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； and it wasn't the snakes。 It was Shota that her eyes followed； the way the eyes of an animal in a trap follow the trapper； not the trap。
〃Richard；〃 Shota asked； while she held Kahlan's stare； 〃would you be able to kill her if you had to？ If she was a threat to your success； would you have the courage to kill her？ If it meant the lives of everyone else？ The truth； now。〃
Despite the disarming tone of Shota's voice； her words went through him like an ice dagger。 Richard met Kahlan's widening eyes； then looked to the woman beside him。 〃She is my guide。 I need her；〃 he said simply； offhandedly。
Big almond eyes stared back at him。 〃That； Seeker； is not the question I asked。〃
Richard didn't say anything； he tried to betray nothing with his face。
Shota gave a smile of regret。 〃As I thought。 And that is why you made a mistake with your wish。〃
〃I made no mistake；〃 Richard protested。 〃If I hadn't used it as I did； you would have killed her！〃
〃Yes；〃 Shota nodded grimly； 〃I would have。 The image of Zedd was a test。 You passed the test； and as a reward； I gave you a wish； not that you might have something you want； but that I might do an onerous deed for you； because you lack the required courage。 That was your second test。 That test； dear boy； you failed。 I must honor your wish。 That is your mistake； you should have let me kill her for you。〃
〃You're mad！ First you try to tell me how you're not evil； how I should judge you by your actions； and now you prove your true self by telling me how I made a mistake by not allowing you to kill Kahlan！ And for what！ Some perceived threat？ She has done nothing to threaten you； nor would she。 She wishes only to stop Darken Rahl； same as me。 Same as you！〃
Shota listened patiently until he finished。 The timeless look passed across her eyes again。 〃Were you not listening when I said not all acts are as they seem？ That some are meant to save you？ Once again you judge too quickly； without knowing all the facts。〃
〃Kahlan is my friend。 That is the only fact that matters。〃
Shota took a breath； as if she were trying to remain patient； as if she were trying to teach something to a child。 Her expression made him feel somehow stupid。
〃Richard。 Listen to me。 Darken Rahl has put the boxes of Orden in play。 If he succeeds； there will be no one with the power to restrain him。 Ever。 A great many people will die。 You。 Me。 It's in my own interest to help you because you are the only one who has a chance to stop him。 How； or why； I don't know； but I can see the flow of power。 You are the only one with a chance。
〃That does not mean you will succeed； only that you have the chance。 No matter how small； it is within you。 Know also that there are forces to defeat you before you could bring your chance to bear。 The old wizard does not have the power to stop Rahl。 That's why he gave you the sword。 I do not have the power to stop Rahl。 But I do have the power to be of aid to you。 That's all I wish to do。 In so doing I help myself。 I do not want to die。 If Rahl wins； I will。〃
〃I know all this。 That's why I said you would answer my question without my having to use the wish。〃
〃But there are other things I know； Richard； that you do not。〃
Her beautiful face studied him with a sadness that hurt。 Her eyes had the same fire in them that Kahlan's had； the tire of intelligence。 Richard felt the need in her； the need to help him。 He feared suddenly what it was she knew； because he realized that it wasn't meant to hurt him； it was simply truth。 Richard saw Samuel watching the sword and became aware of his own left hand； resting around the hilt； aware of how tightly he was gripping it； and how the raised letters of the word Truth were pressing painfully into his palm
〃Shota； what are these things you know？〃
〃The easiest first；〃 she sighed。 〃You know the way you stopped the wizard's fire with the sword？ Practice the move。 I gave you that test for a reason。 Zedd will use the wizard's fire against you。 Only the next time； it will be for real。 The flow of time does not say who will prevail； only that you have a chance to beat him。〃
Richard's eyes widened。 〃That can't be true 。 。。 。〃
〃True；〃 she said； clipping off his words； 〃as a tooth given by a father to show the keeper of the book； to show the truth of how it was taken。〃
That rattled him to his bones。
〃And no； I don't know who the keeper is。〃 Her eyes burned into him。 〃You will have to find him yourself。〃
