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\/>\n\u3000She\u3000whispered\u3000a\u3000prayer\u3002\u3000\u2018May\u3000the\u3000Creator\u3000shelter\u3000us\u3000in\u3000his\u3000light\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000His\u3000smile\u3000was\u3000mocking\u3002\u3000The\u3000prophecy\u3000says\u3000nothing\u3000about\u3000the\u3000Creator\u3000ing\u3000to\u3000our\u3000aid\uff1b\u3000Sister\u3002\u3000If\u3000it\u3000is\u3000protection\u3000you\u3000seek\uff1b\u3000you\u3000had\u3000better\u3000follow\u3000the\u3000true\u3000fork\u3002\u3000It\u3000is\u3000in\u3000that\u3000way\u3000He\u3000has\u3000offered\u3000you\u3000a\u3000glimmer\u3000of\u3000hope\u3000for\u3000defense\u3000from\u3000what\u3000will\u3000be\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000She\u3000smoothed\u3000the\u3000folds\u3000of\u3000her\u3000dress\u3000on\u3000her\u3000lap\u3002\u3000\u2018Nathan\uff1b\u3000I\u3000don\u2019t\u3000know\u3000what\u3000this\u3000prophecy\u3000means\u3002\u3000We\u3000can\u2019t\u3000follow\u3000the\u3000true\u3000and\u3000false\u3000forks\u3000if\u3000we\u3000don\u2019t\u3000know\u3000what\u3000it\u3000means\u3002\u3000You\u3000said\u3000you\u3000know\u3000those\u3000forks\u3002\u3000Can\u3000you\u3000tell\u3000me\uff1f\u3000Can\u3000you\u3000tell\u3000me\u3000a\u3000prophecy\u3000on\u3000each\u3000fork\uff1b\u3000one\u3000that\u3000leads\u3000each\u3000way\uff1b\u3000so\u3000we\u3000may\u3000follow\u3000their\u3000path\uff1f\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Vengeance\u3000under\u3000the\u3000Master\u3000will\u3000extinguish\u3000every\u3000adversary\u3002\u3000Terror\uff1b\u3000hopelessness\uff1b\u3000and\u3000despa         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Vengeance\u3000under\u3000the\u3000Master\u3000will\u3000extinguish\u3000every\u3000adversary\u3002\u3000Terror\uff1b\u3000hopelessness\uff1b\u3000and\u3000despair\u3000will\u3000reign\u3000free\u3002\u2019\u3000He\u3000peered\u3000at\u3000her\u3000intently\u3000with\u3000one\u3000eye\u3002\u3000This\u3000one\u3000leads\u3000down\u3000the\u3000false\u3000fork\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000She\u3000wondered\u3000how\u3000it\u3000was\u3000possible\u3000for\u3000the\u3000true\u3000prophecy\u3000to\u3000be\u3000worse\u3002\u3000\u2018And\u3000one\u3000of\u3000the\u3000true\u3000fork\uff1f\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018A\u3000close\u3000prophecy\u3000after\u3000the\u3000true\u3000fork\u3000says\uff1a\u3000Of\u3000all\u3000there\u3000were\uff1b\u3000but\u3000a\u3000single\u3000one\u3000born\u3000of\u3000the\u3000magic\u3000to\u3000bring\u3000forth\u3000truth\u3000will\u3000remain\u3000alive\u3000when\u3000the\u3000shadow\u2019s\u3000threat\u3000is\u3000lifted\u3002\u3000Therefore\u3000es\u3000the\u3000greater\u3000darkness\u3000of\u3000the\u3000dead\u3002\u3000For\u3000there\u3000to\u3000be\u3000a\u3000chance\u3000at\u3000life\u2019s\u3000bond\uff1b\u3000this\u3000one\u3000in\u3000white\u3000must\u3000be\u3000offered\u3000to\u3000her\u3000people\uff1b\u3000to\u3000bring\u3000their\u3000joy\u3000and\u3000good\u3000cheer\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Margaret\u3000pondered\u3000these\u3000two\u3000prophecies\u3002\u3000She\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000recall\u3000either\u3002\u3000The\u3000first\u3000seemed\u3000simple\u3000enough\u3000to\u3000understand\u3002\u3000They\u3000could\u3000follow\u3000the\u3000false\u3000branch\uff1b\u3000for\u3000a\u3000ways\uff1b\u3000anyway\uff1b\u3000from\u3000this\u3000one\u3002\u3000The\u3000second\u3000was\u3000more\u3000oblique\uff1b\u3000but\u3000seemed\u3000as\u3000if\u3000it\u3000could\u3000be\u3000deciphered\u3000with\u3000a\u3000little\u3000study\u3002\u3000She\u3000recognized\u3000it\u3000as\u3000a\u3000prophecy\u3000about\u3000a\u3000Confessor\u3002\u3000The\u3000reference\u3000to\u3000\u2018one\u3000in\u3000white\u2019\u3000meant\u3000the\u3000Mother\u3000Confessor\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Thank\u3000you\u3000Nathan\u3002\u3000This\u3000will\u3000make\u3000the\u3000false\u3000fork\u3000easier\u3000to\u3000follow\u3002\u3000The\u3000other\uff1b\u3000the\u3000true\u3000fork\uff1b\u3000will\u3000be\u3000a\u3000little\u3000harder\uff1b\u3000but\u3000with\u3000this\u3000prophecy\u3000to\u3000lead\u3000the\u3000way\uff1b\u3000we\u3000should\u3000be\u3000able\u3000to\u3000reason\u3000it\u3000out\u3002\u3000We\u3000will\u3000just\u3000have\u3000to\u3000look\u3000for\u3000prophecies\u3000leading\u3000away\u3000from\u3000this\u3000event\u3002\u3000Somehow\u3000she\u3000is\u3000to\u3000bring\u3000happiness\u3000to\u3000her\u3000people\u3002\u2019\u3000That\u3000brought\u3000a\u3000small\u3000smile\u3000to\u3000her\u3000lips\u3002\u3000\u2018It\u3000sounds\u3000as\u3000if\u3000maybe\u3000she\u3000is\u3000to\u3000be\u3000wed\uff1b\u3000or\u3000something\u3000of\u3000that\u3000nature\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000Prophet\u3000blinked\u3000at\u3000her\uff1b\u3000then\u3000threw\u3000his\u3000head\u3000back\u3000and\u3000howled\u3002\u3000He\u3000rose\u3000to\u3000his\u3000feet\uff1b\u3000roaring\u3000in\u3000laughter\u3000until\u3000he\u3000coughed\u3000and\u3000choked\u3002\u3000He\u3000turned\u3000back\u3000to\u3000her\uff1b\u3000his\u3000face\u3000red\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000The\u3000wind\u3000ripped\u3000at\u3000her\uff1b\u3000tugging\u3000at\u3000her\u3000clothes\u3000and\u3000snapping\u3000the\u3000loose\u3000ends\u3002\u3000After\u3000yesterday\u2019s\u3000tangled\u3000mess\uff1b\u3000Kahlan\u3000was\u3000at\u3000least\u3000glad\u3000she\u3000had\u3000thought\u3000to\u3000tie\u3000back\u3000her\u3000hair\u3002\u3000She\u3000clung\u3000to\u3000Rich         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000she\u3000had\u3000thought\u3000to\u3000tie\u3000back\u3000her\u3000hair\u3002\u3000She\u3000clung\u3000to\u3000Richard\u3000for\u3000dear\u3000life\uff1b\u3000pressing\u3000the\u3000side\u3000of\u3000her\u3000face\u3000against\u3000his\u3000back\u3000as\u3000she\u3000squeezed\u3000her\u3000eyes\u3000tightly\u3000shut\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Siddin\u3000squealed\u3000with\u3000glee\u3000from\u3000his\u3000place\u3000in\u3000Richard\u2019s\u3000lap\u3000as\u3000Scarlet\u2019s\u3000huge\uff1b\u3000leathery\u3000wings\u3000caught\u3000the\u3000air\u3000and\u3000pulled\u3000them\u3000into\u3000a\u3000tight\u3000spiral\u3002\u3000As\u3000the\u3000red\u3000dragon\u3000plummeted\u3000earthward\uff1b\u3000the\u3000knot\u3000of\u3000Kahlan\u2019s\u3000stomach\u3000felt\u3000as\u3000if\u3000it\u3000were\u3000ing\u3000up\u3000in\u3000her\u3000throat\u3002\u3000She\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000understand\u3000how\u3000they\u3000could\u3000like\u3000doing\u3000this\u3002\u3000They\u3000enjoyed\u3000it\u3002\u3000They\u3000actually\u3000enjoyed\u3000it\uff01\u3000Arms\u3000stuck\u3000up\u3000in\u3000the\u3000air\uff1b\u3000they\u3000were\u3000both\u3000laughing\u3000with\u3000delight\uff1b\u3000acting\u3000like\u3000little\u3000boys\u3002\u3000Well\uff1b\u3000one\u3000was\u3000a\u3000little\u3000boy\uff1b\u3000and\u3000she\u3000guessed\u3000he\u3000had\u3000a\u3000right\u3002<br 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<br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Kahlan\u3000smiled\u3000at\u3000the\u3000memory\u3000of\u3000Mistress\u3000Sanderholt\u3002\u3000It\u3000was\u3000long\u3000months\u3000since\u3000she\u3000had\u3000been\u3000home\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Cooks\uff1b\u2019\u3000Richard\u3000muttered\u3000to\u3000himself\u3002\u3000\u2018I\u2019ve\u3000never\u3000had\u3000anyone\u3000cook\u3000for\u3000me\u3002\u3000I\u3000always\u3000cooked\u3000for\u3000myself\u3002\u2019\u3000His\u3000smile\u3000returned\u3002\u3000\u2018Well\uff1b\u3000I\u3000guess\u3000this\u3000Mistress\u3000Sanderholt\u3000will\u3000be\u3000able\u3000to\u3000make\u3000a\u3000little\u3000room\u3000for\u3000me\u3000if\u3000I\u3000want\u3000to\u3000cook\u3000you\u3000something\u3000special\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000The\u3000glowing\uff1b\u3000shimmering\uff1b\u3000white\u3000robed\u3000form\u3000laughed\u3000again         