than¡¡two¡¡years¡£¡¡Twenty¡¡years¡¡had¡¡passed¡¡here£»¡¡too£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡aged¡¡only¡¡two¡£¡¡If¡¡the¡¡palace¡¡did¡¡not¡¡slow¡¡our¡¡aging£»¡¡we¡¡would¡¡all¡¡die¡¡of¡¡old¡¡age¡¡before¡¡we¡¡could¡¡even¡¡light¡¡a¡¡lamp¡¡with¡¡our¡¡Han¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡have¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡it¡¡taking¡¡less¡¡than¡¡two¡¡hundred¡¡years¡¡to¡¡train¡¡a¡¡wizard¡£¡¡monly£»¡¡it¡¡takes¡¡near¡¡to¡¡three¡¡hundred£»¡¡and¡¡sometimes¡¡even¡¡as¡¡much¡¡as¡¡four¡¡hundred¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®The¡¡wizards¡¡who¡¡created¡¡this¡¡place¡¡knew¡¡that£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡they¡¡tied¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡here¡¡to¡¡the¡¡worlds¡¡beyond£»¡¡where¡¡time¡¡is¡¡meaningless¡£¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡how¡¡it¡¡works£»¡¡just¡¡that¡¡it¡¡does¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¯s¡¡hands¡¡shook¡£¡¡¡®But¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡get¡¡this¡¡collar¡¡off¡£¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡get¡¡to¡¡Kahlan¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¯t¡¡wait¡¡that¡¡long¡£¡¡Warren£»¡¡help¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡can¡¯t¡¡wait¡¡that¡¡long¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Warren¡¡glanced¡¡to¡¡the¡¡floor¡£¡¡¡®I¡¯m¡¡sorry£»¡¡Richard¡£¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡get¡¡our¡¡collars¡¡off£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡how¡¡to¡¡get¡¡by¡¡the¡¡barrier¡¡that¡¡keeps¡¡us¡¡here¡£¡¡I¡¡know¡¡how¡¡you¡¡feel£»¡¡though¡£¡¡It¡¡drove¡¡me¡¡into¡¡the¡¡vaults¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡fifty¡¡years¡£¡¡Some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡others¡¡don¡¯t¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡care£»¡¡and¡¡say¡¡that¡¡it¡¡just¡¡gives¡¡them¡¡more¡¡time¡¡with¡¡women¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡slowly¡¡rose¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡can¡¯t¡¡believe¡¡it¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Warren¡¡turned¡¡his¡¡face¡¡up¡£¡¡¡®Richard£»¡¡please¡¡forgive¡¡me¡¡for¡¡telling¡¡you¡£¡¡I¡¯m¡¡sorry¡¡I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡one¡¡to¡¡hurt¡¡you¡£¡¡You¡¯ve¡¡always¡¡been¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡put¡¡a¡¡hand¡¡to¡¡Warren¡¯s¡¡shoulder¡£¡¡¡®It¡¯s¡¡not¡¡your¡¡fault¡£¡¡You¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡do¡¡it¡£¡¡You¡¡simply¡¡told¡¡me¡¡the¡¡truth¡£¡¯¡¡His¡¡voice¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡it¡¡were¡¡ing¡¡from¡¡the¡¡bottom¡¡of¡¡a¡¡well¡£¡¡Thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡my¡¡friend¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡All¡¡he¡¡could¡¡think£»¡¡as¡¡his¡¡feet¡¡shuffled¡¡toward¡¡the¡¡door£»¡¡was¡¡that¡¡his¡¡dreams¡¡were¡¡all¡¡dying¡£¡¡If¡¡he¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡get¡¡the¡¡collar¡¡off£»¡¡everything¡¡would¡¡be¡¡lost¡£
¡¡
