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s branched out； and Richard felt small in the deep shade of the old trees。 He had always been at ease traveling。 He did it often； and the familiar places they passed made it seem to be just another trek； but this trip was not the same。 They were going 'places he had never been。 Dangerous places。 Chase was concerned； and had warned them。 This alone gave Richard pause； for Chase was not a man to worry over nothing； in fact； Richard had often thought he worried far too little。
Richard watched the other three as they rode： Chase； a black wraith upon his horse； armed to the teeth； feared by the people he protected as well as the ones he hunted； but somehow； not by children； the wisp of a wizard； sticklike Zedd； unassuming； hardly more than a smile； white hair； and simple robes； content to carry nothing more than a bundle of fried chicken； but wielder of wizard's fire and who knew what else； and Kahlan； courageous； determined； and keeper of some secret power； sent to threaten a wizard into naming the Seeker。 The three of them were his friends； yet each in their own way made him uneasy。 He wondered who was the most dangerous。 They followed him unquestioningly； yet led him at the same time。 The three of them； all； sworn to protect the Seeker with their lives。 And yet； none of the small pany； singly or together； was a match for Darken Rahl。 The whole of their task seemed hopeless。
Zedd was already into the chicken。 Periodically he would toss a bone over his shoulder。 After a while he thought to offer a piece to the others。 Chase declined； as he kept up a continual scan of their surroundings； paying particular attention to the left side of the trail； to the boundary。 The other two accepted。 The chicken had lasted longer than Richard thought it would。 When the trail widened； he brought his horse up with Kahlan's and rode next to her。 She took off her cloak as the day warmed； and smiled over to him with the special smile she never gave anyone else。
Richard had a thought。 〃Zedd； is there anything a wizard can do about that cloud？〃
The old man squinted up at it； then peered back at Richard。 〃That idea has already e into' my head。 I think there might be； but I want to wait a while longer； until we are farther away from Chase's family。 I don't want to lead a search to them。〃
In the late afternoon they came upon an old couple； woods people whom Chase knew。 The four brought their horses to a halt while the boundary warden spoke with the couple。 He sat re Taxed on his mount； leather creaking； as he listened to them repeat rumors that they had heard about things ing out of the boundary。 Richard now knew them to be more than rumors。 Chase treated the couple with respect； as he did most people； nevertheless； they were clearly afraid of him。 He told them he was looking into the matter and advised them to stay inside at night。
They rode until long after dark before making camp for the night in a stand of pine； and were on their way the next morning as the sky lightened behind the mountains of the boundary。 Richard and Kahlan both yawned as they rode。 The forest thinned； with open patches of meadow； bright and green and smelling sweet in the sunshine as they traveled through the hill country on their journey south； the road taking them temporarily farther from the mountains of the boundary。 Occasionally they passed small farms； their owners making themselves scarce when they saw Chase。
The land became less familiar to Richard； who rarely traveled this far south。 He kept a sharp lookout； making note of the landmarks they passed。 After they ate a cold lunch in the warm sun； the road began angling steadily closer to the mountains； until in the late afternoon they were so close to the boundary that they began encountering the gray skeletons of trees killed by the snake vine。 Even the sun did little to brighten the dense woods。 Chase's demeanor became distant； harder； as he observed everything carefully。 Several times he dismounted； walking his horse as he studied the ground； reading tracks。
They crossed a stream that flowed out of the mountains； the water churning sluggish； cold； and muddy。 Chase stopped and sat； watching off into the shadows。 The rest of them waited； looking at one another and toward the boundary。 Richard recognized the dead smell of the vine drifting in the air。 The boundary warden led them a little farther； then got off his horse and squatted； studying the ground。 When he rose； he handed the reins of his horse to Zedd。 He turned to them and said simply； 〃Wait。〃 They watched him disappear into the trees as they sat quietly。 Kahlan's big horse shivered flies off its hide as it nibbled grass。
Chase returned； pulling his black gauntlets on； and took the reins from Zedd。 〃I want you three to keep going。 Don't wait for me； and don't stop。 Keep to the road。〃
〃What is it？ What did you find？〃 Richard asked。
Chase turned back and gave him a dark look。 〃The wolves have been feeding。 I'm going to bury what's left； and then I'm going cross…country； between the boundary and you three。 I need to check into something。 Remember what I said。 Don't stop。 Don't run your horses； but keep up a good pace； and keep your eyes sharp。 If you think I'm gone too long； don't you dare to think to e back looking for me。 I know what I'm doing； and you would never find me。 I'll be back； with you when I can。 Keep going until then； and stay on the road。〃
He mounted； turned his horse； and urged it into a run； its hooves kicking up clumps of sod 〃Get moving！〃 Chase yelled back over his shoulder。 As he disappeared through the trees Richard saw him reach up to a short sword strapped over his shoulder and pull it free。 He knew Chase was lying。 He wasn't going to bury anything。 Richard didn't like to let his friend go off alone like this； but Chase spent most of his life alone out here by the boundary； and knew what he was doing； what was necessary to protect them。 Richard had to trust his judgment。
〃You heard the man；〃 the Seeker said； 〃let's go。〃
