tg.wizardfirstrule

　at　the　old　man。　〃Zedd；　I　promise　I　will　remember　your　lesson。　I　won’t　let　you　down。　I　won’t　let　all　those　people　who　died　be　forgotten。〃
　
　Zedd　smiled　and　gave　Richard’s　back　an　affectionate　rub。
　
　The　two　friends　sat　in　silence；　sharing　the　stillness　of　the　night　and　the　quiet　of　each　other’s　understanding；　thinking　about　what　they　could　not　know：　what　was　to　e。
　
　Richard　thought　about　what　needed　to　be　done；　about　Panis
　
　Rahl；　and　about　Darken　Rahl。　He　thought　about　how　hopeless　everything　seemed。　Think　about　the　solution；　he　told　himself；　not　the　problem；　you　are　the　Seeker。
　
　〃I　need　you　to　do　something；　wizard。　I　think　it　is　time　for　us　to　disappear。　Rahl　has　followed　us　long　enough。　What　can　you　do　about　that　cloud？〃
　
　〃You　know；　I　think　you’re　right。　I　only　wish　I　knew　how　it　was　hooked　to　you；　so　I　could　unhook　it；　but　I　can’t　figure　it　out
　
　So；　I　will　have　to　do　something　else。〃　He　contemplatively　drew　his　finger　and　thumb　down　the　sharp　sides　of　his　jaw。　〃Has　it
　
　rained；　or　been　overcast　since　it　first　started　following　you？〃’
　
　Richard　thought　back；　trying　to　remember　every　day。　Most　of　the　time　he　had　been　in　a　fog　over　his　father’s　murder。　It　seemed　so　long　ago。　〃The　night　before　I　found　the　snake　vine；　it　rained　in　the　Ven；　but　by　the　time　I　got　there；　it　had　cleared　off。　No；　no　rain。　I　don’t　remember　it　being　cloudy　since　my　father’s　murder。　At　least；　nothing　more　than　a　few　high；　thin　clouds。　What　does　that　mean？〃
　
　〃Well；　it　means　I　think　there　is　a　way　to　fool　the　cloud；　even　if　I　can’t　unhook　it。　Since　the　sky　has　been　clear　all　that　time；　that　means　Rahl　probably　has　been　responsible。　He　has　moved　the　other　clouds　away　so　he　could　easily　find　this　one。　Simple；　but　effective。〃
　
　〃How　could　he　move　the　clouds　away？〃
　
　〃He　put　a　spell　on　this　one　to　repel　other　clouds；　and　somehow　hooked　this　one　to　you。〃
　
　〃Then　why　don’t　you　put　a　stronger　spell　on　it　to　attract　other　clouds；　before　he　realizes　it；　it　will　be　lost；　and　he　won’t　be　able　to　find　it　to　try　to　outdo　your　magic。　If　he　does　use　stronger　magic　to　move　the　clouds　away　to　find　this　one；　he　won’t　know　what　you　have　done；　and　the　stronger　spell　that　pushes　the　clouds　away　will　break　the　hook。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　him　an　incredulous　look；　his　eyes　blinked。　〃Bags；　Richard；　you　have　gotten　it　exactly　right！　My　boy；　I　think　you　would　make　an　excellent　wizard。〃
　
　〃No；　thanks。　I　already　have　one　impossible　job。〃
　
　Zedd　drew　back　a　little　and　frowned；　but　didn’t　say　anything。　His　thin　hand　reached　into　his　robes　and　pulled　out　a　rock；　tossing　it　on　the　ground　in　front　of　them。　He　stood　and　his　fingers　spun　around　in　a　circle　over　the　little　rock　until；　suddenly；　it　popped　into　a　large　rock。
　
　〃Zedd！　That’s　your　cloud　rock！〃
　
　〃Actually；　my　boy；　it’s　a　wizard’s　rock。　My　father　gave　it　to　me；　long　ago。〃
　
　The　wizard’s　finger　stirred　faster　and　faster　until　light　came　forth；　sparkles　and　colors；　swirling　around。　He　continued　to　stir；　mixing　and　blending　the　light。　There　was　no　sound；　only　the　pleasant　smell　of　a　spring　rain。　At　last　the　wizard　seemed　satisfied。
