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； so why was one place better than another？ The box they sought could just as easily be in the south as farther north。
The woods were getting gloomier。 Richard hadn't been able to see the sun for the last couple of hours； but there was no doubt it was setting。 He didn't like the idea of traveling these woods at night； but the idea of sleeping in them seemed worse。 He checked to make sure the other two were staying close。
The sound of running water came faintly through the evening stillness； swelling as they rode； and in a short distance they came to a small river with a wooden bridge over it。 Just before they crossed； Richard stopped。 He didn't like the look of it； inexplicably； something felt wrong。 Being careful couldn't hurt。 He led his horse down the bank and peered underneath。 The support beams were anchored to iron rings in granite blocks。 The pins were missing。
〃Someone tampered with the bridge。 It will support the weight of a man； but not a horse。 Looks like we're going to have to get wet。〃
Zedd scowled。 〃I don't want to get wet。〃
〃Well； do you have a better idea？〃 Richard asked。
Zedd drew his finger and thumb down opposite sides of his smooth chin。 〃Yes；〃 he announced。 〃You two go across； I will hold up the bridge。〃 Richard looked at him as if the wizard had lost his senses。 〃Go on； it will be all right。〃
Zedd sat up tall on his horse； held his arms out straight to his sides； palms up； tilted his head back； breathed deeply； and closed his eyes。 Reluctantly； cautiously； the other two crossed the bridge。 On the other side they turned their horses and looked back。 The wizard's horse began walking across unprompted while Zedd continued to hold his arms out； his head tilted back and his eyes closed。 When he reached their side； he brought his arms down and looked at the other two。 Richard and Kahlan stared at him。
〃Maybe I was wrong；〃 Richard said。 〃Maybe the bridge would hold the weight。〃
Zedd smiled。 〃Maybe you were。〃 Without looking back； he snapped his fingers。 The bridge collapsed into the water with a crash。 The beams groaned as they were torn apart from one another in the current and swept downstream。 〃Then again； maybe you weren't。 I couldn't leave it like that。 Someone might e across and be hurt。〃
Richard shook his head。 〃Someday； my friend； we are going to sit down and have a long talk。〃 He turned his horse and started off again。 Zedd looked at Kahlan and shrugged。 She smiled and gave him a wink； then turned and followed after Richard。
They continued down the dismal trail； watching the woods as they went。 Richard wondered what else Zedd could do。 He let his horse pick its own way in the gathering darkness； wondering how much longer this dead world went on； or if the road would ever take them away from it。 The night was bringing life to the place； strange calls and scraping noises。 His horse whinnied at things unseen。 He patted its neck reassuringly and checked the sky for gars。 It was hopeless； he couldn't see any sky。 But if gars came they would have a hard time surprising the three of them； as the canopy of twisted； dead limbs and branches would prevent a silent approach。 Maybe the things in the trees were more of a threat than gars。 He didn't know anything about them； and he wasn't sure he wanted to。 He realized his heart was pounding。
After about an hour； he caught the sound of something ing through the brush in the distance to their left。 It was breaking branches as it came。 He urged his horse into a canter； and checked to be sure Kahlan and Zedd were keeping up。 Whatever it was； it was staying with them。 They weren't going to be able to get ahead of it。 They were going to be cut off。 Maybe it was Chase； 。he thought。 Then again； maybe it wasn't
Richard pulled the Sword of Truth free as he leaned forward and pressed his legs around the horse； spurring it into a gallop。 His muscles tensed as his horse raced down the road。 He didn't know if Zedd and Kahlan were keeping up with him； and in fact he never gave it a thought。 His mind focused on trying to see ahead in the darkness； trying to see anything that might e at him。 Anger was slipping its bounds； heat and need ing forth。 Jaw set tight； he charged ahead with lethal intent。 The sound of his horse's hooves on the road prevented him from hearing the thing in the woods； but he knew it was there； knew it was ing。
Then he saw the black form moving against the barely discernible shapes of the trees。 It broke from the woods into the trail a dozen yards in front of him。 He raised the sword and went for it； picturing in his mind what he would do。 It waited； motionless。
