〃 she asked。
〃Yes； yes。 I lived in the Midlands a long time。〃
〃And the great one？ You know him also？〃
Zedd smiled； rearranged his robes； and seated himself again。 〃You are persistent； dear one。 Yes； I knew the old wizard； once。 But even if you could find him； I don't think he would have anything to do with this business。 He would not be inclined to help the Midlands。〃
Kahlan leaned forward； taking his hands in hers。 Her voice was soft but intense。
〃Zedd； there are many people who disapprove of the High Council of the Midlands and its greed。 They wish it were not so； but they are just mon people who have no say。 They only wish to live their lives in peace。 Darken Rahl has taken the food that was stored for the ing winter and given it to the army。 They waste it； or let it rot； or sell it back to the people they stole it from。 Already there is hunger； this winter there will be death。 Fire has been outlawed。 People are cold。
〃Rahl says it is all the great wizard's fault； for not ing forward to be put on trial as an enemy of the people。 He says the wizard has brought this on them； that he is to blame。 He doesn't explain how this could be； but many believe it anyway。 Many believe everything Rahl says； even though what they see with their own eyes should be enough to tell them otherwise。
〃The wizards were under constant threat； and forbidden by edict from using magic。 They knew that sooner or later they would be used against the people。 They may have made mistakes' in the past； and disappointed their teacher； but the most important thing they were taught was to be protectors of the people and in 。 no way to bring them harm。 As their most loving act for the people； they gave their lives to stop Darken Rahl。 I think their teacher would have been proud。
〃But this is not about just the Midlands。 The boundary between D'Hara and the Midlands is down； the boundary between the Midlands and Westland is failing； and soon it too will be down。 The people of Westland will be taken by the very thing they fear most： magic。 Terrible； frightening magic like none they have ever imagined。〃
Zedd showed no emotion； offered no objection or opinion； only listened。 He continued to allow her to hold his hands。
〃All I have said； the great wizard could have an argument for； but the fact that Darken Rahl has put the three boxes of Orden into play is something altogether different。 If he succeeds； then on the first day of winter it will be too late for anyone。 That includes the wizard。 Rahl already searches for him； it is personal vengeance he seeks。 Many have died because they could not offer his name。 When Rahl opens the correct box； though； he will have unchallenged power over all things living； and then the wizard will be his。 He can hide in Westland all he wants； but e the first day of winter； his hiding is over。 Darken Rahl will have him。〃
There was bitterness in her expression。 〃Zedd； Darken Rahl has used quads to kill all the other Confessors。 I found my sister after they were finished with her。 She died in my arms。 With all the others dead； that leaves only me。 The wizards knew their teacher did not want to help； so they sent me as the last hope。 If he is too foolish to see that in helping me； he helps himself； then I must use my power against him； to make him help。〃
Zedd raised an eyebrow。 〃And what is one dried…up old wizard to do against the power of this Darken Rahl？〃 He was now holding her hands in his。
〃He must appoint a Seeker。〃
〃What！〃 Zedd jumped to his feet。 〃Dear one； you don't know what you are talking about。〃
Confused； Kahlan leaned back a little。 〃What do you mean？〃
〃Seekers appoint themselves。 The wizard just sort of recognizes what has happened； and makes it official。〃
〃I don't understand。 I thought the wizard picked the person； the right person。〃
Zedd sat back down； rubbing his chin。 〃Well； that's true in a sense； but backwards。 A true Seeker； one who can make a difference； must show himself to be a Seeker。 The wizard doesn't point to someone and say； ‘Here is the Sword of Truth； you will be the Seeker。' He doesn't really have a choice in the matter。 It isn't something you can train someone for。 One should simply be a Seeker and show himself to be so by his actions。 A wizard must watch a person for years to be sure。 A Seeker doesn't have to be the smartest person； but he has to be the right person； he has to have the right qualities within himself。 A true Seeker is a rare person。
