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‘A raccoon？ You got a raccoon？’
Gratch nodded with a toothy grin； then threw his head back and roared as he pounded his chest。
Richard patted the beast’s back。 ‘Good for you！ Very good！’
Gratch gave a gurgling giggle and then tried to push Richard back for more wrestling。 Richard was relieved that the gar was finally able to start catching his own food。 He made Gratch sit still and settle down while he checked the rice and beans。 He held the pot out。
‘You want some of my dinner with me？’
Gratch leaned close and carefully smelled the pot。 He knew it was hot。 He had gotten a burn before and was careful now when Richard cooked things。 He wrinkled his nose at the rice and beans。 He made a croaking sound and rolled his shoulders。 Richard knew that meant he wasn’t enthusiastic； but if nothing better was forthing he would have some。
Richard poured him some in his own bowl。 ‘Blow on it。 It’s hot。’
Gratch held the tin bowl to his face and pursed his leathery lips。 He blew air and spit between his fangs as he tried to cool his snack。 Richard ate with a spoon as he watched the gar trying to lick the rice and beans from the bowl。 Finally； Gratch rolled onto his back and； holding the bowl with his claws and feet； poured its contents in his mouth。 In three swallows it was gone。
Gratch sat up and flapped his wings。 He scooted close。 With a plaintive babble； he held out his bowl to Richard。 Richard showed him the empty pot。
‘All gone。’ Gratch’s ears wilted。 He put a hooked claw to Richard’s bowl and gave it a little tug。 Richard pulled his bowl away and turned his back。 ‘Mine。 It’s my dinner。’
Gratch resigned himself to waiting patiently while Richard finished eating。 When Richard pulled his knees up and wrapped his arms around them as he watched the city； Gratch squatted and tried to imitate the pose。
Richard pulled the lock of hair from his pocket。 He twirled it in the moonlight； staring while he watched it turning。 Gratch thrust out a claw。 Richard elbowed it away。
‘No；’ he said in a low voice。 ‘You can touch； but only if you’re gentle。’
Gratch reached out tentatively； slowly； carefully touching a claw to the lock of hair。 His glowing green eyes looked up； studying。 He stroked the claw down Richard’s hair。
Gratch touched Richard’s cheek。 Touched a tear rolling down。 Richard sniffed and swallowed。 He put the lock of hair back in his pocket。
Gratch put a gangly arm around Richard’s shoulder and laid his head against him。 Richard put his arm around Gratch； and they watched the night for a time。
Finally deciding he had better get some sleep； Richard found a spot of thick grass on which to spread a blanket。 He lay down with Gratch curled up close； and the two of them fell asleep together。
Richard woke when the moon was nearly down。 He sat up and stretched。 Gratch made fists and imitated Richard； adding wings to the yawning stretch。 Richard rubbed his eyes。 It would be dawn in an hour or two。 It was time。
He stood； Gratch ing up beside him。 ‘I want you to listen to me； Gratch。 I have some important things to tell you。 Are you listening？’
Gratch nodded； his wrinkly face set in a serious cast。 Richard pointed to the city。
‘You see that place； with all the fire； all the light？ I’m going to live there for a while。’ Richard tapped his chest and then pointed to the city。 ‘I’m going to be down there。 But I don’t want you to visit me there。 You must stay away。 It’s a dangerous place for you。 You stay away。’ Gratch watched Richard’s face。 ‘I’ll e up here to visit you。 All right？’ Gratch thought a moment； and then nodded。
‘You stay away from the city。 And you see the river down there？ You know what a river is； I’ve shown you water。 You stay on this side of the water。 This side。 Understand？’
Richard didn’t want the gar hunting the livestock on the farms on the other side of the river。 That would surely get him in trouble。 Gratch looked from Richard’s face to the city； and then back。 He made a sound from deep in his throat to express his understanding。
And Gratch； if you see any people；’ Richard tapped his chest and pointed to the city； ‘people like me； don’t you eat them。’ He put a finger in front of Gratch’s face。 ‘People are not food。 Don’t eat any people。 Understand？’
Gratch growled in disappointment； and then nodded。 Richard put an arm around the gar’s shoulders and turned him toward the Hagen Woods。
‘Now listen。 This is important。 You see that place down there？ Those woods？’
