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〃You said five wizards。 How many are there？〃
〃There were seven： the great wizard and his six students。 The old one has vanished； one of the others sold his services to a queen； a very dishonorable thing for a wizard to do。〃 She paused； considering that a moment。 〃And as I told you before； the five others are dead。 Before they died they had the whole of the Midlands searched； but the great one was not to be found。 He is not in the Midlands。〃
〃So they believed him to be in Westland？〃
Kahlan dropped the spoon in the empty pot。 〃Yes。 He is here。〃
〃And they thought this great wizard could stop Darken Rahl； even though they could not？〃 Something was wrong with this story； and Richard wasn't sure he wanted to know what was ing next。
〃No；〃 she said after a pause； 〃he does not have the power to go against Darkeh Rahl either。 What they wanted； what we need to save and keep us all from what will be； is for the great wizard to make the appointment only he can make。〃
By the care with which she was choosing her words； he knew she was dancing around secrets he was not to ask about； so he didn't； and instead asked； 〃Why didn't they e after him themselves； and ask him to do it？〃
〃Because they feared he would say no； and they did not have the power to force him。〃
〃Five wizards did not have the power of this one？〃
She shook her head with a sad smile。 〃They were his students； ones who wanted to be wizards。 They were not born wizards； born with the gift。 The great one was born to a father who was a wizard and a mother who was a sorceress。 It is in his blood； not just his head。 They could never be the wizard he is。 They simply did not have the power to make him do what they wanted。〃 She fell silent
〃And 。 。 。〃 He didn't say anything else。 With his silence he let her know his next question； and that he would have the answer to it。
At last； she gave him the answer in a soft whisper。
〃And so they sent me； because I do。〃
The fire crackled and hissed。 He could feel the tension in her； and he knew she had gone as far with that answer as she would on the subject； so he remained still to let her feel safe。 Without looking over； he put his hand on her forearm； and she put her other hand over his。
〃How are you to know this wizard？〃
〃I only know I must find him； and soon； or we are all lost。〃
Richard thought in silence。 〃Zedd will help us；〃 he said at last。 〃He's a cloud reader。 Finding lost people is what a cloud reader does。〃
Kahlan gave him a suspicious look。 〃That sounds like magic。 There is not supposed to be any magic in Westland。〃
〃He says it's not； that anyone can learn。 He's always trying to teach me。 He mocks me whenever I say it looks like it will rain。 His eyes get real big and he says； ‘Magic！ You must have magic； my boy； to read the clouds and know the future so。' 〃
Kahlan laughed。 It was a good sound to hear。 He didn't want to press her further even though the weave of her story had many loose threads； there was much she wasn't telling him。 At least he knew more than he did before。 The important thing was to find the wizard and then get away； another quad would be ing for her。 They would have to go west while the wizard did whatever it was he had to do。
She opened her waist pouch and pulled something out。 Untying a string； she laid back the folds of a waxed cloth that held a tan substance。 Dipping her finger in it； she turned to him。 〃This will help the fly bites heal。 Turn your head。〃
The ointment soothed the sting。 He recognized the fragrances of some of the plants and herbs it was made from。 Zedd had taught him to make a similar ointment； but with aum； that would take pain from flesh wounds。 When finished with him； she put some on herself。 He held out his sore red hand。
〃Here； put some on this； too。〃
〃Richard！ What have you done？〃 〃I was stuck by a thorn； this morning。〃
She dabbed the ointment carefully on his wound。 〃I have never seen a thorn do this。〃
〃It was a big thorn。 I'm sure I'll be better by morning。〃
The ointment didn't help the pain as much as he had hoped； but he told her that it did； not wanting to worry her。 His hand was nothing pared to the things she had to worry about。 He watched as she retied the string around the little package and replaced it in her waist pouch。 Her forehead was creased in thought。
〃Richard； are you afraid of magic？〃
He thought carefully before answering。 〃I was always fascinated by it； it sounded exciting。 But now I know there is magic to fear。 But I would guess it's like people： some you stay clear of and some you are fortunate to know。〃
Kahlan smiled； apparently satisfied with his answer。 〃Richard； before I can sleep； there is something ；l must tend to。 It is a creature of magic。 If you would not be afraid； I will let you see it。 The opportunity is a rare one。 Few have ever seen it； and few ever will。 But you must promise me you will leave and take a walk when I ask； and not ask me any more questions when you return。 I am very tired and must sleep。〃
Richard smiled at the honor。 〃Promise。〃
Opening her waist pouch once more； Kahlan withdrew a small round bottle with a stopper。 Blue and silver lines spiraled around the fat part。 There was light inside。
Her green eyes came to his。 〃The creature is a night wisp。 Her name is Shar。 A night wisp cannot be seen in the day； only at night。 Shar is part of the magic that helped me cross the boundary； she was my guide。 Without her； I would have been lost。〃
Kahlan's eyes filled with tears； but her voice remained steady and calm。 〃Tonight； she dies。 She can live no longer away from her home place and the others of her kind； and she does not have the strength to cross the boundary again。 Shar has sacrificed her life to help me because if Darken Rahl succeeds； all her kind； among others； will perish。〃
Pulling the stopper free； Kahlan placed the little bottle in the flat of her palm and held it out between them
A tiny flare of light lifted clear of the bottle； floating up into the cool； dim air of the wayward pine； giving everything a silvery cast。 The light softened as the wisp came to a stop in the air between them； hovering。 Richard was astonished。 His mouth hung open as he watched； transfixed。
〃Good evening； Richard Cypher；〃 it said in a tiny little voice。
〃Good evening to you； Shar。〃 His own voice was not much more than a whisper。
〃Thank you for helping Kahlan today。 In so doing you are also helping my kind。 If you ever need the help of the night wisps； say my name and they will help you； for no enemy may know it。〃
〃Thank you； Shar； but the Midlands are the last place I would want to go。 I'll help Kahlan find the wizard； but then I must take us west and get us safely away from those who would kill us。〃
The night wisp seemed to turn in the air for a time； considering。 The silvery light felt warm and safe on his face。
〃If that is what you wish； then you must do so；〃 Shar said。 Richard felt relieved。 The tiny point of light spun in the air before them again。
Shar spun to a stop