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hite sword at the end of the road。〃
The guard smiled； put his fist to his heart in salute； and gave a smart bow。
Zedd leaned forward。 〃Richard； the Agiel are magic； they can't simply be destroyed。〃
〃Then help him； Zedd。 Help him destroy them； or lock them away； or something。 All right？ I don't want anyone to ever be hurt by an Agiel again。〃
Zedd gave a little smile and nod。 〃I'd be glad to help with that； my boy。〃 Zedd hesitated； stroking his chin with a long finger； and then spoke softly。 〃Richard； do you really think this is going to work； calling the forces home； having the Westland army help them？〃
〃Probably not。 But you can never tell about your First Rule； and it should gain time until we can get everyone home again； and you can put the boundary back up。 Then we'll be safe once more。 Then we'll be finished with the magic。〃
A roar came from the sky。 Richard looked up to see Scarlet circling。 The red dragon spiraled down through the crisp air。 Men fell back； yelling and scattering as they saw that she was going
816
to land at the base of the steps。 Scarlet fluttered to a landing in front of Richard； Kahlan； Zedd； Chase； and the two children。
〃Richard！ Richard！〃 Scarlet called out； hopping from one foot to another； her wings held out； quivering in excitement。 Her huge； red head swept down to him。 〃My egg hatched！ It's a beautiful little dragon； just as you said it would be！ I want you to e see it！ It's so strong。 I bet it flies within a month。〃 Scarlet seemed suddenly to notice all the men。 Her head scanned about； surveying them。 Her big yellow eyes blinked； her head swept down to Richard。 〃Are we having trouble here？ Do we need some dragon fire？〃
Richard grinned。 〃No。 Everything is fine。〃
〃Well； then； climb up and I'll take you to see the little one。〃
Richard put his arm around Kahlan's waist。 〃If you'll take Kahlan； too； I would love to e。〃
Scarlet eyed Kahlan up and down。 〃If she is with you； she is wele。〃
〃Richard；〃 Kahlan said； 〃what about Siddin？ Weselan and Savidlin will be worried sick over him。〃 Her green eyes gazed deep into his。 She leaned closer； and whispered； 〃And we have unfinished business in the spirit house。 I believe there is still an apple there we have yet to finish。〃 Her arm tightened around his waist； and a little twist of a smile came to her lips。 The shape of the smile caught his breath in his throat。
With difficulty； Richard tore his eyes from her and looked up at Scarlet。 〃This little one was stolen from the Mud People when you took Darken Rahl there。 His mother will be as anxious to have him back as you were to have your young one returned。 After we see your little dragon； could you take us there？〃
Scarlet's big eye peered down at Siddin。 〃Well； I guess I can understand his mother's worry。 Done。 Climb up。〃
Zedd stepped forward； his hands on his hips； his voice incredulous。 〃You would let a man fly upon you？ A red dragon？ You would take him where he wishes to go？〃
Scarlet puffed smoke at the wizard； forcing him to take a step back。 〃A man； no。 This is the Seeker。 He mands me。 I would fly this one to the underworld and back。〃
Richard gripped the spines and climbed onto Scarlet's shoulders as she lowered herself for him。 Kahlan handed Siddin up
Richard put him in his lap and took Kahlan's hand as she swung her leg over Scarlet behind him。 She put her arms around his waist； her hands against his chest； and her head against his shoulder squeezing tightly。
Richard leaned a little toward Zedd。 〃Take care； my friend。〃 He gave his old friend a big smile。 〃The Bird Man will be happy to learn I have finally decided to take a Mud Woman as my wife。 Where will I find you？〃
Zedd reached up with a thin arm and put a hand on Richard's ankle； giving it a pat。 〃I will be in Aydindril。 e to me when you are ready。〃'
Richard gave the wizard his sternest frown； leaning down even more。 〃And then we are going to have a talk。 A long talk。〃
Zedd nodded with a smile。 〃Yes； I expect we will。〃
Richard smiled at Rachel； gave her and Chase a wave； then gave a pat to one of Scarlet's scales。 〃To the sky； my red friend！〃
Scarlet gave a roar of flame as she took to the air； Richard's dreams and joy lifting with her。
…＋
Zedd stood watching the dragon shrinking in the sky； keeping his worries to himself。 Chase stroked Rachel's hair； and then folded his arms as he lifted an eyebrow to the wizard。
〃Gives a lot of orders for a woods guide。〃
Zedd laughed。 〃That he does。〃
A little； bald…headed man came running down the hill of steps； a hand held up； beckoning。 〃Wizard Zorander！ Wizard Zorander！〃 He finally came to a panting halt in front of them。 〃Wizard Zorander。〃
〃What is it？〃 Zedd asked with a frown。
He struggled to catch his breath。 〃Wizard Zorander； there is trouble。〃
〃What sort of trouble？ And who are you？〃
He leaned closer； conspiratorially； lowering his voice。 〃I am the head master of the crypt staff。 There's trouble。〃 His beady eyes darted about： 〃Trouble in the crypt。〃
〃What crypt？〃 The man's eyes looked surprised at the question。 〃Why； the crypt of Panis Rahl； Master Rahl's grandfather； of course。〃
Zedd's brow wrinkled。 〃And what's the trouble？〃
The head master put his fingers nervously to his lips。 〃I didn't see… it myself； Wizard Zorander； but my people would never lie。 Never。 They told me； and they wouldn't lie。〃
〃What is it！〃 Zedd bellowed。 〃What's the trouble！〃
His eyes darted about again； his voice lowered to a whisper。 〃The walls； Wizard Zorander。 The walls。〃
Zedd gritted his teeth。 〃What about the walls？〃
He looked up at the wizard； his eyes wide。 〃They are melting； Wizard Zorander。 The walls in the crypt are melting。〃
Zedd straightened and glared at the man。 〃Bags！ You have white stone on hand； white stone from the quarry of the prophets？〃
The man nodded vigorously。 〃Of course。〃
Zedd reached into his robes； pulling out a small pouch。 〃Seal the opening to the tomb with white stone from the quarry of the prophets。〃
〃Seal it shut？〃 he gasped。
〃Yes。 Seal it shut。 Or the entire palace will melt。〃 He handed the man the pouch。 〃Mix this magic dust with the mortar。 It must be done before the sun sets； understand？ Sealed shut before the sun sets。〃
The man nodded； snatched the pouch from Zedd's hand； and ran back up the steps as fast as his short legs would take him。 Another man； taller； with his hands in the opposite sleeves of his gold…trimmed white robes； passed him as he came down。 Chase glared at Zedd； poking a big finger at the wizard's chest。
〃Panis Rahl； Master Rahl's grandfather？〃
Zedd cleared his throat。 〃Yes； well； we will have to have a talk。〃
The man in the white robes approached。 〃Wizard Zorander； is Master Rahl about？ There are matters to be discussed。〃
Zedd peered up at the dragon disappearing in the sky。 〃Master Rahl will be away for a time。〃
〃But he will return？〃
〃Yes。〃 Zedd looked back to the man's waiting face。 〃Yes； he will return。 You will