Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [147]
“Secrets?” the sorceress asked, smiling her little smile.
“Secrets.” The wizard nodded. “I must leave right away.”
She took one hand out from under his and stroked his leathery skin.
“It be dark outside.”
“Dark,” he agreed.
“Why not stay the night? Leave with the light.”
Zedd’s eyes snapped up, looking at her from under his eyebrows. “Stay the night?”
Adie shrugged as she stroked his hands. “It be lonely here sometimes.”
“Well,” Zedd’s impish grin lit his face, “as you say, it is dark outside. And I guess it would make more sense to start out in the morning.” A sudden frown broke out, wrinkling his brow. “This isn’t one of your riddles, is it?”
She shook her head, and his grin came back.
“I have my wizard’s rock along. Could I interest you?”
Adie’s face softened in a shy smile. “I would like that very much.” She watched him as she sat back, taking a bite of her apple.
Zedd arched an eyebrow. “Naked?”
Wind and rain bowed the long grass in broad slow waves as the two of them made their way across the open, flat plain. Trees were few and far between, mostly birch and alder in clusters along streams. Kahlan watched the grass carefully; they were near the Mud People’s territory. Richard followed silently behind, keeping her under his watchful eye, as always.
She didn’t like taking him to the Mud People, but he was right, they had to know where to look for the last box, and there was no one else anywhere near who could point them in the right direction. Autumn was wearing on, and their time was dwindling. Still, the Mud People might not help them, and then the time would be wasted.
Worse, although she knew they probably would not dare to kill a Confessor, even one traveling without the protection of a wizard, she had no idea if they would dare to kill the Seeker. She had never traveled the Midlands before without a wizard. No Confessor did; it was too dangerous. Richard was better protection than Giller, the last wizard assigned her, but Richard was not supposed to be her protection, she was supposed to be his. She couldn’t allow him to put his life at risk for her again. He was more important than she to stopping Rahl. That was what mattered, above all else. She had pledged her life in defense of the Seeker… in defense of Richard. She had never meant anything more ardently in her life. If a time came that called for a choice, it must be she who died.
The path through the grasses came to two poles, one set to each side of the trail. They were wrapped in skins dyed with red stripes. Richard stopped by the poles, looking up at the skulls fixed atop them.
“This meant to warn us away?” he asked as he stroked one of the skins.
“No, they are the skulls of honored ancestors, meant to watch over their lands. Only the most respected are accorded such recognition.”
“That doesn’t sound threatening. Maybe they won’t be so unhappy to see us after all.”
Kahlan turned to him and lifted an eyebrow. “One of the ways you get to be revered by the Mud People is by killing outsiders.” She looked back at the skulls. “But this is not meant as a threat to others. It is simply a tradition of honor among themselves.”
Richard took a deep breath as he withdrew his hand from the pole. “Let’s see if we can get them to help us, so they can go on revering their ancestors, and keeping outsiders away.”
“Remember what I told you,” she warned. “They may not want to help. You have to respect that if it is their decision. These are some of the people I am trying to save. I don’t want you to hurt them.”
“Kahlan, it’s not my desire or intention to hurt them. Don’t worry, they will help us. It’s in their own interest.”
“They may not see it that way,” she pressed. The rain had stopped, replaced by a light, cold mist she felt on her face. She pushed the hood of her cloak back. “Richard, promise me you won’t hurt them.”
He pushed his