Two is better than one

[Kahlan]

*taking place a few days after "after nightfall"*

The sun was finally back in the sky of Basra after a few days of unceasing rain.
People were so happy to to be able to go out again, that they invaded all the streets of the city, especially the market place, the heart of the city.
All in all, It was just a beautiful day for the people of Basra

As we moved away from the city, the hubbub of the crowded place slowly faded, leaving place to the rustling of a quiet wind touching the tree leaves of the forest.
Nothing seemed to disturb the peace that reigned out there.
However, if we sank a little deeper into the woods, the sound of steel colliding echoed in the air.

Two women were fighting in the forest, one with two daggers, the other with a sword. None seemed stronger than the other, at the moment.

When she blocked the sword with one of her dagger, Kahlan directed the other one toward the woman's chest, ready to deal the fatal blow...

[Kriss]

The rain - a few dark clouds, gentle drops falling on the ground, which is nothing compared to the limitless ocean. But however this nothing can change a lot. It can put to sleep the whole city like a mother lulling her child. Basra had been sleeping like that for a last few days. The streets and the market were empty and so was the tavern.
But Kriss had not found it as really bad thing after the recent events. After healing the hangover she had to deal with the taste of defeat suffered during the dinner with the guard’s captain. Her own plan had turned against to her. Sadly wandering around the empty tavern, she had been thinking what he may had made her to tell him.
She had not seen him since that evening. The reason could be very simple and obvious – the rain which made the port streets impassable, or there could be a really different one.

Along with the sun the life came back to Basra. Warm and pleasant sunlight falling on Kriss’ cheeks made her forget about it for a while. She felt she had to relieve the emotions. As soon as Kahlan and Aniel got up, she decided to take them both to the forest.
She had in that more than only one intention.
She wanted to go out from the tavern after sitting there for a good couple of days. She wanted her son to get some fresh air and her horse to get out from the stable. She wanted to finally made Kahlan talk or if not, at least try to find out more about her in a different way. And perhaps check the forest once again. She would have sleep better knowing that there were no more sign of the bodies.
Just after the breakfast Kriss packed stuff at Fural, her horse and they all went to the forest.

When they reached the clearing Kriss unpacked all the stuff. Kahlan seemed to be a bit confused when the archer took of the weapon and proposed her to fight but she agreed.
Aniel took his little, wooden sword and was trying to imitate his mother while she wielded in her hand the real steel.

The stranger seemed to be even better than Kriss ever thought. She blocked the sword with the one dagger and the archer saw the second one toward her chest. Her new friend was so proud of herself that she did not even noticed being kicked in the knees and falling on the ground. One of the daggers fall down and the second one Kriss caught in the air. She offered Kahlan her hand to help her stand up,

“You are not that bad but you must still learn a lot. Peace for a while. I will show you something.”

[Kahlan]

The young princess had spent her life surrounded by men, whom had told her everything she knew about fighting and hunting, and she was not bad. But the woman in front of her was way better, she had to admit.

She still didn't know much about her, they haven't talked much these last few days, except when the archer had teached her how to be a good waitress, because Kahlan had insisted to help her on her tavern as long as she should stay there.

She had followed Kriss when she had proposed to go to the forest, earlier in the morning. She had been reluctant for a second, because she kept bad memories from the last time she went there, but on the other hand, she needed some fresh air.

Now she found herself down on the floor, disarmed, before she could even realize what was going on. For one second she was about to win, and the minute after, she had lost.
Kahlan looked up to watch her new friend.

"You have to teach me that trick" Kahlan said, grabbing Kriss's hand to stand up.
Once she got up, she got rid of the dust on her clothes with her hands.
Then she grabbed her dagger on the ground and added.

"What do you want to show me?"

[Kriss]

Kriss pointed at her son with his wooden sword. The boy played with his toy as it would be a real weapon. It seemed that he were fighting with more than only one imaginary opponent.
"Just look at him, at his moves..." The archer recommended to Kahlan when she came closer.
"His moves are smooth and light but yet confident, determined. You must feel your weapon but still firmly stick to the ground. Just like Aniel does."
She said with a smirk.

[Kahlan]

Kahlan looked at Aniel with a smirk. She should have felt upset by what Kriss had just said. In another situation, she wouldn't have liked to be compared to a child. But curiously she wasn't.
The archer was right. She needed to be more confident if she wanted to have a chance to beat Marek and his men.

"Trust me, I'll be more than determined the day I'll face my real enemy", Kahlan said, looking at her daggers, the only thing left from her father.

For now, her mind was still confused by all that happened in less than a week, and she was not on her best mood.

