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Warren nodded； the smile still on his face。 An exciting experience。’
Adventure is being scared to death； and not knowing if you will live or die； or if the ones you love will live or die。 Adventure is being in trouble you don’t know how to get out of。’
Warren fumbled with the braiding on his sleeve。 ‘I never thought about it like that。’
‘Well； you think on it；’ Richard said； ‘because I’m about to start an adventure。’
‘What are you going to do？’
The less you know； the less adventure you’ll have to worry about。 You just find out the things I need to know。 If the veil is torn； we’re all going to have a never…ending adventure。’
‘Well；’ Warren said with a twinkle in his eye； ‘I found out at least one thing of help； then。’
The Stone of Tears？’
Warren nodded with a grin。 ‘I found out there is no way you could have seen it。 It’s locked behind the veil。 In a way； it’s part of the veil。’
‘Are you sure？ Are you sure I couldn’t have seen it？’
‘Positive。 The Stone of Tears is the seal that keeps the Nameless One locked in his prison of the dead； in the underworld。 He can rule the souls of the dead there with him； but he cannot e to this world。 The Stone of Tears seals him there。’
‘Good；’ Richard said with a relieved sigh。 That’s great； Warren。 Good work。’ He gently gripped Warren’s robe and pulled him closer。 ‘You’re sure。 There’s no way the Stone of Tears could be in this world。’
Warren confidently shook his head。 ‘None。 It’s impossible。 The only way for the Stone of Tears to be in this world would be for it to e through the gateway。’
Richard felt his flesh beginning to tingle。 ‘Gateway？ What’s the gateway？’
‘Well； the gateway is what the name implies。 A passage。 In this case； a passage between the world of the living and the world of the dead。 It’s magic of both worlds； a passage constructed of magic。 The gateway can only be opened with both Additive and Subtractive Magic。 The Nameless One has only Subtractive； since he is in the underworld； so he can’t open the gateway。 The same way someone in this world could not open it； because we have only Additive Magic。’
Bumps were rising on Richard’s arms。 ‘But someone in this world； someone with both forms of magic； could open the gateway？’
‘Well； sure；’ Warren stammered。 ‘If they had the gateway。 But it has been lost for over three thousand years。 It’s gone。’ He gave Richard a self…assured smile。 ‘We’re safe。’
Richard wasn’t smiling。 He grabbed Warren’s robes in both hands and yanked his face close。 ‘Warren； tell me the gateway isn’t called the Magic of Orden。 Tell me the gateway isn’t the three boxes of Orden。’
Warren’s eyes slowly expanded to the size of gold pieces。 ‘Where did you hear that name for it？’ he whispered in a disquieted tone。 ‘I’m the only one in the palace besides the Prelate and two other Sisters who are permitted to read the books that call the gateway by its ancient name。’
Richard gritted his teeth。 ‘What happens if one of the boxes is opened？’
They can’t be opened；’ Warren insisted。 They can’t。 I told you； it takes both kinds of magic； Additive and Subtractive； to open a box。’
Richard shook him。 ‘What happens！’
His eyes still wide； Warren swallowed。 Then the gateway between the worlds is opened。 The veil is breached。 The seal is off the Nameless One。’
And the Stone of Tears would be in this world？’ Warren nodded as Richard tightened his grip on the robes。 ‘And if the box were to be closed； that would close the gateway？ Seal the breach？’
‘No。 Well； yes； but it can only be closed by one with the gift。 It takes the touch of magic to close the gateway。 But if one with the gift closes the box； the gateway； then it ruptures the balance； because he has only Additive Magic； and the Nameless One escapes the underworld。 More correctly； this world would be swallowed into the world of the dead。’
Then how can the box be closed to keep the worlds separated！’
The same way the gateway is opened。 With both Additive and Subtractive Magic。’
And what about the Stone of Tears？’
‘I don’t know。 I would have to study。’
Then you better study fast。’
‘Please；’ Warren whined； ‘you don’t mean that you know where the boxes are。 You haven’t found them； have you？’
‘Found them？ The last time I saw the boxes； one was opened； about to suck my bastard father into the underworld。’
Warren fainted。
CHAPTER 57
Under the impotent rays of the late…day sun； an old woman was spreading wood ash on the ice covering the vast expanse of stairs。 Kahlan walked past； relieved that the old woman didn’t look up to see that the person in the heavy clothes； white fur mantle； and carrying a pack and bow was the Mother Confessor returned to Aydindril。
She was in no mood for starting a celebration tonight。 She was exhausted。 Already； before ing home to the palace； she had climbed up to the Wizard’s Keep on the mountainside； but the Keep was stone cold and dark as death。 The shields were in place； though a Confessor could enter； but no one was inside。
Zedd was not there。
The Keep sat now as the last time she had seen it so many months ago； when she had left to find the missing great wizard。 She had found him； and helped stop the threat from Darken Rahl； but now she needed the great wizard again。
Since leaving the Galean army nearly a month before； she had been struggling to reach Aydindril； and Zedd。 Storms had raged for days at a time。 Passes had been rendered impassable by the weather and snow； forcing them to backtrack and find alternate routes。 It had been a frustrating and tiring journey； but the despair at reaching her goal and not finding Zedd was withering。
Kahlan had made her way through the side streets； avoiding Kings Row。 The palaces on Kings Row housed dignitaries； staffs； and guards of the lands that were represented in Aydindril。 The kings and queens and rulers of those lands stayed in their palaces when they came to address the council。 The palaces were a matter of pride for each land； and each was magnificent； although none could begin to pare to the Confessors’ Palace。
Kahlan had avoided Kings Row because she would be recognized there； and she didn’t want to be recognized right now； she wanted only to find Zedd and； failing that； speak to the council； so she headed toward the service area to the side； near the kitchens。
Chandalen was out in the forest。 He didn’t want to e into Aydindril； the size of the city and the multitudes of people made him uneasy； though he denied it； and claimed only to be more fortable sleeping outside。 Kahlan couldn’t blame him； after being alone in the mountains for so long； she； too； was uneasy going into the city； even though she had grown up in this place and knew its streets and majestic buildings as well as Chandalen knew the plains around the Mud People village。 The people everywhere made her feel closed in as never before。
Chandalen wanted to go home to his people； now that she was delivered safely to Aydindril。 She could understand his desire to be off； but asked him to rest the night； and say good…bye to her in the morning。
She had told Orsk to spend the night with Chandalen。 His presence was wearing； his one eye following her everywhere； his jumping to help her with everything； his constantly standing ready to do her bidding at the slightest indication。 It was like having a dog continually at heel。 She needed a night away from that。 Chandalen seemed to understand。 She didn’t know what she was going to do about Orsk。
A stifling blast of warm air hit her as she went in through the kitchen entrance。 At the sound of the door； a thin woman in a sparkling white apron spun to her。
‘What are you doing in here！ Get out； you beggar！’
As the woman lifted her wooden spoon in a threatening。 manner； Kahlan pushed back the hood of her mantle。 The woman gasped。 Kahlan smiled。
‘Mistress Sanderholt。 I’m so pleased to see you again。’
‘Mother Confessor！’