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Legs were suddenly all about them。 She peered up。 The Bird Man was there； as were Savidlin and Weselan。 Weselan was sobbing loudly。 Kahlan stood and handed her son。 Weselan passed the boy to her husband and threw her arms around Kahlan； kissing her face all over。
〃Thank you； Mother Confessor； thank you for saving my boy； 〃 she bawled。 〃Thank you； Kahlan； thank you。 〃
〃1 know； I know。 〃 Kahlan hugged her back。 〃It's all right now。〃
Weselan turned tearfully back to take Siddin in her arms。 Kahlan saw Toffalar lying close by； dead。 She flopped down in the mud； exhausted； and pulled her knees up with her arms around them。
She put her face against her knees and； losing control； started crying。 Not because she had killed Toffalar； but because she had hesitated。 It had almost cost her her life； almost cost Richard and Siddin…everyone…their lives。 She had almost given victory to Rahl because she hadn't wanted Richard to see what she was going to do； and had hesitated。 It was the stupidest thing she had ever done； other than not telling Richard she was a Confessor。 Tears of frustration poured out as she cried in choking sobs。
A hand reached under her good arm； pulling her up。 It was the Bird Man。 She bit her quivering lip； forcing herself to stop crying。 She could not let these people see her showing weakness。 She was a Confessor。
〃Well done； Mother Confessor；〃 he said as he took a strip of cloth from one of his men and started wrapping it around her wounded arm。
Kahlan held her head up。 〃Thank you； honored elder。 〃 〃This will need to be stitched together。 I will have the gentlest healer among us do the work。 〃
She stood numbly as he tightened the bandage； sending flames of pain through the deep cut。 He looked down at Richard； who seemed content to lie there on his back in the mud； as if it were the most fortable bed in the world。
The Bird Man lifted an eyebrow to her； and gave a nod； indicating Richard。 〃Your warning that I should not want to give the Seeker cause to draw his sword in anger was as true as an arrow from my finest archer。 〃 There was a twinkle in his sharp brown eyes； the corners of his mouth curled in a smile。 He looked down at the Seeker。 〃You made a good showing of yourself too； Richard With The Temper。 Fortunately the evil spirits still have not learned to carry swords。 〃
〃What'd he say？〃 Richard asked。
She told him； and he gave a grim smile at their private joke as he came to his feet and put away the sword。 He reached out and took the pouch from her hand。 She hadn't even realized it was still clutched there。 Richard put it in his pocket。 〃May we never encounter spirits armed with swords。〃
The Bird Man nodded his agreement。 〃And now we have business。 〃
He reached down and grabbed a fistful of the coyote hide around Toffalar。 The body rolled over in the mud as he tore it off。 He turned to the hunters。
〃Bury the body。 〃 His eyes narrowed。 〃All of it。 〃
The men looked at each other； unsure。 〃Elder； you mean all of it except the skull？〃
〃I said what 1 meant。 All of it！ We only keep the skulls of honored elders； to remind us of their wisdom。 We do not keep the skulls of fools。 〃
This sent a chill through the crowd。 It was just about the worst thing you could do to an elder； a dishonor of the highest order。 It meant his life had mattered for nothing。 The men gave a nod。 No one spoke up for the dead elder； including the five standing nearby。
〃We are short an elder； 〃 the Bird Man announced。 He turned； looking slowly to the eyes around him； then made his back straight and shoved the coyote hide against Savidlin's chest。 〃1 choose you。 〃
Savidlin put his hands around the muddy hide with the reverence due a gold crown。 He gave a small； proud smile and a nod to the Bird Man。
〃Do you have anything to say to our people； as their newest elder？〃 It was not a question； it was a mand。
Savidlin walked over and turned； standing between Kahlan and Richard。 He put the hide around his shoulders； beaming with pride at Weselan； and then addressed the gathered people。 Kahlan looked out and realized that the whole village surrounded them。
〃Most honored among us； 〃 he addressed the Bird Man； 〃these two people have acted selflessly in the defense of our people。 In my life； I have never witnessed anything to pare with it。 They could have left us to fend for ourselves when we foolishly turned our backs on them。 Instead； they have shown us what manner of people they be。 They are as fine as the best of us。〃 Almost everyone in the crowd was nodding agreement。 〃I demand that you name them Mud People。 〃
