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Richard felt himself abruptly paralyzed； as if invisible hands were gripping him。 He couldn't move a muscle。 Darken Rahl reached into Richard's pocket and took out the leather pouch with the night stone。 Richard fought against the force that held him； but could not move。 Rahl dumped the night stone in…his hand。 He held it up in his palm； smiling。
Shadow things began to materialize。 They gathered around Rahl； their numbers growing。 Richard wished he could back away； but he couldn't move。
〃Time to go home； my friends。〃
The shadows began swirling around Rahl； faster and faster； until they were a blur of gray。 A howl rose as they were sucked into the night stone in a whirl of shadows and shapes。 Silence。 They were gone。 The night stone turned to ash in Rahl's palm。 He blew on it and the ash puffed into the air。
〃The Old One has been checking on you； using the night stone to find where you are。 The next time he searches； he is going to have a very unpleasant experience。 He is going to find himself in the underworld。〃
Richard was furious at what Darken Rahl was doing to Zedd； and he was furious that he couldn't move； that he was helpless and could only watch。
Richard relaxed his mind； shed the effort of trying to move； and replaced it with calm。 He let his mind be empty； let himself be soft； limp。 The force melted away。 He took a step forward； free of the grip that had held him。
Rahl smiled warmly。 〃Very good； my boy。 You know how to break a wizard's web； at least a little one。 But very good nonetheless。 The Old One chooses his Seekers well。〃 He nodded
〃But you are more than a Seeker。 You have the gift。 I look forward to the day we will be on the same side。 I will enjoy having you around。 The ones I have to deal with are very limited。 After the world is joined； I will teach you more； if you wish。〃
〃We will never be on the same side。 Never。〃
〃That is your choice； Richard。 I bear no ill will toward you。 I hope we will bee friends。〃 Rahl studied Richard's face。 〃There is one more thing。 You may stay in the People's Palace； or you may leave if you wish。 My guards will acmodate you。 You will； however； have a wizard's web around you。 Unlike the one you just broke； it will not affect you； but those who see you； and therefore you will not be able to break it。 It's called an enemy web。 All will see you as their enemy。 That means that when your allies see you； they will see an enemy。 Those who honor me will see you as yourself； since you are my enemy； for the time being； and therefore already their enemy。 At least for now。 But those who are your friends will see you as the person they fear most； their worst enemy。 I would like you to see the way people think of me； see the world through my eyes； see how unjustly I am regarded。〃
Richard didn't have to try to hold back the anger； there was none。 He felt an odd sort of peace。 〃Am I free to go now？〃
〃Of course； my boy。〃
〃What about Mistress Denna？〃
〃Once you leave this room； you will be back under her power。 She still controls the magic of your sword。 Once a Mord…Sith has your magic； it is hers to keep。 I cannot take it from her to give it back to you。 You must get it back yourself。〃
〃Then how am I free to leave？〃
〃Isn't it obvious？ If you want to leave； you must kill her。〃
〃Kill her！〃 Richard was stunned。 〃Don't you think if I could kill her； I would have done so by now？ Do you think I would have endured what she has done to me if I could have killed her？〃
Darken Rahl smiled a little smile。 〃You have always been able to kill her。〃
〃How？〃
〃There is nothing that exists that has only one side。 Even a piece of paper； thin as it is； has two sides。 Magic is not one dimensional either。 You have been looking at only one side of it； most people do。 Look at the whole。〃 He pointed at the bodies of his two guards。 The guards Richard had killed。 〃She controls your magic； yet you did this。〃
〃But that's different； it won't work against her。〃
Rahl nodded。 〃Yes； it will。 But you must be its master； half measures will get you in a lot of trouble。 She controls you with one dimension of your magic； the side you offered her。 You must use the other side。 It is something all Seekers have been capable of； but none。 has ever succeeded in mastering。 Perhaps you will be the first。〃
〃And if I'm not？ If I don't succeed at it？〃 Darken Rahl was sounding altogether too much like Zedd for Richard's fort。 This was the way Zedd had always taught him…by making him think for himself； find the answers in his own way； with his own mind。
