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went on。
〃'Course； it's up to you。 I'm willing to give it a try； but I thought you should know of the ways of my homeland。 I didn't think it would be fair not to tell you。〃 Now Richard turned to them； his eyebrows set in a menacing frown； his voice carrying a thread of threat。 〃So； if the elders； in their wisdom； wish to ask me not to perform this duty； I will understand； and with regret； ply with their wishes。〃
He held them in his hard gaze。 Savidlin grinned。 The other five were of no mind to challenge Richard； and turned to the Bird Man beseeching direction。 He sat still； a bead of sweat rolling down the leathery skin of his neck； silver hair limp on the buckskin shoulders of his tunic； holding Richard's eyes for a short time。 His mouth turned up in a small smile that showed in his eyes； too； and he nodded slightly to himself。
〃 Richard With The Temper； 〃 his voice was even； and strong； for not only the elders； but also the crowd that had gathered around the platform； were listening； 〃since you are from a different land； and your seed could be poisonous to this young woman 。 。 。 〃 he lifted one eyebrow； leaning the slightest bit forward； 〃 。 。 。 my niece；〃 he looked to her； then back to Richard； 〃we beg that you not hold us to this tradition； that you not take her as your wife。 I am sorry to have to ask this of you。 I know you were looking forward to giving us your child。 〃
Richard nodded seriously。 〃Yes； I was。 But I will just have to live with my failing； and try to make the Mud People； my people； proud of me in other ways。〃 He was closing the deal with a condition of his own： they were not going to be allowed to back out now； he was a Mud Person and this would not change it。
There was a collective sigh of relief from the other elders。 They all nodded； only too happy to have the matter settled to his liking。 The young woman smiled with relief at her uncle and left。 Richard turned to Kahlan； his face showed no emotion。
〃Are there any other conditions that I don't know about？〃
〃No。〃 Kahlan felt confused。 She didn't know if she felt happy because Richard had gotten out of taking a wife； or if she was heartbroken because he felt she had betrayed him。
He turned to the elders。 〃Is my presence required any longer tonight？〃
The five were delighted to grant him his wish to leave。 Savidlin seemed a little disappointed。 The Bird Man said that the Seeker had been a great savior of his people； had performed his duties with honor； and that if he was tired from the struggles of the day； he could be excused。
Richard stood slowly； towering over her。 His boots were right in front of her。 Kahlan knew he was looking down at her； but she fixed her eyes on the floor。
〃Piece of advice；〃 he said in a voice that surprised her with its gentleness； 〃since you have never had a friend before。 Friends don't bargain away another friend's rights。 Or their hearts。〃
She couldn't bring herself to look up at him。
He dropped the apple core in her lap and walked off； disappearing in the crowd。
…＋
Kahlan sat on the elders' platform； in a fog of loneliness； watching her fingers shake。 The others watched the dancers。 With supreme effort she counted the drumbeats and used the count to help her control her breathing and keep from crying。 The Bird Man came and sat next to her。 She found herself cheered by the pany。
He raised an eyebrow to her； leaning closer。 〃Someday； I would like to meet the wizard who named that one。 1 would like to know where he fends such Seekers。 〃
Kahlan was surprised she could still laugh。
〃Someday； 〃 she said； smiling at him； 〃if I live； and we win； I promise I will bring him here； to meet you。 In many ways； he is as remarkable as Richard。〃
He lifted an eyebrow。 〃1 shall hone my wits to defend myself in the encounter。 〃
She leaned her head against him and laughed until she started to cry。 He put his aria protectively around her shoulders。
〃I should have listened to you； 〃 she sobbed。 〃1 should have asked him his wishes。 I had no right to do as I did。 〃
〃Your desire to stop Darken Rahl made you do what you thought necessary。 Sometimes； making the wrong choice is better than making no choice。 You have the courage to go forward； that is rare。 A person who stands at the fork； unable to pick； will never get anywhere。 〃
〃But it hurts so much to have him angry at me；〃 she cried。
