tg.wizardfirstrule

　and　occasionally　there　was　an　unseen　splash。
　
　〃Any　change　in　Zedd　or　Chase？〃　he　asked。
　
　She　seemed　reluctant　to　answer。　〃Zedd’s　breathing　is　slower。〃
　
　Richard　quickly　went　and　checked。　Zedd　seemed　hardly　alive。　His　face　had　a　sunken；　ashen　look。　He　put　an　ear　to　the　old　man’s　chest　and　found　his　heart　to　be　beating　normally；　but　he　was　breathing　slower；　and　he　felt　cold　and　clammy。
　
　〃I　think　we　must　be　safe　from　the　hounds　now。　We　had　better　get　going；　and　see　if　we　can　find　them　some　help；〃　he　said。
　
　Richard　knew　she　was　afraid　of　the　snakes…he　was；　too；　and　told　her　so…but　she　didn’t　let　it　interfere　with　that　they　had　to　do。　She　put　her　trust　in　what　he　said；　that　the　snakes　wouldn’t　e　near　the　sword；　and　crossed　the　water　without　hesitation　when　he　told　her　to　go。　They　had　to　traverse　the　water　twice；　once　with　Zedd　and　Chase；　and　a　second　time　to　retrieve　the　parts　for　the　litters；　as　they　could　only　be　used　on　dry　land。
　
　They　hooked　up　the　poles　to　the　horses；　but　couldn’t　use　them　yet　as　the　tangle　of　roots　on　the　swamp　trail　would…cause　too　jolting　a　ride。　They　would　have　to　wait　until　they　were　on　a　better　road；　once　they　were　clear　of　the　swamp。
　
　It　was　midmorning　before　they　reached　the　better　road。　They　stopped　long　enough　to　lay　their　two　fallen　friends　in　the　litters　and　cover　them　with　blankets　and　oilcloth。　Richard　was　pleased　to　discover　that　the　pole　arrangement　worked　well；　it　didn’t　slow　them　at　all；　and　the　mud　helped　them　slide　along　nicely。　He　and　Kahlan　ate　lunch　on　their　horses；　passing　food　back　and　forth　as　they　rode　next　to　each　other。　They　stopped　only　to　check　on　Zedd　and　Chase；　and　continued　on　through　the　rain
　
　…＋
　
　Before　night　came　they　reached　Southaven。　The　town　was　little　more　than　a　collection　of　ramshackle　buildings　and　houses　fit　crookedly　in　among　the　oaks　and　beech；　almost　as　if　to　turn　themselves　away　from　the　road；　from　queries；　from　righteous　eyes。　None　looked　ever　to　have　seen　paint。　Some　had　tin　patches　that　drummed　in　the　steady　rain。　Set　in　the　center　of　the　huddle　was　a　supply　store；　and　next　to　it　a　two…story　building。　A　clumsily　carved　sign　proclaimed　it　to　be　an　inn；　but　offered　no　name。　Yellow　lamplight　ing　from　windows　downstairs　was　the　only　color　standing　out　from　the　grayness　of　the　day　and　the　building。　Heaps　of　garbage　leaned　drunkenly　against　the　side　of　the　building；　and　the　house　next　door　tilted　in　sympathy　with　the　rubbish　pile。
　
　〃Stay　close　to　me；〃　Richard　said　as　they　dismounted。　〃The　men　here　are　dangerous。〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　oddly　with　one　side　of　her　mouth。　〃I’m　used　to　their　kind。〃
　
　Richard　wondered　what　that　meant；　but　didn’t　ask。
　
　Talking　trailed　off　when　they　went　through　the　door；　and　all　faces　turned。　The　place　was　about　what　Richard　expected。　Oil　lamps　lit　a　room　filled　with　a　fog　of　pungent　pipe　smoke。　Tables；　all　arranged　in　a　haphazard　fashion；　were　rough；　some　no　more　than　planks　on　barrels。　There　were　no　chairs；　only　benches。　To　the　left　a　door　stood　closed；　probably　leading　to　the　kitchen。　To　the　right；　in　the　shadows；　leading　up　to　the　guest　rooms；　was　a　stairway　minus　a　handrail。　The　floor；　with　a　series　of　paths　through　the　litter；　was　mottled　with　dark　stains　and　spills。
