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can get to Zedd； I must have your promise you will do what must be done to save him。’
There is time。 The Sisters won’t be back for at least a few days。 We can get to Zedd first。 There is time！’
‘I hope you are right； I really do。 I’m sure you won’t believe me； but I don’t want Richard to ever have to wear a collar； to ever face that madness again。 But if you can’t get to Zedd； then you must promise me you won’t allow him to miss the chance at life the Sisters offer。’
Tears streamed from Kahlan’s burning eyes。 Richard would hate her if she made him put on the collar； she knew he would。 He would think she had betrayed him。
‘But what of the mark？ He still has the mark on him。’
Denna watched her a long time。 Her voice came so softly Kahlan could scarcely hear it。 ‘I will take the mark。 I will go to the Keeper in his place。’ A shimmering tear ran down her cheek。 ‘But I will only do it； I will only give up my soul； if I know it gives him a chance。’
Kahlan stared incredulously。 ‘You would do that for him？’ she whispered。 ‘Why？’
‘Because after all I had done to him； he cared about my pain。 He is the only one who ever did anything to stop my pain。 When Darken Rahl beat me； he cried； and he made a potion to take away my pain； though I had never once stopped torturing him no matter how much he begged。 Not once。
‘And after all the things I have told you I did to him； he forgave me。 He understood what I had suffered。 He took my Agiel to wear around his neck and promised to remember me； to remember that I was more than a Mord…Sith； to remember that I was once just Denna。’
Another shimmering tear ran down。 ‘And because I love him。 Even in death； I love him。 Though I know my love will never be requited； I still love him。’
Kahlan looked at Richard as he lay on his back； unconscious； helpless； with the Keeper’s mark； black and bleeding； on his chest。 The black and white mud painted everywhere on him made him look wild； savage； but he wasn’t； he was the gentlest person she had ever known。 She realized then that she would do anything to save him。 Anything。
‘I will do it；’ she whispered。 ‘I promise。 If we can’t find Zedd before the Sisters e back for the third time； I will make him put on the collar； no matter what it takes。 Even if it makes him hate me。 Even if it kills me。’
Denna’s hand reached out to her。 ‘An oath then； between the living and the dead； to do what must be done to save him。’
Kahlan stared at the hand before her。 ‘I still can’t forgive you。 I won’t forgive you。’
The hand stayed where it was； waiting。 The only forgiveness I need has already been granted。’
Kahlan stared at the hand； and then reached out and took it。 ‘An oath then； to save the one we love。’
They clasped hands； and shared a silent joining。
Denna took away her hand。 ‘Time is short for him。 It must be now。’ Kahlan nodded。 ‘When it is done； get help for him。 Though the pull of the mark will be removed； the wound will still be there； and it is a serious one。’
Kahlan nodded。 There is a healer here。 She will help him。’
Denna’s eyes were filled with passion。 Thank you； Kahlan； for loving him enough to help him。 May the good spirits be with you both。’ She gave a small； frightened smile。 ‘Where I am going； I will never see any of them； or I would send them to help you。’
Kahlan touched the back of the other’s hand； offering a silent prayer for strength。
Denna returned the touch to Kahlan’s cheek； and then knelt next to Richard。 Her hand went to the mark； covering it； dissolving into it。 Richard’s chest heaved。
Denna’s features twisted in pain。 She threw her head back with a piercing scream that shot through Kahlan。
And then she was just gone。
Richard groaned。 Kahlan bent over him； caressing him。 Crying。
‘Kahlan？’ he moaned。 ‘Kahlan； what happened？ It hurts。 It hurts so 。。。’
‘Lie still； my love。 Everything is all right。 You are safe； with me。 I’ll get help。’
He nodded and she ran to the door； throwing it open。 The elders were sitting in a small circle in the dark； just outside the door。 They looked up expectantly。
‘Help me！’ she screamed。 ‘Carry him to Nissel！ There’s no time to get her！’
CHAPTER 17
When he stirred； Kahlan lifted her head。
His gray eyes blinked and searched around the small room until they found her face。 ‘Where are we？’
She gave his shoulder a little squeeze。 ‘At Nissel’s。 She tended your burn。’
His right hand came up and touched the bandage…covered poultice。 He winced。 ‘How long 。。。 What time is it？’
Kahlan looked up from where she was crouched on the floor next to him； rubbed her eyes； and squinted out the partly opened door at the gray light。 ‘It has been light for an hour or two。 Nissel is in the back room； sleeping。 She was up most of the night； tending your wound。 The elders are all outside； watching over you。 They haven’t left since we brought you here。’
‘When？ When did you bring me here？’
‘In the middle of the night。’
Richard looked around again。 ‘What happened？ Darken Rahl was there。’ His big hand grasped her arm。 ‘He touched me。 He 。。。 marked me。 Where did he go？ What happened after he touched me？’
She shook her head。 ‘I don’t know。 He just left。’
His hand squeezed her arm painfully。 His eyes were wild。 ‘What do you mean he left！ Did he go back into the green light？ Back into the underworld？’
She pulled at his fingers。 ‘Richard！ You’re hurting me。’
He let go。 ‘I’m sorry。’ He cradled her head to his good shoulder。 ‘I’m sorry。 I didn’t mean to。 I’m sorry。’ He let out a noisy breath。 ‘I can’t believe how stupid I am。’
She kissed his neck。 ‘It didn’t hurt that much。’
‘That’s not what I mean。 I mean I can’t believe how stupid I was to call him back from the underworld。 I can’t believe I did something that stupid。 I was warned。 I should have thought。 I should have figured it out。 I let myself focus on one thing so strongly that I didn’t look around and see what was ing from a different direction。 I must be mad to have done that。’
‘Don’t say that；’ she whispered。 ‘You’re not mad。’ She pushed herself up and looked down at him。 ‘Don’t you ever say that about yourself。’
He blinked； then pushed himself up to sit facing her。 He winced when he touched the bandage again。 He reached out to run his hand down her cheek； through her hair。 He smiled the smile that made her heart melt。
He sought her eyes。 ‘You are the most beautiful woman in the world。 Did I ever tell you that？’
‘All the time。’
‘Well； you are。 I love your green eyes； your hair。 You have the most beautiful hair I ever saw。 Kahlan； I love you more than anything in the world。’
She forced herself to hold back tears。 ‘I love you more than anything else； too。 Please； Richard； promise me you won’t ever doubt my love。 Promise me that no matter what happens； you won’t ever doubt how much I love you。’
He cupped her cheek。 ‘I promise。 I pr