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His mother's hand cupped the side of his face。 He ignored it and turned his head； looking back up the road； to the top of the rise。 It was Zedd； or at least he thought it was Zedd。 It looked just like Zedd； but then； this looked just like his mother。 Zedd was standing there； with a look he recognized； a look of cold danger； warning。
〃Richard；〃 came Zedd's voice again。 〃Do as I say。 Stand away from her。 Now。〃
〃Please； Richard；〃 his mother breathed； 〃don't leave me。 Don't you know me？〃 Richard turned to her soft face。 〃Yes。 You are Shota。〃
He took her wrists； pulled her hands from his waist； and stepped back from her。 Near tears； she watched him move away。
Suddenly； she spun toward the wizard。 Her hands snapped up。 With an earsplitting crack； blue lightning erupted from her fingers； streaking toward Zedd； The wizard's hands instantly brought up a shield； like glass； reflecting light in its gloss。 The lightning from Shota hit it with a thunderous peal and glanced off； striking a huge oak； snapping its trunk in a shower of splinters。 The tree crashed to earth。 The ground shuddered。
Zedd's hands were already up。 Wizard's fire shot from his curled fingers。 It shrieked as it came； tumbling through the air with howling fury。
〃No！〃 Richard screamed。
The ball of liquid flame harshly illuminated the shady area with intense blue and yellow light。
He couldn't let this happen！ Shota was the only way to find the box！ The only way to stop Rahl！
The fire wailed as it expanded； heading right for Shota。 She stood motionless。
〃No！〃 Richard yanked the sword free and jumped in front of her。 Gripping the hilt in one hand； the point in the other； with arms locked； he held it up horizontally in front of himself； as a shield。
The magic raced through him。 Wrath took him。 The fire was upon him。 The roar filled his ears。 He turned his face； closed his eyes； held his breath and gritted his teeth； fully expecting that he might die。 But there was no choice。 The witch woman was their only chance。 He couldn't let her be killed。
The impact staggered him back a step。 He felt the heat。 Even with his eyes tightly closed； he could see the light。 The wizard's fire wailed in rage as it struck the sword； exploding around him。
And then there was silence。 He opened his eyes。 The wizard's fire was gone。 Zedd wasted no time。 Already he was throwing a handful of magic dust。 It sparkled as it came。 Richard saw something ing from behind him； magic dust from the witch woman。 It shimmered like ice crystals； taking the sparkle from Zedd's dust； and slammed into him。
Zedd stood frozen； unmoving； one hand in the air
〃Zedd！〃
There was no reply。 Richard spun to the witch woman。 She was no longer his mother。 Shota wore a wispy dress with variegated shades of gray across its gauzy surface； its folds and loose points floating in the light breeze。 Her full； thick hair was a wavy auburn； her smooth skin flawless。 Almond eyes shone up at him。 She was as beautiful as the palace that stood behind her； the valley around her。 She was so attractive； it almost took his breath away； and would have； were it not for the rage he was feeling。
〃My hero；〃 she said in a voice that was no longer his mother's； but silky； clear； easy。 A sly smile carne to her full lips。 〃Totally unnecessary； but it's the thought that counts。 I am impressed。〃
〃And who is this supposed to be？ Another vision from my mind？ Or is this the real Shota？〃 Richard was enraged。 He recognized all too well the anger from the sword； but decided to keep the weapon out。
Her smile widened。 〃Are those clothes really you？〃 she teased。 〃Or are they something you wear for a time； to serve a purpose？'
〃What's the purpose of who you are now？〃
Her eyebrow lifted。 〃Why； to please you； Richard。 That's all。〃
〃With some illusion！〃
〃No。〃 Her voice softened。 〃This is no illusion； it's the way I appear to myself； most of the time anyway。 This is real。〃
Richard ignored her answer； pointing up the road with the sword。 〃What have you done to Zedd？〃
She shrugged； looking away with a demure smile。 〃Merely prevented him from harming me。 He is all right。 For the moment anyway。〃 Almond eyes sparkled up from under her eyebrows。 〃I will kill him later； after you and I have talked。〃
His grip on the sword tightened。 〃And Kahlan？〃
Shota redirected her gaze to Kahlan； who stood still； pale； her mouth trembling； her eyes locked on Shota's every move。 Richard knew Kahlan feared this woman more than she feared the snakes。 Shota frowned； then it melted back into her coy smile as she returned her gaze to him。