　
　〃Step　up　on　the　rock；　my　boy。〃
　
　Unsure　at　first；　Richard　stepped　into　the　light。　It　tingled　and　felt　warm　against　his　skin；　as　if　he　were　lying　in　the　hot　summer　sun　without　clothes；　after　a　swim。　He　let　himself　bask　in　the　warm；　safe　feeling；　gave　himself　over　to　it。　His　hands　floated　outward　from　his　sides　until　they　were　horizontal。　He　tilted　his　head　back；　took　deep　breaths；　and　closed　his　eyes。　It　felt　wondrous；　like　floating　in　water；　only　he　was　floating　in　light。　Exhilaration　soaked　through　him。　His　mind　felt　a　buoyant；　timeless　connection　to　everything　around　him。　He　was　one　with　the　trees；　the　grass；　the　bugs；　the　birds；　the　animals　all　around；　the　water；　the　very　air　itself；　not　a　separate　being；　but　part　of　a　whole。　He　understood　the　interconnection　of　everything　in　a　new　way；　saw　himself　as　inconsequential　and　empowered　at　the　same　time。　He　saw　the　world　through　the　eyes　of　all　the　creatures　around　him。　It　was　a　shocking；　marvelous　insight。　He　let　himself　soar　into　a　bird　that　flew　overhead；　saw　the　world　through　its　eyes；　hunted　with　it；　hungry　and　needful；　for　mice；　watched　the　campfire　below；　the　people　sleeping。
　
　Richard　let　his　identity　scatter　to　the　wind。　He　became　no　one　and　everyone；　felt　the　heat　of　their　needs；　smelled　their　fear；　tasted　their　joy；　understood　their　desires；　and　then　let　it　all　melt　away　into　nothingness；　until　there　was　a　void　where　he　stood；　alone　in　the　universe；　the　only　living　thing；　the　only　thing　existing　at　all。　Then　he　let　the　light　flood　through　him；　light　that　brought　forth　the　others　that　had　used　this　very　rock：　Zedd；　Zedd’s　father；　and　the　wizards　before　that；　for　untold　years；　thousands　of　years；　one　and　all。　Their　essence　flowed　through　him；　shared　themselves　with　him　as　tears　streamed　down　his　cheeks　at　the　wonder　of　it　all。
　
　Zedd’s　hands　sprang　forward；　loosing　his　magic　dust。　It　swirled　about　Richard；　glittering　fluidly；　until　he　was　at　the　center　of　its　vortex。　The　sparkles　tightened　their　rotation　and　gathered　at　his　chest。　With　a　tinkling　sound　like　a　crystal　chandelier　in　the　wind；　the　dust　climbed　away　into　the　sky　as　if　climbing　a　kite　string；　taking　the　sound　with　it　as　it　went；　higher　and　higher；　until　it　reached　the　cloud。　The　cloud　took　in　the　magic　dust　and　was　lit　from　within　by　roiling　colors。　All　across　the　horizon　lightning　flashed；　ragged　streaks　ripping　this　way　and　that；　called　forth；　eager；　expectant。
　
　All　at　once　the　lightning　stopped；　the　illumination　in　the　cloud　faded　and　was　gone；　and　the　light　from　the　wizard’s　rock　pulled　itself　inward　until　it　was　extinguished。　There　was　sudden　silence。　Richard　was　there　again；　standing　on　a　simple　rock。　He　looked；　wide…eyed；　at　Zedd’s　smiling　face。
　
　〃Zedd；〃　he　whispered；　〃now　I　know　why　you　stand　on　this　rock　all　the　time。　I’ve　never　felt　anything　like　that　in　my　life。　I　had　no　idea。〃
　
