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The look in her eyes made him wish he had kept his mouth closed； or that he could trade places with the two Sisters who were to take a public strapping。
‘Only when you accept yourself； accept your ability； your true power； will it e off。 You put the Rada’Han around your own neck。 We don’t have the power to take it off until you can help us； with your own power。 The only way you can do that is to learn； and to accept who you are。
‘Now； first of all； you must understand about the Keeper； and the Creator； and the nature of this world。 Your problem； the problem most people have； the problem Warren has； is that you try to understand the worlds beyond in terms of this world。
‘Good and evil； the Creator and the Keeper； are chaos divided into two opposing forces。 Although each abhors the other； they are interdependent； and cannot exist one without the other。 They define each other。 The struggle； our struggle in this world； is maintaining the balance。’
Although Richard kept his mouth shut； he couldn’t keep the frown from his face。
‘From the Creator springs life； the soul of life。 It blooms into this world。 Without the Keeper； without death； there can be no life。 Without death； life would be open…ended。
‘Can you even imagine a world in which no one ever died？ Where every child born lives？ Forever？ Where every plant that sprouts flourishes？ Where every tree lives forever； and every seedling sprouts and grows to a tree？
‘What would happen？ How could we eat； if we could kill no animal； or harvest no crop； if it all lived forever and could not die？ A never…ending life of gnawing； ravenous hunger？ The world of the living would be consumed by chaos； and destroy itself forever。
‘Death； the underworld as some call it； is eternal。 You think of it in terms of this life。 In eternity； time has no meaning； no dimension。 To the Keeper； a second； or a year； has no meaning。
‘It is through those in this world； who serve him； that the Keeper is given the dimension of time。 It is their urgency that drives his struggle； because they understand time。 He needs the living if he is to succeed。 His promises to those who help him are seductive； and they hunger for his triumph。’
‘So what part do the living play in this？’
‘We divide and define the chaos with order； and keep it separated： light and dark； love and hate； good and evil。 We are the balance。
‘We are like the duck weed floating on the surface of the pond。 The air above is the Creator； the depths below； the Keeper。 The souls of the living； which have e down from the Creator； blossom to life in this place； and when they die； they descend to the world of the dead。
‘But that does not mean it is evil。 Evil is a judgment we put on it。 The Keeper is like the muck at the bottom of the pond。 Spirits of the dead reside anywhere from the depths of that chaos and hate； near the Keeper； to near the living； near the light of the Creator。 It is the hope of the living to spend eternity in the warmth of that light。
‘It is we； the living； who separate； and define the worlds to each side of life。 Magic is the element that gives this world the power to do that。 Magic is the balance point。
The Keeper would like to swallow the world of the living； to triumph。 To do that； he must eliminate magic。 But at the same time； in order to triumph； he must use magic to tip the balance。’
Richard struggled to keep his head above the murky waters of confusion。 ‘And wizards have the power to influence this balance？’
She was still leaning over him。 She held up a finger。 ‘Yes。 You have both sides of the magic。’ Her smile evaporated in a way that took his breath with it。 ‘That makes you an extremely dangerous person； Richard。
‘You have both sides of the gift； you have the power to mend； or destroy the veil。 There are good people who； if they knew of your power； would kill you in a twinkling for fear you might destroy us all； if not deliberately； by accident。’
‘And you？ Are you one of those？’
‘If I were； I would not have helped your father get the Book of Counted Shadows。 Your involvement stopped the immediate threat； but it also fed the gateway magic； and chances greater danger in the future。 It was a risk I had to take； because the consequences of not doing so would have been disaster。 But if what has happened is not fixed； it will be greater disaster in the end。’
‘What is the veil？ Where is it？’
She reached out and tapped his forehead。 The veil is within those of us with magic。 We are its custodians。 That is why balance means so much to those with the gift。 When the veil is torn； the balance is tipped。 The further it tips； the more the veil tears。
‘The Creator rules his domain； the Keeper； his。 The Keeper needs the Creator to feed him life； the Creator needs the Keeper to allow it to be renewed。 The veil keeps the balance。’
Her face was grim。 This view would be considered blasphemy by many。 They see the Keeper only as evil that must be destroyed。 But to do so would ultimately acplish the opposite … all life being swept away like a sandbar in a river flood。’
‘Just for the sake of argument； what if I did have both kinds of magic？ What is my power for？’
‘Most wizards have a talent that leans in a particular direction。 Some are healers； some make things of magic； more rare are prophets。 The most rare are war wizards。 There has not been one born in over three thousand years。 Until you。’
Richard wiped his sweaty palms on his pant legs。 ‘I don’t like the sound of that。’
‘War wizard has two meanings which balance each other； as in all things magic。 The first meaning is that they can tear the veil； bring destruction and death … war。 And the second is that they have the magic needed to fight against the powers of the Keeper。 Being a war wizard does not mean you are evil； Richard。 Many who fight do so to protect those who are defenseless。 It means you have the capacity to care enough to fight； to defend the innocent。’
‘‘Lest he who’s born true can fight for life’s bond。 And that one is marked； he’s the pebble in the pond。’’ Richard quoted。
She lifted an eyebrow。 ‘For one who professes to scoff at prophecy； you seem to know some of the more pivotal passages。 If I’m not entirely addled； I expect you have been marked。’
Richard could feel the scar on his chest as he nodded。 ‘Are you saying that my life is already marked out？ That I’m just meant to live it out； as it has been preordained？’
‘No； Richard。 Life is not predetermined。 The prophecies mean only that you have potential。 You have the ability to influence events。 That’s why it is so important for you to learn。
‘Of most importance is that you learn to accept yourself。 If you do not do this； you will harm the most vital part of yourself： your free will。 If you act without understanding； you could cast yourself into the chaos。
‘I let you live when you were born because you have the potential for doing good。 Within you is the hope of life。 But until you truly accept both sides of your magic； you are a danger to every living thing。’
Richard desperately wanted to change the subject。 He felt as if the world were crushing him。 ‘What is the Stone of Tears？’
She gave a little shrug。 ‘In the world of the dead； it exists as a force。 In this world； it exists as an object with power； representing that force。
The Stone of Tears is like a weight that holds the Keeper at the infinite end of his world； where his influence here is diminished to the point of balance。’
‘Then if it’s here； off him； he is freed from his prison。’
‘If that were true； we would all be dead。 Hmm？’ She lifted a questioning eyebrow； but Richard didn’t say anything。 ‘It’s one of the seals that locks the Keeper beyond。 There are others； that still hold。 Magic helps hold him back； for now。
The Stone of Tears has the power； though； to destroy the balance； to tear the veil and free the Keeper； if it is used in this world； by such as you； in the wrong way。 You see； the Stone has the power to banish any sou