tg.stone of tears

　
　Richard　shifted　uneasily　in　his　saddle。　‘If　there’s　a　gap；　then　why　can’t　people　cross。’
　
　‘It’s　only　a　lessening　in　the　full　strength　of　the　line。　To　each　side；　all　the　way　across　the　hills　and　mountains；　to　land’s　end；　and　beyond；　out　into　the　sea　where　it　somewhere　diminishes；　Perdition’s　line　is　impenetrable。　To　enter　is　to　be　claimed　by　the　storms　of　spells；　the　magic。　Any　who　enter　would　be　killed；　or　worse　…　they　could　wander　the　brume　forever。
　
　‘Here；　in　this　valley；　the　deadlock　prevented　the　pletion　of　the　last　tower　on　each　side　that　would　have　sealed　the　line。　But　the　spells　wander　and　drift　between　the　gap；　like　thunderclouds　drifting　on　the　wind；　clashing　and　ing　together　in　places。　Because　of　the　weakness　in　this　place；　there　is　a　maze　that　can　be　passed　through　by　those　with　the　gift。　The　clear　passages　are　always　shifting；　and　the　spells　cannot　always　be　seen。　They　must　be　felt；　with　the　gift。　Still；　it　is　not　easy。’
　
　‘So　that’s　why　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　can　make　it　through？　Because　they　have　the　gift？’
　
　‘Yes。　But　only　twice　at　most。　The　magic　learns　to　find　you。　Long　ago；　Sisters　who　went　through　to　the　New　World　and　returned　were　sent　again；　but　none　ever　returned　a　second　time。’　Her　gaze　left　his；　seeking　the　distant　emptiness。　‘They　are　in　there；　never　to　be　found；　or　saved。　The　Towers　of　Perdition　and　its　storms　of　magic　claimed　them。’
　
　Richard　waited　until　her　eyes　came　back　to　him。　‘Perhaps；　Sister；　they　became　disaffected；　and　chose　not　to　return。　How　would　you　know？’
　
　Her　expression　sobered。　‘We　know。　Some　who　have　been　through　have　seen　them’　…　she　inclined　her　head　toward　the　shimmering　distance　…　‘in　there。　I；　myself；　saw　several。’
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　Sister　Verna。’　Richard　thought　about　Zedd。　Kahlan　might　find　him；　and　tell　him　what　had　happened。　He　had　to　push　away　the　painful　memory　of　Kahlan。　‘So；　a　wizard　could　make　it　through。’
　
　‘Not　a　wizard　of　his　full　power。　After　we　teach　those　with　the　gift　to　control　it；　they　must　be　allowed　to　return　before　their　power　is　fully　developed。　The　whole　purpose　of　the　line　is　to　prevent　wizards　from　getting　through。　The　fully　developed　power　of　a　wizard　would　draw　the　spells　as　a　magnet　draws　iron　filings。　It　is　they　that　the　magic　seeks；　it　is　for　them　that　the　towers　were　built。　They　would　be　lost；　just　as　would　anyone　who　didn’t　have　some　use　of　the　gift　to　feel　the　gaps　in　the　spells。　Too　little；　or　too　much；　and　you　are　lost。　That　is　why　those　who　created　the　line　could　not　plete　it；　the　domain　of　the　spells　from　the　other　side　prevented　them　from　entering。　Their　creation　ended　in　deadlock。’
　
　Richard　felt　his　hopes　sag。　If　Kahlan　carried　out　his　request　to　seek　out　his　old　friend；　Zedd　could　not　do　anything　to　help　him。　Swallowing　back　the　numbing　loss　of　hope；　he　reached　up　and　felt　the　dragon’s　tooth　hanging　on　the　leather　thong　at　his　chest。　‘What　about　going　over？　Could　something　fly　over？’
　