A low； menacing growl rose from the gar’s throat。 His lips drew back from his fangs。 The glow in his green eyes intensified。
‘You stay out of there。 I don’t want you going into that place。 I mean it； Gratch。 You stay away。’ Gratch watched the woods； the growl still in his throat。 Richard gripped a fistful of fur and gave him a shake。 ‘You stay away from there。 Understand？’
Gratch glanced over and finally nodded。
‘I have to go in there； but you can’t follow。 It’s dangerous in there for you。 Stay out。’
With a plaintive pule； Gratch put an arm around Richard and pulled him back a step。
‘I’ll be safe； I have the sword。 Remember the sword？ I showed you my sword。 It will protect me。 But you can’t e with me。’
Richard hoped he was right about the sword； Sister Verna had told him that the Hagen Woods were a place of vile magic。 But he had no choice。 It was the only plan he could think of。
Richard gave the gar a tight hug。 ‘You be a good boy。 Go hunt yourself some more food。 I’ll be ing up here to see you； and we’ll wrestle。 All right？’
Gratch grinned at the mention of wrestling。 He pulled hopefully on Richard’s arm。 ‘Not now； Gratch。 I have something I must do。 But I’ll e back on another night and wrestle with you。’
Gratch’s ears wilted again。 His long arms wrapped around Richard in a good…bye hug。 Richard collected his things and； with a final wave； headed down into the swale。 Gratch watched as the dark woods swallowed him up。
Richard walked for close to an hour。 He needed to be deep enough into the Hagen Woods to make sure his plan would work。 Limbs draped with moss and vines looked like arms reaching out to snatch him。 Sounds drifted through the trees … guttural clicking and long； low whistles。 Off in stagnant stretches of water things splashed at his approach。
Warm； and breathing hard with the effort of the walk； he came to a small clearing； high enough to be dry； and open enough to afford him the view of a small patch of stars。 There was no rock or log in the clearing； so he flattened a thick clump of grass and sat down beside his pack； crossing his legs。 He closed his eyes and drew a deep breath。
Richard thought about home and the Hartland Woods。 He longed to be back in his woods。 He thought about the friends he missed so much； Chase； and Zedd。 All the time he had grown up with the old man； Richard had never known Zedd was his grandfather。 But he had known he was his friend； and that they loved each other。 He guessed that was what mattered。 What difference would it have made； anyway？ Richard could not have loved him more； and Zedd could not have been more of a friend。
It had been so long since he had seen Zedd。 Although he had seen him at the People’s Palace； in D’Hara； he hadn’t really had much time to talk with him； to catch up on things。 He shouldn’t have left so soon。 He wished he could talk to Zedd now； to seek his help and understanding。
Richard had no idea if Kahlan would go to Zedd。 Why should she？ She was rid of Richard； and that was what she wanted。
He wished with all his heart it weren’t so。
He missed her smile； her green eyes； the soft sound of her voice； her intelligence and wit； her touch。 She made the world alive for him。 He would have given his life at that moment just to hold her for five minutes。
But she knew what he was； and had sent him away。
And he had set her free。
It was for the best。 He wasn’t good enough for her。
Before he realized what he was doing； he was seeking the peace within himself； seeking his Han； as Sister Verna had taught him。 He had practiced almost every day when he had been with her； and although he never felt his Han； whatever it was； it had always felt pleasant to seek it。 It was relaxing； and brought peace。 It felt good to do that now。 He let his mind find that place of peace； and let his worries drift away。
In his mind； as he always did； he pictured the Sword of Truth； floating in space before his mind’s eye。 He saw every detail of it； felt every detail of it。
In his peace； in his meditation； without opening his eyes； Richard drew his sword。 He wasn’t quite sure why； except it felt the right thing to do。 The unique ring of steel hung in the night air； announcing the blade’s arrival to the Hagen Woods。
He laid the sword across his knees。 The magic danced with him in the place of peace。 If anything came； he would be ready。
Now； he had to wait。 It would be quite a while； he was sure； but she would e。
When she rea