tg.wizardfirstrule

free。　Zedd　leaned　closer。　〃Now；　I　will　show　you　the　most　important　thing　about　the　sword；　but　to　do　so　I　need　you　to　briefly　abdicate　your　post　as　Seeker；　and　allow　me　to　name　Kahlan　Seeker。〃
　
　Kahlan　gave　Zedd　a　suspicious　glare。　〃I　don’t　want　to　be　Seeker。〃　〃Just　for　the　purpose　of　demonstration；　dear　one。〃　He　motioned　for　Richard　to　give　her　the　sword。　She　hesitated　before　taking　it　in　both　hands。　The　weight　was　unfortable；　and　she　allowed　the　point　to　lower　until　it　rested　on　the　grassy　ground。　Zedd　waved　his　hands　over　her　head　with　a　flourish。　〃Kahlan　Amnell；　I　name　you　Seeker。〃　She　continued　to　give　him　the　same　suspicious　stare。　Zedd　put　his　finger　under　her　chin；　tilting　her　head　up。　His　eyes　had　a　fierce　intensity。　He　put　his　face　close　to　hers；　speaking　in　a　low　voice。
　
　〃When　I　left　the　Midlands　with　this　sword；　Darken　Rahl　used　his　magic　to　place　the　larger　of　these　two　trees　here；　to　mark　me；　to　be　able　to　e　for　me　at　a　time　of　his　choosing。　So　he　could　kill　me。　The　same　Darken　Rahl　who　had　Dennee　killed。〃　Her　countenance　became　darker。　〃The　same　Darken　Rahl　who　hunts　you；　to　kill　you　like　he　killed　your　sister。〃　Hate　flared　in　her　eyes。　Her　teeth　clenched；　making　the　muscles　in　her　strong　jaw　line　stand　out。　The　Sword　of　Truth　rose　from　the　ground。　Zedd　stepped　behind　her。　〃This　tree　is　his。　You　must　stop　him。〃
　
　The　blade　flashed　through　the　autumn　air　with　speed　and　power　Richard　could　scarcely　believe。　The　arc　of　its　sweep　went　through　the　larger　tree　with　a　loud　crack；　like　a　thousand　twigs　snapping　at　once。　Splinters　flew　everywhere。　The　tree　seemed　to　hang　in　the　air　a　moment；　then　dropped　down　next　to　the　ragged　stump　before　toppling　over　with　a　crash。　Richard　knew　it　would　have　taken　him　at　least　ten　blows　with　a　good　axe　to　have　felled　the　maple。
　
　Zedd　slipped　the　sword　from　Kahlan’s　hands　as　she　sank　to　her　knees　and　rocked　back　on　her　heels；　putting　her　hands　over　her　face　with　a　moan。　Instantly；　Richard　crouched　at　her　side；　steadying　her。
　
　〃Kahlan；　what’s　wrong？〃
　
　〃I’m　all　right。〃　She　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　as　he　helped　her　to　her　feet。　Her　face　was　pale　as　she　forced　a　small　smile。　〃But　I　resign　my　post　as　Seeker。〃
　
　Richard　spun　to　the　wizard。　〃Zedd；　what　is　this　nonsense？　Darken　Rahl　didn’t　put　that　tree　there。　I’ve　seen　you　water　and　care　for　those　two　trees。　If　you　held　a　knife　to　my　throat；　I’d　say　you　planted　them　there　as　a　memorial　to　your　wife　and　daughter。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　only　a　small　smile。　〃Very　good；　Richard。　Here　is　your　sword。　You　are　Seeker　again。　Now；　my　boy；　you　cut　down　the　little　tree；　and　then　I　will　explain。〃
　
　Annoyed；　Richard　took　the　sword　in　both　hands；　feeling　the　anger　surge　through　him。　He　gave　a　mighty　swing　at　the　remaining　tree。　The　tip　of　the　blade　whistled　as　it　sliced　through　the　air。　Just　before　the　blade　hit　the　tree；　it　simply　stopped；　as　if　the　very　air　about　it　had　bee　too　thick　to　allow　it　to　pass。
　
　Richard　stepped　back　in　surprise。　He　looked　at　the　sword；　and　then　tried　again。　Same　thing。　The　tree　was　untouched。　He　glared　over　at　Zedd；　who　stood　with　his　arms　folded　and　a　smirk　on　his　face。
