¡¡was¡¡a¡¡burned¡¡handprint¡¡¡¡¡the¡¡Keeper¡¯s¡¡mark¡£¡¡The¡¡blackened¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡cracked¡¡and¡¡bleeding¡£¡¡His¡¡life£»¡¡his¡¡soul£»¡¡was¡¡bleeding¡¡away¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡fell¡¡on¡¡him£»¡¡clutched¡¡at¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡she¡¡wept¡¡and¡¡shook¡¡uncontrollably¡£
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡gripped¡¡her¡¡fingers¡¡into¡¡a¡¡fist¡¡in¡¡his¡¡hair¡¡and¡¡pressed¡¡her¡¡face¡¡against¡¡his¡¡cold¡¡cheek¡£¡¡¡®Please£»¡¡Richard£»¡¯¡¡she¡¡cried¡¡in¡¡choking¡¡sobs£»¡¡¡®please¡¡don¡¯t¡¡leave¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡do¡¡anything¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡die¡¡in¡¡your¡¡place¡£¡¡Don¡¯t¡¡die¡£¡¡Don¡¯t¡¡leave¡¡me¡£¡¡Please£»¡¡Richard¡£¡¡Don¡¯t¡¡die¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡crouched¡¡against¡¡him£»¡¡her¡¡world¡¡ending¡£¡¡Dying¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡think¡¡of¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡other¡¡than¡¡cry¡¡that¡¡she¡¡loved¡¡him¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡dying£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡could¡¡do¡¡nothing¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡it¡£¡¡She¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡his¡¡breathing¡¡slow¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡willed¡¡herself¡¡to¡¡die¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡death¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡e¡£¡¡She¡¡lost¡¡all¡¡sense¡¡of¡¡time¡£¡¡She¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡know¡¡if¡¡she¡¡had¡¡been¡¡there¡¡a¡¡few¡¡minutes£»¡¡or¡¡a¡¡few¡¡hours¡£¡¡She¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡know¡¡what¡¡was¡¡real¡¡anymore¡£¡¡It¡¡all¡¡felt¡¡like¡¡a¡¡nightmare¡£¡¡With¡¡trembling¡¡fingers£»¡¡she¡¡stroked¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡His¡¡skin¡¡was¡¡dead¡¡cold¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®You¡¡would¡¡be¡¡Kahlan¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡spun¡¡around£»¡¡sitting¡¡up£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sound¡¡of¡¡the¡¡woman¡¯s¡¡voice¡¡ing¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡door¡¡to¡¡the¡¡spirit¡¡house¡¡was¡¡closed¡¡again¡£¡¡In¡¡the¡¡darkness£»¡¡a¡¡white£»¡¡spiritlike¡¡glow¡¡towered¡¡over¡¡her¡£¡¡It¡¡appeared¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡spirit£»¡¡a¡¡woman£»¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡clasped¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡watched¡¡with¡¡a¡¡pleasant¡¡smile¡£¡¡Her¡¡hair£»¡¡as¡¡best¡¡as¡¡Kahlan¡¡could¡¡make¡¡of¡¡it£»¡¡was¡¡plaited¡¡in¡¡a¡¡single¡¡braid¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Who¡¡are¡¡you£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡figure¡¡sank¡¡down¡¡to¡¡sit¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¡The¡¡spirit¡¡had¡¡no¡¡clothes¡¡Kahlan¡¡could¡¡make¡¡out£»¡¡but¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡appear¡¡to¡¡be¡¡naked¡¡either¡£¡¡The¡¡woman¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Richard¡£¡¡A¡¡glaze¡¡of¡¡both¡¡longing¡¡and¡¡anguish¡¡came¡¡over¡¡her¡¡fair¡¡features¡£¡¡The¡¡spirit¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡Kahlan¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡am¡¡Denna¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡shock¡¡of¡¡the¡¡name£»¡¡and¡¡her¡¡proximity¡¡to¡¡Richard£»¡¡brought¡¡Kahlan¡¯s¡¡fist¡¡up¡¡in¡¡a¡¡jerk¡£¡¡Lightning¡¡screamed¡¡to¡¡be¡¡released¡£¡¡Before¡¡Kahlan¡¡could¡¡let¡¡it¡¡go£»¡¡Denna¡¡spoke¡¡again¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®He¡¡is¡¡dying¡£¡¡He¡¡needs¡¡us¡£¡¡Both¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡hesitated¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡can¡¡help¡¡him£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡both¡¡can£