按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
He didn't bother to look up。 〃She didn't tell me。 But you just did。〃
Richard put the last spoonful in his mouth； and after he swallowed he licked his spoon clean and dropped it in the tin bowl with a clank。
His face； calm and triumphant； came up to the wizard's squinting eyes。 〃Wizard's First Rule；〃 Richard announced with a wisp of a smile。 〃The first step to believing something is wanting to believe it is true 。 。 。 or being afraid it is。〃
〃I told you；〃 Kahlan fumed at Zedd。 〃I told you he would find out。〃
Zedd paid her no attention； his eyes were locked on Richard。
〃I thought about it last night；〃 Richard explained as he set down his bowl。 〃I decided you were right； that you should know what Shota said。 After all； you're a wizard； maybe there's something in it you could help us with to stop Darken Rahl。 I knew you wouldn't rest until you knew what had happened。 I decided I would tell you today； but then I figured you would get it out of Kahlan first； one way or another。〃
Kahlan fell back on the blanket； laughing。
Zedd straightened his back and put his fists on his hips。 〃Bags！ Richard； do you have any idea what you have just done？〃
〃Magic；〃 Richard smiled。 〃A trick； if done properly； is magic。〃 He shrugged。 〃Or so I've been told。〃
Zedd nodded slowly。 〃Indeed。〃 He pointed a thin finger skyward； the sparkle returning to his intense hazel eyes。 〃You have tricked a wizard with his own rule。 Not one of my wizards was ever able to do that。〃 He stepped closer； a grin spreading on his face。 〃Bags； Richard！ You have it！ You have the gift； my boy！ You can be a wizard of the First Order； like me。〃
Richard frowned。 〃I don't want to be a wizard。〃
Zedd ignored his words。 〃You have passed the first test。〃
〃You just said none of the other wizards was able to do it； so how could they be wizards if they couldn't pass the test？〃
Zedd gave him a one…sided smile。 〃They were wizards of the Third Order。 One； Giller； is of the Second Order。 None were able to pass the tests to be a wizard of the First Order。 They didn't have the gift。 Only the calling。〃 Richard made a smirk。 〃It was just a trick。 Don't make something out of it that it wasn't。〃
〃A very special trick。〃 Zedd's eyes narrowed again。 〃I'm impressed。 I'm also very proud of you。〃
〃And how many of these tests are there； if this is the first？〃
Zedd shrugged。 〃Oh； I… don't know。 Maybe a few hundred or so。 But you have the gift； Richard。〃 A shadow of worry passed across his eyes； as if he hadn't expected it。 〃You must learn to control it； or 。 。 。〃 His eyes lit up again。 〃I will teach you。 You really could be a wizard of the First Order。〃
Richard realized he was starting to listen too closely； and shook his head to clear it。 〃I told you； I don't want to be a wizard。〃 He added under his breath； 〃I don't want anything to do with magic ever again when this is over。〃 He realized that Kahlan was staring at him。 He looked from one wide…eyed face to another。 〃It was just a stupid little trick。 Nothing more。〃
〃Just a stupid little trick if done on someone else。 No small trick； if done on a wizard。〃
Richard rolled his eyes。 〃The both of you are 。 。 。〃
Zedd leaned forward eagerly； cutting him off。 〃Can you mand the wind？〃
Richard leaned back a little。 〃Of course …I can；〃 he said； playing along。 He held both hands up to the sky。 〃e to me； brother wind！ Gather about！ Blow a gale for me！〃 He spread his arms dramatically。
Kahlan wrapped her cloak around herself expectantly。 Zedd looked about。 Nothing happened。 The two of them seemed a little disappointed。
〃What's the matter with the two of you？〃 Richard scowled。 〃Did you eat some bad berries？〃
Zedd turned to her。 〃He must learn that later。〃
Kahlan considered what Zedd said； then looked up at Richard。 〃Richard 。 。 。 to be a wizard； it's not an offer made to many。〃。
Zedd scrubbed his hands together。 〃Bags！ I wish I had the books here with me now。 I'd bet a dragon's tooth they have something to say about this。〃 His face darkened。 〃But then there is the matter of the pain 。 。 。 and 。 。 。〃
Richard squirmed unfortably。 〃And just what kind of wizard are you anyway？ You don't even have a beard。〃 Zedd came out of his own thoughts and frowned。 〃What？〃
〃A beard。 Where's your beard？ I've been wondering about it ever since I found out you were a wizard。 Wizards are supposed to have beards； you know。〃 ；
〃Who told you this？〃
〃Well 。 。 。 I don't know。 Everybody knows it。 Wizards are supposed to have beards。 It's mon knowledge。 I'm surprised you don't know it。〃
