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hel； you stay away from him； if you can。〃
〃I will； for sure。〃
〃But if he talks to you； just be polite right back； don't let him know that you know。 You must not let people know all the things you know。 That keeps you safe。〃
She smiled。 〃Like Sara。 I don't let people know about her so they can't take her away from me。 It keeps her safe。〃
He put his arms around her and gave her a quick hug。 〃The spirits be praised； you are a smart child。〃 It made her feel really good that he said that。 No one ever told her that she was smart。 〃Now； listen close。 This is the important part。〃
She nodded again。 〃I will； Gillen〃
He put his hand back on the box。 〃This box has magic。 When the Queen gives it to Father Rahl； he will be able to use the magic to hurt even more people。 He will chop off a lot more people's heads。 The Queen is a mean person； and wants him to do it； so she is going to give him the box。〃
Her eyes got real big。 〃Giller！ We mustn't let her give him the box！ Or all those people will get their heads chopped off！〃
A big smile spread under his hook nose。 He held her chin in his hand。 〃Rachel； you are the smartest girl I have ever met。 You truly are。〃
〃We have to hide it； hide the box； like I hide Sara！〃
〃And that's just what we are going to do。〃 He pointed up at the box he had put on the stand。 〃That is a fake。 That means it's not the real thing； it's just pretend； so they will be fooled for a while； and we can get away before they find out the real one is gone。〃
She looked up at the fake box。 It looked just like the real one。 〃Giller； you're the most clever man I ever did know。〃 His smile went away a little。 〃I'm afraid； child； that I am too clever for my own good。〃 His smile came back。 〃Here is what we are going to do。〃
Giller took the loaf of bread she had stolen from the kitchen and broke it in half。 With his big hands； he scooped out some of the insides。 Part of it he stuffed in his mouth； his cheeks puffed out； there was so much。 He stuffed some in her mouth。 She chewed as fast as she could。 It was good； still warm。 When they finished eating the middle； he took the real box and pushed it into the middle of the bread and put the two halves back together。 He held it up for her to look at。
〃What do you think？〃
She made a face。 〃It's all cracked。 People will know it's been broken。〃
He shook his head。 〃Smart。 You are really smart。 Well； since I'm a wizard； perhaps I could do something about that。 What do you think？〃
She nodded。 〃Maybe。〃
He put the bread in his lap。 and made his hands go all around in the air over it。 He took his hands away and held the bread up in front of her face again。 The cracks were gone！ It looked just like new！
〃No one will know now for sure。〃 She giggled。
〃Let's hope you're right； child。 I have put a wizard's web； a magic spell； in the bread； to be sure no one will be able to see the magic of the box inside it。〃
He spread the cloth out on top of the stool and put the bread on it； then pulled up all four corners and tied them in the middle on top。 He lifted up the bundle by the knots and put it in the palm of his other hand； in front of her。 He looked her in the eyes and he didn't smile； he looked almost sad。
〃Now； here's the hard part； Rachel。 We have to get this box away from here。 We can't hide it in the castle； or it might be found。 You remember where I hid your doll； in the garden？〃
She smiled proudly； she remembered。 〃Third urn on the right。〃
He nodded。 〃I will hide this there； just like I hid your doll。 You must go and get it； just like you did with your doll； and then take it out of the castle。〃 He leaned a little closer。 〃You have to do it tonight。〃 She started twisting her finger in the hem of her dress。 She started to get tears in her eyes。 〃Giller； I'm scared to touch the Queen's box。〃
〃I know you're afraid； child。 But remember？ It's not the Queen's box。 You do want to help keep all those people from getting their heads chopped off； don't you？〃
〃Yes；〃 she whined。 〃But； couldn't you take it away from the castle？〃
〃If I could； I swear to you； Rachel； I would。 But I can't。 There are some who watch me； and don't want me to go out of the castle。 If they found me with the box； then Father Rahl would get it； and we can't have that； now； can we？〃
〃No 。 。 。〃 Then she got real scared。 〃Giller； you said you were going to run away with me。 You promised。〃
〃And I mean to keep that promise； believe me。 But it may take a couple of days for me to sneak out of Tamarang。 It's very dangerous for the box to be here another day； and I can't get it out myself。 You must get it away。 Take it to your secret place； your wayward pine。 You wait there for me； until I can cover our escape； and I will e get you。〃
〃I guess I can。 If you say it's important； I'll try。〃
Giller moved up and sat on the stool。 He pulled her up with his hands around her waist； and set her on his knee。
〃Rachel； you listen to me。 If you live to be a hundred years old； you will never again do anything as important as this。 You must be brave； braver than you have ever been before。 You must not trust anyone。 You must not let anyone get the box。 I will e get you in a few days； but if something goes wrong； and I don't e； you must hide with the box until winter。 Then everything will be all right。 If I knew of anyone else to help you； I would get them to do it。 But I don't。 You are the only one who can do this。〃
She watched him with big eyes。 〃I'm just little；〃 she said。
〃That is why you will be safe。 Everybody thinks you are a nobody。 But that isn't true。 You are the most important person in the world； but you can trick them because they don't know。 You must do this； Rachel。 I need your help so much； and so does everyone else。 I know you're smart enough； and brave enough to do it。〃 She could see that his eyes were wet。 〃I'll try； Giller。 I'll be brave and do it。 You're the bestest man in the whole world； and if you say to do it； I will。〃
He shook his head。 〃I have been a very foolish man； Rachel； I have been far from the bestest man in the world。 If only I had been wiser before； and remembered the things I was taught； my true duty； the reason I became a wizard in the first place； maybe I wouldn't have to ask you to do this。 But just as this is the most important thing you will ever do； it is also the most important thing I will ever do。 We must not fail； Rachel。 You must not。 No matter what happens； you must not let anyone stop you。 Not anyone。〃
He put a finger on each side of her forehead and she felt a safe feeling in her head。 She knew she would be able to do it and she would never have to do as the Princess said again。 She would be free。 Giller suddenly pulled his fingers away。
〃Someone es；〃 he whispered。 He kissed her head real quick。 〃Good spirits protect you； Rachel。〃
He stood up and put his back to the wall； behind the door。 He slipped the loaf of bread into his robes； and put his finger over his lips。 The door opened； and Rachel jumped to her feet。 It was Princess Violet。 Rachel curtsied： When she came back up； the Princess slapped her； then laughed。 Rachel looked down at the ground； and while she rubbed her cheek； holding back the tears； she saw a piece of bread between Princess Violet's feet。 She took a quick glance at Giller； who stood pressed against the wall behind the door。 His eyes went to the bread。 Quieter than a cat； he bent down and snatched up the bread； put it in his mouth； then slipped out the door behind Princess Violet's back without her ever seeing him。
…＋
Kahlan held her arms out to him； hands made into fists； the insides of her wrists pressed together； waiting for him to bind them with the rope。 Her unblinking eyes stared off at nothing。 She had said she wasn't tired； but Richard surely was…his head pounded so hard it made him feel sick…so she was going to take the first watch。 What good her watch was； the way she stared blankly； he didn't know。
He held the rope taut between his shaking fist； his mind feeling the last of' his hope finally abandoning him。 Nothing was