»¡¡maybe¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡love¡¡him¡¡enough¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¯s¡¡hopes¡¡flared¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡would¡¡do¡¡anything¡£¡¡Anything¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Denna¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡hope¡¡so¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Denna¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡to¡¡Richard¡¡and¡¡tenderly¡¡stroked¡¡his¡¡chest¡£¡¡Kahlan¡¡was¡¡a¡¡blink¡¡away¡¡from¡¡releasing¡¡the¡¡power¡£¡¡She¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡know¡¡if¡¡Denna¡¡was¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡him£»¡¡or¡¡help¡¡him¡£¡¡She¡¡hoped¡¡against¡¡hope¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡her¡¡only¡¡chance¡¡to¡¡save¡¡Richard¡£¡¡Richard¡¡took¡¡a¡¡deep¡¡breath¡£¡¡Kahlan¡¯s¡¡heart¡¡leapt¡£
¡¡
¡¡Denna¡¡withdrew¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡and¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡®He¡¡is¡¡still¡¡with¡¡you¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡lowered¡¡her¡¡fist¡¡a¡¡little£»¡¡and¡¡wiped¡¡tears¡¡from¡¡her¡¡cheek¡¡with¡¡the¡¡fingers¡¡of¡¡her¡¡other¡¡hand¡£¡¡She¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡like¡¡the¡¡look¡¡of¡¡longing¡¡Denna¡¡had¡¡as¡¡she¡¡watched¡¡Richard¡£¡¡Not¡¡one¡¡bit¡£¡¡¡®How¡¡did¡¡you¡¡get¡¡here£¿¡¡Richard¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡have¡¡called¡¡you£»¡¡you¡¡are¡¡not¡¡his¡¡ancestor¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Denna¡¡turned£»¡¡her¡¡small£»¡¡dreamy¡¡smile¡¡fading¡£¡¡¡®It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡impossible¡¡to¡¡relate¡¡it¡¡to¡¡you¡¡accurately£»¡¡but¡¡perhaps¡¡I¡¡could¡¡explain¡¡it¡¡enough¡¡that¡¡it¡¡would¡¡help¡¡you¡¡to¡¡understand¡£¡¡I¡¡was¡¡in¡¡a¡¡place¡¡of¡¡darkness¡¡and¡¡peace¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡disturbed¡¡as¡¡Darken¡¡Rahl¡¡passed¡¡through¡£¡¡His¡¡passing¡¡through¡¡is¡¡something¡¡that¡¡is¡¡not¡¡supposed¡¡to¡¡happen¡£¡¡As¡¡he¡¡neared£»¡¡I¡¡sensed¡¡that¡¡Richard¡¡had¡¡somehow¡¡called¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡enabled¡¡him¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡from¡¡where¡¡he¡¡was£»¡¡held¡¡by¡¡a¡¡veil£»¡¡and¡¡to¡¡e¡¡here¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡know¡¡Darken¡¡Rahl¡¡all¡¡too¡¡well£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡followed¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡would¡¡never¡¡have¡¡been¡¡able¡¡to¡¡pass¡¡through¡¡my¡¡own¡¡veil£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡latching¡¡on¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡I¡¡was¡¡able¡¡to¡¡e¡¡through£»¡¡too£»¡¡to¡¡follow¡¡in¡¡his¡¡wake¡£¡¡I¡¡came¡¡because¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡what¡¡Darken¡¡Rahl¡¡would¡¡do¡¡to¡¡Richard¡£¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡explain¡¡it¡¡better¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡nodded¡£¡¡She¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡seeing¡¡a¡¡spirit£»¡¡she¡¡was¡¡seeing¡¡a¡¡woman¡¡who¡¡had¡¡taken¡¡Richard¡¡as¡¡her¡¡mate¡£¡¡The¡¡power¡¡boiled¡¡angrily¡¡inside¡¡her¡£¡¡She¡¡struggled¡¡to¡¡put¡¡it¡¡down£»¡¡telling¡¡herself¡¡that¡¡this¡¡was¡¡to¡¡save¡¡Richard¡£¡¡She¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡know¡¡any¡¡other¡¡way£»¡¡she¡¡had¡¡to¡¡let¡¡Denna¡¡help£»¡¡if¡¡she¡¡could¡£¡¡Kahlan¡¡had¡¡said¡¡she¡¡would¡¡do¡¡anything£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡meant¡¡it¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡it¡¡was¡¡not¡¡to¡¡try¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡someone¡¡who¡¡was¡¡already¡¡dead¡£¡¡Someone¡¡she¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡a¡¡thousand¡¡times¡¡and¡¡then¡¡another¡¡thousand¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Can¡¡you¡¡help¡¡him£¿¡¡Can¡¡you¡¡save¡¡him