Wizard's First Rule

When Kahlan translated, the hunters laughed all the more. Richard scowled over at them, but they kept laughing. The Bird Man folded his arms with a sigh.

"It is no use. The day ends, the gathering will be soon. " He put his arm around the shoulders of a frustrated Seeker. "Keep the gift of the whistle anyway. Though it will never aid you, let it serve as a reminder that while you may be better at some things than most people, in this, even a child is better than you.»

The hunters roared. Richard sighed and gave the Bird Man a nod. Everyone collected their things and headed back to the village.

Richard leaned toward her. "I was trying my best. Really. I don't understand it."

She grinned, taking his hand in hers. "I am sure you were."

Though the light was fading, the cloudy day had been the brightest in longer than she could remember, and it had helped to lift her spirits. Mostly, though, what helped her was the way Richard had treated her. He had let her have time to recover from last night without asking her anything. He had just held her, let her be.

Even though nothing more had happened, she felt closer to him than she ever had, but at the same time, she knew that was not a good thing. It only deepened her dilemma. She had almost made a very big mistake last night. The biggest mistake of her life. She was relieved that he had pulled her back from the brink. At the same time, part of her wished he hadn't.

When she woke this morning, she didn't know how he. would feel about her, if he would be hurt, angry, or hate her. Even though she lay bare-chested against him all night, she turned her back to him in embarrassment while she buttoned her shirt. As her fingers slipped the buttons back in place, she told him that no one had ever had a friend as patient as the one she had. She said she only hoped that someday she could prove to be as good a friend as he was.

"You already have. You have placed your trust, your life, in my hands. You have pledged your life in defense of me. What more proof could I have?"

She turned, and resisting mightily the urge to kiss him, thanked him for putting up with her.

"I will have to admit, though," he said, smiling, "that I will never look at an apple in quite the same way."

That made her laugh, partly in embarrassment, and they both laughed together a long time. Somehow, it made her feel better, and took away what could have been a thorn.

Suddenly Richard stopped in his tracks. She stopped, too, as the others walked on.

"Richard, what is it?"

"The sun." He looked pale. "For a moment, a shaft of sunlight was on my face."

She turned to the west. "All I see are clouds."

"1t was there, a small opening, but I don't see it either, now."

"Do you think it means something?"

He shook his head. "I don't know. But it's the first time I've seen even the slightest break in the clouds since Zedd put them there. Maybe it's nothing."

They started walking again, the eerie sounds of the boldas carrying to them across the windswept, flat grasslands. By the time they reached the village, it was dark. The banquet was still going on, as it had all last night, as it would tonight, until the gathering was over. Everyone was still going strong, except the children; many of whom walked around in a sleepy stupor or slept contentedly in corners here and there.

The six elders were on their platform, their wives gone. They were eating a meal being served by special women; cooks who were the only ones allowed to prepare the gathering feast. Kahlan watched them pour a drink for each of the elders. It was red, different from any other drink at the banquet. The eyes of the six were glazed, far off, as if they were seeing things others didn't. Kahlan felt a chill.

Their ancestors' spirits were with them.

The Bird Man spoke to them. When he seemed satisfied by whatever it was they told him, he nodded and the six rose, walking in a line toward the spirit house. The sound of the drums and the boldas changed in a way that ran bumps up her arms. The Bird Man strode back to them, his eyes as sharp and intense as ever.

"It is time, " he told her. "Richard and I must go now.»

"What do you mean, `Richard and I'? I'm going too.

"You cannot."

Why?"

"Because a gathering is only men.»

"I am the Seeker's guide, I must be there to translate.»

The Bird Man's eyes shifted about in an uncomfortable manner. "But a gathering is only men, " he repeated, seemingly unable to come up with a better reason.

She folded her arms. "Well, this one will have a woman.»

Richard looked from her face to the Bird Man's and back again, knowing by the tone of her voice that something was going on, but deciding not to interfere. The Bird Man leaned a little closer to her and lowered his voice.

"When we meet the spirits, it must be as they are."

Her eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to tell me that you can't wear clothes?"

He took a deep breath and nodded. "And you must be painted with mud."

«Fine,» she said, holding her head up… "I have no objections.»