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Great。 He had just done his best； and they still didn't have the box； but he was expected； somehow； to find it。 He felt as if he had run square into a wall he hadn't known was there。 They kept walking； but he didn't know where to go next。 ；
The setting sun was golden among golden clouds。 Richard thought he could see something ahead in the distance。 He moved up and walked next to Kahlan。 She was watching it； too。 All the people had disappeared from the road for the night。
It wasn't long before he knew what it was。 It was four horses galloping toward them。 Only one had a rider
CHAPTER 40
RICHARD TOUCHED THE HILT of the sword for reassurance as he watched the four horses raising a cloud of dust that turned golden in the setting sun。 Soon the sound of thundering hooves reached him。 The lone rider bent over his mount； urging him on。 Richard lifted the sword a little in its scabbard； checking that it was clear； then let it drop back。 As the darkly clad rider approached； Richard realized he looked familiar。
〃Chase！〃
The boundary warden brought the horses to a skidding halt in front of them。 He looked down as the dust drifted away。 〃You all look to be well。〃
〃Chase； is it ever good to see you！〃 Richard grinned。 〃How did you find us？〃
He looked insulted。 〃I'm a boundary warden。〃 He thought that was explanation enough。 〃Find what you were after？〃
〃No；〃 Richard admitted with a sigh。 He saw little arms clutching at Chase's sides。 A little face peeked around the black cloak。 〃Rachel？ Is that you？〃
Her face came farther out； a grin spreading on it。 〃Richard！ I'm so happy to see you again。 Isn't Chase wonderful？ He fought a gar and saved me from being eaten。〃
〃Didn't fight him；〃 Chase grumbled。 〃Just put a bolt through his head； that's all。〃
〃But you would have。 You're the bravest man I ever saw。〃
With a pained frown； Chase rolled his eyes。 〃Isn't she just about the ugliest child you have ever seen？〃 He leaned around and looked at her。 〃I can't believe a gar would even want to eat you。〃
Rachel giggled and hugged her arms to his sides。 〃Look； Richard。〃 She put a foot out toward him； showing off a shoe。 〃Chase brought down a buck。 He said it was a mistake； because it was too big； so he traded it to a man； but all the man had to trade were these shoes； and this cloak。 Aren't they wonderful？ And Chase says I can keep them。〃
Richard grinned at her。 〃Yes； that is indeed wonderful。〃 He noticed Rachel's doll and the bundle with the bread nestled between her and Chase。 He also noticed her eyes going to Siddin； as if she had seen him before。
Kahlan put a hand on Rachel's leg。 〃Why did you run off？ You scared us with worry for you。〃
Rachel flinched at Kahlan's touch。 She hugged one arm to Chase and thrust a hand in her pocket。 She didn't answer Kahlan's question； but looked instead toward Siddin。 〃Why do you have him？〃
〃Kahlan rescued him；〃 Richard said。 〃The Queen had him locked up in the dungeon。 That's no place for a child； so she took him out。〃
Rachel looked down at Kahlan。 〃Wasn't the Queen mad？〃
〃I don't allow anyone to hurt children；〃 Kahlan said。 〃Not even a queen。〃
〃Well； don't just stand there staring。 I brought you all horses。 Mount up。 I figured I'd catch you today。 I have a wild boar roasting back at the place you stayed last night； just this side of the Callisidrin。〃
With one hand on the saddle and the other arm holding Siddin； Zedd leapt to a horse。 〃Wild boar！ What kind of fool are you？ Leaving a wild boar roasting unprotected！ Anyone could just e along and take it！〃 〃Why do you think I want you to hurry？ The place is filthy with wolf tracks； though I doubt they'd e near a fire。〃
〃Don't you dare hurt that wolf；〃 Zedd warned。 〃He's a friend of the Mother Confessor。〃
Chase cast an eye to Kahlan； then to Richard； before turning his horse and leading them into the setting sun。 Richard was heartened by having Chase back。 It made him feel； once again； that anything was possible。 After she had mounted； Kahlan took Siddin； the two of them talking and laughing as they rode。
At the camp； Zedd wasted no time before checking the roasting boar； and pronounced it fit to eat。 He shifted his robes and sat down； waiting with a grin on his wrinkled face for someone with a knife to carve dinner。 Siddin； with a grin frozen on his face； too； leaned against Kahlan after she sat down。 Richard and Chase started carving up the boar。 Rachel sat close to Chase's side； watching him； keeping an eye to Kahlan； her doll in her lap； and the loaf of bread； wrapped in the cloth； at her hip。
Richard cut a big piece and handed it to Zedd。 〃So； what happened？ With my brother； I mean。〃
Chase grinned。 〃When I told him the things you told me to tell him； he said that if you were in trouble； he was going to help。 He pulled together the army； and we sent most of them into defensive positions along the boundary； with the wardens manding them。 After the boundary came down he refused to wait behind。 He led a thousand of his best men into the Midlands。 They're all bivouacked up in the Rang'Shada right now； waiting to help you。〃
Richard had stopped carving； frozen in astonishment。 〃Really？ My brother said that？ He came to help？ And with an army？〃
Chase nodded。 〃He said if you're in this； then he is too。〃
Richard felt a pang of regret that he had doubted Michael； and elation that his brother would drop everything to e help。 〃He wasn't angry？〃
〃I thought sure he would be； and give me grief over this； but he only wanted to know about you； what risk you were at； and where you were。 He said he knew you； and if you thought it was this important； then he did too。 He offered to e along； but I wouldn't let him。 He's with his men； probably waiting in his tent right now； pacing back and forth。 I have to tell you； it surprised me too。〃
Richard's eyes were wide in wonder。 〃My brother and a thousand of his men； in the Midlands； e to help me。〃 He looked at Kahlan。 〃Isn't that wonderful？〃 She only smiled at him。
Chase gave him a stern look while he carved。 〃For a while； I thought you were finished； when I saw your trail going into Agaden Reach。〃
Richard looked up。 〃You went into the Reach？〃
〃Do I look stupid？ You don't bee head of the boundary wardens by being stupid。 I started thinking of how I was going to tell Michael you were dead。 Then I found your trail ing out of the Reach。〃 His brow wrinkled together。 〃How did you manage to e out of the Reach alive？〃
Richard gave him a grin。 〃I think the good spirits 。。。〃
Rachel screamed。
Richard and Chase spun with their knives。 Before Chase could use his knife； Richard stopped him。
It was Brophy。 〃Rachel？ Is that you； Rachel？〃
She took her doll's foot from her mouth。 Her eyes were wide。 〃You sound like Brophy。〃
The wolf's tail swished back and forth。 〃That's because I am Brophy！〃 He trotted over to her。 。
〃Brophy； how e you're a wolf？〃
He sat on his haunches in front of her。 〃Because a kind wizard changed me into a wolf。 That was what I wanted to be； and he chan