In the gathering gloom, Zedd patted Richard affectionately on the shoulder. “You have gotten it all right, my boy. All of it.” He broke into a broad grin. “I have chosen the Seeker well. I am proud of myself.” Richard and Kahlan laughed at Zedd’s self-congratulation.

Kahlan’s smiled faded. “Zedd, I cut down the tree you planted in memory of your wife. That bothers me. I’m deeply sorry for doing it.”

“Don’t be, dear one, her memory has aided us. She has helped show the Seeker the truth, there could be no more fitting tribute to her.”

Richard didn’t hear them talking. Already he was looking to the east, to the massive wall of mountains, trying to think of solutions. Cross the boundary, he thought, cross the boundary without going through it. How? What if it was impossible? What if there was no way across the boundary? Would they be stuck here while Darken Rahl searched for the boxes? Were they to die without a chance? He wished there were more time and fewer limitations. Richard reprimanded himself for wasting time wishing.

If only he knew it could be done, then he could find out how. Something in the back of his mind nagged at him, insisting that it could be done, insisting he knew the truth of it. There was a way, there had to be. If he only knew that it was possible.

All around them, the night was coming alive with sounds. Frogs called from the ponds and streams, night birds from the trees, and insects from the grass. From the distant hills came the cry of wolves, mournful and plaintive, against the dark wall of mountains. Somehow they had to cross those mountains, cross the unknown.

The mountains were like the boundary, he thought. You couldn’t go through them, but you could cross them. You had only to find a pass. A pass. Was it possible? Could there be one?

Then it struck him like a bolt of lightning.

The book.

Richard spun on his heels, excited. To his surprise Zedd and Kahlan were both standing quietly, watching him, as if waiting for a pronouncement.

“Zedd, have you ever helped anyone other than yourself go through the boundary?”

“Like who?”

“Anyone! Yes or no!”

“No. No one.”

“Can anyone other than a wizard send a person through the boundary?”

Zedd shook his head emphatically. “None but a wizard. And Darken Rahl, of course.”

Richard frowned at him. “Our lives depend on this, Zedd. Swear. You have never, ever, sent anyone other than yourself through the boundary. True?”

“True as a boiling bog full of toasted toads. Why? What have you thought of? Do you have a way?”

Richard ignored the question, too deep in his own stream of thought to answer, and instead turned back to the mountains. It was true—there was a pass across the boundary! His father had found it, and used it! That was the only way the Book of Counted Shadows could have been in Westland. He couldn’t have brought it with him when he moved here, before the boundary, and he couldn’t have found it in Westland—the book had magic. The boundary wouldn’t have worked if magic had been here then. Magic could only be brought into Westland after the boundary was up.

His father had found a pass, gone into the Midlands, and brought the book back. Richard was shocked and excited at the same time. His father had done it! He had gone across the boundary. Richard was elated. Now he knew there was a way across—it could be done. He still had to find the pass, but that didn’t matter for now. There was a pass—that was what mattered.

Richard turned back to the other two. “We will go have supper.”

“I put a stew on, just before you awoke, and there is fresh bread,” Kahlan offered.

“Bags!” Zedd threw his scarecrow arms up into the air. “It’s about time someone remembered supper!”

Richard gave a little smile in the dark. “After we’ve eaten, we’ll make preparations, decide what we need to take, what we can carry, get our provisions together and packed tonight. We’ll need to get a good night’s sleep. We leave at first light.” He turned and headed for the house. The faint glow of the fire coming from the windows offered warmth and light.

Zedd held up an arm. “Where are we headed, my boy?”

“The Midlands,” Richard called back over his shoulder.

Zedd was halfway through his second bowl of stew before he could bring himself to stop eating long enough to talk. “So, what have you figured out? Is there truly a way to cross the boundary?”

“There is.”

“Are you sure? How can it be? How can we cross without going through?”

Richard smiled as he stirred his stew. “You don’t have to get wet to cross a river.” The lamp light flickered on their faces as Kahlan and Zedd frowned in puzzlement. Kahlan turned and threw a small piece of meat to the cat, who was sitting on his haunches, waiting for any handout. Zedd ate another slab of bread before he was able to ask his next question.

“And how do you know there is a way across?”

“There is. That’s all that matters.”

Zedd had an innocent look on his face. “Richard.” He ate two more spoonfuls of stew. “We are your friends. There are no secrets among us. You can tell us.”

Richard looked from one big pair of eyes to the other, and laughed out loud. “I’ve had strangers tell me more of themselves.”

Zedd and Kahlan both backed away a little at the rebuff and looked at each other, but neither dared repeat the question.

They talked on as they ate, of what they had at hand to take with them, how much they could do to prepare in such a short time, and what their priorities should be. They listed everything they could think of, each offering items to be taken. There was much to do and little time. Richard asked Kahlan if she traveled the Midlands often. She said that was almost all she ever did.

“And you wear that dress when you travel.”

“I do.” She hesitated. “People recognize me by it. I don’t stay in the woods. Wherever I go, I am always provided with food and a place to stay, and anything else I might require.”

Richard wondered why. He didn’t press, but he knew the dress she wore was more than something she bought in a shop. “Well, with the three of us being hunted, I don’t think we want people to recognize you. I think we need to stay away from people as much as possible, keep to the woods when we can.” She and Zedd both nodded their agreement. “We will need to find you some traveling clothes, forest garb, but there is nothing here that will fit you. We’ll have to find something on the way. I have a hooded cloak here. It will keep you warm for now.”

“Good,” she said smiling, “I’m tired of being cold, and I can tell you, a dress is not right for the woods.”

Kahlan finished before the men and put her half-full bowl on the floor for the cat. The cat seemed to have the same appetite as Zedd and was eating out of the bowl before she could set it down.

They discussed each item they would take, and planned how they would do without others. There was no telling how long they would be gone, Westland was a big place, and the Midlands bigger. Richard wished they could go to his house, since he often went on long treks and had the right kinds of provisions, but it was too big a risk. He would rather find the things they needed elsewhere, or go without, than go back to what waited there. He didn’t know yet where they were going to cross the boundary, but he wasn’t worried. He still had until morning to think about it. He was just relieved to know there was a way.

The cat’s head came up. He crossed half the distance to the door and stopped, back and fur rising. Everyone noticed and fell silent. There was firelight in the front window, but it wasn’t reflecting from the hearth. It was coming from outside.

“I smell burning pitch,” Kahlan said.

In an instant the three were on their feet. Richard grabbed the sword from the back of his chair and had it on almost before he was to his feet. He went to look out the window, but Zedd didn’t waste the time and went through the door in a rush with Kahlan in tow. Richard got only a glimpse of torches before he hurried out after the other two.