〃I will tell you a secret you might riot otherwise learn until you are too old to benefit from the knowledge。 〃 Wet eyes looked up at his smile。 〃It hurts him just as much to be angry at you； as it hurts you when he is that angry。 〃
〃Really？ 〃 He laughed silently and nodded。 〃Take it on faith； child。〃
〃I had no right； I should have 。seen that before。 I am so sorry l did it。 〃
〃Don't tell me。 Tell him。 〃
She pushed away； looking at his weathered face。 〃l think I will。 Thank you； honored elder。 〃
〃And while you are offering apologies； offer mine also。 〃
Kahlan frowned。 〃For what？〃
He sighed。 〃Being old； being an elder； does not exclude you from holding foolish ideas。 Today； I too made a mistake； for Richard； and for my niece。 I； too； had no right。 Thank him for me； for keeping me from imposing deeds I should have questioned； but did not。 〃 He took his whistle from around his neck。 〃Give him this gift； with my thanks； for opening my eyes。 May it serve him well。 Tomorrow； I will show him how to use it。〃
〃But； you need it to call the birds。 〃
He smiled。 〃1 have others。 Go now。〃
Kahlan took the whistle； clutching it tightly in her hand。 She wiped the tears from her face。 〃In my whole life； I've hardly ever cried。 Since the boundary to D'Hara came down； it seems as if that's all I do。 〃
〃We all do； child。 Go。〃
She kissed his cheek quickly and left。 Searching the open areas； she found no sign of Richard。 People she asked hadn't seen him。 She walked around in circles； looking。 Where was he？ Children tried to draw her into their dancing； people offered her food； others wanted to talk to her。 She politely turned them all down。
At last she went off to Savidlin's home； deciding that that was where he would be。 But the house was empty。 She sat down on the floor skin； thinking。 Would he leave without her？ Her heart panicked。 Her eyes searched around the floor。 No。 His pack was still there； where she had left it when she had gotten him the apple。 Besides； he wouldn't leave before the gathering。
Then it came to her。 She knew where he was。 She smiled to herself； took an apple out of his pack； and headed through the dark walkways between the buildings of the Mud People's village； headed for the spirit house。
Light flared suddenly in the darkness； lighting the walls around her。 At first； she didn't realized what it was； then； looking out between the buildings； she saw lightning。 Lightning at the horizon； in every direction； all around； lacing its angry fingers into the sky； into the dark clouds； lighting them from inside with boiling colors。 There was no thunder。 And then it was gone； leaving darkness once more。
Was there no end to this weather； she wondered。 Would she ever again see stars； or the sun？ Wizards and their clouds； she thought； shaking her head。 She wondered if she would ever see Zedd again。 At least the clouds protected Richard from Darken Rahl。
The spirit house sat in the dark； away from the sound and activity of the banquet。 Cautiously； Kahlan pulled back the door。 Richard sat on the floor in front of the fire； his sword； in its scabbard； lay at his side。 He didn't turn at the sound。
〃Your guide wishes to speak with you；〃 she said meekly。
The door squeaked closed behind her as she kneeled down； sitting back on' her heels next to him； her heart pounding。
〃And what does my guide wish to tell me？〃 He smiled； she thought in spite of himself。
〃That she made a mistake；〃 she said softly； picking at a string on her pants。 〃And that she is sorry。 Very； very sorry。 Not just for what she did； but mostly for not trusting you。〃
The insides of； his elbows were hooked around his knees； one hand holding the other。 He turned to face her； the warm； red glow of firelight reflecting in his gentle eyes。
〃I had a whole speech rehearsed in my mind。 But now I can't remember a word of it。 You have that effect on me。〃 He smiled again。 〃Apology accepted。〃
Relief swept through her。 She felt as if her heart were mending。 From under her eyebrows； she looked up at him。 〃Was it a good speech？〃
His grin widened。 〃It seemed so at the time； but now I don't think so。〃
〃You are pretty good at speeches。 You nearly scared the wits out of the elders； including the Bird Man。〃 Reaching out； she placed the whistle over his head； around his neck。
Unclasping his hands； he touched it with his fingers。 〃What's this for？〃 〃It is a gift from the Bird Man； with his apology for what he tried to make you do。 He said he； too； had no right； and wishes to thank you； with this gift； for opening his heart's eyes。 Tomorrow he will teach you to use it。〃 Kahlan turned to sit with her back to the