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Zedd looked around as he put the spoon down in the bowl。 〃And where is he？〃
Adie took a bite of the bread and chewed； watching Zedd。 When she had swallowed； she answered。 〃He and the Mother Confessor have gone through the pass； to the Midlands。 Although he knows her only as Kahlan； she still hides her' identity from him。〃 She went on to tell the wizard the story of how Richard and Kahlan had e to her； seeking her help for their stricken friends。
Zedd picked up the cheese in one hand； the bread in the other； taking alternating bites as he listened to Adie's tale； wincing at hearing that he had been sustained on gruel。
〃He told me to tell you he could not wait for you；〃 she said； 〃but that he knew you would understand。 The Seeker gave me instructions to pass on to Chase； for him to return and make preparations for when the boundary fails； for the ing of Rahl's forces。 He was sorry he did not know what your plan be； but feared he could not wait。〃
〃Just as well；〃 the wizard said under his breath。 〃My plan does not include him。〃
Zedd went back to eating in earnest。 When he had finished the soup； he went to the kettle and helped himself to another bowlful。 He offered to get Adie more； but she was not yet finished with her first； since she had spent most of the time with her eyes on the wizard。 As he sat back down； she pushed more bread and cheese at him。
〃Richard keeps a secret from you；〃 she said in a low voice。 〃If it were not for this business with Rahl； I would not speak of it； but I thought you should know。〃
The light from the lamp lit his thin face and white hair； making him look stark and all the more thin in the sharp shadows。 He picked up his spoon； looked down at the soup a moment； then back up at her face。
〃As you well know； we all have secrets； wizards more than most。 If we all knew each other's secrets； it would prove a very strange world。 Besides； it would take all the fun out of the telling of them。〃 His thin lips widened in a smile； his eyes sparkled。 〃But I fear no secret of a person I trust； and he has no need to fear mine。 It is part of being friends。〃
Adie leaned back in her chair； her blank white eyes stared at him； her small smile came back。 〃For his sake； I hope you be right in your trust。 I would not want to give a wizard cause to be angry。〃
Zedd shrugged。 〃As wizards go； I'm pretty harmless。〃
She studied his eyes in the lamplight
〃That be a lie；〃 the sorceress whispered in a low rasp。
Zedd cleared his throat； and thought to change the subject。 〃It would seem I owe you thanks for tending to me； dear lady。〃
〃That be true。〃
〃And for helping Richard and Kahlan〃…he looked over to Chase； pointing with his spoon…〃and the boundary warden too。 I am in your debt。〃
Adie's smile widened。 〃Perhaps； someday you can return the favor。〃
Zedd pushed up the sleeves of his robes and went back to eating the soup； but not quite as voraciously as before。 He and the sorceress watched each other。 The fire in the hearth crackled； and outside night bugs chirped。 Chase slept on。
〃How long have they been gone？〃 Zedd asked at last。
〃This be the seventh day he has left you and the boundary warden to my care。〃
Zedd finished his meal； pushing the bowl carefully away。 He folded his thin hands on the table； looking down as he tapped his thumbs together。 The light from the lamp flickered and danced on his mass of white hair。
〃Did Richard say how I was to find him？〃
For a moment Adie didn't answer。 The wizard continued to wait； tapping his thumbs； until at last she spoke。 〃I gave him a night stone。〃
Zedd jumped to his feet。 〃You did what！〃
Adie calmly looked up at him。 〃Would you have me send him through the pass； at night； without a way to see？ To be blind in the pass is a sure death。 I wanted him to make it through。 It be the only way for me to help him。〃
The wizard put his knuckles on the table and leaned forward； his wavy white hair falling around his face。 〃And did you warn him？〃
〃Of course I did。〃
His eyes narrowed。 〃How？ With a sorceress's riddle？〃
Adie picked up two apples and tossed one to Zedd。 He caught it in the air with a silent spell。 It floated； spinning slowly while he continued to glare at the old woman。
〃Sit down； wizard； and stop showing off。〃 She took a bite of her apple； chewing slowly。 Zedd sat down in a huff。 〃I did not want to frighten him。 He already be fearful enough。 Had I told him what a night stone could do； he might have been afraid to use it； and the result would have been that the underworld would have had him sure。 Yes； I warned him； but with a riddle； so he would figure it out later； after he be through the pass。〃
Zedd's sticklike fingers snatched the apple out of the air。 〃Bags； Adie； you don't understand。 Richard hates riddles； always has。 He considers them an insult to honesty。 He won't brook them。 He ignores them as a matter of； principle。〃 The apple snapped as he took a big bite。
〃He be Seeker； that be what Seekers do： they solve riddles。〃
Zedd held up a bony finger。 〃Riddles of life； not words。 There is a difference。〃
Adie set her apple down and leaned forward； putting her hands on the table。 A look of concern softened her face。 〃Zedd； I was trying to help the boy。 I want him to succeed。 I lost my foot in the pass； he would have lost his life。 If the Seeker loses his life； we all lose ours too。 I did not mean him harm。〃
Zedd put his apple down and dismissed his anger with a wave of his hand。 〃I know you meant no harm； Adie。 I did not mean to suggest you did。〃 He took Adie's hands in his。 〃It will be all right。〃
〃I be a fool；〃 she said bitterly。 〃He told me he disliked riddles； but I never thought more of it。 Zedd； seek him through the night stone？ See if he has made it through？〃
Zedd nodded。 He closed his eyes and let his chin sink to his chest as he took three deep breaths。 Then he stopped breathing for a long time。 From the air about came the low； soft sound of distant wind； wind on an open plain： lonely； baleful； haunting。 The sound of the wind left at last； and the wizard began breathing again。 His head came up； and his eyes opened。
〃He is in the Midlands。 He has made it through the pass。〃
Adie gave a nod of relief。 〃I will give you a bone to carry； so that you may go safely through the pass。 Will you go after him now？〃
The wizard looked down at the table； away from her white eyes。 〃No；〃 he said in a quiet voice。 〃He will have to handle this； among other things； on his own。 As you said； he is the Seeker。 I have an important task to attend to； if we are to stop Darken Rahl。 I hope he can stay out of trouble in the meantime。〃
〃Secrets？〃 the sorceress asked； smiling her little smile。
〃Secrets。〃 The wizard nodded。 〃I must leave right away。〃
She took one hand out from under his and stroked his leathery skin。
〃It be dark outside。〃
〃Dark；〃 he agreed。
〃Why not stay the night？ Leave with the light。〃
Zedd's eyes snapped up； looking at her from under his eyebrows。 〃Stay the night？〃
Adie shrugged as she stroked his hands。 〃It be lonely here sometimes。〃
〃Well；〃 Zedd's impish grin lit his face； 〃as you say； it is dark outside。 And I guess it would make more sense to start out in the morning。〃 A sudden frown broke out； wrinkling his brow。 〃This isn't one of your riddles； is it？〃
She shook her head； and his grin came back。
〃I have my wizard's rock along。 Could I interest you？〃
Adie's face softened in a shy smile。 〃I would like that very much。〃 She watched him as she sat back； taking a bite of her apple。
Zedd arched an eyebrow。 〃Naked？〃
…＋
Wind and rain bowed the long grass in broad slow waves as the two of them made their way across the open； flat plain。 Trees were few and far between； mostly birch and alder in clusters along streams。 Kahlan watched the grass carefully； they were near the Mud People's territory。 Richard followed silently behind； keeping her under his watchful eye； as always。
She didn't like taking him to the Mud People； but