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〃How much farther？〃
〃Close。〃 Samuel grinned。
Richard took up the slack on the rope。 〃Just remember； if anything goes wrong； you die first。〃
The grin faded from the bloodless lips。
Here and there in the mud Richard could see the same pair of footprints that he had seen in the snow。 Kahlan was still walking。 Dark forms followed； keeping to the shadows； the thick brush； sometimes letting out whoops and howls。 Richard wondered； and worried； if they were more things like Samuel。 Or worse。 Some followed in the treetops； just beyond sight。 Despite his best efforts to halt it； a shiver went up his spine。
Samuel skirted off the； path； around the twisted roots of a squat； fat…trunked tree。
〃What're you doing？〃 Richard asked； pulling the panion to a halt。
Samuel grinned back at him。 〃Watch。〃 He picked up a stout stick； big as his wrist； and threw it with an underhand swing into the roots of the tree。 The roots whipped out； knotting around the stick； pulling it under the tangled mass。 Richard heard it snapping apart。 Samuel gurgled with laughter。
As the sun climbed higher； the woods of Agaden Reach seemed to bee even darker。 Dead branches twisted together overhead； and mist occasionally drifted across their way。 At times Richard couldn't even see Samuel on the other end of the wet rope。 But always he could hear things： scratching； clawing； whistling； things clicking at them from just out of sight。 Sometimes the mist twirled and spun at the passing of creatures darting by； near but unseen。
Richard remembered what Kahlan had said： they were going to die。 He tried to put the thought out of his head。 She had told him she had never met the witch woman； only heard others speak of her。 But what she had heard had terrified her。 Those who went in never came out。 Not even a wizard would go into Agaden Reach； she had said。 But still； it was secondhand knowledge； she hadn't ever met Shota。 Maybe the stories were exaggerated。 His eyes scanned the menacing； forbidding woods。 And maybe not。
From ahead； through the tangles mass of trees； came light； sunlight； and the sound of rushing water。 The farther they went； the brighter it became。 Soon they reached the edge of the dark wood。 The trail simply ended。 Samuel gurgled with glee。
Spread out far below was a long valley； green； bright； lit by the sun。 Gigantic rocky peaks soared almost straight up all around it。 Fields of golden grasses among stands of oak； beech； and maple set in rich autumn colors rippled in the breeze。 In the dark forest where they stood； it felt like standing in night； looking out on day。 Water tumbled off the rocks beside them； down the vertical drop； disappearing soundlessly through the air until it reached the clear pools and streams below； where it made a distant roar and a hiss。 Spray drifted up past them； wetting their faces。
Samuel pointed down into the valley。 〃Mistress。〃
Richard nodded and had him move on。 Samuel led them through a labyrinth of brush； tight trees； and fern…covered boulders； to a place Richard would never have found without his little guide： a trail hidden behind rocks and vines； at the edge of the precipice； leading down the wall of the valley。 As they descended； the trail offered panoramic views of the beautiful country below： the trees looking small in patches over the gentle hills； the streams meandering among the fields and banks； the sky a bright blue overhead。
In the center of it all； set among a carpet of grand trees； was a beautiful palace of breathtaking grace and splendor。 Delicate spires stretched into the air； wispy bridges spanned the high gaps between towers； stairs spiraled around turrets。 Colorful flags and streamers atop every point snapped lightly and flew lazily in the wind。 The magnificent palace seemed to be reaching joyously to the sky。
Richard stood silent for a moment； mouth agape； staring； hardly able to believe what he was seeing。 He loved his home of Hartland； but there was no place there to pare to this。 This was； quite simply； the most beautiful place he had ever seen。 He never would have imagined that a vision of such exquisite loveliness even existed。
The two of them started off again； down the valley's edge。 In places； there were steps； thousands of them； cut from the stone of the wall； twisting； tunneling and turning downward； sometimes spiraling back on themselves； going underneath the ones above。 Samuel sprang down them as if he had done it a thousand times before。 He was obviously thrilled to be home again； near the protection of his mistress。
At the bottom； in the sunlight； a road led off through the tree dotted hills and warm grass fields。 Samuel bounded along in his odd gait； gurgling to himself。 Richard took in the slack once in a while to remind him who still held the other end of the rope
AS they crossed the valley floor； following a clear stream for a time； moving ever closer to the palace； the trees became a little thicker； closer together； each a magnificent specimen； shading road or field from the bright sun。 The road took them gently uphill。 At the top of a rise； the trees seemed as if they were gathered； sheltering； surrounding a place before them。 Richard could see the spires of the palace off through the branches ahead。
They entered a shady； still； enveloping cathedral of trees。
Richard could hear the gentle sound of water running through mossy rock。 Hazy streamers of sunlight penetrated the quiet； muted area。 There was the sweet smell of grass and leaves。
Samuel's arm stretched out。 Richard looked where he pointed； to the center of the open； sheltered place。 There sat a rock； water bubbling up from a spring in its center ran down the sides into a little stream dotted with rich； green； mossy rocks。 A woman in a long white dress； soft brown hair； with her back to him； sat on the edge of the rock； in the dappled sunlight； running her fingers through the clear water。 Even from the back； she looked somehow familiar。
〃Mistress；〃 Samuel said； glassy…eyed。 He pointed again； off to the side of the road； closer to them。 〃Pretty lady。〃
Richard could see Kahlan standing stiffly。 There was something odd about her。 Something was on her； moving。 Samuel turned his blotchy head back； pointing a long gray finger at the rope。 He looked up at Richard with one yellow eye。
〃Seeker promises；〃 he said in a low growl。
Richard untied the rope； took Kahlan's pack off the panion's shoulder； and laid it on the ground。 Samuel curled his bloodless lips up at Richard； hissing； then abruptly skittered off into the shadows； sitting in a squat to watch。
Richard swallowed hard as he walked to Kahlan； a tight knot in his stomach。 With a jolt； he saw at last what it was that was moving on her。
Snakes。
Kahlan was covered by a writhing mass of snakes。 The ones he recognized were all poisonous。 Big； fat ones were wrapped around her legs； one coiled tightly around her waist； constricting； others were wrapped around her arms； which hung at her sides
Small snakes squiggled； tunneling through her thick hair； flicking their tongues out； others curled around her neck； still more slithered down the front of her shirt； poking their heads out between the buttons。 He struggled to control his breathing as he approached her。 His heart was pounding。 Tears ran down Kahlan's cheeks； and she shook the slightest bit。
〃Be still；〃 he said in a quiet voice。 〃I'll get them off。〃
〃No！〃 she whispered back。 Her eyes； wide with panic； met his。 〃If you touch them； or if I move； they will bite me。〃
〃It's all right；〃 he tried to reassure her； 〃I'll get you out of this。〃
〃Richard；〃 she said in a pleading whisper； 〃I'm dead。 Leave me。 Get out of here。 Run。〃
He felt as if an invisible hand were constricting his throat。 In her eyes； he could see how she was struggling to control her panic。 He tried to look as calm as he could； to hearten her。 〃I'm not leaving you；〃 he breathed。
〃Please； Richard；〃 she whispered hoarsely； 〃for me； before it's too late。 Run。〃
A thin； poisonous banded viper； its tail coiled in her hair； dropped its head dow