The Bird Man smiled a small smile。 The smile evaporated as he turned to the other five elders。 Though he hid it well； Kahlan could see the Bird Man's eyes flash with the ghost of his anger。 〃Step forward。 〃 They gave one another sidelong glances； then did as ordered。 〃The demand made by Savidlin is extraordinary。 It must be unanimous。 Do you make the same demand？〃
Savidlin strode to the archers and snatched a bow from the hands of one。 He smoothly nocked an arrow while he kept his squinted eyes on the elders。 He put tension to the string； locking the arrow in place with the bow hand； then stepped in front of the five。 〃Make the demand。 Or we will have new elders who will。 〃
They stood grimly； facing Savidlin。 The Bird Man made no movement to interfere。 There was a long silence as the crowd waited； spellbound。 At last； Caldus took a step forward。 He put his hand on Savidlin's bow and gently lowered its point to the ground。
〃Please； Savidlin； allow us to speak from our hearts； not from the point of an arrow。 〃
〃Speak then。 〃 Caldus walked to Richard； stopping in front of him； looking him in the eye。
〃The hardest thing for a man to do； especially an old man； 〃 he said in a soft voice； waiting for Kahlan to translate； 〃is to admit he has acted foolishly； and selfishly。 You have acted neither foolishly nor selfishly。 The two of you are better examples of Mud People for our children than L 1 demand of the Bird Man that you be named Mud People。 Please； Richard With The Temper； and Mother Confessor； our people reed you。 〃 He held his palms out in an open gesture。 〃If you deem me unworthy of making this demand upon your behalf； please strike me down that one better than I might make the demand。〃
Head bowed； he dropped to his knees in the mud in front of Richard and Kahlan。 She translated it all word for word； omitting only her title。 The other four elders came and knelt beside him； adding their sincere request to that of Caldus。 Kahlan sighed in relief。 At last； they had what they wanted； what they needed。
Richard stood over the five men with his arms folded； looking down at the tops of their heads； saying nothing。 She couldn't understand why he wasn't telling them it was all right； and to get to their feet。 No one moved。 What was he doing？ What was he waiting for？ It was over。 Why wasn't he acknowledging their contrition？
Kahlan could see the muscle in his jaw tighten and flex。 She went cold。 She recognized the look in his eyes。 The anger。 These men had crossed a line against him。 And against her。 She remembered how he had slid the sword away when he had last stood with them； this very day。 It had been final； and Richard meant it。 He was not thinking。 He was thinking of killing。
Richard's arms unfolded； his hand went to the hilt。 The sword slid out as slowly； smoothly； as it had slid away for them the last time。 The high…pitched sound of steel announced the blade's arrival in the silent air； sending a painful shiver through her shoulders and up the back of her neck。 She could see Richard's chest beginning to heave。
Kahlan stole a glance at the Bird Man。 He did not move； nor did he have any intention of moving。 Richard did not know it； but under the law of the Mud People； these men were his to kill if he so wished。 It was no false offer they had made。 Savidlin had not been bluffing either； he would have killed them。 In a blink。 Strength； to the Mud People； meant the strength to kill your adversary。 These men were already dead in the eyes of the village； and only Richard could give them back their lives。
Even so； their law was irrelevant； the Seeker was a law unto himself； answering ultimately to no one but himself。 There was no one present who could stop this。
Richard's knuckles were white as he held the Sword of Truth level in both hands； over the heads of the five elders。 Kahlan could see the rage building in him； the hot need； the fury。 The whole scene felt like a dream； a dream she could only watch helplessly； one she couldn't stop。
Kahlan thought of all those she knew who had already died； both the innocent and those who had given their lives trying to stop Darken Rahl。 Dennee； all the other Confessors； the wizards； Shar the night wisp； perhaps Zedd and Chase。
She understood。
Richard was not deciding if he should kill them； but if he dared let them live。
Could he trust these men with his chance of stopping Rahl； trust that they were sincere？ Could Richard trust them with his life？ Or should he ha