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e black grit and tasted it。 He winced at the bitter tang it left on his tongue。 The wizard who had died to give his life to this fire had not done so willingly； he had done it to save himself the torture of what they had intended to do to him； or perhaps what they were doing to him。
The ground was covered with white sand that sparkled with prismatic light。 It was drifted into the corners； like snow。 Richard remembered seeing sand like this before。 It was in the People’s Palace； in the Garden of Life； in a circle in the center of the room。 Darken Rahl had drawn spells in that sparkling white sand when he had been trying to open the boxes of Orden。
Richard paced around the inside of the tower； trying to decide what to do。 It seemed safe in this place； but for how long？ Surely； sooner or later； the magic would find him。
Maybe the seeming safety of this place was simply an enchantment meant to trap him； keep him here for all time； afraid to venture out。
He couldn’t stay。 He had to find the Sister。 She needed his help。 She was afraid。 He had told her she would make it through。
But why should he want to help her？ She kept him prisoner。 If he left her here； he would be free。 But free to do what？ If she didn’t help him learn to control the gift； he would die。 Or so she said。
Richard turned at a sound from behind。 Kahlan stepped out of the darkness of an archway。 Her long hair didn’t flow over her shoulders； but was tied back in a single braid。 Instead of her white Confessor’s dress； she wore the red leather of a Mord…Sith。
Richard stood stiffly； his chest heaving。 ‘Kahlan； I refuse to think of you in this way； even in an illusion drawn from my own mind。’
She arched an eyebrow。 ‘But isn’t this what you fear most？’
‘Change it； or be gone。’
The red leather shimmered and became the white Confessor’s dress he knew so well。 The braid came undone。
‘Better； my love？ I’m afraid it still won’t save you。 I have e to kill you。 Die with honor。 Defend yourself。’
Richard drew the Sword of Truth。 The unique ring of its steel echoed throughout the tower。 Wrath surged through him as the magic was loosed。 He endured with detached misery the sensation of murderous need while looking upon the face of the only person who made his life worth living。
His knuckles tightened on the braided； wire hilt； on the bumps of the word Truth。 His jaw muscles flexed as he gritted his teeth。 He felt a rush of understanding at how the wizards could have made Life Fire； and have given themselves into it； rather than endure what was to be done to them。 Some things were worse than death。
Richard tossed the sword to the ground at Kahlan’s feet。
‘Not even in an illusion； Kahlan。 I would rather die。’
Her green eyes shone with a sad； timeless； knowing look。 ‘Better you had died； my love； that you wouldn’t see what I have e to show you。 It will bring you more pain than death。’
Her eyes closed as she sank to her knees； leaning forward； bending into a deep bow。 The whole of the time she was slumping forward； her hair shortened。 By the time her head touched the sparkling white sand； her hair looked as if it had been chopped short； close to the nape of her neck。
‘This must be； or the Keeper will escape。 Stopping it will aid him； and he will have us all。 Speak if you must these words； but not of this vision。’ Without looking up； she spoke in a detached rote。
‘Of all there were； but a single one born of the magic to bring forth truth will remain alive when the shadow’s threat is lifted。 Therefore es the greater darkness of the dead。 For there to be a chance at life’s bond； this one in white must be offered to her people； to bring their joy and good cheer。’
As Richard stood staring at the illusion； at the back of her head； a ring of blood blossomed around her neck。 Richard’s breath halted。 As if it had been cleaved off； Kahlan’s head tumbled away。 Her body fell to its side； blood gushing； spreading in a pool beneath it； turning the white sand and white dress to red。
Richard drew a gasp of a breath。
‘Noooo！’
His chest heaved。 He felt his fingernails cutting into his palms。 His toes curled in his boots。
It’s an illusion； he told himself as he shook。 An illusion。 Nothing more。 An illusion meant to terrorize him。
Kahlan stared up at him with flat； dead green eyes。 Though he knew it had to be an illusion； it nonetheless was working。 Panic paralyzed his legs； fright raced recklessly through his mind。
The image of Kahlan wavered and then vanished suddenly as Sister Verna stormed through an archway to the side。
‘Richard！’ she shrieked in fury。 ‘What are you doing in here！ I told you to stay with me！ Can’t you follow the simplest instructions？ Must you always act like a child！’
She took two strides forward； her face red with rage。
His heart thumped violently with the pain of what he had just seen。 He blinked at Sister Verna。 He was in an ill humor to tolerate the surly side of her disposition。 ‘You were gone。 I couldn’t find you。 I looked but 。。。’
‘Don’t talk back to me！’ Her curls sprang up and down as she yelled。 ‘I’ve had all the talk from you I can stomach。 I told you I was in no mood for it。 My patience is at an end； Richard。’
He opened his mouth to speak； but the collar yanked him backward； his feet leaving the ground。 It felt as if he had been jerked by a rope around his neck。 With a grunt he slammed into the wall。 The impact knocked the wind from his lungs and the sense from his head。 He hung； his feet clear of the ground； pinned to the wall by the Rada’Han。 The collar was choking him。 He tried to focus his eyes； but his vision only blurred uselessly。
‘It’s time you had a lesson I should have given long ago；’ the Sister said in a growl as she stalked toward him。 ‘I have suffered enough of your disobedience。 I will suffer it no longer。’
Richard struggled to breathe。 Each breath burned as he drew it through the constriction at his neck。 His vision cleared and finally focused on Sister Verna’s face。 His anger heated。
‘Sister 。。。 don’t 。。。’
Pain took his words。 It ignited in his chest with such intense burning force it made his fingers tingle。 He couldn’t draw a breath to scream。
‘I’ve had enough of your words。 I will hear no more。 No more of your excuses； your arguments； your harsh judgments。 From now on； you will do as you are told； when you are told； and you will offer me no more of your insolence。’
She took another step toward him。 Her expression twisted with menace。 ‘Do we understand each other！’
She somehow made the pain worse。 He shook with the crushing hurt in his chest。 Stinging tears flooded from his wide eyes。
‘I asked you a question！ Do we understand each other！’
Air rushed into his lungs。 ‘Sister Verna 。。。 I’m warning you 。。。 don’t do this or 。。。’
‘You are warning me！ You are warning me！’
White…hot pain knifed through his chest； twisting tighter with each breath。 A scream ripped from his lungs。 His worst fears were ing to li