ere at all。〃
Adie's white eyes regarded him with strained tolerance。 〃Tell me；〃 she said in her dry rasp； 〃do you know Kahlan's secret； the one she keeps from you？〃
Richard said nothing and tried to show no emotion。 Adie turned to Kahlan。
〃Tell me； child； do you know the secret he keeps from you？〃 Kahlan said nothing。 Adie looked back to Richard。 〃Does the wizard know of the secret you keep from him？ No。 Do you know the secret the wizard keeps from you？ No。 Three blind people。 Hmm？ Seems I be able to see better than you。〃
Richard wondered what secret Zedd was keeping from him。 He lifted an eyebrow。 〃And which of these secrets do you know； Adie？〃
She pointed a thin finger at Kahlan。 〃Hers only。〃
Richard was relieved； but tried to let his face show nothing。 He had been on the verge of panic。 〃Everyone has secrets； my friend； and has a right to keep them when there is need。〃
Her smile widened。 〃That be true； Richard Cypher。〃
〃Now； what about these two？〃
〃Do you know how to heal them？〃 she asked。
〃No。 If I did； I obviously would have already done so。〃
〃Your impatience is to be forgiven； it be only right for you to fear for the lives of your friends。 I bear you no ill will for your concern。 But be at ease； they have been receiving help from the moment you brought them in。〃
Richard gave her a confused look。 〃Really？〃 She nodded。 〃They be struck down by underworld beasts。 It will take time for them to wake； days。 How many I cannot say。 But they be dry。 Lack of water will be the death of them； therefore they must be brought awake enough to drink； or they will die。 The wizard breathes slow not because he be worse； but because that be the way wizards save strength in time of trouble they go into a deeper sleep。 I must bring them both awake to drink。 You will not be able to talk to them； they will not know you； so be not afraid when you see it。 Go to the corner； bring the water bucket。〃
Richard retrieved the water and then helped Adie lower herself to sit cross…legged at the heads of Zedd and Chase。 She pulled Kahlan down next to her。 She asked Richard to bring a bone implement from the shelf。
Part of it looked very much like a human thighbone。 The entire object had a dark brown patina； and looked to be ancient。 Down the shaft of the bone were carved symbols Richard didn't recognize。 At one end were two skull tops； one to each side of the ball。 They had been cut smoothly into half spheres； and covered with dried skin of some kind。 In the center of each skin was a knot that looked like a navel。 Spaced evenly around each skin； where it stretched across the skull edge； were tufts of coarse black hair tied on with beaded thread that matched that around the neck of Adie's robe。 The skull tops looked like they could be human。 Something inside rattled。
Richard handed it respectfully to Adie。 〃What makes the rattle？〃
Without looking up； she said； 〃Dried eyes。〃 ‘
Adie shook the bone rattle gently from side to side over the heads of Zedd and Chase while mumbling a chant in the strange language in which she had spoken to Kahlan。 The rattle made a hollow； wooden sound。 Kahlan sat cross…legged next to her； head bowed。 Richard stood back and watched。
After ten or fifteen minutes； Adie motioned with her hand for him to e closer。 Zedd suddenly sat up and opened his eyes。 Richard realized she wanted him to give him water。 She continued to chant as he dipped the ladle in and held it up to Zedd's mouth。 He drank thirstily。 Richard was thrilled to see the old man sit up and open his eyes； even if he couldn't talk； even if he didn't know where he was。 Zedd drank half a bucket of water。 When finished； he lay back down and closed his eyes。 Chase was next； and he drank the other half of the water。
Adie handed Richard the bone rattle and asked him to return it to the shelf。 Next she had him bring the bone pile from the corner and stack half over Zedd's body； half over Chase's； directing him on how to place each bone； to some alignment that only she could see or understand。 Finally she had him stack rib bones in a wagon…wheel pattern with the hub centered over each man's chest。 When he finished； she plimented him on doing a fine job； but he felt no pride； because she had directed his hand at each turn。 Adie looked up at him with her white eyes。
〃Can you cook？〃
Richard thought about the time Kahlan had told him that his spice soup was like hers； and that their two lands were much the same。 Adie was from the Midlands； maybe she would like something from her homeland。 He smiled at her。
〃I would be honored to make you some spice soup。〃
She put her hands together in a swoon。 〃That would be wonderful。 I have not had a proper spice soup in years。〃
Richard went to the opposite corner of the room and sat at the table； cutting up vegetables and mixing spices。 For over an hour； as he worked； he watched the two women sitting on the floor； talking in the strange language。 Two women catching up on the news from home； he thought happily。 He was in a good mood； someone was finally doing something to help Zedd and Chase。 Someone who knew what the problem was。 When he was finished and had the soup on the fire； he didn't want to disturb them…they looked like they were enjoying themselves…so he asked Adie if he could cut some firewood for her。 She seemed pleased by the idea。
He went outside and removed the tooth from around his neck； putting it in his pocket； and left his shirt on the porch to keep it dry。 He took the sword with him to the back of the house； where Adie had told him he would find the firewood pile。 Placing logs on the sawbuck； he cut off pieces to length。 Most of the wood was birch； easiest for an old woman to cut。 He picked out the rock maple； excellent firewood but tough cutting。 The woods nearby were dark and dense； but they didn't feel threatening
They felt。 weling； enveloping； safe。 Still； there was the last man of the quad out there somewhere； hunting Kahlan。
He thought about Michael； hoped he was safe。 Michael didn't know what Richard was doing and probably wondered where he was。 He was probably worried。 Richard had planned on going to Michael's house after they left Zedd's place； but there had been no time。 Rahl had almost caught them。 He wished he had been able to get word to his brother。 Michael was going to be in great danger when the boundary failed。
When he tired of sawing； he split what he had cut。 It felt good to use his muscles； to sweat from labor； to do something that didn't require him to think。 The cool rain felt good on his hot body； making the work easier。 To amuse himself； he imagined the wood was Darken Rahl's head as he brought the axe down。 For variation he sometimes imagined it to be a gar。 When the piece of wood was particularly tough； he imagined it to be the red…haired man's head。
Kahlan came out； and asked him if he was ready to e eat。 He 。hadn't even realized it was getting dark。 After she left； he went to the well and poured a bucket of cold water over himself； washing off the sweat。 Kahlan and Adie were sitting at the table； and since there were only two chairs； he brought in a log round to sit on。 Kahlan set a bowl of soup in front of him as he sat down； and handed him a spoon。
〃You have given me a wonderful gift； Richard；〃 Adie said。
〃And what would that be？〃 He blew on a spoonful of soup to cool it。
She looked at him with her white eyes。 〃Without taking offense； you have given me the time to talk to Kahlan in my native tongue。 You cannot know what joy that be for me。 So many years it has been。 You are a very perceptive man。 You are a true Seeker。〃
Richard beamed at her。 〃You have given me something very precious too。 The lives of my friends。 Thank you； Adie。〃 〃
〃And your spice soup be wonderful；〃 she added； with a hint of surprise。
〃Yes。〃 Kahlan winked at him。 〃It's as good as I make。〃
〃Kahlan has told me about Darken Rahl； and about the boundary failing；〃 Adie said。 〃It explains much。 She has told me that you know of the pass； and wish to cross into the Midlands。 Now you must decide what y