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000here\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018But\u3000I\u3000killed\u3000you\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000turned\u3000back\u3000to\u3000the\u3000Sister\u3002\u3000\u2018You\u3000have\u3000done\u3000your\u3000best\u3002\u3000You\u3000have\u3000tried\u3000your\u3000best\u3002\u3000It\u3000is\u3000not\u3000enough\u3002\u3000I\u3000told\u3000you\u3000before\uff1b\u3000I\u3000will\u3000not\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Richard\uff01\u2019\u3000Kahlan\u3000took\u3000another\u3000step\u3000toward\u3000him\u3000as\u3000he\u3000turned\u3000to\u3000the\u3000sound\u3000of\u3000her\u3000shriek\u3002\u3000Her\u3000eyes\u3000locked\u3000on\u3000his\u3002\u3000\u2018Richard\uff1b\u2019\u3000she\u3000whispered\u3000as\u3000she\u3000took\u3000another\u3000step\u3002\u3000Her\u3000voice\u3000broke\u3002\u3000\u2018Accept\u3000the\u3000offer\u3002\u3000Take\u3000the\u3000collar\u3002\u3000Please\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Sister\u3000Verna\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000move\u3002\u3000She\u3000watched\u3000calmly\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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-->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000As\u3000the\u3000quillion\u3000faded\uff1b\u3000the\u3000beast\u2019s\u3000eyes\u3000began\u3000to\u3000glow\u3000orange\u3000\u2026\u3000the\u3000same\u3000color\u3000orange\u3000as\u3000the\u3000quillion\u3002\u3000As\u3000the\u3000quillion\u3000dimmed\uff1b\u3000the\u3000glow\u3000in\u3000the\u3000beast\u2019s\u3000eyes\u3000intensified\uff1b\u3000until\u3000the\u3000little\u3000statue\u3000was\u3000dark\uff1b\u3000and\u3000the\u3000thing\u2019s\u3000eyes\u3000shined\u3000bright\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Two\u3000more\u3000Sisters\u3000stood\u3002\u3000They\u3000moved\u3000to\u3000each\u3000side\u3000of\u3000the\u3000first\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000\u2018Then\u3000it\u3000shall\u3000be\u3000yours\uff1b\u3000Sister\u3002\u2019\u3000The\u3000other\u3000two\u3000knelt\u3000beside\u3000her\u3000as\u3000she\u3000pulled\u3000a\u3000cloth\u3000from\u3000her\u3000cloak\uff1b\u3000twisting\u3000it\u3000between\u3000her\u3000fists\u3002\u3000\u2018You\u3000must\u3000pass\u3000this\u3000test\u3000of\u3000pain\u3000to\u3000gain\u3000the\u3000gift\u3002\u3000We\u3000cannot\u3000touch\u3000you\u3000with\u3000our\u3000magic\u3000while\u3000it\u3000is\u3000being\u3000done\uff1b\u3000but\u3000we\u3000will\u3000help\u3000you\u3000as\u3000best\u3000we\u3000can\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018I\u3000will\u3000do\u3000anything\u3002\u3000It\u2019s\u3000mine\u3002\u3000Let\u3000it\u3000be\u3000done\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000naked\u3000woman\u3000spread\u3000her\u3000arms\u3002\u3000The\u3000sisters\u3000to\u3000each\u3000side\u3000leaned\u3000with\u3000all\u3000their\u3000weight\u3000on\u3000her\u3000wrists\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000Sister\u3000at\u3000her\u3000head\u3000held\u3000the\u3000twisted\u3000cloth\u3000over\u3000the\u3000hooded\u3000face\u3002\u3000\u2018Open\u3000your\u3000mouth\uff1b\u3000and\u3000bite\u3000down\u3000on\u3000this\u3002\u2019\u3000She\u3000put\u3000the\u3000cloth\u3000between\u3000the\u3000woman\u2019s\u3000teeth\u3002\u3000\u2018Now\uff1b\u3000open\u3000your\u3000legs\u3002\u3000You\u3000must\u3000keep\u3000them\u3000open\u3002\u3000If\u3000you\u3000try\u3000to\u3000close\u3000them\uff1b\u3000it\u3000will\u3000be\u3000a\u3000rejection\u3000of\u3000what\u3000you\u3000are\u3000being\u3000offered\uff1b\u3000and\u3000you\u3000will\u3000lose\u3000the\u3000chance\u3002\u3000Forever\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000naked\u3000woman\u3000stared\u3000fixedly\u3000up\u3000at\u3000nothing\u3002\u3000She\u3000panted\u3000with\u3000fear\uff1b\u3000her\u3000breast\u3000heaving\u3002\u3000Slowly\uff1b\u3000she\u3000spread\u3000her\u3000legs\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000beast\u3000stirred\uff1b\u3000giving\u3000a\u3000low\u3000grunt\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Margaret\u3000gripped\u3000Jedidiah\u2019s\u3000forearm\uff1b\u3000her\u3000fingers\u3000digging\u3000into\u3000him\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000beast\u3000sniffed\u3000the\u3000air\u3002\u3000As\u3000it\u3000slowly\u3000unfolded\u3000itself\uff1b\u3000Margaret\u3000saw\u3000that\u3000it\u3000was\u3000larger\u3000than\u3000it\u3000had\u3000looked\u3000when\u3000it\u3000was\u3000all\u3000hunched\u3000over\u3002\u3000It\u3000was\u3000powerfully\u3000built\uff1b\u3000looking\u3000mostly\u3000like\u3000a\u3000man\u3002\u3000Flickers\u3000of\u3000candlelight\u3000reflected\u3000off\u3000sweat\u2026slicked\uff1b\u3000knotted\u3000muscles\u3000of\u3000its\u3000arms\u3000and\u3000chest\u3002\u3000Downy\u3000hair\u3000started\u3000at\u3000the\u3000narrow\u3000hips\uff1b\u3000growing\u3000coarser\u3000farther\u3000down\u3000the\u3000legs\uff1b\u3000to\u3000the\u3000ankles\uff1b\u3000where\u3000it\u3000was\u3000the\u3000longest\uff1b\u3000thickest\u3002\u3000But\u3000the\u3000head\u3000was\u3000something\u3000other\u3000than\u3000a\u3000man\u3002\u3000It\u3000was\u3000a\u3000horror\u3000of\u3000anger\u3000and\u3000fangs\u3002<br 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\/>\n\u3000\u2018Do\u3000as\u3000I\u3000say\uff1b\u3000wizard\uff01\u3000Leave\uff01\u3000Now\uff01\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Zedd\u3000rushed\u3000toward\u3000her\uff1b\u3000glass\u3000crunching\u3000under\u3000his\u3000feet\u3002\u3000He\u3000jerked\u3000to\u3000a\u3000halt\u3000when\u3000he\u3000g         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Do\u3000as\u3000I\u3000say\uff1b\u3000wizard\uff01\u3000Leave\uff01\u3000Now\uff01\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Zedd\u3000rushed\u3000toward\u3000her\uff1b\u3000glass\u3000crunching\u3000under\u3000his\u3000feet\u3002\u3000He\u3000jerked\u3000to\u3000a\u3000halt\u3000when\u3000he\u3000glanced\u3000over\u3000his\u3000shoulder\u3000toward\u3000the\u3000skull\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Dear\u3000spirits\uff1b\u3000what\u3000have\u3000I\u3000done\uff1f\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000spirits\uff1b\u3000as\u3000usual\uff1b\u3000had\u3000nothing\u3000to\u3000say\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Out\u3000of\u3000the\u3000corner\u3000of\u3000his\u3000eye\uff1b\u3000movement\u3000caught\u3000his\u3000attention\u3002\u3000Two\u3000distant\u3000silhouettes\u3000passed\u3000in\u3000         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Dear\u3000spirits\uff1b\u3000what\u3000have\u3000I\u3000done\uff1f\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000spirits\uff1b\u3000as\u3000usual\uff1b\u3000had\u3000nothing\u3000to\u3000say\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Out\u3000of\u3000the\u3000corner\u3000of\u3000his\u3000eye\uff1b\u3000movement\u3000caught\u3000his\u3000attention\u3002\u3000Two\u3000distant\u3000silhouettes\u3000passed\u3000in\u3000front\u3000of\u3000the\u3000big\uff1b\u3000bright\u3000moon\u3002\u3000They\u3000banked\u3000into\u3000a\u3000slow\u3000turn\uff1b\u3000and\u3000began\u3000to\u3000descend\u3002\u3000Two\u3000gars\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000came\u3000to\u3000his\u3000feet\u3002\u3000Maybe\u3000they\u3000would\u3000see\u3000the\u3000baby\u3000and\u3000help\u3000it\u3002\u3000He\u3000found\u3000himself\u3000cheering\u3000them\u3000on\uff1b\u3000and\u3000then\u3000realized\u3000how\u3000absurd\u3000it\u3000was\u3000to\u3000hope\u3000a\u3000gar\u3000would\u3000live\u3002\u3000But\u3000he\u3000was\u3000beginning\u3000to\u3000feel\u3000an\u3000odd\u3000sympathy\u3000for\u3000monsters\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Steel\u3000first\uff1b\u3000he\u3000rushed\u3000into\u3000the\u3000fur\u3000and\u3000claws\u3000and\u3000wings\u3002\u3000The\u3000two\u3000gars\u3000were\u3000bigger\u3000than\u3000the\u3000one\u3000he\u3000had\u3000killed\uff1b\u3000confirming\u3000his\u3000suspicion\u3000that\u3000they\u3000were\u3000males\u3002\u3000His\u3000blade\u3000caught\u3000only\u3000air\u3000as\u3000they\u3000leapt\u3000back\uff1b\u3000but\u3000one\u3000of\u3000them\u3000dropped\u3000the\u3000little\u3000gar\u3002\u3000It\u3000skittered\u3000across\u3000the\u3000ground\u3000and\u3000clutched\u3000its\u3000mother\u2019s\u3000fur\u3002\u3000The\u3000other\u3000two\u3000circled\u3000him\uff1b\u3000charging\u3000and\u3000darting\u3000and\u3000swiping\u3000with\u3000their\u3000claws\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000swung\u3000and\u3000stabbed\u3000with\u3000the\u3000sword\u3002\u3000One\u3000of\u3000them\u3000snatched\u3000at\u3000the\u3000baby\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000scooped\u3000it\u3000away\u3000with\u3000his\u3000free\u3000arm\u3000and\u3000quickly\u3000retreated\u3000a\u3000dozen\u3000paces\u3002<br 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\/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Squinting\u3000against\u3000the\u3000blindingly\u3000bright\u3000sun\u3000on\u3000white\u3000snow\uff1b\u3000she\u3000saw\u3000the\u3000two\u3000figures\uff1b\u3000far\u3000below\uff1b\u3000starting\u3000up\u3000the\u3000slope\u3002\u3000She\u3000let\u3000the\u3000round\u3000bone\u3000slip\u3000from\u3000her\u3000fingers\u3002\u3000\u2018I\u2019m\u3000the\u3000Mother\u3000Confessor\u3002\u3000It\u2019s\u3000my\u3000duty\u3000to\u3000protect\u3000all\u3000the\u3000people\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Midlands\uff1b\u3000the\u3000same\u3000way\u3000I\u3000work\u3000to\u3000safeguard\u3000the\u3000Mud\u3000People\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018You\u3000bring\u3000no\u3000help\u3000to\u3000my\u3000people\uff1b\u3000only\u3000trouble\u3002\u2019<br 