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d think of Zedd。 The juice of the aum numbed the sting； but not his worry over being unable to remove the thorn。 He could feel it wriggling still deeper into his flesh。
Richard squatted down and poked a hole in the ground with his finger； placed the aum in it； and fixed moss about the stem so it might regrow itself。
The sounds of the forest fell dead still。 Richard looked up； flinching as a dark shadow swept over the ground； leaping across limbs and leaves。 There was a rushing； whistling sound in the air overhead。 The size of the shadow was frightening。 Birds burst from cover in the trees； giving alarm calls as they scattered in all directions。 Richard peered up； searching through the gaps in the canopy of green and gold； trying to see the shadow's source。 For an instant； he saw something big。 Big； and red。 He couldn't imagine what it could be； but the memory of the rumors and stories of things ing out of the boundary flooded back into his mind； making him go cold to the bone。
The vine was trouble； he thought again； this thing in the sky could be no less。 He remembered what people always said； 〃Trouble sires three children；〃 and knew immediately that he didn't want to meet the third child。
Discounting his fears； he started running。 Just idle talk of superstitious people； he told himself。 He tried to think of what could be that big； that big and red。 It was impossible； there was nothing that flew that was that large。 Maybe it was a cloud； or a trick of the light。 But he couldn't fool himself： it was no cloud。
Looking up as he ran； trying for another glimpse； he headed for the path that skirted the hillside。 Richard knew that the ground dropped off sharply on the other side of the trail； and he would be able to get an unobstructed view of the sky。 Tree branches wet with rain from the night before slapped at his face as he ran through the forest； jumping fallen trees and small rocky streams。 Brush snatched at his pant legs。 Dappled swatches of sunlight teased him …to look up but denied him the view he needed。 His breath was fast； ragged； sweat ran cold against his face； and he could feel his heart pounding as he ran carelessly down the hillside。 At last he stumbled out of the trees onto the path； almost falling。
Searching the sky； he spotted the thing； far away and too small for him to tell what it was； but he thought it had wings。 He squinted against the blue brightness of the sky； shielded his eyes with his hand； trying to see for sure if there were wings moving。 It slipped behind a hill and was gone。 He hadn't even been able to tell if it really was red。
Winded； Richard slumped down on a granite boulder at the side of the trail； absently snapping off dead twigs from a sapling beside him while he stared down at Trunt Lake below。 Maybe he should go tell Michael what had happened； tell him about the vine and the red thing in the sky。 He knew Michael would laugh at the last part。 He had laughed at the same stories himself。
No； Michael would only be angry with him for being up near the boundary； and for going against his orders to stay out of the search for the murderer。 He knew his brother cared about him or he wouldn't always be nagging him。 Now that he was grown； he could laugh off his brother's constant instructions； though he still had to endure the looks of displeasure。
Richard snapped off another twig and in frustration threw it at a flat rock。 He decided he shouldn't feel singled out。 After all； Michael was always telling everyone what to do； even their father。
He pushed aside his harsh judgments of his brother； today was a big day for Michael。 Today he was accepting the position of First Councilor。 He would be in charge of everything now； not just the town of Hartland anymore； but all the towns and villages of Westland； even the country people。 Responsible for everything and everyone。 Michael deserved Richard's support； he needed it； Michael had lost a father； too。
That afternoon there was to be a ceremony and big celebration at Michael's house。 Important people were going to be there； e from the farthest reaches of Westland。 Richard was supposed to be there； too。； At least there would be plenty of good food。 He realized he was famished：
While he sat and thought； he scanned the opposite side of Trunt Lake； far below。 From this height the clear water revealed alternating patches of rocky bottom and green weed around the deep holes。 At the edge of the water； Hawkers Trail knitted in and out of the trees； in some places open to view； in some places hidden。 Richard had been on that part of the trail many times。 In the spring it was wet and soggy down by the lake； but this late in the year it would be dry。 In areas farther north and south； as the trail wound its way through the high Ven Forests； it passed unfortably close to the boundary。 Because of that； most travelers avoided it； choosing instead the trails of the Hartland Woods。 Richard was a woods guide； and led travelers safely through the Hartland forests。 Most were traveling dignitaries wanting the prestige of a local guide more than they wanted direction。
His eyes locked on something。 There was movement。 Unsure what it had been； he stared hard at the spot on the far side of the lake。 When he saw it again； on the path； where it passed behind a thin veil of trees； there was no doubt； it was a person。 Maybe it was his friend Chase。 Who else but a boundary warden would be wandering around up here？
He hopped down off the rock； tossing the twigs aside； and took a few steps forward。 The figure followed the path into the open； at the edge of the lake。 It wasn't Chase； it was a woman； a woman in a dress。 What woman would be walking around this far out in the Ven Forest； in a dress？ Richard watched her making her way along the lakeshore； disappearing and reappearing with the path。 She didn't seem to be in a hurry； but she wasn't strolling slowly either。 Rather； she moved at the measured pace of an experienced traveler。 That made sense； no one lived anywhere near Trunt Lake。
Other movement snatched his attention。 Richard's eyes searched the shade and shadows。 Behind her； there were others。 Three； no； four men； in hooded forest cloaks； following her； but hanging back some distance。 They moved with stealth； from tree to rock to tree。 Looking。 Waiting。 Moving。 Richard straightened； his eyes wide； his attention riveted。
They were stalking her。
He knew immediately： this was the third child of trouble
CHAPTER 2
AT FIRST； RICHARD STOOD frozen； not knowing what to do。 He couldn't be sure the four men really were stalking the woman； at least not until it was too late。 What business was it of his anyway？ And besides； he didn't even have his knife with him。 What chance did one man with no weapon have against four？ He watched the woman making her way along the path。 He watched the men follow。
What chance did the woman have？
He crouched； muscles tight and hard。 His heart raced as he tried to think of what he could do。 The morning sun was hot on his face； his breathing was shallow。 Richard knew there was a small cutoff from Hawkers Trail somewhere ahead of t