tg.stone of tears-第209章

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e；　the　Stone　has　the　power　to　banish　any　soul　to　the　infinite　depths　of　the　underworld。　But　if　it　were　used　in　that　way；　through　hate；　through　selfishness；　it　would　feed　power　to　that　side；　and　destroy　the　veil。
　
　The　veil　can　only　be　restored　by　one　with　the　gift　for　both　sides　of　the　magic。　The　Stone　must　be　put　back　where　it　belongs。
　
　‘We　must　struggle　to　keep　the　other　seals　intact　until　the　day　when　one　such　as　you　can　restore　this　lock　while　there　is　still　time。　Meanwhile；　the　Keeper　gains　strength　here。　His　minions　struggle　to　break　the　other　seals。　There　are　other　ways　to　free　the　Keeper。’
　
　‘Ann　。。。　are　you　sure　about　me？　Maybe　。。。’
　
　‘You　proved　it　just　tonight；　by　walking　through　that　shield。　Our　shields　are　made　of　Additive　Magic。　The　only　way　for　you　to　penetrate　it　was　for　your　Han　to　use　Subtractive。’
　
　‘Maybe　my　Han；　my　Additive　Magic；　is　just　stronger。’
　
　‘When　you　came　through　the　Valley　of　the　Lost；　you　would　have　been　drawn　to　the　towers。　To　both　towers。　Am　I　right？’
　
　‘I　could　have　just　e　across　them　by　accident。’
　
　She　let　out　a　tired　sigh。　The　towers　were　created　by　wizards　who　had　both　kinds　of　power。　In　the　white　tower；　there　is　white　sand。　Sorcerer’s　sand。　I　doubt　you　would　have　taken　any。’
　
　That　doesn’t　prove　anything。　And　what　is　sorcerer’s　sand？’
　
　‘Sorcerer’s　sand　is　extremely　valuable；　nearly　priceless。　It　is　only　gathered　by　chance　happenings　across　the　tower。　Sorcerer’s　sand　is　the　crystallized　bones　of　the　wizards　who　gave　their　life　into　the　towers。　It’s　a　sort　of　distilled　magic。　It　gives　power　to　spells　drawn　with　it　…　good；　and　evil。　The　proper　spell　drawn　in　white　sorcerer’s　sand　can　invoke　the　Keeper。
　
　‘You　took；　instead；　some　of　the　black　sand；　did　you　not？’
　
　‘Well；　yes。　I　just　wanted　a　little　bit；　that’s　all。’
　
　She　nodded。　‘Just　a　little　bit。　Richard；　no　wizard　since　the　towers　were　built　has　been　able　to　gather　any　black　sorcerer’s　sand。　It　cannot　be　taken　from　a　tower　by　any　but　those　with　Subtractive　Magic。　Guard　that　black　sand　with　your　life。　It’s　more　valuable　than　you　can　imagine。’
　
　‘Why？　What　will　it　do？’
　
　‘Black　sorcerer’s　sand　is　the　counter　to　the　white。　They　nullify　each　other。　The　black；　even　one　grain　of　it；　will　contaminate　a　spell　drawn　to　invoke　the　Keeper。　It　will　destroy　the　spell。　A　spoonful　of　it　is　a　weapon　worth　kingdoms。’
　
　‘Still；’　he　said；　‘it　could　just　be　that　…’
　
　The　last　wizards　born　with　both　kinds　of　magic　invested　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　with　their　magic。　The　prophets　of　that　time　knew　one　would　be　born　again　with　both　sides　of　the　magic；　a　war　wizard；　and　so　they　created；　too；　the　Hagen　Woods；　and　the　mriswith。　One　born　with　the　Subtractive　would　be　drawn　to　that　place。　Drawn　to　do　battle　there。
　
　The　collar　keeps　the　Additive　gift　from　killing　you。　The　Hagen　Woods　provide　an　outlet　for　the　other　side　of　your　power。　It　is　something　the　Sisters　cannot　provide。’
　
