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〃You did？〃 she asked。
Richard shrugged。 〃Well； I knew he was out there； and I didn't know what he was； but I didn't think he meant us harm。 So I left him food； to let him know we didn't mean him any harm either。〃 He smiled at the wolf。 〃But when you came at me back there； I surely thought I had made a mistake。 Thank you again。〃
Brophy seemed unfortable with the gratitude； and stood。 〃I have been here long enough。 I have woods to patrol。 There might be things about。 The three of you need not stand watch with Brophy on the job。〃
Richard pushed a stick at the fire； watching the sparks swirl into the air。 〃Brophy； what was it like when Kahlan touched you？ When she released her power into you。〃
No one spoke。 Richard looked into the wolf's yellow eyes。 Brophy's head turned to Kahlan。
〃Tell him；〃 she whispered in a broken voice。
Brophy lay back down； folding one paw over the other； his head held high。 He was silent for a long time before he spoke
〃It's hard to remember everything of that time； but I will try to explain it the best I can。〃 His head cocked a little to one side。 〃Pain。 I remember the pain。 It was exquisite； beyond anything you could imagine。 The first thing I remember after the pain is fear。 Overpowering fear I might be breathing wrong； and it would somehow displease her。 I almost died from fear that I would displease her。 And then when she told me what she wanted to know； it was a flush of the greatest joy I had ever known。 Joy； because then I knew what I could do to please her。 I was overjoyed that she had made a request of me； that there was something I could do to satisfy her。 That's What I remember the most； the desperate； frantic need to do as she wanted； to satisfy her； and make her happy。 Nothing else was in my mind； only to please her。 To be in her presence was beyond bliss。 The pleasure of being in her presence made me cry with elation。
〃She told me to tell the truth； and I was so happy； because I knew I could do that。 I was thrilled to have a task within my power。 I started talking as fast as I could； to tell her all the truth I could。 She had to tell me to slow down； because she couldn't understand me。 If I had had a knife； I would have used it on myself for displeasing her。 Then she told me it was all right； and 1 cried because she was not displeased with me。 I told her what happened。〃 His ears wilted a little。 〃After I told her I hadn't killed the boy； I remembered she put her hand on my arm…the touch nearly made me faint with pleasure and she said she was sorry。 I misunderstood。 I thought she meant she was sorry I hadn't killed the boy。 I begged her to let me go kill another boy for her。〃 Tears ran from the corners of the wolf's eyes。 〃Then she explained that what she meant was that she was sorry for me； for me being accused wrongly of the murder。 I remember crying uncontrollably； because she had shown me a kindness； she was sorry for me； she cared for me。 I remember what it felt like to be near her； to be in her presence。 I guess it was a feeling of love； but words are so hollow； next to the power of the wanting of her。〃
Richard stood。 He could only make himself take the briefest of glances at Kahlan； at her tears。 〃Thank you； Brophy。〃 He had to pause a moment to make sure his voice wouldn't fail him。 〃It's late。 We better get some sleep； tomorrow is an important day。 I'm going to take my watch。 Good night。〃
Brophy stood。 〃You three sleep。 I will stand watch tonight。〃
Richard swallowed the lump。 〃I appreciate that； but I will stand my watch。 If you wish； you may guard my back。〃
He turned and started to leave。
〃Richard；〃 Zedd called out to him。 Richard stopped without turning。 〃What bone is it； that your father gave you？〃
Richard's mind raced in a panic。 Please； Zedd； he said to himself； if you have ever believed a lie I have told you； believe this one。 〃You must remember it。 It was that little round one。 You've seen it before； I know you have。〃
〃Oh。 Yes； I guess I must have。 Good night。〃
Wizard's First Rule。 Thank you； my old friend； he thought to himself； for teaching me how to protect Kahlan's life。
He walked on into the night； his head pounding with pain； from without； and from within
CHAPTER 39
