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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 you。 I am one who has respect for the Confessors； perhaps more than you will ever know。 You are a good woman； and you are wele in my house。〃
Kahlan looked into his eyes a long moment。 〃Thank you； Zeddicus Zu'1 Zorander。〃
Zedd's expression turned more dangerous than hers had when they had first met。 She stood frozen with his finger still under her chin； afraid to move； her eyes wide。
〃Know this； though； Mother Confessor。〃 His voice was only one step above a whisper； and deadly。 〃This。 boy has been my friend a good long time。 If you touch him with your power； or if you choose him； you will answer to me。 And you would not like that。 Do you understand？〃
She swallowed hard and managed to give a weak nod。 〃Yes。〃
〃Good。〃 The danger left his face； leaving calm again in its place。 He removed his finger from under her chin； and began to turn to Richard。
Kahlan let her breath out and； not willing to be intimidated； grabbed his arm； turning him back to her。 〃Zedd； I would not do that to him； not because of what you said； but because I care for him。 I want you to understand that。〃
They faced off a long while； each measuring the other。 Zedd's impish smile returned； as disarming as ever。
〃If offered a choice； dear one； that is the way I would prefer it。〃
She relaxed； satisfied at having made her point； and gave him a quick hug that was returned earnestly。
〃There is one thing you have left unspoken。 You have not asked for my help in finding the wizard。〃
〃No； and for now I won't。 Richard fears what I would do if you were to say no。 I promised I would not ask until he has a chance to ask you first。 I gave him my word。〃
Zedd put a bony finger to his chin。 〃How interesting。〃 He laid his hand on her shoulder conspiratorially； and changed the subject。 〃You know； dear one； you might make a good Seeker yourself。〃
〃Me？ A woman can be Seeker？〃
He lifted an eyebrow。 〃Of course。 Some of the best Seekers have been women。〃
〃I already have an impossible job。〃 She frowned。 〃I don't need two。〃
Zedd chuckled； his eyes sparkling。 〃Perhaps you are right。 Now； it's very late； dear one。 Go to my bed in the next room and get yourself some needed sleep。 I will sit with Richard。〃
〃No！〃 She shook her head and plopped down in the chair。 〃I don't want to leave him for now。〃
Zedd shrugged。 〃As you wish。〃 He walked behind her and patted her shoulder reassuringly。 〃As you wish：〃 He gently reached up and put a middle finger to each of her temples； rubbing in little circles。 She moaned softly as her eyes closed。 〃Sleep； dear one；〃 he whispered； 〃sleep。〃 She folded her arms down onto the edge of the bed； and her head sank onto her arms。 She was deeply asleep。 After he put a blanket over her； Zedd went to the front room and pulled open the door； looking out into the night。
〃Cat！ e here； I want you。〃 The cat came running in and rubbed himself against Zedd's legs； swishing his tail up。 Zedd bent down and scratched him behind the ears。 〃G