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The sound of their voices was painful； Kahlan felt as if it was burning her skin。
〃You have misinterpreted the context of what I said。 I said I killed because I thought I had to； that I thought his intent was to kill her； therefore I thought I had to act or she would die。 Not that my intent equates to the deed。 There is probably a long list of people who； at one time or another； I have wanted to kill。〃
〃If you wanted to； why have you not done so？〃
〃Many reasons。 For some； I had not true justification； it was only a mind game； a fantasy； to counter the sting of an injustice。 For some； though I felt justified； I was able to escape without killing。 Some； well； it just turned out that I didn't that's all。〃
〃The five elders？〃
Richard sighed。 〃Yes。〃
〃But you intended to。 〃
Richard didn't answer。
〃Is this a case where the intent is as the deed？〃
Richard swallowed hard。 〃In my heart； yes。 That I intended it wounds me almost as much as the deed would have。〃
〃So then we have not； it would seem； gotten what you said entirely out of context。 〃
Kahlan could see tears in Richard's eyes。 〃Why are you asking me these questions！〃
〃Why do you want the object of magic？〃
〃To stop Darken Rahl！〃
〃And how will getting this object stop him？〃
Richard leaned back a little。 His eyes went wide。 He understood。 A tear ran down his cheek。 〃Because； if I can get the object； and keep it from him；〃 he whispered； 〃he will die。 I will kill him in that way。〃
〃What you are really asking us； then； is； for our aid in killing another。〃 There voices echoed around her in the darkness。
Richard only nodded。
〃That is why we are asking you these questions。 You are asking for our aid in killing。 Do you not think it fair we should know what kind of person it is we would be helping in his attempt to kill？〃 Sweat was rolling off Richard's face。 〃I guess so。〃 He closed his eyes。
〃Why do you want to kill this man？〃
〃Many reasons。〃
〃Why do you want to kill this man？〃
〃Because he tortured and killed my father。 Because he has tortured and killed many others。 Because he will kill me if I don't kill him。 Because he will torture and kill many more if I don't kill him。 It is the only way to stop him。 He cannot be reasoned with。 I have no option but to kill him。〃
〃Consider the next question carefully。 Answer with the truth； or this gathering will end。〃
Richard nodded。
〃What is the reason； above all others； why you want to kill this man？〃
Richard looked down and closed his eyes again。 〃Because；〃 he whispered at last； tears running down his face； 〃if I don't kill him； he will kill Kahlan。〃
Kahlan felt as if she had been hit in the stomach。 She could barely bring herself to translate the words。 There was a long silence。 Richard sat naked； in more ways than one。 She was angry at the spirits for doing this to him。 She was also deeply distraught by what she was doing to him。 Shar had been right。
〃If Kahlan were not a factor； would you still try to kill this man？ 》；
〃Absolutely。 You asked the reason above all others。 I told you。〃
〃What is the object of magic you seek？〃 they asked suddenly。
〃Does that mean you agree with my reasons for killing？〃
〃No。 It means that for our own reasons； we have decided to answer your question。 If we can。 What is the object of magic you seek？ 〃
〃One of the three boxes of Orden。〃
When Kahlan translated； the spirits suddenly howled as if in pain。 〃We are not allowed to answer that question。 The boxes of Orden are in play。 This gathering is over。 〃
The elders' eyes began to close。 Richard jumped to his feet。 〃You would let Darken Rahl kill all those people when you have the power to help？〃 〃Yes。 〃
〃You would let him kill your descendants？ Your living flesh and blood？ You aren't spirit ancestors to our people； you are spirit traitors！〃
〃Not true。 〃
〃Then tell me！〃
〃Not allowed。 〃
〃Please！ Don't leave us without your help。 Let me ask another question？〃
〃We are not allowed to disclose where the boxes of Orden are。 It is forbidden。 Think； and ask another question。 〃
Richard sat down； pulling his knees up。 He rubbed his eyes with the tips of his fingers。 The symbols painted all over him made him look like some kind of wild creature。 He put his face in his hands； thinking。 His head snapped up。
〃You can't tell me where the boxes are。 Are there any other restrictions？〃
〃Yes。 〃
〃How many boxes does Rahl already have？〃
〃Two。 〃
He looked at the elders evenly。 〃You have just disclosed where two of the boxes are。 That is forbidden；〃 he reminded them。 〃Or maybe it is simply a gray shade of intent？〃
Silence。
〃That information is not restricted。 Your question？〃
Richard leaned forward like a dog on scent。 〃Can you tell me who knows where the last box is？〃
Richard already knew the answer to this question； she suspected。 She recognized his manner of slicing the loaf the other way。
〃We know the name of the person who has the box； and the names of several other people nearby； but we cannot tell you the names because that would be the same as telling you where it is。 That is forbidden。 〃
〃Then； can you tell me the name of a person； other than Rahl； who is not in possession of the last box； who is not near it； but who knows where it is？〃
〃There is one we can name。 She knows where the box is。 If we tell you her name； that would not lead you to the box； only to her This is allowed。 It will be up to you； not us； to get whatever information you might。 〃
〃That is my question； then： who is it？ Name her。〃
When they uttered the name； Kahlan froze with a jolt。 She didn't translate。 The elders shook at the mere name； spoken aloud。
〃Who is it？ What's her name'？〃 Richard demanded of her。
Kahlan looked up at him。
〃We are as good as dead；〃 she whispered。
〃Why？ Who； is it？〃
Kahlan sank back； into herself。 〃It is the witch woman； Shota。〃
〃And do you know where she is？〃
