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the torchlight。 Carved symbols covered its sides； and continued in a ring around the room； cut into the granite beneath the torches and gold vases： instructions in an ancient language from a father to a son on the process of going to the underworld； and returning。 Instructions in an ancient language understood by only a handful other than the son； none but the son lived in D'Hara。 All the others in D'Hara who understood had long ago been put to death。 Someday； the rest would be。
The crypt staff and guards had been sent away。 The Master was visiting his father's tomb。 Two of his personal guards stood watch over him； one to each side of the massive； elaborately carved and polished door。 Their sleeveless leather…and…mail uniforms helped display their bulky forms； the sharp contours of their heavy muscles； and the bands they wore around their arms just above their elbows； bands with raised projections sharpened to deadly edges； used in close bat to tear apart an adversary。
Darken Rahl ran his delicate fingers over the carved symbols on his father's tomb。 An immaculate white robe； its only decoration gold embroidery in a narrow band around the neck and down the front； covered his lean frame to within an inch of the floor。 He wore no jewelry； other than a curved knife in a gold scabbard embossed with symbols warning the spirits to give way。 The belt that held it was woven of gold wire。 Fine； straight； blond hair hung almost to his shoulders。 His eyes were a pain… fully handsome shade of blue。 His features set off his eyes perfectly。
Many women had been taken to his bed。 Because of his striking looks； and his power； some went eagerly。 The others went despite his looks； but because of his power。 Whether or not they were eager did not concern him。 Were they unwise enough to be repulsed when they saw the scars； they entertained him in ways they could not have foreseen。
Darken Rahl； as had his father before him； considered women merely vessels for the man's seed； the dirt it grew in； unworthy of higher recognition。 Darken Rahl； as his father before him； would have no wife。 His own mother had been nothing more than the first to sprout his father's wondrous seed； and then she had been discarded； as was only fitting。 If he had siblings； he didn't know； nor did it matter； he was firstborn； all glory fell to him。 He was the one born with the gift； and the one to whom his father passed the knowledge。 If he had half brothers or sisters； they were merely weeds； to be expunged if discovered。
Darken Rahl spoke the words silently in his mind as his fingers traced the symbols。 Although it was of the utmost importance that the directives were followed exactly； he had no fear of making an error； the instructions were burned into his memory。 But he enjoyed reliving the thrill of the passage； of hanging between life and death。 He savored going into the underworld； manding the dead。 He was impatient for the next journey。
Footsteps echoed at someone's approach。 Darken Rahl showed no concern； or interest； but his guards did； they drew their swords。 No one was allowed to e into the crypt with the Master。 When they saw who it was； they stood down； replacing their weapons。 No one but Demmin Nass； that is。
Demmin Nass； the right hand of Rahl； the lightning of the Master's dark thoughts； was a man as big as those he manded。 As he strode in； ignoring the guards； his sharply chiseled muscles stood out in stark relief in the torchlight。 His chest was covered with skin as smooth as that of the young boys he had a weakness for。 In stark contrast； his face was riddled with pockmarks。 His blond hair was cropped close enough to cause it to stand up in a collection of spikes。 A streak of black hair started in the middle of his right eyebrow and continued back over his head； to the right of center。 It made him recognizable from a distance； a fact appreciated by those who had cause to know of him。
Darken Rahl stood absorbed in the reading of the symbols； and did not look when his guards drew their weapons； or when they replaced them。 Although his guards were formidable； they were unnecessary； mere accoutrements of his position。 He had powers enough to put down any threat。 Demmin Nass stood at ease； waiting for the Master to finish。 When at last Darken Rahl turned； his blond hair and stark white robe swished around with him。 Demmin gave a respectful bow of his head。
〃Lord Rahl。〃 His voice was deep； coarse。 He kept his head bowed。
