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‘I see。’ She glanced up as he scratched the stubble on his face。 ‘I hope you are more careful when you shave your neck。’
Richard decided in that instant that as long as he was held captive in a collar； he would not shave。 It would be his way of proclaiming to them that a collar was unjust； that he knew he was nothing more than their prisoner； and that he would not believe their spurious protestations to the contrary。 There could be no justification for a collar； and there would be no promising of that basic truth … none； not ever。
Richard glowered at the Sister。 ‘Prisoners don’t shave。’ He turned toward the horses。
‘Richard。’ He looked over his shoulder。 ‘Sit down。’ Her voice was gentle； but he glared at the order nonetheless。 She gestured to a place in front of her。 ‘Sit down。 I was thinking about what you said。 You are here； I am here。 Sit down and I will begin teaching you how to control the gift。’
He was caught off…guard。 ‘Now？ Here？’
‘Yes。 e and sit。’
He didn’t really care about using the gift； he hated magic。 He had only asked about it before because he had been trying to ease the tension。 His eyes darted about before he finally sat and folded his legs； imitating the way she was sitting。
‘What do you want me to do？’
‘There is much to teach you about using the gift。 You will learn about balance in all things； especially magic。 You must heed all our warnings； and follow what we tell you。 There are dangers to using magic。 Perhaps you already know this from using the Sword of Truth； yes？’ Richard didn’t move。 She went on。 There is greater danger in using the gift。 It can have unanticipated results。 Results that can be disastrous。’
‘I have already used the gift。 You said I used it in three specific ways。’
She leaned forward a little。 And look what happened。 It brought an unanticipated result。 It resulted in you having that collar around your neck。’
Surprised； Richard stared at her。 ‘That wasn’t a result of my using the gift。 You were already looking for me； you said so。 If I hadn’t used the gift； the result would have been the same。’
Sister Verna slowly shook her head； her eyes stayed on his。 ‘We had been looking for you for years。 Something hid you from us。 If you hadn’t used the gift in the ways you did； I doubt we ever would have found you。 Using the gift put that collar around your neck。’
Years。 They had been searching for him for years。 All that time he had lived peaceably in Westland； first with his brother and father and Zedd； and then on his own as a woods guide； they had been looking for him； and he never knew it。 The thought gave him a chill。 He brought it on himself； by using magic。 He hated magic。
‘Although I would agree that that is disastrous； for me； how could you？ It’s what you want。’
‘It is what we had to do。 But you have threatened my life。 You have threatened the lives of anyone else who keeps that collar around your neck。 That would be all the Sisters of the Light。 I never take the warnings of wizards； even untrained wizards； lightly。 Your use of the gift； allowing us to find you； could end up being a disaster for all of us。’
He felt no satisfaction that his threats had not gone unnoticed。 He felt nothing。 ‘Then why are you doing this？’ he whispered。 ‘Making me wear it？’
To help you。 You would have died otherwise。’
‘You have already helped me。 The headaches are gone。 You have my thanks。 Why can’t you let me go now？’
‘If the collar is removed too soon； before you learn enough of controlling the gift； they will e back。 You will die。’
Then teach me； so I can get it off。’
‘We must be cautious in teaching magic。 You must have patience in your studies。 We are careful in our training because we know more of the dangers of magic than you； and we don’t want you to be hurt through ignorance。 But that is not a problem for now； because it will take time before you are advanced enough to really use the gift and risk these dangers； as long as you adhere to what we say。 You can have patience； yes？’
‘I have no desire to use magic； I guess that could be construed as patience。’
‘Good enough； for now。 We will begin then。’ She squirmed a little； rearranging her legs。 There is a force within us all。 It is the force of life。 We call it Han。’ Richard frowned。 ‘Lift your arm。’ He did as she asked。 That is the force of life； given us by the Creator。 It is encased within you。 You have just used Han。 Those with the gift can extend that force outside themselves。 Such an external force is called a web。 Those with the gift； like you； have the ability to cast a web。
With the web； you can do things outside your body； much as the life force can do within your body。’
‘How can that be？’
Sister Verna picked up a small stone in her fingers。 ‘Here； my mind is using Han to make my hand lift the stone。 My hand is not doing it of its own accord； but rather； my mind is directing the life force to use my hand to acplish what my mind wishes done。’ She set the stone back on the ground and folded her hands in her lap。 The stone floated into the air and hung between them。 ‘I have just acplished the same thing； only this time I did it by projecting the life force outside of my body。 That is the gift。’
‘You can do what a wizard can？’
‘No。 Only some of it。 That is how we are able to teach its use。 We understand the feel of it。 The Sisters have some control of the life force； and the gift； but nothing like a wizard who knows how to control his Han。’
‘How do you get this life force to go outside your body？’
That can’t begin to be explained until you learn to recognize the force within yourself； learn to touch the Han。’
‘Why？’
‘Because every person is different。 Every person uses the force differently。 It isn’t used the same in any two people。 Love is a form of Han being projected outside one’s self； into another。 It is； though； a very mild； weak form。 Even though love is universal； it is used and felt differently by all。 Some use it to bring out the best of the Han in another。 Some use it to bring out the best in themselves。 Some use it to control； to dominate another。 It can heal or wound。
‘Once we understand how the gift works within you； how you use it； we can guide you through exercises called forms。 The forms are a method of practice that will help you learn to control the power once it is free of your body。 But for now； that is not important。 First you must learn to feel the Han within yourself； before you can project it anywhere outside your body。
After you are able to touch the Han； then we must discover what it is you can do with it。 Every wizard is different； and uses Han differently。 Some can use it only through the use of mind； like wizards who study the prophecies。 The use of their Han to understand prophecies is the major way the gift manifests itself with them。 It is their unique talent。 Some can only use their Han to create beautiful； inspiring objects。 Some use their Han to create things invested with magic。 It is their unique talent； how they are able to express Han。 Some are able to use their thoughts to influence the world about them； as I showed you when I lifted the rock。 Some can do other things with Han。 Some are able to do a little of everything。’
Her frown returned。 ‘The truth is of the utmost importance in this； Richard。 You must be pletely truthful in telling us how the Han feels within you。 Lying will cause grave difficulty。’ She relaxed a bit。 ‘But first； you must be able to call upon your Han before we can discover what sort of wizard you are。’
‘I told you： I don’t want to be a wizard。 I just want to learn to control the gift so I can stop the headaches and get this collar off my neck。 You said I didn’t have to be a wizard。’
‘Controlling Han； with the gift； is what it means to be a wizard。 When you learn to control it； you will be a wizard。 That is the very essence of a wizard。 But wizard is only a word。 You should not fear a word。 If you choose not to use the gift； that is your busine