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Crossing a small brook near a beaver pond； they came upon a patch of late wildflowers； their yellow and pale blue blossoms blanketing the ground in a sparsely wooded hollow。 Kahlan stopped to pick some。 Finding a scoop…shaped piece of dead wood； she started arranging the flowers within the hollow of the wood。 Richard thought she must be hungry。 He found an apple tree he knew to be nearby and filled his pack half full while she bent to her task。 It was always a good idea to bring food when going to see Zedd。
Richard finished before Kahlan； and waited； leaning against a log； wondering what she was doing。 When she was satisfied with the arrangement； she lifted the hem of her dress and knelt beside the pond； floating the wood out onto the water。 She sat back on her boots with her hands folded in her lap； watching for a time as the small raft of flowers drifted out onto the quiet water。 When she turned and saw him leaning against the log； she stood and joined him。
〃An offering to the spirits of our two mothers；〃 she explained。 〃To ask their protection and help in finding the wizard。〃 Kahlan looked to his face； and concern came over her features。 〃Richard； what's wrong？〃
He held out an apple。 〃Nothing。 Here； eat this。〃
She slapped his hand away and in a blink had him by the throat with her other hand。 Anger flared in her green eyes。 〃Why would you do this？〃 she demanded。
Shock raced through his mind。 He went rigid。 Something told him not to move。 〃Don't you like apples？ I'm sorry； I'll find you something else to eat。〃
The fury in…her eyes faltered； changing to doubt。 〃What did you call them？〃
〃Apples；〃 he said； still not moving。 〃Don't you know what apples are？ They're good to eat； I promise。 What did you think they were？〃
Her hand loosened its grip a little。 〃You eat these 。 。 。 apples？〃
Richard kept himself still。 〃Yes。 All the time。〃
Embarrassment replaced her anger。 She released his throat and put her fingers over her mouth。 Her eyes were wide。 〃Richard； I'm so sorry。 I didn't know you could eat these things。 In the Midlands； any red fruit is deadly poison。 I thought you meant to poison me。〃
Richard laughed as the tension went out in a rush。 Kahlan laughed； too； while protesting that it wasn't funny。 He took a bite to show her； then offered her another。 This time she took it； but looked at it long and hard before taking a bite。
〃Umm； these things are good to eat。〃 Kahlan's brow wrinkled。 She put her hand on his forehead。 〃I thought there was something wrong。 You are burning with fever。〃
〃I know； but there's nothing we can do until we get to Zedd's。 We're almost there。〃
Zedd's squat house came into sight a short distance farther up the trail。 A single plank from the sod…covered roof served as a ramp for his old cat； who was better at getting up than down。 White lace curtains hung on the inside of the windows； flower boxes on the outside。 The flowers had dried and wilted with the passing of the season。 The log walls were dull gray with age； but a bright blue door greeted visitors。 Other than the door； the whole place gave the appearance of hunkering into the grasses surrounding it； of trying to go unnoticed。 The house wasn't large； but it did have a porch running the length of the front。
Zedd's 〃reason〃 chair was empty。 The reason chair was where Zedd sat and thought until he figured out the reason for whatever it was that had snagged his curiosity。 He had once sat in the chair for three days straight； trying to figure out why people were always arguing over how many stars there were。 He himself didn't care。 He thought the question trivial； and he only wondered why people spent so much time debating the subject。 At last he stood and pronounced that it was because anyone could express his profound conviction on the subject without fear of being proven wrong； as it was impossible to know the answer。 Such fools simply didn't have to worry about contradiction when proclaiming expertise。 Having settled the matter； Zedd then went in the house and ate in earnest for three solid hours。
Richard called out but received no answer。 He smiled at Kahlan。 〃I bet I know where he is。 Out back on his cloud rock； studying the latest batch of clouds。〃
〃Cloud rock？〃 Kahlan asked。
〃It's his favorite place to stand and watch clouds。 Don't ask me why。 Ever since I've known him； whenever he sees an interesting cloud； he runs out back to watch it while standing on that rock。〃 ichard had grown up with the rock； and didn't think the behavior peculiar； it was just part of the old man。
The two of them walked through the tall； wild grasses that surrounded the house and up a rise to the top of a small barren hill； where the cloud rock sat。 Zedd was standing on the flat cloud rock with his arched back to them； his spindly arms outstretched and his wavy white hair hanging away from his head as it tilted back in scrutiny。
Zedd was stark naked。
Richard rolled his eyes； Kahlan averted hers。 Pale leathery skin draped loosely over a collection of bony projections made him look as frail as a dry stick。 Richard knew him to be anything but frail； though。 His bottom lacked any padding whatsoever； leaving the skin there to droop。
One scrawny finger rose； pointing skyward。 〃I knew you were ing； Richard。〃 His voice was as thin as the rest of him。
The plain； unadorned robes that were his only clothes lay in a heap behind him。 Richard bent and picked them up while Kahlan； smiling； turned around to avoid any further embarrassment。 〃Zedd； we have pany。 Put on your clothes。〃
〃Do you know how I knew you were ing？〃 Still he did not move or turn。
〃I would say it has something to do with a cloud that has been following me for the last few days。 Here； let me help get this on you。〃
Zedd spun around； arms flailing in excitement。 〃Days！ Bags！ Richard； that cloud has been following you for three weeks！ Ever since your father was killed！ I haven't seen you since George's death。 Where have you been？ I've been looking all over for you。 I can find a lost bug in a barn easier than I can find you when you get i