tching back until he could see them no more。 He felt desperately helpless。 He wished he could have seen Kahlan's smile； just once。
〃Now what？〃 Scarlet asked over her shoulder。
〃We have to find my brother。 He should be with an army of about a thousand men； somewhere between here and the Rang'Shada。 They shouldn't be as hard to find。〃 '
〃They couldn't understand my words； the web must affect me too； since I'm with you。 But it must be a web for people； not dragons； for I see the truth。 If these three wanted to kill you because of a wizard's web； surely the others will too。 I can't protect you against a thousand men。〃
〃I have to try。 I'll think of something。 Michael is my brother； I'll think of a way to make him see the truth。 He's on his way with the army to help me。 I need his help very badly。〃
Since an army would be easier to spot； they flew high； to see more ground。 Scarlet made gentle sweeping turns among the immense； cottony clouds。 Richard hadn't realized how big clouds really were； when viewed this close。 As some of them gathered； it was like being in a wonderland of white mountains； and valleys。 The dragon skimmed under their dark bases； sometimes passing through a damp wisp that hung down； her head disappearing in the whiteness at the end of her neck； the tips of her wings vanishing； too。 The size of the clouds made even Scarlet seem small and insignificant。
They searched for hours without seeing any sign of an army。 Richard was getting so used to flying； he didn't have to hold on to Scarlet's spikes all the time。 He leaned back against two of them； letting his body relax while he looked at the landscape below。 ' As they flew； Richard thought about what he could do to convince Michael of who he was。 Michael would have the box； that had to be where Zedd had left it。 Zedd would have hidden it from Rahl with magic； and let the army protect it。 He had to think of a way to show Michael who he was。 Once he had the box； he would have Scarlet fly it up to her cave with her egg。 There it would be safe from Rahl。
Then he could go back to Kahlan and protect her from Rahl's men。 Maybe he could have Scarlet fly her to the cave； too。 There she would be safe from the men。
Three and a half days； and then Darken Rahl would die。 Then Kahlan would be safe for sure。 Forever。 Then he would go back to Westland； and be finished with the magic。 Be famished with Kahlan。 The thought of never； seeing her again made him weak with pain。
Late in the afternoon； Scarlet spotted the army。 She was better at seeing things from this height than he。 They were still a long way off and Richard had to stare awhile。 At first he saw only a wispy column of dust； then he saw the ranks； moving along a road。
〃Well； what's your plan？ What do you want to do？〃 she called back to him。
〃Do you think you could land us ahead of them； without letting them see us？〃
A big yellow eye frowned back at him。 〃I'm a red dragon。 I could land us in the middle of them； and they wouldn't see me； if I didn't want them to。 How close do you want to be to them？〃
〃I don't want them to see me。 I have to get to Michael without his men seeing me。 I need to avoid trouble。〃 Richard thought a moment。 〃Set us down a few hours' march ahead of them。 Let them e to us。 It'll be dark soon； then I can get to Michael。〃
Scarlet held her wings spread； gliding in a spiral toward hills ahead of the advancing army。 She came down behind some of the higher ground； flew up the valleys； keeping out of sight of the road； and landed in a small clearing of long brown grass。 Her bright red scales； glossy and lustrous； stood out in the late afternoon light。 Richard slid off her shoulder。
Her head came around。 〃What now？〃
〃I want to wait until dark； until they set up camp for the night
After they eat； I'll be able to sneak into Michael's tent； and talk to him alone。 I'll think of a way to convince him of who I really am。〃
The dragon grumbled； looking up at the sky； and toward the road。 Her head swung back around； tilting； a big yellow eye peering at him。
〃It will be dark soon。 I must return to my egg。 It needs to be warmed。〃
〃I understand； Scarlet。〃 Richard let out a deep breath； thinking。 〃e back for me in the morning。 I'll wait for you in this field at sunrise。〃
Scarlet looked up at the sky。 〃Clouds are gathering。〃 Her head came back down。 〃If there are clouds； I can't fly in them。〃
Why？〃
She grunted； a puff of smoke rising from her nostrils。 〃Because clouds have rocks in them。〃
Richard frowned。 〃Rocks