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--><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Her\u3000ears\u3000swiveled\u3000toward\u3000him\u3000as\u3000her\u3000head\u3000came\u3000up\u3002\u3000Dutifully\uff1b\u3000she\u3000trotted\u3000over\u3000and\u3000joined\u3000him\u3000and\u3000the\u3000other\u3000two\u3000horses\uff1b\u3000pushing\u3000her\u3000head\u3000against\u3000his\u3000shoulder\u3000in\u3000hopes\u3000of\u3000a\u3000neck\u3000scratch\u3002\u3000As\u3000they\u3000left\u3000the\u3000tower\u3000behind\uff1b\u3000he\u3000gave\u3000her\u3000the\u3000scratch\u3000she\u3000wanted\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000She\u3000turned\u3000in\u3000a\u3000rage\u3002\u3000\u2018Leave\u3000me\uff01\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000menace\u3000in\u3000her\u3000expression\u3000froze\u3000him\u3000in\u3000his\u3000tracks\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018No\u3002\u3000Listen\u3000to\u3000me\uff1b\u3000Sister\u3000Verna\u3002\u3000You\u2019re\u3000ing\u3000with\u3000me\u3002\u3000I\u2019m\u3000not\u3000leaving\u3000you\u3000trapped\u3000in\u3000this\u3000spell\u3002\u3000That\u2019s\u3000all\u3000you\u3000see\uff1a\u3000an\u3000enchantment\u3000spell\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Zedd\u3000leaned\u3000close\u3000and\u3000gave\u3000the\u3000man\u3000a\u3000wink\u3002\u3000\u2018I\u3000much\u3000prefer\u3000the\u3000wonderful\u3000aromas\u3000ing\u3000from\u3000your\u3000kitchen\u3000to\u3000the\u3000singing\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Master\u3000Hillman\u3000beamed\u3000with\u3000pride\u3000and\u3000then\u3000swept\u3000his\u3000arm\u3000in\u3000the\u3000direction\u3000of\u3000the\u3000empty\u3000table\uff1b\u3000ushering\u3000Zedd\u3000toward\u3000it\u3002\u3000\u2018You\u3000do\u3000me\u3000such\u3000honor\uff1b\u3000Master\u3000Rybnik\u3002\u3000I\u3000have\u3000never\u3000had\u3000anyone\u3000swoon\u3000over\u3000my\u3000cooking\u3000as\u3000do\u3000you\u3002\u3000Let\u3000me\u3000get\u3000you\u3000a\u3000plate\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Ruben\uff1b\u3000please\u3002\u3000Remember\uff1f\u3000And\u3000I\u3000would\u3000be\u3000delighted\u3000to\u3000sample\u3000a\u3000slice\u3000of\u3000that\u3000roast\u3000I\u3000smell\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Yes\uff1b\u3000Master\u3000Rybnik\uff1b\u3000of\u3000course\u3002\u2019\u3000Wringing\u3000the\u3000corner\u3000of\u3000his\u3000apron\uff1b\u3000he\u3000leaned\u3000over\u3000the\u3000table\u3000as\u3000Zedd\u3000sat\u3000against\u3000the\u3000wall\u3002\u3000\u2018How\u3000is\u3000Mistress\u3000Rybnik\uff1f\u3000I\u3000hope\u3000she\u3000is\u3000feeling\u3000better\u3002\u3000I\u3000pray\u3000for\u3000her\u3000every\u3000day\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Zedd\u3000sighed\u3002\u3000\u2018Much\u3000the\u3000same\uff1b\u3000I\u2019m\u3000afraid\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000As\u3000she\u3000charged\u3000the\u3000horse\u3000ahead\uff1b\u3000the\u3000wizard\u2019s\u3000fire\u3000exploded\u3000behind\uff1b\u3000cascading\u3000across\u3000the\u3000ground\u3000like\u3000a\u3000burst\u3000dam\u3002\u3000The\u3000horrifying\u3000death\u3000screams\u3000of\u3000man\u3000and\u3000beast\u3000caught\u3000in\u3000the\u3000conflagration\u3000filled\u3000the\u3000night\u3000air\u3002\u3000Dozens\u3000of\u3000men\uff1b\u3000all\u3000afire\uff1b\u3000rolled\u3000through\u3000the\u3000snow\uff1b\u3000trying\u3000to\u3000put\u3000out\u3000the\u3000flames\u3002\u3000But\u3000wizard\u2019s\u3000fire\u3000was\u3000not\u3000so\u3000easy\u3000to\u3000extinguish\uff1b\u3000it\u3000was\u3000alive\u3000with\u3000purpose\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000She\u3000couched\u3000the\u3000lance\uff1b\u3000tucking\u3000the\u3000base\u3000under\u3000her\u3000right\u3000armpit\uff1b\u3000jamming\u3000her\u3000grip\u3000tight\u3000against\u3000the\u3000leather\u3000stop\u3002\u3000Gritting\u3000her\u3000teeth\uff1b\u3000she\u3000used\u3000all\u3000her\u3000strength\u3000to\u3000lift\u3000the\u3000heavy\u3000lance\u3000over\u3000Nick\u2019s\u3000bobbing\u3000head\uff1b\u3000to\u3000the\u3000left\u3000side\uff1b\u3000so\u3000as\u3000not\u3000to\u3000unbalance\u3000herself\u3000in\u3000the\u3000saddle\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Nick\u3000took\u3000her\u3000direction\u3000as\u3000if\u3000he\u3000could\u3000read\u3000her\u3000mind\u3002\u3000She\u3000steered\u3000him\u3000at\u3000full\u3000speed\uff1b\u3000but\u3000it\u3000seemed\u3000to\u3000her\u3000that\u3000the\u3000last\u3000ten\u3000yards\u3000took\u3000hours\uff1b\u3000a\u3000race\u3000between\u3000her\u3000charge\u3000and\u3000the\u3000wizard\u3000calling\u3000forth\u3000fire\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Wizard\u3000Slagle\u3000looked\u3000up\u3000to\u3000direct\u3000the\u3000fire\u3000just\u3000as\u3000her\u3000lance\u3000caught\u3000him\u3000in\u3000the\u3000chest\u3002\u3000The\u3000impact\u3000shattered\u3000the\u3000lance\u3000to\u3000splinters\u3000at\u3000midlength\u3000and\u3000nearly\u3000tore\u3000the\u3000wizard\u3000in\u3000half\u3002\u3000She\u3000and\u3000her\u3000horse\u3000flew\u3000through\u3000a\u3000spray\u3000of\u3000blood\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Nick\u3000jumped\u3000anything\u3000he\u3000couldn\u2019t\u3000dodge\u3002\u3000The\u3000threat\u3000of\u3000him\u3000not\u3000jumping\u3000or\u3000dodging\u3000had\u3000men\u3000diving\u3000for\u3000cover\u3002\u3000Men\u3000at\u3000games\u3000tumbled\u3000out\u3000of\u3000the\u3000way\uff1b\u3000coin\u3000and\u3000dice\u3000flying\u3000into\u3000the\u3000air\u3002\u3000Tents\u3000pulled\u3000up\u3000when\u3000Nick\u2019s\u3000legs\u3000caught\u3000their\u3000lines\uff1b\u3000flew\u3000up\u3000and\u3000billowed\u3000in\u3000a\u3000tangle\u3000behind\uff1b\u3000snaring\u3000her\u3000pursuers\u3002\u3000Horses\u3000and\u3000riders\u3000crashed\u3000to\u3000the\u3000ground\u3002\u3000Others\u3000ran\u3000over\u3000their\u3000own\u3000men\u3000in\u3000their\u3000frenzied\u3000attempt\u3000to\u3000keep\u3000her\u3000in\u3000sight\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Kahlan\u3000spotted\u3000a\u3000sword\u3000hanging\u3000in\u3000a\u3000scabbard\u3000that\u3000was\u3000fastened\u3000to\u3000the\u3000side\u3000of\u3000a\u3000wagon\uff1b\u3000and\u3000as\u3000she\u3000ran\u3000past\uff1b\u3000she\u3000pulled\u3000it\u3000free\u3002\u3000Galloping\u3000past\u3000picket\u3000lines\uff1b\u3000she\u3000swung\u3000the\u3000sword\uff1b\u3000cutting\u3000the\u3000lead\u3000lines\u3002\u3000She\u3000hacked\u3000the\u3000rump\u3000of\u3000one\u3000horse\u3000as\u3000she\u3000charged\u3000past\u3002\u3000He\u3000kicked\u3000and\u3000screamed\u3000in\u3000fright\u3000and\u3000pain\uff1b\u3000panicking\u3000the\u3000rest\u3000of\u3000the\u3000horses\u3002\u3000They\u3000bolted\u3000headlong\u3000in\u3000every\u3000direction\u3002\u3000Lanterns\u3000on\u3000poles\u3000toppled\u3000onto\u3000tents\uff1b\u3000setting\u3000them\u3000afire\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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  <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018What\u3000we\u3000do\u3000is\u3000done\u3000to\u3000save\u3000the\u3000lives\u3000of\u3000men\u3000and\u3000women\u3000yet\u3000alive\u3000and\u3000yet\u3000unborn\u3002\u3000You\u3000saw\u3000what\u3000was\u3000done\u3000to\u3000the\u3000people\u3000in\u3000Ebinissia\u3002\u3000Remember\u3000the\u3000faces\u3000of\u3000those\u3000dead\u3002\u3000Remember\u3000the\u3000way\u3000they\u3000died\uff1b\u3000and\u3000the\u3000horror\u3000they\u3000suffered\u3000before\u3000they\u3000did\u3002\u3000Remember\u3000those\u3000soldiers\u3000captured\uff1b\u3000and\u3000beheaded\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000The\u3000air\u3000hissed\u3000with\u3000the\u3000sound\u3000of\u3000the\u3000arrow\u2019s\u3000flight\u3002\u3000The\u3000crowd\u3000gasped\u3002\u3000Before\u3000the\u3000arrow\u3000reached\u3000the\u3000target\uff1b\u3000while\u3000the\u3000air\u3000still\u3000sizzled\u3000with\u3000its\u3000sound\uff1b\u3000Richard\u3000had\u3000the\u3000second\u3000arrow\u3000nocked\u3000and\u3000on\u3000target\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000With\u3000a\u3000twanging\u3000thunk\uff1b\u3000the\u3000first\u3000arrow\u3000made\u3000a\u3000solid\u3000hit\uff1b\u3000dead\u2026on\u3000where\u3000he\u3000intended\u3000it\u3002\u3000The\u3000Queen\u3000Mother\u3000let\u3000out\u3000a\u3000clipped\u3000cry\u3000of\u3000surprise\u3000and\u3000pain\u3002\u3000Penetrating\u3000the\u3000space\u3000between\u3000the\u3000         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            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<br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000That\u3000was\u3000what\u3000Darken\u3000Rahl\u3000was\u3000laughing\u3000at\uff1a\u3000her\u3000foolishness\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000She\u3000picked\u3000up\u3000the\u3000cup\u3000of\u3000tea\u3000Prindin\u3000had\u3000made\u3000for\u3000her\u3000and\u3000held\u3000it\u3000in\u3000her\u3000hands\uff1b\u3000letting\u3000it\u3000warm\u3000her\u3000fingers\u3002\u3000She\u3000was\u3000the\u3000leader\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Midlands\u3000and\u3000had\u3000to\u3000act\u3000like\u3000a\u3000leader\uff1b\u3000and\u3000tend\u3000to\u3000the\u3000most\u3000important\u3000things\u3000above\u3000all\u3000else\uff1b\u3000to\u3000the\u3000things\u3000that\u3000she\uff1b\u3000and\u3000only\u3000she\uff1b\u3000could\u3000do\u3002\u3000She\u3000downed\u3000the\u3000rest\u3000of\u3000the\u3000tea\uff1b\u3000making\u3000a\u3000face\u3000at\u3000the\u3000bitter\u3000taste\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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-->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Chandalen\u3000sat\u3000up\u3000with\u3000a\u3000groggy\u3000groan\u3002\u3000He\u3000put\u3000his\u3000hands\u3000to\u3000his\u3000bleeding\u3000scalp\u3002\u3000Keeping\u3000an\u3000eye\u3000to\u3000the\u3000wounded\u3000man\uff1b\u3000Prindin\u3000pulled\u3000a\u3000bone\u3000box\u3000from\u3000his\u3000waist\u3000pouch\u3002\u3000He\u3000had\u3000a\u3000full\u3000box\u3000of\u3000bandu\u3002\u3000He\u3000hadn\u2019t\u3000given\u3000her\u3000all\u3000his\u3000poison\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000The\u3000back\u3000of\u3000his\u3000fist\u3000across\u3000her\u3000face\u3000sent\u3000her\u3000sprawling\u3002\u3000Powered\u3000by\u3000sheer\u3000terror\uff1b\u3000Kahlan\u3000started\u3000scrambling\u3000away\u3000on\u3000her\u3000hands\u3000and\u3000knees\u3002\u3000The\u3000snow\u3000was\u3000freezing\u3000her\u3000fingers\u3002\u3000The\u3000knees\u3000of\u3000her\u3000pants\u3000were\u3000soaked\u3000and\u3000icy\u3000wet\u3002\u3000She\u3000concentrated\u3000on\u3000the\u3000cold\u3000to\u3000try\u3000to\u3000revive\u3000herself\u3002\u3000She\u3000glanced\u3000over\u3000her\u3000shoulder\u3000as\u3000she\u3000clambered\u3000away\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Warren\u3000looked\u3000down\uff1b\u3000picking\u3000at\u3000his\u3000robes\u3002\u3000\u2018On\u3000a\u3000condition\u3002\u3000I\u3000never\u3000get\u3000out\u3000of\u3000this\u3000place\u3002\u3000Not\u3000that\u3000I\u3000don\u2019t\u3000like\u3000working\u3000with\u3000the\u3000prophecies\uff1b\u3000you\u3000understand\uff1b\u3000but\u3000people\u3000think\u3000that\u3000I\u3000have\u3000no\u3000interest\u3000in\u3000anything\u3000else\u3002\u3000         