As the three rode on through the boundary woods； rock outcroppings grew in size and twisted their route one way and then the other。 The trees became so thick that the sunlight was all but banished from the still forest； the road a tunnel through the thicket。 Richard didn't like how close everything felt； and as they moved quickly along they all kept watching the deep shadows to their left。 Branches hung across the road； forcing them to duck under as they passed。 He couldn't imagine how Chase cold travel through a wood this thick。
When the way was wide enough； Richard rode up to Kahlan's left； wanting to keep himself between her and the boundary。 He kept the reins in his left hand to leave his sword hand free。 Her cloak was wrapped close around her； but he saw she kept a hand near her knife。
Off to their left； in the distance； came howling； something like a ；wolf pack； only it wasn't wolves。 It was something from the boundary。
The three jerked their heads toward the sound。 The horses were terrified and wanted to run。 They had to keep reining in； but at the same time let them have enough freedom to trot。 Richard understood the way the horses felt。 He felt the urge to let them go； but Chase had said explicitly not to let them run。 He must have had a reason； so they held back。 When the howling was punctuated with bloodcurdling shrieks that made the hair on his neck stand on end； it became more difficult to force himself to prevent the horses from running。 The shrieks were wild cries； cries of the need to kill； demanding； desperate。 The three rode at a trot for almost an hour； but the sounds seemed to follow them。 There was nothing they could do but continue； listening； as they went； to beasts from the boundary。
Unable to stand it any longer； Richard pulled his horse to a halt； and faced the woods。 Chase was out there alone with the beasts。 He couldn't bear any longer to let his friend face it alone。 He had to help。
Zedd turned。 〃We have to keep moving； Richard。〃
〃He may be in trouble。 We can't let him do this alone。〃
〃It's his job； let him do it。〃
〃Right now； his job isn't to be boundary warden； it's to get us to the pass！〃
The wizard rode back and spoke softly。 〃That's the job he's doing； Richard。 He's sworn to protect you with his life。 That is what he is doing； seeing to it you get to the pass。 You have to get it through your head。 What you are doing is more important than one man's life。 Chase knows that。 That's why he said not to e back for him。〃
Richard was incredulous。 〃You expect me to let a friend get himself killed if I can help prevent it？〃 The sounds of howling were getting closer；
〃I expect you not to let him die for nothing！〃
Richard stared at his old friend。 〃But maybe we can make the difference。〃
〃And maybe not。〃 The horses stamped about skittishly。
〃Zedd is right；〃 Kahlan said。 〃Going after Chase is not the brave thing to do； going on when you want to help is。〃
Richard knew they were right； but loathed admitting it。 He looked angrily toward Kahlan。 〃You may be in his position one day！ Then what would you have me do？〃
She looked at him evenly。 〃I would have you go on。〃 …
He glared at her； not knowing what to say。 The shrieks from the woods were closer。 Her face showed no emotion。
〃Richard； Chase does this all the time； he will be all right；〃 Zedd offered reassuringly。 〃I wouldn't be surprised if he was having a good time。 Later on he will have a good tale to tell。 You know Chase。 Some of the tale might even be true；〃
Richard was angry at the two of them； and at himself。 He kicked his horse out ahead； taking the lead； not wanting to talk anymore。 They left him to his thoughts； let his horse trot ahead。 It made him angry that Kahlan would think he could leave her like this。 She was no boundary warden。 He didn't like it that saving them might mean letting them get killed。 It didn't make any sense。 At least he didn't want it to make any sense。
He tried to ignore the shrieks and howls off in the woods。 After a time the cries fell farther behind。 The woods seemed devoid of life； no birds or rabbits or even mice； only the twisted trees and bramble and shadows。 He listened carefully to make sure he heard the other two following。 He didn't want to turn and look； didn't want to face them。 After a while he realized the howls had stopped。 He wondered if that was a good sign or not。
He wanted to tell them he was sorry； that he was just afraid for his friend； but he couldn't。 He felt helpless。 Chase would be all right； he told himself。 He was the head of the boundary wardens； not a； fool； and he wouldn't go into anything he couldn't handle。 He wondered if there was anything Chase couldn't handle。 He wondered if he would be able to tell Emma； if something happened to her husband。
He was letting his imagination run away with him。 Chase was fine。 Not only was he fine； but he would be furious with Richard for thinking these thoughts； for doubting him。
He wondered if Chase would return before nightfall。 Should they stop for the night if he didn't？ No。 Chase had said not to stop。 They would have to keep going； all night if necessary； until he rejoined them。 He felt as if the mountains were looming over them； ready to pounce。 He didn't think he had ever been this close to the boundary。 ' As concerned as he was about Chase； his anger faded。 Richard turned and looked back at Kahlan。 She gave him a warm smile； and he returned it； feeling better。 He tried to imagine what the woods here had looked like before so many trees died。 It might have been a beautiful place； green； snug； safe。 Maybe his father had e this way when he had crossed the boundary； traveled this very road with the book。
He wondered if all the trees near the other boundary died before it fell。 Maybe they could just wait until this one fell； too； and then go across。 Maybe they didn't need to go so far out of their way to the south； to Kings' Port。 But why should he think going south was out of the way？ He didn't know where to go in the Midlands； so why was one place better than another？ The box they sought could just as easily be in the south