　
　Richard　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。　〃All　right；　what’s　going　on。〃
　
　Zedd　lifted　his　eyebrows　with　an　innocent　expression。　〃Did　you　see　how　easily　Kahlan　cut　through　the　bigger　tree？〃　Richard　frowned。　Zedd　smiled。　〃It　could　just　as　well　have　been　iron。　The　blade　would　have　cut　through　it　the　same。　But　you　are　stronger　than　she；　and　you　couldn’t　even　scratch　the　smaller　tree。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Zedd；　I　noticed。〃
　
　Zedd’s　brows　wrinkled　in　mock　bewilderment。　〃And　why　do　you　think　that　is？〃
　
　Richard’s　irritation　melted。　This　was　the　way　Zedd　often　taught　lessons；　by　making　him　e　up　with　the　answer　on　his　own。　〃I　would　say　it　has　something　to　do　with　intent。　She　thought　the　tree　was　evil；　I　didn’t。〃
　
　Zedd　held　up　a　bony　finger。　〃Very　good；　my　boy！〃
　
　Kahlan　knitted　her　fingers　together。　〃Zedd；　I　don’t　understand　I　destroyed　the　tree；　but　it　wasn’t　evil。　It　was　innocent。〃
　
　〃That；　dear　one；　is　the　point　of　the　demonstration。　Reality　isn’t　relevant。　Perception　is　everything。　If　you　think　it　is　the　enemy；　you　can　destroy　it；　whether　true　or　not。　The　magic　interprets　only　your　perception。　It　won’t　allow　you　to　harm　someone　you　think　innocent；　but　it　will　destroy　whoever　you　perceive　to　be　the　enemy；　within　limits。　Only　what　you　believe；　and　not　the　truth　of　your　thoughts；　is　the　determining　factor。〃
　
　a　Richard　was　a　little　overwhelmed。　〃That　leaves　no　room　for　error。　But　what　if　you　aren’t　sure？〃
　
　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃You　had　better　be　sure；　my　boy；　or　you　ate　liable　to　find　yourself　in　a　lot　of　trouble。　The　magic　could　read　things　in　your　mind　you　are　not　even　aware　of。　It　could　go　either　way。　You　could　kill　a　friend；　or　fail　to　kill　a　foe。〃
　
　Richard　drummed　his　fingers　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword；　thinking。　He　watched　the　setting　sun　offer　small　golden　flashes　through　the　trees　to　the　west。　Overhead；　the　snakelike　cloud　had　taken　on　a　reddish　cast　on　one　side；　deepening　into　darker　purple　on　the　other。　It　didn’t　really　matter；　he　decided。　He　knew　who　he　was　after；　and　there　was　no　doubt　at　all　in　his　mind　about　him　being　the　enemy。　None　Whatsoever。
　
　〃There’s　one　more　thing。　One　more　important　thing；〃　the　wizard　said。　〃When　you　use　the　sword　against　an　enemy；　there　is　a　price　to　pay。　Is　that　not　true；　dear　one？〃　He　looked　to　her。　Kahlan　nodded　and　lowered　her　eyes　to　the　ground。　〃The　more　powerful　the　enemy；　the　higher　the　price。　I　am　sorry　it　was　necessary　to　do　that　to　you；　Kahlan；　but　it　is　the　most　important　lesson　Richard　must　learn。〃　She　gave　him　a　small　smile；　letting　him　know　that　she　understood　the　need。　He　turned　back　to　Richard。
　
　〃We　both　know　that　sometimes；　killing　is　the　only　choice；　that　it　has　to　be　classified　as　the　right　thing　to　do。　I　know　you　do　not　need　to　be　told　that　any　time　you　kill；　though；　it　is　a　terrible　thing。　You　live　with　it　always；　and　once　done；　it　cannot　be　undone。　You　pay　a　price　within　yourself；　it　diminishes　you　for　having　done　it。〃；