[Kriss]

Kriss raised her eyebrows. Her curiosity and willingness to delve more into what Kahlan had just said was a huge. But on the other hand she knew she could startle her.
"The determination is very imoprtant but not the most." She started, "There are still years of hard work and valuable experience."
The archer knew that then in the forest it had been the first time when her new friend killed a man.
"But your determintaion is good for a start." She added with a smile.

[Kahlan]

"Thanks", she simply answered.

She turned around and her eyes encountered Kriss's bow and arrows that she had left down on the ground with the rest of the stuff.

"I usually kill animals, not men, you know" she said, smiling for herself. "I like hunting. I could spend the whole day away from home in the forest, with my bow and arrows, just to forget about the pressure I had at home sometimes, and to enjoy the quietness of the nature."

She pointed at the bow and added "You're bow is remarkable, and I noticed that you're a good archer. Do you mind if I hold it for a minute?"

[Kriss]

Kriss nodded, "Sure, you can take it." It was not the first time she heard the compliment about her ability in archery and for sure not the last one. Still, each time someone noticed her faultless shots she felt some kind of pride. The archer smiled gently.

"It was made by the best armorer of the north." Kriss told to Kahlan when she picked up her bow, "He made the bow taking into account every detail. My height, arm's length, weight, everything. I always said that the bow is like a part of me, Treefoot made one that really is so."

Bringing back the memory of an old friend brought a dreamy smile on her face.
I must send him a letter.
She thought.

"All Aniel's wooden toys are his work as well. And so these arrows are." She pointed at the quiver. "They are also very unsual."

[Kahlan]

Kahlan listened to Kriss as she was talking with passion about her bow and the man who made it for her. The bow was indeed very flexible in her hand and easy to manipulate.
She slightly pulled on the rope to test it.
When the Archer pointed at the quiver, the young woman put the bow back to where she took it and grabbed an arrow. She had taken one of them after the battle a few days ago, but she hadn't pay attention to its lightness, and the softness of the feathers. Now she could feel it on her hand.

A wonderful, and deadly weapon. It, for sure, was made for the mysterious lady that was standing in front of her.
The question was to know why.

She looked at Kriss.
"It's...unusual...for a tavern's owner to own a weapon like this one. A lot of warriors would kill to possess the same one" She said with a smirk and pointing the arrow toward her new friend.

[Kriss]

Kriss sighed deeply on Kahalan's words, "Unless she wasn't always just a tavern's owner..."
A mysterious glint appeared in her eyes.

[Kahlan]

"Hmm, What's a life, without a bit of mystery?" answered Kahlan with an understanding smile.

"And Speaking of this," She put the arrow back on its quiver and leaned against a tree, crossing her arms, before adding. "You don't seem to be very curious about me. You just helped me that day, without even wondering who could have been those men."

Kriss had been very kind to Kahlan until now, for sure, but there was too much mystery in that woman to feel 100% safe with her.

[Kriss]

Kriss knew that look. She had seen it for many times before. People had often watched her like that. With a fear and suspense in their eyes. She was not really surprised. She had already seen it in Kahlan's eyes, too on the day she had found her in this forest. And she could see it now. She kinda liked it. Somewhere deep inside it reminded her who she really was.

"The fact that I am not asking doesn't mean I don't wanna know..."
In fact, this walk was a part of Kriss' plan to get to know more about Kahlan but she did not show it.

[Kahlan]

At this moment, Kahlan recognized the woman she had seen for the first time. Not the Tavern's owner with a lovely child, but the cold archer, who always got what she wanted.

Kahlan wouldn't reveal everything easily. She knew that one day she'd have to tell someone about what happened in Gaia. But she didn't think it was the right moment, so soon after the events.
However if she wanted to have a chance to take her revenge and to get her kingdom's back, she'd have to act quickly, and for sure, not alone. For now Kriss was the only person she knew, and she needed to be sure she could trust her.

"Well, you saved my life and I'll be eternally grateful for that",she said.
"But after all that happened, I don't know if I can trust someone at the moment. Don't take it bad but...I don't know you much, after all."

[Kriss]

"But I didn't ask you to tell me anything..." Kriss slowly said still looking into Kahlan's eyes. "I don't understand why are trying to explain yourself."
She could feel that the woman was embarrassed. But somehow sense of superiority made Kriss more sarcastic.

[Kahlan]

The two women stayed still for a moment, staring at each other. It was like they were trying to read in each other's eyes, to discover the story behind the mask.
But Kahlan couldn't stare for long. The Archer was embarrassing her, like no one did before.
She raised her hands, like a sign of surrender and said.
"Alright, you got a point. Look, forget about what I said I...I just need to get used to this...situation."

Kahlan found the perfect way to change subject when she looked at Aniel.
"Besides, as we're talking, your son is trying to run away from us." she added with a smile, pointing at Kriss's son who was walking away slowly on all fours.