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’t entirely sure he was telling the truth about the water not falling out。 She looked longingly at the ground and saw what Richard was pointing at … the Mud People’s village。
Siddin squealed with glee from his place in Richard’s lap as Scarlet’s huge； leathery wings caught the air and pulled them into a tight spiral。 As the red dragon plummeted earthward； the knot of Kahlan’s stomach felt as if it were ing up in her throat。 She didn’t understand how they could like doing this。 They enjoyed it。 They actually enjoyed it！ Arms stuck up in the air； they were both laughing with delight； acting like little boys。 Well； one was a little boy； and she guessed he had a right。
She suddenly smiled and then laughed herself。 Not at flying on a dragon； but at seeing how happy Richard was。 She would fly on a dragon every day just to see him laughing and happy。 She stretched up and kissed the back of his neck。 He brought his hands down and rubbed one on each of her legs She clasped them tighter around him and forgot a little about feeling sick。
Richard called forward for Scarlet to land in the open field in the center of the village。 The sun was almost down； making the tan； plastered； mud…bricked buildings in the circle of the village stand out brightly in the slanting light。 Kahlan could smell the sweet smoke from the cooking fires。 The long shadows trailed the people running for cover。 Women ran from the cooking shelters and men from their weapons making； all shouting and calling out。
She hoped they wouldn’t be too frightened。 The last time Scarlet had e here she had carried Darken Rahl； and when he didn’t find Richard he had killed people。 These people didn’t know Rahl had forced Scarlet to fly him around after he had stolen her egg。 Of course； even without Darken Rahl riding her； no one ever thought of a red dragon as anything but a deadly threat。 She herself would have run for her life at seeing a red dragon。 The red were the most fearsome of all the dragons； and no one would ever imagine doing anything with a red dragon except trying to kill it； or running for his life。
No one but Richard； that is。 Who else but Richard would think to befriend one？ He had risked his life to get her egg free from Rahl’s control so she would help him； and in the process had made a friend for life； although Scarlet still professed her intent to eat him someday。 Kahlan suspected it was some private joke between the two； as Richard laughed whenever she said it。 At least Kahlan hoped it was only a joke … she wasn’t entirely sure。 Kahlan looked down at the village and hoped the hunters didn’t start shooting poison arrows before they saw who was riding the red dragon。
Siddin suddenly recognized his home。 He pointed excitedly； and jabbered to Richard in the Mud People’s language。 Richard couldn’t understand a word of it but smiled and nodded and ruffled Siddin’s hair。 They both gripped the spikes on Scarlet’s back as she pulled out of the steep descent。 Dust swept up around them； lifted by the fluttering of Scarlet’s huge wings as she settled on the ground。
Richard grabbed hold of Siddin and sat the little boy up on his broad shoulders； then stood up on Scarlet’s back。 The stiff； cold breeze carried the dust away to reveal a ragged ring of hunters； their bows drawn； poison arrows pointing up at the three of them。 Kahlan held her breath。
Grinning； Siddin waved both hands over his head； as Richard had told him to。 Scarlet held her head down so the Mud People could get a clear view of who was riding her。 The hunters； astonished； cautiously lowered their bows。 Kahlan exhaled when she saw the tension e off the bowstrings。
A figure in buckskin pants and tunic stepped through the ring of hunters。 Long silver hair hung down； spreading over his shoulders。 It was the Bird Man； his sun…browned face a picture of shock。
‘It’s me； Richard！ I have returned！ With your help； we have defeated Darken Rahl。 And； we have brought Savidlin and Weselan’s son back。’
The Bird Man looked to Kahlan as she translated。 A beaming grin spread on his face。 ‘We wele you both back to your people with open arms。’
Women and children were gathering among the ring of hunters； their dark； mud…slicked hair framing amazed faces。 Scarlet lowered her bulky body to the ground and Richard slid off her shoulder； landing on his boots with a thump。 He held Siddin in one arm as he reached up with the other and helped Kahlan down。 She was quietly joyful to have her feet on the earth again。
Weselan pushed through the throng； running to them； Savidlin right at her heels。 She wailed her son’s name。 Siddin held his arms out gleefully and practically leapt into her arms。 Weselan alternated between crying and laughing as she tried to hug her son and Richard and Kahlan all at once。 Savidlin rubbed his boy’s back and looked to her and Richard with wet eyes。
‘He was brave as any hunter；’ Kahlan told him。
He gave a single； firm； pride…filled nod。 He appraised her for a moment and then stepped closer； giving her a gentle slap。 ‘Strength to Confessor Kahlan。’
Kahlan returned the slap and greeting； and then he threw his arms around her and squeezed nearly all the breath out of her。 When finished with hugging her； he straightened his elder’s coyote hide on his shoulders and looked up at Richard。 He shook his head in wonderment。 And then he gave Richard a powerfully hard whack across the jaw； a demonstration of his heartfelt respect for Richard’s strength。
‘Strength to Richard With The Temper。’
Kahlan wished he hadn’t done that。 She could tell by Richard’s eyes that he had a headache。 He had had it since yesterday； and she had hoped it would be better after a good sleep the night before in Scarlet’s cave。 Siddin had played with the little red dragon until he was dead tired； and then had cuddled between them and gone to sleep。
Having not slept for days； she thought she would have no trouble sleeping； but she found she didn’t want to stop looking at Richard。 She had finally put her head on his shoulder； held his hand in both of hers； and fallen asleep smiling。 They had all needed the rest。 Bad dreams had caused Richard to jerk awake several times in a cold sweat； and even though he had said nothing； she could see in his eyes that he still had the headache。 Richard didn’t let it bother him； though； and returned Savidlin’s slap in kind。
‘Strength to Savidlin。 My friend。’
Properly greeted； souls protected； Savidlin let his grins and backslaps fly。 After they had exchanged greetings with the Bird Man； Richard addressed the crowd。
‘This brave and noble dragon； Scarlet；’ he called out in a voice for all to hear； even though they couldn’t understand the words； ‘has helped me kill Darken Rahl and avenge our murdered people。 She has brought us here so Siddin could be returned before his parents could fear for him another night。 She is my friend； a friend to the Mud People。’
Everyone was dumbfounded as Kahlan translated。 The hunters； at least； puffed up at hearing that an enemy of the Mud People had been killed by one of their own … even if he was one of their own by proclamation and not by birth。 The Mud People honored strength； and to them killing one who harmed their people meant strength。
Scarlet’s head swung down； her ears twitching。 One yellow eye frowned at Richard。 ‘Friend！ Red dragons are friends to no people！ We are feared by all！’
‘You’re my friend。’ Richard smiled。 ‘I’m a person。’
Scarlet snorted a puff of smoke at him。 ‘Paah。 I will eat you yet。’
Richard’s grin widened。 He pointed at the Bird Man。 ‘You see this man？ He gave me the whistle that I used to save your egg。 If not for that whistle； the gars might have eaten your little one。’ He stroked a hand on the bright red snout。 ‘And a wonderful little one it is。’
Scarlet tilted her head； blinking a big yellow eye at the Bird Man。 ‘I guess he would make a meager snack。’ She peered back at Richard； a chuckle rumbling in her throat。 ‘The whole of the village wouldn’t make a decent meal。 More trouble than it would be worth。’ She br