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ong the path； among the trees； past the vine…covered walls and colorful flowers。 They came to grass。 Kahlan stopped。
Across the lawn was a circle of white sand。 Sorcerer's sand。 In his whole life； Zedd had never seen so much of it in one place； never seen more than a pouchful。 This much was worth ten kingdoms。 Tiny flecks of prismatic light reflected up at him。 With rising trepidation； Zedd wondered what Rah l needed with that much sorcerer's sand； what tie did with it。 He found it hard to take his eyes from the lure of it。
Beyond the sorcerer's sand sat a sacrificial altar。 There； on the stone altar； were the three boxes of Orden。 Zedd's heart felt as if it skipped a beat； to see； for sure； that all three were
there together。 Each had its cover removed。 Each was black as midnight。
In front of the boxes； with his back to them； stood Darken Rahl。 Zedd raged at seeing the one who had harmed Richard。 The sunlight ing straight down from the glass roof lit the white robes and long blond hair； making them glow。 Rahl stood gazing at the boxes； his prizes。
Zedd felt his face heat。 How had Rahl found the last box？ How had he gotten it？ He dismissed the questions； they were irrelevant。 The question was what to do now。 With all three； Rahl could open one。 Zedd watched Kahlan as she stared across at Darken Rahl。 If she could in fact touch Rahl with her power； they would be saved； but he doubted that she had the necessary power。 In this palace； especially in this room； Zedd could feel that…his own power was virtually useless。 The whole place was one giant spell against any wizard but a Rahl。 If Darken Rahl was to be stopped； only Kahlan could do it。 He felt the Blood Rage emanating from her； the seething fury。
Kahlan started across the grass。 Zedd and Chase followed； but when they had almost reached the sand opposite Rahl； she turned and placed a hand on the wizard's chest。
〃Both of you will wait here。〃
Zedd felt the wrath in her eyes； and understood it because he shared it。 He； too； felt the pain of losing Richard。
When Zedd's head came up； he was staring into the blue eyes of Darken Rahl。 They held each other's gaze a moment。 Rahl's eyes shifted to Kahlan as she walked around the circle of sand； her countenance dead calm。
Chase leaned closer and whispered； 〃What are we going to do if this doesn't work？〃
〃We are going to die。〃
Zedd's hopes lifted when he saw the look of alarm on Darken Rahl's face。 Alarm； and fear； at seeing Kahlan painted with the twin lightning bolts of the Con Dar。 Zedd smiled。 Darken Rahl hadn't counted on that； and appeared to be frightened by it。
The alarm turned to action。 As Kahlan approached； Darken Rahl suddenly drew the Sword of Truth。 It hissed ing out； and it came out white。 He held it out； stopping Kahlan at its point
They were too close to be stopped now。 Zedd had to help her； help her use the only thing that could save them。 The wizard used every bit of strength he had； which wasn't as much as he wished； and threw a bolt of lightning across the white sorcerer's sand。 He drained all his power into it。 The blue lightning hit the sword； knocking it from Rahl's hands。 It flew through the air； landing a good distance away。 Darken Rahl screamed something to Zedd； then turned to Kahlan； speaking to her； but neither could understand him。
Darken Rahl backed away as Kahlan advanced。 He bumped into the altar； able to back away no farther。 He ran his fingers through his hair as Kahlan stopped in front of him。
Zedd's smile faded。 Something was wrong。 The way Rahl ran his fingers through his hair sparked his memory。
The Mother Confessor reached out and seized Darken Rahl by the throat。 〃This is for Richard。〃
Zedd's eyes went wide。 Ice flashed through him。 He understood what was wrong。 He gasped in recognition。
That wasn't Darken Rahl。
Zedd screamed。 〃Kahlan； no！ Stop！ That's 。 。 。〃
There was an impact to the air； thunder with no sound。 The leaves on the trees about shuddered。 The grass shook in a wave； radiating outward 。
