¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡can¡¯t¡£¡¡It¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡won¡¯t¡¡let¡¡me¡¡get¡¡close¡¡enough¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡With¡¡a¡¡little¡¡grunt¡¡she¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡girth¡¡strap¡¡tight¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡have¡¡a¡¡bow¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®What¡¡difference¡¡does¡¡it¡¡make£¿¡¡Let¡¯s¡¡just¡¡be¡¡off¡£¡¡All¡¡by¡¡itself£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡probably¡¡die¡¡anyway¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡bent£»¡¡checking¡¡that¡¡the¡¡strap¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡pinching¡¡her¡¡horse¡£¡¡¡®Perhaps¡¡you¡¯re¡¡right¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡be¡¡best¡¡if¡¡we¡¡were¡¡away¡¡from¡¡here¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Sister£¿¡¡Why¡¡haven¡¯t¡¡the¡¡gars¡¡bothered¡¡us¡¡before£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Because¡¡I¡¡shield¡¡against¡¡them¡¡with¡¡my¡¡Han¡£¡¡You¡¡were¡¡too¡¡far¡¡away£»¡¡beyond¡¡my¡¡shields£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡they¡¡came¡¡for¡¡you¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®So¡¡this¡¡shield¡¡will¡¡keep¡¡all¡¡gars¡¡away¡¡from¡¡us£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Yes¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Well£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡there¡¡was¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡the¡¡Han¡¡was¡¡good¡¡for¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Doesn¡¯t¡¡that¡¡take¡¡a¡¡lot¡¡of¡¡power£¿¡¡Gars¡¡are¡¡big¡¡beasts¡£¡¡Isn¡¯t¡¡it¡¡hard£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡question¡¡brought¡¡a¡¡small¡¡smile¡¡to¡¡her¡¡lips¡£¡¡¡®Yes£»¡¡gars¡¡are¡¡big£»¡¡and¡¡there¡¡are¡¡other¡¡beasts¡¡I¡¡must¡¡shield¡¡against£»¡¡too¡£¡¡All¡¡this¡¡would¡¡take¡¡much¡¡power¡£¡¡You¡¡must¡¡always¡¡search¡¡for¡¡the¡¡way¡¡to¡¡acplish¡¡the¡¡task¡¡using¡¡the¡¡least¡¡amount¡¡of¡¡Han¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡stroked¡¡her¡¡horse¡¯s¡¡neck¡¡as¡¡she¡¡went¡¡on¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡keep¡¡the¡¡gars¡¡away¡¡not¡¡by¡¡repelling¡¡the¡¡beasts¡¡themselves£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡shielding¡¡against¡¡their¡¡blood¡¡flies¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡much¡¡easier¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡flies¡¡can¡¯t¡¡get¡¡through¡¡the¡¡shield£»¡¡the¡¡gars¡¡won¡¯t¡¡think¡¡there¡¡is¡¡anything¡¡worthwhile¡¡and¡¡so¡¡won¡¯t¡¡e¡¡to¡¡us¡¡either¡£¡¡It¡¡uses¡¡little¡¡of¡¡my¡¡strength¡¡this¡¡way£»¡¡yet¡¡achieves¡¡my¡¡aim¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Why¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡you¡¡use¡¡this¡¡shield¡¡against¡¡the¡¡people¡¡here£¿¡¡Against¡¡the¡¡woman¡¡tonight£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡people¡¡in¡¡the¡¡wilds¡¡have¡¡charms¡¡against¡¡our¡¡power¡£¡¡That¡¯s¡¡why¡¡many¡¡Sisters¡¡die¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡cross¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡knew¡¡how¡¡these¡¡charms¡¡or¡¡spells¡¡worked£»¡¡we¡¡might¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡counter¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡don¡¯t¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡a¡¡mystery¡¡to¡¡us¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡finished¡¡saddling¡¡Geraldine¡¡and¡¡Bonnie¡¡in¡¡silence¡£¡¡The¡¡Sister¡¡waited¡¡patiently¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡she¡¡had¡¡more¡¡to¡¡say£»¡¡about¡¡their¡¡argument¡¡before¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡bury¡¡the¡¡woman£»¡¡but¡¡she¡¡remained¡¡silent¡£¡¡He¡¡decided¡¡to¡¡speak¡¡first£»¡¡and¡¡get¡¡it¡¡over¡¡with¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Sister¡¡Verna£»¡¡I¡¯m¡¡sorry¡¡about¡¡Sisters¡¡Grace¡¡and¡¡Elizabeth¡£¡¯¡¡He¡¡idly¡¡stroked¡¡Bonnie¡¯s¡¡shoulder¡¡as¡¡he¡¡studied¡¡the¡¡ground¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡said¡¡a¡¡prayer¡¡over¡¡their¡¡graves¡£¡¡I¡¡just¡¡wanted¡¡you¡¡to¡¡know¡¡that¡£¡¡A¡¡prayer¡¡to¡¡the¡¡good¡¡spirits¡¡to¡¡watch¡¡over¡¡them¡¡and¡¡treat¡¡them¡¡well¡£¡¡I¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡want¡¡them¡¡to¡¡die¡£¡¡You¡¡may¡¡think¡¡otherwise£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡want¡¡anyone¡¡to¡¡die¡£¡¡I¡¯m¡¡sick¡¡of¡¡death¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¯t¡¡even¡¡eat¡¡meat¡¡anymore¡¡because¡¡I¡¡can¡¯t¡¡stand¡¡the¡¡thought¡¡of¡¡anything¡¡having¡¡to¡¡die¡¡just¡¡to¡¡feed¡¡me¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡the¡¡prayer£»¡¡Richard£»¡¡but¡¡you¡¡must¡¡learn¡¡that¡¡it¡¡is¡¡only¡¡the¡¡Creator¡¡we¡¡must¡¡pray¡¡to¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡His¡¡light¡¡that¡¡guides¡£¡¡Praying¡¡to¡¡spirits¡¡is¡¡heathenish¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡think¡¡better¡¡of¡¡her¡¡harsh¡¡tone£»¡¡and¡¡softened¡¡it¡£¡¡¡®But¡¡you¡¡are¡¡unschooled£»¡¡and¡¡would¡¡not¡¡know¡¡that¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¯t¡¡fault¡¡you¡¡for¡¡doing¡¡the¡¡best¡¡you¡¡could¡£¡¡I¡¯m¡¡sure¡¡the¡¡Creator¡¡heard¡¡your¡¡prayer£»¡¡and¡¡understood¡¡its¡¡benevolent¡¡intent¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡like¡¡her¡¡narrow¡minded¡¡attitude¡£¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡that¡¡perhaps¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡more¡¡about¡¡spirits¡¡than¡¡she¡¡did¡£¡¡He¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡know¡¡much¡¡about¡¡this¡¡Creator¡¡of¡¡hers£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡spirits¡¡before£»¡¡both¡¡good¡¡and¡¡bad¡£¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡you¡¡ignored¡¡them¡¡at¡¡your¡¡own¡¡peril¡£
¡¡
¡¡Her¡¡dogmas¡¡seemed¡¡as¡¡foolish¡¡to¡¡him¡¡as¡¡the¡¡superstitions¡¡of¡¡the¡¡country¡¡people¡¡he¡¡knew¡¡when¡¡he¡¡had¡¡been¡¡a¡¡guide¡£¡¡They¡¡had¡¡been¡¡full¡¡of¡¡stories¡¡of¡¡how¡¡people¡¡came¡¡to¡¡be¡£¡¡Each¡¡remote¡¡area¡¡he¡¡had¡¡visited¡¡had¡¡its¡¡own¡¡version¡¡of¡¡man¡¡created¡¡from¡¡this¡¡or¡¡that¡¡animal¡¡or¡¡plant¡£¡¡Richard¡¡had¡¡liked¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡the¡¡stories¡£¡¡They¡¡were¡¡filled¡¡with¡¡wonder¡¡and¡¡magic¡£¡¡But¡¡they¡¡were¡¡just¡¡stories£»¡¡rooted¡¡in¡¡a¡¡need¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡how¡¡the¡¡teller¡¡fit¡¡into¡¡the¡¡world¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡not¡¡going¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡on¡¡faith¡¡the¡¡things¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡¡said¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡did¡¡not¡¡think¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Creator¡¡was¡¡like¡¡some¡¡king£»¡¡sitting¡¡upon¡¡a¡¡throne£»¡¡listening¡¡to¡¡every¡¡petty¡¡prayer¡¡to¡¡e¡¡his¡¡way¡£¡¡Spirits¡¡had¡¡been¡¡alive¡¡once£»¡¡and¡¡they¡¡understood¡¡the¡¡needs¡¡of¡¡mortals£»¡¡understood¡¡the¡¡exigencies¡¡of¡¡living¡¡flesh¡¡and¡¡blood¡£
