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n't pay； I'll personally have the head of the man responsible and I will put it on a pike on the front lawn of my brother's house！〃
Bill nodded and laughed over the sound of the rain。 Richard pulled back on the reins to keep his horse in place as it danced about； eager to go。 He pointed down at the unconscious man in the mud。 He was furious。
〃The only reason I didn't kill this man is because he killed a man worse than himself； and in so doing may have unwittingly saved Kahlan's life。 But he is guilty of murder； intent to murder； and intent to rape。 I suggest you hang him before he wakes。〃
Bill looked up at him with hard eyes。 〃Done。〃
〃Don't forget what I said about the boundary。 Trouble es。 Take care with yourself。〃
Bill held Richard's eyes as he put his hairy arm around his son's shoulders。 〃We won't forget。〃 A slight smile curled the corners of his mouth。 〃Long life to the Seeker。〃 '
Richard looked down at him in surprise and then grinned。 Smiling quenched some of the fire of his rage。 〃When I first saw you；〃 Richard said； 〃my thought was that you were not a devious man。 I find I was mistaken。〃
Richard and Kahlan pulled their hoods up and urged their horses on into the dark rain； toward the bone woman。
…＋
The rain had quickly drowned the lights from Southaven and left the travelers to grope their way through the blackness。 Chase's horses had carefully picked their way down the trail； trained by the wardens for this kind of duty； they were fortable in the adverse conditions。 Dawn had struggled interminably at bringing light to the new day。 Even after Richard knew the sun was up； the world still hung in half…light between night and day； a ghost of morning。 The rain had helped to cool his hot rage。
Richard and Kahlan knew that the last member of the quad was loose somewhere； and they watched every movement as a potential threat。 They knew that； sooner or later； he would e at them。 The uncertainty of when ate at their concentration。 Worry over what Bill had said； that Zedd and Chase wouldn't last long； gnawed at his spirit。 If this woman； Adie； couldn't help； he didn't know what he would do。 If she couldn't help； his two friends would die。 He couldn't imagine a world without Zedd。 A world without his tricks and help and fort would be a dead world。 He realized that he was getting a lump in his throat thinking about it。 Zedd would tell him not to worry about what might be； but to worry about what was。
But what was seemed almost as bad。 His father had been murdered。 Darken Rahl was close to obtaining all the boxes。 Richard's two oldest friends were near death。 He was alone with a woman he cared about； but wasn't supposed to care about。 She still kept her secrets closed to him； locked away。
He could tell she fought a constant battle over it in her mind。 Sometimes when he felt he was getting closer to her； he saw pain and fear in her eyes。 Soon they would be in the Midlands； where people knew what she was。 He wanted her to be the one to tell him； he didn't want to learn it from someone he didn't know。 If she didn't tell him soon； he would have to ask her。 Against his nature or not； he would have to。
So deep was he in thought； he hadn't realized they had been on the trail for over four hours。 The forest was drinking in the rain。 Trees loomed dark and huddled in the mist； the moss on their trunks was vibrant and lush。 It stood out on the bark of trees； and in round humps on the ground； green and spongy。 The lichen on the rocks shone bright yellow and rust in the damp。 In some places water ran down the trail； turning it into a temporary creek。 The poles of Zedd's litter splashed through it； going over rocks and roots； rocking the old man's head from side to side on the rougher sections。 His feet rode inches from water when they crossed runoff streams。
Richard smelled the sweetness of wood smoke in the stillness。 Birch wood。 He realized that the area they were entering had changed somehow。 It looked the same as it had for hours； yet it was different。 Rain floated down in quiet reverence for the forest。 The whole place felt somehow sacred。 He felt like an intruder； disturbing the peace of timeless ages。。 He wanted to say something to Kahlan； but it seemed as if talking would be a sacrilege。 He understood why the men from the inn wouldn't e up here； their foul presence would be a violation。
