Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [107]
“The rest of the lot are down there right now arguing about who’s going to be first to…” He glanced at Kahlan, leaving the rest unsaid. He wiped his forehead with the back of his arm. “Randy’s bringing the horses to the back; you have to get out now. Head for Adie’s. The sun’s an hour away, the hounds two, so you’ll be all right. But not if you delay.”
Richard grabbed Chase’s legs, Bill his shoulders. He told Kahlan to bolt the door and get their things together. With Chase in their arms they trudged down the back stairs and out into the darkness and rain. Lamplight coming from the windows reflected in the puddles, giving the wet, black forms of the horses yellow highlights. Randy was waiting, looking worried as he held the horses. They dropped Chase in a litter and ran as quietly as possible up the stairs. Bill scooped Zedd into his arms, while Richard and Kahlan threw on their cloaks and grabbed the packs. The three of them, Bill, Richard, then Kahlan, raced down the stairs and for the door.
As they burst out the door they almost tripped over Randy, sprawled on the ground. Richard looked up just in time to see the red-haired man lunging. He leapt back, narrowly missing the sweep of the long knife. The man went face-first into the mud. With surprising quickness he came to his knees, enraged, and then went rigid, the sword point an inch from his nose. The air rang with the sound of steel. The man looked up with vicious, black eyes. Water and mud ran from the strings of his hair. Richard flicked the sword a quarter turn in his hand and whacked him hard over the head with the flat of the blade. He went down in a limp heap.
Bill laid Zedd in the litter while Kahlan turned Randy over. One eye was swollen shut. Rain splattered on his face. He groaned. When he saw Kahlan with his one good eye he broke into a grin. Relieved that he wasn’t hurt worse, she gave him a quick hug and helped him up.
“He jumped me,” Randy said apologetically. “I’m sorry.”
“You are a brave young man. You have nothing to be sorry for. Thank you for helping us.” She turned to Bill. “You, too.”
Bill smiled and gave a nod. Zedd and Chase were quickly covered with blankets and oilcloth and the packs loaded. Bill told them that Adie’s supplies were already on Chase’s horse. Richard and Kahlan mounted their horses. She flipped the silver coin to Randy.
“Payment on delivery, as promised,” she told him. He caught the coin and grinned.
Richard bent down and clasped hands with Randy and thanked him earnestly, then pointed angrily at Bill.
“You! I want you to add everything to your tally book. Include all the damage, all your time and trouble, even the grave markers. I want you to add a fair fee for saving our lives. If the council doesn’t want to approve payment, you tell them that you saved the life of the brother of the First Councilor, and Richard Cypher said if they don’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. “Done.”
“Don’t forget what I said about the boundary. Trouble comes. Take care with yourself.”
Bill held Richard’s gaze 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.