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From this high wall on the mountainside； the city looked peaceful enough。 But he had already slipped through the darkened streets and seen the troops everywhere。 Troops that were there at the cost of many lives； on both sides。
But that wasn't the worst of it。
Darken Rahl had to have been here。 Zedd pounded his fist to the stone。 It had to be Darken Rahl who had taken it。
The intricate web of shields should have held； but they hadn't。 He had been away too many years。 He had been a fool
〃Nothing is ever easy；〃 the wizard whispered
CHAPTER 30
〃KAHLAN；〃 RICHARD ASKED； 〃REMEMBER； when we were back with the Mud People； and that man said Rahl had e； riding a red demon？ Do you know what he was talking about？〃
They had traveled three days across the plains； with Savidlin and his hunters； then had bid him goodbye with a promise to his sad eyes to do whatever they could to find Siddin； and they had spent the past week climbing up into the high country； into the Rang' Shada； the vast spine of rock that Kahlan had said ran northeast across the back of the Midlands； and cradled in its mountains the remote place known as Agaden Reach。 A place she said was surrounded by jagged peaks； like a wreath of thorns； meant to keep all away。
〃You don't know？〃 She looked a little surprised。
When he shook his head； she slumped down on a hump of rock to take a break。 Richard slipped his pack off with a tired groan and flopped on the ground； leaning against a short rock； putting his arms back on it to stretch them into a different position。 She looked different to him； now that the black and white mud had been washed off her face。 He had gotten used to it over those three days。
〃So what was it？〃 he asked again。
〃A dragon。〃
〃A dragon！ There are dragons in the Midlands？ I didn't think there really were such things！〃
〃Well； there are。〃 She frowned over at him。 〃I thought you knew。〃 He gave a single shake of his head。 〃I guess。 you wouldn't； since Westland has no magic。 Dragons have magic。 I believe that's how they fly； with the aid of magic。〃
〃I thought dragons were just legends； old tales。〃 He flicked a pebble between his thumb and second finger； watching it bounce off a boulder。
〃Old tales of things remembered； maybe。 Anyway； they are real enough。〃 With her thumbs； she lifted her hair away from the back of her neck； to cool it； and closed her eyes。 〃There are different kinds。 Gray； green； red； and a few others； less mon。 The gray ones are the smallest； rather shy。 The green are a lot bigger。 The smartest and the biggest are the red ones。 Some peoples of the Midlands keep the gray ones as pets； and for hunting。 No one keeps green ones； they're rather dumb； have bad tempers and can be quite dangerous。〃 Her eyelids slid open and she tilted her head to look up from under her arched eyebrows。 〃The red ones are something altogether different； they will fry you and eat you in a blink。 And； they are smart。〃
〃They eat people！〃 Richard pressed the heels of his hands to his eyes and gave a groan。
〃Only if they are hungry enough； or angry enough。 We wouldn't make much of a meal for them。〃 When he took his hands away and opened his eyes； her green eyes were looking at him。 〃The thing I don't understand is what Rahl was doing on one。〃
Richard remembered the red thing in the sky that flew over him in the upper Ven Forest； just before he found Kahlan。 He tossed another pebble at the boulder。 〃That must be how he covers so much territory。〃
She shook her head slowly。 〃No； I mean I don't understand why a red dragon would submit to it。 They are fiercely independent； take no sides in human affairs； in fact； couldn't care less。 They would rather die than be subjugated。 And they would make a good fight of it； believe me。 As I said； they have magic； and could deal even the one from D'Hara quite a match； for a time anyway。 Even if he threatened them with death from some of his own magic； they wouldn't care； they would rather die than be ruled。
〃They would simply fight until they killed； or were killed。〃 She leaned a little toward him and lowered her voice meaningfully。 〃The idea of one flying Rahl around on its back is very odd。 It's impossible for me to imagine anyone ruling a red dragon。〃
She watched him a moment； then straightened and picked at the lichen on a rock。
〃Are these dragons a threat to us？〃 He felt stupid asking if a dragon was dangerous。
〃Not likely。 I have only seen red ones up close a few times。 Once； I was walking on a road； and one swooped down； close； in the field right next to me； and grabbed two cows。 Carried them off； one in each claw。 If we came upon one； a red one； and it was in a foul temper； I suppose it could be big trouble； but that is not very likely。〃
〃We have already e upon a red one；〃 he reminded her in a quiet voice； 〃and it was big trouble。〃
She didn't answer。 By her expression； the memory obviously pained her as much as it did him。
〃Well； there you two are！〃 a stranger's voice called out。
They both jumped。 Richard sprang to his feet with his hand on the sword； Kahlan was in a half crouch ready for anything。
〃Sit； sit。〃 The old man motioned with both hands as he walked down the path toward them。 〃I didn't mean to give you a fright！〃 His white beard shook when he laughed。 〃It's just Old John； e looking for the two of you。 Sit。 Sit。〃
His large round belly jiggled under his dark brown robes as he laughed。 White hair was parted neatly down the middle； and long curly eyebrows and drooping lids shaded his brown eyes。 His jolly round face wrinkled with a wide smile as he waited。 Kahlan cautiously eased herself back down。 Richard lowered himself partway； to sit lightly on the rock he had been leaning against。 He kept his hand on his sword。
〃What do you mean you have been looking for us？〃 Richard asked in a not entirely friendly tone。
〃My old friend； the wizard； sent me looking for you 。 。 。 。〃
Richard jumped back to his feet。 〃Zedd！ Zedd sent you？〃
Old John held his stomach as he laughed。 〃How many old wizards do you know； my boy？ Of course old Zedd。〃 He gripped his beard； pulling it a little as he peered at them with one eye。 〃He had important business to attend to； but he needs you； needs you with him； now。 So he came and asked me if I'd go get you。 Had nothing better to do； so I told him I'd do it。 He。 told me where I'd find you。 Looks like he was right； as usual。〃
Richard smiled at that。 〃Well； how is he？ Where is he； what's he want us for？〃
Old John pulled a little harder on his beard； nodding and smiling。 〃He told me。 Told me you asked a lot of questions。 He's just fine。 Thing is； I don't know why he wants you。 When old Zedd's in a fret； you don't ask questions； you just do as he asks。 So I did。 And here I am。〃
〃Where is he？ How far？〃 Richard was excited about seeing Zedd again。
Old John scratched his chin and leaned forward a little。 〃Depends。 How long you plan on standing there wagging your tongue？〃
Richard grinned； then snatched up his pack； his weariness forgotten。 Kahlan gave him one o