Her tail swished impatiently。 〃The clouds hide things； it's like fog； you can't see。 When you can't see； you run into things； like hills and mountains。 I may be strong； but running into rock when I'm flying would break my neck。 If the cloud bottoms are high enough； I can fly under them。 If the tops are low enough； I can fly over them； but then I won't be able to see the ground。 I won't be able to find you。 What if there are clouds and I can't find you； or what if something else goes wrong？〃
Richard rested his hand on the hilt of his sword； looking off toward the road。 〃If anything goes wrong； I'll have to go back to my other three friends。 I'll try to stick to the main road； so you will be able to see me。〃 Richard swallowed hard。 〃If all else fails； I will have to go back to the People's Palace。 Please； Scarlet； if I can't stop Rahl with what I do here； I must be in the People's Palace three days from tomorrow。〃
〃Not much time。〃
〃I know。〃
〃Three days from tomorrow； and then I'm done with you。〃
Richard smiled。 〃That's our bargain。〃
Scarlet peered up once more。 〃I don't like the look of the sky。 Good luck； Richard Cypher。 I will return in the morning。〃
She took a little run and lifted into the air。 Richard watched her circle around him once； low； then fly off getting smaller； disappearing between hills。 A memory struck him： the memory of having seen her before。 It had been the day he had first met Kahlan； right after the snake vine had bit him。 He had seen her fly overhead just as she had done now； and disappear behind hills。 He wondered what she had been doing in Westland that day。
Making his way through the tall； dry grass； Richard hiked to a nearby hill； climbing to the top of its sparsely wooded slope； where he could watch the approaches to the west。 He found a well…hidden nook in the brush； made himself fortable； and took out some dried meat and fruit。 He found he even had a few apples left。 He ate without enjoyment while he watched for the Westland army and his brother； wondering all the while what he' could do to convince Michael of who he was。
He thought of trying to write it out； or maybe even drawing a picture； or a map； but he had doubts that would work。 If the enemy web around him changed his spoken words； it would probably change the written' ones as well。 He tried to think of games they had played when they were young； but none stood out in his mind。 Michael hadn't played all that much with him when they were young。 Richard remembered that Michael only really liked fighting with play swords。 He didn't think pulling his sword on his brother would have the desired effect。
But there was one thing； he remembered。 When they had played at swords； Michael had liked Richard to salute him； while on one knee。 Would Michael remember that？ He had liked it done often； it made him smile more than anything else。 Michael called it the loser's salute。 When Richard had won； Michael wouldn't give him the salute； and Richard wasn't his match in size at the time； and hadn't ever been able to make Michael give the salute。 But Michael had made Richard give it often enough。 He smiled at the memory； though at the time it had hurt。 Maybe Michael would remember。 It was worth a try。
Before dark came； Richard heard the sound of the horses ing； the sound 。of gear clattering； leather creaking； metal rattling； the sound of a lot of men on the move。 About fifty well…armed horsemen rode past at a quick pace； raising dust and kicking up dirt。 He saw Michael； dressed in white； at their lead。 Richard recognized the uniforms； the Hartland crest on each shoulder； the yellow banner with a blue silhouette of a pine tree and crossed swords under it。 Each man wore a short sword over his shoulder； had a battle…axe hooked to a wide belt； and carried a short spear。 Their mail armor； called battle nets； sent sparks of light through the dust。 These were not regular Westland soldiers； these were Michael's personal guards。
Where was the army？ From the air； he had seen all of them together； horsemen and foot soldiers。 These horses were moving too fast for foot soldiers at a march to keep up。 Richard stood after they passed； looking back up the road to see if the others were to follow。 No one else came。
At first worried about what this could mean； he relaxed； when it came to him。 Zedd； Chase； and Kahlan had left the box with Michael； and told him they were going to D'Hara； going after Richard。 Michael probably couldn't wait any longer； and was going himself to help。 The foot soldiers couldn't keep up the pace