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‘There are Sisters who are valuable to our cause； I could not risk one of them on such a task。 The boy may prove a value to us； but he is not as important as other matters at the palace。 He may be a help。 It was simply an opportunity I thought to take。
‘If there had been trouble； and none of you made it back； well； I’m sure you can understand that a general would not want to lose his best troops on a low…priority mission。’
Verna’s breathing looked forced。 Her voice sounded it。 ‘Of course； Prelate Annalina。’
Ann shuffled her papers impatiently。 ‘I have important matters to get back to。 Is there anything else； Sister？’
‘No； Prelate。’
When the door closed； Ann lowered her face into her shaking hands。 Tears dripped onto her papers。
She appraised his eyes for a long moment。 Richard didn’t know if she would say yes or not； but he had had to tell her much of what he had learned just to get her to agree to listen to his plea。 He couldn’t afford to fail。 He needed help。 He had to trust someone。
‘All right； Richard。 I will help you。 If half of what you say is true； I must help you。’
Richard sighed as he closed his eyes in relief。 Thank you； Liliana。 I’ll never forget you for this。 You’re the only one around here who will listen to reason。 Can we do it now？ Time is critical。’
‘Now？’ she whispered harshly。 ‘Here？ Richard； if what you say about you having Subtractive Magic is true； it won’t be a simple matter to remove your Rada’Han。 I will need to retrieve an object of magic that the Sisters keep guarded。 It’s an aid； used to amplify power。 Maybe through that； and with your help； it will be enough to get the collar off。
‘Not only that； but if the Nameless One is involved； there is no telling what ears； or Han； might be paying attention。’
Then； when？ Where？ It has to be soon。’
She wiped her fingers over her eyes as she considered。 ‘Well； I think I can retrieve the object before tonight； so we could try tonight。 But where？ It can’t be in the palace。 It would be too dangerous。’
The Hagen Woods；’ Richard said。 ‘Everyone avoids the Hagen Woods。’
Liliana looked up。 ‘Richard； you can’t be serious。 It’s dangerous there。’
‘Not for me。 I already told you how I can tell if the mriswith are ing。 We’ll be safe enough； and we won’t have to worry about any Sisters； or Pasha； stumbling by while we’re trying to get this cursed thing off my neck。’
She let out a frustrated breath。 At last she laid a hand on his shoulder and； giving it a squeeze； smiled。 ‘All right。 The Hagen Woods； then。’
With a stern look； she gripped his shoulder and held him out at arm’s length。 ‘I’m violating a whole stack of rules by doing this。 I know it’s important； and the right thing to do； but if they catch us before we can do it； they will make sure I never get near enough to you to ever again try。’
‘I’m ready now； let’s go。’
‘No。 I must try to retrieve the aid first。’ She cocked her head to the side as she frowned。 ‘And I just thought of something else。 They keep telling you not to let the sun set on you there。 Why？’
Richard shrugged。 ‘Because it’s dangerous。’
‘And after everything you’ve learned； you believe them？ You trust them？ Richard； what if they don’t want you to let the sun set on you there because you might learn something useful？ You said the Hagen Woods were placed there by the wizards of old who had Subtractive Magic； in order to help those like you。 What if the Sisters don’t want you to have that help？ What if they are just trying to make you afraid； so you won’t discover it？’
Wizard’s First Rule。 Were they deceiving him？ Was he believing a lie？ ‘You may be right。 We’ll go before sunset。’
‘No。 We don’t want to be seen together。 And it will take me some time to steal the aid。 Do you know where the long； split rock sits in the stream to southwest corner of the Hagen Woods？’
‘I know the place。’
‘Good。 You get there before the sun sets； you are the one the magic is for。 Go in the woods by the split rock。 Tie strips of cloth to branches so I can follow where you went； and find you。 I’ll meet you there； in the woods； when the moon is two hands in the sky。 And Richard； don’t you dare tell anyone about this； or you will be risking not only my life and yours； but Kahlan’s too。’
Richard nodded with a smile of thanks。 ‘On my word。 Tonight； then。’
He paced his room after she left。 He was anxious to get this over with； and be off。 He was running out of time。 If Darken Rahl had the skrin bone； they were already out of time。 But that was just foolish。 How would he get it？ He was a spirit。 Maybe it was as Warren said； that the elements were rarely all in place。
It was Kahlan he was worried about。 He had to help her。
A knock brought him out of his thoughts。 He thought it might be Liliana e back； but when he opened the door； a distraught Perry pushed into the room。
‘Richard！ I need your help。’ He pulled out a fistful of robes。 ‘Look at this！ They promoted me！’
Richard glanced down the length of the simple； brown robes。 ‘Congratulations。 That’s great； Perry。’
‘It’s a disaster！ Richard； I need your help！’
Richard frowned。 ‘Why is it a disaster？’
Perry threw his arms in the air； as if it should be obvious to anyone。 ‘Because I can’t go into the city！ I’m restricted in these robes！ I’m not allowed to go over the bridge！’
‘Well； I’m sorry； Perry； but I don’t see how I can help you。’
Perry took a deep breath to calm himself。 He looked up pleadingly。 ‘There’s a woman in the city 。。。 I’ve been seeing her steady of late。 Richard； I really like her。 I’m supposed to meet her tonight。 If I don’t show up； so I can explain； if I never show up again； she’ll think I don’t care about her。’
‘Perry； I still don’t see what I can do about it。’
Perry grabbed him by his shirt。 ‘They took all my clothes。 Richard； you could lend me some of yours。 Then no one would recognize me； and I could sneak into the city； and see her。 P