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Fierce。 I'm not sure what color they are。 They only prowl at night； until today； that is。 But it was too dark in those woods to tell； and； anyway； I was kind of busy。 There
were more than I've ever seen together before。〃 …
〃Why are they called heart hounds？〃
Chase chewed a piece of bread as he stared back with intense eyes。 〃That's a matter of some debate。 Heart hounds have big rounded ears； good hearing。 Some say they can find a man by hearing the beating of his heart。〃 Richard's eyes widened。 Chase took another bite of bread； chewing for a minute。 〃Others say they're called heart hounds because that's how they kill。 They e at your chest。 Most predators go for the throat； but not heart hounds； they go straight for your heart； and they have big enough teeth to get the job done。 It's the first thing they eat； too。 If there's more than one hound； they'll fight over the heart。〃
Zedd dished himself a bowl of stew and handed the ladle to Kahlan。
Richard was losing his appetite； but he had to ask。 〃And what do。 you think？〃
Chase shrugged。 〃Well； I've never sat real quiet in the dark next to the boundary； just to find out if they could hear my heart beating。〃 He took another bite of bread； looking down at his chest as he chewed。 He pulled the heavy mail away from himself。 There were two long ragged rips in the chain。 Broken pieces of yellow teeth were jammed into mangled links。 The leather tunic behind it was soaked with hound's blood。 〃The one that did this had the blade of my short sword broken off in his chest； and I was still on my horse at the time。〃 He looked back to Richard and raised an eyebrow。 〃That answer your question？〃
Bumps ran up Richard's arms。 〃What about the way they can go in and out of the boundary？〃
Chase took the bowl of stew from Kahlan as she handed it to him。 〃They have something to do with the magic of the boundary； they were created with it。 They are' the boundary's watchdogs； so to speak。 They can go in and out without being claimed by it。 But they're tied to it too； and can't go far from it。 With the boundary weakening； they've been straying farther and farther all the time。 That makes traveling Hawkers Trail dangerous； but to go another way would add a good week to the journey to Kings' Port。 The cutoff we took is the only one that veers away from the boundary until we get to Southaven。 I knew I had to reach you before you passed it； or we would have had to spend the night back there； with them。 Tomorrow； in the daylight； when it's safer； I'll show you the boundary； how it's weakening。〃
Richard nodded as they all went back to their own thoughts。
〃They are tan；〃 Kahlan said softly。 They all turned to her。 She sat staring into the fire。 〃The heart hounds are tan； with short fur； like that on the back of a deer。 They are seen everywhere now in the Midlands； having been released from their bonds when the other boundary failed。 Crazed with lack of purpose； now they even e out in the daytime。〃
The three men sat motionless； considering her words。 Even Zedd stopped eating。
〃Great；〃 Richard said under his breath。 〃And what else does the Midlands have that is even worse？〃
He didn't mean it as a question； more as a curse of frustration。 The fire crackled； warm on their faces。
Kahlan's eyes were in a faraway place。 〃Darken Rahl；〃 she whispered
CHAPTER 13
RICHARD SAT AWAY FROM the camp； leaning against a cold rock； his cloak wrapped tightly around himself as he looked out toward the boundary。 What little wind there was bore a breath of ice。 Chase had given him the first watch； Zedd was to have the second； and the warden the third。 Kahlan had protested when she wasn't given a watch； but in the end went along with Chase's wishes。
Moonlight illuminated the open land between where he sat and the boundary。 It was an expanse of gentle hills； a few trees and small streams； a pleasant…looking place； considering how near it was to the grim boundary woods。 Of course； the woods had probably been pleasant at one time； too； before Darken Rahl had put the boxes in play； and started the destruction of the boundary。 Chase had said he didn't think the heart hounds could stray this far； but if he was wrong； Richard intended to see them ing。 He ran his hand over the hilt of his sword for reassurance； fingering the word Truth on it； tracing its raised letters absently while he scanned the night sky； vowing not to let the gars take him by surprise again。 He was glad he was given the first watch； since he wasn't sleepy。 He was fatigued； but not sleepy。 Still； he yawned。
