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ght。 Maybe a few days of bed rest； and you will be as good as new。’
‘I fear that you have not only left me healed； but also without employment。 I must find work to feed myself She looked down at the bloody； shredded rip in her green dress。 ‘And to clothe myself。’
‘Why were you wearing the Stone； if you were the servant of the Lady Ordith？’
‘Not many know what the Stone signifies。 Lady Ordith didn’t。 Her husband； the duke； did。 He wanted my services； but his wife would never have allowed a woman in his employ； so he had me placed as her servant。
‘I know it is not the most honorable thing； for a Seer to place herself covertly； but there is much starvation in Burgalass。 My family knew of my ability and closed their doors to me； afraid of the visions I might have of them。 Before my grandmother passed on； she put her Stone in my hand； saying if I wore hers she would be honored。’
Jebra pressed the fist with the Stone to her cheek。 ‘Thank you；’ she whispered； ‘for not accepting it。 For understanding。’
Zedd felt a renewed pang of guilt。 ‘And so this duke had you taken in and used you for his own purposes？’
‘Yes。 Maybe a dozen years ago。 Because I was Lady Ordith’s body servant； I was almost always present at any meeting or function。 The duke would e to me later and I would tell him what I saw of his adversaries。 With my help； he made more of his power and wealth。
‘Virtually no one anymore knows of the Stone of a Seer。 He disdained people who ignored the old knowledge。 He mocked his opponents’ ignorance by having me wear the Stone openly。
‘He also had me keep an eye to the Lady Ordith。 It prevented her from succeeding at making herself a widow。 So she now contents herself with being absent from the duke’s house whenever she can。 She will not be displeased to be rid of me； the duke used his strings of power to keep me employed when the Lady Ordith would have wished it otherwise。’
‘Why would she be displeased with your service？’ He grinned。 ‘Are you lazy and rude； as she claims？’
Jebra smiled back； the fine wrinkles at the corners of her eyes deepening。 ‘No。 It’s the visions。 Sometimes when I have them； well； you felt some of the hurt when you healed me； though it is not as bad as that for me； I think。 But sometimes the hurt keeps me from her service for a time。’
Zedd rubbed his chin。 ‘Well； since you are out of employment； you will be a guest here at the People’s Palace until you are recovered。 I have some little influence around here。’ He marveled at the sudden truth of that； and pulled a purse from a pocket in his robes。 He gave it a jingle。 ‘For your expenses； and wage； if I could convince you to take up a new employer。’
She hefted the purse in her palm； testing its weight。 ‘If this be copper； it is insufficient for any but you。’ She smiled and leaned a little closer； her eyes merry and scolding at the same time。 ‘And if it be silver； it is too much。’
Zedd gave her a grave expression。 ‘It’s gold。’ Startled； she blinked。 ‘But it is not me； mainly； you will be working for。’
She stared at the purse of gold in her hand； then looked back at him。 ‘Who then？’
‘Richard。 The new Lord Rahl。’
Jebra paled and shook her head vigorously； her shoulders hunching up。 She shoved the purse back in Zedd’s hands。 ‘No。’ Even paler； she shook her head again。 ‘No。 I’m sorry。 I don’t want to work for him。 No。’
Zedd frowned。 ‘He is not an evil person。 He’s quite kind…hearted； in fact。’
‘I know that。’
‘You know who he is？’
She looked down at her lap and nodded。 ‘I know。 I saw him yesterday。 The first day of winter。’
‘And you had a vision when you saw him？’
Her voice was weak and filled with fear。 ‘Yes。’
‘Jebra； tell me what you saw。 Every bit of it。 Please？ It’s important。’
She looked up at him from under her eyebrows for a long moment； then back down at her lap as she chewed her lower lip。
‘It was at the morning devotion； yesterday。 When the bell rang； I went to a square； and he was standing there； looking into the pool。 I noticed him because he was wearing the sword of the Seeker。 And because he was tall and handsome。 And he wasn’t kneeling as the others were。 He stood there； watching the people gathering； and as I approached； his eyes passed across my sight。 Just for an instant。 The power ing from him took my breath away。
‘A Seer can sense certain kinds of power； like the gift； emanating from a person。’ She looked up at Zedd。 ‘I have seen those with the gift before。 I have seen their auras。 They have all been like yours； there is a warmth to them； a gentleness。 Your aura is beautiful。 His was different。 It had that； but more； too。’
‘Violence；’ Zedd said in a soft voice。 ‘He is the Seeker。’
She nodded。 ‘It could be。 I don’t know； I’ve never seen the like of it before。 But I can tell you what it felt like。 It felt like having my face pushed into a basin of icy water before I had a chance to get a breath。
‘Sometimes I never get a vision from a person。 Sometimes I do。 I can never tell when it’s going to e。 Sometimes when a person is in distress； they throw off auras and visions more strongly。 He was throwing off auras like lightning in a thunderstorm。 He was in great emotional pain。 Like an animal in a trap trying to chew its own leg off。 He felt the horror of having to betray his friends to save them。 I didn’t understand that。 It didn’t make any sense。
There was an image of a woman； a beautiful woman with long hair。 Maybe a Confessor； although I don’t know how that could be。 The aura flamed so strongly with anguish for her that I felt my face； fearing I would find the skin burned。 If I hadn’t been at devotion； I would have fallen to my knees anyway from the agony of the auras。
‘I almost rushed to him； to fort him； when two Mord…Sith approached； and noticed him standing； and not kneeling。 He felt no fear； but he went to his knees anyway； out of resignation to the terrible betrayal he had been forced into。 I was relieved when he knelt； I thought that wo