按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
t to soothe his own stupidity。 He went through the tent's opening。 Michael followed。
〃At least stay and have something to eat。 There are other things to discuss。 I'm still not sure 。。 。〃
Richard turned back looking at his brother standing in front of the tent。 A light mist had begun to fall。 He realized by the look on Michael's face that he didn't have any intention of letting him go； he was only waiting until he could get to his men for support。
〃Do it my way； Michael； please。 I have to go。〃
〃You men；〃 he called to the guards； 〃I want my brother to stay with us； for his own protection。〃
Three guards started for him。 Richard leapt over the brush and into the blackness of the night。 They followed； clumsily。 These were not woodsmen； they were soldiers。 Richard didn't want to have to kill them； they were Westlanders。 He slipped through the darkness while the camp came to life with the sound of orders being yelled。 He heard Michael yelling for them to stop him； but not to kill him。； Of course not； he wanted to hand Richard over to Darken Rahl personally：
Richard made his way around the camp to the horses； slipping between the guards。 He cut all the lead lines； then mounted one； bareback。 He yelled and kicked and slapped at the others。 They bolted in panic。 Men and horses ran in every direction。 He put his heels to his horse。
The sound of frantic voices faded behind him。 His face was wet with mist and tears as he ran his horse into the blackness
CHAPTER 47
ZEDD LAY AWAKE IN the early dawn light； his mind filled with troubling thoughts。 Clouds had gathered during the night； and it looked to be a wet journey ahead。 Kahlan lay on her side； facing toward him； close to him； breathing slowly in a deep sleep。 Chase was off somewhere on watch。
The world was ing apart； and he felt helpless。 A leaf in the wind。 He thought that somehow； being a wizard； after all these years； he should have some control of events。 Yet he was hardly more than a bystander； watching others being hurt； killed； while he tried to guide those who could make a difference； to do what needed to be done。
As a Wizard of the First Order； he knew better than to go to D'Hara； and yet what else could he do？ He had to go if there was any chance of rescuing Richard。 In three days； it would be the first day of winter。 Darken Rahl had only two boxes； he was going to die。 If they didn't get Richard out of there； Darken Rahl would kill him first。
He thought again of the encounter with Darken Rahl the day before。 Try as he might； he couldn't understand it。 It was bizarre in the extreme。 Rahl had obviously been frantic to find the box； so frantic that he didn't kill him when he had the chance。 The wizard who had killed his father； the one he had been searching for； and when he found him； he did nothing。 But his other behavior defied sense。
The sight of him wearing Richard's sword gave Zedd chills。 Why would Darken Rahl； master of the magic of both worlds； be wearing the Sword of Truth？ More to the point； what had he done to Richard to get the sword from him？
The most disturbing behavior had been when he held the sword to Kahlan。 Zedd had never felt more helpless in his life。 It was stupid to try to use wizard's pain on him。 Those with the gift； and who had survived the test of pain； could survive the touch。 But what was he to do？ To see Darken Rahl holding the Sword of Truth at her throat gave him pain； the worst kind of pain。 For a moment； he had been sure Rahl was going to kill her； and then the next moment； before Zedd had a chance to do anything； futile as it would have been； Rahl got tears in his eyes； and put the sword away。 Why would Darken Rahl bother to use the sword； if he wanted to kill her； or any of them for that matter？ He could kill any of them with a snap of his fingers。 Why would he want to use the sword？ And why then stop？
Worse； though； was that he had made the blade turn white。 When Zedd had seen that； he had almost parted pany with his skin。 The prophecies spoke of the one who would turn the Sword of Truth white。 Spoke with great caution。 That it would be Darken Rahl gave him a fright to his very core。 …That it might have been Richard who would turn the sword white had caused him a dread all its own； but for it to be Rahl 。 。 。
The veil； the prophecies called it； the veil between the world of life and the underworld。 If the veil was torn by the magic of Orden； through an agent； the prophecies foretold； only the one who had turned the Sword of Truth white could restore it。 Unless he was able to； the underworld would be loosed on the world of the living。
