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He swept his hand out； over the circle of sand。
Shimmering light formed into a person kneeling forward。 The light coalesced into a recognizable form。
Kahlan。
She was in her white Confessor’s dress； kneeling forward。 Her hair was cut short； just as in the vision he had had in the tower。 A tear fell from her closed eyes as the side of her face pressed to the block。 She mouthed his name； and that she loved him。 Richard’s heart pounded violently。
‘The dragon is wounded； Richard。 She cannot take you to Aydindril。 Your time has run out。 You have no option left but to let us help you。’
‘What do you mean； ‘help？’’
Rahl’s smile returned。 ‘I told you； we have the power over life and death。 Without our help； this afternoon； before her people； this is what will happen。’
His glowing hand swept out again。 The blade’s broad edge glinted in the air above her。 The axe descended； thunk…ing into the wooden block； sending out a spray of blood。 Richard flinched。
Kahlan’s head tumbled away。 Bright red blood spread beneath her； soaking into the sand； into the white dress； as her body toppled to the side。
‘Noooo！’ Richard screamed； his fists at his sides。 ‘Noooo！’
Darken Rahl swept his hand over the body； and it vanished into sparkling light and faded away。
‘Just as I have taken away the vision of what will happen this day； we can stop the reality。 We can offer immortality not only to you； but if you join with us； to her； too。’
Richard stood stunned。 It sank in； really sank in； for the first time。 Scarlet was wounded。 She could not fly him to Aydindril。 This was winter solstice。 Kahlan was going to die this day； and he had no way of getting to her。 His breath came in ragged gasps。
The world was ending for him。
This was the meaning of the prophecy。 If he took this offer； if he chose to stop her death； then the world would end for everyone else。
He thought of Chase； taking Rachel home to meet her new mother。 He thought of all the happiness she would have in that life with love around her。 He thought of his own life； with his father and mother； of the love； the happy times together； even the not so happy times； and how much it had meant to him。
He thought about the time he had spent with Kahlan； and the joy of being in love with her； and all the other people who must have had such joy； and would in the future。 If there was a future。
‘You can walk hand in hand with her； Richard。 Forever。’
Richard’s eyes came up from the white sand。 ‘Hand in hand； through the ashes of death。 Forever。’
What would it do to Kahlan； to her love for him； if he offered her such a selfish destiny。 She would be horrified。 Then whenever she looked at him； she truly would see a monster。 Forever。
He would live forever with her revulsion； not her love。 Thus； in trying to save her； he would destroy not only everyone else； but her heart； too。
The price was too high； even for his love。
But this would end his life； his love； too。
Richard was consumed with rage and calm at the same time。 He stared into the glowing eyes of evil。 ‘You would poison our love with your taint of hate。 You don’t even know the meaning of love。’
The wrath swelled to a wild storm within him。 At least； he would extract his price for this。 His vengeance。
Richard lifted the Stone of Tears in his fist。 Darken Rahl staggered back a step。
‘Richard； think about what you are doing。’
‘You will pay for this。’
Richard pulled a handful of black sorcerer’s sand from his pocket and cast it onto the circle of white sand。
Darken Rahl threw his arms open。 ‘No！ You fool！’
The white sand writhed； as if alive； as if in pain。 The symbols drawn in it twisted； contorting around themselves。 The ground shook。 Steaming fissures raced across the grassy ground。
Lightning flared up from the sparkling white sand； flicking about the Garden of Life。 The room thundered with a riot of noise and blinding light。 The sorcerer’s sand melted into a liquid pool of blue fire。 The air shuddered with violent concussions。
Darken Rahl shook his fists to the sky。 ‘No！’
His head came down； and when he saw Richard ing slowly toward him； the Stone of Tears held out in his fist； he went still。 His hand came up in forbidding。
Richard staggered to a stop； the pain of the scar on his chest taking his breath。 The agony seared through him。 From deep within； he pulled resolve and made himself move despite the torment。 Each step only increased the pain。 It felt as if his flesh were burning off his bones and the marrow itself were boiling。 In the calm at the center of the storm of anger； he was able to ignore it。
Richard pulled the Stone of Tears off over his head。 He held the leather thong out in his hands； the Stone dangling before Darken Rahl’s face。 Rahl shrank back。
‘You will wear this in the depths of death。 Forever。’ Richard stepped closer。 ‘Kneel。’
The glowing form sank to its knees。 The glowing eyes stayed on the Stone in the air above。 Richard lowered the leather thong； to hang it over the head of his father’s spirit。 He paused。
Over Darken Rahl’s head； behind him； he saw the altar that held the boxes。 The open one in the center； alive with things beyond knowing； was sending its green light upward in a beacon。
Richard remembered what Ann； Nathan； and Warren had told him。 If he used the Stone for selfish reasons； for hate； it would tear the veil。 He wanted more than anything to send’ Darken Rahl to the depths of the underworld； to punish him forever for what he had done。 But that would only acplish what he had already decided was beyond price。
Besides； he had brought this on himself。 That he had not done it intentionally made no difference。 Life was not fair； it simply existed。 If you accidentally stepped on a poison snake； you got bitten。 Intentions were irrelevant。
‘I have caused my own grief；’ Richard whispered。 ‘I must suffer the consequences of my own actions。 I cannot make others pay for what I have caused； intentionally or not。’
Richard hung the Stone of Tears back around his own neck。 Darken Rahl came to his feet in alarm。
‘Richard 。。。 you don’t know what you’re saying。 Punish me。 Hang the stone around my neck。 Have your vengeance！’
Richard turned partway toward the center of the Garden of Life and held out his hand。 The round skrin bone； in the pool of blue fire； hurtled to his palm。 His magic protected him。
He held the skrin bone up high。 In the grip of rage； in the grip of calm； he called the power onward。 It erupted from his fist。
Lightning； yellow and hot； shot forth into Darken Rahl。
Lightning； black and cold； shot forth into Darken Rahl。
They twisted together in the unleashed wrath of the skrin。
A ripple of total darkness swept across the room； and when it lifted； the lightning； and Darken Rahl； were gone。 The skrin bone felt cool in his fist。
The green light from the box glowed brighter； making the room hum。 Richard pulled the Stone of Tears from his