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            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\/>\n\u3000Movement\u3000would\u3000distort\u3000the\u3000plicated\u3000images\uff1b\u3000as\u3000the\u3000cape\u3000changed\u3000to\u3000acmodate\u3000new\u3000conditions\uff1b\u3000though\u3000it\u3000still\u3000fooled\u3000the\u3000eye\u3000into\u3000missing\u3000him\uff1b\u3000but\u3000if\u3000he\u3000stood\u3000still\uff1b\u3000he\u3000virtually\u3000vanished\u3000in\u3000front\u3000of\u3000anything\u3002\u3000The\u3000effect\uff1b\u3000at\u3000times\uff1b\u3000could\u3000be\u3000dizzying\u3000to\u3000watch\u3002\u3000When\u3000he\u3000stopped\u3000concentrating\uff1b\u2019\u3000the\u3000cape\u3000would\u3000return\u3000to\u3000black\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000This\uff1b\u3000he\u3000thought\u3000as\u3000he\u3000looked\u3000at\u3000himself\u3000in\u3000the\u3000mirror\u3000standing\u3000in\u3000a\u3000simple\u3000black\u3000cape\uff1b\u3000was\u3000going\u3000to\u3000be\u3000useful\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000CHAPTER\u300056<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000As\u3000the\u3000weeks\u3000passed\uff1b\u3000Richard\u3000was\u3000constantly\u3000busy\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000He\u3000remembered\u3000that\u3000Kahlan\u3000and\u3000Zedd\u3000had\u3000told\u3000him\u3000that\u3000there\u3000were\u3000no\u3000wizards\u3000with\u3000the\u3000gift\u3000left\u3000in\u3000the\u3000Midlands\u3002\u3000Small\u3000wonder\uff1b\u3000they\u3000seemed\u3000to\u3000all\u3000be\u3000at\u3000the\u3000Palace\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Prophets\u3002\u3000There\u3000were\u3000well\u3000over\u3000a\u3000hundred\u3000boys\u3000and\u3000young\u3000men\u3000at\u3000the\u3000palace\u3002\u3000From\u3000what\u3000Richard\u3000could\u3000discover\uff1b\u3000a\u3000goodly\u3000number\u3000of\u3000the\u3000older\u3000ones\uff1b\u3000at\u3000least\uff1b\u3000were\u3000from\u3000the\u3000Midlands\uff1b\u3000with\u3000some\u3000even\u3000from\u3000D\u2019Hara\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Killing\u3000a\u3000mriswith\u3000had\u3000earned\u3000Richard\u3000celebrity\u3000status\u3000among\u3000the\u3000younger\u3000boys\u3002\u3000Two\u3000of\u3000them\uff1b\u3000Kipp\u3000and\u3000Hersh\uff1b\u3000were\u3000the\u3000most\u3000persistent\u3002\u3000They\u3000followed\u3000him\u3000around\uff1b\u3000begging\u3000to\u3000hear\u3000stories\u3000of\u3000his\u3000adventures\u3002\u3000At\u3000times\u3000they\u3000exhibited\u3000the\u3000maturity\uff1b\u3000almost\u3000wisdom\uff1b\u3000of\u3000old\u3000men\u3002\u3000At\u3000other\u3000times\u3000they\uff1b\u3000like\u3000all\u3000boys\uff1b\u3000seemed\u3000interested\u3000in\u3000nothing\u3000more\u3000than\u3000mischief\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000object\u3000of\u3000this\u3000mischief\u3000was\u3000usually\u3000a\u3000Sister\u3002\u3000The\u3000boys\u3000never\u3000seemed\u3000to\u3000tire\u3000of\u3000thinking\u3000up\u3000new\u3000tricks\u3000to\u3000pull\u3000on\u3000them\u3002\u3000Most\u3000of\u3000the\u3000pranks\u3000appeared\u3000to\u3000involve\u3000either\u3000water\uff1b\u3000mud\uff1b\u3000or\u3000reptiles\u3002\u3000The\u3000Sisters\u3000only\u3000occasionally\u3000erupted\u3000in\u3000anger\u3000when\u3000caught\u3000up\u3000in\u3000the\u3000boys\u2019\u3000antics\uff1b\u3000and\u3000even\u3000then\uff1b\u3000they\u3000quickly\u3000forgave\u3000them\u3002\u3000As\u3000far\u3000as\u3000Richard\u3000could\u3000tell\uff1b\u3000the\u3000boys\u3000never\u3000earned\u3000more\u3000than\u3000a\u3000stern\u3000lecture\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000In\u3000the\u3000beginning\uff1b\u3000the\u3000young\u3000boys\u3000thought\u3000to\u3000number\u3000Richard\u3000among\u3000their\u3000targets\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000had\u3000things\u3000to\u3000do\uff1b\u3000and\u3000had\u3000no\u3000time\u3000or\u3000patience\u3000for\u3000it\u3002\u3000When\u3000the\u3000boys\u3000learned\u3000that\u3000Richard\u3000was\u3000neither\u3000shy\u3000nor\u3000slow\u3000with\u3000discipline\uff1b\u3000they\u3000quickly\u3000moved\u3000on\u3000to\u3000other\u3000targets\u3000with\u3000their\u3000buckets\u3000of\u3000water\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000fact\u3000that\u3000Richard\u3000set\u3000limits\u3000made\u3000Kipp\u3000and\u3000Hersh\u3000like\u3000him\u3000all\u3000the\u3000more\u3002\u3000They\u3000seemed\u3000starved\u3000for\u3000older\u3000male\u3000panionship\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000rewarded\u3000them\u3000with\u3000adventure\u3000stories\uff1b\u3000or\u3000sometimes\uff1b\u3000when\u3000he\u3000was\u3000going\u3000from\u3000one\u3000place\u3000to\u3000another\uff1b\u3000and\u3000their\u3000presence\u3000wouldn\u2019t\u3000impede\u3000his\u3000progress\uff1b\u3000he\u3000taught\u3000them\u3000about\u3000the\u3000woods\uff1b\u3000tracking\uff1b\u3000and\u3000animals\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000They\u3000coveted\u3000staying\u3000in\u3000Richard\u2019s\u3000gbod\u3000graces\uff1b\u3000so\u3000when\u3000he\u3000wanted\u3000or\u3000needed\u3000to\u3000be\u3000alone\uff1b\u3000and\u3000signaled\u3000with\u3000a\u3000finger\u3000or\u3000a\u3000nod\uff1b\u3000they\u3000vanished\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000let\u3000them\u3000be\u3000around\u3000often\u3000when\u3000he\u3000was\u3000with\u3000Pasha\uff1b\u3000since\u3000he\u3000couldn\u2019t\u3000do\u3000more\u3000important\u3000tasks\u3000then\u3000anyway\u3002\u3000Frustrated\uff1b\u3000because\u3000she\u3000couldn\u2019t\u3000seem\u3000to\u3000find\u3000time\u3000alone\u3000with\u3000him\uff1b\u3000Pasha\u3000was\u3000somewhat\u3000mollified\u3000when\u3000Richard\u3000got\u3000her\u3000excluded\u3000from\u3000the\u3000boys\u2019\u3000list\u3000of\u3000targets\u3002\u3000She\u3000appreciated\u3000not\u3000having\u3000her\u3000fine\u3000dresses\u3000drenched\u3000or\u3000having\u3000to\u3000worry\u3000about\u3000discovering\u3000a\u3000snake\u3000in\u3000her\u3000shawl\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000occasionally\u3000asked\u3000Kipp\u3000and\u3000Hersh\u3000to\u3000preform\u3000little\u3000errands\uff1b\u3000just\u3000to\u3000test\u3000them\u3002\u3000He\u3000had\u3000plans\u3000for\u3000their\u3000talents\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000other\u3000young\u3000men\u3000in\u3000collars\u3000wanted\u3000to\u3000show\u3000Richard\u3000the\u3000city\u3002\u3000Two\uff1b\u3000Perry\u3000and\u3000Isaac\uff1b\u3000who\u3000lived\u3000in\u3000Gillaume\u3000Hall\u3000with\u3000him\uff1b\u3000took\u3000him\u3000into\u3000the\u3000city\u3000and\u3000showed\u3000him\u3000the\u3000tavern\u3000where\u3000many\u3000of\u3000the\u3000guards\u3000drank\uff1b\u3000and\u3000he\u3000soon\u3000after\u3000bought\u3000Swordsman\u3000Kevin\u3000Andellmere\u3000the\u3000ale\u3000he\u3000had\u3000promised\u3000him\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000discovered\u3000that\u3000most\u3000of\u3000the\u3000young\u3000men\u3000spent\u3000their\u3000nights\u3000away\u3000from\u3000the\u3000palace\uff1b\u3000staying\u3000in\u3000various\u3000fine\u3000inns\u3000around\u3000the\u3000city\u3002\u3000It\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000take\u3000Richard\u3000long\u3000to\u3000figure\u3000out\u3000why\u3002\u3000They\u3000were\u3000provided\u3000money\uff1b\u3000the\u3000same\u3000as\u3000he\uff1b\u3000and\u3000they\u3000were\u3000practiced\u3000at\u3000spending\u3000it\u3002\u3000They\u3000bought\u3000themselves\u3000fancy\u3000clothes\uff1b\u3000dressing\u3000like\u3000princes\uff1b\u3000and\u3000on\u3000their\u3000overnight\u3000stays\u3000they\u3000picked\u3000the\u3000finest\u3000acmodations\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000There\u3000was\u3000no\u3000shortage\u3000of\u3000women\u3000wanting\u3000to\u3000share\u3000those\u3000acmodations\u3002\u3000Astonishingly\u3000beautiful\u3000women\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000When\u3000Perry\u3000and\u3000Isaac\u3000took\u3000him\u3000to\u3000the\u3000city\uff1b\u3000they\u3000were\u3000always\u3000quickly\u3000surrounded\u3000by\u3000attractive\u3000women\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000had\u3000never\u3000seen\u3000women\u3000this\u3000brazen\u3002\u3000Every\u3000evening\uff1b\u3000the\u3000two\u3000men\u3000would\u3000each\u3000select\u3000a\u3000woman\uff1b\u3000sometimes\u3000several\uff1b\u3000and\u3000buy\u3000them\u3000presents\uff1b\u3000maybe\u3000a\u3000dress\u3000or\u3000a\u3000bauble\uff1b\u3000and\u3000then\u3000depart\u3000for\u3000their\u3000rooms\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000two\u3000told\u3000him\u3000that\u3000if\u3000he\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000want\u3000to\u3000bother\u3000with\u3000spending\u3000time\u3000buying\u3000gifts\uff