The captain of the Home Guard stepped forward. “The Home Guard stands ready to swear loyalty to you, Richard.”
The commander of the Westland army stepped up next to the captain. “As does the Westland army.”
A D’Haran officer came forward. “As do the D’Haran forces.”
Richard stared numbly at them, blinking. He felt the anger heat in him.
“No one’s swearing loyalty to anyone, least of all me! I’m a woods guide. Nothing more. Get that through your heads right now. A woods guide!”
Richard gazed out over the sea of heads. All eyes were on him. He glanced over to Michael’s gory head stuck on the pole. He closed his eyes a moment, then turned to some men of the Home Guard, and pointed to the head.
“Bury that thing with the rest of him.” No one moved. “Right now!”
They jumped and made for the head. Richard returned his gaze to the D’Haran officer standing before him. Everyone waited.
“Send word: all hostilities are ended. The war is ended. See to it that all forces are recalled to their homelands, all armies of occupation are withdrawn. I expect every man who has committed crimes against defenseless people, whether he be foot soldier or general, to be put on trial, and if found guilty, punished according to the law. The D’Haran forces are to help get food to the people who would otherwise starve over the winter. Fire is no longer outlawed. If any forces you encounter don’t follow these orders, you will have to deal with them.” Richard pointed to the commander of the Westland army. “Take your forces and help him. Together, you will be too strong to ignore.” The two officers stared. Richard leaned closer. “It won’t get done if you don’t get to it.”
Both men put a fist over their hearts in salute, giving a bow.
The D’Haran officer’s eyes came up to Richard’s. His fist was still over his heart. “By your command, Master Rahl.”
Richard stared in surprise, then dismissed it. The man, he decided, must just be used to saying “Master Rahl.”
Richard noticed a guard to the side. He recognized the man. He was the captain of the guards at the gate when Richard had left the People’s Palace before. The one who had offered him a horse and warned him about the dragon. Richard motioned him to come forward. The man came and stood stiffly at attention, looking a little worried.
“I have a job for you.” The man waited in silence. “I think you would be good at getting it done. I want you to collect all the Mord-Sith. Every last one.”
“Yes, sir.” He looked a little pale. “They will all be executed before sunset.”
“No! I don’t want them executed!”
The man blinked in confusion. “What am I to do with them?”
“You are to destroy their Agiels. Every last one. I don’t ever want to see an Agiel again.” He held up the one at his neck. “Except this one. Then you are to find them new clothes. Burn every stitch of Mord-Sith clothes. They are to be treated with kindness, and respect.”
The man’s eyes went wide. “Kindness,” he whispered, “and respect?”
“That’s what I said. They are to be given jobs helping people, they are to be taught to treat people in the same way they are treated: with kindness and respect. I don’t know how you are to do that, you’ll just have to figure it out yourself. You look like a bright fellow. All right?”
He frowned. “And what if they refuse to change?”
Richard glared at the man. “Tell them that if they choose to stay on the same path, instead of taking another, then they will find the Seeker with the white sword at the end of the road.”
The guard smiled, put his fist to his heart in salute, and gave a smart bow.
Zedd leaned forward. “Richard, the Agiel are magic, they can’t simply be destroyed.”
“Then help him, Zedd. Help him destroy them, or lock them away, or something. All right? I don’t want anyone to ever be hurt by an Agiel again.”
Zedd gave a little smile and nod. “I’d be glad to help with that, my boy.” Zedd hesitated, stroking his chin with a long finger, and then spoke softly. “Richard, do you really think this is going to work, calling the forces home, having the Westland army help them?”
“Probably not. But you can never tell about your First Rule, and it should gain time until we can get everyone home again, and you can put the boundary back up. Then we’ll be safe once more. Then we’ll be finished with the magic.”
A roar came from the sky. Richard looked up to see Scarlet circling. The red dragon spiraled down through the crisp air. Men fell back, yelling and scattering as they saw that she was going to land at the base of the steps. Scarlet fluttered to a landing in front of Richard, Kahlan, Zedd, Chase, and the two children.
