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nces in old books that talked about the Valley of the Lost； and the Baka Ban Mana； but what he found was intriguing。 The information made reference to the power the wizards had given the Baka Ban Mana in return for taking their land； so that they could someday have their land restored。 It said that when the pleting link was joined with this power invested in their spirit woman； the towers would fall。
Richard thought about Du Chaillu saying that he was the Caharin； and that they were now husband and wife。 That was a linking of sorts。 He wondered if over the intervening time the meaning of this joining could have been taken to mean marriage； instead of its original intent。
As they sat watching the vast landscape； Warren said； ‘The Prelate has been reading prophecies and histories that talk about ‘the pebble in the pond。’’
Richard’s ears perked up。 He remembered Kahlan singing him a song about screelings that mentioned ‘the pebble in the pond。’ Warren hadn’t studied those prophecies before； and hadn’t been able to piece together their importance as of yet。
‘Do you know what the Wizard’s Second Rule is？’ Richard asked。
‘Second Rule？ Wizards have rules？ What’s the first？’
Richard looked over。 ‘Do you remember that night Jedidiah broke his leg； and I told you that you had carpet ash on you？ And you tried to brush it off？ I was using the Wizard’s First Rule。’ Warren frowned。 ‘You think on it； Warren； and let me know what you figure out。 In the meantime； it’s important that you speed up the search for the information I asked you about。’
‘Well； it will be a little easier； now that Sister Becky is sick every morning； and won’t be looking over my shoulder。 She’s pregnant；’ he said in answer to Richard’s questioning frown。
‘Do many of the Sisters have children？’
‘Sure；’ Warren said。 ‘What with all the young wizards around who can no longer go to the city。 The Sisters help out with their needs； so they can study。’
Richard gave Warren a suspicious look。 ‘Is Sister Becky’s child yours？’
Warren blushed furiously。 ‘No。’ He kept his eyes to the city。 ‘I’m waiting for the one I love。’
‘Pasha；’ Richard said。
Warren nodded。 Richard looked down at the Palace of the Prophets； and the city that surrounded it。 Needs。
‘Warren； do all the children of men with the gift inherit it？’
‘Oh no。 It’s said that many thousands of years ago； before the Old and New World were separated； many had the gift。 But over time those in power methodically killed off young ones with the gift； so they would have no one to threaten their rule。 They also withheld the required teaching。 It used to be that fathers taught their sons； but as fewer were born with the gift； and it skipped more and more generations； those who knew the way jealously guarded their knowledge。 That’s the reason the Palace of the Prophets was created … to help those with the gift； who had no teacher。
‘As time went on； the gift was bred out of the race of man； the way you breed a trait out of an animal。 This gave the wizards who held power less and less opposition all the time。
‘Now that the trait is so bred out； one born with the gift is exceedingly rare。 Maybe only one child in a thousand fathered by a wizard is born with the gift。 We’re a dying breed。’
Richard looked to the city again； then to the palace。
His eyes locked on the palace； Richard slowly rose to his feet。 ‘They’re not seeing to our ‘needs；’’ he whispered； ‘they’re using us as breeding stock。’
Warren stood。 His brow wrinkled。 ‘What？’
‘They’re using the palace； the young men at the palace； to breed wizards。’
Warren’s brow furrowed deeper。 ‘Why？’
Richard’s jaw muscles flexed。 ‘I don’t know； but I intend to find out。’
‘Good；’ Warren said with a grin。 ‘I need an adventure。’
Richard gave him a cold look。 ‘Do you know what adventure is； Warren？’
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