〃The Seeker is a balance point of power。 The council made the appointment a political bone to be thrown to one of the sniveling dogs at their feet。 It was a sought…after post because of the power a Seeker wields。 But the council didn't understand： it wasn't the post that brought the power to the person； it was the person that brought the power to the post。〃
He edged closer to her。 〃Kahlan； you were born after the council took this power upon itself； so you may have been a Seeker when you were young； but in those days they were pretend Seekers； you have never seen the real thing。〃 His eyes got round in the telling； his voice low and full of passion。 〃I have seen a true Seeker make a king quake in his boots with the asking of a single question： When a real Seeker draws the Sword of Truth 。 。 。〃 He held his hands up and rolled his eyes in delight。 〃Righteous anger can be an extraordinary thing to behold。〃 Kahlan smiled at his excitement。 〃It can make the good tremble with joy； and the wicked shiver in fear。〃 The smile left his face。 〃But people rarely believe the truth when they see it and less so when they don't want to； and that makes the position of Seeker a dangerous one。 He is an obstacle to those who would subvert power。 He draws lightning from many sides。 Most often he stands alone； and frequently not long。〃
〃I know the feeling well；〃 she said； with only the hint of a smile。
Zedd leaned closer。 〃Against Darken Rahl； I doubt even a true Seeker would last long。 And then what？〃
She took up his hands again。 〃Zedd； we must try。 It is our only chance。 If we don't take it； we have none。〃
He sat up； pulling away from her。 〃Any person the wizard picks would not know the Midlands。 He would have no chance there。 It would be a sentence of quick death。〃
〃That is the other reason I was sent。 To be his guide； and stand with him； to offer my life if need be； to help protect him。 Confessors spend their life traveling the lands。 I have been almost everywhere in the Midlands。 A Confessor is trained from birth in languages。 She has to be； because she never knows where she will be called。 I speak every major language； and most of the minor ones。 And as far as drawing lightning； a Confessor draws her fair share。 If we were easy to kill； Rahl would not need to send quads to get the job done。 And many of them have died in the doing。 I can help protect the Seeker； if need be； with my own life。〃
〃What you propose not only would put someone's life at terrible risk； as Seeker； dear one； but yours also。〃
She raised an eyebrow。 〃I am hunted now。 If you have a better way； put words to it。〃
Before Zedd could answer； Richard moaned。 The old man looked over at him and then rose。 〃It is time。〃
Kahlan stood up next to him as he lifted Richard's arm by the wrist； holding the wounded hand over the tin plate。 Blood dripped onto the plate with soft； hollow sounds。 The thorn fell out with a small； wet splash。 Kahlan reached for it。
Zedd grabbed her wrist。 〃Don't do that； dear one。 Now that it has been expelled from its host； it will be anxious to have a new one。 Watch。〃
She took her hand back as he put his bony finger on the plate several inches from the thorn。 It wiggled its way toward the finger； leaving a thin trail of blood。 He took his finger away and handed her the plate。 〃Hold it from underneath； and take it to the hearth。 Put it on the fire； facedown； and leave it there。〃
While she did as Zedd requested； he cleaned the wound and applied a salve。 When Kahlan returned； he held Richard's hand while she wrapped it。 Zedd watched her hands as she worked。
〃Why have you not told him what you are； that you are a Confessor？〃 There was a hard edge to his voice。
Hers came back in kind。 〃Because of the way you reacted when you recognized me as a Confessor。〃 She paused； and the harshness left her voice。 〃Somehow we have bee friends。 I am inexperienced in that； but I am very experienced at being a Confessor。 I have seen reactions like yours all my life。 When I leave with the Seeker； I will tell him。 Until then； I would very much like to have his friendship。 Is that too much to ask； to be allowed the simple human pleasure of a friend？ The friendship will end soon enough； when I tell him。〃
When she finished； Zedd put a finger under her chin； raising her face to his gentle smile。 〃When I first saw you； I reacted foolishly。 Mostly to the surprise of seeing a Confessor。 I had not expected ever to see one again。 I quit the Midlands to be free of the magic。 You were an intrusion into my solitude。 I apologize for my reaction and for making you feel unwele。 I hope I have made it up to