Richard sat back on his heels, startled. Adie had said the wizard kept a secret from him. This must have been it. Zedd must have been very worried, and afraid for him. Richard felt sorry for his old friend.
For the first time, Richard truly understood the meaning of being Seeker, in a way no one else but a Seeker could. Bringer of death. He understood it now. Understood the magic, how he used it, how it used him, how they were now joined. For better or worse, he would never be the same again. He had tasted fulfillment of his darkest desire. It was done. There was no going back to being as he was before.
Richard brought the cloth up and wiped the blood from Kahlan's face.
"I understand. I know now what he was talking about. You were right to not tell me." He touched the side of her face, his voice gentle. "I was so afraid you were killed."
She put her hand over his. "I thought you were dead. One minute I was holding your hand, and then I realized I wasn't." Her eyes filled with tears again. "I couldn't find you. I didn't know what to do. The only thing I could think of was to go get Zedd, to wait for him to wake, to get him to help me. I thought you were lost to the underworld."
"I thought that's what happened to you too. I almost went on, alone." He grinned. "Seems I have to keep coming back for you."
She smiled for the first time since he had found her, then put her arms around him again. Quickly, she pushed away.
"Richard, we have to get out of here. There are beasts about. They will come for his body; we can't be here when they do."
He nodded, turned, picked up his sword, and got to his feet. He reached down for her, to help her up. She took his hand.
The magic ignited in a rage, warning its master.
Startled, Richard stared at her in shock. Just as the last time, when she had touched his hand when he held the sword, the magic had come to life, only this time it was stronger. Smiling,
292 she didn't seem to feel anything. Richard forced the anger down. It went with great reluctance.
She hugged him once more, a quick hug with her free arm. "I still can't believe you are alive. I was so sure I had lost you."
"How did you get away from the shadows? .
Kahlan shook her head: "I don't know. They were following us, and when we became separated and I went back, I didn't see them anymore. Did you see any?"
Richard nodded solemnly. "Yes, I saw them. And my father again. They came for me, tried to push me into the boundary."
Concern came over Kahlan's face. "Why just you? Why not both of us?"
"I don't know. Last night at the split rock, and later, when they started following us, it must have been me they were after, not you. The bone protected you."
"The last time at the boundary, they came for everyone but you;" she said. "What's different this time?"
Richard thought a moment. "I don't know, but we have to get across the pass. We're too tired to have to spend tonight fighting shadows again. We must get to the Midlands before dark. And this time, I promise I won't let go of your hand."
Kahlan smiled and squeezed his hand.
"I won't let go of yours either."
"I ran back through the Narrows. It didn't take long that way. You up to that?"
She nodded arid they started running at an easy pace he thought she could keep up. As the last time he crossed, no shadows followed, although several floated above the path. And as before, Richard- went through them sword-first without waiting to find out what they would do. Kahlan flinched at their howls. He watched the tracks as he ran, pulling her through the turns, keeping her on the trail.
When they were clear of the slide, and on the forest path on the other side of the Narrows, they slowed to a fast walk to catch their breath. Drizzle wet their faces and hair. Happiness over finding her alive dimmed his worry about the difficulties that lay ahead. They shared bread and fruit as they kept moving. Even though his stomach was grumbling with hunger, he didn't want to stop for anything more elaborate
Richard was still confused by the reaction of the magic when Kahlan had taken his hand. Was it something the magic felt in her, or was the magic reacting to something in his own mind? Was it because he was afraid of her secret? Or was it something more, something the magic itself felt in her? He wished Zedd was around, so he could ask him what he thought. But then, Zedd had been there the last time, and he hadn't asked him about it then. Was he afraid of what Zedd might tell him?
After they had eaten a little and the afternoon had worn on, they heard growls off in the woods. Kahlan said it was the beasts. They decided to run again, to get clear of the pass as soon as possible. Richard was beyond being tired. He was simply numb as they ran through the thick wood. Light rain on the leaves washed out the sound of their footfalls.
Before dark they came to the edge of along ridge. Below, the trail descended in a series of switchbacks. They stood at the top of the ridge, in the woods, as if at the mouth of a cave, looking out over an open grassland swept with rain.
Kahlan held herself erect, rigid. "I know this place," she whispered.
"So what is it?"
"It is called the Wilds. We are in the Midlands." She turned to him. "I am returned home."
He lifted an eyebrow. "The place doesn't look that wild to me."
"It is not named after the land. It is named after those who live in it."
After descending the steep ridge, Richard found a small protected spot under a slab of rock, but it wasn't deep enough to keep out all the rain, so he cut pine boughs and leaned them against the jut of rock, making a small, reasonably dry shelter where they could spend the night. Kahlan crawled inside, and Richard followed, pulling boughs over the entrance, sealing out most of the rain. Both slumped down, wet and exhausted.
Kahlan took her cloak off and shook out the water. "I've never seen it be overcast so long, or rain so much. I can't even remember what the sun looks like. I'm becoming weary of it."
"Not me," he said quietly. She frowned, so he explained. "Re- member the snakelike cloud that followed me, the one sent by Rahl to track me?" She nodded. "Zedd cast a wizard's web to bring other clouds to hide it. As long as it's cloudy, and we can't see the snake cloud, neither can Rahl. I prefer the rain to Darken Rahl."
Kahlan thought this over. "From now on, I will be happier about the clouds. But next time, could you ask him to bring clouds that are not so wet?" Richard smiled and nodded. "Do you want anything to eat?" she asked.
He shook his head. "I'm too tired. I just want to sleep. Is it safe here?"
"Yes. No one lives near the boundary in the Wilds. Adie said we are protected from the beasts, so the heart hounds should not bother us."
The sound of steady rain was making him all the more sleepy. They wrapped themselves in their blankets, the night being cold already. In the dim light Richard could just make out the features of Kahlan's face as she leaned up against the rock wall. The shelter was too small for a fire, and everything too wet anyway. He reached into his pocket, fingering the pouch with the night stone, considering if he should take it out, to see better, but at last decided against it.
Kahlan smiled over at him. "Welcome to the Midlands. You have done as you said you would: you got us here. Now the hard work begins. What would you have us do?"
Richard's head was throbbing; he leaned back next to her. "We need someone with- magic who can tell us where the last box is, where to find it. Or at least where to look for it. We can't just go running around blindly. We need someone who can point us in the right direction. Who do you know like that?"
Kahlan gave him a sideways glance. "We are a long way from anyone who would want to help us."