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‘That sounds fair。 You two will take their place。’
‘But Prelate；’ Sister Ulicia whispered in astonishment。 ‘We are Sisters of the Light。 That would be humiliating。’
‘Learning humility never harmed anyone。 We are all humble before the Creator。 For your failure； you will be strapped in their place。’
Sister Ulicia stiffened。 ‘And if we fail to submit； Prelate Annalina？’
The Prelate smiled。 Then you would be telling me that you no longer deserve to be trusted； and further； that you no longer wish to be Sisters of the Light。’
They both bowed。 When the door closed behind them； Richard lifted an eyebrow to the Prelate。
‘I hope never to get on your wrong side； Prelate Annalina。’
She chuckled。 ‘Please； call me Ann。 That is what my old acquaintances call me。’
‘I’d be honored to call you Ann； Prelate； but I’m not an old acquaintance。’
‘You think not？’ She smiled。 ‘My； what a knowledgeable boy。 Well； no matter。 Call me Ann； anyway。 Do you know why I punished them？ Because you took responsibility for your actions。 They did not recognize the importance of that。 You are learning to be a wizard。’
‘What do you mean？’
‘You knew it was dangerous to cross those two； did you not？’ Richard nodded。 ‘Yet you used those boys； knowing that it was a possibility they could be hurt。’
‘Yes； but I had to do it。 It’s that important； and it was the only thing I could think of。’
The burden of a wizard。 That’s what it is called。 Using people。 A wise wizard understands that he cannot do everything himself； and that if the matter is important enough； he must use other people to acplish what must be done。 Even if it is to cost those other people their lives。 It’s a rare ability； and vital to being a good wizard。 Perhaps； to being a Prelate； too。’
‘Ann； it’s urgent。 I must speak with you。’
‘Urgent； is it？ Well； then； why don’t we go for a walk in my garden； and we can talk about this urgent business。’
She placed her arm in his； and walked him through the open doorway。 Outside； in the moonlight； was a grand； expansive courtyard； with trees； paths； flower beds； wild areas； and a lovely pond。 The beauty of the garden didn’t register in Richard’s mind。 He had hardly been able to eat or sleep since he had had his talk with Warren。 If the Keeper escaped； he would have everyone； including Kahlan。 Richard had to do something。
‘Ann； there is great trouble in the world。 I need your help。 I need this collar off so I may go help。’
That’s what I am here for； Richard。 To help。 What is the trouble？’
The Keeper 。。。’
The Nameless One；’ she corrected。
‘What difference does it make？’
‘Calling him by his name calls his attention。’
‘Ann； it’s just a word。 It’s the meaning of the word that matters； not an arrangement of letters。 Do you think that when you call the Keeper the Nameless One； instead； that he would be fooled into thinking you weren’t speaking of him？ It’s a mistake to assume your enemies are ignorant； and you are clever。’
A hearty laugh rose from in her chest。 ‘I have been waiting for a very long time for someone to figure that out。’
She paused with him at the edge of the pond； and he asked； ‘What is ‘the pebble in the pond’？’
She gazed out over the water。 ‘You are one； Richard。’
‘You mean there are more than one？’
A small stone floated through the air； up into her hand。
‘Everyone has an effect on others。 Some people inspire others to do great things。 Some take people into crime with them。 Those with the gift affect those around them even more。 The stronger the Han； the stronger the effect。’
‘What does that have to do with me？ What does that have to do with a pebble in a pond？’
‘You see all the duck weed floating on the surface？ Say that’s the other people； the world of life； and this pebble is you。’ She tossed the stone into the pond。 ‘See what happens？ The ripples caused by you affect everyone else。 Without you； all those ripples would not have happened。’
‘So they float up and down； on the ripples。 But the stone sank。’
She gave him a humorless grin。 ‘Don’t ever forget that。’
The answer gave him pause。 ‘I think you invest too much faith in me。 You don’t know anything about me。’
‘Perhaps more than you think； child。 And what is it that concerns you about the Keeper？’
‘Something must be done。 He’s about to escape。 One of the boxes of Orden has been opened； the gateway is open。 The Stone of Tears is in this world。 I need to do something。’
