es of the village； and only Richard could give them back their lives。
Even so； their law was irrelevant； the Seeker was a law unto himself； answering ultimately to no one but himself。 There was no one present who could stop this。
Richard's knuckles were white as he held the Sword of Truth level in both hands； over the heads of the five elders。 Kahlan could see the rage building in him； the hot need； the fury。 The whole scene felt like a dream； a dream she could only watch helplessly； one she couldn't stop。
Kahlan thought of all those she knew who had already died； both the innocent and those who had given their lives trying to stop Darken Rahl。 Dennee； all the other Confessors； the wizards； Shar the night wisp； perhaps Zedd and Chase。
She understood。
Richard was not deciding if he should kill them； but if he dared let them live。
Could he trust these men with his chance of stopping Rahl； trust that they were sincere？ Could Richard trust them with his life？ Or should he have a new council of elders； ones who might be more intent on his success？
If he couldn't trust these men to send him in the right direction against Rahl； he would have to kill them and have ones he thought would be on his side。 Stopping Rahl was all that mattered。 The lives of these men must be forfeited if there was a chance they would jeopardize success。 Kahlan knew that what Richard was doing was right。 It was no less than she herself would do； no less than what the Seeker must do。
She watched him as he stood over the elders。 The rain had stopped。 Sweat ran from his face。 She remembered the pain he suffered when he had killed the last man of the quad。 She watched the anger building； hoping it would be enough to protect him from what he was about to do。
Kahlan understood why a Seeker was so feared。 This was no game； he meant this。 He was lost within himself； within the magic。 If anyone were to try to stop him right now； he would kill them； too。 If； that was； they got past her
The blade of the sword came up in front of Richard's face。 His head tilted back。 His eyes closed。 He shook with wrath。 The five did not move as they knelt before the Seeker。
Kahlan remembered the man Richard had killed； remembered the way the sword had exploded through the man's head。 The blood everywhere。 Richard had killed him because of a direct threat。 Kill or be killed； no matter that the threat was to her and not him。
But this was an indirect threat； a different kind of killing。 Very different。 This was an execution。 And Richard was both judge and executioner。
The sword lowered again。 Richard glowered at the elders； then made a fist and pulled the blade in a slow sweep across the inside of his left forearm。 He turned the blade； wiping both sides in the blood；' until it ran down； dripping off the tip。
Kahlan snatched a quick glance around。 The Mud People stood transfixed； gripped by the mortal drama playing out before their eyes； not wanting to watch； yet unable to turn away。 No one spoke。 No one moved。 No one even blinked。
Every eye followed as Richard brought the sword up again； touching it to his forehead。
〃Blade； be true this day；〃 he whispered。
His left hand glistened with blood。 She could see him shaking with need。 The sword flashed in places between the red。 He looked down at the men。
〃Look at me；〃 he said to Caldus。 The elder did not move。 〃Look at me while I do this！〃 he yelled。 〃Look into my eyes！〃 Still Caldus did not move。
〃Richard；〃 she said。 His eyes came angrily to hers。 Eyes looking at her from a different world。 The magic danced in them。 She kept her voice even； showed no emotion。 〃He cannot understand you。〃
〃Then you tell him！〃
〃Callus。 〃 He looked to her blank face。 〃The Seeker wishes you to look into his eyes while he does this。 〃
He didn't answer； but simply looked at Richard； held by the Seeker's glare。
Richard inhaled sharply as the sword rose swiftly into the air。 She watched the tip as it paused for only an instant。 Some people turned away； others shielded their children's eyes。 Kahlan held her breath and half turned to brace for an aftermath of fragments。
The Seeker screamed as he brought down the Sword of Truth。 Its tip whistled through the air。 The crowd gasped。
The sword stopped dead in the air； a scant inch from Caldus's face； just as it had stopped the first time Richard had used it； when Zedd had him try to cut down the tree。
For what seemed an eternity； Richard stood； unmoving； the muscles in his arms hard as steel； then at last they relaxed； and he withdrew the blade from over Caldus； withdrew his burning stare。
His eyes unmoving； he asked Kahlan； 〃How do you say ‘I return your lives and your honor to you' in their language？〃
She answered quietly。
〃Caldus； Surin； Arbrin； Breginderin； Hajanlet； 〃 he announced loud enough for all to hear； 〃I return your lives and your honor to you。 〃
There was a brief moment of silence； then the Mud People erupted in a wild cheer。 Richard slid the sword back into its scabbard and then helped the elders to their feet。 Pale； they gave him smiles； pleased with his action； and in no small measure relieved。 They turned to the Bird Man。
〃We make a unanimous demand of you； most honored elder。 What have you to say？〃
The Bird Man stood with his arms folded。 He looked from the elders to Richard and Kahlan。 His eyes showed the strain of the emotional ordeal he had just witnessed。 Dropping his arms to his sides； he approached Richard。 The Seeker looked drained； exhausted。 The Bird Man put an arm around each of their shoulders as if to congratulate them on their courage； then put a hand on each of the elders' shoulders to let them know all was set straight。 He turned and headed off； intending for them to follow。 Kahlan and Richard walked behind him； Savidlin and the other elders followed behind； a royal escort。
〃Richard；〃 she said in a low voice； 〃did you expect the sword to stop？〃
He looked ahead as he walked； letting out a deep breath。 〃No。〃
She had thought as much。 She tried to imagine what this was doing to him。 Even if he hadn't executed the elders； he had mitted to it； expected it。 Though he didn't have to live with the deed； he still had to live with the intent。
She wondered if he had done the right thing； not killing them。 She knew what she would have done in his place； she would not have allowed the option of clemency。 Too much was at stake。 But then； she had seen more than he had。 Maybe she had seen too much； was too ready to kill。 You couldn't kill every time there was a risk； risk was constant。 It had to stop somewhere。
〃How's the arm？〃 he asked； bringing her out of her thoughts。
〃It throbs like mad；〃 she admitted。 〃The Bird Man says it must be stitched together。〃
Richard looked deliberately ahead as he walked next to her。 〃I need my guide；〃 he said quietly； without emotion。 〃You gave me a fright。〃
It was as close as he would e to a reprimand。 Her face burned； and she was glad he wasn't looking at her to see it。 He didn't know what it was she could do； but he knew she had hesitated。 She had almost made a fatal mistake； had put them all at risk because she hadn't wanted him to see。 He hadn't pressed her when he had the chance； the right； just as now； he put her feelings first。 Her heart felt as if it would break。
The little group stepped onto the platform of the pole building。 The elders stood in the back； the Bird Man between the two of them as they faced the crowd。
The Bird Man regarded her with an intense expression。 〃Are you prepared to do this？〃
〃What do you mean？〃 she asked； suspicious of his tone。
〃I mean that if the two of you want to bee Mud People； then you must do that which is required of Mud People： respect our laws。 Our ways。 〃
〃I alone know what we are up against。 1 expect to die in the quest。 〃 She kept her tone deliberately hard。 〃I have already escaped death more times than anyone has a right to。 What we want is to save your people。 We are sworn on our lives to do so。 What more could be asked of us th