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Gratch tried to put his arms around Richard again。 Richard pushed them away again。 Gratch’s ears lay down against his head。
‘Grrratch luuug Raaaach aaarg。’
Richard wanted more than anything to hold his friend and tell him that he loved him； too。 But he couldn’t。 He had to make him go in order to save his life。
‘Well I don’t love you！ Go away and never e back！’
Gratch looked to the hill Pasha had run down。 He looked back at Richard。 His green eyes were filling with tears。 He reached out for Richard。
Richard shoved him away。 Gratch stood with his arms out。 Richard remembered the first time he had held the furry beast。 He had been so little then。 He was so big now。 But as he had grown； his friendship； and his love； had grown； too。
He was Richard’s only friend； and only Richard could save him。 If Richard really loved him； he had to do this。
‘Go away！ I don’t want you around anymore！ I don’t want you to ever e back！ You’re just a big dumb bag of fur！ Go away！ If you really love me； then you’ll do as I ask； and go away！’
Richard wanted to keep yelling； but the lump in his throat caught the words。 He backed away。 Gratch seemed to wither in the cool night air。 His arms came out again with a pitiful； forlorn wail。 He called with a plaintive； keening cry。
Richard took another step back。 Gratch took a step toward him。 Richard picked up a rock and heaved it at the gar。 It bounced off his huge chest。
‘Go away！’ Richard cried。 He threw another rock。 ‘I don’t want you around anymore！ Go away！ I don’t ever want to see you again！’
Tears ran from the glowing green eyes； over the wrinkles of his cheeks。 ‘Grrratch luuug Raaaach aaarg。’
‘If you really love me then you will do this！ Go！’
The gar looked again to the hill Pasha had run down； turned； and spread his wings。 With a last look over his shoulder； he bounded into the air and flew off into the night。
When he could no longer see the dark shape against the stars； or hear the sweep of wings； Richard crumpled to the ground。 His only friend was gone。
‘I love you； too； Gratch。’
He cried in racking sobs。 ‘Dear spirits； why have you done this to me？ He was all I had。 I hate you。 Every last one of you。’
He was halfway back when it hit him。 He froze in his tracks； his mouth hanging open。 In the stillness of the night； his shaking fingers reached to his pocket。
The lights of the city flickered in the near distance。 Rooftops shimmered in the moonlight。 Distant sounds of the city drifted out to him at the edge of the hills。
He pulled out the lock of Kahlan’s hair。
If you really love me； she had said； you will do this。 That was what he had told Gratch。 In a flash of understanding； it all came to him。 The jolt of prehension took his breath。
Kahlan had not been sending him away； she had been saving his life。 She had done for him what he had just done for Gratch。
The pain of having doubted her took him to his knees。 It must have broken her heart。 How could he have doubted her？
The collar。 He had been so afraid of the collar he had been blinded to it。 She loved him。 She didn’t want to be set free； she wanted only to save his life。
She loved him。
He threw his arms open and turned his face up to the sky。
‘She loves me！’
He knelt； staring at the lock of hair she had given him to remind him of her love。 In his whole life； he had never felt a sense of relief this great。 The world came back to life for him。
Richard’s mind swirled in a confusion of conflicting emotions。 He felt heartsick that he had sent Gratch away； that Gratch thought Richard didn’t want him around anymore； but at the same time； he felt overwhelming joy that Kahlan loved him。
In the end； joy won out。 He decided that someday Gratch might e to understand； as he had； that it had been necessary。 Someday； he would have the collar off； and he would find Gratch； and make it up to him。 And even if he didn’t； the gar was better off living as a gar should； hunting and searching out its own kind。 It would e to have its own happiness； as had Richard。
Although he wanted more than anything to throw his arms around Kahlan； hug her tight； and tell her how much he loved her； he couldn’t。 He was still a prisoner of the Sisters； but he would study； and learn； and get the collar off。 He would get the collar off； and return to Kahlan。 He knew without a doubt that she would be waiting for him。 She had said she would always love him。
When he met the search party of Sisters at the edge of Tanimura； he told them that they needn’t bother； that they would find the beast gone。 They didn’t believe him； and went on into the hills。 Richard didn’t care。 Gratch was gone。 His friend was safe。
Richard bought a gold necklace from a street hawker。 He didn’t know if it was real gold； but he didn’t care； it looked pretty。 He trotted the rest of the way to the palace。
Pasha was pacing up and down in the hall outside his room。
‘Richard！ Richard； I was so worried。 I know that right now you’re furious with me； but in time you will see that 。。。’
He grinned。 ‘I’m not angry； Pasha。 In fact； I brought you a present； to thank you。’
She smiled in coy surprise as he offered her the necklace。 ‘For me？ Why？’
‘Because of you； I figured out that she loves me； and always has。 I was just being a blind fool。 You helped me see that。’
She regarded him with a frosty look。 ‘But you are here； now； Richard。 You will forget her in time。 You’ll see that I’m the one for you。’
He smiled happily at her。 ‘Pasha； I’m sorry。 It’s nothing against you。 You’re a beautiful young woman。 In time； you’ll find the one for you。 You can have your pick of nearly any man。 Everyone likes you。 But I’m not the one for you。 Maybe if I lived to be a hundred； but short of that 。。。’
Her sly smile returned。 Then I will wait。’
He kissed the top of her head before going through the door。 He didn’t think he would be able to sleep while he was this excited； but all the walking and running had left him exhausted。 His last thoughts before he drifted off were of Kahlan。 He pictured her in his mind； as if she was there with him： her special smile； her deep green eyes； and her radiant long hair。 He drifted into the best sleep he had had in months。
In the days following； Richard felt as if his feet hardly touched the ground。 Everyone was puzzled by his good mood。 They frowned at him at first； but were eventually caught up in his cheer。 Some of the Sisters giggled when he told them they looked as beautiful as a sunny day。
He urged the Sisters who came to practice with him to try harder； to help him reach his Han。 He had them stay longer than usual。 Sisters Tovi and Cecilia bubbled with enthusiasm； Merissa and Nicci bestowed small smiles of pleasure； Armina was cautiously pleased； and Liliana delighted。 He wanted his collar off； and until he could do what they wanted； he knew it would stay on。
Having not seen Warren in a while； he finally went down to the vaults to see how his search was ing。 Sister Becky was off retching； and the other Sister giggled when he winked at her。
Warren was pleasantly surprised to see him and exhilarated about some of the things he had found。 He could hardly wait to tell Richard。 When the door to one of the back rooms had grated closed； he started opening volumes on the table。
‘What you told me has been a great help。 Look here。’ Warren pointed at words Richard couldn’t understand。 ‘Just like you told me。 This says that the Stone of Tears being in this world； in itself； does not free the Keeper。’
‘So what significance does it have？’
‘Well； it’s as if there are a number of locks on his prison door； and this turns the key in one； but it does not free him。 There are a number of ways for it to help him； a number of objects of magic to help。 But the Stone of Tears itself must be used by one from this world； one with the gift for both Additive and Subtractive Magic； to free the Keeper。 Those with only the gift for Additiv