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es； and where you can have your doll and people will let you； and they will never take Sara away from you or throw her in the fire。 All right？〃
Her tears started to go away。 〃That would be wonderful； Giller。〃
〃But you must be brave； and do just as I tell you。 Some of it will be hard。〃
〃I will； I promise。〃
〃And I promise； Rachel； that I will do whatever I must to protect you。 We are in this together； you and me； but a lot of other people are depending on us too。 If we do a good job； we will be able to fix it so a lot of other people； innocent people； won't get their heads chopped off anymore。〃
Her eyes got wide。 〃Oh； I would like that； Giller。 I hate it when people get their heads chopped off。 It scares me fierce。〃
〃All right then； the first thing I need you to do is to go scold the cooks； just like you are supposed to； and while you are down in the kitchen； get a big loaf of bread； the biggest you can find。 I don't care how you get it； steal it if you have to。 Just get it。 Then bring it up to the jewel room。 Use the key and wait inside for me。 I must tend to some other things。 I'll tell you more then。 Can you do that？〃 〃Sure；〃 she nodded。 〃Easy。〃
〃Off with you then。〃
She went through the door into the big hall on the first floor while Giller disappeared up the steps without making a sound。 The stairs to the kitchen were at the other end； on the other side of the grand stairs in the middle that the Queen used。 Rachel liked going up the grand stairs with the Princess because they had carpets； and weren't cold like the stone steps she was supposed to use when she was on errands。 The hall was open in the middle； where the grand stairs came down to a big room with black and white marble squares on the floor。 They were very cold under her feet。
She was trying to think of a way she could get a big loaf of bread without stealing it； when she saw Princess Violet ing across the room to the grand stairs。 The royal seamstress and two of her helpers were following behind； carrying bolts of pretty； pink cloth。 Rachel looked quick for a place to hide； but the Princess had already seen her。
〃Oh good； Rachel；〃 the Princess said。 〃e here。〃
Rachel went and curtsied。 〃Yes； Princess Violet？〃
〃What are you doing？〃
〃I was doing my errands。 I was just going to the kitchen now。〃
〃Well 。 。 。 don't bother。〃
〃But Princess Violet； I have to！〃
The Princess frowned。 〃Why？ I just said you didn't。〃
Rachel bit her lip； the Princess's frown scared her。 She tried to think of how Giller would answer。 〃Well； if you don't want me to； I won't；〃 she said。 〃But your lunch was simply dreadful； and I would hate to see you eating another dreadful meal。 You must be starving for something good。 But if you don't want me to go tell them； I won't。〃
The Princess thought this over a minute。 〃On second thought； go ahead； it was dreadful。 Just be sure to tell them how angry I am； too！〃
〃Yes； Princess Violet。〃 She curtsied。 She turned and started to leave。
〃I'm going for a fitting。〃 Rachel turned back to her。 〃Then I want to go to the jewel room； and try on some things； to go with my new dress。 When you're finished with the cooks； go get the key and wait for me in the jewel room。〃
Rachel's mouth felt as if it were stuck together。 〃But Princess； wouldn't you rather wait until tomorrow； when the dress is finished； to see how pretty the jewelry will look with the dress？〃
Princess Violet looked surprised。 〃Well； yes； that would be good； to see the jewels with the dress。〃 She thought another minute； then started up the steps。 〃I'm glad I thought of that。〃
Rachel let out a breath； then headed off to the servants' stairs。 The Princess called down to her。
〃On second thought； Rachel； I need to pick out something for tonight's dinner； so I need to go to the jewel room anyway。 Meet me there in a little while。〃
〃But； Princess 。。 。
〃But nothing。 After you deliver my message to the cooks； go get the key and wait for me in the jewel room。 I'll be there as soon as I'm done with the fitting。〃
The Princess went up the grand stairs and disappeared。
What was she going to do now？ Giller was going to meet her in the jewel room； too。 She was breathing hard； as if she was going to cry。 What was she going to do？
She was going to do as Giller said； that's what。 She was going to be brave。 So those people didn't get their heads chopped off。 She stopped herself from crying and went down the steps to the kitchen。 She wondered what Giller wanted a big loaf of bread for。
…＋
〃Well； what do you think？〃 he whispered。 〃Any ideas？〃
Kahlan was lying close； next to him on the ground； frowning while she looked over the edge to the scene below。
〃I can't even imagine；〃 she whispered back。 〃I have never seen so many short…tailed gars together in one place。〃
〃What could they be burning？〃
〃They're not burning anything。 The smoke is ing from the ground。 This place is called Fire Spring。 Those are vents where steam es up from the ground； and from other openings water boils up from below； and more over there where other things boil； foul…smelling yellow liquid and thick mud。 The fumes keep people away from this place。 I have no idea what gars would be doing here。〃
〃Well； look there； near the back where the hill rises up； where the biggest vent is。 There's something on top of it； something egg…shaped； with steam ing out around it。 They keep going up to look at it； to touch it。〃
She shook her head。 〃Your eyes are better than mine。 I can't tell what it is； or even that it's round。〃
Richard could hear and feel rumbles from the ground； some followed by great belches of steam roaring from the vents。 The awful suffocating smell of sulfur wafted up to where they hid in the stunted trees of the high ridge。
〃Maybe we should go have a closer look；〃 he whispered； half to himself； as he watched the gars moving about below。
〃That would be beyond foolhardy；〃 she whispered harshly。 〃It would be just plain stupid。 One gar would be trouble enough； or have you forgotten s