¡¡
¡¡She¡¡smiled¡£¡¡¡®Would¡¡you¡¡have¡¡me¡¡let¡¡you¡¡delude¡¡yourself£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡scrubbed¡¡his¡¡hands¡¡on¡¡his¡¡face¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡guess¡¡not¡£¡¡My¡¡head¡¡hurts¡¡so¡¡much£»¡¡I¡¡guess¡¡it¡¯s¡¡keeping¡¡me¡¡from¡¡thinking¡¡straight¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Then¡¡let¡¯s¡¡do¡¡something¡¡about¡¡it£¿¡¡Let¡¯s¡¡go¡¡in¡¡and¡¡at¡¡least¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡the¡¡sisters£»¡¡and¡¡hear¡¡what¡¡they¡¡have¡¡to¡¡say£¿¡¡They¡¡said¡¡they¡¡want¡¡to¡¡help¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡a¡¡dark¡¡look¡£¡¡¡®So¡¡did¡¡Darken¡¡Rahl¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Running¡¡away¡¡is¡¡not¡¡the¡¡solution¡£¡¡You¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡run¡¡from¡¡Darken¡¡Rahl¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡He¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡her¡¡a¡¡long¡¡moment¡¡and¡¡then¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡®I¡¯ll¡¡listen¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡three¡¡were¡¡standing¡¡where¡¡Kahlan¡¡had¡¡left¡¡them¡£¡¡They¡¡gave¡¡her¡¡small¡¡smiles¡¡of¡¡appreciation£»¡¡apparently¡¡pleased¡¡she¡¡had¡¡brought¡¡him¡¡back¡£¡¡Richard¡¡and¡¡Kahlan¡¡stood¡¡close¡¡together¡¡in¡¡front¡¡of¡¡the¡¡three¡¡women¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡will¡¡listen¡¡¡¡¡listen¡¡¡¡¡to¡¡what¡¡you¡¡have¡¡to¡¡say¡¡about¡¡my¡¡headaches¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Sister¡¡Grace¡¡looked¡¡to¡¡Kahlan¡£¡¡Thank¡¡you¡¡for¡¡your¡¡help£»¡¡Mother¡¡Confessor£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡will¡¡speak¡¡with¡¡Richard¡¡alone¡¡now¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¯s¡¡anger¡¡flared¡¡again£»¡¡but¡¡he¡¡kept¡¡his¡¡tone¡¡in¡¡check¡£¡¡¡®Kahlan¡¡and¡¡I¡¡are¡¡to¡¡be¡¡married¡£¡¯¡¡The¡¡three¡¡gave¡¡each¡¡other¡¡the¡¡look¡¡again¡£¡¡It¡¡was¡¡a¡¡little¡¡more¡¡serious¡¡this¡¡time¡£¡¡¡®What¡¡you¡¡have¡¡to¡¡say¡¡to¡¡me¡¡affects¡¡her£»¡¡too¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡want¡¡to¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡me£»¡¡she¡¡will¡¡stay¡¡and¡¡hear¡¡it¡¡too¡£¡¡Both¡¡of¡¡us£»¡¡or¡¡neither¡£¡¡Choose¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡looks¡¡were¡¡still¡¡passing¡¡between¡¡the¡¡three¡£¡¡At¡¡last¡¡Sister¡¡Grace¡¡spoke¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Very¡¡well¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®And¡¡the¡¡first¡¡thing¡¡you¡¡should¡¡know¡¡is¡¡that¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡like¡¡magic£»¡¡and¡¡I¡¯m¡¡not¡¡convinced¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡If¡¡I¡¡do£»¡¡I¡¡am¡¡not¡¡pleased¡¡about¡¡it£»¡¡and¡¡only¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡rid¡¡of¡¡it¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡are¡¡not¡¡here¡¡to¡¡please¡¡you£»¡¡we¡¡are¡¡here¡¡to¡¡save¡¡your¡¡life¡£¡¡To¡¡do¡¡that¡¡we¡¡must¡¡teach¡¡you¡¡to¡¡use¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡don¡¯t¡¡learn¡¡to¡¡control¡¡it£»¡¡it¡¡will¡¡kill¡¡you¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡understand¡£¡¡I¡¡had¡¡a¡¡similar¡¡problem¡¡with¡¡the¡¡Sword¡¡of¡¡Truth¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡first¡¡thing¡¡you¡¡must¡¡learn£»¡¯¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡said£»¡¡¡®is¡¡that¡¡just¡¡as¡¡the¡¡Mother¡¡Confessor¡¡is¡¡to¡¡be¡¡treated¡¡with¡¡deference£»¡¡so¡¡are¡¡we¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡worked¡¡long¡¡and¡¡hard¡¡to¡¡bee¡¡Sisters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Light£»¡¡and¡¡expect¡¡to¡¡be¡¡treated¡¡with¡¡due¡¡respect¡£¡¡I¡¡am¡¡Sister¡¡Verna£»¡¡this¡¡is¡¡Sister¡¡Grace£»¡¡and¡¡this¡¡is¡¡Sister¡¡Elizabeth¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡glared¡¡at¡¡them¡£¡¡At¡¡last£»¡¡he¡¡bowed¡¡his¡¡head¡£¡¡As¡¡you¡¡wish¡£¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡£¡¯¡¡He¡¡regarded¡¡each¡¡in¡¡turn¡£¡¡And¡¡who¡¡are¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Light£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡are¡¡the¡¡ones¡¡who¡¡train¡¡wizards£»¡¡those¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Where¡¡are¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Light¡¡from£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡all¡¡live¡¡and¡¡work¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Palace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prophets¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡frowned¡£¡¡¡®Sister¡¡Verna£»¡¡I¡¯ve¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Palace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prophets¡£¡¡Where¡¡is¡¡it£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®In¡¡the¡¡city¡¡of¡¡Tanimura¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¯s¡¡frown¡¡deepened¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡know¡¡every¡¡city¡¡in¡¡the¡¡Midlands¡£¡¡I¡¯ve¡¡never¡¡heard¡¡of¡¡Tanimura¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡held¡¡Kahlan¡¯s¡¡gaze¡¡for¡¡a¡¡moment¡£¡¡¡®Nonetheless£»¡¡that¡¡is¡¡where¡¡we¡¡are¡¡from¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Why¡¡were¡¡you¡¡surprised¡¡when¡¡you¡¡found¡¡out¡¡how¡¡old¡¡I¡¡am£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Because£»¡¯¡¡Sister¡¡Grace¡¡said£»¡¡¡®it¡¡is¡¡almost¡¡unheard¡¡of¡¡for¡¡one¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡not¡¡to¡¡e¡¡to¡¡our¡¡attention¡¡when¡¡he¡¡is¡¡still¡¡young¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®How¡¡young£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®At¡¡the¡¡very¡¡most£»¡¡a¡¡third¡¡your¡¡age¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®And¡¡why¡¡do¡¡you¡¡think¡¡I¡¡did¡¡not¡¡e¡¡to¡¡your¡¡attention£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Obviously£»¡¡you¡¡have¡¡been¡¡hidden¡¡from¡¡us£»¡¡somehow¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡recognized¡¡that¡¡Richard¡¡was¡¡slipping¡¡into¡¡his¡¡Seeker¡¯s¡¡role£»¡¡seeking¡¡answers¡¡to¡¡his¡¡questions¡¡before¡¡he¡¡gave¡¡them¡¡anything¡¡they¡¡wanted¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Did¡¡you¡¡train¡¡Zedd£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Who£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Zeddicus¡¡Zu¡¯l¡¡Zorander£»¡¡wizard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Order¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡look¡¡passed¡¡between¡¡them¡¡again¡£¡¡¡®We¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡First¡¡Wizard¡¡Zorander¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡thought¡¡it¡¡was¡¡your¡¡business¡¡to¡¡know¡¡of¡¡ones¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡Sister¡¡Verna£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡They¡¡stiffened¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡know¡¡this¡¡wizard¡¡of¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Order£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡do¡£¡¡Why¡¡don¡¯t¡¡you£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Is¡¡he¡¡old£¿¡¯¡¡Richard¡¡nodded¡£¡¡¡®Perhaps¡¡he¡¡was¡¡before¡¡our¡¡time¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Perhaps¡£¡¯¡¡Richard£»¡¡with¡¡a¡¡fist¡¡on¡¡his¡¡hip£»¡¡strolled¡¡a¡¡few¡¡steps¡¡away¡¡and¡¡stopped¡¡with¡¡his¡¡back¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡¡®How¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡about¡¡me£¿¡¡Sister¡¡Elizabeth¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®It¡¡is¡¡our¡¡business¡¡to¡¡know¡¡about¡¡those¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift£º¡¡wizards¡£¡¡Though¡¡you¡¡were¡¡obviously¡¡hidden¡¡from¡¡us£»¡¡when¡¡you¡¡triggered¡¡the¡¡gift£»¡¡we¡¡knew¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®What¡¡if¡¡I¡¡don¡¯t¡¡want¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡wizard£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®That¡¡is¡¡your¡¡business¡£¡¡Ours¡¡is¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡you¡¡to¡¡control¡¡the¡¡magic¡£¡¡We¡¡are¡¡not¡¡here¡¡to¡¡force¡¡you¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡wizard£»¡¡only¡¡to¡¡help¡¡you¡¡control¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡so¡¡you¡¡will¡¡live¡£¡¡Then¡¡you¡¡may¡¡be¡¡what¡¡you¡¡wish¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡marched¡¡back¡¡and¡¡put¡¡his¡¡face¡¡close¡¡to¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡£¡¡¡®How¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡gift£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡are¡¡the¡¡Sisters¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Light¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡our¡¡business¡¡to¡¡know¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®You¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡would¡¡be¡¡young¡£¡¡You¡¡thought¡¡I¡¡would¡¡be¡¡with¡¡my¡¡parents¡£¡¡You¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡know¡¡I¡¡was¡¡the¡¡Seeker¡£¡¡You¡¡don¡¯t¡¡know¡¡who¡¡the¡¡First¡¡Wizard¡¡is¡£¡¡You¡¡seem¡¡to¡¡be¡¡slipping¡¡in¡¡your¡¡business¡£¡¡Besides¡¡these¡¡errors£»¡¡perhaps¡¡you¡¡are¡¡also¡¡mistaken¡¡about¡¡me¡¡having¡¡the¡¡gift£»¡¡Sister¡¡Verna£¿¡¡Your¡¡mistakes¡¡do¡¡not¡¡inspire¡¡confidence¡£¡¡Does¡¡your¡¡position¡¡of¡¡respect¡¡tolerate¡¡such¡¡mistakes£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Each¡¡woman¡¯s¡¡face¡¡was¡¡crimson¡£¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡controlled¡¡her¡¡voice¡¡with¡¡an¡¡effort¡£¡¡¡®Richard£»¡¡our¡¡job£»¡¡our¡¡calling£»¡¡is¡¡to¡¡help¡¡those¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡devoted¡¡our¡¡lives¡¡to¡¡it¡£¡¡We¡¡are¡¡from¡¡far¡¡away¡£¡¡What¡¡we¡¡have¡¡learned¡¡has¡¡been¡¡done¡¡at¡¡a¡¡great¡¡distance¡£¡¡We¡¡don¡¯t¡