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〃In one week； on the first day of winter； I'm going to open one of the boxes。 I have been able to learn； from sources other than the Book of Counted Shadows； the same sources that told me how I might remove the cover； how to tell which box it is that would kill me。 Beyond that； I will have to guess。 If I open the right one； I will rule unchallenged。 If I open the other； the world will be destroyed。〃
〃You would let that happen？〃
Darken Rahl's eyebrows lifted as he leaned toward Richard。 〃One world； or no world。 That is the way it shall be。〃
〃I don't believe you。 You don't know which box will destroy you。〃
〃Even if I were lying； I would still have two chances in three of having my way。 You would have only one in three of it working out in your favor。 Not good odds； for you。 But； I'm not lying。 Either the world is destroyed； or I rule it。 You must decide which you would rather have happen。 If you don't help me； and I open the wrong box； I will be destroyed； along with everyone else； including those you care for。 If you don't help me； and I open the one I want； then I will turn Kahlan over to Constance； for training。 A good long training。 You will watch the whole thing before I kill you。 Then Kahlan will bear me a son； an heir。 A son who will be a Confessor。〃
Richard went cold with pain worse than any Denna had given him。 〃You are trying to make me an offer of some sort？〃
Rahl nodded。 〃If you e back in time； and help me； you will be permitted to go about your life。 I will let you be。〃
〃What about Kahlan？〃
〃She will live here； in the People's Palace； and be treated like a queen。 She will have every fort any woman could' have； the kind of life a Confessor is used to。 Something you could never provide her。 She will live a life of peace and safety； and she will bear me the Confessor son I wish。 Either way； she will bear me a son。 That is my choice。 Your choice is how： as Constance's pet； or as a queen。 So you see？ I think you will be back。 And if I am wrong。。。〃 He shrugged。 〃One world； or no world。〃
Richard could hardly breathe。 〃I don't think you know which box will destroy you。〃
〃You will have to decide what you will believe。 I feel no need to convince you。〃 His expression…darkened。 〃Choose wisely； my young friend。 You may not like the choices I have given you； but you will like the results of not helping me even less。 Not all choices in life are ones you would like； but those are all that are presented to you。 Sometimes you must choose what is better for the ones you love than yourself。〃
〃I still don't think you know which box will kill you；〃 Richard Whispered。
〃Think what you will； but ask yourself if you are willing to bet Kahlan's future with Constance on what you think。 Even if you were right； it still gives you only one chance in three。〃
Richard felt empty； devastated。 〃Am I free to go now？〃
〃Well； there are a few other matters you may want to know about。〃
Richard felt himself abruptly paralyzed； as if invisible hands were gripping him。 He couldn't move a muscle。 Darken Rahl reached into Richard's pocket and took out the leather pouch with the night stone。 Richard fought against the force that held him； but could not move。 Rahl dumped the night stone in…his hand。 He held it up in his palm； smiling。
Shadow things began to materialize。 They gathered around Rahl； their numbers growing。 Richard wished he could back away； but he couldn't move。
〃Time to go home； my friends。〃
The shadows began swirling around Rahl； faster and faster； until they were a blur of gray。 A howl rose as they were sucked into the night stone in a whirl of shadows and shapes。 Silence。 They were gone。 The night stone turned to ash in Rahl's palm。 He blew on it and the ash puffed into the air。
〃The Old One has been checking on you； using the night stone to find where you are。 The next time he searches； he is going to have a very unpleasant experience。 He is going to find himself in the underworld。〃
Richard was furious at what Darken Rahl was doing to Zedd； and he was furious that he couldn't move； that he was helpless and could only watch。
Richard relaxed his mind； shed the effort of trying to move； and replaced it with calm。 He let his mind be empty； let himself be soft； limp。 The force melted away。 He took a step forward； free of the grip that had held him。
Rahl smiled warmly。 〃Very good； my boy。 You know how to break a wizard's web； at least a little one。 But very good nonetheless。 The Old One chooses his Seekers well。〃 He nodded
〃But you are more than a Seeker。 You have the gift。 I look forward to the day we will be on the same side。 I will enjoy having you around。 The ones I have to deal with are very limited。 After the world is joined； I will teach you more； if you wish。〃
〃We will never be on the same side。 Never。〃
〃That is your choice； Richard。 I bear no ill will toward you。 I hope we will bee friends。〃 Rahl studied Richard's face。 〃There is one more thing。 You may stay in the People's Palace； or you may leave if you wish。 My guards will acmodate you。 You will； however； have a wizard's web around you。 Unlike the one you just broke； it will not affect you； but those who see you； and therefore you will not be able to break it。 It's called an enemy web。 All will see you as their enemy。 That means that when your allies see you； they will see an enemy。 Those who honor me will see you as yourself； since you are my enemy； for the time being； and therefore already their enemy。 At least for now。 But those who are your friends will see you as the person they fear most； their worst enemy。 I would like you to see the way people think of me； see the world through my eyes； see how unjustly I am regarded。〃
Richard didn't have to try to hold back the anger； there was none。 He felt an odd sort of peace。 〃Am I free to go now？〃
〃Of course； my boy。〃
〃What about Mistress Denna？〃
〃Once you leave this room； you will be back under her power。 She still controls the magic of your sword。 Once a Mord…Sith has your magic； it is hers to keep。 I cannot take it from her to give it back to you。 You must get it back yourself。〃
〃Then how am I free to leave？〃
〃Isn't it obvious？ If you want to leave； you must kill her。〃
〃Kill her！〃 Richard was stunned。 〃Don't you think if I could kill her； I would have done so by now？ Do you think I would have endured what she has done to me if I could have killed her？〃
Darken Rahl smiled a little smile。 〃You have always been able to kill her。〃
〃How？〃
〃There is nothing that exists that has only one side。 Even a piece of paper； thin as it is； has two sides。 Magic is not one dimensional either。 You have been looking at only one side of it； most people do。 Look at the whole。〃 He pointed at the bodies of his two guards。 The guards Richard had killed。 〃She controls your magic； yet you did this。〃
〃But that's different； it won't work against her。〃
Rahl nodded。 〃Yes； it will。 But you must be its master； half measures will get you in a lot of trouble。 She controls you with one dimension of your magic； the side