Chapter Forty-One

It all seemed to happen slowly. The bright flames that came shooting towards him didn't register as bad until it was almost too late. Richard hadn't expected this, it was Zedd after all, Richard's grandfather, he had always been reasonable, but then this wasn't his Zedd. This Zedd had almost died in the same way Richard was about to.

Richard brought the Sword of Truth up quickly, just in time to block the devastating flames. Heat radiated towards him as the fire shot up, deflected off the sword. Zedd didn't seem like he would be stopping any time soon, and Richard wasn't sure how much longer he could hold on.

The flames stopped abruptly, and when Richard looked to see what had happened, Kahlan was standing in front of Zedd, her hand around his throat. Richard didn't know what to do, he didn't want to kill Zedd, but he was sure that Zedd would kill him. He looked around aside from Zedd and Kahlan, Shota was standing off to the side, looking kind of bored, and Cara and Benjamin were still standing by the door, looking out of it with a certain intensity that told Richard something was wrong. Dell was nowhere to be seen.

"Richard, we have a problem." Cara said.

"What is it?" He asked, not taking his eyes off of Zedd, who seemed to be speaking to Kahlan.

"There are some . . . creatures coming to kill us." She said.

"They don't look friendly?" He asked hopefully, but still sarcastic. He turned to look at her just long enough to get an eye roll. "All right, Zedd, please call off your magical beasts."

"No." He answered. "If I don't get the job done, they will."

"Zedd, please, I don't want to – " Richard started.

"This is your finale test Richard." Shota spoke, she still looked bored, but she was staring at him now. "You have to decide, the entire world, or one man who you think you love."

"What?" He asked. He looked to Zedd, who looked so unlike the one in his world that he hadn't been sure it was him at first. He was smiling, and he looked insane.

"Let me confess him Richard." Kahlan said. "Then you won't have to kill him."

"No." Richard said so forcefully that Kahlan, Cara, and Benjamin all turned to look at him for a second. "No, that is worse than death for a wizard." He whispered, hoping Kahlan hadn't heard him even as he spoke.

"Then let me kill him." Cara said. She turned away from the door. "It will only take a second." Her Agiel whined in her hand.

"No, it has to be him." Shota said. "And he knows that."

"Give it up Shota." Zedd called. "He won't do it. He loves me too much."

"You're right." Richard said. His eyes glistened with tears as he moved towards Zedd, the sword coming up. It was glowing white. He didn't want to do this, but it was the only way.

Zedd's eyes widened, but not in fear. Like everyone else in the room, they had never seen the sword glow white in a Seeker's hands. "You really are the true Seeker." Zedd whispered.

"I do love you." Richard said, hoping he would never have to do this to his Zedd. The world seemed to have gone white around Richard, nothing but his grandfather could be seen. He slid the sword into his chest. It went in smoothly, and came out clean. The old man fell to the floor, madness still evident on his face, but a strange look of love as well.

The magic would take its toll.