y passed around a basket and we took out a spirit frog； and rubbed the slime from its back onto our skin。 。。。’
‘Frogs。’ Sister Verna looked over。 ‘Red frogs； yes？’
‘Yes。 Red spirit frogs。’
With a smile she looked back ahead。 ‘I know of them。 And it made your skin tingle； yes？ And it is then you saw spirits？’
That’s a pretty simplistic version； but I guess you could distill it down like that。 What are you trying to say？’
‘You have traveled the Midlands often？ You have seen many of her peoples？’
‘No。 I’m from Westland。 I don’t know much about the people of the Midlands。’
She nodded to herself again。 There are many peoples in the Midlands； unbelievers； who do not know of the light of the Creator。 They worship all sorts of things。 Idols and spirits and such。 They are savages who hold to customs of worship centered around these false beliefs。 They mostly have one thing in mon。 They use sacred food or drink to help them ‘see’ their ‘spirit protectors。’’
She looked over to make sure he was paying attention。 The Mud People apparently use the substance on the red frogs to help them have these visions of what they wish to see。’
‘Visions？’
‘The Creator has placed many plants and animals in our world for us to use。 The power of these things work in invisible ways。 A tea； for example； of the bark of willow can help reduce a fever。 We can’t see it work； but we know it does。 There are many things that if eaten will make us sick； even kill us。 The Creator gave us minds to learn the difference。 There are some things that if eaten； or in the case of the red frogs； rubbed into our skin； will make us see things； just as we see things when we dream。
‘Savages who don’t know better think the things they see are real。 That is what happened to you。 You rubbed the slime of a red frog into your skin and it gave you visions。 Your rightful fear of the Nameless One made it all the more real to you。 If these ‘spirits’ were real； why would you need to use some special plant； or food； or drink； or in this case； red frogs； to see and talk to them？
‘Please don’t think I am mocking you； Richard。 The visions can seem very real。 When you are under their influence； they can seem as real as anything。 But they are not。’
Richard was reluctant to believe the Sister’s explanation； but he understood what she was talking about。 From a young age； Zedd had taken him into the woods to find special plants to help people： aum to take away pain and help minor wounds heal faster； and wattle root to ease the pain of deeper wounds。 Zedd had showed him other plants that would help fevers； digestion； the pain of childbirth； dizzy spells； and he had also told him about plants to avoid； plants that were dangerous； and plants that would make people see things that weren’t there： visions。
But he didn’t think he had imagined Darken Rahl。 ‘He burned me。’ Richard tapped his shirt where the bandage was。 ‘I couldn’t have been having visions。 Darken Rahl was there； he reached out and touched me； and it burned my skin。 Pm not imagining that。’
The Sister gave a little shrug。 ‘That could… be one of two things。 After you rubbed the frog on your skin； you couldn’t see the room you were in； could you？’
‘No。 It just seemed to disappear into a dark void。’
‘Well； see it or not； it was still there。 And I’m sure the savages would have had a fire burning when you had this gathering。 And when you were burned； you were not sitting in the same place； but you were standing； moving about； yes？’
‘Yes；’ he admitted reluctantly。
She pursed her lips。 ‘In the deluded state you were in； you probably fell and burned yourself on a stick in the fire and imagined that it was this spirit doing the burning。’
Richard was beginning to feel decidedly foolish。 Could the Sister be right？ Was it all this simple？ Was he really this gullible？
‘You said it could be two things。 What is the other？’
The Sister rode in silence for a moment。 When her voice came； it came lower； darker； than it had before。 The Nameless One always seeks to have us side with him。 Though he is locked behind the veil； his tentacles can still reach into this world。 He can still harm us。 He is dangerous。 The dark side is dangerous。 When ignorant people dabble in things dark； they can call forth danger； call forth the attention of the Nameless One or his minions。 It is possible you really were touched； burned； by one of the evil ones。’ She glanced over。 There are dangerous things people are too foolish to avoid。 Sometimes； those things can kill。’
Her voice brightened a bit。 That is one of our jobs； trying to teach those who have not yet seen the light of the Creator to go toward that light； and stay away from the things dark； and dangerous。’
Richard couldn’t think of anything to counter the Sister’s explanations of events。 The things she said made sense。 If she were right； that would mean that Kahlan wasn’t really in danger； that Kahlan was safe。 He wanted to believe that。 He desperately wanted to believe that。 But still 。。。
‘I will admit that you could be right； but I’m not sure。 There seems to be more to it than I can put into words。’
‘I understand； Richard。 It’s hard to admit we have been wrong。 No one wants to admit they have been tricked； or made to look the fool。 That view of ourselves hurts。 But part of growing； learning； is being able to hold the truth above all else； even when it means we must admit to having held foolish ideas。
‘Please believe me； Richard； I do not see you as a fool for having believed as you did。 Your fear was understandable。 The mark of a wise person is being able to reach beyond for the truth； to admit they can learn more than they already know。’
‘But all of these things are connected 。。。’
‘Are they？ A wise person doesn’t string together the beads of unrelated events into a necklace simply to have something they wish to see。 A wise person sees the truth even if it is something unexpected。 That is the most beautiful necklace to wear … the truth。’
‘The truth；’ he muttered to himself。 He was the Seeker。 The truth was what the Seeker was all about。 It was woven in gold wire into the hilt of his sword： the Sword of Truth。 Something about the things that had happened were more than he could put into words for her。 Could it be as she said？ Could he simply be fooling himself？
He remembered the Wizard’s First Rule： people will believe anything； either because they want it to be true； or are afraid it might be。 He knew from experience that he was as susceptible to it as anyone else。 He wasn’t above believing a lie。
He had believed Kahlan loved him。 He had believed she would never do anything to hurt him。 And she had sent him away。 Richard felt the lump rising in his throat again。
‘I’m telling you the truth； Richard。 I am here to help you。’ He didn’t answer。 He didn’t believe her。 As if to answer his thoughts； she asked； ‘How are your headaches？’
The question stunned him。 Not the question so much as the realization。 ‘They’re 。。。 gone。 The headache is pletely gone。’
Sister Verna smiled and nodded in satisfaction。 ‘As I promised you； the Rada’Han would take away the headache。 We only want to help you； Richard。’
His eyes turned to watch her。 ‘You also said the collar is to control me。’
‘So we may teach you； Richard。 You must have a person’s attention to teach them。 That’s all it is for。’
‘And to hurt me。 You said it is to give me pain。’
She shrugged； opening her palms to the sky； the reins woven through her fingers。 ‘I have just given you pain。 I showed you how you were believing in something foolish。 Does that not give you pain？ Does it not hurt you to learn you have been wrong？ But isn’t it better to know the truth than to believe a lie？ Even if it hurts？’
He looked away； thinking of the truth of Kahlan making him put on a collar； sending him away。 That truth hurt more than anything： the truth that he wasn’t good enough for her。 ‘I guess so。 But I don’t like wearing a coll