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‘Yes。 Sometimes when I concentrated on shooting arrows； or when something inside warned me of danger； or when I was angry and used the magic of the sword； then they went away for a time。’
That’s because you were bringing the gift into harmony with your mind。 The only thing required to keep the gift from harming you is a bit of instruction … like I just gave you。
Teaching wizards should be a wizard’s business。 For a wizard； bringing your mind into harmony with your gift is a simple matter； because it’s the male gift teaching the male gift。 What I have just done with you is enough to keep the gift from harming you for a good long time … without the Rada’Han。
‘In the future； joining with a wizard will take you the next step； and protect you until you reach the following plain。 It’s only important to have help available when you need it。 The Sisters need a hundred years to show you what I have just done。
They use the collar as an excuse to take us prisoner for their own purposes。 They have their own ideas about the training of wizards。 Their idea is to control wizards。’
‘Why？’
They think wizards are responsible for all the evil that has befallen mankind； and if they collar the power； control it； and indoctrinate it； they will bring the light of their theology to the people。 They are zealots who believe they are the only ones who know the true way to eternal reward in the Creator’s light。 They feel justified in using any means to gain that end。’
‘You mean that what you have just showed me； with my power； is enough to keep the gift from killing me； without the collar？’
‘It’s enough to keep the gift from killing you； but it would take many more lessons to teach you to be a real wizard。 All I have done is to hold the stallion’s bit； so he won’t buck you off。 It would take much more work to teach you to ride with grace。’
Richard could feel the muscles in his face draw tight。 ‘If this is true； then they are kicking the rump of a badger。 Thank you； for helping me。’ Richard rubbed his fingers together。 ‘Nathan； there is great trouble ing。 ing very soon。 I need to know a few things。 Do you know the Wizard’s Second Rule？’
‘Of course。 But you must learn the first； before you have the second。’
‘I already know the first。 I killed Darken Rahl with the first。 It states that people can be made to believe any lie； either because they want to believe it’s true； or because they are afraid it’s true。’
‘And the counter to it？’
The secret is that there is no counter。 I must be always vigilant； knowing that I； too； am vulnerable； and never arrogantly believe I am immune。 I must always be alert that I can fall prey。’
‘Very good。’
‘And the Second Rule？’
Nathan’s white eyebrows hooded his azure eyes。 The Second Rule involves unintended results。’
‘So； what is it？’
‘The Second Rule is that the greatest harm can result from the best intentions。 It sounds a paradox； but kindness and good intentions can be an insidious path to destruction。 Sometimes doing what seems right is wrong； and can cause harm。 The only counter to it is knowledge； wisdom； forethought； and understanding the First Rule。 Even then； that is not always enough。’
‘Good intentions； or doing right； can cause harm？ Such as？’
Nathan shrugged。 ‘It would seem kind to give candy to a small child； because they like it so。 Knowledge； wisdom； and forethought tell us that it would make the child sick if we continued this ‘kindness’ at the expense of good food。’
‘That’s obvious。 Anyone would know that。’
‘Say a person hurts their leg； and you bring them food while they heal； but after time they still don’t wish to get up； because it hurts at first。 So； you continue to be kind and bring them food。 Over time； their legs will shrivel； and it will be even more painful to get up； so you are kind and continue bringing food。 In the end； they will be bedridden； unable to ever walk again； because of your kindness。 Your good intentions have brought harm。’
‘I don’t think that happens often enough to be a problem。’
‘I’m trying to give you obvious examples； Richard； so you will be better able to extrapolate to more difficult problems； and understand an obscure principle。
‘Good intentions； being kind； can encourage the lazy； and motivate sound minds to bee indolent。 The more help you give them； the more help they need。 As long as your kindness is open…ended； they never gain discipline； dignity； or self…reliance。 Your kindness impoverishes their humanity。
‘If you give a coin to a begger because he says his family is hungry； and he uses it to get drunk； and then kills someone； is it your fault？ No。 He did the killing； but had you given him food instead； or gone and given his family food； the killing would not have happened。 It was a good intention that resulted in harm。
‘Wizard’s Second Rule： the greatest harm can result from the best intentions。 Violation can cause anything from disfort； to disaster； to death。
‘Some leaders have preached peace； saying that even self…defense is wrong。 It seems the best of intentions to shun violence。 In the end； it often leads to a slaughter； where their threat of violence in the beginning would have prevented attack； and resulted in no violence。 They put their good intentions above the realities of life。 They accuse warriors of being bloodthirsty； when the warriors would have actually prevented bloodshed。’
‘Are you trying to say I should feel no shame at being a war wizard？’
‘It does the sheep no good to preach the goodness of a diet of grass； if the wolves are of a different mind。’
Richard felt as though he were having a conversation with Zedd。 ‘But kindness can’t always be wrong。’
‘Of course not。 That’s where wisdom es in。 You must be wise enough to foresee the consequences of your actions。
‘But the problem with the Second Rule is that you can’t always tell for sure whether you are violating it； or simply doing right。 Worse； magic is dangerous。 When you add magic to the good intentions； violation of the Second Rule can lead to catastrophe。
‘Using magic is easy。 Knowing when to use magic is the hard part。 Every time you use it； you can bring unexpected ruin。
‘Do you know； Richard； that it’s the weight of one flake of snow that is one too many； and causes an avalanche？ Without that one； last flake； the catastrophe would not happen。 When using magic； you must know which is the one snowflake too many before you add its weight。 The avalanche will be out of all proportion to what you think the weight of that flake could invoke。’
Richard rubbed his thumb on the hilt of his sword。 ‘Nathan； I think I may have torn the veil because I violated the Wizard’s Second Rule。’
‘You did。’
‘What did I do？’
‘You used your magic； through the Wizard’s First Rule； to win。 In so doing； you fed magic to the boxes； the gateway； tearing the veil。 You did it through ignorance。 You didn’t know that the unintended results of doing what seemed right could be the destruction of all life。 One snowflake indeed。 Magic is dangerous。’
‘How can I fix it？’
The Stone of Tears must be put back on the Keeper。 The lock； the seal； must be restored。 The Stone of Tears must be sent back to its rightful place； in the underworld； where it will serve to restrain the Keeper’s power in this world。 To do that requires both powers。
‘The key must then be turned in the lock； so to speak； by closing the gateway。 This also requires both Magics。 Doing any of this with only one side of the magic would rip the veil； so a wizard with the gift for only the Additive； such as myself； would be of no help。 Only one such as you can acplish the task。
‘Until it is done； we are in terrible danger。 If you act wrongly； use the stone for your own reasons； you have the power to destroy the balance and tear the veil the rest of the way； sending us all into eternal night。’
Richard stared at the table while he thought。 ‘Do you know what an ‘agent’ is？’
‘