1b\u3000he\u3000could\u3000simply\u3000go\u3000to\u3000any\u3000of\u3000the\u3000houses\u3000of\u3000prostitution\uff1b\u3000but\u3000they\u3000assured\u3000him\u3000that\u3000those\u3000women\u3000were\u3000not\u3000as\u3000young\uff1b\u3000or\u3000nearly\u3000as\u3000pretty\uff1b\u3000as\u3000the\u3000ones\u3000who\u3000approached\u3000them\u3000on\u3000the\u3000streets\u3002\u3000They\u3000admitted\uff1b\u3000though\uff1b\u3000that\u3000they\u3000went\u3000to\u3000prostitutes\u3000sometimes\u3000when\u3000they\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000feel\u3000like\u3000wasting\u3000time\u3000being\u3000sociable\u3000for\u3000no\u3000more\u3000than\u3000a\u3000simple\u3000coupling\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000When\u3000he\u3000was\u3000spotted\u3000with\u3000a\u3000collar\uff1b\u3000Richard\u3000drew\u3000women\u3000the\u3000same\u3000as\u3000Perry\u3000and\u3000Isaac\u3000did\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000was\u3000beginning\u3000to\u3000see\u3000in\u3000a\u3000new\u3000light\u3000what\u3000Sister\u3000Verna\u3000meant\u3000about\u3000him\u3000soon\u3000finding\u3000another\u3000pair\u3000of\u3000pretty\u3000legs\u3002\u3000The\u3000other\u3000two\u3000men\u3000thought\u3000Richard\u3000was\u3000mad\u3000to\u3000turn\u3000down\u3000all\u3000the\u3000offers\u3002\u3000Sometimes\uff1b\u3000Richard\u3000wondered\u3000if\u3000they\u3000might\u3000not\u3000be\u3000right\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000asked\u3000Perry\u3000and\u3000Isaac\u3000if\u3000they\u3000weren\u2019t\u3000afraid\u3000of\u3000a\u3000woman\u2019s\u3000father\u3000cracking\u3000their\u3000skulls\u3002\u3000They\u3000laughed\u3000and\u3000said\u3000that\u3000fathers\u3000sometimes\u3000brought\u3000their\u3000daughters\u3000to\u3000them\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000threw\u3000his\u3000arms\u3000up\u3000and\u3000asked\u3000if\u3000they\u3000weren\u2019t\u3000concerned\u3000about\u3000getting\u3000some\u3000woman\u3000they\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000even\u3000know\u3000pregnant\u3002\u3000They\u3000explained\u3000that\u3000if\u3000a\u3000woman\u3000\u2018got\u3000herself\u2019\u3000pregnant\uff1b\u3000the\u3000palace\u3000would\u3000provide\u3000for\u3000her\u3000and\u3000the\u3000child\uff1b\u3000even\u3000her\u3000whole\u3000family\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000When\u3000Richard\u3000had\u3000asked\u3000Pasha\u3000what\u3000was\u3000behind\u3000such\u3000a\u3000bizarre\u3000convention\uff1b\u3000she\u3000folded\u3000her\u3000arms\u3000across\u3000her\u3000breasts\u3000and\u3000presented\u3000her\u3000back\u3000to\u3000him\u3000while\u3000she\u3000explained\u3000that\u3000men\u3000had\u3000uncontrollable\u3000urges\uff1b\u3000and\u3000those\u3000urges\u3000would\u3000be\u3000a\u3000distraction\u3000to\u3000learning\u3000to\u3000use\u3000their\u3000Han\uff1b\u3000so\u3000the\u3000Sisters\u3000encouraged\u3000the\u3000men\u3000to\u3000satisfy\u3000their\u3000needs\u3002\u3000That\u3000was\u3000why\u3000she\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000go\u3000to\u3000the\u3000city\u3000with\u3000him\u3000at\u3000night\u3002\u3000She\u3000was\u3000restricted\u3000from\u3000interfering\u3000with\u3000his\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000needs\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000She\u3000had\u3000turned\u3000back\u3000to\u3000him\u3000and\u3000begged\u3000him\u3000to\u3000e\u3000to\u3000her\u3000with\u3000his\u3000needs\uff1b\u3000saying\u3000she\u3000would\u3000see\u3000to\u3000it\u3000that\u3000he\u3000had\u3000no\u3000desire\u3000to\u3000go\u3000to\u3000other\u3000women\uff1b\u3000or\u3000if\u3000he\u3000did\u3000go\u3000to\u3000the\u3000city\uff1b\u3000to\u3000at\u3000least\u3000allow\u3000her\u3000to\u3000be\u3000one\u3000of\u3000the\u3000women\u3000he\u3000slept\u3000with\u3002\u3000She\u3000told\u3000him\u3000that\u3000she\u3000could\u3000satisfy\u3000him\u3000better\u3000than\u3000any\u3000other\u3000woman\uff1b\u3000and\u3000offered\u3000to\u3000prove\u3000it\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000was\u3000dumbfounded\u3000by\u3000such\u3000talk\uff1b\u3000to\u3000say\u3000nothing\u3000of\u3000the\u3000behavior\u3002\u3000He\u3000told\u3000Pasha\u3000that\u3000he\u3000only\u3000went\u3000to\u3000the\u3000city\u3000to\u3000see\u3000the\u3000sights\u3002\u3000Having\u3000grown\u3000up\u3000in\u3000the\u3000woods\uff1b\u3000he\u3000had\u3000never\u3000roamed\u3000around\u3000in\u3000a\u3000city\u3000before\u3002\u3000He\u3000told\u3000her\u3000that\u3000where\u3000he\u3000came\u3000from\u3000it\u3000wasn\u2019t\u3000right\u3000to\u3000treat\u3000women\u3000in\u3000such\u3000a\u3000way\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000He\u3000promised\u3000that\u3000if\u3000he\u3000was\u3000ever\u3000overe\u3000with\u3000need\uff1b\u3000he\u3000would\u3000e\u3000to\u3000her\u3000first\u3002\u3000She\u3000was\u3000so\u3000happy\u3000to\u3000hear\u3000this\u3000that\u3000she\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000mind\u3000when\u3000he\u3000reminded\u3000her\u3000that\u3000he\u3000wasn\u2019t\u3000ready\u3000yet\u3002\u3000She\u3000had\u3000no\u3000idea\u3000that\u3000there\u3000were\u3000times\u3000when\u3000he\u3000felt\u3000so\u3000lonely\u3000that\u3000he\u3000was\u3000sorely\u3000tempted\u3000to\u3000give\u3000in\u3000to\u3000her\u3002\u3000She\u3000was\u3000unquestionably\u3000alluring\uff1b\u3000and\u3000it\u3000was\u3000sometimes\u3000difficult\u3000for\u3000him\u3000to\u3000make\u3000himself\u3000keep\u3000her\u3000at\u3000arm\u2019s\u3000length\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000had\u3000Pasha\u3000show\u3000him\u3000everything\u3000she\u3000could\u3000of\u3000the\u3000palace\u3002\u3000He\u3000had\u3000her\u3000show\u3000him\u3000some\u3000of\u3000the\u3000city\uff1b\u3000and\u3000take\u3000him\u3000on\u3000a\u3000tour\u3000of\u3000the\u3000docks\uff1b\u3000to\u3000see\u3000the\u3000big\u3000boats\u3002\u3000She\u3000said\u3000they\u3000were\u3000called\u3000ships\uff1b\u3000because\u3000they\u3000went\u3000to\u3000sea\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000had\u3000never\u3000seen\u3000anything\u3000that\u3000large\u3000afloat\u3002\u3000She\u3000told\u3000him\u3000that\u3000they\u3000brought\u3000trade\u3000from\u3000cities\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Old\u3000World\u3000farther\u3000down\u3000the\u3000coast\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Pasha\u3000went\u3000with\u3000him\u3000to\u3000the\u3000sea\uff1b\u3000and\u3000they\u3000sat\u3000for\u3000hours\uff1b\u3000watching\u3000the\u3000waves\uff1b\u3000or\u3000explored\u3000the\u3000tide         <!-- 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\/>\n\u3000Pasha\u3000went\u3000with\u3000him\u3000to\u3000the\u3000sea\uff1b\u3000and\u3000they\u3000sat\u3000for\u3000hours\uff1b\u3000watching\u3000the\u3000waves\uff1b\u3000or\u3000explored\u3000the\u3000tide\u3000pools\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000was\u3000astounded\u3000to\u3000learn\u3000that\u3000the\u3000sea\u3000went\u3000up\u3000and\u3000down\uff1b\u3000with\u3000tides\uff1b\u3000all\u3000by\u3000itself\u3002\u3000She\u3000assured\u3000him\u3000that\u3000it\u3000was\u3000not\u3000the\u3000magic\u3000of\u3000the\u3000palace\uff1b\u3000but\u3000did\u3000such\u3000a\u3000thing\u3000everywhere\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000was\u3000spellbound\u3000by\u3000the\u3000ocean\u3002\u3000Pasha\u3000was\u3000content\u3000to\u3000simply\u3000sit\u3000with\u3000him\u3002\u3000But\u3000Richard\u3000couldn\u2019t\u3000afford\u3000to\u3000sit\u3000and\u3000watch\u3000the\u3000ocean\u3000too\u3000often\u3002\u3000He\u3000had\u3000things\u3000to\u3000do\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Pasha\u3000wasn\u2019t\u3000permitted\u3000to\u3000go\u3000with\u3000him\u3000to\u3000the\u3000city\u3000in\u3000the\u3000evening\uff1b\u3000in\u3000case\u3000he\u3000chose\u3000to\u3000be\u3000with\u3000a\u3000woman\u3002\u3000He\u3000had\u3000to\u3000constantly\u3000reassure\u3000her\u3000that\u3000that\u3000was\u3000not\u3000why\u3000he\u3000went\u3000out\u3000at\u3000night\u3002\u3000Since\u3000it\u3000was\u3000the\u3000truth\u3000that\u3000he\u3000wasn\u2019t\u3000sleeping\u3000with\u3000any\u3000of\u3000the\u3000women\uff1b\u3000he\u3000had\u3000no\u3000difficulty\u3000being\u3000sincere\u3000and\u3000convincing\u3000her\u3002\u3000He\u3000did\u3000not\u3000tell\u3000her\u3000the\u3000truth\uff1b\u3000however\uff1b\u3000about\u3000what\u3000he\u3000really\u3000was\u3000doing\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000decided\u3000that\u3000as\u3000long\u3000as\u3000the\u3000palace\u3000wanted\u3000to\u3000provide\u3000him\u3000with\u3000money\uff1b\u3000he\u3000was\u3000going\u3000to\u3000allow\u3000them\u3000to\u3000finance\u3000their\u3000own\u3000undoing\u3002\u3000He\u3000spent\u3000the\u3000palace\u2019s\u3000money\u3000wherever\u3000it\u3000would\u3000help\u3000him\u3002\u3000He\u3000became\u3000a\u3000regular\u3000at\u3000the\u3000taverns\u3000and\u3000inns\u3000the\u3000palace\u3000guards\u3000frequented\u3002\u3000Whenever\u3000he\u3000was\u3000around\uff1b\u3000they\u3000never\u3000paid\u3000for\u3000a\u3000drink\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000made\u3000an\u3000effort\u3000to\u3000learn\u3000all\u3000their\u3000names\u3002\u3000At\u3000night\uff1b\u3000he\u3000would\u3000write\u3000down\u3000the\u3000name\u3000of\u3000any\u3000new\u3000guard\u3000he\u3000had\u3000met\uff1b\u3000and\u3000everything\u3000he\u3000could\u3000discover\u3000about\u3000him\u3000or\u3000any\u3000of\u3000the\u3000other