“Richard! Richard!” Scarlet called out, hopping from one foot to another, her wings held out, quivering in excitement. Her huge, red head swept down to him. “My egg hatched! It’s a beautiful little dragon, just as you said it would be! I want you to come see it! It’s so strong, I bet it flies within a month.” Scarlet seemed suddenly to notice all the men. Her head scanned about, surveying them. Her big yellow eyes blinked; her head swept down to Richard. “Are we having trouble here? Do we need some dragon fire?”
Richard grinned. “No. Everything is fine.”
“Well, then, climb up and I’ll take you to see the little one.”
Richard put his arm around Kahlan’s waist. “If you’ll take Kahlan, too, I would love to come.”
Scarlet eyed Kahlan up and down. “If she is with you, she is welcome.”
“Richard,” Kahlan said, “what about Siddin? Weselan and Savidlin will be worried sick over him.” Her green eyes gazed deep into his. She leaned closer, and whispered, “And we have unfinished business in the spirit house. I believe there is still an apple there we have yet to finish.” Her arm tightened around his waist, and a little twist of a smile came to her lips. The shape of the smile caught his breath in his throat.
With difficulty, Richard tore his eyes from her and looked up at Scarlet. “This little one was stolen from the Mud People when you took Darken Rahl there. His mother will be as anxious to have him back as you were to have your young one returned. After we see your little dragon, could you take us there?”
Scarlet’s big eye peered down at Siddin. “Well, I guess I can understand his mother’s worry. Done. Climb up.”
Zedd stepped forward, his hands on his hips, his voice incredulous. “You would let a man fly upon you? A red dragon? You would take him where he wishes to go?”
Scarlet puffed smoke at the wizard, forcing him to take a step back. “A man, no. This is the Seeker. He commands me. I would fly this one to the underworld and back.”
Richard gripped the spines and climbed up onto Scarlet’s shoulders as she lowered herself for him. Kahlan handed Siddin up. Richard put him in his lap and took Kahlan’s hand as she swung her leg over Scarlet behind him. She put her arms around his waist, her hands against his chest, and her head against his shoulder, squeezing tightly.
Richard leaned a little toward Zedd. “Take care, my friend.” He gave his old friend a big smile. “The Bird Man will be happy to learn I have finally decided to take a Mud Woman as my wife. Where will I find you?”
Zedd reached up with a thin arm, put a hand on Richard’s ankle, giving it a pat. “I will be in Aydindril. Come to me when you are ready.”
Richard gave the wizard his sternest frown, leaning down even more. “And then we are going to have a talk. A long talk.”
Zedd nodded with a smile. “Yes, I expect we will.”
Richard smiled at Rachel, gave her and Chase a wave, then patted one of Scarlet’s scales. “To the sky, my red friend!”
Scarlet unleashed a roar of flame as she took to the air. Richard’s dreams and joy lifting with her.
Zedd stood watching the dragon shrinking in the sky, keeping his worries to himself. Chase stroked Rachel’s hair, and then folded his arms as he lifted an eyebrow to the wizard.
“Gives a
lot of orders for a woods guide.”
Zedd laughed. “That he does.”
A little, bald-headed man came running down the hill of steps, a hand held up, beckoning. “Wizard Zorander! Wizard Zorander!” He finally came to a panting halt in front of them. “Wizard Zorander.”
“What is it?” Zedd asked with a frown.
He struggled to catch his breath. “Wizard Zorander, there is trouble.”
“What sort of trouble? And who are you?”
He leaned closer, conspiratorially, lowering his voice. “I am the head master of the crypt staff. There’s trouble.” His beady eyes darted about. “Trouble in the crypt.”
“What crypt?”
The man’s eyes looked surprised at the question. “Why, the crypt of Panis Rahl, Master Rahl’s grandfather, of course.”