Zedd made a face as if he had just sucked on a lemon。 〃But I hate beards。 They itch。〃
Richard shrugged。 〃Seems you don't know as much as you think you do about being a wizard； if you don't； even know wizards are supposed to have beards：〃
Zedd folded his arms。 〃A beard is it？〃 He unfolded his arms； and began drawing his fingers and thumb down opposite sides of his chin。 As he drew his fingers repeatedly； whiskers began appearing。 The more he did this； the longer the whiskers grew。 Richard watched； wide…eyed； until a snow white beard reached to the middle of Zedd's chest。
Zedd cocked his head and gave Richard an intent look。 〃Will this do； my boy？〃
Richard realized his mouth was open。 He made it shut； but could only nod。
Zedd scratched his chin and neck。 〃Good。 Now give me your knife； so I can shave this thing off。 It itches like ants。〃
〃My knife？ What do you need my knife for？ Why don't you just make it disappear like you made it appear？〃
Kahlan gave a little laugh； then made her face straight when he glanced at her。
〃It doesn't work that way。 Everyone knows it doesn't work that way；〃 Zedd mocked。 He turned to Kahlan。 〃Doesn't everyone know？ You tell him。〃
〃Magic can only do things that use what is there。 It cannot undo things that have happened。〃
〃I don't understand。〃
Zedd peered at him with sharp eyes。 〃Your first lesson； should you ever decide to bee a wizard。 The three of us all have magic。 It is all Additive Magic。 Additive Magic uses what is there； and adds to it； or uses it somehow。 The magic Kahlan has uses the spark of love in a person； no matter how small； and adds to it until it's changed into something else。 The magic of the Sword of Truth uses your anger； and adds to it； takes power from it； until it bees something else。
〃I do the same thing。 I can use whatever I need in nature to change things。 I can change a bug to a flower； I can change a fear to a monster； I can make a broken bone knit； I can take heat from the air around us and add to it； multiply it； into wizard's fire。 I can make my beard grow。 But； I can't make it ungrow。〃 A rock big as his fist started rising into the air。 〃I can lift something。 I can change it。〃 The rock crushed to dust。
〃Then； you can do anything；〃 Richard whispered。
〃No。 I can lift or crush or move the rock； but I can't make it vanish。 Where would it go？ That's called Subtractive Magic： the undoing of things。 My magic； Kahlan's magic； the sword's magic； is from this world。 All magic from this world is Additive Magic。 Darken Rahl can do any of it I can。〃 Zedd's expression turned dark。 〃Subtractive Magic is from the underworld。 Darken Rahl knows how to use that too。 I don't。〃
〃Is it as powerful as Additive Magic？〃
〃Subtractive Magic is the counter to Additive。 As night is to day。 Yet it is all part of the same thing。 The Magic of Orden is the magic of both； Additive and Subtractive。 It can add to the world； and it can take the world to nothing。 To open the boxes； you must be a master of both magics。 People never worried about it ever happening； because no one was ever able to tap Subtractive Magic。 But Darken Rahl mands it as easily as I mand the Additive。〃
〃And how do you suppose that came to be？〃 Richard asked with a frown。
〃I have no idea。 But it troubles me greatly。〃
Richard drew a deep breath。 〃Well； I still think you are getting worked up over nothing。 All I did was a little trick。〃
Zedd gave him a serious glare。 〃If done on a normal person； it would have been as you say。 But Fm a wizard。 I know how the Wizard's Rules work。 You would not have been able to do this to me； except with magic of your own。 I have taught many to be wizards。 I have had to teach them to do what you have done。 They could not do it without learning it first。 Once in a great while； one is born with the gift。 I was one such as this。 Richard； you have the gift too。 Sooner or later you will have to learn to control it。〃 He put out his hand。 〃Now； give me the knife so I can rid myself of this ridiculous beard。〃
Richard put the knife handle in Zedd's hand。 〃The blade is dull。 I've been digging roots with it。 It's too dull to shave with。〃
〃Really？〃 Zedd pinched the edge of the blade between his thumb and forefinger； drawing them along the length of the knife。 He turned the knife around and held it delicately between his thumb and two fingers。 Richard grimaced at him shaving dry With a light stroke； a swath of beard fell away。
〃You just used Su