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as if he might float away。 〃But I have rules； you know。 You have to follow my rules。〃
〃I'll do anything you say； Chase。〃
〃Well； there you go； that's the first rule。 I don't allow any of my children to call me Chase。 If you want to be a member of my family； you have to call me Father。 And about your hair； it's too short。 My children all have long hair and I like it that way。 You'll have to let your hair grow out some。 And you'll have a mother。 You'll have to mind her。 And you'll have to play with your new brothers and sisters。 Do you think you can do all that？〃
She nodded against him； unable to talk as she hugged him； tears glistening in her eyes。
They all excitedly ate their fill。 Even Zedd seemed to have had enough。 Richard felt exhausted； and at the same time full of energy； to finally have the box in their hands。 They had done the hard part； they had found the box before Rahl。 Now they had only to keep it from him until winter。
〃We have been weeks in this quest；〃 Kahlan said。 〃The first day of winter is a month away。 Earlier today； that seemed scarcely enough time to get the box。 Now that we have it； it seems forever。 What shall we do until it is finished？〃
Chase spoke up first。 〃We have all of us to protect the box； and we have a thousand men to protect us。 When we get back across the border； we will have many times that。〃
She looked at Zedd。 〃Do you think that's wise？ We would be easy to find； a thousand men； I mean。 Would it not be better to hide somewhere； by ourselves？〃
Zedd leaned back and rubbed his full stomach。 〃We could hide better by ourselves； but we would also be more vulnerable； if discovered。 Perhaps Chase is correct。 There would be a lot of protection among a force that large； and if we had to； we could still leave them and go to cover。〃
〃We better get an early start；〃 Richard said
…＋
It was barely light when they were off； the horses to the road； Brophy to woods； shadowing them； or at times scouting ahead。 Chase； bristling with weapons； led them at a trot； Rachel holding him tight。 Kahlan； back in her forest garb； and with Siddin sitting at her lap； rode next to Zedd。 Richard had insisted that Zedd carry the box； it was wrapped in the cloth that held the bread before； and tied to the horn of his saddle。 Richard followed behind； watching everything as they rode quickly into the cold morning air。 Now that they had the box； he felt suddenly vulnerable； as if somehow everyone would know； just by looking at them。
Richard could hear the waters of the Callisidrin before ‘they rounded the curve to the bridge。 He was glad to see the road deserted。 Chase spurred his horse to a gallop as he approached the big wooden bridge； the rest of them giving a heel to their horses to keep pace。 Richard knew what Chase was doing。 The boundary warden had always told him that bridges were the bane of the unwary。 Richard watched in every direction as the other three galloped across in front of him。 He saw nothing。
In the exact center of the bridge； at a full gallop； he ran solidly into something that wasn't there。
Stunned； Richard sat up； dumbfounded at finding himself on the ground； and seeing his big roan running with the other horses； then stopping with them as they halted and turned。 The others looked back in confusion as Richard； still dazed and bewildered； rose painfully to his feet。 He brushed himself off and started limping to retrieve his horse。 Before he reached the center of the bridge； he smacked into it again。 It felt like walking into a stone wall； but there was nothing there。 He found himself sitting on the ground again。 The others were around him this time as he got to his feet。
Zedd was off his horse； holding its reins in one hand； and helping Richard with the other。 〃What's the matter？〃
〃I don't know；〃 Richard managed。 〃It felt like I ran into a wall； right in the center of the bridge。 I must have just fallen off； that's all。 I think I'm all right now。〃
Zedd looked around and led him forward with a hand on his elbow。 Before going far； he hit it again； but this time he had been moving slowly and wasn't knocked from his feet； only back a few steps。 He took one slow step forward； and came in contact with it again。 Zedd gave a serious frown。 Richard put his hands out； feeling the solid form of the smooth wall that wouldn't let him pass but would let the rest of them through。 The touch of it made him feel dizzy and sick。 Zedd walked back and forth through the invisible barrier。
