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His eyes went from hers to Savidlin； and then back to hers again； before he yielded and angrily thrust the sword back into its scabbard。 Relieved； she turned back to the Mud People as Richard stepped up protectively next to her。 Savidlin and the others had been watching calmly。 They didn't understand the words； but they seemed to grasp the meaning of what had happened。 Savidlin looked away from Richard； to Kahlan。 He spoke in his dialect。
〃Who is this man with the temper？〃
〃His name is Richard。 He is the Seeker of Truth。 〃
Whispers broke out among the other members of the hunting party。 Savidlin's eyes sought Richard's。
〃Strength to Richard； the Seeker。 〃
Kahlan told him what Savidlin had said。 There was still a hot look on his face。
Savidlin stepped up and hit Richard； not with an open hand as he had hit her； but with his fist。 Immediately Richard unleashed a powerful blow of his own that knocked Savidlin from his feet and sent him sprawling on his back。 He lay dazed on the ground with his limbs strewn awkwardly out。 Fists tightened on weapons。 Richard straightened； giving the men a dangerous look that kept them rooted firmly in place。
Savidlin propped himself up on one hand； rubbing his jaw with the other。 A grin spread across his face。 〃None has ever shown such respect for my strength！ This is a wise man。〃
The other men broke out in laughter。 Kahlan held her hand over her mouth； trying to hide her own。 The tension evaporated。
〃What did he say？〃 Richard demanded。
〃He said you have great respect for him； that you are wise。 I think you have made a friend。〃
Savidlin held his hand out for Richard to help him up。 Warily； Richard plied。 Once on his feet； Savidlin slapped Richard on the back； putting an arm around his big shoulders。
〃I am truly glad you recognize my strength； but I hope you do not e to respect me any more。 〃 The men laughed。 〃Among the Mud People； you shall be known as ‘Richard With The Temper。' 〃
Kahlan tried to hold back her laughter while she translated。 The men were still snickering。 Savidlin turned to them。
〃Maybe you men would like to greet my big friend； and have him。 show you his respect for your strength。 〃
They all held their hands out in front of themselves and shook their heads vigorously。
〃No； 〃 one of them said between fits of laughter； 〃he has already shown you enough respect for all of us。〃
He turned back to Kahlan。 〃As always； Confessor Kahlan is wele among the Mud People。 〃 Without looking over； he gave a nod of his head； indicating Richard。 〃Is he your mate？〃
〃No！ 〃
Savidlin tensed。 〃Then you have e here to choose one of our men？〃
〃No； 〃 she said； her voice regaining its calmness。
Savidlin looked greatly relieved。 〃The Confessor chooses dangerous traveling panions。 〃 〃Not dangerous to me； only to those who would think to harm me。 〃
Savidlin smiled and nodded； then looked Kahlan up and down。
〃You wear odd things。 Different from before。〃
〃Underneath； I am the same as before；〃 Kahlan said as she leaned a little closer to make her point。 〃That is what you need to know。〃
Savidlin backed away a little from her intense expression and gave a nod。 His eyes narrowed。 〃And why are you here？〃
〃So that we might help each other。 There is a man who would rule your people。 The Seeker and I would have you rule yourselves。 We came seeking your people's strength and wisdom to aid us in our fight。〃
〃Father Rahl；〃 Savidlin announced knowingly。
〃You know of him？〃
Savidlin nodded。 〃A man came。 He called himself' a missionary； said he wanted to teach us of the goodness of one called Father Rahl。 He talked to our people for three days； until we became tired of him。 〃
It was Kahlan's turn to stiffen； she glanced to the other men； who had started smiling at the mention of the missionary。 She looked back to the elder's mud streaked face。 〃And what happened to him after the three days？〃
〃He was a good man。 〃 Savidlin smiled meaningfully。
Kahlan straightened herself。 Richard leaned closer to her。
〃What are they saying？〃
〃They want to know why we are here。 They said they have heard of Darken Rahl。〃
〃Tell them I want to talk to their people； that I need them to call a gathering。〃
She looked up at him from under her eyebrows。 〃I am getting to that。 Adie was right； you are not a patient person。〃
Richard smiled。 〃No； she was wrong。 I am very patient； but I am not very tolerant。 There is a difference。〃
Kahlan smiled at Savidlin as she spoke to Richard。 〃Well； please do not bee intolerant just now； or show them any more respect for the moment。 I know what I am doing； and it is going well。 Let me do it my way； all right？〃
He agreed； folding his arms in frustration。 She turned once more to the elder。 He peered at her sharply and asked something that surprised her。
〃Did Richard With The Temper bring us the rains？〃
Kahlan frowned。 〃Well； I guess you could say that。 〃 She was confused by the question and didn't know what to say； so told him the truth。 〃The clouds follow him。 〃
The elder studied her face intently and nodded。 She didn't feel fortable under his gaze； and sought to bring the conversation back to the reason for her visit。
〃Savidlin； the Seeker has e to see your people on my advice。 He is not here to harm or interfere with your people。 You know me。 l have been among you before。 You know of my respect for the Mud People。 1 would not bring another to you unless it was important。 Right now； time is our enemy。 〃
Savidlin considered what she had said for a while； then at last spoke。
〃As 1 said before； you are wele among us。 〃 He looked up with a grin at the Seeker； then back to her。 〃Richard With The Temper is most wele in our village too。 〃
The other men were pleased with the decision； they all seemed to like Richard。 They gathered up their things； including two deer and a wild boar； each tied to a carrying pole。 Kahlan hadn't seen the result of their hunt before because it had been hidden in the tall grass。 As they all started off down the path； the men gathered about Richard； touching him cautiously and jabbering questions he couldn't understand。 Savidlin clapped him on the shoulders； looking forward to showing off his big new friend to the village。 Kahlan went along beside him； for the most part ignored； and happy that so far they liked Richard。 She understood the feeling…it was hard to dislike him…but there was some other reason for their ready acceptance of him。 She worried about what that reason could be。
〃I told you I would win them over；〃 Richard said with a grin as he looked at her over their heads。 〃I just never thought I would do it by laying one of them out。〃
CHAPTER 23
CHICKENS SCATTERED AT THEIR feet as the hunting party surrounding Kahlan and Richard led them into the Mud People's village。 Set on a slight rise that passed for a hill in the grasslands of the Wilds； the village was a collection of buildings constructed of a kind of mud brick； surfaced with a tan clay plaster and top