nothing about and was defenseless against； and so both set their minds to covering as much ground as fast as they could。 The bright day wore on with an endless expanse of rugged forest； and with their exertion they didn't notice the cold。
Richard was always glad when he saw a spiderweb stretched across the trail； he had begun to think of spiders as his guardians。 When he had been a guide； he had always been annoyed to have them tickle his face。 Thank you； sister spider； he said to himself every time he passed one now。
Near midday； they stopped for a break on sunlit rocks in an icy stream。 Richard splashed the frigid water on his face； trying to work up some energy。 He was tired already。 Lunch was cold； too； and lasted only as long as it took to bolt it down。 They both stuffed the last bites in their； mouths； brushed their hands off on their pants； and hopped down off the flat； pink rock。
As much as he tried not to think about Rachel； he found himself frowning with worry before he realized he was doing it again。 He saw Kahlan's brow wrinkle sometimes when she turned； checking to the sides。 One time he asked if she thought he had made the right decision。 She didn't have to ask which decision he was talking about。 She asked how long he thought it would have taken to catch her。 He thought two days； if every… thing went right； at least one to catch her and another back。 Two days； she had told him； was more than they could afford。 It felt reassuring to hear her say it。
Late in the afternoon； the sun slipped behind a distant peak of one of the mountains of the Rang'Shada； muting and softening the colors of the woods； calming the wind； and settling a stillness over the countryside。 Richard was able to set aside his thought of Rachel as he concentrated on what they would do when they reached Tamarang。
〃Kahlan； Zedd told us we both had to stay away from Darken Rahl； that we have no power against him； no defense。〃
She gave a short glance over her shoulder。 〃That's what he said。〃
Richard frowned。 〃Well； Shota said the Queen wouldn't have the box for long。〃
〃Maybe when she said that； she meant we would get it soon。〃
〃No； it was a warning； that the Queen wouldn't have it long； meaning we must hurry。 So what if Darken Rahl is already there？〃
She looked over her shoulder； then slowed； and walked next to him。 〃So what if he is？ There is no other way。 I'm going to Tamarang。 Do you wish to wait behind for me？〃
〃Of course not！ I'm only saying we should keep in mind what we are walking into； that Darken Rahl might be there。〃
〃I have had that thought in my mind for a long time now。〃
He walked next to her for a minute without saying anything。 At last he asked； 〃And what have you concluded？ What will we do if he is there？〃
She stared straight ahead as she spoke。 〃If 。Darken Rahl is in Tamarang； and we go there； then in all likelihood…we will die。〃
Richard lost a stride； she didn't wait for him； but walked on。
As the woods grew darker； a few small clouds glowed red； the dying embers of day。 The trail had begun following the Callisidrin River； sometimes taking them close enough for a view of it； and even when it didn't； they could still hear the rush of its brown waters。 Richard hadn't seen a wayward pine all afternoon。 Glancing about at the treetops； he saw no sign of one now； either。 As it grew dark； he gave up hope of finding one before nightfall； and so began looking for other shelter。 Off the trail a safe distance； he found a short； cleft face of rock at the bottom of a rise。 Trees were sheltering all about； and he felt it a well hidden camp； even if it was open to the sky。
The moon was well up by the time Kahlan had a stew cooking on the fire； and by a bit of luck that surprised him； Richard had two rabbits in the snare before he expected to； and was able to add them to the pot。
〃I think we have enough to feed Zedd；〃 she said。
As if bidden by her words； the old man； white hair in disarray； strode into the circle of light； stopping on the other side of the fire； hands on his hips； his robes looking a little tattered。
〃I'm starved！〃 he announced。 〃Let's eat。〃
Richard and Kahlan both blinked； wide…eyed； and came to their feet。 The old man blinked； too； when Richard drew the sword。 In a heartbeat； Richard was over the fire； the sword's point to his ribs。
〃What's this？〃 the old man asked。
〃Back up；〃 Richard ordered。 They moved； the sword between them； to the trees。 Richard eyed the trees carefully。