¡¡
¡¡Zedd¡¡had¡¡taught¡¡him¡¡that¡¡the¡¡Creator¡¡was¡¡simply¡¡another¡¡name¡¡for¡¡the¡¡force¡¡of¡¡balance¡¡in¡¡all¡¡things£»¡¡and¡¡not¡¡some¡¡wise¡¡man¡¡sitting¡¡in¡¡judgment¡£
¡¡
¡¡But¡¡what¡¡did¡¡it¡¡matter£¿¡¡He¡¡knew¡¡people¡¡held¡¡tightly¡¡to¡¡their¡¡doctrines¡¡and¡¡were¡¡closed¡minded¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡believed¡¡what¡¡she¡¡did¡¡and¡¡he¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡going¡¡to¡¡change¡¡it¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡never¡¡faulted¡¡people¡¡for¡¡the¡¡beliefs¡¡they¡¡held£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡not¡¡about¡¡to¡¡start¡¡now¡£¡¡Such¡¡beliefs£»¡¡true¡¡or¡¡not£»¡¡could¡¡be¡¡a¡¡balm¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡pulled¡¡the¡¡baldric¡¡off¡¡over¡¡his¡¡head¡¡and¡¡held¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡out¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡¡®I¡¯ve¡¡thought¡¡about¡¡the¡¡things¡¡you¡¡said¡¡before¡£¡¡I¡¯ve¡¡decided¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡want¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡anymore¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Her¡¡hands¡¡came¡¡up¡¡and¡¡he¡¡laid¡¡the¡¡weight¡¡of¡¡the¡¡sword£»¡¡scabbard£»¡¡and¡¡baldric¡¡in¡¡them¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡showed¡¡no¡¡emotion¡£¡¡¡®Do¡¡you¡¡really¡¡mean¡¡this£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡do¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡finished¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡sword¡¡is¡¡yours¡¡now¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡check¡¡his¡¡saddle¡£¡¡Even¡¡without¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡at¡¡his¡¡hip£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡still¡¡feel¡¡the¡¡tingle¡¡of¡¡its¡¡magic¡£¡¡He¡¡could¡¡give¡¡up¡¡the¡¡sword£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡was¡¡still¡¡within¡¡him£»¡¡he¡¡was¡¡the¡¡true¡¡Seeker£»¡¡and¡¡could¡¡not¡¡be¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡that¡£¡¡At¡¡least¡¡he¡¡could¡¡be¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡the¡¡blade£»¡¡and¡¡thereby¡¡the¡¡things¡¡he¡¡did¡¡with¡¡it¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®You¡¡are¡¡a¡¡very¡¡dangerous¡¡man£»¡¡Richard£»¡¯¡¡she¡¡whispered¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡back¡¡over¡¡his¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡That¡¯s¡¡why¡¡I¡¯m¡¡giving¡¡you¡¡the¡¡sword¡£¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡want¡¡it¡¡any¡¡longer£»¡¡and¡¡you¡¡do£»¡¡so¡¡it¡¯s¡¡yours¡£¡¡We¡¯ll¡¡see¡¡now¡¡how¡¡you¡¡like¡¡killing¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡tucked¡¡the¡¡end¡¡of¡¡the¡¡girth¡¡strap¡¡through¡¡the¡¡buckle¡¡and¡¡drew¡¡it¡¡tight¡£¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡Bonnie¡¡a¡¡gentle¡¡pat¡¡before¡¡turning¡¡around¡£¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡was¡¡still¡¡holding¡¡out¡¡the¡¡sword¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Until¡¡now¡¡I¡¡had¡¡no¡¡idea¡¡just