　She　shook　her　head。　The　spells　extend　up　into　the　air；　as　they　extend　out　into　the　sea。　Anything　that　can　fly　cannot　fly　high　enough。’
　
　‘What　about　by　sea？　Could　you　sail　far　enough　out　to　go　around？’
　
　Sister　Verna　shrugged。　‘I　have　heard　tell　that　a　few　times　throughout　the　ages　it　has　been　acplished。　In　my　life　I　have　seen　ships　leave　to　attempt　it；　but　I　have　never　seen　one　return。’
　
　Richard　glanced　back　over　his　shoulder；　but　saw　nothing。　‘Could　。。。　someone　follow　you　through？’
　
　‘One　or　two；　if　they　stayed　close　enough；　as　you　must。　Greater　numbers　would　surely　be　lost。　The　pockets　between　spells　are　not　large　enough　to　allow　many　to　follow。’
　
　Richard　thought　in　silence；　at　last　asking；　‘Why　hasn’t　anyone　destroyed　the　towers；　so　the　spells　could　dissipate？’
　
　‘We’ve　tried。　It　cannot　be　done。’
　
　‘Just　because　you　haven’t　found　a　way；　Sister；　that　doesn’t　mean　it　can’t　be　done。’
　
　She　gave　him　a　sharp　look。　‘The　towers；　and　the　spells；　were　created　with　the　aid　of　not　only　Additive　but　also　Sub…tractive　Magic。’
　
　Subtractive　Magic！　How　could　the　wizards　of　old　have　learned　to　use　Subtractive　Magic？　Wizards　didn’t　have　mand　of　Subtractive　Magic。　But　then；　Darken　Rahl　did。　Richard　gentled　his　tone。　‘How　can　the　towers　keep　the　spells　from　dissipating？’
　
　Sister　Verna　worked　her　thumbs　on　the　reins。　‘Each　tower　has　a　wizard’s　life　force　in　it。’
　
　Despite　the　heat；　Richard　felt　a　chill。　‘You　mean　to　say　that　a　wizard　gave　his　life　force　into　the　towers？’
　
　‘Worse。　Each　tower　contains　the　life　force　of　many　wizards。’
　
　Richard　stared　in　numb　shock　at　the　thought　of　wizards　giving　up　their　lives　to　invest　the　towers　with　their　life　force。　‘How　close　are　the　towers？’
　
　‘It　is　said　some　are　miles　apart；　some　only　yards。　They　are　spaced　according　to　the　fabric　of　lines　of　power　within　the　earth　itself。　We　don’t　understand　the　sense　of　this　alignment。　Since　entering　the　line　to　find　them　would　be　death；　we　don’t　even　know　how　many　towers　there　are。　We　know　of　only　the　few　in　this　valley。’
　
　Richard　squirmed　in　his　saddle。　‘Will　we　see　any　of　the　towers　when　we　cross？’
　
　There’s　no　way　to　tell。　The　gaps　shift　constantly。　Occasionally；　on　the　way　through；　the　openings　take　you　close　to　a　tower。　I　saw　one　on　my　first　journey　through。　Some　Sisters　never　saw　one。　I　hope　never　to　see　another。’
　
　Richard　realized　he　was　gripping　the　hilt　of　his　sword　with　his　left　hand。　The　raised　letters　of　the　word　TRUTH　bit　into　his　flesh。　He　relaxed　his　hand；　releasing　the　hilt。
　
　‘So；　what　can　we　expect　to　see？’
　
　Sister　Verna　broke　her　gaze　into　the　distance　and　redirected　it　to　him。　‘There　are　spells　of　every　sort。　Some　are　spells　of　despair。　To　be　snared　in　one　is　to　have　your　soul　wander　in　despair　for　all　time。　Some　are　spells　of　joy　and　delight；　in　which　one　is　lost　in　enchantment　for　all　time。　Some　are　pure　destruction；　and　will　tear　you　apart。　Some　will　show　you　things　you　fear；　to　make　you　run　into　the　clutches　of　things　that　lurk　behind。　Some　tempt　with　things　you　hope　for。　If　you　give　in　to　the　desire　。。。’　She　leaned　closer　to　him。　‘You　must　stay　close　to　me；　keep　going。　You　must　ignore　any　desire　you　have；　both　fear　and　longing；　to　do　otherwise。　Do　you　understand？’