　‘But　I　used　the　Sword　of　Truth。’　His　voice　sounded　to　him　like　a　plea　into　a　gale。　‘It　was　the　sword。’
　
　The　Sword　of　Truth　was　also　created　by　wizards　with　the　gift　for　both　sides　of　the　magic。　Only　one　born　the　same　could　bring　out　the　full　range　of　its　magic。　Only　you　can　use　the　sword　to　its　full　potential。　And　you　have　not　done　so　yet。
　
　‘It　is　an　aid　to　you；　but　even　so；　you　do　not　need　it　to　kill　the　mriswith。　Your　gift　is　enough。　If　you　do　not　believe　me；　leave　your　sword；　and　go　into　the　Hagen　Woods　with　just　your　knife。　You　will　still　kill　the　mriswith。’
　
　‘Others　have　used　this　blade。　They　didn’t　even　have　the　gift；　much　less　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　They　were　not　truly　using　the　sword’s　magic。　The　blade　was　made　for　you。　It’s　an　aid；　much　as　prophecy　is　an　aid；　much　as　the　mriswith　are　an　aid；　sent　down　through　time。’
　
　‘I　don’t　think　I　could　be　one　of　these　war　wizards。’
　
　‘Do　you　eat　meat？’
　
　‘What　does　that　have　do　do　with　anything？’
　
　‘You　are　a　child　of　balance。　Wizards　must　balance　themselves；　the　things　they　do；　their　power。　War　wizards　rarely　eat　meat。　Their　abstinence　is　a　balance　for　the　killing　they　sometimes　must　do。’
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　Ann；　but　I　just　can’t　believe　I　have　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　That’s　why　you　are　such　a　danger。　Every　time　you　encounter　magic；　your　Han　learns　more　about　how　to　protect　you；　to　serve　you；　but　you　are　not　aware　that　it　is　learning。　The　Rada’Han　helps　it　grow；　though　you’re　not　aware　of　the　process。
　
　‘You　do　things　without　knowing　the　importance；　or　the　reason；　like　when　you　were　drawn　to　the　black　sorcerer’s　sand　and　took　it；　or　when　you　took　the　round　skrin　bone　from　Adie。’
　
　Richard’s　brow　pulled　together。　‘You　know　Adie；　too？’
　
　‘Yes；　she　helped　your　father　and　me　get　through　the　pass；　so　we　could　retrieve　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。’
　
　‘What　round　bone　are　you　talking　about？’
　
　Richard　saw　the　slightest　twitch　of　alarm　in　her　eyes。
　
　‘Adie　had　a　round　bone；　carved　all　over　with　beasts。　It’s　an　object　of　great　power。　Your　Subtractive　Magic　would　have　drawn　you　to　it。’
　
　Richard　remembered　seeing　the　round　bone　on　a　high　shelf。　‘I　saw　such　a　thing　at　her　house；　but　I　didn’t　take　it。　I　wouldn’t　take　something　that　didn’t　belong　to　me。　Maybe　that　means　I　don’t　really　have　Subtractive　Magic。’
　
　She　straightened。　‘No；　you　noticed　it。　The　fact　that　you　didn’t　take　it　means　only　that　since　you　did　not　have　the　Rada’Han　on　yet；　your　power　had　not　developed　enough　to　draw　you　to　the　skrin　bone；　the　way　it　drew　you　to　the　black　sand。’
　
　Richard　hesitated。　‘Is　this　some　kind　of　problem？’
　
　She　smiled。　It　looked　forced　to　him。　‘No。　Adie　would　protect　that　bone　with　her　life。　She　knows　how　important　it　is。　You　can　recover　it　in　the　future。’
　
　‘What　does　it　do？’
　
　‘It　helps　protect　the　veil。　When　used　by　a　war　wizard；　like　you；　with　both　powers；　it　invokes　the　skrin。　The　skrin　are　a　force　that　helps　keep　the　worlds　separated。　You　might　say　they　are　guardians　of　the　boundary　between　worlds。’