¡¡Sisters¡¡Ulicia¡¡and¡¡Finella¡¡both¡¡stood¡¡in¡¡warning¡¡as¡¡he¡¡came¡¡through¡¡the¡¡doors¡£¡¡They¡¡backed¡¡away£»¡¡the¡¡same¡¡as¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡had£»¡¡when¡¡they¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡look¡¡on¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡A¡¡sparkling¡¡shield¡¡went¡¡up¡¡before¡¡the¡¡door¡£¡¡He¡¡went¡¡through¡¡it¡¡without¡¡slowing¡£¡¡The¡¡door¡¡beyond¡¡burst¡¡open¡¡for¡¡him£»¡¡without¡¡him¡¡touching¡¡it£»¡¡part¡¡of¡¡the¡¡frame¡¡splintering¡£¡¡It¡¡somehow¡¡never¡¡occurred¡¡to¡¡him¡¡to¡¡use¡¡the¡¡knob¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡Prelate¡¡was¡¡sitting¡¡with¡¡her¡¡hands¡¡folded¡¡on¡¡the¡¡heavy¡¡walnut¡¡table¡£¡¡Her¡¡solemn¡¡eyes¡¡watched¡¡him¡¡e¡£¡¡Richard¡¡pressed¡¡up¡¡against¡¡the¡¡table£»¡¡towering¡¡over¡¡her¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡must¡¡admit£»¡¡Richard£»¡¯¡¡she¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡somber¡¡tone£»¡¡¡®that¡¡I¡¡have¡¡not¡¡been¡¡looking¡¡forward¡¡to¡¡this¡¡visit¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡His¡¡straining¡¡voice¡¡broke¡£¡¡¡®Why¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡tell¡¡me£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡ordered¡¡her¡¡not¡¡to¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡And¡¡why¡¡did¡¡you¡¡not¡¡tell¡¡me£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Because¡¡I¡¡wanted¡¡you¡¡first¡¡to¡¡learn¡¡some¡¡significant¡¡things¡¡about¡¡yourself£»¡¡so¡¡you¡¡would¡¡be¡¡better¡¡able¡¡to¡¡understand¡¡your¡¡importance¡£¡¡The¡¡burden¡¡of¡¡a¡¡wizard£»¡¡and¡¡of¡¡a¡¡Prelate£»¡¡too¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡sank¡¡to¡¡his¡¡knees¡¡before¡¡her¡¡desk¡£¡¡Ann£»¡¯¡¡he¡¡whispered£»¡¡¡®please£»¡¡help¡¡me¡£¡¡I¡¡must¡¡have¡¡the¡¡Rada¡¯Han¡¡off¡£¡¡I¡¡love¡¡Kahlan¡£¡¡I¡¡need¡¡her¡£¡¡I¡¡need¡¡to¡¡get¡¡back¡¡to¡¡her¡£¡¡I¡¯ve¡¡been¡¡gone¡¡a¡¡long¡¡time¡£¡¡Please£»¡¡Ann£»¡¡help¡¡me¡£¡¡Take¡¡the¡¡collar¡¡off¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡closed¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡for¡¡a¡¡long¡¡moment¡£¡¡When¡¡they¡¡opened£»¡¡they¡¡were¡¡heavy¡¡with¡¡regret¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡spoke¡¡the¡¡truth£»¡¡Richard¡£¡¡We¡¡cannot¡¡get¡¡the¡¡Rada¡¯Han¡¡off¡¡until¡¡you¡¡learn¡¡enough¡¡to¡¡help¡¡us¡£¡¡That¡¡will¡¡take¡¡time¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Please£»¡¡Ann£»¡¡help¡¡me¡£¡¡Isn¡¯t¡¡there¡¡any¡¡other¡¡way£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Slowly£»¡¡her¡¡eyes¡¡staying¡¡on¡¡his£»¡¡she¡¡shook¡¡her¡¡head¡£¡¡¡®No£»¡¡Richard¡£¡¡Over¡¡time£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡e¡¡to¡¡accept¡¡it¡£¡¡They¡¡all¡¡do¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡easier¡¡for¡¡the¡¡rest£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡e¡¡here¡¡as¡¡boys£»¡¡not¡¡understanding£»¡¡and¡¡grasp¡¡it¡¡only¡¡over¡¡time¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡never¡¡had¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡one¡¡grown£»¡¡like¡¡you£»¡¡who¡¡could¡¡understand¡¡the¡¡significance¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡couldn¡¯t¡¡make¡¡himself¡¡think¡¡clearly¡£¡¡It¡¡felt¡¡as¡¡if¡¡he¡¡were¡¡stumbling¡¡in¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡dream¡£¡¡¡®But£»¡¡we¡¯ll¡¡lose¡¡so¡¡much¡¡time¡¡together¡£¡¡She¡¡will¡¡be¡¡old¡£¡¡Everyone¡¡I¡¡know¡¡will¡¡be¡¡old¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Ann¡¡smoothed¡¡her¡¡hair¡¡back¡¡as¡¡she¡¡averted¡¡her¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡®Richard£»¡¡by¡¡the¡¡time¡¡you¡¡are¡¡trained¡¡and¡¡leave¡¡here£»¡¡the¡¡great¡great¡great¡¡grandchildren¡¡of¡¡everyone¡¡you¡¡know¡¡will¡¡have¡¡died¡¡of¡¡old¡¡age¡¡and¡¡been¡¡buried¡¡in¡¡the¡¡ground¡¡for¡¡over¡¡a¡¡hundred¡¡years¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡blinked¡¡at¡¡her£»¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡prehend¡¡the¡¡math¡¡of¡¡the¡¡generations¡¡involved£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡all¡¡turned¡¡to¡¡mush¡¡in¡¡his¡¡mind¡£¡¡He¡¡suddenly¡¡remembered¡¡what¡¡Shota¡¡had¡¡warned¡¡him¡¡of¡¡¡¡¡a¡¡trap¡¡in¡¡time¡£¡¡This¡¡was¡¡that¡¡trap¡£
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡had¡¡been¡¡stripped¡¡of¡¡everything¡¡by¡¡these¡¡people¡£¡¡Everything¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡was¡¡gone¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡never¡¡see¡¡Zedd¡¡again£»¡¡or¡¡Chase£»¡¡or¡¡anyone¡¡he¡¡knew¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡never¡¡hold¡¡Kahlan¡¡again¡£¡¡He¡¡would¡¡never¡¡be¡¡able¡¡to¡¡tell¡¡her¡¡that¡¡he¡¡loved¡¡her£»¡¡that¡¡he¡¡understood¡¡the¡¡sacrifice¡¡she¡¡had¡¡made¡¡for¡¡him¡£
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡CHAPTER¡¡63
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡from¡¡where¡¡he¡¡sat¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡to¡¡see¡¡Warren¡¡in¡¡the¡¡doorway¡£¡¡He¡¡hadn¡¯t¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡knock¡£¡¡When¡¡he¡¡said¡¡nothing£»¡¡Warren¡¡rushed¡¡over¡¡and¡¡squatted¡¡down¡¡beside¡¡him¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Listen£»¡¡Richard£»¡¡something¡¡you¡¡said¡¡made¡¡me¡¡think¡£¡¡You¡¡said¡¡that¡¡you¡¡were¡¡going¡¡to¡¡wed¡¡the¡¡Mother¡¡Confessor¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¯s¡¡mind¡¡came¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡daze¡¡and¡¡his¡¡eyes¡¡suddenly¡¡came¡¡up¡£¡¡The¡¡prophecy¡¡is¡¡about¡¡her£»¡¡isn¡¯t¡¡it¡£¡¡The¡¡prophecy¡¡you¡¡said¡¡would¡¡e¡¡on¡¡winter¡¡solstice¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡think¡¡it¡¡might¡¡be¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡enough¡¡about¡¡her£»¡¡about¡¡Confessors£»¡¡to¡¡tell¡£¡¡Does¡¡the¡¡Mother¡¡Confessor¡¡wear¡¡white£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Yes¡£¡¡The¡¡Confessors¡¡are¡¡born¡¡to¡¡find¡¡the¡¡truth¡£¡¡She¡¡is¡¡the¡¡last¡¡one¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Richard£»¡¡I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡is¡¡good¡¡news¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡she¡¡is¡¡to¡¡find¡¡happiness£»¡¡and¡¡bring¡¡it¡¡to¡¡her¡¡people£»¡¡on¡¡winter¡¡solstice¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡vision¡¡he¡¡had¡¡had¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Tower¡¡of¡¡Perdition¡£¡¡He¡¡remembered¡¡the¡¡horror¡¡of¡¡what¡¡he¡¡had¡¡seen¡£¡¡The¡¡words¡¡Kahlan¡¡had¡¡spoken¡¡were¡¡burned¡¡into¡¡his¡¡memory¡£¡¡He¡¡quoted¡¡it¡¡to¡¡Warren¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Of¡¡all¡¡there¡¡were£»¡¡but¡¡a¡¡single¡¡one¡¡born¡¡of¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡forth¡¡truth¡¡will¡¡remain¡¡alive¡¡when¡¡the¡¡shadow¡¯s¡¡threat¡¡is¡¡lifted¡£¡¡Therefore¡¡es¡¡the¡¡greater¡¡darkness¡¡of¡¡the¡¡dead¡£¡¡For¡¡there¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡chance¡¡at¡¡life¡¯s¡¡bond£»¡¡this¡¡one¡¡in¡¡white¡¡must¡¡be¡¡offered¡¡to¡¡her¡¡people£»¡¡to¡¡bring¡¡their¡¡joy¡¡and¡¡good¡¡cheer¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Yes£¡¡¡That¡¯s¡¡it£¡¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡the¡¡¡®greater¡¡darkness¡¯¡¡means¡¡both¡¡the¡¡Keeper£»¡¡and¡¡winter¡¡solstice¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡that¡¡means¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡Richard£»¡¡where¡¡did¡¡you¡¡read¡¡that¡¡prophecy£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡read¡¡it¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡brought¡¡to¡¡me¡¡in¡¡a¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡her¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Warren¡¯s¡¡eyes¡¡grew¡¡big£»¡¡the¡¡way¡¡they¡¡tended¡¡to¡¡do¡¡when¡¡he¡¡was¡¡astonished¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡had¡¡a¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡prophecy£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Yes£»¡¡she¡¡brought¡¡me¡¡the¡¡words£»¡¡and¡¡also¡¡brought¡¡a¡¡vision¡¡of¡¡what¡¡it¡¡means¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®What¡¡does¡¡it¡¡mean£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡brushed¡¡at¡¡his¡¡pant¡¡leg¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡can¡¯t¡¡tell¡¡you¡£¡¡She¡¡said¡¡that¡¡I¡¡could¡¡speak¡¡the¡¡words£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡of¡¡the¡¡vision¡£¡¡I¡¯m¡¡sorry£»¡¡Warren£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡dare¡¡not¡¡violate¡¡that¡¡warning¡¡without¡¡knowing¡¡the¡¡consequences¡£¡¡But¡¡I¡¡can¡¡tell¡¡you¡¡that¡¡the¡¡results¡¡of¡¡this¡¡prophecy¡¡ing¡¡true¡¡would¡¡not¡¡be¡¡joyful¡¡for¡¡her£»¡¡or¡¡for¡¡me¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Warren¡¡considered¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡®Yes¡£¡¡You¡¡are¡¡right¡£¡¯¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡over¡¡out¡¡of¡¡the¡¡corner¡¡of¡¡his¡¡eye¡£¡¡¡®Richard£»¡¡there¡¡is¡¡something¡¡about¡¡prophecy¡¡I¡¡think¡¡I¡¡should¡¡tell¡¡you¡£¡¡Hardly¡¡anyone¡¡knows¡¡this£»¡¡but¡¡the¡¡words¡¡don¡¯t¡¡always¡¡reflect¡¡the¡¡true¡¡intent¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®What¡¡do¡¡you¡¡mean£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Well£»¡¡a¡¡few¡¡times¡¡when¡¡I¡¡have¡¡read¡¡prophecies£»¡¡I¡¯ve¡¡had¡¡a¡¡vision¡£¡¡The¡¡vision¡¡turns¡¡out¡¡to¡¡be¡¡true£»¡¡and¡¡so¡¡does¡¡the¡¡prophecy£»¡¡but¡¡not¡¡in¡¡the¡¡way¡¡you¡¡would¡¡think¡¡from¡¡reading¡¡it¡£¡¡I¡¡believe¡¡that¡¡the¡¡true¡¡way¡¡prophecy¡¡is¡¡meant¡¡to¡¡be¡¡understood¡¡is¡¡through¡¡the¡¡gift£»¡¡through¡¡the¡¡visions¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Do¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡¡know¡¡this£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®No¡£¡¡I¡¡think¡¡this¡¡is¡¡what¡¡it¡¡means¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡prophet¡£¡¡Richard£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡had¡¡this¡¡vision£»¡¡and¡¡heard¡¡the¡¡words£»¡¡and¡¡saw¡¡the¡¡meaning£»¡¡maybe¡¡that¡¡means¡¡you¡¡are¡¡a¡¡prophet¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡According¡¡to¡¡the¡¡Prelate£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡a¡¡different¡¡talent¡£¡¡If¡¡she¡¡is¡¡right£»¡¡then