〃She is a very dangerous woman。〃 Her eyes flashed with knowing that went well beyond the years she appeared to be
〃More dangerous than even she knows。 I have to protect myself from her。〃 She shrugged again； deftly catching the corner of a floating wisp of her dress。 When she did； the rest of the dress settled down； as if the breeze had died。 〃So I did that to keep her still。 If she moves； they will bite her。 If she doesn't； they won't；〃 Shota thought a moment。 〃I will kill her later； too。〃 Her voice seemed too gentle； too pleasant for the words she spoke。
Richard considered using the sword to take off the witch woman's head。 His rage demanded it。 He visualized it powerfully in his mind； hoping Shota could see it； too。 Then he put the fury down a little； but still at the ready。
〃And me？ Are you not afraid of me？〃
Shota gave a little laugh； a smile。 〃A Seeker？〃 Her fingers went to her lips as if to try to hide her amusement。 〃No； I don't think so。〃
Richard could barely contain himself。 〃Perhaps you should be。〃
〃Perhaps。 Perhaps in normal times。 But these are not normal times。 Otherwise why would you be here？ To kill me'？ You have just saved me。〃 She gave him a look that said he should be ashamed of himself for saying something so stupid； then walked around him； one full turn。 He turned with her； keeping the sword between them； although she seemed unconcerned by it。 〃These are times that demand strange alliances； Richard。 Only the strong are wise enough to recognize this。〃 She stopped and folded her arms； appraising him with a thoughtful smile。 〃My hero。 Why； I can't remember the last time anyone thought to save my life。〃 She leaned toward him。 〃Very gallant。 It truly was。〃 She slipped an arm around his waist。 Richard wanted to stop her； but somehow he didn't。
〃Don't flatter yourself。 I had my motives。〃 He found her easy manner unnerving； and fiercely attractive。 He knew he had no reason to feel attracted to her。 She had just said she was going to kill his two best friends； and by Kahlan's manner he knew it was no vain boast。 Worse； he had the sword out； the sword's anger out。 He realized that even its magic was being bewitched。 He felt as if he were drowning； and to his surprise； was finding the experience pleasant。
Her smile widened； making her almond eyes sparkle。 〃As 1 said； only the strong are wise enough for the alliances needed。 The wizard wasn't wise enough； he tried to kill me。 She isn't wise enough； she would also。 She didn't even want to e here。 Only you were wise enough to see that these times demand an alliance such as ours。〃
Richard struggled to maintain a level of outrage。 〃I make no alliances with those who would kill my friends。〃
〃Even if they try to kill me first？ Have I no right to defend myself？ Am I to lay down and die； because it's your friends who would do the killing？ Richard；〃 she said； shaking her head with a frown and a smile； 〃think about what you are saying。 Look at it from my eyes。〃
He thought about it； but said nothing。 She gave his waist an affectionate squeeze。
〃But you were very gallant。 You； my hero； have done a very rare thing。 You have put your life at risk for me； a witch woman。 That kind of thing does not go unrewarded。 You have earned a wish。 Anything you want； simply name it； and it will be granted。〃 With her free hand she made gliding motions in the air。 〃Anything； on my word。〃
Richard started to open his mouth； but Shota put a finger gently to his lips。 Her warm body； firm beneath the thin dress； pressed against him。 〃Don't spoil my opinion of you by answering too quickly。 You may have anything you want。 Don't waste the wish。 Think it over carefully before you ask。 It's an important wish； offered for a reason； and perhaps the most important wish you will ever have。 Haste could mean death。〃
Richard was seething； in spite of how strangely attracted he was to this woman。 〃I don't have to think it over。 My wish is for you not to kill my friends。 To leave them unharmed； and let them go。〃
Shota sighed。 〃I'm afraid that would plicate things。〃
〃Oh？ So； your word means nothing？〃
She gave him a reproachful glare。 Her voice had a hint of harshness to it。 〃My word means everything。 I simply want you to know it would plicate matters。 You came here for the answer to an important question。 You have a wish ing。 You have merely to ask the question as your wish； and I will grant it。
〃Isn't that what you really want？ Ask yourself what