tg.wizardfirstrule

　
　〃You　did？〃　she　asked。
　
　Richard　shrugged。　〃Well；　I　knew　he　was　out　there；　and　I　didn’t　know　what　he　was；　but　I　didn’t　think　he　meant　us　harm。　So　I　left　him　food；　to　let　him　know　we　didn’t　mean　him　any　harm　either。〃　He　smiled　at　the　wolf。　〃But　when　you　came　at　me　back　there；　I　surely　thought　I　had　made　a　mistake。　Thank　you　again。〃
　
　Brophy　seemed　unfortable　with　the　gratitude；　and　stood。　〃I　have　been　here　long　enough。　I　have　woods　to　patrol。　There　might　be　things　about。　The　three　of　you　need　not　stand　watch　with　Brophy　on　the　job。〃
　
　Richard　pushed　a　stick　at　the　fire；　watching　the　sparks　swirl　into　the　air。　〃Brophy；　what　was　it　like　when　Kahlan　touched　you？　When　she　released　her　power　into　you。〃
　
　No　one　spoke。　Richard　looked　into　the　wolf’s　yellow　eyes。　Brophy’s　head　turned　to　Kahlan。
　
　〃Tell　him；〃　she　whispered　in　a　broken　voice。
　
　Brophy　lay　back　down；　folding　one　paw　over　the　other；　his　head　held　high。　He　was　silent　for　a　long　time　before　he　spoke
　
　〃It’s　hard　to　remember　everything　of　that　time；　but　I　will　try　to　explain　it　the　best　I　can。〃　His　head　cocked　a　little　to　one　side。　〃Pain。　I　remember　the　pain。　It　was　exquisite；　beyond　anything　you　could　imagine。　The　first　thing　I　remember　after　the　pain　is　fear。　Overpowering　fear　I　might　be　breathing　wrong；　and　it　would　somehow　displease　her。　I　almost　died　from　fear　that　I　would　displease　her。　And　then　when　she　told　me　what　she　wanted　to　know；　it　was　a　flush　of　the　greatest　joy　I　had　ever　known。　Joy；　because　then　I　knew　what　I　could　do　to　please　her。　I　was　overjoyed　that　she　had　made　a　request　of　me；　that　there　was　something　I　could　do　to　satisfy　her。　That’s　What　I　remember　the　most；　the　desperate；　frantic　need　to　do　as　she　wanted；　to　satisfy　her；　and　make　her　happy。　Nothing　else　was　in　my　mind；　only　to　please　her。　To　be　in　her　presence　was　beyond　bliss。　The　pleasure　of　being　in　her　presence　made　me　cry　with　elation。
　
　〃She　told　me　to　tell　the　truth；　and　I　was　so　happy；　because　I　knew　I　could　do　that。　I　was　thrilled　to　have　a　task　within　my　power。　I　started　talking　as　fast　as　I　could；　to　tell　her　all　the　truth　I　could。　She　had　to　tell　me　to　slow　down；　because　she　couldn’t　understand　me。　If　I　had　had　a　knife；　I　would　have　used　it　on　myself　for　displeasing　her。　Then　she　told　me　it　was　all　right；　and　1　cried　because　she　was　not　displeased　with　me。　I　told　her　what　happened。〃　His　ears　wilted　a　little。　〃After　I　told　her　I　hadn’t　killed　the　boy；　I　remembered　she　put　her　hand　on　my　arm…the　touch　nearly　made　me　faint　with　pleasure　and　she　said　she　was　sorry。　I　misunderstood。　I　thought　she　meant　she　was　sorry　I　hadn’t　killed　the　boy。　I　begged　her　to　let　me　go　kill　another　boy　for　her。〃　Tears　ran　from　the　corners　of　the　wolf’s　eyes。　〃Then　she　explained　that　what　she　meant　was　that　she　was　sorry　for　me；　for　me　being　accused　wrongly　of　the　murder。　I　remember　crying　uncontrollably；　because　she　had　shown　me　a　kindness；　she　was　sorry　for　me；　she　cared　for　me。　I　remember　what　it　felt　like　to　be　near　her；　to　be　in　her　presence。　I　guess　it　was　a　feeling　of　love；　but　words　are　so　hollow；　next　to　the　power　of　the　wanting　of　her。〃