〃Mind if I inquire as to what we're doing； my boy？〃
〃I've been called by you once； and seen you once； yet neither was you。 Third time tricked； marks the fool；〃 Richard quoted。 He saw what he was looking for。 〃I'll not be tricked the third time； I'll not be the fool。 Over there。〃 He pointed with his chin。 〃Walk。 between those two trees。〃
〃I will not！〃 the old man protested。 〃Sheath your sword； my boy！〃
〃If you don't walk between those two trees；〃 Richard said through gritted teeth； 〃I'll sheath my sword in your ribs。〃
The old man lifted his elbows in surprise； then picked up his robes as he stepped through the low brush； muttering to himself while Richard prodded him along with the sword。 He took only a quick glance back before stepping between the trees。 Richard watched as the spiderweb parted。 A grin spread on his face。
〃Zedd！ Is it truly you？〃
Zedd； hands on his hips； peered at him with one eye。 〃True as toasted toads； my boy。〃
Richard sheathed the。 sword and threw his arms around his old friend； nearly squeezing the life out of him。 〃Oh； Zedd！ I'm so glad to see you！〃
Zedd's arms flailed as he tried to get a breath。 Richard let up； looked him in the eye； beaming； then squeezed again。
〃I fear what would have happened had you been any more glad to see me。〃
Richard walked him back to the fire； an arm around his shoulders。 〃Sorry about that； but I had to know for sure。 I can't believe you're here！ I'm so glad to see you！ I'm so happy you're all right。 We have so much to talk about。〃
〃Yes； yes。 Can we eat now？〃
Kahlan came and gave him a hug； too。 〃We were so worried about you。〃
Zedd longingly eyed the cooking pot over her shoulder as he hugged her back。 〃Yes； yes。 But this would all go better on a full stomach。〃
〃But it isn't done yet；〃 she smiled。
Zedd gave a look of disappointment。 〃Not done？ Are you sure？ Perhaps we could check。〃
〃Quite sure。 We've only just started it。〃
〃Not done；〃 he said to himself； holding an elbow with。 one hand； rubbing his chin with the other。 〃Well； we'll just see about that。 Stand back； the both of you。〃
The wizard pushed the sleeves of his robes up his arms while he eyed the fire as if it were a child who had misbehaved。 His skinny arms stretched out； fingers extended。 Blue light sizzled around his bony hands； seeming to gather momentum。 With a hiss； it shot out in a jagged blue streak； striking the cooking pot； making it jump。 The blue fire cradled the pot； twisting around it； caressing it； stroking it。 The stew bubbled with blue light； churned and sloshed。 The wizard pulled his hands back and the blue fire sizzled out。
Zedd smiled in satisfaction。 〃There； now it's done。 Let's eat！〃
Kahlan kneeled； tasting the stew with …a wooden spoon。 〃He's right。 It is done。〃
〃Well； don't just stand there staring； my boy。 Get some plates！〃
Richard shook his head and did as he was told。 Kahlan dished up a plate full； putting some dried biscuits on the side； and Rich… and handed it to Zedd。 The old man didn't sit； but stood next to them； by the fire； shoveling in the stew by the forkful。 Kahlan spooned stew on the other two plates； and by the time she was done； Zedd was handing her his empty plate to be refilled。
Having finished one helping； Zedd was able to spare himself the time to sit。 Richard sat on a small outcropping of ledge； Kahlan sat next to him； folding her legs under her； Zedd sat on the ground facing them。
Richard waited until Zedd had swallowed down half the stew on his plate； and finally allowed himself a pause before asking； 〃So； how did you get along with Adie？ Did she take good care of you？〃
Zedd looked up at him； blinking。 Even in the firelight； Richard could have sworn Zedd's face reddened。 〃Adie？ Well we。。。〃 He looked at Kahlan's puzzled face。 〃Well； we 。 。 。 we got along 。 。 。 fine。〃 He scowled at Richard。 〃What kind of question is that to ask？〃
Richard and Kahlan glanced at each other。 〃I didn't mean anything by it；〃 he said。 〃It's just that I couldn't help noticing that Adie is a handsome woman。 And interesting。 I just meant you would find her interesting。〃 Richard smiled a small smile to himself。
Zedd put his face back to his plate。 〃She's a fine woman。〃 He rolled something around his plate with the end of his fork。 〃What is this？ I've paten three； and I still don't know what it is。〃
〃Tava root；〃 Kahlan said。 〃Don't you like it？〃
Zed grunted。 〃Didn't say I didn't like it。 Just wanted to know what it was； that's all。〃 He looked up from his plate。 〃Adie told me she gav