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Darken Rahl lifted an eyebrow。 〃I will decide what matters are worthy of my attention。〃 His voice was soft； almost kind。
〃Of course； Lord Rahl。 Please forgive me。〃 Demmin didn't need to hear an angry tone to know he was treading on dangerous ground。
Rahl licked his fingers again and rubbed them on his lips。 He looked sharply back up into the other's eyes。 〃Demmin； if you touched the boy； I will know。〃
A bead of sweat rolled into Demmin's eye。 He tried to blink it away。 〃Lord Rahl；〃 he said in a coarse whisper； 〃I would gladly give my life for you。 I would not touch your spirit guide。 I swear。〃
Darken Rahl considered Demmin Nass for a moment； then nodded。 〃As I said； I would know anyway。 And you know what I would do to you if you ever lied to me。 I can't tolerate anyone lying to me。 It's wrong。〃
〃Lord Rahl；〃 Demmin said； anxious to change the subject； 〃what of Queen Milena's demands？〃
Rahl shrugged。 〃Tell her I agree to all her demands in return for the box。〃
Demmin stared incredulously。 〃But Lord Rahl； you have not seen them listed。〃
Rahl shrugged innocently。 〃Now； they are truly a matter not worthy of my time or thought。〃
Demmin shifted his weight again； making the leather he wore creak。 〃Lord Rahl； I do not understand why you play this game with the queen。 It is humiliating to be issued a list of demands。 With no trouble； we could crush her like the fat toad she is。 Just give me the word； allow me to issue my own demands； on your behalf。 She will be made to regret not bowing down to you as she should have。〃
Rahl smiled a small private smile as he studied the pockmarked face of his loyal mander。 〃She has a wizard； Demmin；〃 he whispered； his blue eyes intense。
〃I know。〃 Demmin's fists tightened。 〃Giller。 You have only to ask； Lord Rahl； and I will bring you his head。〃
〃Demmin； why do you think Queen Milena would enlist a wizard in her service？〃 Demmin only shrugged； so Rahl answered his own question。 〃To protect the box； that is why。 It is her protection too； she believes。 If we kill her or the wizard； we may find he has hidden the box with magic； and then we would have to spend time finding it。 So why move too quickly？ For now； the easiest path is to go along with her。 If she gives me any trouble； I will deal with her； and the wizard。〃 He walked slowly around his father's coffin； trailing his fingers along the carved symbols as he kept his blue eyes on Demmin。 〃And anyway； once I have the last box； her demands will be meaningless。〃 He came back to the big man； stopping in front of him。 〃But there is another reason； my friend。〃
Demmin cocked his head to the side。 〃Another reason？〃
Darken Rahl nodded； leaned closer； and lowered his voice。 〃Demmin； do you kill your little boyfriends before 。 。 。 or after？〃
Demmin leaned back a little； away from the other； hooking a thumb in his belt。 He cleared his throat。 At last he answered。 〃After。〃
〃And why after？ Why not before？〃 Rahl asked； his face in a coy； questioning frown。
Demmin avoided the Master's eyes； looked down at the floor； and shifted his weight to his other foot。 Darken Rahl continued to keep his face close； watching； waiting。 In a voice too low for the guards to hear； Demmin spoke。
〃I like it when they squirm。〃 ‘
A slow smile spread over Rahl's face。 〃That is the other reason； my friend。 I too enjoy it when they squirm； so to speak。 I want to enjoy watching her squirm； before I kill her。〃 He licked the ends of his fingers again； and stroked them on his lips。
A knowing grin grew across the pockmarked face。 〃I will tell Queen Milena that Father Rahl has graciously agreed to her terms。〃
Darken Rahl put his hand on Demmin's。 muscled shoulder。 〃Very good； my friend。 Now； show me what manner of boy you have brought me。〃
Both wearing smiles； they strode toward the door。 Before they reached it； Darken Rahl stopped suddenly。 He spun on his heels； his robes flinging around him。
〃What was that sound？〃 he demanded。
Except for the hiss of the torches； the crypt was as silent as the dead king。 Demmin and the guards looked slowly around the chamber。
〃There！〃 Rahl thrust out his arm。
The other three looked where he pointed。 A single white rose petal sat on the floor。 Darken Rahl's face reddened； his eyes fierce。 Shaking； his hands clenched into white…knuckled fists； his eyes filled with tears of wrath。 He was too furious to speak。 Regaining his posure； he held out his hand toward where the white petal lay on the cold marble floor。 As if touched by a breeze； it rose into the air and floated across the room； settling in Rahl's outstretched hand。 He licked the petal； turned to one of the guards； and stuck it to the man's forehead。
The heavily muscled guard looked back impassively。 He knew what the Master wanted； and gave a single grim nod before turning and going through the door in one fluid motion； pulling his sword as he went。
Darken Rahl straightened his body； smoothed his hair and then his robes with the flats of his hands。 He took a deep breath； letting his anger out with it。 Frowning； his blue eyes searched up at Demmin； who stood calmly beside him。
〃I ask nothing else of them。 Only that they care for my father's tomb。 Their needs are seen to； they are fed and clothed and taken care of。 It is a simple request。〃 His face took on a hurt look。 〃Why do they mock me with their carelessness？〃 He looked over to his father's coffin； then back to the other's face。 〃Do you think I am too harsh with them； Demmin？〃
The mander's hard eyes scowled back。 〃Not harsh enough。 If you were not so passionate； if you didn't allow them a quick punishment； maybe the others would learn to treat your heartfelt requests with more mitment。 I would not be as lenient。〃
Darken Rahl stared off at nothing in particular； and nodded absently。 After a time he took another deep breath and strode through the door； with Demmin at his side； and the remaining guard following at a respectful distance： They went down long corridors of polished granite lit by torches； up spiral stairs of white stone； down more corridors with windows that let the light out into the darkness。 The stone smelled damp； stale。 Several levels up； the air regained its freshness。 Small tables of lustrous wood stationed at intervals along the halls held vases with bouquets of fresh flowers that lent a light fragrance to the rooms。
As they came to a pair of doors with a scene of hillsides and forests carved in relief； the second guard rejoined them； the task assigned him pleted。 Demmin pulled on the iron rings； and the heavy doors opened smoothly； silently。 Beyond 。was a room of dark； brown oak panels。 It gleamed in the light of the candles and lamps set about on heavy tables。 Books lined two walls； and an immense fireplace warmed the two…story room。 Rahl stopped for a short time to consult an old leather…bound book sitting on a pedestal； then he and his mander walked on through a labyrinth of rooms； most covered in the same warm wood panels。 A few were plastered and painted with scenes of the D'Hara countryside； forests and fields； game and children。 The guards followed at a distance； watching everywhere； alert but silent： the Master's shadows。'
Logs crackled and popped as flames wavered in a brick hearth； providing the only light in one of the smaller rooms they passed into。 On the walls hung trophies of the hunt； heads of every sort of beast。 Antlers jutted out； lit by the light of the flames。 Darken Rahl stopped suddenly in midstride； his robes made pink in the firelight。
〃Again；〃 he whispered。
Demmin had stopped when Rahl did； and now watched him with questioning eyes。
〃Again she es to the boundary。 To the underworld。〃 He licked his fingertips； smoothing them carefully over his lips and eyebrows as his eyes fixed in a stare。
〃Who？〃 Demmin asked。
〃The Mother Confessor。 Kahlan。 She has the help of a wizard； you know。〃
〃Giller is with the queen；〃 Demmin insisted； 〃not with the Mother Confessor。〃
A thin smile spread on Darken Rahl's lips。 〃Not Giller；〃 he whispered； 〃the Old One。 T