\u3000guards\u3002\u3000He\u3000paid\u3000the\u3000most\u3000attention\u3000to\u3000those\u3000who\u3000guarded\u3000the\u3000Prelate\u2019s\u3000pound\uff1b\u3000and\u3000any\u3000other\u3000place\u3000he\u3000discovered\u3000he\u3000was\u3000forbidden\u3000access\u3002\u3000He\u3000stopped\u3000by\u3000their\u3000posts\u3000whenever\u3000he\u3000was\u3000at\u3000the\u3000palace\uff1b\u3000and\u3000inquired\u3000idly\u3000about\u3000their\u3000lives\uff1b\u3000their\u3000girlfriends\uff1b\u3000their\u3000wives\uff1b\u3000their\u3000parents\uff1b\u3000their\u3000children\uff1b\u3000their\u3000food\uff1b\u3000their\u3000problems\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000bought\u3000Kevin\u3000special\u3000expensive\u3000chocolates\u3000that\u3000his\u3000girlfriend\u3000favored\uff1b\u3000but\u3000which\u3000Kevin\u3000could\u3000ill\u3000afford\u3000on\u3000his\u3000wages\u3002\u3000The\u3000chocolates\u3000earned\u3000Kevin\u3000favors\u3000from\u3000his\u3000girlfriend\u3002\u3000Kevin\u3000always\u3000brightened\u3000at\u3000Richard\u2019s\u3000approach\uff1b\u3000even\u3000when\u3000he\u3000looked\u3000tired\u3000from\u3000the\u3000favors\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000loaned\u3000money\u3000to\u3000any\u3000guard\u3000who\u3000asked\uff1b\u3000knowing\u3000it\u3000would\u3000never\u3000be\u3000repaid\u3002\u3000When\u3000a\u3000few\u3000made\u3000excuses\u3000as\u3000to\u3000why\u3000they\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000have\u3000the\u3000money\u3000to\u3000pay\u3000back\uff1b\u3000Richard\u3000would\u3000not\u3000hear\u3000their\u3000reasons\uff1b\u3000telling\u3000them\u3000that\u3000he\u3000understood\u3000and\u3000that\u3000he\u3000would\u3000feel\u3000bad\u3000if\u3000they\u3000were\u3000to\u3000worry\u3000about\u3000it\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Two\u3000of\u3000the\u3000toughest\uff1b\u3000who\u3000guarded\u3000a\u3000restricted\u3000area\u3000on\u3000the\u3000west\u3000side\u3000of\u3000the\u3000palace\uff1b\u3000would\u3000let\u3000him\u3000buy\u3000their\u3000ale\uff1b\u3000but\u3000wouldn\u2019t\u3000warm\u3000to\u3000him\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000took\u3000it\u3000as\u3000a\u3000challenge\u3002\u3000He\u3000finally\u3000struck\u3000on\u3000the\u3000idea\u3000of\u3000hiring\u3000them\u3000the\u3000services\u3000of\u3000four\u3000prostitutes\u3000\u2026\u3000two\u3000each\uff1b\u3000just\u3000to\u3000get\u3000their\u3000attention\u3002\u3000They\u3000wanted\u3000to\u3000know\u3000why\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000told\u3000them\u3000how\u3000the\u3000palace\u3000provided\u3000him\u3000with\u3000money\u3000and\u3000he\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000see\u3000why\u3000only\u3000he\u3000should\u3000enjoy\u3000it\u3002\u3000He\u3000told\u3000them\u3000that\u3000since\u3000they\u3000had\u3000to\u3000stand\u3000up\u3000all\u3000day\u3000guarding\u3000the\u3000palace\uff1b\u3000he\u3000thought\u3000it\u3000only\u3000fair\u3000for\u3000the\u3000palace\u3000to\u3000pay\u3000to\u3000put\u3000a\u3000lady\u3000under\u3000them\u3000when\u3000they\u3000lay\u3000down\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000offer\u3000was\u3000too\u3000much\u3000for\u3000them\u3000to\u3000resist\u3002\u3000They\u3000were\u3000soon\u3000giving\u3000him\u3000surreptitious\u3000winks\u3000when\u3000he\u3000passed\u3002\u3000Once\u3000they\u3000became\u3000amenable\u3000to\u3000his\u3000offers\uff1b\u3000he\u3000saw\u3000to\u3000it\u3000that\u3000they\u3000had\u3000reason\u3000to\u3000give\u3000him\u3000the\u3000winks\u3000on\u3000a\u3000more\u3000frequent\u3000basis\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000As\u3000Richard\u3000knew\u3000they\u3000would\uff1b\u3000the\u3000two\u3000guards\u3000began\u3000bragging\u3000about\u3000their\u3000romps\u3002\u3000When\u3000some\u3000of\u3000the\u3000other\u3000men\u3000found\u3000out\u3000that\u3000Richard\u3000had\u3000been\u3000willing\u3000to\u3000provide\u3000those\u3000two\u3000with\u3000the\u3000services\u3000of\u3000ladies\uff1b\u3000they\u3000pointed\u3000out\u3000to\u3000Richard\u3000that\u3000it\u3000wasn\u2019t\u3000fair\u3000to\u3000the\u3000others\u3000that\u3000they\u3000should\u3000be\u3000excluded\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000conceded\u3000that\u3000he\u3000saw\u3000the\u3000logic\u3000of\u3000their\u3000argument\u3002\u3000He\u3000soon\u3000discovered\u3000that\u3000he\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000have\u3000the\u3000time\u3000to\u3000handle\u3000individual\u3000requests\uff1b\u3000so\u3000he\u3000struck\u3000on\u3000an\u3000idea\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000He\u3000found\u3000a\u3000mistress\u3000of\u3000a\u3000brothel\u3000open\u3000to\u3000an\u3000inventive\u3000business\u3000arrangement\u3002\u3000He\u3000put\u3000the\u3000establishment\u3000on\u3000retainer\uff1b\u3000open\u3000only\u3000to\u3000his\u3000\u2018friends\u3002\u2019\u3000He\u3000calculated\u3000that\u3000in\u3000this\u3000manner\u3000he\u3000was\u3000actually\u3000saving\u3000the\u3000palace\u3000money\uff1b\u3000over\u3000a\u3000piecemeal\u3000arrangement\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000He\u3000wanted\u3000the\u3000men\u3000to\u3000remember\u3000to\u3000whom\u3000they\u3000owed\u3000their\u3000gratitude\uff1b\u3000so\u3000required\u3000they\u3000give\u3000the\u3000mistress\u3000the\u3000code\u3000phrase\u3000\u2018a\u3000friend\u3000of\u3000Richard\u3000Cypher\u2019\u3000before\u3000they\u3000would\u3000be\u3000granted\u3000admittance\u3002\u3000There\u3000were\u3000no\u3000other\u3000restrictions\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000gave\u3000the\u3000mistress\u3000a\u3000healthy\u3000raise\u3000in\u3000the\u3000retainer\u3000when\u3000she\u3000plained\u3000to\u3000him\u3000that\u3000business\u3000was\u3000steadier\u3000than\u3000she\u3000had\u3000anticipated\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000soothed\u3000his\u3000conscience\u3000about\u3000the\u3000morals\u3000of\u3000what\u3000he\u3000was\u3000doing\u3000by\u3000reminding\u3000himself\u3000that\u3000he\u3000couldn\u2019t\u3000change\u3000what\u3000people\u3000chose\u3000to\u3000do\uff1b\u3000and\u3000it\u3000might\u3000save\u3000him\u3000from\u3000having\u3000to\u3000kill\u3000the\u3000guards\u3000when\u3000the\u3000time\u3000came\u3002\u3000In\u3000that\u3000light\uff1b\u3000it\u3000made\u3000sense\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000One\u3000day\u3000when\u3000Pasha\u3000was\u3000with\u3000him\uff1b\u3000and\u3000a\u3000man\u3000gave\u3000him\u3000a\u3000wink\uff1b\u3000she\u3000asked\u3000why\u3002\u3000He\u3000told\u3000her\u3000it\u3000was\u3000because\u3000he\u3000was\u3000with\u3000the\u3000most\u3000attractive\u3000woman\u3000at\u3000the\u3000palace\u3002\u3000She\u3000smiled\u3000for\u3000an\u3000hour\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000accustomed\u3000the\u3000guards\u3000to\u3000seeing\u3000him\u3000in\u3000the\u3000black\u3000cape\u3000of\u3000the\u3000mriswith\u3002\u3000He\u3000kept\u3000Pasha\u3000happy\u3000when\u3000he\u3000was\u3000with\u3000her\u3000by\u3000frequently\u3000wearing\u3000the\u3000red\u3000coat\u3000she\u3000liked\u3000best\u3002\u3000Sometimes\u3000he\u3000wore\u3000the\u3000others\uff1a\u3000the\u3000black\uff1b\u3000the\u3000dark\u3000blue\uff1b\u3000the\u3000brown\uff1b\u3000or\u3000the\u3000green\u3002\u3000Pasha\u3000most\u3000liked\u3000taking\u3000him\u3000to\u3000the\u3000city\uff1b\u3000but\u3000she\u3000went\u3000for\u3000hikes\u3000in\u3000the\u3000surrounding\u3000countryside\u3000to\u3000try\u3000to\u3000be\u3000a\u3000part\u3000of\u3000his\u3000interests\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000learned\u3000that\u3000the\u3000guards\u3000were\u3000soldiers\u3000in\u3000the\u3000Imperial\u3000Order\uff1b\u3000on\u3000special\u3000detachment\u3000to\u3000the\u3000palace\u3002\u3000The\u3000Imperial\u3000Order\u3000ruled\u3000all\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Old\u3000World\uff1b\u3000but\u3000seemed\u3000to\u3000have\u3000a\u3000nonintervention\u3000policy\u3000with\u3000the\u3000Palace\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Prophets\u3002\u3000They\u3000never\u3000interfered\u3000with\u3000any\u3000Sister\uff1b\u3000or\u3000any\u3000man\u3000wearing\u3000a\u3000Rada\u2019Han\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000guards\u3000were\u3000stationed\u3000at\u3000the\u3000palace\u3000to\u3000handle\u3000all\u3000the\u3000people\u3000who\u3000came\u3000to\u3000Halsband\u3000Island\u3002\u3000Every\u3000day\uff1b\u3000people\u3000poured\u3000over\u3000the\u3000bridges\u3000to\u3000e\u3000to\u3000the\u3000palace\u3002\u3000Sisters\u3000saw\u3000petitioners\u3000of\u3000every\u3000want\u3002\u3000Some\u3000requested\u3000charity\uff1b\u3000some\u3000intervention\u3000in\u3000disputes\uff1b\u3000and\u3000some\u3000wished\u3000to\u3000be\u3000guided\u3000in\u3000the\u3000Creator\u2019s\u3000wisdom\u3002\u3000Others\u3000came\u3000to\u3000worship\u3000in\u3000the\u3000courtyards\u3000scattered\u3000throughout\u3000the\u3000island\u3002\u3000They\u3000viewed\u3000the\u3000place\u3000where\u3000Sisters\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Light\u3000lived\u3000as\u3000hallowed\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000learned\u3000that\u3000the\u3000city\u3000of\u3000Tanimura\uff1b\u3000vast\u3000though\u3000it\u3000was\uff1b\u3000was\u3000merely\u3000an\u3000outpost\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Old\u3000World\uff1b\u3000at\u3000the\u3000fringe\u3000of\u3000the\u3000empire\u3002\u3000Apparently\uff1b\u3000the\u3000emperor\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Imperial\u3000Order\u3000had\u3000an\u3000arrangement\u3000with\u3000the\u3000palace\u3000to\u3000provide\u3000guards\uff1b\u3000but\u3000not\u3000law\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000suspected\u3000that\u3000the\u3000guards\u3000were\u3000the\u3000emperor\u2019s\u3000eyes\u3000in\u3000an\u3000area\u3000of\u3000his\u3000empire\u3000where\u3000he\u3000was\u3000denied\u3000dominion\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000wondered\u3000what\u3000the\u3000emperor\u3000received\u3000in\u3000return\u3000for\u3000this\u3000arrangement\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000also\u3000learned\u3000that\u3000in\u3000at\u3000least\u3000one\u3000of\u3000the\u3000restricted\u3000areas\uff1b\u3000the\u3000Sisters\u3000had\u3000a\u3000\u2018special\u3000guest\u2019\u3000who\u3000never\u3000came\u3000out\uff1b\u3000but\u3000he\u3000was\u3000unable\u3000to\u3000discover\u3000any\u3000more\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000began\u3000testing\u3000the\u3000guards\u2019\u3000loyalty\u3000to\u3000him\u3000with\u3000simple\uff1b\u3000innocuous\u3000requests\u3002\u3000He\u3000told\u3000Kevin\u3000that\u3000he\u3000wanted\u3000a\u3000special\u3000rose\u3000for\u3000Pasha\u3000that\u3000grew\u3000only\u3000in\u3000the\u3000Prelate\u2019s\u3000pound\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000made\u3000a\u3000point\u3000of\u3000parading\u3000Pasha\uff1b\u3000wearing\u3000the\u3000yellow\u3000rose\uff1b\u3000past\u3000Kevin\u3002\u3000Kevin\u3000smiled\u3000with\u3000pride\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000At\u3000other\u3000restricted\u3000areas\uff1b\u3000Richard\u3000used\u3000the\u3000flower\u3000excuse\uff1b\u3000or\u3000said\u3000that\u3000he\u3000wanted\u3000to\u3000get\u3000a\u3000view\u3000of\u3000the\u3000sea\u3000from\u3000atop\u3000a\u3000particular\u3000wall\u3002\u3000He\u3000made\u3000sure\u3000to\u3000remain\u3000in\u3000sight\u3000at\u3000all\u3000times\uff1b\u3000to\u3000reassure\u3000the\u3000guards\u3000and\u3000dull\u3000their\u3000sense\u3000of\u3000caution\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000It\u3000wasn\u2019t\u3000long\u3000before\u3000he\u3000had\u3000all\u3000the\u3000guards\u3000accustomed\u3000to\u3000his\u3000forays\u3002\u3000After\u3000a\u3000time\uff1b\u3000he\u3000was\u3000ing\u3000and\u3000going\u3000almost\u3000as\u3000he\u3000pleased\u3002\u3000He\u3000was\u3000their\u3000friend\u3000\u2026\u3000a\u3000trusted\u3000and\u3000valuable\u3000friend\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Though\uff1b\u3000as\u3000near\u3000as\u3000Richard\u3000could\u3000tell\uff1b\u3000there\u3000were\u3000close\u3000to\u3000two\u3000hundred\u3000Sisters\uff1b\u3000only\u3000six\u3000worked\u3000with\u3000him\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Sisters\u3000Tovi\u3000and\u3000Cecilia\u3000were\u3000older\uff1b\u3000and\u3000as\u3000kind\u3000as\u3000doting\u3000grandmothers\u3002\u3000Tovi\u3000always\u3000brought\u3000cookies\u3000or\u3000some\u3000other\u3000treat\u3000to\u3000their\u3000sessions\u3002\u3000Cecilia\u3000insisted\u3000on\u3000bing\u3000his\u3000hair\u3000back\u3000off\u3000his\u3000forehead\u3000with\u3000her\u3000fingers\u3000and\u3000planting\u3000a\u3000kiss\u3000there\u3000before\u3000she\u3000left\u3002\u3000Both\u3000blushed\u3000furiously\u3000when\u3000he\u3000gave\u3000them\u3000rare\u3000flowers\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000had\u3000difficulty\u3000thinking\u3000of\u3000either\u3000as\u3000potential\u3000enemies\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Sisters\u3000Merissa\u3000and\u3000Nicci\u3000were\u3000older\u3000than\u3000Pasha\u3000\u2026\u3000his\u3000age\uff1b\u3000or\u3000maybe\u3000at\u3000most\u3000a\u3000couple\u3000of\u3000years\u3000older\u3002\u3000They\u3000carried\u3000themselves\u3000with\u3000confidence\u3000and\u3000slow\u3000grace\u3002\u3000Though\u3000Merissa\u3000was\u3000dark\uff1b\u3000and\u3000Nicci\u3000blonde\uff1b\u3000they\u3000seemed\u3000to\u3000be\u3000cut\u3000from\u3000the\u3000same\u3000rare\u3000cloth\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Sister\u3000Liliana\u3000told\u3000him\u3000how\u3000she\u3000had\u3000grown\u3000up\u3000on\u3000a\u3000farm\uff1b\u3000and\u3000loved\u3000the\u3000country\u3002\u3000Several\u3000times\u3000Richard\u3000invited\u3000her\u3000on\u3000a\u3000picnic\u3000out\u3000in\u3000the\u3000hills\u3002\u3000She\u3000was\u3000fortable\u3000and\u3000happy\u3000in\u3000the\u3000countryside\u3002\u3000She\u3000didn\u2019t\u3000care\u3000if\u3000she\u3000got\u3000her\u3000dress\u3000dirty\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000couldn\u2019t\u3000imagine\u3000either\u3000Sister\u3000Merissa\u3000or\u3000Nicci\u3000setting\u3000a\u3000foot\u3000to\u3000dirt\uff1b\u3000but\u3000Sister\u3000Liliana\u3000would\u3000flop\u3000right\u3000down\u3000on\u3000the\u3000ground\u3000with\u3000him\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000found\u3000himself\u3000telling\u3000her\u3000things\u3000he\u3000told\u3000none\u3000of\u3000the\u3000others\u3002\u3000When\u3000he\u3000confided\u3000how\u3000much\u3000he\u3000wanted\u3000the\u3000Rada\u2019Han\u3000off\uff1b\u3000she\u3000put\u3000a\u3000hand\u3000to\u3000his\u3000arm\u3000as\u3000she\u3000gave\u3000him\u3000a\u3000wink\uff1b\u3000and\u3000told\u3000him\u3000that\u3000she\u3000would\u3000see\u3000to\u3000it\u3000that\u3000he\u3000had\u3000his\u3000wish\uff1b\u3000that\u3000when\u3000the\u3000time\u3000came\uff1b\u3000she\u3000would\u3000do\u3000it\u3000herself\u3002\u3000She\u3000said\u3000she\u3000could\u3000understand\u3000his\u3000feelings\uff1b\u3000and\u3000for\u3000him\u3000to\u3000have\u3000faith\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000She\u3000promised\u3000that\u3000if\u3000one\u3000day\u3000he\u3000was\u3000at\u3000the\u3000end\u3000of\u3000his\u3000tolerance\uff1b\u3000and\u3000he\u3000truly\u3000could\u3000stand\u3000it\u3000no\u3000longer\uff1b\u3000she\u3000would\u3000help\u3000him\uff1b\u3000she\u3000would\u3000remove\u3000the\u3000collar\u3002\u3000But\u3000she\u3000wanted\u3000him\u3000to\u3000know\u3000that\u3000she\u3000had\u3000faith\u3000in\u3000him\uff1b\u3000and\u3000wanted\u3000him\u3000to\u3000put\u3000in\u3000his\u3000best\u3000effort\u3000to\u3000learn\u3000to\u3000control\u3000his\u3000Han\u3000before\u3000she\u3000even\u3000considered\u3000it\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000She\u3000said\u3000that\u3000other\u3000young\u3000men\u3000tried\u3000to\u3000forget\u3000their\u3000collar\u3000by\u3000bedding\u3000every\u3000woman\u3000willing\u3002\u3000She\u3000told\u3000him\u3000that\u3000she\u3000could\u3000understand\u3000urges\uff1b\u3000but\u3000she\u3000hoped\u3000that\u3000if\u3000he\u3000chose\u3000to\u3000sleep\u3000with\u3000a\u3000woman\u3000it\u3000would\u3000be\u3000because\u3000he\u3000liked\u3000her\uff1b\u3000and\u3000not\u3000because\u3000he\u3000was\u3000trying\u3000to\u3000forget\u3000the\u3000collar\u3002\u3000She\u3000told\u3000him\u3000not\u3000to\u3000go\u3000to\u3000the\u3000prostitutes\u3000because\u3000they\u3000were\u3000dirty\u3000and\u3000he\u3000would\u3000catch\u3000something\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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          <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            in\u3000the\u3000underworld\uff1b\u3000so\u3000he\u3000can\u2019t\u3000open\u3000the\u3000gateway\u3002\u3000The\u3000same\u3000way\u3000someone\u3000in\u3000this\u3000world\u3000could\u3000not\u3000open\u3000it\uff1b\u3000because\u3000we\u3000have\u3000only\u3000Additive\u3000Magic\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Bumps\u3000were\u3000rising\u3000on\u3000Richard\u2019s\u3000arms\u3002\u3000\u2018But\u3000someone\u3000in\u3000this\u3000world\uff1b\u3000someone\u3000with\u3000both\u3000forms\u3000of\u3000magic\uff1b\u3000could\u3000open\u3000the\u3000gateway\uff1f\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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   all\u3000the\u3000more\u3000inadequate\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Grabbing\u3000both\u3000brass\u3000levers\uff1b\u3000she\u3000threw\u3000the\u3000tall\uff1b\u3000mahogany\u3000doors\u3000open\u3000and\u3000marched\u3000into\u3000the\u3000council\u3000chambers\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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     \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000I\u3000have\u3000an\u3000early\u3000session\u3000with\u3000the\u3000council\u3002\u3000After\u3000I\u3000meet\u3000with\u3000the\u3000council\uff1b\u3000I\u3000want\u3000Lady\u3000Jebra\u3000brought\u3000to\u3000me\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000guards\u3000saluted\u3000and\u3000bent\u3000to\u3000Lady\u3000Jebra\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000\u2018We\u3000must\u3000escape\uff01\u3000He\u3000will\u3000kill\u3000you\uff1b\u3000too\uff01\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018If\u3000he\u3000lives\uff1b\u3000he\u3000will\u3000hunt\u3000us\u3000down\uff1b\u3000with\u3000magic\uff1b\u3000and\u3000kill\u3000us\u3000all\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000A\u3000bolt\u3000of\u3000yellow\u3000lightning\u3000arced\u3000across\u3000the\u3000broad\u3000room\u3002\u3000Stone\u3000crashed\u3000down\uff1b\u3000nearly\u3000covering\u3000the\u3000opening\u3000where\u3000the\u3000others\u3000stood\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Kahlan\u3000drew\u3000one\u3000of\u3000Chandalen\u2019s\u3000flat\u2026bladed\uff1b\u3000man\u2026killer\u3000arrows\u3000from\u3000her\u3000quiver\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000At\u3000least\u3000having\u3000Pasha\u3000on\u3000his\u3000arm\u3000kept\u3000most\u3000of\u3000the\u3000women\u3000away\u3000from\u3000him\u3000as\u3000they\u3000passed\u3000through\u3000the\u3000city\u3002\u3000The\u3000ones\u3000who\u3000did\u3000boldly\u3000approach\u3000earned\u3000a\u3000glare\u3000from\u3000Pasha\u3002\u3000The\u3000ones\u3000who\u3000braved\u3000the\u3000glare\u3000earned\u3000something\u3000else\uff1a\u3000a\u3000touch\u3000of\u3000her\u3000Han\u3002\u3000They\u3000yelped\u3000from\u3000the\u3000invisible\u3000pinch\u3000and\u3000made\u3000themselves\u3000scarce\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000understood\uff1b\u3000now\uff1b\u3000why\u3000the\u3000palace\u3000was\u3000br         