‘Ahh。’ She smiled as she drifted to a stop。 ‘So you； who was just thrown up against a wall by the Han of a mere Sister； wants to go off and battle the Keeper himself？’
‘But things have happened。 Something must be done。’
‘I see you have been talking to Warren。 A very bright young man； Warren。 He is still young； though。 Sometimes he needs direction。 Guidance。’ She tipped a branch closer。 ‘He studies hard； and loves those books。 I think he must know every smudge on them。’
She was inspecting a flower on the branch。 As he watched her in the moonlight； he decided he might have thought himself more clever than he was。 Warren； too。
‘So； what about the Keeper？ What about the Stone of Tears？’
She put her arm back through his and walked him on。 ‘If the gateway is open and the Stone of Tears is in this world； Richard； why does the Keeper not have us？ Hmm？’
‘Maybe he’s about to swallow us all at any moment。’
‘Ahh。 So you think that maybe he is busy with his dinner； and when he is finished； and wipes his chin clean； he will get around to swallowing the world of the living； so you want to rush off and close the gateway before he picks his napkin from his lap？ Is this the way you think the worlds beyond ours work？ In the same terms as this world？’
Richard nervously raked his fingers through his hair。 ‘I don’t know。 I don’t know how it all works； but Warren said 。。。’
‘Warren does not know everything。 He is but a student。 He has a talent for the prophecies； but he has much to learn。
‘Do you know why we keep the prophecies down in the vaults； and restrict who may read them？ For the very reason we are having this discussion。 Because prophecy is dangerous to the untrained mind； and sometimes even to the trained mind。 There is more to things than you see； or the Keeper would have us already。’
‘Are you saying we’re not in danger？’
She smiled a sly smile。 ‘We are always in danger； Richard。 As long as there is a world of the living； there will be danger。 All life is mortal。’
She patted his arm again。 ‘You are an important person； a person in prophecy； but if you go off foolishly； you can cause more harm than good。 The Stone of Tears being in this world cannot； in itself； allow the Keeper to escape through the gateway。 The Stone is a means to that end。’
‘I hope you’re right；’ he said as they walked on。
She glanced up。 ‘How is your mother doing？’
Richard looked off into the darkness。 ‘She died when I was young。 In a fire。’
‘I’m sorry； Richard。 And your father？’
‘Which one；’ he muttered。
‘Your stepfather； George。’
Richard cleared his throat。 ‘He was killed by Darken Rahl。’ He darted her a sidelong glance。 ‘How do you know my stepfather？’
She gave him one of those timeless looks that he had seen from others before； from Adie； Shota； Sister Verna； Du Chaillu； and Kahlan。 ‘I’m sorry； Richard。 I didn’t know he had died。 George Cypher was quite a man。’
He came to a stop； his flesh atingle。 ‘You；’ he whispered。 ‘You are how my father got that book。’ He left the statement vague enough that she would have to fill in the details to confirm it。
A little of her smile came back。 ‘Afraid to say it out loud？ The Book of Counted Shadows； that is the book you are speaking of She gestured to a stone bench。 ‘Sit down； Richard； before you fall down。’
Richard slumped to the bench。 He looked up as she stood before him。 ‘You？ You gave that book to my father？’
Actually； I helped him get it。 You see； Richard； as I told you； you and I are old acquaintances。 Of course； the last time I saw you； you were bawling your head off。 Only a few months old； you were。’
She smiled distantly。 ‘If your mother could see you now。 She was bursting with pride over you。 She said your were the blessing to balance the curse。 You see； Richard； balance is what the world of the living is all about。 You are a child of balance。 I have much invested in you。’
Richard’s tongue seemed stuck to the top of his mouth。 ‘Why？’
‘Because you are a pebble in the pond。’ Her eyes seemed to go out of focus。 ‘Over three thousand years ago； wizards had Subtractive Magic。 None since has been born with it。 We have been hoping； but none； until now； has e into this life。 A few have had the calling； but not the gift of it。 You have the gift for both Additive and Subtractive Magic。’
Richard shot to his feet。 ‘What！ Are you mad！’