Wizard's First Rule

Large wings spread from its back. Against the failing light, Richard could see the veins pulsing through the thin membranes that were its wings. The beast took one last look around and skittered sideways across the clearing. It straightened, hopped twice, and flew off, disappearing in the direction of the boundary. The flies were gone with it.

Both flopped onto their backs, breathing fast, exhausted by the level of fright. Richard thought of the country people who had told him of things from the sky that ate people. He hadn't believed them. He believed them now.

Something in his pack was poking him in the back, and when he could stand it no longer, he rolled onto his side, propping himself up on one elbow. He was drenched in sweat, and it now felt like ice in the cold evening air. Kahlan still lay on her back with her eyes closed, breathing rapidly. A few strands of her hair stuck to her face, but most of it flowed out over the ground.

Sweat covered her, too; around her neck it was tinted red. He felt 1 an overwhelming sense of sadness for her, for the terrors in her life. He wished she didn't have to face the monsters she seemed to know all too well.

"Kahlan, what was that thing?"

She sat up, taking a deep breath as she looked down at him.

Her hand came up and hooked some of her hair behind her ear;; the rest fell forward over her shoulders.

"It was a long-tailed gar."

Reaching out, she picked up one of the biting flies by its wings. Somehow it must have gotten caught in a fold of his shirt and was smashed when he flopped onto his back.

"This is a blood fly. Gars use them to hunt. The flies flush out the quarry, the gar grabs it. They smear some on themselves, for the flies. We are very lucky." She held the blood fly right in front of his nose to make her point. "Long-tailed gars are stupid. If it had been a short-tailed gar, we would be dead right now. Shorttail gars are bigger, and a lot smarter." She paused to make sure she had his full attention. "They count their flies."

He was frightened, exhausted, confused, and in pain. He wanted this nightmare to end. With a moan of frustration he sagged back down onto his back, not caring anymore about whatever it was that was poking him.

"Kahlan, I'm your friend. After those men attacked us, and you didn't want to tell me more about what is going on, I didn't press you." His eyes were closed. He couldn't bear the scrutiny of her eyes. "Now someone is after me, too. For all I know, it could be the same person who murdered my father. It's not just you anymore; I can't go home either. I think I have a right to know at least some of what's going on. I'm your friend, not your enemy.

"Once, when I was little, I got a fever and almost died. Zedd found a root that saved me. Until today, that was the only time I've ever been close to death. Today I was close three times. What do I…"

Her fingertips touched his lips to silence him.

"You're right. I will answer your questions. Except about me. For now, I cannot."

He sat up and looked at her. She was starting to shake with cold. Shrugging the straps of the pack off his shoulders, he pulled a blanket out and wrapped it around her.

"You promised me a fire," she said as she shivered. "Is it a promise you intend to keep?"

He couldn't help but to laugh as he got to his feet. "Sure. There's a wayward pine right over there on the other side of the clearing. Or if you want there are others up the trail a little way."

She looked up and give him a worried frown.

"Right," he smiled, "we'll find another wayward pine up the trail."

"What is a wayward pine?" she asked

CHAPTER 5

RICHARD HELD BACK THE boughs of the tree. "This is a wayward pine," he announced. "Friend to any traveler."

It was dark inside. Kahlan held the boughs aside so he could see by the moonlight to strike steel to flint and start a fire. Clouds scudded across the moon, and they could see their breath in the cold air. Richard had stayed here before on trips to and from Zedd's, and had made a small fire pit of stones. There was dry wood and to the far side a stack of dry grass he had used for bedding. Since he didn't have his knife he was thankful he had left a supply of tinder. The fire was quickly started, filling the interior of the tree's skirt with flickering light.

Richard was not quite able to stand under the branches where they began growing out from the trunk. The branches were bare near the trunk, with needles on the ends, leaving a hollow interior. The lower branches dipped all the way to the ground. The tree was fire-resistant, as long as one was careful. The smoke from the small fire curled up the center, near the trunk. The needles grew so thick that even in a good rain it remained dry inside. Richard had waited out many a rain in a wayward pine. He always enjoyed staying in the small but cozy shelters as he traveled the Hartland.