At the last instant he realized it was Chase； holding up an arm to halt him； the silhouette of a flanged mace in his fist。
〃Glad to see you're keeping alert；〃 the boundary warden said。
〃Chase！ You scared the wits out of me！〃
〃You gave me a moment of concern too。〃 Kahlan and Zedd caught up with them。 〃Follow me； stay close。 Richard； take the rear； keep your sword out。〃
Chase turned his horse and took off at a gallop； the rest following。 Richard didn't know if something was after them or not。 Chase didn't act as if there was about to be a fight； but he did tell him to keep his sword out。 Richard kept a wary eye over his shoulder。 They all hunched their heads down in case there were any low branches。 It was dangerous to run the horses in the dark like this； but Chase knew that。
They came to a fork in the road； the first one all day； and without hesitation the boundary warden cut to the right； away from the boundary。 Before long they were clear of the woods； moonlight showing an open country of rolling hills and few trees。 Chase slowed after a time； letting the horses walk。
Richard sheathed his sword and pulled up close to the others。 〃What was that all about？〃
Chase hooked the mace back onto his belt。 〃Things in the boundary are following us。 When they came out of the boundary for you； I was there to spoil their appetite。 Some went back in。 The ones left continue to follow from within the boundary； where I can't pursue them。 That's why I didn't want you to go too fast。 I wouldn't have been able to keep up through the woods； they would have gotten ahead of me； and then they would have had you。 I took us away from the boundary now because I wanted to get our scent away from them for the night。 It's too dangerous to travel that close to the boundary at night。 We'll camp on one of those hills up there。〃 He looked over his shoulder at Richard。 〃By the way； why did you stop back there？ I told you not to。〃
〃I was worried about you。 I heard the howling。 I was going to e and help。 Zedd and Kahlan talked me out of it。〃 Richard thought Chase would be angry； but he wasn't。
〃Thanks； but don't do it again。 While you were standing there thinking about it； they almost had you。 Zedd and Kahlan were right。 Don't argue with them the next time。〃
Richard felt his ears burning。 He knew they were right； but it didn't make him feel any better about not helping a friend。
〃Chase；〃 Kahlan asked； 〃you said they had gotten someone； was that true？〃
His face was cold stone in the moonlight。 〃Yes。 One of my men。 I don't know which one。〃 He turned back to the trail and rode on in silence。
They set up camp on a high hill to give a clear view of anything that approached。 Chase and Zedd tended to the horses while Richard and Kahlan started the fire； unpacked the bread； cheese； and dried fruit； and began cooking a simple stew。 She went with him and scouted for firewood among the sparse trees； helping carry it back。 He told her the two of them made a good team。 She smiled a little smile and turned away。 He took her arm and turned her back。
〃Kahlan； if it had been you； I would have e after you；〃 he said； meaning more than the words he spoke。
She studied his eyes。 〃Please； Richard； don't even say that。〃 She gently pulled her arm away and went back to camp。
When the other two； back from tending the horses； came into the firelight； Richard could see that the scabbard strapped over Chase's shoulder was empty； the short sword missing。 One of his battle axes and several long knives were gone； too。 Not that this left him defenseless…far from it。
The mace hanging from his belt was covered in blood from one end to the other； his gauntlets were soaked with it； and it was splattered everywhere on him。 Without ment he pulled a knife； pried a three…inch yellowish tooth from the mace where it was wedged between two of the blades； and threw the tooth over his shoulder into the darkness。 After wiping the blood off his hands and face he sat down in front of the fire with the others。
Richard tossed a stick in the fire。 〃Chase； what were those creatures that were after us？ And how could anything go in and out of the boundary？〃
Chase picked up a loaf of bread and tore off about a third。 He met Richard's eyes。 〃They're called heart hounds。 They're about twice the size of a wolf； big barrel chests； heads are kind of flat； big snout full of teeth。 Fierce。 I'm not sure what color they are。 They only prowl at night； until today； that is。 But it was