¡¡having¡¡the¡¡vision¡¡might¡¡just¡¡be¡¡part¡¡of¡¡my¡¡ability¡¡for¡¡what¡¡I¡¡truly¡¡am¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Which¡¡is£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®The¡¡Prelate¡¡said¡¡I¡¯m¡¡a¡¡war¡¡wizard¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡His¡¡eyes¡¡widened¡¡again¡£¡¡¡®Richard£»¡¡war¡¡wizards¡¡have¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡for¡¡both¡¡Magics¡£¡¡None¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡for¡¡Subtractive£»¡¡too£»¡¡has¡¡been¡¡born¡¡in¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡in¡¡thousands¡¡of¡¡years¡£¡¡Maybe¡¡the¡¡Prelate¡¡is¡¡wrong¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡hope¡¡she¡¡is£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡would¡¡explain¡¡some¡¡things¡£¡¡From¡¡what¡¡a¡¡friend¡¡of¡¡mine¡¡told¡¡me£»¡¡Additive¡¡Magic¡¡is¡¡using¡¡what¡¡is£»¡¡adding¡¡to¡¡it£»¡¡multiplying¡¡it£»¡¡altering¡¡it£»¡¡the¡¡doing¡¡of¡¡things¡£¡¡Subtractive¡¡Magic¡¡is¡¡the¡¡counter£»¡¡the¡¡undoing¡¡of¡¡things¡£
¡¡
¡¡All¡¡the¡¡shields¡¡are¡¡put¡¡up¡¡by¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡only¡¡Additive¡£¡¡Even¡¡those¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡cannot¡¡easily¡¡go¡¡through¡¡them£»¡¡or¡¡break¡¡them£»¡¡because¡¡they¡¡also¡¡have¡¡only¡¡Additive¡£¡¡Power¡¡against¡¡power¡£¡¡But¡¡somehow¡¡I¡¯m¡¡able¡¡to¡¡walk¡¡right¡¡through¡¡the¡¡shields¡¡around¡¡here¡¡without¡¡even¡¡trying¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Subtractive¡¡Magic¡¡would¡¡explain¡¡that¡£¡¡Subtractive¡¡would¡¡counter¡¡the¡¡Additive¡¡of¡¡the¡¡shields£»¡¡undo¡¡it¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®But¡¡you¡¡said¡¡you¡¡tried¡¡to¡¡go¡¡through¡¡the¡¡barrier¡¡that¡¡keeps¡¡us¡¡from¡¡leaving¡£¡¡That¡¯s¡¡a¡¡shield£»¡¡too¡£¡¡Why¡¡can¡¯t¡¡you¡¡go¡¡through¡¡that¡¡shield£»¡¡then£»¡¡if¡¡you¡¡really¡¡have¡¡the¡¡Subtractive£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡lifted¡¡an¡¡eyebrow¡¡and¡¡leaned¡¡in¡£¡¡¡®Warren£»¡¡who¡¡put¡¡those¡¡shields¡¡in¡¡place£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Well£»¡¡the¡¡ones¡¡who¡¡placed¡¡the¡¡rest¡¡of¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡of¡¡the¡¡palace£»¡¡the¡¡wizards¡¡of¡¡old¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Who¡¡you¡¡said¡¡had¡¡Subtractive¡¡Magic¡£¡¡That¡¡shield¡¡is¡¡the¡¡only¡¡one¡¡placed¡¡by¡¡them¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡the¡¡only¡¡one¡¡I¡¡can¡¯t¡¡go¡¡through¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡the¡¡only¡¡one¡¡my¡¡Subtractive¡¡Magic£»¡¡if¡¡I¡¡truly¡¡have¡¡it£»¡¡wouldn¡¯t¡¡counter¡£¡¡See¡¡what¡¡I¡¡mean£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Warren¡¡sat¡¡back¡¡on¡¡his¡¡heels¡£¡¡¡®Yes¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¯¡¡He¡¡rubbed¡¡his¡¡chin¡¡as¡¡he¡¡thought¡£¡¡¡®Well£»¡¡that¡¡would¡¡make¡¡sense¡£¡¡It¡¡might¡¡fit¡¡with¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡prophecies¡¡about¡¡you¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡really¡¡are¡¡a¡¡war¡¡wizard£»¡¡and¡¡are¡¡the¡¡one¡¡born¡¡true¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®And¡¡do¡¡these¡¡prophecies¡¡say¡¡I¡¡will¡¡prevail£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Warren¡¡hesitated¡£¡¡He¡¡glanced¡¡over¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