The word agent had terrible significance that worried Zedd greatly。 It could mean that Darken Rahl was not acting on his own； but was an agent。 An agent of the underworld。 That he had gained mastery of the subtractive magic； the underworld magic； implied that he was。 It also implied that even if Rahl failed； and was killed； the magic of Orden would still tear the veil。 Zedd tried not to think of what these prophecies meant。 The idea of the underworld being loosed made his throat clench shut。 Better for him to be dead first。 Better for everyone to be dead first。
Zedd rolled his head to the side； watching Kahlan sleep。 The Mother Confessor。 The last of the ones created by the old wizards。 His heart ached for her pain； ached because he hadn't been able to help her when Rahl held the sword at her throat； ached for what she felt for Richard； and for what he couldn't tell her。
If only it had not been Richard。 Anyone but Richard。 Nothing was ever easy。
Zedd sat up in a rush。 Something was wrong。 It was too light out for Chase not to be balk。 With a finger to Kahlan's forehead； Zedd brought her wide awake。
Kahlan reflected his worry in her face。 〃What is it？〃 she whispered。
Zedd sat still； feeling for life around him。 〃Chase isn't back； and he should be。〃
She looked about。 〃Maybe he fell asleep。〃 Zedd lifted an eyebrow。 〃Well； maybe there is a good reason。 Maybe it's nothing。〃
〃Our horses are gone。〃 '
Kahlan came to her feet； checking her knife。 〃Can you sense where he is？〃
Zedd flinched。 〃There are others about。 Others touched by the underworld。〃
He jumped to his feet。 As he did； Chase； having been pushed； stumbled and fell face first into the camp。 His arms were tied securely behind his back； and there was blood on him。 A lot of blood。 He groaned in the dirt。 Zedd felt the presence of men around them。 Four men。 He recoiled at what he felt of them。
The big man who had pushed Chase stepped forward。 His short blond hair stood up in spikes； and a black streak ran back through it。 His cold eyes； his smile； sent a chill through the wizard。
Kahlan was in a half crouch。 〃Demmin Nass；〃 she hissed。
He hooked his thumbs in his belt。 〃Ah。 You've heard of me； Mother Confessor。〃 His wicked smile widened。 〃I've certainly heard of you。 Your friend here has killed five of my best men
I'll execute him later； after the festivities。 I'd like him to the have the enjoyment of watching what we do to you。〃
Kahlan looked about as three other men； not as big as Demmin Nass； but bigger than Chase； stepped out of the woods。 They were surrounded； but that was not a problem for a wizard。 Each of the men was blond…haired； heavily muscled； and covered in sweat despite the chill to the air。 Chase had obviously given them trouble。 For now； their weapons were put away； they had no fear of their control of the situation。
Their confidence irritated Zedd。 Their grins made him furious。 The early light made the four pairs of blue eyes all the more penetrating。
Zedd knew very well that this was a quad； and he knew very well what it was that quads did to Confessors。 Very well。 His blood boiled at the knowing。 There was no way he was going to let that happen to Kahlan。 Not as long as he was alive。
Demmin Nass and Kahlan stared at one another。
〃Where is Richard？ What has Rahl done with him？〃 she demanded。
〃Who？？
She gritted her teeth。 〃The Seeker。〃
Demmin smiled。 〃Well now； that is Master Rahl's and my business。 Not your。〃
〃Tell me；〃 she glared。
His smiled widened。 〃You have more important things to wont' about right now； Confessor。 You are about to give my men a very good time。 I want you to keep your mind on that； and make sure they enjoy themselves。 The Seeker does not concern you。〃
Zedd decided that it was time to stop this； before something more happened。 He brought his hands up； and released the most powerful paralysis web he could marshal。 The camp lit with a loud crack of green light as it flashed in four directions at once； toward each of the blue…eyed men。 The green light hit each man with a hard thud。
Before the wizard had time to react； things went terribly wrong。
As fast as the green light hit them； it reflected back from each。 Too late； Zedd realized that they were protected by a spell of some sort…an underworld spell that he hadn't been able to see。 From four directions at once； the green light hit him。 His own web paralyzed him in place。 He was frozen tight as s