THE city of TAMARANG couldn't hold all the people who wanted in； there were simply too many。 People ing from every direction； seeking protection and safety； had overflowed to the countryside around the established quarters。 Tents and shacks had sprung up on the bare ground outside the city walls and out onto the hills。 In the morning； people had flowed down from the hills into the impromptu market quarter outside the walls。 People who had e from other towns； villages； and cities lined up in streets laid out in haphazard fashion at makeshift stands； selling whatever they had。 Vendors sold everything from old clothes to fine jewelry。 Fruits and vegetables were stacked at other stands。
There were barbers and healers and fortune…tellers； people who had paper …and wanted to draw your face； and people who had leeches and wanted to draw your blood。 Wine and spirits were for sale everywhere。 Despite the circumstances of their presence； the people seemed in a festive mood。 The imagined protection and ample supply of drink； Richard suspected。 Talk floated freely of the wonders of Father Rahl。 Speakers stood at the center of small knots of citizens； telling the latest news； the latest atrocities。 The tattered folk moaned and wailed at the outrages done by the Westlanders。 There were cries for vengeance。
Richard didn't see a single woman with hair past her jaw line。
The castle proper sat at the top of a high hill； within its own walls； within the walls of the city。 Red banners with a black wolf's head flew at evenly spaced intervals around the formidable castle walls。 The huge wooden doors at the outer city walls stood closed。 To keep the riffraff at bay； it appeared。
Patrols of soldiers prowled the streets on horseback； their 。armor glinting in the noonday sun； specks of light in an ocean of noisy people。 Richard saw one detachment； red banners with black wolf's head flying over them； as they swept through the new streets。 Some people cheered； some bowed； but all backed away as the horses passed。 The soldiers ignored them；…as if they didn't exist。 People who didn't move out of the way quick enough got a boot to the head。
But none of the people moved out of the way of the soldiers the way they moved out of the way for Kahlan。 People backed away from the Mother Confessor the way a pack of dogs backs away from a porcupine。
Her white dress shone in the bright sun。 Back straight； head held high； she walked as if she owned the whole city。 She kept her eyes straight ahead； and acknowledged no one。 She had refused to wear her cloak； saying it wouldn't be proper； and that she wanted there to be no doubt as to who she was。 There was no doubt。
People fell over each other getting out of her way。 Everyone bowed in a wave in the wide circle around her as she passed。 Hushed whispers carried Kahlan's title back through the throng。 Kahlan didn't acknowledge the bows。
Zedd； wearing Kahlan's pack for her； walked at Richard's side； two paces behind her。 Both his and Richard's eyes swept the crowds。 In all the time he had known Zedd； Richard had never seen him wear a pack。 To say it looked odd would be an understatement。 Richard kept his cloak hooked back behind the Sword of Truth。 It raised a few eyebrows； but nothing like the Mother Confessor did。
〃Is it like this everywhere she goes？〃 Richard whispered to Zedd
〃I'm afraid so； my boy。〃
Without hesitation； Kahlan walked smoothly over the massive stone bridge to the city gates。 Guards at the near end of the bridge fell back out of her way。 She ignored them。 Richard surveyed everything； in case he needed to find a fast way out。
The two dozen guards at the city gates were obviously under instruction to allow no one to enter。 The guards； who had been standing at attention； looked nervously at each other； they hadn't expected a visit from the Mother Confessor。 With a clank of metal against metal； some of them moved back； bumping into each other； and some didn't； not knowing what to do。 Kahlan stopped； she stared ahead at the gates as if she expected them to evaporate out of her way。 The guards in front of her pressed their backs against the gates as they looked sideways to their captain。
Zedd stepped around Kahlan； turned to her； bowed deeply； as if to excuse himself for stepping in front of her； then turned to the captain。
〃What's the matter with you？ Are you blind； man？ Open the gates！〃
The captain's dark eyes shifted between Kahlan and Zedd。 〃I'm sorry； but no one is to enter。 And your name is 。 。 。〃
Zedd's face turned bright red； Richard had to work at keeping his own face straight。 The wizard's voice was a low hiss。 〃Are you telling me； Captain； that you were told ‘If the Mother Confessor es by； don't let her in'？〃
The captain's eyes looked less sure。 〃Well 。。。 I was ordered 。 。 。 I'm not 。 。 。〃
〃Open the gates right now！〃 Zedd bellowed； fists at