〃Demmin； my old friend； how good to see you again。〃 Rahl's quiet tone had a clear； almost liquid quality to it。
Demmin straightened； his face set in a frown of displeasure。 〃Lord Rahl； Queen Milena has delivered her list of demands。〃
Darken Rahl stared through the mander； as if he weren't there； slowly wetting the tips of the first three fingers of his right hand with his tongue and then carefully stroking his lips and eyebrows with them。
〃Have you brought me a boy？〃 Rahl asked expectantly。
〃Yes； Lord Rahl。 He awaits you in the Garden of Life。〃
〃Good。〃 A small smile spread across Darken Rahl's handsome face。 〃Good。 And he is not too old？ He is still a boy？〃
〃Yes； Lord Rahl； he is but a boy。〃 Demmin looked away from Rahl's blue eyes。
Darken Rahl's smile widened。 〃You are sure； Demmin？ Did you take off his pants yourself； and check？〃
Demmin shifted his weight。 〃Yes； Lord Rahl。〃
Rahl's eyes searched the other's face。 〃You didn't touch him； did you？〃 His smile vanished。 〃He must be unsoiled。〃
〃No； Lord Rahl！〃 Demmin insisted； looking back to the Master； his eyes wide。 〃I would not touch your spirit guide！ You have forbidden it！〃
Darken Rahl again wet his fingers and smoothed his eyebrows as he took a step closer。 〃I know you wanted to； Demmin。 Was it hard for you？ Looking but not touching？〃 His smile came back； teasing； then melted again。 〃Your weakness has caused me trouble before。〃
〃I took care of that！〃 Demmin protested in his deep voice； but not too forcefully。 〃I had that trader； Brophy； arrested for the murder of that boy。〃
〃Yes；〃 Rahl snapped back； 〃and then he submitted to a Confessor； to prove his innocence。〃
Demmin's face wrinkled in frustration。 〃How was I to know he would do that？ Who could expect a man would willingly do that？〃
Rahl held up his hand。 Demmin fell silent。
〃You should have been more careful。 You should have taken the Confessors into account。 And is that job finished yet？〃
〃All but one；〃 Demmin admitted。 〃The quad that went after Kahlan； the Mother Confessor； failed。 I had to send another。〃
Darken Rahl frowned。 〃Confessor Kahlan is the one who took the confession of this trader； Brophy； and found him innocent； is she not？〃
Demmin nodded slowly； his face contorted in anger。 〃She must have found help； or the quad would not have failed。〃
Rahl remained silent； watching the other。 At last Demmin broke the silence。
〃It is but a small matter； Lord Rahl； not worthy of your time or thought。〃
Darken Rahl lifted an eyebrow。 〃I will decide what matters are worthy of my attention。〃 His voice was soft； almost kind。
〃Of course； Lord Rahl。 Please forgive me。〃 Demmin didn't need to hear an angry tone to know he was treading on dangerous ground。
Rahl licked his fingers again and rubbed them on his lips。 He looked sharply back up into the other's eyes。 〃Demmin； if you touched the boy； I will know。〃
A bead of sweat rolled into Demmin's eye。 He tried to blink it away。 〃Lord Rahl；〃 he said in a coarse whisper； 〃I would gladly give my life for you。 I would not touch your spirit guide。 I swear。〃
Darken Rahl considered Demmin Nass for a moment； then nodded。 〃As I said； I would know anyway。 And you know what I would do to you if you ever lied to me。 I can't tolerate anyone lying to me。 It's wrong。〃
〃Lord Rahl；〃 Demmin said； anxious to change the subject； 〃what of Queen Milena's demands？〃
Rahl shrugged。 〃Tell her I agree to all her demands in return for the box。〃
Demmin stared incredulously。 〃But Lord Rahl； you have not seen them listed。〃
Rahl shrugged innocently。 〃Now； they are truly a matter not worthy of my time or thought。〃
Demmin shifted his weight again； making the leather he wore creak。 〃Lord Rahl； I do not understand why you play this game with the queen。 It is humiliating to be issued a list of demands。 With no trouble； we could crush her like the fat toad she is。 Just give me the word； allow me to issue my own demands； on your behalf。 She will be made to regret not bowing down to you as she should have。〃
Rahl smiled a small private smile as he studied the pockmarked face of his loyal mander。 〃She has a wizard； Demmin；〃 he whispered； his blue eyes intense。
〃I know。〃 Demmin's fists tightened。 〃Giller。 You have only to ask； Lord Rahl； and I will bring you his head。〃
〃Demmin； why do you think Queen Milena would enlist a wizard in her service？〃 Demmin only shrugged； so Rahl answered his own question。 〃To protect the box； that is why。 It is her protection too； she believes。 If we kill her or the wizard； we may find he has hidden the box with magic； and then