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Scarlet spread her crimson wings； stopping their descent； and set them in a clearing next to the trail。 Richard jumped off； running as he hit the ground。 The three stood holding the reins to their horses。 Chase held a mace in his other hand。 Seeing Kahlan overwhelmed Richard with elation。 Every memory of her was suddenly true to life in front of him They stood still as he ran toward them； down a short； steep decline in the trail。 Richard watched the ground so he wouldn't trip over roots。
When he looked up； wizard's fire was wailing toward him。 He froze in surprise。 What was Zedd doing？ The ball of liquid fire was bigger than any he had seen before。 It illuminated the trees all around with its blue and yellow flame； shrieking as it advanced。 Richard watched； wide…eyed； as it came； tumbling； twisting； expanding。
With the fright of what was about to happen； Richard's hand went to the hilt； feeling the word Truth press into the flesh of his palm。 With a strong pull； he drew the sword； sending metallic ringing into the air。 Released； the magic raced instantly through him。 The fire was almost there。 As he had done when he had been with Shota； he held the sword up； gripping the hilt in one hand； the point in the other； arms locked； holding it before him as a shield。 Wrath took him； at the thought of Zedd betraying them。 It couldn't be Zedd。
The impact drove him back a step。 Heat and fire was all around him。 The anger of the wizard's fire exploded； scattering back into the air from where it came； and then it was gone。
〃Zedd！ What are you doing？ Are you crazy！ It's me； Richard！〃 He advanced； angry。 Angry that Zedd would do this； angry from the magic of the sword。 The heat of his rage pounded through his veins。
Zedd； in his simple robes； looking as thin and frail as ever； stood his ground。 Chase； bristling weapons； looking as dangerous as ever； stood his。 Zedd took Kahlan's arm in his sticklike hand and pulled her protectively behind himself。 Chase started forward； the look in his eyes as dark as his clothes。
〃Chase；〃 Zedd cautioned in a low voice； 〃don't be a fool。 Stay where you are。〃
Richard looked from one grim face to another。 〃What's the matter with you three？ What are you doing here？ I told you not to e after me！ Darken Rahl has sent men to capture you。 You must turn back。〃
Zedd； his white hair in its usual disarray； turned a little to Kahlan； but kept his eyes on Richard。 〃Do you know what he's saying？〃
Kahlan shook her head； pulling some of her long hair back。 〃No。 I think it's high D'Haran； I don't speak high D'Haran。〃
〃High D'Haran？ What are you talking about？ What are 。 。 。〃
With a cold wave of understanding； he remembered。 It was the enemy web Darken Rahl had put on him。 They didn't recognize him。 They thought he was their worst enemy。 They thought he was Darken Rahl。
Another thought came to him。 Bumps ran up his arms to the back of his neck。 Zedd； at least； thought he was Darken Rahl； and had used wizard's fire against him。 Zedd wasn't the traitor。 That left only Kahlan。 Could it be she saw him for who he really was？
Choked with fear at the thought； he advanced toward her as his stare locked on her green eyes； Kahlan's back stiffened； her hands at her sides； her head held up。 Richard recognized the stance； it was one of warning。 Serious warning。 He knew what her touch would do to him。 He remembered Shota's warning that he might beat Zedd； but that Kahlan would not fail。
Zedd tried to stay between them。 Richard hardly noticed him as he pushed the old man out of the way。 Zedd came up behind him and put his thin fingers on the back of Richard's neck。 They gave a pain something like the Agiel had given。 Fire burned through the nerves of his arms； and all the way down his legs。 Before all the time spent at the mercy of Denna； the wizard's fingers would have paralyzed him with pain。 But Denna had spent a long time training him； forcing him to tolerate pain； to deal with this much and more。 Zedd was a match for what Denna had been able to do； but Richard pulled resolve from deep within himself； and put the pain from his mind； letting the anger of the sword take its place。 He gave Zedd a look of warning。 The wizard didn't back off。 Richard gave him another shove。 He pushed harder than he intended to； and Zedd tumbled to the ground。 Kahlan stood frozen in front of him。
〃Who do you see me as？〃 the Seeker whispered。 〃Darken Rahl； or Richard？〃
She trembled slightly； seemingly unable to move。 Richard's eye was caught by something； his view flicked down for an instant； and he saw that he had the sword point at her throat； at the hollow of her neck。 He hadn't been aware of putting it there； it was as if the magic had taken it there of its own accord。 But he knew that wasn't true。 He had put it there。 That was why she was trembling。 A drop of blood grew against her skin； under the sword's point。 If she was the traitor； he had to kill her。
The blade had turned white。 So had Kahlan's face。
〃Who do you see？〃 he whispered again。 '
〃What have you done to Richard？〃 Her whisper was ragged with rage。 〃If you have harmed him； I swear I will kill you。〃
He remembered the way she had kissed him。 It was not the kiss of a traitor； it was a kiss of love。 He realized there was no way he could kill her； even if his fear was true。 But he knew now it wasn't。 With tears in his eyes； he slid the sword into its scabbard。
〃I'm sorry； Kahlan。 May the good spirits forgive me for what I almost did。 I know you can't understand me； but I'm sorry。 Darken Rahl is using the Wizard's First Rule on me； trying to turn us against one another。 He is trying to make me believe a lie； and I almost did。 I know you and Zedd would never betray me。 Forgive me for thinking it。〃
〃What do you want？〃 Zedd asked。 〃We can't understand you。〃
〃Zedd 。 。 。〃 He ran his fingers through his hair in frustration。 〃How can I make you understand？〃 He grabbed the wizard's robes in his fists。 〃Zedd； where's the box？ I have to have the box before Rahl finds it！ We can't let him get it！〃
Zedd frowned。 Richard knew this was doing no good； none of them could understand him。 He went to the horses and started searching through the packs。
〃Look all you want； you'll never find it；〃 the wizard smiled。 〃We don't have the box。 You are going to die in four days。〃
Richard sensed something move behind him。 He spun around； Chase had the mace raised。 A stream of fire shot past； between them。 Scarlet kept the fire up until Chase stepped back。
〃Some friends you have；〃 the dragon grumbled。
〃Darken Rahl put a wizard's web on me。 They don't recognize me。〃
〃Well； if you stay with them much longer； they are going to kill you。〃
Richard …realized that they wouldn't have the box。 Not if they were ing to D'Hara to save him。 They wouldn't have risked taking the box to Rahl。 The three of them silently watched him and the dragon。
〃Scarlet； say something to them； see if they can understand you。〃
The dragon's head swept closer to the three。 〃This is not Darken Rahl； but your friend； hidden by a wizard's web。 Can any of you understand me？〃
The three stood mute。 Aggravated； Richard stepped closer to Zedd。
〃Zedd； please try to understand me。 Don't seek the night stone。 If you do； Rahl will trap you in the underworld。 Try to understand！〃
None of the three grasped a word he was saying。 He had to get the box first； then he would e back and protect them from the men Rahl had sent。 Reluctantly； he climbed back up onto Scarlet。 She kept a wary eye to the three； puffing a little smoke and flame in warning。 Richard wanted desperately to stay with Kahlan； but he couldn't…he had to get the box first。
〃bet's get out of here。 We have to go find my brother。〃
With a roar of flame； warning the three to stay back； Scarlet took to the air。 Richard held her spikes tight。 Her red； scaled neck stretched out as she climbed into the sky among the drifting white clouds； weaving between them。 He watched his three friends watching back until he could see them no more。 He felt desperately helpless。 He wish