　Zedd　smiled　knowingly。　〃You’re　a　natural；　my　boy。　You　held　your　arms　just　right；　your　head　had　the　proper　tilt；　you　even　arched　your　back　correctly。　You　took　to　it　like　a　duckling　to　a　pond。　You　have　all　the　makings　of　a　fine　wizard。〃　He　leaned　forward；　gleefully。　〃Now　just　try　to　imagine　doing　it　naked。〃
　
　〃It　makes　a　difference？〃　Richard　asked　in　amazement。
　
　〃Of　course。　The　clothes　interfere　with　the　experience。〃　Zedd　put　his　arm。　around　Richard’s　shoulder。　〃Someday　I　will　let　you　try　it。〃
　
　〃Zedd；　why　did　you　have　me　do　that？　It　wasn’t　necessary。　You　could　have　done　it。〃
　
　〃How　do　you　feel　now？〃
　
　〃I　don’t　know。　Different。　Relaxed。　More　clearheaded。　I　guess　not　as　overpowered；　not　as　depressed。〃
　
　〃That’s　why　I　let　you　do　it；　my　friend；　because　you　needed　it。　You　have　had　a　hard　night。　I　can’t　change；　the　problems；　but　I　could　help　you　feel　better。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Zedd。〃
　
　〃Go　get　some　sleep；　it’s　my　watch　now。〃　He　gave　Richard　a　wink。　〃If　you　ever　change　your　mind　about　being　a　wizard；　I　would　be　proud　to　wele　you　into　the　brotherhood。〃
　
　Zedd　help　up　his　hand。　Out　of　the　darkness；　the　piece　of　cheese　he　had　thrown　away　floated　back　to　him
　
　CHAPTER　14
　CHASE　REINED　IN　Fns　horse。　〃Here。　This　will　be　a　good　place。〃
　
　He　led　the　other　three　off　the　trail　through　an　open　tract　of　long…dead　spruce；　the　silver…gray　skeletons　standing　bare　of　all　but　a　few　branches　and　an　occasional　wisp　of　dull　green　moss。　The　soft　ground　was　littered　with　the　rotting　corpses　of　the　former　monarchs。　Brown　bog　weed；　its　broad；　flat　leaves　laid　down　in　haphazard　fashion　by　past　storms；　looked　like　a　tangled　sea　of　dead　snakes　underfoot。
　
　The　horses　picked　their。　way　carefully　among　the　tangle。　Warm　air；　heavy　with　humidity；　carried　the　fetid　smell　of　decay。　A　fog　of　mosquitoes　followed　them　as　they　went；　the　only　things　alive　as　far　as　Richard　could　tell。　As　open　as　this　place　was；　little　brightness　was　offered　by　the　sky；　as　a　thick；　uniform　overcast　of　clouds　hung　oppressively　close　to　the　ground。　Trailers　of　mist　dragged　across　the　silver　spikes　of　the　trees　that　remained　standing；　leaving　them　wet　and　slick。
　
　Chase　led　the　way　for　Zedd　and　then　Kahlan；　with　Richard　following　behind；　watching　over　them　as　they　twisted　their　way　along。　Visibility　was　limited　to　less　than　a　few　hundred　feet；　and　even　though　Chase　didn’t　seem　to　be　concerned；　Richard　kept　a　sharp　lookout；　anything　could　sneak　up　close　before　they　would　be　able　to　see　it。　All　four　swatted　at　the　mosquitoes；　and　except　for　Zedd；　they　kept　their　cloaks　tight　for　protection。　Zedd；　who　shunned　wearing　a　cloak；　nibbled　on　the　remnants　of　lunch；　looking　about　as　if　on　a　sightseeing　excursion。　Richard　had　an　excellent　…sense　of　direction　but　was　glad　they　had　Chase　to　lead　them。　Everything　in　the　bog　looked　the　same；　and　he　knew　from　experience　how　easy　it　would　be　to　bee　lost。
　
　Since　Richard　had　stood　on　the　wizard’s　rock　the　night　before；　he　felt　the　weight　of　his　responsibilities　less　of　a　burden；　and　more　of　an　opportunity　to　be　a　part　of　something　right。　He　didn’t　feel　the　danger　any　less；　but　felt　more　strongly　his　need　to　be　part　of　stopping　Rahl。　He　saw　his　part　in