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            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    <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000When\u3000he\u3000could\u3000no\u3000longer\u3000see\u3000the\u3000dark\u3000shape\u3000against\u3000the\u3000stars\uff1b\u3000or\u3000hear\u3000the\u3000sweep\u3000of\u3000wings\uff1b\u3000Richard\u3000crumpled\u3000to\u3000the\u3000ground\u3002\u3000His\u3000only\u3000friend\u3000was\u3000gone\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018I\u3000love\u3000you\uff1b\u3000too\uff1b\u3000Gratch\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000He\u3000cried\u3000in\u3000racking\u3000sobs\u3002\u3000\u2018Dear\u3000spirits\uff1b\u3000why\u3000have\u3000you\u3000done\u3000this\u3000to\u3000me\uff1f\u3000He\u3000was\u3000all\u3000I\u3000had\u3002\u3000I\u3000hate\u3000you\u3002\u3000Every\u3000last\u3000one\u3000of\u3000you\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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       <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000but\u3000he\u3000needs\u3000an\u3000agent\u3000in\u3000this\u3000world\u3000\u2026\u3000\u2018\u3000Warren\u3000leaned\u3000forward\u3000in\u3000delight\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018\u3000\u2026\u3000and\u3000he\u3000in\u3000turn\u3000needs\u3000the\u3000skrin\u3002\u3000If\u3000he\u3000has\u3000the\u3000skrin\u3000bone\u3000you\u3000told\u3000me\u3000of\uff1b\u3000he\u3000can\u3000invoke\u3000the\u3000guardian\uff1b\u3000and\u3000destroy\u3000it\u3002\u3000If\u3000the\u3000guardian\u3000is\u3000destroyed\uff1b\u3000the\u3000Keeper\u3000can\u3000e\u3000through\u3000the\u3000gateway\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Warren\uff1b\u3000that\u3000sounds\u3000pretty\u3000frightening\u3000to\u3000me\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000\u2018Of\u3000course\u3000I\u3000do\uff1b\u3000boy\u3002\u2019\u3000He\u3000made\u3000a\u3000shooing\u3000motion\u3000with\u3000his\u3000hands\u3002\u3000\u2018You\u3000two\u3000go\u3000wait\u3000out\u3000there\u3002\u3000This\u3000will\u3000take\u3000a\u3000while\u3002\u3000At\u3000least\u3000an\u3000hour\u3000or\u3000two\u3000before\u3000I\u3000know\u3000if\u3000what\u3000I\u3000can\u3000do\u3000will\u3000hel         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000what\u3000I\u3000can\u3000do\u3000will\u3000help\u3000enough\u3002\u3000Leave\u3000me\u3000to\u3000it\u3002\u3000You\u3000can\u3000be\u3000of\u3000no\u3000help\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Sister\u3000Verna\u3000sat\u3000with\u3000her\u3000back\u3000stiff\u3000while\u3000Richard\u3000paced\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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-->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000looked\u3000up\u3000at\u3000Nathan\u3000for\u3000a\u3000long\u3000moment\u3002\u3000Thank\u3000you\u3000for\u3000your\u3000help\uff1b\u3000Nathan\uff1b\u3000but\u3000I\u3000won\u2019t\u3000let\u3000the\u3000one\u3000I\u3000love\u3000die\u3000for\u3000a\u3000riddle\u3000in\u3000an\u3000old\u3000book\u3002\u3000I\u3000hope\u3000to\u3000see\u3000you\u3000again\u3002\u3000There\u3000is\u3000much\u3000for\u3000us\u3000to\u3000talk\u3000about\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000pulled\u3000the\u3000Stone\u3000of\u3000Tears\u3000off\u3000over\u3000his\u3000head\u3002\u3000He\u3000held\u3000the\u3000leather\u3000thong\u3000out\u3000in\u3000his\u3000hands\uff1b\u3000the\u3000Stone\u3000dangling\u3000before\u3000Darken\u3000Rahl\u2019s\u3000face\u3002\u3000Rahl\u3000shrank\u3000back\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018You\u3000will\u3000wear\u3000this\u3000in\u3000the\u3000depths\u3000of\u3000death\u3002\u3000Forever\u3002\u2019\u3000Richard\u3000stepped\u3000closer\u3002\u3000\u2018Kneel\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000The\u3000glowing\u3000form\u3000sank\u3000to\u3000its\u3000knees\u3002\u3000The\u3000glowing\u3000eyes\u3000stayed\u3000on\u3000the\u3000Stone\u3000in\u3000the\u3000air\u3000above\u3002\u3000Richard\u3000lowered\u3000the\u3000leather\u3000thong\uff1b\u3000to         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n         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\/>\n\u3000Besides\uff1b\u3000he\u3000had\u3000brought\u3000this\u3000on\u3000himself\u3002\u3000That\u3000he\u3000had\u3000not\u3000done\u3000it\u3000intentionally\u3000made\u3000no\u3000difference\u3002\u3000Life\u3000was\u3000not\u3000fair\uff1b\u3000it\u3000simply\u3000existed\u3002\u3000If\u3000you\u3000accidentally\u3000stepped\u3000on\u3000a\u3000poison\u3000snake\uff1b\u3000you\u3000got\u3000bitten\u3002\u3000Intentions\u3000were\u3000irrelevant\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018I\u3000have\u3000caused\u3000my\u3000own\u3000grief\uff1b\u2019\u3000Richard\u3000whispered\u3002\u3000\u2018I\u3000must\u3000suffer\u3000the\u3000consequences\u3000of\u3000my\u3000own\u3000actions\u3002\u3000I\u3000cannot\u3000make\u3000others\u3000pay\u3000for\u3000what\u3000I\u3000have\u3000caused\uff1b\u3000intentionally\u3000or\u3000not\u3002\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000hung\u3000the\u3000Stone\u3000of\u3000Tears\u3000back\u3000around\u3000his\u3000own\u3000neck\u3002\u3000Darken\u3000Rahl\u3000came\u3000to\u3000his\u3000feet\u3000in\u3000alarm\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000\u2018Richard\u3000\u3002\u3002\u3002\u3000you\u3000don\u2019t\u3000know\u3000what\u3000you\u2019re\u3000saying\u3002\u3000Punish\u3000me\u3002\u3000Hang\u3000the\u3000stone\u3000around\u3000my\u3000neck\u3002\u3000Have\u3000your\u3000vengeance\uff01\u2019<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000turned\u3000partway\u3000toward\u3000the\u3000center\u3000of\u3000the\u3000Garden\u3000of\u3000Life\u3000and\u3000held\u3000out\u3000his\u3000hand\u3002\u3000The\u3000round\u3000skrin\u3000bone\uff1b\u3000in\u3000the\u3000pool\u3000of\u3000blue\u3000fire\uff1b\u3000hurtled\u3000to\u3000his\u3000palm\u3002\u3000His\u3000magic\u3000protected\u3000him\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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\/>\n\u3000Mistress\u3000Sanderholt\u3000took\u3000him\u3000out\u3000into\u3000the\u3000dusk\uff1b\u3000to\u3000the\u3000secluded\u3000courtyard\u3000where\u3000Confessors\u3000were\u3000buried\u3002\u3000She\u3000told\u3000him\u3000that\u3000Kahlan\u2019s\u3000body\u3000had\u3000been\u3000burned\u3000in\u3000a\u3000funeral\u3000pyre\uff1b\u3000supervised\u3000by\u3000the\u3000First\u3000Wizard\u3002\u3000Then\u3000she\u3000left\u3000him\u3000to\u3000be\u3000alone\u3000with\u3000the\u3000immense\u3000marker\u3000stone\u3000over\u3000her\u3000ashes\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Richard\u3000ran\u3000his\u3000fingers\u3000over\u3000the\u3000letters\u3000carved\u3000in\u3000the\u3000gray\u3000granite\u3002\u3000KAHLAN\u3000         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000over\u3000her\u3000ashes\u3002<br 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\/>\n\u3000As\u3000they\u3000pressed\u3000their\u3000lips\u3000together\uff1b\u3000she\u3000wrapped\u3000her\u3000arms\u3000around\u3000his\u3000neck\uff1b\u3000and\u3000her\u3000soft\u3000legs\u3000around\u3000his\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000In\u3000the\u3000void\u3000between\u3000worlds\uff1b\u3000in\u3000the\u3000soft\u3000glow\u3000of\u3000a\u3000timeless\u3000place\uff1b\u3000they\u3000were\u3000one\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000CHAPTER\u300071<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Kahlan\u3000strolled\u3000back\u3000into\u3000the\u3000inn\u3002\u3000She\u3000stood\u3000in\u3000the\u3000shadows\u3000at\u3000the\u3000end\u3000of\u3000the\u3000hall\u3000leading\u3000into\u3000the\u3000dining\u3000room\u3002\u3000She\u3000still\u3000felt\u3000the\u3000glow\uff1b\u3000the\u3000warmth\uff1b\u3000the\u3000mind\u2026numbing         <!-- \/wp:paragraph --><!-- wp:nextpage --><!--nextpage--><!-- \/wp:nextpage --><!-- wp:paragraph -->\n            <br \/>\n            \n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            <br \/>\n            \u3000<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000CHAPTER\u300071<br \/>\n\u3000<br \/>\n\u3000Kahlan\u3000strolled\u3000back\u3000into\u3000the\u3000inn\u3002\u3000She\u3000stood\u3000in\u3000the\u3000shadows\u3000at\u3000the\u3000end\u3000of\u3000the\u3000hall\u3000leading\u3000into\u3000the\u3000dining\u3000room\u3002\u3000She\u3000still\u3000felt\u3000the\u3000glow\uff1b\u3000the\u3000warmth\uff1b\u3000the\u3000mind\u2026numbing\u3000joy\u3000and\u3000fulfillment\u3002\u3000Everyone\u3000looked\u3000up\u3000when\u3000they\u3000heard\u3000her\u3000footsteps\u3002<br \/>\n\u3000<br 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