¡have¡¡all¡¡the¡¡answers¡£¡¡The¡¡matters¡¡you¡¡speak¡¡of¡¡are¡¡not¡¡important¡£¡¡What¡¡is¡¡important¡¡is¡¡that¡¡you¡¡have¡¡the¡¡gift£»¡¡and¡¡if¡¡you¡¡don¡¯t¡¡let¡¡us¡¡help¡¡you£»¡¡you¡¡will¡¡die¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®One¡¡reason¡¡we¡¡help¡¡those¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡when¡¡they¡¡are¡¡young£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡wanted¡¡to¡¡see¡¡your¡¡parents£»¡¡is¡¡because¡¡of¡¡the¡¡very¡¡difficulty¡¡we¡¡are¡¡having¡¡right¡¡now¡£¡¡If¡¡we¡¡can¡¡talk¡¡to¡¡the¡¡parents£»¡¡we¡¡can¡¡help¡¡them¡¡see¡¡what¡¡is¡¡best¡¡for¡¡their¡¡son¡£¡¡Parents¡¡are¡¡more¡¡interested¡¡in¡¡the¡¡well¡being¡¡of¡¡their¡¡children¡¡than¡¡one¡¡of¡¡your¡¡age¡¡is¡¡in¡¡himself¡£¡¡Teaching¡¡one¡¡of¡¡your¡¡age¡¡is¡¡going¡¡to¡¡be¡¡difficult¡£¡¡People¡¡are¡¡more¡¡easily¡¡taught¡¡when¡¡they¡¡are¡¡young¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Before¡¡they¡¡are¡¡able¡¡to¡¡think¡¡for¡¡themselves£»¡¡Sister¡¡Verna£¿¡¯¡¡She¡¡was¡¡silent¡£¡¡¡®I¡¡will¡¡ask¡¡again¡£¡¡How¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡gift£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Sister¡¡Grace¡¡smoothed¡¡her¡¡straight¡¡black¡¡hair¡£¡¡¡®When¡¡one¡¡is¡¡born¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift£»¡¡it¡¡lies¡¡dormant£»¡¡and¡¡is¡¡harmless¡£¡¡We¡¡strive¡¡to¡¡find¡¡these¡¡boys¡¡when¡¡they¡¡are¡¡young¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡a¡¡number¡¡of¡¡ways¡¡of¡¡knowing¡¡who¡¡they¡¡are¡£¡¡It¡¡has¡¡happened¡¡that¡¡one¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡does¡¡things¡¡that¡¡trigger¡¡its¡¡growth£»¡¡its¡¡evolution¡£¡¡When¡¡that¡¡happens¡¡it¡¡bees¡¡a¡¡threat¡¡to¡¡them¡£¡¡How¡¡you¡¡managed¡¡to¡¡slip¡¡by¡¡our¡¡knowledge¡¡is¡¡something¡¡we¡¡can¡¯t¡¡answer¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Once¡¡triggered£»¡¡the¡¡power¡¡begins¡¡to¡¡evolve¡£¡¡It¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡stopped¡£¡¡It¡¡must¡¡be¡¡mastered¡¡or¡¡you¡¡will¡¡die¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡what¡¡has¡¡happened¡¡to¡¡you¡£¡¡It¡¡is¡¡exceedingly¡¡rare¡¡for¡¡it¡¡to¡¡happen¡¡this¡¡way¡£¡¡To¡¡be¡¡honest£»¡¡though¡¡we¡¡have¡¡been¡¡taught¡¡it¡¡has¡¡happened¡¡before£»¡¡none¡¡of¡¡us¡¡has¡¡personal¡¡knowledge¡¡of¡¡it¡£
¡¡
¡¡Back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Palace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prophets¡¡there¡¡will¡¡be¡¡old¡¡records¡¡of¡¡this¡¡in¡¡others£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡will¡¡look¡¡into¡¡it¡£¡¡But¡¡that¡¡doesn¡¯t¡¡change¡¡what¡¡matters£º¡¡you¡¡have¡¡the¡¡gift£»¡¡it¡¡has¡¡been¡¡triggered£»¡¡and¡¡the¡¡evolution¡¡has¡¡begun¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®We¡¡have¡¡never¡¡had¡¡to¡¡teach¡¡one¡¡of¡¡your¡¡age¡¡before¡£¡¡I¡¡fear¡¡the¡¡trouble¡¡it¡¡is¡¡going¡¡to¡¡cause¡¡at¡¡the¡¡palace¡£¡¡Teaching¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡requires¡¡discipline¡£¡¡One¡¡of¡¡your¡¡age¡¡has¡¡obvious¡¡difficulty¡¡with¡¡this¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡softened¡¡his¡¡tone£»¡¡but¡¡his¡¡gaze¡¡hardened¡£¡¡¡®Sister¡¡Grace£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡ask¡¡for¡¡the¡¡last¡¡time¡£¡¡How¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡I¡¡have