Zedd’s brow wrinkled. “And what’s the trouble?”
The head master put his fingers nervously to his lips. “I didn’t see it myself, Wizard Zorander, but my people would never lie. Never. They told me, and they wouldn’t lie.”
“What is it!” Zedd bellowed. “What’s the trouble!”
His eyes darted about again, his voice lowered to a whisper. “The walls, Wizard Zorander. The walls.”
Zedd gritted his teeth. “What about the walls?”
He looked up at the wizard, his eyes wide. “They are melting, Wizard Zorander. The walls in the crypt are melting.”
Zedd straightened and glared at the man. “Bags! You have white stone on hand, white stone from the quarry of the prophets?”
The man nodded vigorously. “Of course.”
Zedd reached into his robes, pulling out a small pouch. “Seal the opening to the tomb with white stone from the quarry of the prophets.”
“Seal it shut?” he gasped.
“Yes. Seal it shut. Or the entire palace will melt.” He handed the man the pouch. “Mix this magic dust with the mortar. It must be done before the sun sets, understand? Sealed shut before the sun sets.”
The man nodded, snatched the pouch from Zedd’s hand, and ran back up the steps as fast as his short legs would take him. Another man, taller, with his hands in the opposite sleeves of his gold-trimmed white robes, passed him as he came down. Chase glared at Zedd, poking a big finger at the wizard’s chest.
“Panis Rahl, Master Rahl’s grandfather?”
Zedd cleared his throat. “Yes, well, we will have to have a talk.”
The man in the white robes approached. “Wizard Zorander, is Master Rahl about? There are matters to be discussed.”
Zedd peered up at the dragon disappearing in the sky. “Master Rahl will be away for a time.”
“But he will return?”
“Yes.” Zedd looked back to the man’s waiting face. “Yes, he will return. You will just have to carry on until then.”
The man shrugged. “We are used to that, here at the People’s Palace—waiting for the Master to return.” He turned and started off, but stopped when Zedd called him back.
“I’m hungry. Is there anywhere to get something to eat around here?”
The man smiled and held his arm out to the palace entrance. “Of course, Wizard Zorander. Allow me show you to a dining hall.”
“How about it, Chase? Care for some lunch before I’m on my way?”
The boundary warden looked down at Rachel. “Lunch?” She grinned and nodded in earnest. “All right, Zedd. And where is it you’re going?”
Zedd shifted his robes. “To see Adie.”
Chase lifted an eyebrow. “A little rest and relaxation?” He grinned.
Zedd couldn’t help smiling a little. “That, and I must take her to Aydindril, to the Wizard’s Keep. We have a lot of reading to do.”
“Why would you want to take Adie to Aydindril, to the Wizard’s Keep, to read?”
Zedd gave the boundary warden a sidelong glance. “Because she knows more about the underworld than anyone alive.”
~
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Acknowledgements
About Terry Goodkind
About the Sword of Truth series
An invitation from the publisher
Preview
Read on for a preview of
“The greatest harm can result from the best intentions.” Richard Cypher and Kahlan Amnell ignore Wizard’s Second Rule at their peril.
Richard Cypher’s battle with Darken Rahl has torn the veil that separates the world of the living from the Underworld, freeing the Keeper’s minions to stalk the land. To repair the veil, Richard will be forced to confront the true and deadly nature of his inheritance and Kahlan will be forced to betray the man she loves.
Alone with the terrible truth of what she has done, Kahlan must forge an army and battle a new threat that is even now scouring the land, determined to eradicate the corrupting taint of magic once and for all. But even that may be easier than winning back the heart of the man she loves.
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1
Rachel clutched her doll tighter to her chest and stared at the dark thing watching her from the bushes. At least she thought it was watching her. It was hard to tell because the eyes were as dark as the rest of it, except when the light caught them just right, then they gleamed a golden color.
