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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 fo