Wizard's First Rule - Terry Goodkind [346]
Richard narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, if I care what happens to everyone?”
“In one week, on the first day of winter, I’m going to open one of the boxes. I have been able to learn, from sources other than the Book of Counted Shadows, the same sources that told me how I might remove the cover, how to tell which box it is that would kill me. Beyond that, I will have to guess. If I open the right one, I will rule unchallenged. If I open the other, the world will be destroyed.”
“You would let that happen?”
Darken Rahl’s eyebrows lifted as he leaned toward Richard. “One world, or no world. That is the way it shall be.”
“I don’t believe you. You don’t know which box will destroy you.”
“Even if I were lying, I would still have two chances in three of having my way. You would have only one in three of it working out in your favor. Not good odds, for you. But, I’m not lying. Either the world is destroyed, or I rule it. You must decide which you would rather have happen. If you don’t help me, and I open the wrong box, I will be destroyed, along with everyone else, including those you care for. If you don’t help me, and I open the one I want, then I will turn Kahlan over to Constance, for training. A good long training. You will watch the whole thing before I kill you. Then Kahlan will bear me a son, an heir. A son who will be a Confessor.”
Richard went cold with pain worse than any Denna had given him. “You are trying to make me an offer of some sort?”
Rahl nodded. “If you come back in time, and help me, you will be permitted to go about your life. I will let you be.”
“What about Kahlan?”
“She will live here, in the People’s Palace, and be treated like a queen. She will have every comfort any woman could have; the kind of life a Confessor is used to. Something you could never provide her. She will live a life of peace and safety, and she will bear me the Confessor son I wish. Either way, she will bear me a son. That is my choice. Your choice is how: as Constance’s pet, or as a queen. So you see? I think you will be back. And if I am wrong…” He shrugged. “One world, or no world.”
Richard could hardly breathe. “I don’t think you know which box will destroy you.”
“You will have to decide what you will believe. I feel no need to convince you.” His expression darkened. “Choose wisely, my young friend. You may not like the choices I have given you, but you will like the results of not helping me even less. Not all choices in life are ones you would like, but those are all that are presented to you. Sometimes you must choose what is better for the ones you love than yourself.”
“I still don’t think you know which box will kill you,” Richard whispered.
“Think what you will, but ask yourself if you are willing to bet Kahlan’s future with Constance on what you think. Even if you were right, it still gives you only one chance in three.”
Richard felt empty, devastated. “Am I free to go now?”
“Well, there are a few other matters you may want to know about.”
Richard felt himself abruptly paralyzed, as if invisible hands were gripping him. He couldn’t move a muscle. Darken Rahl reached into Richard’s pocket and took out the leather pouch with the night stone. Richard fought against the force that held him, but could not move. Rahl dumped the night stone in his hand. He held it up in his palm, smiling.
Shadow things began to materialize. They gathered around Rahl, their numbers growing. Richard wished he could back away, but he couldn’t move.
“Time to go home, my friends.”
The shadows began swirling around Rahl, faster and faster, until they were a blur of gray. A howl rose as they were sucked into the night stone in a whirl of shadows and shapes. Silence. They were gone. The night stone turned to ash in Rahl’s palm. He blew on it and the ash puffed into the air.
“The Old One has been checking on you, using the night stone to find where you are. The next