tg.wizardfirstrule

　have　a　new　council　of　elders；　ones　who　might　be　more　intent　on　his　success？
　
　If　he　couldn’t　trust　these　men　to　send　him　in　the　right　direction　against　Rahl；　he　would　have　to　kill　them　and　have　ones　he　thought　would　be　on　his　side。　Stopping　Rahl　was　all　that　mattered。　The　lives　of　these　men　must　be　forfeited　if　there　was　a　chance　they　would　jeopardize　success。　Kahlan　knew　that　what　Richard　was　doing　was　right。　It　was　no　less　than　she　herself　would　do；　no　less　than　what　the　Seeker　must　do。
　
　She　watched　him　as　he　stood　over　the　elders。　The　rain　had　stopped。　Sweat　ran　from　his　face。　She　remembered　the　pain　he　suffered　when　he　had　killed　the　last　man　of　the　quad。　She　watched　the　anger　building；　hoping　it　would　be　enough　to　protect　him　from　what　he　was　about　to　do。
　
　Kahlan　understood　why　a　Seeker　was　so　feared。　This　was　no　game；　he　meant　this。　He　was　lost　within　himself；　within　the　magic。　If　anyone　were　to　try　to　stop　him　right　now；　he　would　kill　them；　too。　If；　that　was；　they　got　past　her
　
　The　blade　of　the　sword　came　up　in　front　of　Richard’s　face。　His　head　tilted　back。　His　eyes　closed。　He　shook　with　wrath。　The　five　did　not　move　as　they　knelt　before　the　Seeker。
　
　Kahlan　remembered　the　man　Richard　had　killed；　remembered　the　way　the　sword　had　exploded　through　the　man’s　head。　The　blood　everywhere。　Richard　had　killed　him　because　of　a　direct　threat。　Kill　or　be　killed；　no　matter　that　the　threat　was　to　her　and　not　him。
　
　But　this　was　an　indirect　threat；　a　different　kind　of　killing。　Very　different。　This　was　an　execution。　And　Richard　was　both　judge　and　executioner。
　
　The　sword　lowered　again。　Richard　glowered　at　the　elders；　then　made　a　fist　and　pulled　the　blade　in　a　slow　sweep　across　the　inside　of　his　left　forearm。　He　turned　the　blade；　wiping　both　sides　in　the　blood；’　until　it　ran　down；　dripping　off　the　tip。
　
　Kahlan　snatched　a　quick　glance　around。　The　Mud　People　stood　transfixed；　gripped　by　the　mortal　drama　playing　out　before　their　eyes；　not　wanting　to　watch；　yet　unable　to　turn　away。　No　one　spoke。　No　one　moved。　No　one　even　blinked。
　
　Every　eye　followed　as　Richard　brought　the　sword　up　again；　touching　it　to　his　forehead。
　
　〃Blade；　be　true　this　day；〃　he　whispered。
　
　His　left　hand　glistened　with　blood。　She　could　see　him　shaking　with　need。　The　sword　flashed　in　places　between　the　red。　He　looked　down　at　the　men。
　
　〃Look　at　me；〃　he　said　to　Caldus。　The　elder　did　not　move。　〃Look　at　me　while　I　do　this！〃　he　yelled。　〃Look　into　my　eyes！〃　Still　Caldus　did　not　move。
　
　〃Richard；〃　she　said。　His　eyes　came　angrily　to　hers。　Eyes　looking　at　her　from　a　different　world。　The　magic　danced　in　them。　She　kept　her　voice　even；　showed　no　emotion。　〃He　cannot　understand　you。〃
　
　〃Then　you　tell　him！〃
　
　〃Callus。　〃　He　looked　to　her　blank　face。　〃The　Seeker　wishes　you　to　look　into　his　eyes　while　he　does　this。　〃
　
　He　didn’t　answer；　but　simply　looked　at　Richard；　held　by　the　Seeker’s　glare。
　
