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re was little brush among the big trees； allowing an open view for a good distance。 Ferns covered the ground in feathery swaths through the trees； and dead wood lay in it here and there as if asleep in a bed。 Squirrels scolded the two of them as they hiked along； while birds sang with monotonous conviction。
Richard picked at the branch of a small balsam fir as they walked past； stripping the needles between his thumb and the crook of his first finger。
〃Adie is more than she seems；〃 he said at last。
Kahlan looked up at him as they walked。 〃She is a sorceress。〃
Richard glanced sideways at her in surprise。 〃Really？ I don't know exactly what a sorceress is。〃
〃Well； she is more than us； but less than a wizard。〃
Richard smelled the aromatic fragrance of the balsam needles； then cast them aside。 Maybe she was more than he； Richard thought； but he wasn't at all sure she was more than Kahlan。 He remembered the look on Adie's face when Kahlan had grabbed her by the wrist。 It had been a look of fear。 He remembered the look on Zedd's face when he had first seen her。 What power did she have that could frighten a sorceress and a wizard？ What had she done that had caused thunder without sound？ She had done it twice that he knew of； once with the quad； and once with Shar； the night wisp。 Richard remembered the pain that had followed。 A sorceress greater than Kahlan？ He wondered。
〃What's Adie doing living here； in the pass？〃
Kahlan pushed some of her hair back over her shoulder。 〃She became tired of people ing to her all the time； wanting spells and potions。 She wanted to be left alone to study whatever it is a sorceress studies； some sort of higher summons； as she called it。〃
〃Do you think she will be safe when the boundary fails？〃
〃I hope so。 I like her。〃
〃Me too；〃 he added with a smile。
The trail； climbing sharply in places； forced them to go single file at times as it twisted along steep rocky hillsides and over ridges。 Richard let Kahlan go first so he could keep an eye on her； make sure she didn't wander off the path。 At times he had to point out the trail； his experience as a guide making it plain to him； but not to her unpracticed eye。 Other times the trail was a well…defined rut。 The woods were thick。 Trees grew from splits in the rock that pushed up above the leaf litter。 Mist drifted among the trees。 Roots bulging from cracks provided handholds as they climbed the abrupt inclines。 His legs ached from the effort of descending extreme drops in the dark trail。
Richard wondered what they were going to do once they reached the Midlands。 He had depended on Zedd to let him know the plan once they crossed the pass； and now they were without Zedd； without a plan。 He felt kind of foolish to be charging into the Midlands。 What was he going to do once they crossed over？ Stand there and look around； divine where the box was and then be off after it？ Didn't sound like a good plan to him。 They didn't have time to wander about aimlessly； hoping they would e across something。 No one was going to be waiting for him； waiting to tell him where to go next
They reached a steep jumble of rock。 The trail went straight up the face。 Richard surveyed the terrain。 It would be easier to go around； rather than climb over the jut of rock； but he finally decided against it； the thought that the boundary could be anywhere making up his mind。 There must be a reason the trail went this way。 He went first and took Kahlan's hand； helping to pull her up。
As he walked； Richard's thoughts continued nagging at him。 Someone had hidden one of the boxes； or Rahl would have it already。 If Rahl couldn't find it； how was Richard to？ He didn't know anyone in the Midlands； he didn't know where to look。 But someone knew where the last box was； and that was how they had to find it。 They couldn't look for the box； they had to look for someone who would be able to tell them where it was。
Magic； he thought suddenly。 The Midlands was a land of magic。 Maybe someone with magic could tell where the box was。 They had to look for someone with the right kind of magic。 Adie could tell things about him without ever having seen him before。 There had to be someone with the kind of magic that could tell him where the box was without ever having seen it。 Then； of course； they had to convince that person to tell them。 But maybe if someone was hiding their knowledge from Darken Rahl； he would be glad to help stop him。 It seemed there were too many wishes and hopes in his thoughts。
But there was one thing he did know： even if Rahl got all the boxes； without the book he wasn't going to know which box was which。 As they walked along； Richard recited the Book of Counted Shadows to himself； trying to find a way to stop Rahl。 Since it was an instruction book for the boxes； it should have a way to stop their use； but there was nothing like that in the book。 The actual explanation of what each box would do； directives to determine which box was which； and how to open one； took up only a relatively small portion at the end of the book。 Richard understood this part well； as it was clear and precise。 Most of the book； though； was taken up with directions for countering unforeseen eventualities； resolving problems that could prevent the holder of the boxes from succeeding。 The book even started out with how to verify the truth of the instructions。
If he could create one of these problems； he could stop Rahl； since Rahl didn't have the book to help him。 But most of the problems were things he had no way of bringing about； problems with sun angles and clouds on the day of opening。 And a lot of it made no sense to him。 It spoke of things he had never heard of。 Richard told himself to stop thinking of the problem； and to think of the solution。 He would go through the book again。 He cleared his mind and started at the beginning。
Verification of the truth of the words of the Book of Counted Shadows； if spoken by another； rather than read by the one who mands the boxes； can only be insured by the use of a Confessor 。 。 。 。 。
By late afternoon； Richard and Kahlan were sweating freel