¡¡how¡¡dangerous¡¡you¡¡are¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Not¡¡anymore¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡now¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡cannot¡¡accept¡¡it£»¡¯¡¡she¡¡whispered¡£¡¡¡®It¡¡was¡¡my¡¡duty¡¡to¡¡take¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡from¡¡you¡¡when¡¡you¡¡came¡¡back¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡test¡¡you¡£¡¡There¡¡was¡¡only¡¡one¡¡thing¡¡you¡¡could¡¡have¡¡done¡¡to¡¡prevent¡¡losing¡¡it¡£¡¡And¡¡you¡¡have¡¡done¡¡it¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡lifted¡¡the¡¡sword¡¡to¡¡him¡£¡¡¡®There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡man¡¡more¡¡dangerous¡¡than¡¡one¡¡who¡¡is¡¡unpredictable¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡no¡¡way¡¡to¡¡forecast¡¡what¡¡you¡¡will¡¡do¡¡when¡¡pushed¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡great¡¡trouble¡£¡¡For¡¡you¡£¡¡For¡¡us¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡know¡¡what¡¡she¡¡was¡¡talking¡¡about¡£¡¡¡®There¡¯s¡¡nothing¡¡unpredictable¡¡about¡¡it¡£¡¡You¡¡wanted¡¡the¡¡sword£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¯m¡¡weary¡¡of¡¡the¡¡things¡¡I¡¡do¡¡with¡¡it£»¡¡so¡¡I¡¡gave¡¡it¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®You¡¡understand£»¡¡because¡¡it¡¡is¡¡the¡¡way¡¡you¡¡think¡£¡¡Others¡¡don¡¯t¡¡think¡¡that¡¡way¡£¡¡You¡¯re¡¡an¡¡enigma¡£¡¡Worse£»¡¡your¡¡inexplicable¡¡behavior¡¡es¡¡at¡¡the¡¡times¡¡you¡¡need¡¡it¡¡most¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡at¡¡work¡£¡¡You¡¯re¡¡using¡¡your¡¡Han¡¡without¡¡understanding¡¡what¡¡you¡¡are¡¡doing¡£¡¡That¡¡is¡¡dangerous¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®One¡¡reason¡¡for¡¡the¡¡collar¡¡is¡¡to¡¡open¡¡my¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡That¡¯s¡¡what¡¡you¡¡said¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¯m¡¡using¡¡the¡¡gift£»¡¡which¡¡is¡¡what¡¡you¡¡want¡¡me¡¡to¡¡do£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡it¡¡is¡¡what¡¡I¡¡need£»¡¡then¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡see¡¡how¡¡that¡¡is¡¡dangerous¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®What¡¡you¡¡need¡¡and¡¡what¡¯s¡¡right¡¡are¡¡not¡¡necessarily¡¡the¡¡same¡£¡¡Just¡¡because¡¡you¡¡want¡¡something£»¡¡that¡¡does¡¡not¡¡make¡¡it¡¡right¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡nodded¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sword¡£¡¡Take¡¡it¡¡back¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡accept¡¡it¡¡now¡£¡¡You¡¡must¡¡keep¡¡it¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡told¡¡you£»¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡want¡¡it¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Then¡¡throw¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¡I¡¡cannot¡¡take¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡tainted¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡snatched¡¡it¡¡out¡¡of¡¡her¡¡hands¡£¡¡¡®I¡¯m¡¡not¡¡throwing¡¡it¡¡in¡¡the¡¡fire¡£¡¯¡¡He¡¡put¡¡his¡¡head¡¡through¡¡the¡¡baldric¡¡and¡¡straightened¡¡the¡¡scabbard¡¡at¡¡his¡¡hip¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡think¡¡you¡¯re¡¡too¡¡superstitious£»¡¡Sister¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡just¡¡a¡¡sword¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡not¡¡tainted¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡was¡¡wrong¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡that¡¡was¡¡tainted£»¡¡and¡¡he¡¡had¡¡not¡¡offered¡¡that¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡Even¡¡if¡¡he¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡be¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡its¡¡magic£»¡¡all¡¡magic£»¡¡he¡¡could¡¡not¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡part¡¡of¡¡him¡£¡¡Kahlan¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡she¡¡had¡¡rid¡¡herself¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¡Of¡¡him¡£
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡turned¡¡from¡¡him¡¡and¡¡mounted¡¡Jessup¡£¡¡Her¡¡voice¡¡was¡¡cold¡¡and¡¡distant¡£¡¡¡®We¡¡must¡¡be¡¡on¡¡our¡¡way¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡settled¡¡into¡¡his¡¡saddle¡¡and¡¡followed¡¡after¡£¡¡He¡¡hoped¡¡the¡¡little¡¡gar¡¡would¡¡have¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡at¡¡life£»¡¡after¡¡the¡¡meal¡¡it¡¡had¡¡needed¡£¡¡He¡¡said¡¡a¡¡silent¡¡good¡bye¡¡to¡¡it¡¡as¡¡he¡¡rode¡¡into¡¡the¡¡night¡¡behind¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡£
¡¡
¡¡Though¡¡he¡¡had¡¡meant¡¡what¡¡he¡¡said¡¡about¡¡giving¡¡her¡¡the¡¡sword£»¡¡he¡¡felt¡¡strangely¡¡relieved¡¡to¡¡have¡¡it¡¡back¡£¡¡It¡¡belonged¡¡with¡¡him£»¡¡and¡¡somehow¡¡made¡¡him¡¡whole¡£¡¡Zedd¡¡had¡¡given¡¡it¡¡to¡¡him£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡what¡¡had¡¡changed¡¡him£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡was¡¡also¡¡all¡¡he¡¡had¡¡to¡¡remind¡¡him¡¡of¡¡his¡¡friend¡¡and¡¡home¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡CHAPTER¡¡25
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡horse¡¡was¡¡exhausted£»¡¡but¡¡still¡¡ran¡¡with¡¡wild¡¡abandon¡£¡¡Adie¡¡held¡¡a¡¡tight¡¡grip¡¡on¡¡Zedd¡¯s¡¡waist¡¡as¡¡he¡¡leaned¡¡over¡¡the¡¡horse¡¯s¡¡withers£»¡¡clutching¡¡her¡¡mane¡£¡¡Muscles¡¡bunched¡¡and¡¡flexed¡¡rhythmically¡¡beneath¡¡him¡£¡¡Trees¡¡in¡¡the¡¡dense¡¡forest¡¡flashed¡¡by¡¡in¡¡an¡¡endless¡¡blur¡£¡¡The¡¡horse¡¡leapt¡¡over¡¡rocks¡¡and¡¡logs¡¡without¡¡pause¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡skrin¡¡was¡¡only¡¡a¡¡heartbeat¡¡behind¡£¡¡Being¡¡taller¡¡than¡¡the¡¡horse£»¡¡it¡¡struck¡¡branches¡¡as¡¡it¡¡ran¡£¡¡Zedd¡¡could¡¡hear¡¡the¡¡limbs¡¡snap¡¡and¡¡splinter¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡felling¡¡trees¡¡across¡¡the¡¡way¡¡right¡¡behind¡¡them£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡slow¡¡the¡¡bone¡¡beast¡£¡¡He¡¡had¡¡tried¡¡tricks¡¡and¡¡spells¡¡and¡¡wizardry¡¡of¡¡every¡¡sort¡£¡¡None¡¡had¡¡worked£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡refused¡¡to¡¡admit¡¡defeat¡£¡¡Admitting¡¡defeat¡¡established¡¡a¡¡mental¡¡state¡¡of¡¡resignation¡¡that¡¡would¡¡make¡¡it¡¡certain¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡fear¡¡the¡¡Keeper¡¡has¡¡us¡¡this¡¡time£»¡¯¡¡Adie¡¡called¡¡at¡¡his¡¡back¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Not¡¡yet¡¡he¡¡doesn¡¯t£¡¡¡How¡¡did¡¡he¡¡find¡¡us£¿¡¡The¡¡bones¡¡of¡¡the¡¡skrin¡¡have¡¡been¡¡in¡¡your¡¡house£»¡¡hiding¡¡you£»¡¡for¡¡years£¡¡¡If¡¡they¡¡have¡¡been¡¡hiding¡¡you£»¡¡then¡¡how¡¡did¡¡he¡¡find¡¡us£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡had¡¡no¡¡answer¡£
¡¡
