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als of his anger to flame。 ‘Don’t try to assuage your guilt over what you’ve done at my expense； Sister。’
Her face heated with color that he could see； even in the moonlight。 ‘I’ve tried to be patient with you； Richard。 I’ve given you leeway because you’ve been pulled from the only life you have known； and been thrust into a situation you fear and don’t understand； but my patience is near its end。
‘I’ve tried my best not to see the lifeless bodies of my friends when I look into your eyes。 Or when you tell me I’m heartless。 I’ve tried not to think about you being the one standing at their burial； not me； and about the things I would have said over their fresh graves。 There are things going on that are beyond my understanding； beyond my expectations； beyond what I was led to believe。 Were it up to me； I’m of a mind to grant you your wish and remove your Rada’Han； and let you die in madness and pain。
‘But it’s not up to me。 It is the Creator’s work I do。’
Although the hot coals of his temper hadn’t been doused； they had cooled。 ‘Sister Verna； I’m sorry。’ He wished she would scream at him。 That would be better than her calm anger； her quiet displeasure。
‘You are angered because you think I treat you as a child； and not as a man； and yet you have given me no reason to do otherwise。 I know where you stand； in your abilities； and where you have yet to travel。 In that journey you are no more than a babe who bawls to be turned loose in the world； yet cannot even walk。
The collar you wear is capable of controlling you。 It is also capable of giving you pain。 Great pain。 Up until now； I have avoided using it； and have tried instead to encourage you in other ways to accept what must be done。 But if I have to； I will use it。 The Creator knows I’ve tried everything else。
‘We will soon be in a land much more dangerous than this。 We will have to deal with the people there to get through。 The Sisters have arrangements with them； to be allowed to pass。 You will do as I tell you； as they tell you。 You will do the things you are told； or there will be a great deal of trouble。’
Richard’s suspicion flared anew。 ‘What things？’
She glared at him。 ‘Do not test me further tonight； Richard。’
‘As long as you understand you’re not getting my sword without a fight。’
‘We are only trying to help you； Richard； but if you draw a weapon on me again； I will see to it you greatly regret it。’ She glanced to the Agiel hanging at his neck。 ‘Mord…Sith hold no monopoly in giving pain。’
Cold confirmation of his suspicions spread through his gut。 They intended to train him the way a Mord…Sith trained him。 That was the real reason for the collar。 That was how they intended to teach him： with pain。 For the first time； he felt as if she had inadvertently let him see the bones of her intentions。
She pulled the little book from her belt。 ‘I have some work to do before we leave。 Go bury her。 And hide her body well； if it’s found； it will tell them what happened； and they will be after us； and then I will have killed for nothing。’
She sat in front of the cold jumble of firewood。 With a smooth sweep of her hand over the dark coals； it burst into flame。 After you’ve buried her； I want you to go for a walk and let your temper cool。 Do not return until it has done so。 If you try to wander away； or if you don’t bring some reason into that thick head of yours by the time I’m ready to leave； I will bring you back by the collar。’ She gave him a menacing look from under her eyebrows。 ‘You will not like it if I have to do that。 I promise you； you will not like it one bit。’
The dead woman was slight； and little burden to carry。 He hardly noticed the weight as he walked away from the camp into the low； rocky hills。 The moon was up and the way easy to see。 His mind swirled with his brooding thoughts as he trudged along； kicking an occasional stone。
Richard was surprised at his pang of pain for Sister Verna。 She had never before revealed how heartsick she was over the deaths of Sisters Grace and Elizabeth。 He had thought that because she hadn’t said anything； she was callous。 He felt sorry for her now； sorry for her anguish。 He wished she hadn’t let him know。 It was easier to rail against his situation when he thought she was heartless。
He found himself a long way from their camp； at the crest of a hump of ground； with rocky walls and spires rising around him。 His mind came out of his twisting thoughts and returned to the body he carried on his back。 Though the stab wound from the dacra might not have been what had killed her； blood had nonetheless seeped down her back； matting her hair and soaking his shoulder。 He felt sudden revulsion at carrying a dead woman around on his back。
He laid the body gently on the rocky ground and looked about； searching for a place to lay her to rest。 He had a small shovel hooked to his belt； but there didn’t look to be easy digging anywhere。 Maybe he could wall her up in one of the rocky crags。
While he peered into the shadowed gullies； he absently rubbed the still sore burn on his chest。 Nissel； the healer； had given him a poultice； and every day he spread it on before covering the wound once more with a bandage。 He didn’t like looking at it。 He didn’t like seeing the scar of a handprint burned into his flesh。
Sister Verna had said it could have been that he had burned himself in the fireplace in the spirit house； or that they might have indeed called forth the dark minions of the Nameless One。 It obviously wasn’t a burn from the fire； it was the mark of the underworld。 Of Darken Rani。
He was somehow ashamed of it； and never let Sister Verna see it。 The scar was a constant reminder of his father’s true identity。 It seemed an affront to George Cypher； the man he thought of as his father； the man who had raised him； trusted and taught him； given him his love； and whom he had loved in return。
The mark was also a constant reminder of the monster he really was … the monster Kahlan had wanted collared and sent away。
Richard swatted at a bug buzzing around his face。 He looked down。 They were buzzing around the dead woman； too。 He went cold with a jolt of fright even before he felt the sting of a bite on his neck。
Blood flies。
He drew his sword in a rush as the huge； dark shape lunged from behind the rock。 The ringing sound of steel was drowned out by a roar。 Wings spread wide； the gar dove for him。 For an instant； he thought he saw a second； hunched in the shadows behind the first； but his attention was immediately seized by the immense thing descending on him； by the fierce； glowing； green eyes locked on him。
It was too big to be a long…tailed gar； and by the way it anticipated and avoided his first stab； too smart。 It would have to be a short…tailed gar； he cursed silently。 It was thinner than short…tailed gars he had seen before； probably the result of poor hunting in this desolate land； but thin or not； it was still huge； towering half again as tall as he。
Richard stumbled and fell over the dead woman as he lurched back t