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here will I go； Kahlan； tell me？ How will I know where it's safe？ I could walk right into Rahl's hands； carry the box right to him。〃
〃Shota said you are the only one with a chance。 Without you all is lost。 Not me。 You。 She said that if I live 。 。 。 Richard； I can't allow that。 I won't。〃
〃You are a traitor to us；〃 he whispered viciously。
She shook her head slowly。 〃Despite what you think； Richard； I do this for you。〃
Richard screamed and threw her backward as hard as he could。 She fell to the ground on her back。 He came and stood above her； glaring down； dust rising around his boots。
〃Don't you dare say that！〃 he yelled； both hands in fists。 〃You do this for yourself； because you haven't got the stomach for what victory entails！ Don't you dare to say you do this for me！〃
She came to her feet； keeping her eyes on him。 〃I would give almost anything； Richard； for you not to remember me in this way。 But what I do； I do because I must。 For you。 For you to have a chance。 I have sworn to protect the Seeker with my life。 The payment has e due。〃 Tears ran down her face； through the dust on her cheeks。
As he watched her turn and vanish into the darkness； Richard felt as if a plug inside him had been pulled and his whole self was draining away。
He went to the fire； slid his back down the log until he sat on the ground。 He pulled his knees up with his arms around them； put his face against them； and cried as he had never cried
CHAPTER 33
RACHEL SAT ON HER little chair behind the Princess； knocking her knees together； thinking about how she would get the Princess to put her out so she could take the box away with her and never e back。 She kept thinking about the loaf of bread with the box in it； waiting for her in the garden。 She was afraid； but excited； too。 Excited that she was going to be helping all those people so they wouldn't get their heads chopped off。 It was the first time she had ever felt like an important person。 She twisted the hem of her dress。 She could hardly wait to get away。
All the lords and ladies were drinking their special drink。 They all seemed happy to be doing it。 Giller was standing behind the Queen with her other advisors。 He was talking quietly to the court artist。 She didn't like the artist； he scared her； he always smiled funny at her。 And he only had one hand。 She had heard the servants talking before； that they were afraid the artist would draw a picture of them。
The people started getting scared looks on their faces。 They were looking at the Queen。 They started to stand up。 Rachel looked over at the Queen and saw that the people weren't looking at her； they were looking at something else； behind her。 Her eyes got wide when she saw the two big men。
They were the biggest men she had ever seen。 Their shirts didn't have sleeves but their arms had metal bands on them； with sharp things sticking out。 The men had big muscles all over； and yellow hair。 They looked like the meanest men she had ever seen； meaner even than any of the dungeon guards。 The men looked around the room at the people； then went and stood on each side of the big archway behind the Queen and folded their arms。 The Queen huffed and turned around in her chair to see what was happening。
A man with blue eyes； and long yellow hair and white robes； and a gold…handled knife at his belt； came through the archway。 He was the handsomest…looking man she had ever seen。 He smiled at the Queen。 She jumped to her feet。
〃What an unexpected surprise！〃 she said in her nicest dog voice。 〃We are honored。 But we weren't expecting you until tomorrow。〃
The man again smiled a pretty smile at her。 〃I couldn't wait to get here； to see your lovely face again。 Forgive me for being early； Your Majesty。〃
The Queen giggled as she held her hand out for him to kiss。 She was always having people kiss her hand。 Rachel was surprised at what the nice…looking man had said。 She never knew anyone who thought the Queen was lovely。 The Queen took his hand in hers and brought him forward。
〃Lords and ladies； may I introduce Father Rahl。〃
Father Rahl！ She looked around to see if anyone had seen her jump； taut no one had； they were all looking at Father Rahl。 She was sure he was going to look at her； and see that she was going to run away with the box。 She looked at Giller； but he didn't look back。 His face was white。 Father Rahl was here before she had run away with the box！ What was she going to do？
She was going to do what Giller had told her to do； that's what。 She was going to be brave and save all those people。 She had to think of a way to get out。
Father Rahl looked around at all the people who were standing up now。 The little dog barked。 He turned to the source of the sound and it stopped barking； instead it began to whine softly。 He turned back to the people。 It got real quiet。
〃Dinner is over。 You will excuse us now；〃 he said in a soft voice。
Everyone started whispering。 His blue eyes watched。 The whispering stopped and they started to leave； first slow； then faster。 Father Rahl looked at some of the royal advisors； and they left； looking glad to be doing it。 A few he didn't look at； including Giller； stayed。 Princess Violet stayed； too； and Rachel tried to stay behind her so she wouldn't be noticed。 The Queen smiled and held her arm out to the table。
〃Won't you sit； Father Rahl； I'm sure you have had a strenuous journey。 Let us bring you something to eat。 We have a lovely roast tonight。〃
He looked at her with blue eyes that didn't blink。 〃I don't approve of butchering helpless animals and then consuming their flesh。〃
Rachel thought the Queen was going to choke。 〃Well； then 。 。 。 we also have a lovely turnip soup； and some other things； I'm sure 。 。 。 there must be something 。 。 。 if there isn't； the cooks； will make whatever 。 。 。〃
〃Perhaps some other time。 I am not here to eat； I am here for your contribution to the alliance。〃
〃But 。。。 this is sooner than expected； we haven't finished drawing up the agreements； there are many papers to be signed； and you will want to have them looked over