〃Then； my young friend； you are going to be in for a very rough week。 Denna is not pleased at how you embarrassed her。 At the end of the week； she will bring you to me； and you will tell me your decision； to help； or to let all your friends suffer and die。〃
〃Just tell me how to use the magic of the sword； how to master it。〃
〃Of course。 Right after you tell me the knowledge in the Book of Counted Shadows。〃 Rahl smiled。 〃I didn't think so。 Good night； Richard。 Don't forget； one week。〃
The sun was fading as Richard left the garden and Darken Rahl。 His mind was spinning with all the things he had learned。 That Darken Rahl knew which box would kill him was troublesome； but he reasoned that Rahl might be using the Wizard's First Rule on him。 Worse was that one of his own had betrayed him。 He liked that not one bit。 What he liked less was that he knew who it had to be。 Shota had told him that Zedd and Kahlan would use their power against him。 It had to be Zedd or Kahlan。 He couldn't make that fit； no matter how he tried； no matter how he reasoned it out。 It couldn't be either； yet it had to be one。 He loved them both more than his need to live。 Zedd had told him he had to be prepared to kill any of them if they jeopardized winning； even if he thought there was only a chance that they did。 He forced the thought out of his mind。
He had to think of a way to get away from Denna。 He could be of no help； and none of the rest of it mattered if he couldn't get away from Denna。 It would do him no good to think of the other problems if he couldn't get away； and if he didn't figure it ； out soon； then Denna was going to hurt him； and he wouldn't be able to think anymore。 The things she did to him made it too hard to think； made him forget things。 He had to concentrate on that problem first； and worry about the others later。
The sword； he thought Denna controlled the magic of the sword。 He didn't need the sword； maybe he could just get rid of it； get rid of the magic she controlled。 He reached for the hilt； but the pain of the magic stopped him before he could even touch it。
He walked on through the halls； toward Denna's quarters。 It was still a long way。 Maybe he could simply go another way； leave the People's Palace。 Darken Rahl had told him none of the guards would stop him。 When the next intersection of halls came； he started to turn down one。 The pain dropped him to his knees。 With great effort； he managed to get back to the hall he was supposed to be in。 He had to stop and rest； the pain having taken his breath away。
Close； just ahead； the way he was going； the bell for the evening devotion rang。 He would go to the devotion； that would give him time to think。 He knelt； relieved that the pain of the magic didn't e on。 It was one of the squares with water。 He liked them best； they were the most peaceful。 Close to the edge of the water； with people all about； Richard put his head to the tile floor and began chanting； clearing his mind； letting himself go empty。 He used the chanting to melt his worries； his fears； his concerns。 He put his thoughts of all the problems away； let his mind seek peace； let it wander where it would。 The devotion was over； it seemed； in no time。 He stood； refreshed； renewed； and started off again toward Denna's quarters。
The halls he passed through； the rooms and stairways； were breathtakingly beautiful； and Richard again marveled at them as he passed。 He wondered at how someone as vile as Darken Rahl would care to surround himself with such loveliness。
Nothing was one…dimensional。 Two sides to the magic
Richard thought about the times the strange power had e awake in him。 When he had felt sorry for Princess Violet； when the Queen's guard had tried to harm Denna； when he had felt the pain of what had been done to Denna； when he thought of Rahl hurting Kahlan； when Rahl's guards had tried to hurt Denna。 He remembered that each time it had made part of his vision turn white。
Each time； he knew； it was the magic of the sword。 But in the past the magic of the sword had been rage； too。 Yet this was a different kind of rage。 He thought of how he used to feel when he drew the sword in anger。 The wrath； the fury； the want to kill。
The hate。
Richard stopped dead still in the center of the quiet hall。 It was late and there were no people around。 He was alone。 He felt a wave of cold wash through him；… prickling his skin。
Two sides。 He understood。
The spirits help him； he understood。
He brought it forth； let it cast everything in a wh