Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [118]
She gazed at him a long moment. “I thanked her, but I told her I did not think I would live long enough to have a child.”
Richard felt bumps rise on the skin of his arms. “Why would you say that?”
Her eyes moved in little flicks as she studied different places on his face. “Richard,” she said quietly, “madness is loose in my homeland, madness you cannot imagine. I am but one. They are many. I have seen people better than me go against it and be slaughtered. I am not saying I think we will fail, but I do not think I will live to know.”
Even if she wasn’t saying it, Richard knew she didn’t think he would live either. She was trying not to frighten him, but she thought he would die in the effort, too. That was why she hadn’t wanted Zedd to give him the Sword of Truth, to make him Seeker. He felt as if his heart were coming up into his throat. She believed she was leading them to their death.
Maybe she was right, he mused. After all, she knew more about what they were up against than he did. She must be terrified to go back to the Midlands. But then, there was no place to hide. The night wisp had said that to run was a sure death.
Richard kissed the end of his finger and then touched it against the bone on the necklace. He looked back up into her soft eyes.
“I add my oath of protection to the bone,” he said in a whisper. “To you now and to any child you may bear in the future. I would trade no day I spend with you for a life of safe slavery. I accepted the post of Seeker of my own free will. And if Darken Rahl takes the whole world into madness, then we will die with a sword in our hands, not chains on our wings. We will not allow it to be easy for them to kill us; they will pay a high price. We will fight with our last breath if need be, and in our death, let us inflict a wound on him that will fester until it claims him.”
A smile spread across her face, until her eyes were caught up in it. “If Darken Rahl knew you as I do, he would have reason to lose sleep. I thank the good spirits the Seeker has no cause to come after me in anger.” She laid her head down on her arm. “You have an odd talent for making me feel better, Richard Cypher, even when telling me of my death.”
He smiled. “That’s what friends are for.”
Richard watched her for a while after she closed her eyes, until sleep gently took him. His last thoughts before it came, were of her.
The first hint of morning was damp and dreary, but the rain had stopped. Kahlan had given Adie a parting hug. Richard faced the old woman, looking into her white eyes.
“I must ask you to do an important task. You must give Chase a message from the Seeker. Tell him he is to go back to Hartland and warn the First Councilor that the boundary will be down soon. Have him tell Michael to gather the army to protect Westland from Rahl’s forces. They must be prepared to fight at any invasion. They must not let Westland fall as did the Midlands. Any forces that come across must be deemed invaders. Have him tell Michael that Rahl is the one who killed our father and those who come, do not come in peace. We are at war, and I am already joined in battle. If my brother or the army fails to heed my warning, then Chase is to abandon the service of the government and gather the boundary wardens to stand against Rahl’s legions. His army was virtually unopposed when they took the Midlands. If they have to shed blood freely to take Westland, maybe they will lose their spirit. Tell him to show no mercy to the enemy, take no prisoners. I take no joy in giving these orders, but it’s the way Rahl fights, and either we meet him on his terms or we die on them. If Westland is taken, I expect the wardens to extract a terrible price before they fall. After Chase has the army and wardens in place, he is free to come to my aid, if he chooses to do so, as above all else we must stop Rahl from getting all three boxes.” Richard looked down at the ground. “Have him tell my brother that I love him and I miss him.” He looked up and gauged Adie’s expression.