Richard could hardly draw a breath； could hardly make himself ask the next question。 〃If that was the easy part； then what is the hard？〃
Auburn hair tumbled off her shoulder as Shota looked away from his eyes； to Kahlan； who stood stone still while the snakes writhed on her。 〃I know what she is； and how it is she is a threat to me 。 。 。 。〃 Her voice trailed off。 She turned back to him。 〃It is obvious you do not know what she is； or perhaps you would not be with her。 Kahlan has a power。 Magic power。〃
〃That much I know；〃 Richard offered cautiously。
〃Richard；〃 Shota said； trying to find the words for something she found difficult； 〃I am a witch woman。 As I said； one of my powers is that I can see things as they will e to pass。 It is one reason fools' fear me。〃 Her face drew closer to his； unfortably close。 Her breath smelled of roses。 〃Please； Richard； don't be one of these fools； don't fear me because of things I have no control over。 I'm able to see the truth of events that will e to be； I do not dictate or control them。 And just because I see them； that does not mean I'm at all happy about them。 It is only by action in the present that we can change what otherwise will e to pass。 Have the wisdom to use the truth to your advantage； don't simply rail against it。〃
〃And what truth do you see； Shota？〃 he whispered。
Her eyes had an intensity that halted his breath； her voice the sharp edge of a blade
〃。Kahlan has a power； and if she isn't killed； she will use that power against you。〃 She watched his eyes carefully as she spoke。 〃There can be no doubt of the truth of this。 Your sword can protect you from the wizard's fire； but it will not protect you from her touch。〃
Richard felt the stab of her words； as if they cut through his heart。
〃No！〃 Kahlan whispered。 They both looked at her； her face wrinkled with pain at Shota's words。 〃I wouldn't！ Shota； I swear； I couldn't do that to him。〃
Tears ran down her cheeks。 Shota stepped close to her and reached through the snakes； touching her face tenderly； to fort her。
〃If you are not killed； child； I am afraid you will。〃 As a tear rolled down； her thumb brushed it back。 〃You have already e close； once；〃 Shota said with surprising passion。 〃Within a breath。〃 She nodded slightly to herself。 〃This is true； is it not？ Tell him。 Tell him if I am speaking the truth。〃
Kahlan's eyes snapped to Richard。 He looked into the depths of her green eyes and remembered the three times she had touched him when he had been holding the sword； and how that touch made the magic jump in warning。 The last time； with the Mud People when the shadow things had e； the magic's reaction had been so strong that he almost put the sword through her before he realized who it was。 Kahlan's eyebrows wrinkled together； her eyes shrinking from his gaze。 She bit her bottom lip as a little moan escaped her throat。
〃Is this true？〃 Richard asked in a whisper； his heart in his throat。 〃Have you e within a breath of using your power against me； as Shota says？〃
Kahlan's face drained of color。 She let out a loud； painful moan。 She closed her eyes and cried in a long； agonizing wail； 〃Please； Shota。 Kill me。 You must。 I am sworn to protect Richard； to stop Rahl。 Please；〃 she cried in choking sobs。 〃It's the only way。 You must kill me。〃
〃I cannot；〃 Shota whispered。 〃I have granted a wish。 A very foolish one。〃
Richard could hardly stand the pain of seeing Kahlan like this； asking to die。 The lump in his throat threatened to choke him
Kahlan suddenly cried out and threw up her arms； to make the snakes bite her。 Richard lunged for them； but they were gone。 Kahlan held out her arms； looking for snakes that were no longer there。
〃I'm sorry； Kahlan。 If I were to let them bite you； it would break the wish I granted。〃
Kahlan collapsed to her knees； crying with her face against the ground； her fingers digging into the earth。 〃I'm so sorry； Richard；〃 she wept。 Her fists grabbed at the grass； then his pants legs。 〃Please； Richard；〃 she sobbed。 〃Please。 I'm sworn to protect you。 So many have already died。 Take the sword and kill me。 Do it。 Please； Richard； kill me。〃
〃Kahlan 。 。 。 I could never 。 。 。〃 He couldn't make any more words e。
〃Richard；〃 Shota said； nearly in tears herself； 〃if she isn't killed； then before Rahl opens the boxes； she will use her power against you。 There is no doubt of this。 None。 It cannot be changed if she lives。 I granted your wish； I cannot kill her。 So you must。〃
〃No！〃 he shrieked。
Kahlan wailed again in anguish and pulled her knife。 As she brought it up to plunge it into herself； Richard