¡¡the¡¡gift£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡stood¡¡up¡¡a¡¡little¡¡straighter¡¡and¡¡let¡¡out¡¡a¡¡noisy¡¡breath¡£¡¡She¡¡nicked¡¡a¡¡glance¡¡to¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡£¡¡¡®Tell¡¡him¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡gave¡¡a¡¡resigned¡¡nod¡¡and¡¡pulled¡¡a¡¡small¡¡black¡¡book¡¡from¡¡behind¡¡her¡¡belt¡£¡¡With¡¡a¡¡frown£»¡¡she¡¡began¡¡leafing¡¡through¡¡it¡£¡¡Those¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡have¡¡some¡¡use¡¡of¡¡it¡¡throughout¡¡their¡¡life£»¡¡in¡¡little¡¡ways£»¡¡even¡¡though¡¡it¡¡lies¡¡dormant¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡you¡¡have¡¡noticed¡¡how¡¡you¡¡could¡¡do¡¡some¡¡things¡¡that¡¡others¡¡could¡¡not£»¡¡yes£¿¡¡The¡¡evolution¡¡of¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡is¡¡triggered¡¡by¡¡the¡¡specific¡¡use¡¡of¡¡the¡¡magic¡£¡¡Once¡¡triggered£»¡¡it¡¡cannot¡¡be¡¡undone¡£¡¡This¡¡is¡¡what¡¡you¡¡have¡¡done¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡continued¡¡turning¡¡pages£»¡¡running¡¡her¡¡finger¡¡down¡¡them¡£¡¡¡®Ah¡£¡¡Here¡¡it¡¡is¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡lowered¡¡the¡¡book¡¡and¡¡looked¡¡up¡£¡¡¡®There¡¡are¡¡three¡¡things¡¡that¡¡must¡¡be¡¡done£»¡¡in¡¡a¡¡specific¡¡manner£»¡¡to¡¡trigger¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡We¡¡don¡¯t¡¡fully¡¡understand¡¡the¡¡precise¡¡nature¡¡of¡¡these¡¡things£»¡¡but¡¡we¡¡understand¡¡their¡¡general¡¡principles¡£¡¡You¡¡have¡¡done¡¡these¡¡three¡¡things¡£¡¡First£»¡¡you¡¡must¡¡use¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡to¡¡save¡¡another¡£¡¡Second£»¡¡you¡¡must¡¡use¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡to¡¡save¡¡yourself¡£¡¡Third£»¡¡you¡¡must¡¡use¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡another¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡£¡¡Perhaps¡¡you¡¡can¡¡see¡¡the¡¡difficulty¡¡in¡¡acplishing¡¡them£»¡¡and¡¡why¡¡we¡¡haven¡¯t¡¡seen¡¡this¡¡before£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®And¡¡what¡¡is¡¡written¡¡about¡¡me¡¡in¡¡that¡¡book£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡once¡¡more¡¡to¡¡the¡¡book£»¡¡then¡¡glanced¡¡up£»¡¡lifting¡¡an¡¡eyebrow£»¡¡to¡¡make¡¡sure¡¡he¡¡was¡¡paying¡¡attention¡¡before¡¡consulting¡¡the¡¡pages¡¡as¡¡she¡¡spoke¡£¡¡¡®First£»¡¡you¡¡used¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡to¡¡save¡¡the¡¡life¡¡of¡¡one¡¡who¡¡was¡¡being¡¡pulled¡¡back¡¡into¡¡the¡¡underworld¡£¡¡Not¡¡physically£»¡¡but¡¡by¡¡her¡¡mind¡£¡¡You¡¡drew¡¡her¡¡back¡£¡¡Without¡¡you£»¡¡she¡¡would¡¡have¡¡been¡¡lost¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡from¡¡under¡¡her¡¡eyebrows¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡understand£»¡¡yes£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Kahlan¡¡looked¡¡at¡¡Richard¡£¡¡They¡¡both¡¡understood¡£¡¡She¡¡was¡¡the¡¡one¡¡he¡¡had¡¡saved¡£¡¡¡®In¡¡the¡¡wayward¡¡pine£»¡¯¡¡she¡¡said£»
¡¡