They came to a house that so blended with its surroundings； it was almost invisible next to the trail。 A wisp of wood smoke curled from its chimney； up into the misty air。 The logs of the walls were weathered and ancient； matching the color of the Surrounding trees； with nothing other than the ground it sat upon disturbed。 The house seemed to be growing from the forest floor； with trees towering around it protectively。 The roof was covered in a mass of ferns。 A smaller； slanted roof covered a door and a porch large enough for only two or three people to stand on at once。 There was a square； four…paned window in the front； and another on the side of the house Richard could see。 None had curtains。
In front of the old house； a patch of ferns bowed and nodded when water from the trees dripped onto them。 Mist turned their distinctive dusty pale green bright in the wetness。 A narrow path slipped through their midst。
In the center of the ferns； in the center of the path； stood a tall woman； taller than Kahlan； not as tall as Richard。 She wore a simple tan robe of a coarse weave； with red and yellow symbols and decorations at the neck。 Her hair was fine and straight； a mix of black and gray； parted in the middle； chopped square with her strong jaw。 Age had not stolen the handsome features of her weathered face。 She leaned on a crutch。 She had but one foot。 Richard brought the horses to a slow halt in front of her。
The woman's eyes were pletely white。
〃I be Adie。 Who be you？〃 Adie's voice had a harsh； throaty； raspy quality that sent a shiver up Richard's spine。
〃Four friends；〃 Richard said in a respectful tone。 Light rain fell in a hushed； soft patter。 He waited。
Fine wrinkles covered her face。 She took the crutch from under her arm and folded both thin hands over the top； lending her weight to it。 Adie's thin lips pulled tighter in a slight smile。
〃One friend；〃 she rasped。 〃Three dangerous people。 T decide if they be friends。〃 She nodded slightly to herself。
Richard and Kahlan stole a sidelong glance at each other。 His guard went up。 He felt somehow unfortable sitting on the horse； as if talking down to her suggested disrespect。 He dismounted； Kahlan following his lead。 With his horse's reins in his hand； he moved to stand in front of the animal； Kahlan next to him。
〃I am Richard Cypher。 This is my friend； Kahlan Amnell。〃
The woman studied his face with her white eyes。 He had no idea if she could see； but he didn't know how it could be possible。 She turned to Kahlan。 The woman's raspy voice spoke a few words to Kahlan in a language he couldn't understand。 Kahlan's eyes held the old woman's； and she gave Adie a slight bow of her head。
It had been a greeting。 A greeting of deference。 Richard hadn't recognized the words Kahlan or Amnell anywhere in it。 The fine hairs on the back of his neck stiffened。
Kahlan had been addressed by title。
He had been around Kahlan long enough to know that by the way she was standing； with her back straight and her head held assertively up； she was on guard。 Serious guard。 If she had been a cat； her back would be arched； her fur standing on end。 The two women faced each other； age had been dismissed for the moment by each。 They measured each other on qualities he couldn't see。 This was a woman who could bring them to harm； and he knew the sword wasn't going to protect him。
Adie turned back to Richard。 〃Put words to your need； Richard Cypher。〃
〃We need your help。〃
Adie's head bobbed。 〃True。〃
〃Our two friends are hurt。 One； Dell Brandstone； told me he is your friend。〃
〃True；〃 Adie said again in her raspy voice。
〃Another man； in Southaven； told us you may be able to help them。 In return for your help； we brought you supplies。 We thought it would be fair to offer you something。〃
Adie leaned closer。 〃Lie！〃 She thumped her crutch once on the ground。 Richard and Kahlan both jerked back a little。
Richard didn't know what to say。 Adie waited。 〃It's true。 The supplies are right here。〃 He turned a little； indicating Chase's horse。 〃We thought it would be fair 。 。 。〃
〃Lie！〃 She thumped her crutch once again。
Richard folded his arms； his temper rising。 His friends were dying while he played games with this woman。 〃What is a lie？〃
〃 ‘We' be a lie。〃 She thumped her crutch again。 〃You be the one who thought to offer supplies。 You be the one who decided to bring them。 Not you and Kahlan。 You。 ‘We' be a lie。 ‘I' be the truth。〃
Richard unfolded his arms； holding them out to his sides。 〃What difference does that make？ ‘I；' ‘we；' what does it matter？〃
She stared at him。 〃One be true； one be a lie。 How much more difference could there be？〃
Richard folded his arms across his che