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Unable to get a scream out； her breath caught in her throat； she squeezed Richard's hand。 She had to protect him。 She tried to get up； to throw herself over him so they couldn't touch him。 But her body wouldn't move。 She realized with horror that it was because hands； hands of the shadow things； were on her。 She struggled； struggled to get up； to protect Richard。 Her mind raced with panic。 Had they already killed her？ Was she dead？ Was she no more than a spirit now？ Unable to move？ The shadow things stared down at her。 Shadow things didn't have faces。 These did。 Mud People faces。
They weren't shadow things； she realized with a wave of relief； the were the ancestors' spirits。 She caught her breath； eased the panic back down。 Relaxed herself。；
〃Who calls this gathering？〃
It was the spirits speaking。 All of them。 Together。 The sound； hollow； flat； dead； almost took her breath away。 But it was the Bird Man's mouth that moved。
〃Who calls this gathering？〃 they repeated。
〃This man does； 〃 she said； 〃this man beside me。 Richard With The Temper〃
They floated between the elders； gathering into the center of the circle。
〃Release his hands。 〃
Kahlan and Savidlin let go of Richard's hands。 The spirits spun in the center of the circle； then； in a rush； they came out in a line； passing through Richard's body。
He inhaled sharply； threw his head back； and screamed in agony as they swept through him。
Kahlan jumped。 The spirits all hovered behind him。 The elders all closed their eyes。
〃Richard！〃
His head came back down。 〃It's all right。 I'm all right；〃 he managed in a hoarse voice； but he was clearly still in pain。
The spirits moved around the circle； behind the elders； then settled into their bodies； both spirit and man； in the same place at the same time。 It gave the elders a soft； indefinite appearance around the edges。 Their eyes e open。
〃Why have you called us？〃 the Bird Man asked； in their hollow； harmonic voices。
She leaned a little toward Richard； keeping her eyes on the Bird Man。 〃They want you to say why you called this gathering。〃
Richard took a few deep breaths； recovering from what they had done to him。
〃I called this gathering because I must find an object of magic before Darken Rahl finds it。 Before he can use it。〃 Kahlan translated as the spirits talked to Richard through the elders。
〃How many men have you killed？〃 Savidlin asked with spirit voices。
Richard answered without hesitation。 〃Two。〃
〃Why？〃 Hajanlet asked in their haunting tones。
〃To keep them from killing me。〃
〃Both？〃
He thought a moment。 〃The first one I killed in self…defense。 The second I killed in defense of a friend。〃
' 〃Do you think the defense of a friend gives you the right to kill？〃 Arbrin's mouth moved this time。
〃Yes。〃
〃Suppose he was going to kill your friend only to defend the life of his friend？〃
Richard took a deep breath。 〃What's the point of the question？〃
〃The point is； according to what you believe； that you think it is justified to kill in the defense of a friend； then if he was killing to defend a friend； he had the right to kill your friend。 He was justified。 Since he was justified； that would void your right； would it not？〃
〃Not all questions have answers。〃
〃Maybe not all questions have answers you like。 〃
〃Maybe。〃
Kahlan could tell by his tone that Richard was getting angry。 All the eyes of the elders； the spirits； were on him。
〃Did you enjoy killing this man？〃
〃Which one？〃
〃The first。 〃
〃No。〃
〃The second。 〃
Richard's jaw muscles tightened。 〃What is the point of these questions？〃
〃All questions have a different reason for being asked 〃
〃And sometimes the reasons have nothing to do with the question？〃
〃Answer the question。 〃 _
〃Only if you first tell me the reason for it。〃 〃You came here to ask us questions。 Shall we ask your reasons？ 〃
〃It would seem you are。〃
〃Answer our question or we will not answer yours。 〃
〃And if I answer it； will you promise to answer mine？〃
〃We are not here to make bargains。 We are here because we were called。 Answer the question or the gathering is over。 〃
Richard took a deep breath and let it out slowly as he stared up at the void。 〃Yes。 I enjoyed killing him； because of the magic of the Sword of Truth。 That is how it works。 If I had killed him in another manner； without the sword； I would not have enjoyed it。〃
〃Irrelevant。 〃
〃What？〃
〃 ‘If' is irrelevant。 ‘Did' is not。 So； now you have given two reasons for killing the second man： to defend a friend； and because you enjoyed it。 Which is the true reason？〃
〃Both。 I killed him to protect a friend's life； and because of the sword； I enjoyed it。〃
〃What if you did not need to kill to protect your friend？ What if you were wrong in your assessment？ What if the life of your friend was not in fact in danger？〃
Kahlan tensed at this question。 She hesitated a moment before translating it。
〃In my mind； the deed is not as important as the intent。 I truly believed my friend's life was in danger； therefore I felt justified in killing to protect her。 I had only a moment to act。 In my mind； indecision would have resulted in her death。
〃If the spirits think I was wrong in killing； or that the one I killed may have been justified； voiding my right； then we have a disagreement。 Some problems have no clear solution。 Some problems don't provide the time to analyze them。 I had to act with my heart。 As a wise man once told me； every murderer thinks he is justified in killing。 I will kill to prevent myself or a friend； or an innocent； from being killed。 If you feel that is wrong； tell me now so we can put an end to these painful questions； and I may go in search of the answers I need。〃
〃As we said； we are not here to make bargains。 You said that to your mind； the deed is not as important as the intent。 Is there anyone you have intended to kill； but have not？〃
The sound of their voices was painful； Kahlan felt as if it was burning her skin。
〃You have misinterpreted the context of what I said。 I said I killed because I thought I had to； that I thought his intent was to kill her； therefore I thought I had to act or she would die。 Not that my intent equates to the deed。 There is probably a long list of people who； at one time or another； I have wanted to kill。〃
〃If you wanted to； why have you not done so？〃
〃Many reasons。 For some； I had not true justification； it was only a mind game； a fantasy； to counter the sting of an injustice。 For some； though I felt justified； I was able to escape without killing。 Some； well； it just turned out that I didn't that's all。〃
〃The five elders？〃
Richard sighed。 〃Yes。〃
〃But you intended to。 〃
Richard didn't answer。
〃Is this a case where the intent is as the deed？〃
Richard swallowed hard。 〃In my heart； yes。 That I intended it wounds me almost as much as the deed would have。〃
〃So then we have not； it would