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Richard slid the sword back into its scabbard； put back the anger； feeling the gloom seep through him once again as he resumed his scan of the countryside and sky。 He stood and walked around to relieve the cramps in his legs； then sat once more against the rock； inconsolable。
An hour before his watch was due to end； he heard quiet footsteps he recognized。 It was Zedd； a piece of cheese in each hand； with no cloak； wearing only his simple robes。
〃What are you doing up？ It's not time for your watch yet。〃
〃I thought you might like the pany of a friend。 Here； I brought you a piece of cheese。〃
〃No； thanks。 About the cheese； I mean。 I could use the friend part； though。〃
Zedd sat down next to him； folded his bony knees up to his chest； and pulled the robes down over them； making himself the center of a little tent。 〃What's the problem？〃 Richard shrugged。 〃Kahlan； I guess。〃 Zedd didn't say anything。 Richard looked over。 〃She's the first thing in my mind when I wake and the last thing in my mind before I sleep。 I've never felt like this before； Zedd； never felt this alone before。〃
〃I see。〃 Zedd laid the cheese on a rock。
〃I know she likes me； but I get the feeling she's keeping me at arm's length。 When we were setting up camp tonight； I told her that if it had been her； like Chase today； I would have e after her。 A while ago she came out here to see me。 She said she didn't want me ing after her； but she meant more than that。 She meant she didn't want me ing after her； period。〃
〃Good girl；〃 Zedd said under his breath。
〃What？？ 。
〃I said she's a good girl。 We all like her。 But Richard； she is other things； too。 She has responsibilities。〃
Richard frowned at the old man。 〃And what are those other things？〃
Zedd leaned back a little。 〃It's not for me to say。 She is the one to answer that。 I would have thought she would have done so by now。〃 The old man put his arm around Richard's big shoulders。 〃If it makes you feel any better； the only reason she hasn't is because she cares for you more than she should。 She is afraid of losing your friendship。〃
〃You know about her secrets； and Chase knows； I can see it in his eyes。 Everyone knows but me。 She tried to tell me tonight；。 but she couldn't。 She shouldn't worry about losing my friendship。 That won't happen。〃
〃Richard； she is a wonderful person； but she is not the one for you。 She can't be that。〃
〃Why？〃
Zedd plucked something off his sleeve as he spoke； avoiding Richard's eyes。 〃I gave my word I would allow her to be the one to tell you。 You will just have to trust me； she cannot be what you want。 Find another girl。 The land is awash with them。 Why； half of all the people are girls； there are plenty to pick from。 Pick another。〃
Richard drew his knees up； folding his arms across them； looking away。 〃All right。〃 Zedd looked up in surprise； then smiled and patted his young friend's back。
〃All right on one condition；〃 Richard added as he scanned the boundary woods。 〃You answer one question； honestly； toasted toads honest。 If you can answer yes； then I will do as you ask。〃
〃One？ Only one question？〃 Zedd asked cautiously； putting a bony finger to his thin bottom lip。 。
〃One question。〃
Zedd thought about it a minute。 〃Very well。 One question。〃
Richard turned his fierce eyes to the old man。 〃Before you married your wife； if someone…tell you what； let's make it even easier for you to say yes…if someone you trusted； a friend； someone you loved like a father； if that person had e to you； and said pick another； would you have done so？〃
Zedd looked away from Richard's eyes and took a deep breath。 〃Bags。 You would think by now I would have learned not to let a Seeker ask me a question。〃 He picked up the cheese and took a bite。
〃I thought as much。〃
Zedd threw the cheese away into the darkness。 〃That doesn't change the facts； Richard！ It will not work between you two。 I'm not saying this to hurt you。 I love you like a son。 If I could change the way the world works； I would。 I wish it were not so； for your sake； but there is no way for it to work。 Kahlan knows it； and if you try； you will only hurt her。 I know you don't want that。〃
Richard's voice was calm； quiet。 〃You said it yourself。 I am the Seeker。 There is a way； and I will find it。〃
Zedd shook his head sadly。 〃I wish it were so； my boy； but it is not。〃
〃Then what am I to do？〃 Richard asked in a broken whisper。
His old friend put his skinny arms around him and hugged him close in the darkness。 Richard felt numb。
〃Just be her friend； Richard。 That's what she needs。 But you can be nothing more。〃
Richard nodded in Zedd's arms。
After a few minutes the Seeker； a suspicious look in his eye； pushed away； holding the wizard at arm's length。
〃What is it you came out here for？〃 〃To sit with a friend。〃
Richard shook his head。 〃You came out here as wizard； away from the others； to counsel the Seeker。 Now； tell me why you're here。〃
〃Very well。 I came here in my capacity as wizard； to tell the Seeker he almost made a serious mistake today。〃
Richard took his hands from Zedd's shoulders； but continued to hold his gaze。 〃I know that。 A Seeker cannot put himself at risk when by so doing he puts everyone else at risk。〃
〃But you were going to do it anyway；〃 Zedd pressed。
〃When you named me Seeker； you took the bad with the good。 I'm new at the responsibilities of the position。 It's hard for me to see a friend in trouble and not help。 I know I can't afford that luxury anymore。 Consider me reprimanded。〃
Zedd smiled。 〃Well； that part went well。〃 He sat a minute； his smile faded。 〃But Richard； the issue is bigger than just what happened today。 You must understand that； as Seeker； you may cause the death of innocent people。 In order to succeed in stopping Rahl you may have to turn away from those who might be saved with your help。 A soldier knows that on the battlefield； if he bends to help a downed rade； he might take a sword in the back； and so； if he is to win； he must fight on despite the cries for help from his fellows。 You must be able to do this to win； it may be the only way。 You must steel yourself to it。 This is a struggle for survival； and in this battle the ones crying for help probably won't be soldiers； but innocents。 Darken Rahl will kill anyone to win。 Those who fight on his side will do the same。 You may have to do the same。 Like it or not； the aggressor makes the rules。 You must play by them； or you will surely die by them。〃
〃How could anyone fight on his side？ Darken Rahl wants to dominate everyone； to be the master of all。 How could they fight for him？〃
The wizard leaned back against the rock and looked out over the hills； as if seeing more than was there。 His tone was sorrowful。 〃Because； Richard； many people must be ruled to thrive。 In their selfishness and greed； they see free people as their oppressors。 They wish to have a leader who will cut the taller plants so the sun will reach them。 They think no plant should be allowed to grow taller than the shortest； and in that way g