Wizard's First Rule Read Online Free PDF Page B

matter settled, Richard’s word being all the reassurance he needed. His eyes scanned the crowd, lingering on various people, checking their interest in the three of them. He pulled them both away from the sunlit openness of the steps and into the shade off to the side.
    “Your brother called in all the boundary wardens.” He paused, taking another look around. “To be his personal guards.”
    “What! That doesn’t make any sense!” Richard was incredulous. “He has the Home Guard, and the army. What does he need a few boundary wardens for?”
    Chase rested his left hand on one of the knife handles. “What indeed.” His face gave no hint of emotion. It rarely did. “Could be he just wants us around for effect. People are afraid of the wardens. You’ve been away to the woods since your father was killed, not that I’m saying I wouldn’t do the same if I were you. All I’m saying is you haven’t been around. Strange things have been going on, Richard. People coming and going in the night. Michael calls them ‘concerned citizens.’ He’s been talking some nonsense about plots against the government. He has the wardens all over the grounds.”
    Richard looked around, but didn’t see any. He knew that didn’t mean anything. If a boundary warden didn’t want to be seen, he could be standing on your foot and you wouldn’t be able to find him.
    Chase drummed his fingers on a knife handle as he watched Richard’s eyes scan about. “My boys are out there, take my word.”
    “Well, how do you know Michael isn’t right, what with the father of the new First Councilor being murdered and all?”
    Chase gave his finest look of disgust. “I know every little slime in Westland. There’s no plot. Might be a bit of fun to be had if there were, but I think I’mjust part of the decoration. Michael said I should ‘stay visible.’” His expression sharpened. “And about your father’s murder, well, George Cypher and I go way back, way back to before when you were born, back to before the boundary. He was a good man. I was proud to call him friend.” Anger heated in his eyes. “I’ve twisted a few fingers.” He shifted his weight, taking another look around before bringing his fierce expression back to Richard. “Twisted hard. Hard enough to cause their owners to spit out their own mother’s name if it had been the right one. No one knows a thing, and believe me, if they did they would have been happy to have shortened our conversation. First time I’ve ever chased anyone and not been able to get even a whiff.” He folded his arms, and his grin came back as he eyed Richard up and down. “Speaking of slime, what have you been about? You look like one of my customers.”
    Richard glanced to Kahlan, and then back to Chase. “We were up in the high Ven.” Richard lowered his voice. “We were attacked by four men.”
    Chase raised an eyebrow. “Anyone I would know?”
    Richard shook his head.
    Chase frowned. “So where did these four fellows go after they jumped you?”
    “You know the trail across Blunt Cliff?”
    “Of course.”
    “They’re on the rocks at the bottom. We’re going to have to have a talk.”
    Chase unfolded his arms and stared at the two of them. “I’ll have a look.” His eyebrows knitted together. “How’d you manage it?”
    Richard exchanged a quick glance with Kahlan and looked back to the boundary warden. “I think the good spirits protected us.”
    Chase shot them each a suspicious glare. “That so. Well, better not to tell Michael about this right now. I don’t think he believes in good spirits.” He studied both their faces again. “And if you think there’s a need, you two come stay at my place. You’ll be safe enough there.”
    Richard thought about all of Chase’s children and knew he didn’t want to endanger them, but he didn’t want to argue the point either, so he just nodded.
    “We better get in there. Michael is sure to be missing me.”
    “One more