She had seen animals in the woods before, rabbits and raccoons and squirrels and such, but this was bigger. It was as big as her, maybe bigger. Bears were dark. She wondered if it could be a bear.
But this wasn’t exactly the woods, since it was indoors. She had never been in an indoor woods before. She wondered if indoor woods had animals like the outdoor woods did.
She might have been afraid if Chase wasn’t there with her. She knew she was safe with him. Chase was the bravest man she ever saw. Still, she was a little afraid. Chase had told her she was the bravest little girl he knew. She didn’t want him to think she was afraid of some big rabbit.
Maybe that’s all it was, some big rabbit, sitting on a rock or something. But rabbits had long ears. Maybe it really was a bear. She put her doll’s foot in her mouth.
She turned and looked down the path, across the pretty flowers and short walls covered with vines, and across the grass to where Chase was talking to Zedd, the wizard. They were standing by a stone table, looking at the boxes, and talking about what to do with them. Rachel was glad that that mean Darken Rahl didn’t get them and that he wasn’t ever going to be able to hurt anyone again.
Rachel turned back to make sure the dark thing wasn’t coming any closer to her. It was gone. She looked around, but didn’t see it anywhere.
“Sara, where do you think it could have gone?” she whispered.
Her doll didn’t have an answer. Rachel bit down on Sara’s foot and started walking to Chase. Her feet wanted to run, but she didn’t want Chase to think she wasn’t brave. He had said she was brave, and that made her feel good. She looked over her shoulder as she walked, checking, but she didn’t see the dark thing anywhere. Maybe it lived in a hole, and it had gone there. Her feet still wanted to run, but she didn’t let them.
When she reached Chase, she pushed up against him and hugged his leg. He and Zedd were talking, and she knew it was impolite to interrupt, so she sucked on Sara’s foot while she waited.
“So what could happen if you just shut the lid?” Chase was asking the wizard.
“Anything!” Zedd stuck his skinny arms up in the air. His wavy white hair was smoothed down but it still stuck out in places. “How should I know? Just because I know what the boxes of Orden are doesn’t mean I know what to do with them now that Darken Rahl has opened one. The magic of Orden killed him for opening it. It could have destroyed the world. It could kill me for closing it. Or worse.”
Chase sighed. “Well we can’t just leave them sitting around, can we? Don’t we ha
ve to do something?”
The wizard frowned and looked at the boxes while he was thinking. When it was quiet for a minute, Rachel tugged on Chase’s sleeve. He looked down at her.
“Chase...”
“Chase? I told you the rules.” He put his hands on his hips and twisted his face up trying to make it look mean, until she giggled and hugged his leg tighter. “You’ve only been my daughter for a few weeks, and already you’re breaking the rules. I told you before, you are to call me ‘Father’. None of my children are allowed to call me Chase. Understand?”
Rachel grinned and nodded. “Yes Ch... Father.”
He rolled his eyes and shook his head. Then he mussed her hair. “What is it?”
“There’s some big animal in the trees. I think it might be a bear, or worse. I think you might need to take out your sword and go have a look.”
He laughed. “A bear! In here?” He laughed again. “This is an indoor garden, Rachel. There aren’t any bears in an indoor garden. Maybe it was a shadow. The light does odd things in here.”
She shook her head. “I don’t think so, Ch... Father. It was watching me.”
He smiled and mussed her hair again and put his big hand on the side of her face and hugged her head to his leg. “Then you just stay by me and it won’t bother you.”
She sucked Sara’s foot and nodded as he held her head to his leg. She didn’t feel so afraid now that he had his hand on her, and so looked over to the trees again.
The dark thing, mostly hidden by one of the vine covered walls, darted closer. Rachel bit down harder on Sara’s foot and let out a little whimper as she looked up at Chase. He was pointing at the boxes.
“And just what is that thing, that stone, or jewel or whatever it is? Did it come out of the box?”
Zedd nodded. “It did. But I don’t want to say what I think it is until I’m sure. At least not out loud.”
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