eyes with a defiant look in them.

"We can't let you do that," Richard said gently.

"Why?" she asked. "If you're going to go as a child, how is that any different from my going with you?"

"Because I'd be going with my powers as a Confessor," Kahlan said. "I know you want to help, and I'm grateful for it, but--"

"But I'm just a child, right?" the girl said bitterly.

"That's not what I was going to say," Kahlan said quietly. "I wouldn't allow any of the villagers here to come with us."

"Amelie?!" a voice came from outside the tavern. "Where are you?" There was a faint edge of hysteria in the voice.

"I'm in here, Mother," the girl called instantly. "It's all right. I'm only talking to the Mother Confessor." She turned to Kahlan. "Don't tell her what I said! Please!" she whispered quickly, and the desperation in her voice was palpable.

A woman burst into the tavern and ran to where Amelie stood. "Don't do that to me!" she said, holding the child close. "Why do you keep frightening me so?"

"I'm sorry, Mother," Amelie said, and she did sound sorry. "I was only telling them about Galen. It's my fault he's gone," she said to Kahlan.

Galen was the last boy taken, Richard thought, dreading finding out what had happened.

"It's not your fault, Amelie," Kahlan said kindly. "It's the men who took him. Can you tell me anything about them?"

Amelie shook her head, and the desolation in her eyes was heartbreaking. "I was playing with him--hide and seek. I was hiding in the woods--I know I wasn't supposed to," she said for her mother's benefit, "but he was always so good at finding me, no matter where I hid. I thought…if I hid in the woods, he'd have to give up. But he came after me." She looked up at Kahlan tearfully. "It is my fault! It is!"

No wonder she wants to help, Richard thought.

"Oh, Amelie, don't--" Kahlan said, reaching out to her, touching her gently on her shoulder. "If things had been different, if he'd been the one hiding and you were the one taken, would you want him to feel like this?"

Amelie looked up at her, tears running down her face, then slowly shook her head.

"All right, then, you need to put your feelings aside for now, and focus on what you can do to make things better. I do need your help," Kahlan said, and Amelie's face brightened slightly. "I'll need clothes, for when Zedd changes me. Can you help with that?"

Amelie nodded, pulled from her mother's arms and pelted out the door. Her mother followed, but turned at the door to look gratefully back at them. "Thank you," she said.

Kahlan nodded, smiling, and the woman left. Kahlan turned to Zedd and Richard, and the intensity of her look was unnerving to Richard. "I will find that boy," she said.

And what will she do if we can't? he thought.

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