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were four or five days away； in the Rang' Shada。 He couldn't get to them； and back； before the week was out； before the first day of winter。
But Kahlan had to be closer。 Rahl had sent that man with the black stripe in his hair； and two quads； to get her。 What was she doing this close？ He hack told them not to e after him。 His anger flashed at Chase for not following his instructions； for not keeping them all away。 Then his anger wilted。 If it were him； he wouldn't have been able to sit back and not know what had happened to a friend。 Maybe they weren't in the mountains； but all on their way。 But what good was an army going to do？ Ten good men in a place like this could hold off an army for a month。
Two soldiers in full battle armor came riding through the gate； bringing a third horse with them。
〃Would you like an escort； sir？〃 the guard asked。 〃They're good men。〃
〃No。〃 Richard glared。 〃I will be going alone。〃
The guard waved the soldiers off。
〃You'll be going west…southwest； then？〃 Richard didn't answer； so he went on。 〃Tamarang。 The place in the Rang'Shada you asked about。 It's to the west…southwest。 Piece of advice； if I may； sir？〃
〃Go on；〃 Richard said cautiously。
〃If you go that way； across the Azrith Plains； then near morning； you'll e to a boulder field among sharp hills。 There'll be a split in the road in a deep canyon。 Take to the left。〃
Richard's eyes narrowed。 〃Why？〃
‘Because to the right； there be a dragon。 A red dragon。 A red dragon of a bad temper。 Master Rahl's dragon。〃
Richard mounted the horse and stared down at the guard。 〃Thanks for the advice。 I'll remember。〃
He put heel to the horse and took to the steep road； down the side of the plateau； down the switchbacks。 Beyond one； he saw a drawbridge being lowered as he approached。 By the time he reached it； it was down and he never slowed； galloping the horse across the； heavy wooden planks。 He could see that the load was the only practical way up the cliffs of the plateau； and the yawning gap spanned by the bridge would prove an impasse to any advancing army。 Even without the formidable force of defenders he knew was behind him； even without Darken Rahl's magic； the simple inaccessibility of the People's Palace was defense enough。
As he rode； Richard unbuckled the hated collar and flung it into the night。 He vowed that he would never again wear a collar。 Not for anyone。 Not for any reason。
Running the horse across the plain； Richard looked over his shoulder at the black shape of the People's Palace atop the plateau； looming up； blotting out an entire quadrant of stars。 The cold air against his face made his eyes water。 Or else it was his thoughts about Denna。 Try as he might； he couldn't get her out of his mind。 If it weren't for Kahlan； and Zedd； he would have killed himself back there； he was hurting that much。
Killing with the sword in anger； out of rage and hate； was horrible。 Killing with the sword's white magic； out of love； was beyond horror。 The blade had returned to its polished silver gloss； but he knew how to make it white again。 He hoped he would die before that was ever required。 He didn't know if he could ever bring himself to do it again。
And yet； here he was； racing across the night； on his way to find Zedd and Kahlan； to find which of them had betrayed the box to Darken Rahl； had betrayed everyone to Darken Rahl。
The whole thing didn't make any sense。 Why would Rahl use the night stone to trap Zedd； if Zedd was the traitor？ And why would he send men after Kahlan； if she was the one？ Yet Shota had said each would try to kill him。 It had to be one of them。 What was he to do？ Turn the sword white； and kill both？ He knew that was foolish。 He would rather die himself first than harm either。 But what if Zedd was betraying them； and the only way to save Kahlan would be to kill his old friend？ Or what if it was the other way around？ Would he still rather die first； then？
The important thing was to stop Rahl。 He had to recover the last box。 He had to stop wasting his energy thinking about things he couldn't know。 All that mattered was stopping Rahl； then everything else would fall into place。 He had found the box once； he would have to find it again。
But how？ There was no time。 How was he going to find Zedd and Kahlan？ He was one man on a horse； and there was a whole country to search。 They wouldn't be traveling by road； not if Chase was with them。 Chase would keep them off the roads； well hidden。 Richard didn't know the roads； much less the trails。
This was a fool's task。 There was too much country to search。
Darken Rahl had planted too many doubts in him。 Swirling thoughts twisted on themselves； became more and more confusing； hopeless。 He felt that his own mind was his worst enemy right now。 Richard cleared his mind and chanted the devotion to keep himself from thinking。 He smiled at the stupidity of chanting a devotion to a man he wanted to kill； but he chanted anyway as he rode on into the night。 Master Rahl guide us： Master Rahl teach us。 Master Rahl protect us。 In your light we thrive。 In your mercy we are sheltered。 In your wisdom we are humbled We live only to serve。 Our lives are yours。
Twice； he walked the horse to rest it； but pushed on hard the rest of the time。。 The Azrith Plains seemed endless。 The flat country； devoid of almost all vegetation； stretched on forever。 The chanting helped him keep his mind clear of all thoughts； except one： the horror of killing Denna。 That memory he couldn't shake。 Those tears he couldn't keep back。
Dawn brought him his own shadow to chase。 Boulders appeared； looking out of place on the flat ground； casting long shadows of their own。 They gathered in numbers as he rode。 The terrain began undulating； opening up in gullies； rising in ridges。 He rode through narrow passes and rifts； down a canyon with walls of crumbling rock。 The road took… a bend to the left； with a narrower road to the right。 Richard took the horse to the left； remembering what the guard had told him。
Out of the clearness of his mind； a thought came to him。 Richard brought the h