　
　The　men　were　a　rough　collection　of　trappers　and　travelers　and　trouble。　Many　had　unkempt　beards。　Most　were　big。　The　place　smelled　of　ale　and　smoke　and　sweat。
　
　Kahlan　stood　tall　and　proud　next　to　him；　she　was　a　person　not　easily　intimidated。　Richard　reasoned　that　perhaps　she　should　be。　She　stuck　out　among　the　riffraff　like　a　gold　ring　on　a　beggar。　Her　bearing　made　the　room　even　more　of　an　embarrassment。
　
　When　she　pushed　back　the　hood　of　her　cloak；　grins　broke　out　all　around；　revealing　a　collection　of　crooked　and　missing　teeth。　The　hungry　looks　in　the　men’s　eyes　didn’t　fit　the　smiles。　Richard　wished　Chase　were　awake。
　
　With　a　sinking　feeling；　he　realized　there　was　going　to　be　trouble。
　
　A　stout　man　walked　over　and　halted。　He　wore　a　shirt　with　no　sleeves　and　an　apron　what　looked　like　it　could　never　have　been　white。　The　top　of　his　shiny；　shaved　head　reflected　the　lamplight；　and　the　curly　black　hair　on　his　thick　arms　seemed　in　petition　with　his　beard。　He　wiped　his　hands　on　a　filthy　rag　before　flopping　it　over　a　shoulder。
　
　〃Something　I　can　do　for　you？〃　the　man　asked　in　a　dry　voice。　His　tongue　rolled　a　toothpick　across　his　mouth　as　he　waited。
　
　With　his　own　tone　and　eyes　Richard　let　the　man　know　he　would　brook　no　trouble。　〃There　a　healer　in　this　town？〃
　
　The　proprietor　shifted　his　glance　to　Kahlan　and　then　back　to　Richard。　〃No。〃
　
　Richard　noted　the　way；　unlike　the　other　men；　the　man　kept　his　eyes　where　they　belonged　when　he　looked　at　Kahlan。　It　told　him　something　important。　〃Then　we　would　like　a　room。〃　He　lowered　his　voice。　〃We　have　two　friends　outside　who　are　hurt。〃
　
　Taking　the　toothpick　out　of　his　mouth；　the　man　folded　his　arms。　〃I　don’t　need　any　trouble。〃
　
　〃Nor　do　I；〃　Richard　said　with　deliberate　menace。
　
　The　bald　man　looked　Richard　up　and　down；　his　eyes　snagging　for　an　instant　on　the　sword。　With　his　arms　still　folded；　he　appraised　Richard’s　eyes。　〃How　many　rooms　you　want？　I’m　pretty　full。〃
　
　〃One　will　do　fine。〃
　
　In　the　center　of　the　room　a　big　man　stood。　From　a　mass　of　long　stringy　red　hair　he　looked　out　with　mean　eyes　that　were　set　too　close　together。　The　front　of　his　thick　beard　was　wet　with　ale。　He　wore　a　wolf　hide　over　one　shoulder。　His　hand　rested　on　the　handle　of　a　long　knife。
　
　〃Expensive…looking　whore　you　got　there；　boy；〃　the　red…haired　man　said。　〃I　don’t　suppose　you’d　mind　if　we　came　up　to　your　room　and　passed　her　around　some？〃
　
　Richard　locked　his　glare　on　the　man。　He　knew　this　was　a　challenge　that　would　only　be　ended　with　blood。　His　eyes　didn’t　move。　His　hand　did…slowly；　toward　the　sword。　His　rage　pounded；　fully　awake　even　before　his　fingers　reached　the　hilt。
　
　This　was　the　day　he　was　going　to　have　to　kill　other　men。
　
　A　lot　of　other　men。
　