The wizard stood where the unseen wall stood。 〃Walk back to the end of the bridge； then walk to me。〃
Richard felt the lump on his forehead as he walked back to the end of the bridge。 Kahlan jumped off her horse； next to Zedd。 Brophy came up beside her； to see what the trouble was。 This time； as he walked； Richard held his hands out in front of himself。
Before he was halfway back； he made solid contact； and could go no farther； having to back away from the sickening feeling at its touch。
Zedd rubbed his chin。 〃Bags！〃
The rest of them came to Richard； since he couldn't e to them。 Zedd led him forward again。 When he made contact； he backed away a little。
Zedd took Richard's left hand。 〃Touch it； with your other hand。〃
Richard did as he was told until the sick feeling made him withdraw his hand。 Zedd seemed to feel it； through Richard。 By now； they were at the foot of the bridge。 Every touch of the thing had made it move back the way they had e。
〃Bags！ And double bags！〃
〃What is it？〃 Richard demanded。
Zedd took a glance to Kahlan and Chase before he spoke。 〃It's a keeper spell。〃
〃What's a keeper spell？〃
〃It's a spell drawn by that filthy artist； James。 He's drawn it around you； and then when you touched it the first time； it activated the spell。 Once you touch it； it pulls tighter； like a trap。 If we don't get it off you； it will shrink until you are all that's in it； and then you won't be able to move。〃
〃Then what？〃
Zedd straightened。 〃The touch of it is poison。 When it finishes closing around you； like a cocoon； it will crush you； or the poi= son of it will kill you。〃
Kahlan grabbed the sleeve of Zedd's robes； panic in her eyes。 〃We have to go back！ We have to get it off him！〃
Zedd pulled his arm free。 〃Well； of course we do。 We'll find the drawing and erase it。〃
〃I know where the sacred caves are；〃 Kahlan offered as she grabbed hold of her saddle and put a foot in the stirrup。
The wizard turned to retrieve his horse。 〃We don't have any time to waste。 Let's go。〃
〃No；〃 Richard said。
They all turned back to stare at him。
〃Richard； we have to；〃 Kahlan said。
〃She's right； my boy。 There's no other way。〃
〃No。〃 He looked at their startled faces。 〃That's what they want us to do。 You said the artist couldn't spell you or Kahlan； so he did it to me； thinking that would get us all back。 The box is too important。 We can't take the risk。〃 He looked to Kahlan。 〃You just tell me where these caves are； and Zedd； you tell me how to erase the spell。〃
Kahlan grabbed the reins of her horse and Richard's； pulling them forward。 〃Zedd and Chase can protect the box； I'm going with you。〃
〃No； you're not！ I'm going alone。 I have the sword to protect me。 The box is all that matters； it is our first responsibility。 We must protect it above all else。 Just tell me where the caves are； and how to fix the spell。 When I'm finished； I'll catch up with you。〃
〃Richard； I think 。 。 。〃
〃No！ This is about stopping Darken Rahl； not about any one of us。 This is not a request； it's an order！〃
They straightened； Zedd turning to Kahlan。。 〃Tell him where the caves are。〃
Kahlan angrily handed the reins of her horse to Zedd and snatched up a stick。 She drew a map in the dirt of the road； pulling the stick along one of the lines she had drawn。 〃This is the Callisidrin； and here； the bridge。 This is the road； and here； Tamarang and the castle。〃 She drew the line of a road to the north of the city。 〃Here； in these hills northeast of the city； there is a stream that runs between twin hills。 They're about a mile south of a small bridge that crosses the stream。 The twin hills have cliffs on the sides toward the stream。 The sacred caves are in the cliff on the northeast side of the stream。 That is where the artist draws his spells。〃
Zedd took the stick from her and broke off two finger…length pieces。 He rolled one between his palms。 〃Here。 This will erase the curse。 Without seeing it； I can't tell you what part you must erase； but you should be able to figure it out。 It's a drawing and you will be able to make some sense of it。 That is the whole purpose of a drawn spell； you must be able to make sense of it； or it won't work。〃
The stick Zedd had rolled in his palms no longer felt like wood。 It felt soft and tacky。 Richard put it in his pocket。 Zedd rolled the other piece in his palms。 He handed it to Richard； it too no longer a stick。 This time it was black； almost like charcoal； but hard。
〃With this；〃 the wizard said； 〃you can draw on the spell； and change it if you have to。〃