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nything like it。 Then all of a sudden he just wasn't there anymore。 Vanished into nothing。 There's blood everywhere。
〃The rest of the lot are down there right now arguing about who's going to be first to 。 。 。 〃 He glanced at Kahlan； leaving the rest unsaid。 He wiped his forehead with the back of his arm。 〃Randy's bringing the horses to the back； you have to get out now。 Head for Adie's。 The sun's an hour away； the hounds two； so you'll be all right。 But not if you delay。〃
Richard grabbed Chase's legs； Bill his shoulders。 He told Kahlan to bolt the door and get their things together。 With Chase in their arms they trudged down the back stairs and out into the darkness and rain。 Lamplight ing from the windows reflected in the puddles； giving the wet； black forms of the horses yellow highlights。 Randy was waiting； looking worried as he held the horses。 They dropped Chase in a litter and ran as quietly as possible up the stairs。 Bill scooped Zedd into his arms； while Richard and Kahlan threw on their cloaks and grabbed the packs。 The three of them； Bill； Richard； then Kahlan； raced down the stairs and for the door。
As they burst out the door they almost tripped over Randy； sprawled on the ground。 Richard looked up just in time to see the red…haired man lunging。 He leapt back； narrowly missing the sweep of the long knife。 The man went face…first into the mud。 With surprising quickness he came to his knees； enraged； and then went rigid； the sword point an inch from his nose。 The air rang with the sound of steel。 The man looked up with vicious； black eyes。 Water and mud ran from the strings of his hair。 Richard flicked the sword a quarter turn in his hand and whacked him hard over the head with the flat of the blade。 He went down in a limp heap。
Bill laid Zedd in the litter while Kahlan turned Randy over。 One eye was swollen shut。 Rain splattered on his face。 He groaned。 When he saw Kahlan with his one good eye he broke into a grin。 Relieved that he wasn't hurt worse； she gave him a quick hug and helped him up。
〃He jumped me；〃 Randy said apologetically。 〃I'm sorry。〃
〃You are a brave young man。 You have nothing to be sorry for。 Thank you for helping us。〃 She turned to Bill。 〃You； too。〃
Bill smiled and gave a nod。 Zedd and Chase were quickly covered with blankets and oilcloth and the packs loaded。 Bill told them that Adie's supplies were already on Chase's horse。 Richard and Kahlan mounted their horses。 She flipped the silver coin to Randy。
〃Payment on delivery； as promised；〃 she told him。 He caught the coin and grinned。
Richard bent down and clasped hands with Randy and thanked him earnestly； then pointed angrily at Bill。
〃You！ I want you to add everything to your tally book。 Include all the damage； all your time and trouble； even the grave markers。 I want you to add a fair fee for saving our lives。 If the council doesn't want to approve payment； you tell them that you saved the life of the brother of the First Councilor； and Richard Cypher said if they don't pay； I'll personally have the head of the man responsible and I will put it on a pike on the front lawn of my brother's house！〃
Bill nodded and laughed over the sound of the rain。 Richard pulled back on the reins to keep his horse in place as it danced about； eager to go。 He pointed down at the unconscious man in the mud。 He was furious。
〃The only reason I didn't kill this man is because he killed a man worse than himself； and in so doing may have unwittingly saved Kahlan's life。 But he is guilty of murder； intent to murder； and intent to rape。 I suggest you hang him before he wakes。〃
Bill looked up at him with hard eyes。 〃Done。〃
〃Don't forget what I said about the boundary。 Trouble es。 Take care with yourself。〃
Bill held Richard's eyes as he put his hairy arm around his son's shoulders。 〃We won't forget。〃 A slight smile curled the corners of his mouth。 〃Long life to the Seeker。〃 '
Richard looked down at him in surprise and then grinned。 Smiling quenched some of the fire of his rage。 〃When I first saw you；〃 Richard said； 〃my thought was that you were not a devious man。 I find I was mistaken。〃
Richard and Kahlan pulled their hoods up and urged their horses on into the dark rain； toward the bone woman。
…＋
The rain had quickly drowned the lights from Southaven and left the travelers to grope their way through the blackness。 Chase's horses had carefully picked their way down the trail； trained by the wardens for this kind of duty； they were fortable in the adverse conditions。 Dawn had struggled interminably at bringing light to the new day。 Even after Richard knew the sun was up； the world still hung in half…light between night and day； a ghost of morning。 The rain had helped to cool his hot rage。
Richard and Kahlan knew that the last member of the quad was loose somewhere； and they watched every movement as a potential threat。 They knew that； sooner or later； he would e at them。 The uncertainty of when ate at their concentration。 Worry over what Bill had said； that Zedd and Chase wouldn't last long； gnawed at his spirit。 If this woman； Adie； couldn't help； he didn't know what he would do。 If she couldn't help； his two friends would die。 He couldn't imagine a world without Zedd。 A world without his tricks and help and fort would be a dead world。 He realized that he was getting a lump in his throat thinking about it。 Zedd would tell him not to worry about what might be； but to worry about what was。
But what was seemed almost as bad。 His father had been murdered。 Darken Rahl was close to obtaining all the boxes。 Richard's two oldest friends were near death。 He was alone with a woman he cared about； but wasn't supposed to care about。 She still kept her secrets closed to him； locked away。
He could tell she fought a constant battle over it in her mind。 Sometimes when he felt he was getting closer to her； he saw pain and fear in her eyes。 Soon they would be in the Midlands； where people knew what she was。 He wanted her to be the one to tell him； he didn't want to learn it from someone he didn't know。 If she didn't tell him soon； he would