£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®The¡¡Keeper¡¯s¡¡mark¡¡has¡¡been¡¡placed¡¡upon¡¡him¡£¡¡The¡¡mark¡¡will¡¡take¡¡the¡¡holder¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Keeper¡£¡¡If¡¡another¡¯s¡¡hand¡¡is¡¡placed¡¡over¡¡the¡¡mark£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡transfer¡¡to¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡take¡¡them¡¡instead£»¡¡in¡¡his¡¡place¡£¡¡Richard¡¡will¡¡not¡¡then¡¡be¡¡pulled¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Keeper¡£¡¡He¡¡will¡¡live¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡knew¡¡in¡¡that¡¡instant¡¡what¡¡she¡¡must¡¡do¡£¡¡Without¡¡hesitation£»¡¡she¡¡leaned¡¡over¡¡Richard£»¡¡stretching¡¡her¡¡hand¡¡out¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡will¡¡take¡¡the¡¡mark¡£¡¡I¡¡will¡¡go¡¡in¡¡his¡¡place¡¡so¡¡that¡¡he¡¡will¡¡live¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡spread¡¡her¡¡fingers¡¡to¡¡match¡¡the¡¡black¡¡mark¡£¡¡Her¡¡hand¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡scant¡¡inch¡¡above¡¡it¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Kahlan£»¡¡don¡¯t¡¡do¡¡that¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡over¡¡her¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡¡®Why£¿¡¡If¡¡it¡¡will¡¡save¡¡him£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡am¡¡willing¡¡to¡¡go¡¡in¡¡his¡¡place¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡know¡¡you¡¡are£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡is¡¡not¡¡that¡¡simple¡£¡¡We¡¡must¡¡talk¡¡first¡£¡¡It¡¡will¡¡not¡¡be¡¡easy£»¡¡for¡¡either¡¡of¡¡us¡£¡¡It¡¡will¡¡hurt¡¡both¡¡of¡¡us¡¡to¡¡really¡¡help¡¡him¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡reluctantly¡¡sat¡¡back¡¡down¡¡and¡¡nodded¡£¡¡She¡¡would¡¡have¡¡agreed¡¡to¡¡anything£»¡¡paid¡¡any¡¡price£»¡¡even¡¡talking¡¡to¡¡this¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡woman¡£¡¡She¡¡put¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡protectively¡¡on¡¡Richard¡¡as¡¡she¡¡sat¡¡facing¡¡Denna¡£¡¡¡®How¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡who¡¡I¡¡am£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Denna¡¡grinned£»¡¡almost¡¡laughed¡£¡¡To¡¡know¡¡Richard¡¡is¡¡to¡¡know¡¡who¡¡Kahlan¡¡is¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®He¡¡told¡¡you¡¡about¡¡me£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Denna¡¯s¡¡smile¡¡faded¡£¡¡¡®In¡¡a¡¡way¡£¡¡I¡¡heard¡¡your¡¡name¡¡countless¡¡times¡£¡¡When¡¡I¡¡hurt¡¡him¡¡until¡¡he¡¡was¡¡delirious£»¡¡he¡¡cried¡¡your¡¡name¡£¡¡Never¡¡another¡£¡¡Not¡¡his¡¡mother¡¯s£»¡¡nor¡¡his¡¡father¡¯s¡£¡¡Only¡¡yours¡£¡¡I¡¡hurt¡¡him¡¡until¡¡he¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡know¡¡his¡¡own¡¡name£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡always¡¡knew¡¡yours¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡would¡¡find¡¡a¡¡way¡¡to¡¡be¡¡with¡¡you¡¡despite¡¡your¡¡Confessor¡¯s¡¡power¡£¡¯¡¡A¡¡little¡¡of¡¡her¡¡smile¡¡came¡¡back¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡think¡¡Richard¡¡could¡¡find¡¡a¡¡way¡¡to¡¡make¡¡the¡¡sun¡¡rise¡¡at¡¡midnight¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Why¡¡are¡¡you¡¡telling¡¡me¡¡this£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Because¡¡I¡¡am¡¡going¡¡to¡¡ask¡¡you¡¡to¡¡help¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡want¡¡you¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡exactly¡¡how¡¡much¡¡you¡¡will¡¡be¡¡hurting¡¡him¡¡before¡¡you¡¡agree¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡You¡¡must¡¡understand¡¡what¡¡it¡¡is¡¡you¡¡will¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡in¡¡order¡¡to¡¡save¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡won¡¯t¡¡trick¡¡you¡¡into¡¡doing¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡with¡¡your¡¡full¡¡knowledge¡£¡¡Only¡¡in¡¡that¡¡way¡¡will¡¡you¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡save¡¡him¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡don¡¯t¡¡understand£»¡¡you¡¡could¡¡fail¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®He¡¡is¡¡in¡¡danger¡¡from¡¡more¡¡than¡¡this¡¡mark¡£¡¡He¡¡is¡¡sick¡¡with¡¡a¡¡madness£»¡¡madness¡¡I¡¡put¡¡there¡£¡¡It¡¡will¡¡kill¡¡him¡¡as¡¡surely¡¡as¡¡will¡¡the¡¡Keeper¡¯s¡¡mark¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Richard¡¡is¡¡probably¡¡the¡¡most¡¡sane¡¡person¡¡I¡¡know¡£¡¡He¡¡has¡¡no¡¡madness¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡the¡¡mark¡¡we¡¡must¡¡remove¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®He¡¡is¡¡marked¡¡in¡¡other¡¡ways£º¡¡he¡¡has¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡I¡¡knew¡¡from¡¡the¡¡moment¡¡he¡¡came¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¡see¡¡it¡¡in¡¡him¡¡now£»¡¡the¡¡aura¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡it¡¡is¡¡killing¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡know¡¡his¡¡time¡¡is¡¡very¡¡short¡£¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡how¡¡long£»¡¡only¡¡that¡¡there¡¡is¡¡not¡¡much¡¡time¡¡left¡£¡¡We¡¡can¡¯t¡¡save¡¡him¡¡from¡¡the¡¡Keeper¡¡just¡¡to¡¡have¡¡him¡¡die¡¡anyway¡¡from¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡nodded¡¡as¡¡she¡¡wiped¡¡her¡¡nose¡¡on¡¡the¡¡back¡¡of¡¡her¡¡hand¡£¡¡The¡¡Sisters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Light¡¡say¡¡they¡¡can¡¡save¡¡him¡£¡¡They¡¡say¡¡he¡¡must¡¡put¡¡a¡¡collar¡¡on¡¡to¡¡save¡¡himself¡£¡¡Richard¡¡will¡¡not¡¡put¡¡it¡¡on¡£¡¡He¡¡told¡¡me¡¡what¡¡you¡¡did¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡why¡¡he¡¡won¡¯t¡¡wear¡¡a¡¡collar¡£¡¡But¡¡Richard¡¡is¡¡not¡¡crazy¡£¡¡He¡¡will¡¡see¡¡in¡¡the¡¡end¡¡what¡¡must¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡and¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡way¡¡he¡¡is¡£¡¡He¡¡will¡¡see¡¡the¡¡truth¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Denna¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡¡®What¡¡he¡¡told¡¡you¡¡does¡¡not¡¡scratch¡¡the¡¡surface¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡You¡¡cannot¡¡imagine¡¡what¡¡he¡¡has¡¡not¡¡told¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡his¡¡madness¡£¡¡He¡¡will¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¯s¡¡anger¡¡boiled¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡think¡¡it¡¡would¡¡be¡¡wise¡¡for¡¡you¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡doesn¡¯t¡¡want¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡me£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡think¡¡I¡¡should¡¡know¡¡it¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®You¡¡must¡£¡¡You¡¡must¡¡understand¡¡him¡¡if¡¡you¡¡are¡¡to¡¡help¡¡him¡£¡¡In¡¡some¡¡ways£»¡¡I¡¡understand¡¡him¡¡better¡¡than¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡taken¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡of¡¡madness£»¡¡and¡¡beyond¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡seen¡¡him¡¡in¡¡a¡¡wasteland¡¡of¡¡insanity¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡have¡¡stood¡¡over¡¡him¡¡and¡¡held¡¡him¡¡there¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡glared¡£¡¡She¡¡recognized¡¡the¡¡look¡¡in¡¡Denna¡¯s¡¡eyes¡¡when¡¡she¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Richard¡£¡¡She¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡trust¡¡her¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡love¡¡him¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Denna¡¡stared¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡¡®He¡¡loves¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¡used¡¡that¡¡love¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡took¡¡him¡¡to¡¡the¡¡brink¡¡of¡¡death¡¡and¡¡held¡¡him¡¡there£»¡¡on¡¡the¡¡cusp¡£¡¡Others¡¡would¡¡bring¡¡a¡¡man¡¡to¡¡the¡¡edge¡¡faster£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡hold¡¡him¡¡there¡£¡¡They¡¡always¡¡went¡¡one¡¡step¡¡too¡¡far£»¡¡too¡¡quickly£»¡¡and¡¡killed¡¡them£»¡¡ending¡¡it¡¡before¡¡they¡¡could¡¡extract¡¡the¡¡most¡¡exquisite¡¡pain£»¡¡i