。 。 。 Richard！〃 Too late； the wizard realized the truth。 Pain gripped him。
〃Mistress；〃 he whispered； falling to his knees before her。
Zedd stood frozen。 Despair crushed the elation of Richard being alive。 A vine…covered door in a wall to the side opened。 The real Darken Rahl emerged； followed by Michael and two big guards。 Kahlan blinked in confusion。
The enemy web wavered； and in a shimmer of light the one who had been Darken Rahl was returned to who he really was。 Richard。
Kahlan's eyes went wide in horror as she backed away。 The power of the Con Dar faltered； and extinguished。 She screamed in anguish at what she had done。
The two guards stepped behind her。 Chase reached up for his sword。 He was frozen in place before his hand reached it。 Zedd brought his hands up； but there was no power left。 Nothing happened。 He ran for …them； but before he could take two steps； he hit an invisible wall。 He was encased in it； held like a prisoner in a stone cell。 He railed in rage at his own stupidity。
At seeing what she had done； Kahlan yanked a knife from the belt of a guard。 With a cry of anguish； she held it up in both hands to plunge it into herself。
Michael grabbed her from behind； twisted the knife from her hands； and held it to her throat。 Richard launched himself in a fury at his brother but crashed into an invisible wall and was knocked back。 Kahlan had expended all her energy in the Con Dar； and was too weak to fight back； she collapsed in tears。 One of the guards tied a gag to her mouth； preventing her from even mumbling Richard's name。
Richard； on his knees； fell against Darken Rahl； gripping his robes； pleading up to him。 〃Don't hurt her！ Please。 Don't hurt her。〃
Darken Rahl put a hand on Richard's shoulder。 〃So glad to see you have e back； Richard。 I thought you might。 I'm glad you've decided to help me。 I admire your devotion to your friends。〃
Zedd was bewildered。 What help could Darken Rahl possibly need from Richard？
〃Please；〃 Richard begged in tears； 〃don't hurt her。〃
〃Well now； that's entirely up to you。〃 He pulled Richard's hands from his robes。
〃Anything！ I'll do anything。 Just don't hurt her。〃
A smile spread on Darken Rahl's lips。 He licked the tips of his fingers。 He ran his other hand through Richard's hair。 〃I'm sorry it had to be this way； Richard。 I really am。 It would have been a pleasure having you around as you were。 Although you don't realize it； you and I are very much alike。 But I'm afraid you have fallen victim to the Wizard's First Rule。〃
〃Don't hurt Mistress Kahlan；〃 Richard cried。 〃Please。〃
〃If you do as I say； I will do as I promised； and she will be treated well。 I may even turn you into something pleasant； something you would like to be； maybe a lapdog。 I may even let you sleep in our bedchamber so you might see that I keep my word。 Maybe I will even name my son in honor of you； for helping me
Would you like that？ Richard Rahl。 Sort of ironic； don't you think。〃
〃Do whatever you want with me； but please don't hurt Mistress Kahlan。 Tell me what you want me to do； please。〃
Darken Rahl patted Richard's head。 〃Soon； my son； soon。 Wait here。〃
Darken Rahl left Richard on his knees； and glided around the circle of white sand to Zedd。 The blue eyes locked on the old man as he came。 Zedd felt hollow； empty。
Rahl stopped in front of him and licked his fingers； stroking them over his eyebrows。
〃What is your name； Old One？〃
Zedd stared back； his hopes destroyed。 〃Zeddicus Zu'l Zorander。〃 He held his chin up。 〃I am the one who killed your father。〃
Darken Rahl nodded。 〃And do you know that your wizard's fire also burned me？ Do you know it almost killed me when I was but a child？ And that I spent months in agony？ And that to this day I carry the scars of what you did； both those on the outside； and others on the inside？〃
〃I'm sorry I hurt a child； regardless of who the child was。 But in this case； I would call it premature punishment。〃
Rahl's face remained pleasant； t