¡¡¡®the¡¡first¡¡night¡¡we¡¡met¡£¡¡When¡¡you¡¡kept¡¡the¡¡underworld¡¡from¡¡taking¡¡me¡¡back¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡nodded¡¡to¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡£¡¡¡®Yes£»¡¡I¡¡understand¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡put¡¡her¡¡finger¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡book¡£¡¡¡®As¡¡for¡¡saving¡¡yourself¡¡with¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡let¡¯s¡¡see¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡I¡¡saw¡¡it¡¡here¡¡a¡¡minute¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¡ah£¡¡¡Yes£»¡¡here¡¡it¡¡is¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡looked¡¡up¡¡from¡¡under¡¡her¡¡eyebrows¡¡again¡£¡¡¡®Second£»¡¡you¡¡used¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡to¡¡save¡¡your¡¡own¡¡life¡£¡¯¡¡She¡¡tapped¡¡the¡¡book¡¡with¡¡a¡¡finger¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡partitioned¡¡your¡¡mind¡£¡¡You¡¡understand£»¡¡yes£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¯s¡¡eyes¡¡closed¡£¡¡¡®Yes£»¡¡I¡¡understand£»¡¯¡¡he¡¡said¡¡in¡¡a¡¡weak¡¡voice¡£¡¡Kahlan¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡understand¡¡that¡¡one¡£
¡¡
¡¡Sister¡¡Verna¡¡went¡¡back¡¡to¡¡the¡¡book¡£¡¡¡®Third£»¡¡you¡¡used¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡to¡¡kill¡¡a¡¡wizard¡£¡¡His¡¡name¡¡was¡¡Darken¡¡Rahl¡£¡¡You¡¡understand£»¡¡yes£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®Yes¡£¡¯¡¡He¡¡opened¡¡his¡¡eyes¡£¡¡¡®How¡¡do¡¡you¡¡know¡¡these¡¡things£¿¡¯
¡¡
¡¡The¡¡things¡¡you¡¡have¡¡done¡¡used¡¡magic£»¡¡specific¡¡magic£»¡¡that¡¡leaves¡¡an¡¡essence¡¡because¡¡of¡¡who¡¡you¡¡are¡¡and¡¡because¡¡you¡¡are¡¡untrained¡£¡¡Were¡¡you¡¡trained£»¡¡it¡¡would¡¡not¡¡leave¡¡this¡¡essence£»¡¡and¡¡we¡¡would¡¡not¡¡know¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡ones¡¡back¡¡at¡¡the¡¡Palace¡¡of¡¡the¡¡Prophets¡¡who¡¡are¡¡sensitive¡¡to¡¡such¡¡events¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡Richard¡¡glared¡¡at¡¡her¡£¡¡¡®You¡¡have¡¡violated¡¡my¡¡privacy£»¡¡spied¡¡on¡¡me¡£¡¡And¡¡as¡¡for¡¡the¡¡third¡¡of¡¡your¡¡three¡¡things£»¡¡I¡¡didn¡¯t¡¡exactly¡¡kill¡¡Darken¡¡Rahl¡£¡¡Not¡¡technically¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®I¡¡can¡¡understand¡¡how¡¡you¡¡feel£»¡¯¡¡Sister¡¡Grace¡¡said¡¡quietly¡£¡¡¡®But¡¡it¡¡is¡¡only¡¡done¡¡to¡¡help¡¡you¡£¡¡If¡¡you¡¡wish¡¡to¡¡stand¡¡here¡¡and¡¡argue¡¡with¡¡us¡¡about¡¡whether¡¡or¡¡not¡¡these¡¡things¡¡qualify¡¡as¡¡the¡¡three¡¡triggers£»¡¡I¡¡will¡¡put¡¡your¡¡doubts¡¡at¡¡ease¡£¡¡Once¡¡they¡¡are¡¡done£»¡¡you¡¡begin¡¡the¡¡process¡¡of¡¡being¡¡a¡¡wizard¡£¡¡You¡¡may¡¡not¡¡believe¡¡it£»¡¡or¡¡choose¡¡to¡¡be¡¡a¡¡wizard£»¡¡but¡¡there¡¡is¡¡no¡¡doubt¡¡it¡¡has¡¡happened¡£¡¡We¡¡do¡¡not¡¡place¡¡this¡¡burden¡¡on¡¡you¡£¡¡We¡¡are¡¡only¡¡here¡¡to¡¡help¡¡you¡¡deal¡¡with¡¡it¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®But¡¡¡£¡£¡£¡¯
¡¡
¡¡¡®But¡¡nothing¡£¡¡When¡¡the¡¡magic¡¡is¡¡triggered£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡three¡¡changes¡¡e¡¡about¡£¡¡First£»¡¡you¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡have¡¡fetishes¡¡about¡¡food¡£¡¡It¡¡may¡¡be¡¡things¡¡you¡¡crave£»¡¡or¡¡things¡¡you¡¡have¡¡always¡¡eaten¡¡that¡¡you¡¡now¡¡refuse¡¡to¡¡eat¡£¡¡We¡¡have¡¡studied¡¡this£»¡¡and¡¡don¡¯t¡¡understand¡¡its¡¡cause£»¡¡but¡¡it¡¡has¡¡something¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡influences¡¡at¡¡the¡¡time¡¡the¡¡gift¡¡es¡¡to¡¡life¡£
¡¡
¡¡¡®Second£»¡¡you¡¡begin¡¡to¡¡sleep£»¡¡at¡¡least¡¡some¡¡of¡¡the¡¡time£»¡¡with¡¡your¡¡eyes¡¡open¡£¡¡All¡¡wizards¡¡do¡¡this£»¡¡even¡¡ones¡¡who¡¡only¡¡have¡¡the¡¡calling¡£¡¡It¡¡has¡¡something¡¡to¡¡do¡¡with¡¡