The mountains that were part of the boundary lay off at the edge of darkness； beyond the tangle mat of woods； rising up like the spine of a dark beast too big to hide itself。 Richard wondered what manner of things were looking back at him from that black maw。 Chase had said the boundary mountains diminished as they went south； and would be all but gone where they were going。
Unexpectedly； Kahlan； her cloak also wrapped snug about； slipped up silently in the darkness and wedged herself tight against him for warmth。 She didn't talk； simply sat close。 Stray wisps of her silky hair touched the side of his face。 The handle of her knife jabbed into his side； but he didn't say anything for fear that if he did she would move away。 He didn't want her to move。
〃The others asleep？〃 he asked quietly； glancing over his shoulder。 She nodded。 〃How can you tell？〃 he asked with a smile。 〃Zedd sleeps with his eyes open。〃
She smiled back。 〃All wizards do。〃
〃Really？ I thought it was just Zedd。〃
As he scanned the valley for any movement； he could feel her eyes on him。 He looked back at her。 〃Aren't you sleepy？〃 She was so close he didn't have to speak in much more than a whisper。
She shrugged。 The light breeze pulled some of her long hair across her face。 She reached up and pulled it back。 Her eyes found his。 〃I wanted to； tell you I was sorry。〃
He wished she would lay her head on his shoulder； but she didn't。 〃About what？〃
〃About what I said to you before； that I wouldn't want you to e after me。 I did not want you to think I don't appreciate your friendship； I do。 It's just that what we are doing is more important than any one person。〃
He knew she had meant much more than she said； just as he had。 He looked into her eyes； felt her breath on； his face。
〃Kahlan； do you have someone？〃 He feared the arrow to his heart； but had to ask。 〃Someone at home who waits for you； I mean？ A love？〃
He held the gaze of her green eyes for a long time。 She didn't look away； but her eyes filled with tears。 More than anything he wanted to put his arms around her and kiss her。
She reached up； letting the backs of her… fingers brush his face gently。 She cleared her throat。 〃It is not that simple； Richard。〃
〃Yes it is。 Either you do or you don't。〃
〃I have obligations。〃
For a time it seemed she was going to tell him something； tell him her secret。
She looked so beautiful in the moonlight； but it wasn't only the way she looked； it was what was inside her； everything from her intelligence and courage to her wit； and the special smile she gave only to him。 He would slay a dragon； if there were such a thing； just to see that smile。 He knew he would never want anyone else for as long as he lived。 He would rather spend the rest of his life alone than with someone else。 There could be no one else。
He desperately wanted to hug her close。 He ached to taste her soft lips。 But he was inexplicably getting the same feeling he had had before he crossed the bridge。 It was a strong feeling of warning； stronger than his desire to kiss her。 Something told him that if he did； it would be crossing one bridge too many。 He remembered how the magic flared when she had touched his hand as he held the sword。 He had been right about the bridge； so he didn't put his arms around her。
She broke the gaze with a glance to the ground。 〃Chase said the next two days are going to be rough。 I guess I had better get some sleep。〃
He knew that whatever was going on in her head； he had no say in it。 He couldn't force her。 It was something she had to handle herself。
〃You have an obligation to me too；〃 he said。 She looked back to him with a questioning frown； and he smiled。 〃You have promised to be my guide。 I intend to hold you to that promise。〃
She smiled and could only nod； too close to tears to speak。 She kissed the end of her finger and pressed it against his cheek； then slipped back into the night。
Richard sat in the dark； trying to swallow past the lump in his throat。 Long after she was gone he could still feel the place on his cheek where she had put her finger； her kiss
The night was so still that Richard felt as if he were the only one awake in… the whole world。 Stars flickered； looking like Zedd's magic dust frozen in place as the moon stared silently down at him。 Not even the wolves sang tonight。 Loneliness threatened to crush him。
He found himself wishing something would attack just so he would have something else to think about。 He pulled out his sword； and for something