　
　‘What　if　the　wrong　person　got　their　hands　on　it？　A　person　wishing　to　help　the　Keeper？’
　
　She　pulled　on　his　shirt；　urging　him　up。　‘You　worry　too　much；　Richard。　I　have　work　to　do。　You　must　leave　me　to　it；　now。　Do　your　best；　child；　and　study。　Learn　to　touch　your　Han；　to　get　control　of　it。　You　must　learn　if　you　are　to　be　of　any　help　to　the　Creator。’
　
　Richard　turned　back　to　her。　She　was　staring　off。
　
　Ann；　why　does　the　Keeper　want　the　world　of　the　living？　What　will　it　gain　him？　What　is　the　purpose？’
　
　Her　answer　came　in　a　soft；　distant　voice。　‘Death　is　the　antithesis　of　life。　The　Keeper　exists　to　consume　the　living。　His　hatred　of　life　has　no　bounds。　His　hatred　is　as　eternal　as　his　prison　of　death。’
　
　
　CHAPTER　62
　
　Richard　was　in　a　world　of　his　own　as　he　headed　for　the　stone　bridge。　He　had　been　cloistered　in　his　room　for　days；　thinking。　When　the　Sisters　came　to　give　him　his　lessons；　he　put　in　only　a　halfhearted　effort。　He　now　feared　he　just　might　touch　his　Han。
　
　Warren　was　busy　day　and　night　in　the　vaults；　checking　what　Richard　had　told　him　and　looking　for　more　information。　There　had　to　be　at　least　some　truth　to　what　the　Prelate　had　told　him　…　why　else　would　the　Keeper　not　yet　have　used　the　gateway；　if　he　could。
　
　He　needed　to　go　for　a　walk。　He　felt　as　if　his　head　were　about　to　burst。　He　just　wanted　to　be　away　from　the　palace　for　a　while。
　
　Pasha　suddenly　appeared　at　his　side。　‘I’ve　been　looking　for　you。’
　
　He　stared　ahead　as　he　walked。　‘Why？’
　
　‘I　just　wanted　to　be　with　you。’
　
　‘Well；　I’m　going　for　a　walk　in　the　country。’
　
　She　shrugged。　‘I　wouldn’t　mind　a　walk。　May　I　e　along？’
　
　Richard　looked　over。　She　was　in　her　wispy　maroon　dress；　the　one　with　the　V…shaped　neckline。　The　day　was　chilly。　At　least　she　had　on　a　useful…looking　violet　cloak。　She　was　wearing　big　gold　loop　earrings。　Her　belt　matched　her　necklace；　with　the　same　kind　of　gold　medallions。　She　looked　alluring　in　the　outfit；　but　they　weren’t　exactly　hiking…in…the…country　clothes。
　
　‘Are　you　wearing　those　useless　slippers？’
　
　She　held　a　foot　out　to　show　him　her　tooled　leather　boots。　‘I　had　them　made　special；　just　so　I　could　go　for　walks　with　you。’
　
　Made　special；　he　grumbled　to　himself。　Richard　remembered　how　hurt　she　had　been　that　time　he　had　told　her　that　the　blue　dress　didn’t　bee　her。　He　didn’t　want　to　hurt　her　feelings　by　sending　her　away。　She　was　only　trying　to　please　him。　Maybe；　he　thought；　the　pany　of　a　smiling　face　would　do　him　good。
　
　‘Well；　all　right　then。　I　guess　you　can　e　along；　as　long　as　you　don’t　think　I’m　going　to　entertain　you　in　conversation。’
　
　She　grinned　and　took　his　arm。　‘I’d　be　happy　just　to　walk　with　you。’
　
　At　least　having　Pasha　on　his　arm　kept　most　of　the　women　away　from　him　as　they　passed　through　the　city。　The　ones　who　did　boldly　approach　earned　a　glare　from　Pasha。　The　ones　who　braved　the　glare　earned　something　else：　a　touch　of　her　Han。　They　yelped　from　the　invisible　pinch　and　made　themselves　scarce。
　
　Richard　understood；　now；　why　the　palace　was　br