Sword¡¡of¡¡Truth¡¡lying¡¡on¡¡the¡¡floor¡¡nearby¡£¡¡¡®If¡¡I¡¡said¡¡¡®white¡¡blade£»¡¯¡¡would¡¡that¡¡mean¡¡anything¡¡to¡¡you£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡let¡¡out¡¡a¡¡heavy¡¡breath¡¡at¡¡the¡¡memory¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡can¡¡turn¡¡the¡¡blade¡¡of¡¡my¡¡sword¡¡white£»¡¡through¡¡magic¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Warren¡¡wiped¡¡his¡¡hand¡¡over¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡Then¡¡I¡¡think¡¡we¡¡might¡¡be¡¡in¡¡trouble¡£¡¡There¡¡is¡¡a¡¡prophecy¡¡that¡¡says£»¡¡¡®Should¡¡the¡¡forces¡¡of¡¡forfeit¡¡be¡¡loosed£»¡¡the¡¡world¡¡will¡¡be¡¡shadowed¡¡yet¡¡by¡¡darker¡¡lust¡¡through¡¡what¡¡has¡¡been¡¡rent¡£¡¡Salvations¡¡hope£»¡¡then£»¡¡will¡¡be¡¡as¡¡slim¡¡as¡¡the¡¡white¡¡blade¡¡of¡¡the¡¡one¡¡born¡¡true¡£¡¯¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Through¡¡what¡¡has¡¡been¡¡rent¡£¡¡The¡¡open¡¡gateway£»¡¯¡¡Richard¡¡said¡£
¡¡
¡¡That¡¡would¡¡make¡¡¡®the¡¡darker¡¡lust¡¯¡¡be¡¡the¡¡Keeper¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Warren£»¡¡I¡¡have¡¡to¡¡do¡¡something¡¡about¡¡the¡¡prophecy¡£¡¡The¡¡one¡¡about¡¡the¡¡one¡¡in¡¡white¡£¡¡It¡¯s¡¡important¡£¡¡Do¡¡you¡¡have¡¡any¡¡ideas£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Warren¡¡watched¡¡him£»¡¡as¡¡if¡¡trying¡¡to¡¡decide¡¡something¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡do¡£¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡if¡¡it¡¡will¡¡help¡£¡¯¡¡He¡¡put¡¡weight¡¡on¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡as¡¡he¡¡rubbed¡¡them¡¡on¡¡his¡¡thighs¡£¡¡They¡¡have¡¡a¡¡prophet¡¡here£»¡¡at¡¡the¡¡palace¡£¡¡I¡¯ve¡¡never¡¡seen¡¡him¡£¡¡I¡¡want¡¡to£»¡¡but¡¡they¡¡won¡¯t¡¡let¡¡me¡£¡¡They¡¡say¡¡it¡¯s¡¡too¡¡dangerous¡¡for¡¡me¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡him¡¡until¡¡I¡¡learn¡¡more¡£¡¡They¡¡promised¡¡that¡¡when¡¡I¡¡learn¡¡enough£»¡¡they¡¡will¡¡let¡¡me¡¡talk¡¡with¡¡him¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Here¡¡in¡¡the¡¡palace£¿¡¡Where£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Warren¡¡pulled¡¡a¡¡fold¡¡of¡¡his¡¡robes¡¡from¡¡under¡¡his¡¡knees¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡£¡¡It¡¡would¡¡have¡¡to¡¡be¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡restricted¡¡areas£»¡¡but¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡which¡¡one£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡how¡¡we¡¡can¡¡find¡¡out¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡stood¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡do¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡knew¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gone¡¡to¡¡the¡¡right¡¡guard¡¡when¡¡Swordsman¡¡Kevin¡¡Andellmere¡¡turned¡¡white¡¡as¡¡a¡¡spirit¡¡at¡¡the¡¡mention¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prophet¡£¡¡He¡¡was¡¡reluctant£»¡¡feigning¡¡ignorance¡¡at¡¡first£»¡¡but¡¡when¡¡Richard¡¡gently¡¡reminded¡¡him¡¡of¡¡all¡¡the¡¡favors£»¡¡Kevin¡¡whispered¡¡the¡¡location¡£
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡pound¡¡Kevin¡¡had¡¡divulged¡¡was¡¡one¡¡of¡¡the¡¡most¡¡heavily¡¡guarded¡£¡¡Richard¡¡knew¡¡where¡¡all¡¡the¡¡guards¡¡were¡¡stationed¡¡because¡¡he¡¡had¡¡gathered¡¡white¡¡roses¡¡there£»¡¡and¡¡had¡¡been¡¡up¡¡on¡¡the¡¡wall£»¡¡to¡¡¡®look¡¡out¡¡at¡¡the¡¡sea¡£¡¯¡¡He