　Richard’s　grip　tightened　around　the　braided　wire　hilt　until　his　knuckles　were　white。　Kahlan　gave　a　steady　pull　on　the　sleeve　of　his　sword　arm。　She　spoke　his　name　in　a　low　tone；　raising　the　inflection　at　the　end；　the　way　his　mother　did　when　she　was　warning　him　to　stay　out　of　something。　He　stole　a　glance　at　her。　She　gave　a　luscious　smile　to　the　red…haired　man。
　
　〃You　men　have　it　all　wrong；〃　she　said　in　a　throaty　voice。　〃You　see；　this　is　my　day　off。　I’m　the　one　who　hired　him　for　the　night。〃　She　smacked　Richard　on　the　rear。　Hard。　It　surprised　him　so　much　he　froze。　She　licked　her　top　lip　as　she　looked　at　the　red…haired　man。　〃But　if　he　doesn’t　give　me　my　money’s　worth；　well；　you　will　be　the　first　I　call　to　fill　the　breach。〃　She　smile　lasciviously。
　
　There　was　a　thick　moment　of　silence。　Richard　resisted　mightily　his　need　to　pull　the　sword　free。　He　held　his　breath　as　he　waited　to　see　which　way　it　was　going　to　go。　Kahlan　continued　to　smile　at　the　men　in　a　way　that　only　made　his　anger　deepen。
　
　Life　and　death　measured　each　other　in　the　red…haired　man’s　eyes。　No　one　moved。　Then　a　grin　split　his　face　and　he　roared　with　laughter。　Everyone　else　hooted　and　hollered　and　laughed。　The　man　sat　down　and　the　men　started　talking　again；　ignoring　Richard　and　Kahlan。　Richard　breathed　out　in　a　sigh。　The　proprietor　eased　the　two　of　them　back　a　ways。　He　gave　Kahlan　a　smile　of　respect。
　
　〃Thank　you；　ma’am。　I’m　glad　your　head　is　faster　than　your　friend’s　hand。　This　place　may　not　seem　much　to　you；　but　it’s　mine　and　you　just　kept　it　in　one　piece　for　me。〃
　
　〃You　are　wele；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃Do　you　have　a　room　for　us？〃
　
　The　proprietor　put　the　toothpick　back　in　the　corner　of　his　mouth。　〃There’s　one；　upstairs；　at　the　end　of　the　hall；　on　the　right；　that　has　a　bolt　on　the　door。〃
　
　〃We　have　two　friends　outside；〃　Richard　said。　〃I　could　use　some　help　getting　them　up　there。〃
　
　The　man　gave　a　nod　of　his　head　back　at　the　roomful　of　men。　〃It　wouldn’t　do　if　that　lot　saw　you　were　burdened　with　injured　panions。　You　two　go　up　to　the　room；　just　like　they　expect。　My　son’s　in　the　kitchen。　We’ll　bring　your　friends　up　the　back　stairs；　so　no　one　will　see。〃　Richard　didn’t　like　the　idea。　〃Have　a　little　faith；　my　friend；〃　the　other　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃or　you　may　be　bringing　harm　to　your　friends。　By　the　way；　my　name’s　Bill。〃
　
　Richard　looked　at　Kahlan；　her　face　was　unreadable。　He　looked　back　to　the　proprietor。　The　man　was　tough；　hardened；　but　didn’t　appear　to　be　devious。　Still；　it　was　his　friends’　lives　at　stake。　He　tried　to　keep　his　voice　from　sounding　as　threatening　as　he　felt。
　
　〃All　right；　Bill；　we　will　do　as　you　ask。〃
　
　Bill　gave　a　small　smile　and　a　nod　as　he　rolled　the　toothpick　across　his　mouth。
　
　Richard　and　Kahlan　went　up　to　the　room　and　waited。　The　ceiling　was　lower　than　was　fortable。　The　wall　next　to　the　single　bed　was　covered　with　years　of　spit。　In　the　opposite　corner　were　a　three…legged　table　and　short　bench。　A　single　oil　lamp　sat　glowing　weakly　on　the　table。　The　windowless　room　was　otherwise　bare；　and　had　a　naked　feel　to　it。　It　smelled　rank。　Richard　paced　while　Kahlan　sat　on　the　bed；　watching　him；　looking　slightly　unfortable。　Finally；　he　strode　over　to　h