　
　Richard　finally　nodded。　Sister　Verna　returned　her　gaze　to　the　shimmering　forms。　She　sat　motionless；　watching。　In　the　distance；　beyond　the　wavering　light；　he　thought　he　saw　thun…derheads；　dark　and　ominous；　drifting　across　the　horizon。　He　felt　more　than　heard　their　thunder。　Somehow；　he　knew　it　wasn’t　clouds；　but　magic。　When　Bonnie　tossed　her　head；　Richard　gave　her　a　reassuring　pat　on　her　neck。
　
　After　watching　awhile；　he　looked　over　to　the　Sister。　She　sat　still　and　tense。
　
　‘What　are　you　waiting　for；　Sister？　Courage？’
　
　She　answered　without　moving。　‘Exactly。　I　am　waiting　for　courage；　child。’
　
　He　felt　no　anger　this　time　at　her　calling　him　‘child；’　but　rather　that　it　might　be　an　appropriate　characterization；　as　far　as　his　abilities　were　concerned。
　
　In　a　whisper；　and　still　without　looking　away　from　the　sunbaked　inferno　ahead；　she　went　on。　‘You　were　still　in　swaddling　clothes　when　I　came　through；　but　I　remember　every　detail　as　if　it　happened　yesterday。　Yes；　I　am　waiting　for　courage。’
　
　He　gave　Bonnie　a　squeeze　with　his　legs；　urging　her　ahead。　‘The　sooner　we　start；　the　sooner　we’re　through。’
　
　‘Or　lost。’　She　walked　her　horse　after　him。　‘So　anxious　to　be　lost；　Richard？’
　
　‘I’m　already　lost；　Sister。’
　
　
　CHAPTER　29
　
　They　were　confronted　by　steps；　twenty　strides　wide；　that　revealed　themselves　for　what　they　were　only　at　the　far　right；　where　the　wind　had　funneled　down　next　to　the　sweeping；　pink　marble　balustrade　and　kept　the　snow　clear。　Pausing　for　only　a　moment　as　she　realized　they　had　reached　her　destination；　Kahlan　set　her　snowshoes　firmly　into　the　snowdrift　that　covered　the　steps；　and　ascended　to　the　portico；　its　fascia　decorated　with　a　row　of　statues　swathed　in　cut　stone　that　mimicked　the　drape　of　cloth　so　well　it　seemed　as　if　it　might　move　in　the　light　breeze。　Ten　white　columns　to　each　side　held　the　massive　entablature　at　a　dizzying　height　above　the　arched　entrance。　Bodies　fallen　in　a　desperate　battle　were　sprawled　atop　one　another　all　over　the　snow…covered　lawns；　and　sat　as　if　in　repose　against　the　walls　of　the　domed　exterior　entrance　hall。
　
　The　ornate　doors；　displaying　delicately　carved　royal　shields　of　the　House　of　Amnell；　held　aloft　by　twin　mountain　lions；　lay　in　splinters　on　the　floor　of　the　vestibule。　Flanking　the　rope…carved　stone　arch　at　the　far　end　stood　life…size　statues　of　Queen　Bernadine　and　King　Wyborn；　each　holding　a　spear　and　shield　in　one　hand；　the　queen　a　sheaf　of　wheat　in　the　other；　and　the　king　a　lamb。　The　queen’s　breasts　were　broken　away；　flakes　of　stone　and　stone　dust　littered　the　rust　colored　marble　tiles。　Both　statues　were　without　their　heads。
　
　With　nearly　numb　fingers；　Kahlan　untied　the　bindings　of　her　snowshoes　and　leaned　them　against　the　queen’s　statue。　Chandalen　followed　her　example　before　following　her　into　the　reception　hall　lined　with　broken　mirrors　and　torn　tapestries。