Blood of the Fold

Hally smiled a sly smile as she folded her arms over her breasts. "A Mord-Sith goes nowhere without her red outfit."

Cara batted her eyes expectantly. “You have thought of something, Lord Rahl?

"Yes." Richard gave her a smooth smile. "They need to see power and strength? They want a show of awesome magic? We'll give them magic. We'll overwhelm them." He held up a cautious finger. "But you must do as I say. I don't want anyone hurt. I didn't free you just to have you get killed."

Hally fixed him with an iron gaze. "Mord-Sith do not die in bed, old and toothless."

In those blue eyes, Richard saw a shadow of the madness that had twisted these women into remorseless weapons. He had endured some of what had been done to them; he knew what it was to live with that madness. He held her gaze and, with a soft voice, sought to soften the iron he saw. "If you get yourselves killed, Hally, then who will protect me?"

"If we must lay down our lives, then we do; otherwise there will be no Lord Rahl to protect." An unexpected smile softened Hally's eyes, bringing a little light to the shadows. "We want Lord Rahl to die in bed, old and toothless. What are we to do?

A shadow of doubt passed across his thoughts. Was his ambition twisted by that same madness? No. He had no choice. This would save lives, not cost them.

"You four put on your red leather. We'll wait outside while you change. When you're done, I'll explain."

Hally snatched his shirt as he turned to leave, "Now that we have found you, we're not letting you out of our sight. You will remain here while we change. You may turn your back, if you wish."

With a sigh, Richard turned his back and folded his arms. The two men stood watching. Richard frowned and motioned for them to turn around, too. Gratch tilted his head with a puzzled look. Shrugging, he turned his back, mimicking Richard.

"We're glad you have decided to bond these men to you, Lord Rahl," Cara said. He could hear them pulling things out of their packs. “You will be much safer with a whole army protecting you. After you have bonded them, we will all leave at once for D'Hara, where you will be safe."

"We're not going to D'Hara," Richard said over his shoulder. "I have important matters that must be attended to. I have plans."

"Plans, Lord Rahl?" He could almost feel Raina's breath on the back of his neck as she peeled off her brown leather. "What plans?"

"'What kind of plans would the Master Rahl have? I plan to conquer the world."

CHAPTER 9

There was no need to force their way through the crowds; they drove a wave of panic before them the way the sight of wolves drove a herd of sheep. People screamed as they scattered. Mothers gathered up children in their arms while running, men fell face-first into the snow as they scrambled to get away, peddlers abandoned their wares in a mad dash for their lives, and shop doors to each side slammed shut.

The panic, Richard thought, was a good sign. At least they wouldn't be ignored. Of course, it was hard to ignore a seven-foot gar walking through a city in broad daylight. Richard suspected that Gratch was having the time of his life. Not sharing his innocent view of the task at hand, the rest of them wore grim expressions as they marched down the center of the street.

Gratch walked behind Richard, Ulic and Egan in front, Cara and Berdine at his left, and Hally and Raina to the right. It was no chance order. Ulic and Egan had insisted that they were to be to each side, as they were Lord Rahl's bodyguards. The women didn't think much of that idea, and argued that they would be the last line of defense around Lord Rahl. Gratch hadn't cared where he walked as long as he was close to Richard.

Richard had had to raise his voice to bring a halt to the argument. He had told them that Ulic and Egan would be in front to clear the way if need be, the Mord-Sith would protect each side, and Gratch would be at his back, since the gar could see over them all. Everyone had seemed satisfied, thinking they had received the stations that would prove the best protection for Lord Rahl.

Ulic and Egan's capes were pushed back over their shoulders, baring the bands with sharpened projections worn above their elbows, but they carried their swords sheathed at their belts. The four women, covered from neck to toes in closely tailored bloodred leather displaying the yellow star and crescent of the Mord-Sith at their stomachs, carried their Agiel in fists swathed with armor-backed, red leather gloves.

Richard knew all too well the pain it caused to hold an Agiel. Just as the Agiel Denna had trained him with, and had given him, hurt whenever he held it, it was not possible for these women to hold their own Agiel without its magic causing them pain. The pain, Richard knew, was excruciating, but Mord-Sith were trained to endure pain, and they stubbornly prided themselves in their ability to tolerate it.