按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e and safe in this land。’
Scarlet’s snout twisted into a sort of dragon grin。 Thank you； Bird Man。 I am pleased。’ She lowered her head to speak to Richard。 ‘I must leave now。 My young one has been alone long enough； and will be hungry。’
Richard smiled as he stroked a red scale。 ‘Thank you； Scarlet。 For everything。 Thank you for showing us your little one。 It is even more beautiful than you。 Take care of the both of you。 Live free。’
Scarlet spread her jaws wide and reached into the back of her mouth。 There was a snap； and she brought a tooth point out； held in her black…tipped talons。 It was only a point； but a good six inches long。
‘Dragons have magic；’ she told him。 ‘Hold out your hand。’ She dropped the tooth point in Richard’s palm。 ‘You seem to have a knack for getting yourself in trouble。 Keep this safe。 If you ever have great need； call me with it； and I will e。 Be certain； as it will only work once。’
‘But how can I call you with it？’
Her head floated closer to him。 ‘You have the gift； Richard Cypher。 Just hold it in your hand and call to me。 I will hear。 Remember； great need。’
‘Thank you Scarlet； but I don’t have the gift。’
Scarlet threw her head back and rumbled in laughter。 The ground shook。 The scales on her throat vibrated。 When her fit of laughter died out in spurts； she tilted her head to look at him with one yellow eye。 ‘If you don’t have the gift； then no one does。 Live free； Richard Cypher。’
Everyone in the village watched in silence as the red dragon grew smaller in the golden sky。 Richard put his arm around Kahlan’s waist； pulling her close against him。
‘I hope that I’ve finally heard the last of this nonsense about me having the gift；’ he muttered half to himself。 ‘I saw you from up in the air。’ He pointed with his chin across the clearing。 ‘You want to tell me what that was all about with our friend over there？’
Chandalen was making a point of not looking at her。 ‘No It’s not important。’
‘Are we ever going to get to be alone？’ Kahlan asked with a coy smile。 ‘Pretty soon I’m going to have to start kissing you in front of all of these people。’
Dusk was bringing a cozy； fading light to the impromptu feast。 Richard glanced around the grass…roofed shelter at the elders in their coyote hides。 They were all smiles and chatter。 Their wives and a few children had joined the group。 People were stopping by the shelter to wele the two of them back； smiling and exchanging gentle slaps。
Little children across the way were chasing brown chickens that wanted nothing more than to find a place to roost for the night。 The chickens squawked as they made flapping escapes。 She couldn’t understand how the children could stand to be naked； as cold as it was。 Women in bright dresses were bringing woven trays of tava bread and glazed pottery bowls of roasted peppers； rice cakes； long boiled beans； cheese； and roasted meats。
‘You really think they’re going to let us get away before we tell them the whole story of our great adventure？’
‘What great adventure？ All I remember is being scared to death all the time and being in more trouble than I knew how to get out of Her insides twisted in pain at the memory of learning he had been captured by a Mord…Sith。 And thinking you were dead。’
He smiled。 ‘Didn’t you know？ That’s what an adventure is： being in trouble。’
‘I’ve had enough of adventure to last me the rest of my life。’
Richard’s gray eyes looked distant。 ‘Me； too。’ Her gaze went to the red leather rod； the Agiel； which hung on a gold chain around his neck。 She reached back and took a piece of cheese from a platter。 Her face brightened。 She put the cheese to his mouth。 ‘Maybe we can just make up a story that sounds like a proper adventure。 A short adventure。’
‘Suits me；’ he said； and then bit off a chunk of the cheese as she held it to his mouth。
Immediately； he spit the cheese into his hand and made a sour face。 This is awful！’ he whispered。
‘Really？’ She sniffed the piece she still held。 She took a tiny bite。 ‘Well； I don’t like cheese； but it doesn’t taste any worse than usual to me。 I don’t think it has gone bad。’ He was still making the face。 Tastes like it has to me。’ Kahlan thought a minute； and then frowned。 ‘Yesterday at the People’s Palace； you didn’t like the cheese there either。 And Zedd said there was nothing wrong with it。’
‘Nothing wrong with it！ It tasted rotten！ I ought to know； I love cheese。 I eat it all the time。 I know bad cheese when I eat it。’
‘Well； I hate cheese。 Maybe you’re just picking up my habits。’
He rolled a roasted pepper in a piece of tava bread and grinned。 ‘I could think of a worse fate。’
As she returned the smile； she saw two hunters approaching。 Her back stiffened。 Richard noticed her reaction and sat up straighter。 These are two of Chandalen’s men。 I don’t know what they want。’ She gave him a wink。 ‘Be a good boy？ Let’s not have an adventure。’
Without smiling or answering； he turned and watched the two e。 The hunters stopped in front of her at the edge of the platform。 They planted the butts of their spears firmly in the ground； leaning on them with both hands。 They both assessed her with slightly narrowed eyes and small； tight smiles that weren’t entirely unfriendly。 The one closest pushed his bow a little farther up on his shoulder and then extended an open hand to her； palm up。
She looked down at the hand。 She knew what it meant …an open hand offered without a weapon in it。 She glanced up at him in confusion。 ‘Does Chandalen approve of this？’
‘We are Chandalen’s men。 Not his children。’ He kept the hand out。
Kahlan looked at it a moment and then stroked her palm over his。 His smile widened a little and he gave her a gentle slap。
‘Strength to Confessor Kahlan。 I am Prindin。 This is my brother； Tossidin。’
She gave Prindin a slap and wished him strength。 Tossidin held his palm open to her。 She stroked it with hers。 He gave her a slap and added his wish of strength。 He had a handsome