bear； and feared greatly。
Richard was just doing what was necessary to get a gathering； what was necessary to find the box and stop Rahl。 Kahlan wiped the tears from her eyes。
But he didn't have to be so delighted about it。 He could do it without acting like 。 。 。
She snatched an apple from his pack。 What did it matter。 She couldn't change the way things were。 But she didn't have to be happy about it。 She bit her lip as she stomped out the door； trying to make her face once again show nothing。 At least it was dark。
When she had crossed the gauntlet of celebration； she found Richard with his shirt oft。 The girls were painting him with Mud People symbols of the hunter。 Their fingers were applying the black and white mud in jagged lines across his chest； in rings around his upper arms。 They stopped when she stood over them； glaring down。
〃Here。〃 She slapped the apple in his hand and sat down in a huff。
〃I still haven't been able to decide；〃 he said； polishing the apple on his pants leg； looking from one girl to another。 〃Kahlan； are you sure you don't have a preference？ I could use your help。〃 His voice lowered meaningfully； the hard edge returning。 〃I'm surprised you didn't just pick one for me in the first place。〃
Stunned； her eyes came up to his。 He knew。 He knew this； too； was a mitment she had made on his behalf。 〃No。 Whatever you decide will be fine； I'm sure。〃 She looked away again。
〃Kahlan；〃 he asked； waiting until she turned back to him； 〃are any of these girls related to the elders？〃
She looked again at their faces。 〃The one at your right arm。 The Bird Man is her uncle。
〃Uncle！〃 His smile widened as he continued to polish the apple on his leg。 〃Well； then； I guess I'll pick her。 It will be a sign of respect for the elders； that I pick the Bird Man's niece。〃
He took the girl's head in both of his hands； kissing her on the forehead。 She beamed。 The Bird Man beamed。 The elders beamed。 The other girls left。
Kahlan glanced back at the Bird Man； and he gave her a look of sympathy； a look that said he was sorry。 She turned； staring absently； painfully； out into the night。 So now Richard had picked。 So now； she though bleakly； the elders would perform a ceremony and the happy couple would be going off somewhere to make a baby。 She watched the other couples walking； hand in hand； happy to be together。 Kahlan swallowed back the lump； the tears。 She heard the snap as Richard bit into his stupid； stupid apple。
And then she heard a collective gasp from the elders and their wives； then shouts。
The apple！ In the Midlands； red fruit was poison！ They didn't know what an apple was！ They thought Richard was eating poison！ She spun around。
Richard was holding his arm back to the elders； manding silence； and for them to stay put。 But he was looking right into her eyes。
〃Tell them to sit down；〃 he said in a quiet voice。
Wide…eyed； she looked back at the elders and told them what Richard had said。 They lowered themselves uncertainly back in place。 He leaned back； turning casually to them； an innocent expression on his face。
〃You know； back in Hartland； in Westland； where I am from； we eat these things all the time。〃 He took a couple more bites。 Their eyes were wide。 〃Have for as long as anyone knows。 Men and women both eat them。 We have healthy children。〃 He snapped off another piece； turning and watching her as she translated。 He chewed slowly； prolonging the tension。 He looked over his shoulder at the Bird Man。 〃'Course； it could be that it makes a man's seed poison to any woman other than one of our own。 Never been put to the test； far as I know。〃
He let his gaze settle back on Kahlan as he took another bite； letting his words sink in after she translated。 The girl next to him was getting nervous。 The elders were getting nervous。 The Bird Man showed no emotion。 Richard had his arms half folded； one elbow resting in his other hand； so he could hold the apple near his mouth； where everyone could see it。 He started to take a bite； then stopped； thinking to offer a bite to the Bird Man's niece。 She turned her head away。 He looked back at the elders。
〃I find them quite good。 Really。〃 He shrugged。 〃But then； there is the thing about them maybe making my seed poison。 But I don't want you to think I'm not willing to try。 I just thought you should know； that's all。 I wouldn't want it to be said I wasn't willing to go along with the duties that go with being a Mud Person。 I am。 More than willing。〃 He ran the back of his finger down the girl's cheek。 〃I assure you； it would be an honor。 This fine young woman will make a splendid mother for my child； I am sure。〃 Richard let out a sigh。 〃If she lives； of course。〃 He took another bite。
The elders looked apprehensively from one to another。 None spoke。 The mood on the platform had definitely changed。 They were no longer in control； Richard was。 It had happened in a blink。 They were now afraid to move much more than their eyes。 Without looking at them； Richard went on。
〃'Course； it's up to you。 I'm willing to give it a try； but I thought you should know of the ways of my homeland。 I didn't think it would be fair not to tell you。〃 Now Richard turned to them； his eyebrows set in a menacing frown； his voice carrying a thread of threat。 〃So； if the elders； in their wisdom； wish to ask me not to perform this duty； I will understand； and with regret； ply with their wishes。〃
He held them in his hard gaze。 Savidlin grinned。 The other five were of no mind to challenge Richard； and turned to the Bird Man beseeching direction。 He sat still； a bead of sweat rolling down the leathery skin of his neck； silver hair limp on the buckskin shoulders of his tunic； holding Richard's eyes for a short time。 His mouth turned up in a small smile that showed in his eyes； too； and he nodded slightly to himself。
〃 Richard With The Temper； 〃 his voice was even； and strong； for not only the elders； but also the crowd that had gathered around the platform； were listening； 〃since you are from a different land； and your seed could be poisonous to this young woman 。 。 。 〃 he lifted one eyebrow； leaning the slightest bit forward； 〃 。 。 。 my niece；〃 he looked to her； then back to Richard； 〃we beg that you not hold us to this tradition； that you not take her as your wife。 I am sorry to have to ask this of you。 I know you were looking forward to giving us your child。 〃
Richard nodded seriously。 〃Yes； I was。 But I will just have to live with my failing； and try to make the Mud People； my people； proud of me in other ways。〃 He was closing the deal with a condition of his own： they were not going to be allowed to back out now； he was a Mud Person and this would not change it。
There was a collective sigh of relief from the other elders。 They all nodded； only too happy to have the matter settled to his liking。 The young woman smiled with relief at her uncle and left。 Richard turned to Kahlan； his face showed no emotion。
〃Are there any other conditions that I don't know about？〃
〃No。〃 Kahlan felt confused。 She didn't know if she felt happy because Richard had gotten out of taking a wife； or if she was heartbroken because he felt she had betrayed him。
He turned to the elders。 〃Is my presence required any longer tonight？〃
The five were delighted to grant him his wish to leave。 Savidlin seemed a little disappointed。 The Bird Man said that the Seeker had been a great savior of his people； had performed his duties with honor； and that if he was tired from the struggles of the day； he could be excused。
Richard stood slowly； towering over her。 His boots were right in front of her。 Kahlan knew he was looking down at her； but she fixed her eyes on the floor。
〃Piece of advice；〃 he said in a voice that surprised her with its gentleness； 〃since you have never had a friend before。 Friends don't bargain away another friend's rights。 Or their hearts。〃
She couldn't bring herself to look up at him。
He dropped the apple core in her lap and walked off； disappearing in the crowd。
…＋
Kahlan sat on the elders' platform； in a fog of