Stone 24

**Chapter 24**

Back to Richard and Verna. Richard has been meditating for a while, although he never used the Sword of the Homicidal Hobo as a focus after the first time (we don't learn what he uses instead, either). He says that someone is coming. Instead of accepting this warning, Verna interrogates him as to whether he's using his Force to detect intruders. It develops that Verna has known for some time that someone was coming, and rather that pack up and leave, she intends to kill them and *then* pack up and leave.

Richard criticizes Verna for deciding to fight without even trying another alternative. Verna replies: *“These people are intent on killing us, Richard. Both of us. If we had tried to run, this one would have alerted the others, and brought hundreds, thousands, to bring us down. I have not run so as to embolden this one into trying to take us himself, so we can end the threat.”*

*Thousands??* This mysterious person will bring *thousands* of people after two random travelers for the sole purpose of murdering them? What the hell kind of people are these? \~/\~/

Richard hears a woman screaming for help, so he runs off to help her. A woman, who is never described aside from having long hair (which means she must be a noble, according to sexist Midlands law) comes running up yelling *“Don't let them get me!”* Richard, of course, assures her that she is safe...seconds before Verna stabs her with her silver dildo, killing her instantly.

Richard is mad. Verna explains that the woman had a poisoned knife and was about to stab Richard, and furthermore, there is no one following her. It was all a trap. *“The wilds are layered like an onion with different peoples, all of whom will kill us if they find us.”* What a bloodthirsty area. I assume this includes the Mud People and the Bantak, since they live in the wilds.

We learn that Verna's magic knife is called a dacra, and *“it's not the wound itself that kills; the dacra extinguishes the spark of life itself.”* Sounds like Dark Magic to me. Also, why on earth is it a pointy metal stick instead of a proper knife? Even if it's not needed for slashin', a knife is a useful tool. It seems, especially since you have to stab someone with it to kill them, that it would make more sense to enchant an actual knife. Less conspicuous, too; anyone could carry a knife, but how many people carry pointy metal dildos?

Oops. There I go again with the logic. I'm sorry. \~/

Verna mentions that, when they reach the Palace, Richard may have to give up the Sword of the Homicidal Hobo for his own good. Richard replies, essentially, over his dead body. He says that he was named Seeker by a wizard, who also offered to train him with his gift. This news disturbs Verna, although she doesn't say why, but she allows Richard to keep his sword. She does threaten Richard if he ever again draws the Sword against her, and implies that she blames him for the death of Nuns #2 and #2. Richard calls her on this, marking one of the few times I completely agree with him. They squabble for a bit more, and Verna threatens Richard again and orders him to bury the Mysterious Noble Assassin's corpse.

Richard carries the dead woman away and angsts for a bit about the hand-shaped burn on his chest. Suddenly, a short-tailed Fish swoops out of nowhere and attacks! There's a brief fight and Richard kills it. As it dies, a baby Fish appears, crying and whimpering over the body of Mama Fish. As an aside, do animals cry like humans do? Because I've been around a lot of animals, and while I've seen them sad, I've never seen them actually shed tears.

There's a peculiar scene where Richard saves Baby Fish from two more adult Fish, who carry off Mama Fish's body. Richard ends up leaving Mysterious Noble Woman's body for Baby Fish to eat, a scene which I expected to be much creepier than it actually was. It seems that Terry Goodkind actually *can* write when he chooses to do so. Interesting.

Richard and Verna chat for a bit, and Richard mentions that he said a prayer to the good spirits over Nun #2 and #3's graves. Verna criticizes him for praying to the good spirits, calling it *“heathenish.”* We get a small infodump on how enlightened Richard is, and how he doesn't like Verna's narrow-minded ways.

Richard suddenly decides to give Verna the Sword of the Homicidal Hobo for no apparent reason. She refuses to accept it, telling him she had to try to take it as a test, and that giving it to her was the only way he could have kept it. She calls it *“tainted,”* and Richard finally takes it back. Verna rambles about how dangerous Richard is, because he's unpredictable, and accuses him of using his Force without understanding what he's doing.

Drinks: 3

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