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Richard tried to swallow the lump in his throat as the memory of that horror came back to him。 A man who had imagined their father had cheated him lost his temper and knocked a lamp off the table as Richard and his brother slept in the back bedroom。 While the man dragged his father outside； beating him； his mother pulled Richard and his brother from the burning house； then ran back inside to save something； they never knew what； and was burned alive。 Her screams brought the man to his senses； and he and their father tried to save her； but couldn't。 Filled with guilt and revulsion at what he had caused； the man ran off crying and yelling that he was sorry。
That； his father had told them a thousand times； was the result of a man losing his temper。 Michael shrugged it off； Richard took it to heart。 It had instilled in him a dread of his own anger； and whenever it threatened to e out； he choked it off。
Michael was wrong。 Fire had not killed their mother； anger had。
Arms hanging limply at his side； head bowed； Michael spoke softly again。 〃What can we do about the danger to our families from fire？〃 He shook his head sadly。 〃I do not know； my friends。
〃But； I am forming a mission on the problem； and I urge any concerned citizen to e forward with suggestions。 My door always stands open。 Together we can do something。 Together we will do something。
〃And now my friends； please excuse me； and allow me to go fort my brother； as I am afraid bringing out our personal tragedy was a surprise to him； and I must ask his forgiveness。〃
He hopped down off the stand； the crowd parting to let him through。 A few hands reached out to touch him as he passed。 He ignored them。
Richard stood and glared as his brother strode to him。 The crowd moved away。 Only Kahlan stayed at his side； her fingers lightly touching his arm。 People went back to the food and began talking excitedly among themselves； about themselves； and forgot him。 Richard stood tall and choked off his anger
Smiling； Michael slapped Richard on the shoulder。 〃Great speech！〃 he congratulated himself。 〃What did you think？〃
Richard looked down at the patterns on the marble floor。 〃Why did you bring her death into it？ Why did you have to tell everyone about it？ Why did you use her like that？〃
Michael put an arm around Richard's shoulder。 〃I know it hurts； and I am sorry； but it's for a greater good。 Did you see the tears in their eyes？ The things I've started are going to take us all to a better life； and help Westland grow to prominence。 I believe what I said； we have to look to the challenge of the future with excitement； not fear。〃
〃And what did you mean about the boundaries？〃
〃Things are changing； Richard。 I have to stay ahead of them。〃 The smile was gone。 〃That's all I meant。 The boundaries won't last forever。 I don't think they were ever meant to。 We all have to be ready to face up to that。〃
Richard changed the subject。 〃What have you found out about Father's murder？ Have the trackers picked up anything？〃
Michael took his arm back。 〃Grow up； Richard。 George was an old fool。 He was always picking up things that didn't belong to him。 He probably got caught with something that belonged to the wrong person。 A person with a bad temper； and a big knife。〃
〃That's not true！ And you know it！〃 Richard hated the way Michael called their father 〃George。〃 〃lie never stole anything in his life！〃
〃Just because the person you take it from is long dead； that doesn't mean you have any right to it。 Someone else obviously wanted it back。〃
〃How do you know all this？〃 Richard demanded。 〃What have you found out？〃
〃Nothing！ It's mon sense。 The house was torn apart！ Someone was looking for something。 They didn't find it； George wouldn't tell them where it was； they killed him。 That's all there is to it。 The trackers said there were no tracks。 We'll probably never know who did it。〃 Michael glared。 〃You had better learn to live with that fact。〃
Richard let out a deep breath。 It made sense； someone was looking for something。 He shouldn't be angry with Michael be… cause he couldn't find out who。 Michael had tried。 Richard wondered how there could be no tracks。
〃I'm sorry。 Maybe you're right； Michael。〃 Another thought struck him。 〃So； it didn't have anything to do with this conspiracy？ It wasn't those men trying to get to you？〃
Michael waved his hand。 〃No； no； no。 It had nothing to do with that。 That problem has been taken care of。 Don't worry about me； I'm safe； everything is all right。〃
Richard nodded。 Michael's face turned to a look of annoyance。
〃So； little brother； how e you're such a mess？ Couldn't you at least clean yourself up？ It's not like you didn't have notice。 You have known about this party for weeks。〃
Before he could answer； Kahlan spoke up。 Richard had forgotten she was still standing next to him。
〃Please forgive your brother； it was not his fault。 He came to guide me into Hartland and I was late in ing。 I pray he is not dishonored in your eyes because of me。〃
Michael's eyes glided down the length of her before returning to her face。 〃And you are？〃
Her back stiffened as she stood tall。 〃I am Kahlan Amnell。〃
Michael gave a slight smile and a small bow of his head。 〃So； you are not my brother's escort； as I thought。 And where have you traveled from？〃
〃It is a small place； far away。 I am sure you would not know of it。〃
Michael didn't challenge the answer； but turned to his brother instead。 〃You will stay the night？〃
〃No。 I have to go see Zedd。 He's been looking for me。〃
Michael's smile melted。 〃You should find better friends。 No good can e of spending your time with that contrary old man。〃 He turned back to Kahlan。 〃You； my dear； will be my guest tonight。〃
〃I have other arrangements；〃 she said warily。
Michael reached around her with both arms； cupped both hands to her bottom and pulled the lower half of her body hard against him。 His leg pressed between her thighs。
〃Change them。〃 His smile was as cold as a winter night。
〃Remove。 Your。 Hands。〃 Her voice was hard and dangerous。 Each stared into the other's eyes
Richard was dumbfounded。 He couldn't believe what his brother was doing。 〃Michael！ Stop it！〃
They both ignored him and continued to confront one another； faces close； eyes locked together。 Richard stood next to them； feeling helpless。 He could sense that both wanted him to stay out of it。 His body tensed； muscles hard； ready to disregard the feeling。
〃You feel good；〃 Michael whispered。 〃I think I could fall in love with you。〃
Kahlan's breathing was slow and restrained。 〃You do not know the half of it。〃 Her voice was even and controlled。 〃Now； remove your hands。〃
When he did not； she slowly placed the fingernail of her first finger on his chest； just below the hollow at the base of his neck。 As they glared at each other； she slowly； ever so slowly； began to drag her nail downward； ripping his flesh open。 Blood ran down skin in rivulets。 For a brief moment； Michael didn't move； but then his eyes could not disguise the pai