　
　Richard　stood。　He　could　only　make　himself　take　the　briefest　of　glances　at　Kahlan；　at　her　tears。　〃Thank　you；　Brophy。〃　He　had　to　pause　a　moment　to　make　sure　his　voice　wouldn’t　fail　him。　〃It’s　late。　We　better　get　some　sleep；　tomorrow　is　an　important　day。　I’m　going　to　take　my　watch。　Good　night。〃
　
　Brophy　stood。　〃You　three　sleep。　I　will　stand　watch　tonight。〃
　
　Richard　swallowed　the　lump。　〃I　appreciate　that；　but　I　will　stand　my　watch。　If　you　wish；　you　may　guard　my　back。〃
　
　He　turned　and　started　to　leave。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Zedd　called　out　to　him。　Richard　stopped　without　turning。　〃What　bone　is　it；　that　your　father　gave　you？〃
　
　Richard’s　mind　raced　in　a　panic。　Please；　Zedd；　he　said　to　himself；　if　you　have　ever　believed　a　lie　I　have　told　you；　believe　this　one。　〃You　must　remember　it。　It　was　that　little　round　one。　You’ve　seen　it　before；　I　know　you　have。〃
　
　〃Oh。　Yes；　I　guess　I　must　have。　Good　night。〃
　
　Wizard’s　First　Rule。　Thank　you；　my　old　friend；　he　thought　to　himself；　for　teaching　me　how　to　protect　Kahlan’s　life。
　
　He　walked　on　into　the　night；　his　head　pounding　with　pain；　from　without；　and　from　within
　
　CHAPTER　39
　THE　city　of　TAMARANG　couldn’t　hold　all　the　people　who　wanted　in；　there　were　simply　too　many。　People　ing　from　every　direction；　seeking　protection　and　safety；　had　overflowed　to　the　countryside　around　the　established　quarters。　Tents　and　shacks　had　sprung　up　on　the　bare　ground　outside　the　city　walls　and　out　onto　the　hills。　In　the　morning；　people　had　flowed　down　from　the　hills　into　the　impromptu　market　quarter　outside　the　walls。　People　who　had　e　from　other　towns；　villages；　and　cities　lined　up　in　streets　laid　out　in　haphazard　fashion　at　makeshift　stands；　selling　whatever　they　had。　Vendors　sold　everything　from　old　clothes　to　fine　jewelry。　Fruits　and　vegetables　were　stacked　at　other　stands。
　
　There　were　barbers　and　healers　and　fortune…tellers；　people　who　had　paper　…and　wanted　to　draw　your　face；　and　people　who　had　leeches　and　wanted　to　draw　your　blood。　Wine　and　spirits　were　for　sale　everywhere。　Despite　the　circumstances　of　their　presence；　the　people　seemed　in　a　festive　mood。　The　imagined　protection　and　ample　supply　of　drink；　Richard　suspected。　Talk　floated　freely　of　the　wonders　of　Father　Rahl。　Speakers　stood　at　the　center　of　small　knots　of　citizens；　telling　the　latest　news；　the　latest　atrocities。　The　tattered　folk　moaned　and　wailed　at　the　outrages　done　by　the　Westlanders。　There　were　cries　for　vengeance。
　
　Richard　didn’t　see　a　single　woman　with　hair　past　her　jaw　line。
　
　The　castle　proper　sat　at　the　top　of　a　high　hill；　within　its　own　walls；　within　the　walls　of　the　city。　Red　banners　with　a　black　wolf’s　head　flew　at　evenly　spaced　intervals　around　the　formidable　castle　walls。　The　huge　wooden　doors　at　the　outer　city　walls　stood　closed。　To　keep　the　riffraff　at　bay；　it　appeared。
　