¡¡They¡¡were¡¡running¡¡the¡¡path¡¡where¡¡the¡¡boundary¡¡had¡¡been£»¡¡headed¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡Midlands¡£¡¡Zedd¡¡was¡¡thankful¡¡the¡¡boundary¡¡walls¡¡were¡¡no¡¡longer¡¡there£»¡¡or¡¡they¡¡could¡¡have¡¡inadvertently¡¡run¡¡into¡¡the¡¡underworld¡¡by¡¡now¡£¡¡Boundary¡¡or¡¡not£»¡¡this¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡go¡¡on¡¡for¡¡much¡¡longer£»¡¡and¡¡then¡¡the¡¡skrin¡¡would¡¡have¡¡them¡£¡¡Boundary¡¡or¡¡not£»¡¡the¡¡underworld¡¡would¡¡have¡¡them¡£¡¡The¡¡Keeper¡¡would¡¡have¡¡them¡£
¡¡
¡¡Think£»¡¡he¡¡ordered¡¡himself¡£
¡¡
¡¡Zedd¡¡was¡¡using¡¡magic¡¡to¡¡lend¡¡strength¡¡and¡¡stamina¡¡to¡¡the¡¡horse£»¡¡but¡¡even¡¡so£»¡¡heart£»¡¡lungs¡¡and¡¡sinew¡¡could¡¡not¡¡endure¡¡long¡¡past¡¡their¡¡natural¡¡limits¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡nearly¡¡as¡¡weary¡¡as¡¡the¡¡frightened¡¡animal¡£¡¡This¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡go¡¡on¡¡much¡¡longer¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡had¡¡to¡¡stop¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡slow¡¡the¡¡skrin£»¡¡and¡¡put¡¡his¡¡mind¡¡to¡¡solving¡¡the¡¡problem¡£¡¡But¡¡that¡¡could¡¡be¡¡a¡¡dangerous¡¡shift¡¡in¡¡tactics¡£¡¡It¡¡could¡¡be¡¡that¡¡although¡¡what¡¡he¡¡was¡¡doing¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡stopping¡¡the¡¡skrin£»¡¡it¡¡was¡¡keeping¡¡it¡¡from¡¡them¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡thought¡¡he¡¡saw¡¡a¡¡flash¡¡of¡¡green¡¡light¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡£¡¡A¡¡shade¡¡of¡¡green¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡¡from¡¡only¡¡one¡¡place£º¡¡the¡¡boundary¡£¡¡From¡¡the¡¡underworld¡£¡¡Impossible£»¡¡he¡¡thought¡£¡¡The¡¡horse¡¯s¡¡hooves¡¡thundered¡¡on¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Adie£¡¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡have¡¡anything¡¡with¡¡you¡¡that¡¡the¡¡skrin¡¡would¡¡recognize£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Like¡¡what£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know£¡¡¡Anything£¡¡¡It¡¡has¡¡to¡¡have¡¡found¡¡us¡¡by¡¡something¡£¡¡Something¡¡to¡¡connect¡¡us¡¡to¡¡the¡¡underworld¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡have¡¡nothing¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡have¡¡found¡¡us¡¡by¡¡the¡¡bones¡¡at¡¡my¡¡house¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®But¡¡the¡¡bones¡¡have¡¡been¡¡what¡¡have¡¡been¡¡hiding¡¡you£¡¡¯
¡¡
¡¡There¡¡was¡¡no¡¡mistaking¡¡the¡¡flash¡¡of¡¡green¡¡light¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡£¡¡Another¡¡came¡¡to¡¡the¡¡left¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Zedd£¡¡¡I¡¡think¡¡the¡¡skrin¡¡be¡¡bringing¡¡up¡¡the¡¡underworld£»¡¡to¡¡force¡¡us¡¡into¡¡it£¡¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Bones¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Can¡¡it¡¡do¡¡that£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Her¡¡voice¡¡wasn¡¯t¡¡as¡¡loud¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡¡®Yes¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Bags£»¡¯¡¡he¡¡muttered¡¡into¡¡the¡¡cold¡¡wind¡¡at¡¡his¡¡face¡£
¡¡
¡¡Eerie¡¡green¡¡light¡¡flickered¡¡between¡¡the¡¡trees¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡closer¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡think¡¡of¡¡something£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡going¡¡to¡¡die¡£
¡¡
¡¡Think¡£
¡¡
¡¡Suddenly¡¡the¡¡green¡¡light¡¡seemed¡¡to¡¡ignite¡¡into¡¡a¡¡solid¡¡wall¡¡to¡¡each¡¡side¡£¡¡It¡¡made¡¡a¡¡thump¡¡he¡¡could¡¡feel¡¡deep¡¡in¡¡his¡¡chest¡¡when¡¡it¡¡arrived£»¡¡whole£»