Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [276]
“Believe me, Richard, I know how you feel.”
Richard sank to the ground, leaned against the rock, crying. Zedd sat next to him.
“What is to become of me?”
“You will go on. There is nothing else you can do.”
“I don’t want to go on. And what of Samuel? Is that what is to become of me?”
Zedd shook his head. “I’m sorry, Richard. I don’t know. I gave you the sword against my own heart, because I had to, for everyone else. The magic of the Sword of Truth does that to a Seeker, in the end. The prophecies say that the one who truly masters the sword’s magic, and in so doing makes the blade turn white, will be protected from that fate. But I don’t know how it’s to be done. I don’t even know what it means. I didn’t have the courage to tell you. I’m sorry. If you want, you may strike me dead for what I’ve done to you. Only, promise me first that you will go on and stop Darken Rahl.”
Richard laughed bitterly through the tears. “Strike you dead. That’s a joke. You’re all I have, all I’m allowed to love. How could I kill that? It’s myself I should kill.”
“Don’t say such a thing,” Zedd whispered. “Richard, I know how you feel about the magic. I walked away from it too. Sometimes events happen that you have to deal with. You are all I have left. I went after the book because I didn’t want you to be in danger. I would do anything to spare you hurt. But I cannot spare you this. We must stop Darken Rahl, not just for ourselves, but for all the others who have no chance.”
Richard scrubbed his eyes. “I know. I won’t quit until it’s finished. I promise. Then maybe I can give up the sword, before it’s too late for me.”
“Go and get some sleep. Each day will get a little better for you. If it’s any consolation, although I don’t know why Seekers end up like Samuel, I truly don’t believe it will happen to you. But if it does, it won’t happen for some time, and therefore, that can only mean you have defeated Darken Rahl, and all the people of the lands will be safe. Know that if it happens I will always take care of you. If we can stop Rahl, maybe I can help you find the secret to turning the blade white.”
Richard nodded and rose to his feet, pulling his cloak around himself. “Thank you, my friend. Sorry I’ve been so hard on you tonight. I don’t know what’s gotten into me. Maybe the good spirits have deserted me. I’m sorry I can’t tell you what Shota said.
“And Zedd, be careful tonight. There’s something out there. It’s been following us for days. I don’t know what it is, I haven’t had the time to snap a circle on it. But I don’t think it means us harm, at least it hasn’t so far, but you never know in the Midlands.”
“I will be careful.”
Richard started to walk away. Zedd called his name. He stopped and turned.
“Just be glad she cares for you as much as she does. If she didn’t, she might have touched you.”
Richard stared back at him a long moment. “I’m afraid, in a way, she already has.”
Kahlan picked her way along in the dark among the rocks and trees, and found Zedd sitting on a rock, watching her come, his legs crossed under him.
“I would have come and woke you when it was time,” he said.
She went and sat next to him, hugging her cloak around herself. “I know, but I couldn’t sleep, so I thought I would come and sit with you.”
“Did you bring anything to eat?”
She reached in her cloak, pulling out a small bundle. “Here.” She smiled. “Some rabbit and biscuits.”
While Zedd rubbed his hands together and started right in, she watched out into the night, thinking how to put the question she had come to ask him. It didn’t take him long to finish the snack.
“Wonderful, dear one, wonderful. That’s all you brought?”
Kahlan laughed. “I also brought some berries.” She pulled out a cloth bundle. “I thought you might like something sweet. Can I share them with you?”
He eyed her up and down. “I guess you’re small enough, you couldn’t eat that many.”
She laughed again and took a small handful from the open bundle in his hands. “I think I know why Richard is so good