　Patrols　of　soldiers　prowled　the　streets　on　horseback；　their　。armor　glinting　in　the　noonday　sun；　specks　of　light　in　an　ocean　of　noisy　people。　Richard　saw　one　detachment；　red　banners　with　black　wolf’s　head　flying　over　them；　as　they　swept　through　the　new　streets。　Some　people　cheered；　some　bowed；　but　all　backed　away　as　the　horses　passed。　The　soldiers　ignored　them；…as　if　they　didn’t　exist。　People　who　didn’t　move　out　of　the　way　quick　enough　got　a　boot　to　the　head。
　
　But　none　of　the　people　moved　out　of　the　way　of　the　soldiers　the　way　they　moved　out　of　the　way　for　Kahlan。　People　backed　away　from　the　Mother　Confessor　the　way　a　pack　of　dogs　backs　away　from　a　porcupine。
　
　Her　white　dress　shone　in　the　bright　sun。　Back　straight；　head　held　high；　she　walked　as　if　she　owned　the　whole　city。　She　kept　her　eyes　straight　ahead；　and　acknowledged　no　one。　She　had　refused　to　wear　her　cloak；　saying　it　wouldn’t　be　proper；　and　that　she　wanted　there　to　be　no　doubt　as　to　who　she　was。　There　was　no　doubt。
　
　People　fell　over　each　other　getting　out　of　her　way。　Everyone　bowed　in　a　wave　in　the　wide　circle　around　her　as　she　passed。　Hushed　whispers　carried　Kahlan’s　title　back　through　the　throng。　Kahlan　didn’t　acknowledge　the　bows。
　
　Zedd；　wearing　Kahlan’s　pack　for　her；　walked　at　Richard’s　side；　two　paces　behind　her。　Both　his　and　Richard’s　eyes　swept　the　crowds。　In　all　the　time　he　had　known　Zedd；　Richard　had　never　seen　him　wear　a　pack。　To　say　it　looked　odd　would　be　an　understatement。　Richard　kept　his　cloak　hooked　back　behind　the　Sword　of　Truth。　It　raised　a　few　eyebrows；　but　nothing　like　the　Mother　Confessor　did。
　
　〃Is　it　like　this　everywhere　she　goes？〃　Richard　whispered　to　Zedd
　
　〃I’m　afraid　so；　my　boy。〃
　
　Without　hesitation；　Kahlan　walked　smoothly　over　the　massive　stone　bridge　to　the　city　gates。　Guards　at　the　near　end　of　the　bridge　fell　back　out　of　her　way。　She　ignored　them。　Richard　surveyed　everything；　in　case　he　needed　to　find　a　fast　way　out。
　
　The　two　dozen　guards　at　the　city　gates　were　obviously　under　instruction　to　allow　no　one　to　enter。　The　guards；　who　had　been　standing　at　attention；　looked　nervously　at　each　other；　they　hadn’t　expected　a　visit　from　the　Mother　Confessor。　With　a　clank　of　metal　against　metal；　some　of　them　moved　back；　bumping　into　each　other；　and　some　didn’t；　not　knowing　what　to　do。　Kahlan　stopped；　she　stared　ahead　at　the　gates　as　if　she　expected　them　to　evaporate　out　of　her　way。　The　guards　in　front　of　her　pressed　their　backs　against　the　gates　as　they　looked　sideways　to　their　captain。
　
　Zedd　stepped　around　Kahlan；　turned　to　her；　bowed　deeply；　as　if　to　excuse　himself　for　stepping　in　front　of　her；　then　turned　to　the　captain。
　
　〃What’s　the　matter　with　you？　Are　you　blind；　man？　Open　the　gates！〃
　
　The　captain’s　dark　eyes　shifted　between　Kahlan　and　Zedd。　〃I’m　sorry；　but　no　one　is　to　enter。　And　your　name　is　。　。　。〃
　
　Zedd’s　face　turned　bright　red；　Richard　had　to　work　at　keeping　his　own　face　straight。　The　wizard’s　voice　was　a　low　hiss。　〃Are　you　telling　me；　Captain；　that　you　were　told　‘If　the　Mother　Confessor　es　by；　don’t　let　her　in’？〃
　
　The　captain’s　eyes　looked　less　sure。　〃Well　。。。　I　was　ordered　。　。　。　I’m　not　。　。　。〃
　
　〃Open　the　gates　right　now！〃　Zedd　bellowed；　fists　at