Kahlan nodded； her brow wrinkled in terror。 〃In the Agaden Reach。〃 She whispered the name as if even the words tasted of poison。 〃Not even a wizard would dare to go into the Reach。〃
Richard studied the visage of fear in her face； and looked to the elders as they shook。
〃Then we go to Agaden Reach； to this witch woman； Shota；〃 he said in an even voice； 〃and find out where the box is。〃
〃We wish you kind fates； 〃 the spirits said； through the Bird Man。 〃The lives of our descendants depend upon you。 〃
〃Thank you for your help； honored ancestors；〃； Richard said。 〃I will do my best to stop Rahl。 To help our people。〃
〃You must use your head。 That is Darken Rahl's way。 Meet him on his terms； and you will lose。 It will not be easy。 You will have to suffer； as will our people； as will other people； before you have even a chance to succeed。 And in all probability； you will still fail。 Heed our warning； Richard With The Temper。 〃
〃I will remember the things you say。 I pledge to do my best。〃
〃Then we will test the truth of your pledge。 There is something else we would tell you。 〃 They paused for a moment。 〃Darken Rahl is here。 He looks for you。 〃
Kahlan translated in a rush； jumping to her feet。 Richard came up beside her。
〃What！ He is here now？ Where is he； what is he doing'？〃
〃He is in the center of the village。 He is killing people。 〃
Fear raged through Kahlan。 Richard took a step forward。 '‘I have to get out of here。 I have to get my sword。 I have to try to stop him！〃
〃If you wish。 But hear us out first。 Sit； 〃 they manded。
Richard and Kahlan sank back down； looking wide…eyed at each other； clutching each other's hands。 Tears welled up in her eyes。 〃Hurry； then；〃 Richard said。
〃Darken Rahl wants you。 Your sword cannot kill him。 Tonight； the balance of power is on his side。 If you go out there； he will kill you。 You will have no chance。 None。 In order to win； you must change the balance of power； something you cannot do this night。 The people he kills tonight will die whether or not you go out to fight him。 If you do go out； more will die in the end。 Many more。 If you are to succeed； you must have the courage to let these die tonight。 You must save yourself to fight at another time。 You must suffer this pain。 You must heed your head rather than your sword； if you are to have a chance to win。 〃
〃But I have to go out sooner or later！〃
〃Darken Rahl has loosed many dark terrors。 He must balance many things； including his time。 He does not have the time to wait all night。 He is confident； with good reason； that he can defeat you at any time of his choosing。 He has no reason to wait。 He will be gone soon； to tend to other dark matters； to look for you another day。
〃The 。symbols painted upon you open our eyes to you； so we may see you。 They close his eyes to you； he cannot see you。 Unless you draw your sword。 That； he will be able to see； then he would nave you。 As long as the symbols are upon you； and the magic of your sword remains in its scabbard； while you are in Mud People territory he cannot find you。 〃
〃But I can't stay here！〃
〃Not if you wish to stop him。 When you leave our territory； the power of the symbols will be gone； and he will be able to see you again。 〃
Richard's clenched fists shook。 Kahlan could see by the look on his face that he was close to disregarding the warning； close to going out to fight。
〃The choice is yours； 〃 the spirits said。 〃Wait in here while he kills some of our people； and when he is gone； go after the box； to kill him。 Or go out now； and acplish nothing。〃 Richard closed his eyes tight。 His chest rose and fell with his labored breathing。
〃I will wait；〃 he said in a voice she could barely hear。
Kahlan threw her arms around his neck； putting her head against his； as they both cried。 The circle of elders began spinning around again。
That was the last thing she remembered until she and Richard were shaken awake by the Bird Man。 She felt as if she were ing out of a nightmare as she recalled the things the spirits said； about the killing of the Mud People； and that to find the box they had to go into Agaden Reach； to Shota。 She recoiled at the thought of the witch woman。 The other elders were standing over them； and helping both of them up。 All wore grim faces。 Tears tried to e to her again。 She forced them back。
The Bird Man pushed the door open to the cold night air； to a clear； starlit sky。
The clouds were gone。 Even the snakelike cloud。
Dawn was less than an hour away； and already the eastern sky had a hint of color to it。 A solemn…faced hunter handed them their clothes； and Richard his sword。 Wordlessly； they dressed and went out。
A phalanx of hunters and archers protectively surrounded the spirit house。 Many were bloodied。 Richard pushed in front of the Bird Man。
〃Tell me what happened；〃 he ordered in a quiet voice。
A man with a spear stepped forward。 Kahlan waited next to Richard； to translate。 Rage flared in the man's eyes。
〃The red demon came from the sky； carrying a man。 He wanted you。 〃 Fire in his eyes； he pushed his spearpoint against Richard's chest。 The Bird Man； stonefaced； put his hand on the spear； raising the point away from Richard。 〃When he could only find your clothes； he began killing people。 Children！〃 His chest was heaving with anger。 〃Our arrows would not touch him。 Our spears would not touch him。 Our hands would not touch him。 Many of those who tried were killed by magic fire。 Then he became even more angry when he saw that we use fire。 He made all the fires go out。 Then he climbed back on the red demon and told us that if we use fire again； he will e back and kill every child in the village。 With magic； he floated Siddin into the air；
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and took him under his arm。 A gift； he said； for a friend。 Then he flew away。 And where were you and your sword！〃
Savidlin's eyes filled with tears。 Kahlan put her hand against the ripping pain in her heart。 She knew