　Richard　inhaled　sharply　as　the　sword　rose　swiftly　into　the　air。　She　watched　the　tip　as　it　paused　for　only　an　instant。　Some　people　turned　away；　others　shielded　their　children’s　eyes。　Kahlan　held　her　breath　and　half　turned　to　brace　for　an　aftermath　of　fragments。
　
　The　Seeker　screamed　as　he　brought　down　the　Sword　of　Truth。　Its　tip　whistled　through　the　air。　The　crowd　gasped。
　
　The　sword　stopped　dead　in　the　air；　a　scant　inch　from　Caldus’s　face；　just　as　it　had　stopped　the　first　time　Richard　had　used　it；　when　Zedd　had　him　try　to　cut　down　the　tree。
　
　For　what　seemed　an　eternity；　Richard　stood；　unmoving；　the　muscles　in　his　arms　hard　as　steel；　then　at　last　they　relaxed；　and　he　withdrew　the　blade　from　over　Caldus；　withdrew　his　burning　stare。
　
　His　eyes　unmoving；　he　asked　Kahlan；　〃How　do　you　say　‘I　return　your　lives　and　your　honor　to　you’　in　their　language？〃
　
　She　answered　quietly。
　
　〃Caldus；　Surin；　Arbrin；　Breginderin；　Hajanlet；　〃　he　announced　loud　enough　for　all　to　hear；　〃I　return　your　lives　and　your　honor　to　you。　〃
　
　There　was　a　brief　moment　of　silence；　then　the　Mud　People　erupted　in　a　wild　cheer。　Richard　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard　and　then　helped　the　elders　to　their　feet。　Pale；　they　gave　him　smiles；　pleased　with　his　action；　and　in　no　small　measure　relieved。　They　turned　to　the　Bird　Man。
　
　〃We　make　a　unanimous　demand　of　you；　most　honored　elder。　What　have　you　to　say？〃
　
　The　Bird　Man　stood　with　his　arms　folded。　He　looked　from　the　elders　to　Richard　and　Kahlan。　His　eyes　showed　the　strain　of　the　emotional　ordeal　he　had　just　witnessed。　Dropping　his　arms　to　his　sides；　he　approached　Richard。　The　Seeker　looked　drained；　exhausted。　The　Bird　Man　put　an　arm　around　each　of　their　shoulders　as　if　to　congratulate　them　on　their　courage；　then　put　a　hand　on　each　of　the　elders’　shoulders　to　let　them　know　all　was　set　straight。　He　turned　and　headed　off；　intending　for　them　to　follow。　Kahlan　and　Richard　walked　behind　him；　Savidlin　and　the　other　elders　followed　behind；　a　royal　escort。
　
　〃Richard；〃　she　said　in　a　low　voice；　〃did　you　expect　the　sword　to　stop？〃
　
　He　looked　ahead　as　he　walked；　letting　out　a　deep　breath。　〃No。〃
　
　She　had　thought　as　much。　She　tried　to　imagine　what　this　was　doing　to　him。　Even　if　he　hadn’t　executed　the　elders；　he　had　mitted　to　it；　expected　it。　Though　he　didn’t　have　to　live　with　the　deed；　he　still　had　to　live　with　the　intent。
　
　She　wondered　if　he　had　done　the　right　thing；　not　killing　them。　She　knew　what　she　would　have　done　in　his　place；　she　would　not　have　allowed　the　option　of　clemency。　Too　much　was　at　stake。　But　then；　she　had　seen　more　than　he　had。　Maybe　she　had　seen　too　much；　was　too　ready　to　kill。　You　couldn’t　kill　every　time　there　was　a　risk；　risk　was　constant。　It　had　to　stop　somewhere。
　
　〃How’s　the　arm？〃　he　asked；　bringing　her　out　of　her　thoughts。
　
　〃It　throbs　like　mad；〃　she　admitted。　〃The　Bird　Man　says　it　must　be　stitched　together。〃
　
　Richard　looked　deliberately　ahead　as　he　walked　next　to　her。　〃I　need　my　guide；〃　he　said　quietly；　without　emotion。　〃You　gave　me　a　fright。〃
　
