Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [262]
Kahlan shook her head to herself. “You are a very rare person, Richard Cypher,” she whispered to him.
Kahlan stuck a big piece of fish on a stick for her, and told her to blow on it until it was cool enough not to burn her mouth. Rachel blew a little, but she was too hungry to blow for long. It was the bestest fish she ever had. It was as good as the piece of meat the cooks had given her that one time.
“Ready for another piece?” Kahlan asked. Rachel nodded. Then she pulled a knife from her belt. “Should we all have a slice of your bread with the fish?” She started to reach for it.
Rachel dove for the loaf of bread, snatching it away just before Kahlan got her hand on it. Rachel hugged it to her with both arms. “No!” She pushed with her heels, scooting back, away from Kahlan.
Richard stopped eating; Kahlan frowned. Rachel reached one hand into her pocket, her fingers clutching the fire stick Giller had given her.
“Rachel? What’s the matter?” Kahlan asked.
Giller had told her, told her not to trust anyone. She had to think of something. What would Giller say?
“It’s for my grandmother!” She could feel a tear run down her cheek.
“Well then,” Richard said, “since it’s for your grandmother, we won’t touch it. Promise. Isn’t that right, Kahlan?”
“Of course. I’m sorry, Rachel, we didn’t know. I promise, too. Forgive me?”
Rachel took her hand back out of her pocket, and nodded. The lump in her throat was too big to talk past.
“Rachel,” Richard asked, “where is your grandmother?”
Rachel froze stiff; she didn’t really have a grandmother. She tried to think of the name of a place she had heard of. She thought about places she had heard the Queen’s advisors name. She said the first one that came into her head.
“Horners Mill.”
Before the words were finished coming out of her mouth, she knew it was a mistake. Richard and Kahlan both got scared looks on their faces and turned to look at each other. It was real quiet for a minute; Rachel didn’t know what was going to happen. She looked to the sides of the wayward pine, the spaces between the branches.
“Rachel, we won’t touch your grandmother’s bread,” Richard said in a soft voice, “we promise.”
“Come, have another piece of fish,” Kahlan said. “You can leave the loaf of bread over there; we won’t bother it.”
Rachel still didn’t move. She thought about running away, fast as she could, but she knew they could run faster, and would catch her. She had to do as Giller told her, hide with the box until winter, or all those people would get their heads chopped off.
Richard picked up Sara, and put her on his lap. He pretended to give her a piece of fish. “Sara’s going to eat all the fish. If you want any, you better get over here and have your share. Come on, you can sit on my lap and eat. All right?”
Rachel searched their faces, trying to decide if they were telling the truth. Women with long hair could lie easily. She looked at Richard; he didn’t look like he was lying. She got up and ran over to him. He pulled her into his lap, then put Sara on her lap.
Rachel snuggled up against him while they all ate fish. She didn’t look at Kahlan. Sometimes when you looked at a lady with long hair, it was improper, Princess Violet said. She didn’t want to do anything that would get her a slap. Or anything to get taken off Richard’s lap. It was warm in his lap, and made her feel safe.
“Rachel,” Richard said, “I’m sorry, but we can’t let you to go to Horners Mill. There’s no one left in Horners Mill. It’s not safe there.”
“That’s all right. I’ll go somewhere else then.”
“I’m afraid it’s not safe anywhere, Rachel,” Kahlan said. “We will take you with us, so you will be safe.”
“Where?”
Kahlan smiled. “We are going to Tamarang, to see the Queen.” Rachel stopped chewing. She couldn’t breathe. “We will take you with us. I’m sure the Queen will be able to find someone to take care of you, if I ask.”
“Kahlan, are you sure about this?” Richard whispered.