　
　Richard　nodded；　it　still　made　him　uneasy　that　he　had　killed　the　man　on　Blunt　Cliff。　He　wasn’t　sorry　about　what　he　had　done；　he　had　had　no　time　or　other　choice；　but　in　his　mind　he　still　saw　the　man’s　face　as　he　went　over　the　edge。
　
　Zedd’s　eyes　became　intense。　〃It　is　different　when　you　kill　with　the　Sword　of　Truth；　because　of　the　magic。　The　magic　has　done　your　bidding；　and　it　extracts　a　price。　There　is　no　such　thing　as　pure　good　or　pure　evil；　least　of　all　in　people。　In　the　best　of　us　there　are　thoughts　or　deeds　that　are　wicked；　and　in　the　worst　of　us；　at　least　some　virtue。　An　adversary　is　not　one　who　does　loathsome　acts　for　their　own　sake。　He　always　has　a　reason　that　to　him　is　justification。　My　cat　eats　mice。　Does　that　make　him　bad？　I　don’t　think　so；　and　the　cat　doesn’t　think　so；　but　I　would　bet　the　mice　have　a　different　opinion。　Every　murderer　thinks　the　victim　needed　killing。
　
　〃I　know　you　don’t　want　to　believe　this；　Richard；　but　you　must　listen。　Darken　Rahl　does　the　things　he　does；　because　he　thinks　them　right；　just　as　you　do　the　things　you　do　because　you　think　them　right。　The　two　of　you　are　more　the　same　in　that　than　you　think。　You　want　revenge　on　him　for　killing　your　father；　and　he　wants　revenge　on　me　for　killing　his。　In　your　eyes　he　is　evil；　but　to　his　eyes；　you　are　the　one　who　is　evil。　It　is　all　just　perception。　Whoever　wins　thinks　he　was　in　the　right。　The　loser　will　always　believe　himself　wronged。　It　is　the　same　as　with　the　magic　of　Orden：　the　power　is　simply　there；　one　use　wins　over　the　other。〃
　
　〃The　same？　Have　you　lost　your　mind？　How　could　you　think　we　are　the　same　in　any　way！　He　craves　power！　He　would　chance　destroying　the　world　to　get　it！　I　don’t　want　power；　I　just　wanted　to　be　left　alone！　He　murdered　my　father！　He　ripped　his　guts　out！　He’s　trying　to　kill　us　all！　How　can　you　saw　we　are　alike？　You　make　it　sound　like　he　isn’t　even　dangerous！〃
　
　〃Haven’t　you　been　paying　attention　to　what　I　have　just　been　teaching　you？　I　said　you　are　the　same　in　that　you　both　think　you　are　right。　And　that　makes　him　more　dangerous　than　you　can　imagine　because　in　every　other　way　you　are　different。　Darken　Rahl　savors　bleeding　the　life　from　people。　He　hungers　for　their　pain。　Your　sense　of　right　has　bounds；　his　has　none。　His　is　twisted　into　an　all…consuming　lust　to　torture　all　opposition　into　submission；　and　he　considers　any　who　don’t　rush　to　bow　before　him　as　opposition。　His　conscience　was　clear　when　he　used　his　bare　hands　to　calmly　extract　your　father’s　guts　while　he　was　still　breathing。　He　found　pleasure　in　the；　doing　because　his　distorted　sense　of　right　gives　him　license。　That　is　how　he　is　very　different　from　you。　That　is　how　dangerous　he　is。〃　He　pointed　back　at　Kahlan。　〃Weren’t　you　paying　attention？　Didn’t　you　see　what　she　was　able　to　do　with　the　sword？　And　how　did　she　do　what　you　could　not？　Hmm？〃
　
　〃Perception；〃　Richard　said；　in　a　much　quieter　voice。　〃She　was　able　to　do　it　because　she　thought　she　was　right。〃
　
　Zedd　thrust　a　finger　in　the　air。　〃Aha！　Perception　is　what　makes　the　threat　even　more　dangerous。〃　The　wizard’s　finger　came　down　and　jabbed　Richard’s　chest　with