　It　was　as　close　as　he　would　e　to　a　reprimand。　Her　face　burned；　and　she　was　glad　he　wasn’t　looking　at　her　to　see　it。　He　didn’t　know　what　it　was　she　could　do；　but　he　knew　she　had　hesitated。　She　had　almost　made　a　fatal　mistake；　had　put　them　all　at　risk　because　she　hadn’t　wanted　him　to　see。　He　hadn’t　pressed　her　when　he　had　the　chance；　the　right；　just　as　now；　he　put　her　feelings　first。　Her　heart　felt　as　if　it　would　break。
　
　The　little　group　stepped　onto　the　platform　of　the　pole　building。　The　elders　stood　in　the　back；　the　Bird　Man　between　the　two　of　them　as　they　faced　the　crowd。
　
　The　Bird　Man　regarded　her　with　an　intense　expression。　〃Are　you　prepared　to　do　this？〃
　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　she　asked；　suspicious　of　his　tone。
　
　〃I　mean　that　if　the　two　of　you　want　to　bee　Mud　People；　then　you　must　do　that　which　is　required　of　Mud　People：　respect　our　laws。　Our　ways。　〃
　
　〃I　alone　know　what　we　are　up　against。　1　expect　to　die　in　the　quest。　〃　She　kept　her　tone　deliberately　hard。　〃I　have　already　escaped　death　more　times　than　anyone　has　a　right　to。　What　we　want　is　to　save　your　people。　We　are　sworn　on　our　lives　to　do　so。　What　more　could　be　asked　of　us　than　our　lives？〃
　
　The　Bird　Man　knew　she　was　avoiding　the　question　and　didn’t　let　her　get　away　with　it。　〃This　is　not　something　1　do　lightly。　1　do　it　because　I　know　you　are　true　in　your　struggle；　that　you　mean　to　shield　my　people　from　the　storm　that　es。　But　1　must　have　your　help　in　this。　You　must　agree　to　our　ways。　Not　to　please　me；　but　out　of　respect　for　my　people。　They　expect　it。　〃
　
　Her　mouth　was　so　dry　she　could　hardly　swallow。　〃I　do　not　eat　meat；　〃　she　lied。　〃You　know　that　from　when；　I　have　been　here　before。　〃
　
　〃Though　you　are　a　warrior；　you　are　also　a　woman；　therefore　it　may　be　excused。　That　much　is　within　my　power。　Being　a　Confessor　excludes　you　from　the　other。　〃　His　eyes　showed　that　this　was　as　far　as　his　promise　would　go。　〃Not　the　Seeker。　He　must　do　these　things。　〃
　
　〃But。　。　。
　
　〃You　have　。said　you　will　not　choose　him　as　your　mate。　If　he　will　call　a　gathering；　it　must　be　as　one　of　us。〃
　
　Kahlan　felt　trapped。　If　she　turned　him　down　now；　Richard　would　be　furious；　for　good　reason。　They　would　lose　to　Rahl。　Being　from　Westland；　Richard　was　not　used　to　the　ways　of　the　different　peoples　of　the　Midlands。　He　might　not　willingly　go　along。　She　couldn’t　take　the　chance。　Much　was　at　stake。　The　Bird　Man’s　eyes　waited。
　
　〃We　will　do　what　your　law　requires；　〃　she　said；　trying　not　to　show　what　she　really　thought。
　
　〃Don’t　you　wish　to　consult　the　Seeker　on　his　feelings　about　these　things？〃
　
　She　looked　away；　over　the　heads　of　the　waiting　；crowd。　〃No。〃
　
　He　took　her　chin　in　his　hand　and　turned　her　face　back　to　his。
　
　〃Then　it　will　be　your　responsibility　to　see　to　it　that　he　does　as　required。　By　your　word。　〃
　
　She　could　feel　the　heat　of　her　anger　rising。　Richard　leaned　around　the　Bird　Man。
　
　〃Kahlan；　what’s　going　on？　What’s　wrong’？〃
　
　Her　eyes　went　from　Richard　back　to　the　Bird　Man；　and　she　gave　him　a　nod。　〃Nothing。　It’s　all　right。〃
　
　The　Bird　Man　released　her　chin　and　turned　to　his　people；　blowing　the　silent　whistle　he　carried　around　his　neck。　He　bega