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Stone of Tears Sword of Truth 02 Terry Goodkind Chapter Rachel clutched her doll tighter to her chest and stared at the dark thing watching her from the bushes At least she thought it was watching her It was hard to tell because the eyes were as dark as the rest of it, except when the light caught them just right; then they gleamed a golden color She had seen animals in the woods before, rabbits and raccoons and squirrels and such, but this was bigger It was as big as her, maybe bigger Bears were dark She wondered if it could be a bear But this wasn’t exactly the woods, since it was indoors She had never been in an indoor woods before She wondered if indoor woods had animals like the outdoor woods did She might have been afraid if Chase wasn’t there with her She knew she was safe with him Chase was the bravest man she ever saw Still, she was a little afraid Chase had told her she was the bravest little girl he knew She didn’t want him to think she was afraid of some big rabbit Maybe that’s all it was, some big rabbit, sitting on a rock or something But rabbits had long ears Maybe it really was a bear She put her doll’s foot in her mouth She turned and looked down the path, across the pretty flowers and short walls covered with vines, and across the grass to where Chase was talking to Zedd, the wizard They were standing by a stone table, looking at the boxes, and talking about what to with them Rachel was glad that that mean Darken Rahl didn’t get them and that he wasn’t ever going to be able to hurt anyone again Rachel turned back to make sure the dark thing wasn’t coming any closer to her It was gone She looked around, but didn’t see it anywhere “Sara, where you think it could have gone?” she whispered Her doll didn’t have an answer Rachel bit down on Sara’s foot and started walking toward Chase Her feet wanted to run, but she didn’t want Chase to think she wasn’t brave He had said she was brave, and that made her feel good She looked over her shoulder as she walked, checking, but she didn’t see the dark thing anywhere Maybe it lived in a hole, and it had gone there Her feet still wanted to run, but she didn’t let them When Rachel got to Chase, she pushed up against him and hugged his leg He and Zedd were talking, and she knew it was impolite to interrupt, so she sucked on Sara’s foot while she waited “So what could happen if you just shut the lid?” Chase was asking the wizard “Anything!” Zedd stuck his skinny arms up in the air His wavy white hair was smoothed down but it still stuck out in places “How should I know? Just because I know what the boxes of Orden are doesn’t mean I know what to with them now that Darken Rahl has opened one The Magic of Orden killed him for opening it It could have destroyed the world It could kill me for closing it Or worse.” Chase sighed “Well, we can’t just leave them sitting around, can we? Don’t we have to something?” The wizard frowned and looked at the boxes while he was thinking After more than a minute of quiet, Rachel tugged on Chase’s sleeve He looked down at her “Chase ” “Chase”? I told you the rules.” He put his hands on his hips and twisted his face up, trying to make it look mean, until she giggled and hugged his leg tighter “You’ve only been my daughter for a few weeks, and already you’re breaking the rules I told you before, you are to call me ‘Father.’ None of my children are allowed to call me Chase Understand?” Rachel grinned and nodded “Yes, Ch Father.” He rolled his eyes and shook his head Then he mussed her hair “What is it?” “There’s some big animal in the trees I think it might be a bear, or worse I think you might need to take out your sword and go have a look.” He laughed “A bear! In here?” He laughed again “This is an indoor garden, Rachel There aren’t any bears in an indoor garden Maybe it was a shadow The light does odd things in here.” She shook her head “I don’t think so, Ch Father It was watching me.” He smiled and mussed her hair again and put his big hand on the side of her face and hugged her head to his leg “Then you just stay by me and it won’t bother you.” She sucked Sara’s foot and nodded as he held her head to his leg She didn’t feel so afraid now that his hand was on her, and so looked over to the trees again The dark thing, mostly hidden by one of the vine-covered walls, darted closer Rachel bit down harder on Sara’s foot and let out a little whimper as she looked up at Chase He was pointing at the boxes “And just what is that thing, that stone, or jewel or whatever it is? Did it come out of the box?” Zedd nodded “It did But I don’t want to say what I think it is until I’m sure At least not out loud.” “Father,” Rachel whined, “it’s coming closer.” He looked down “Good You just keep your eye on it for me.” He looked back to the wizard “What you mean you don’t want to say? Do you think it has something to with what you said about the veil to the underworld possibly being torn?” Zedd frowned while he rubbed his smooth chin with his skinny fingers and looked down at the black jewel sitting in front of the open box “That’s what I’m afraid of.” Rachel looked over to the wall to watch where the dark thing was She gave a start when she saw the hands reach over the edge of the wall It was a lot closer But they weren’t hands They were claws Long curved claws She looked up at Chase, at all his weapons, just to be sure he had enough He had knives, a lot of knives, around his waist, a sword strapped over the back of his shoulder, a big axe hooked to his belt, a few other things that looked like clubs, with sharp spikes sticking out of them, hanging from his belt, too, and a crossbow on his back She hoped it was enough All the weapons scared other men, but they didn’t seem to be scaring the dark thing that was coming closer And the wizard didn’t even have a knife He just wore that plain, tan robe And he was so skinny Not big like Chase But wizards had magic Maybe his magic could scare the dark thing away Magic! Rachel remembered the magic fire stick Wizard Giller had given her She reached into her pocket and put her ringers around it Maybe Chase would need her help She wouldn’t let that thing hurt her new father She would be brave “Is it dangerous?” Zedd looked up at Chase from under his eyebrows “If it’s what I think it is, and it were to fall into the wrong hands, “dangerous” wouldn’t even begin to describe it.” “Then maybe we should drop it down a deep hole, or destroy it.” “Can’t We may need it.” “What if we hide it?” “That’s what I’m thinking The problem is where There are things to take into consideration I need to take Adie to Aydindril and study the prophecies with her before I know for sure what to with the stone, and what to about the boxes.” “And until then? Until you know for sure?” Rachel looked over to the dark thing It was closer, as close as the wall came to them With its claws over the top of the wall, it lifted its head up and looked right into her eyes The thing grinned at her, showing long, sharp teeth Her breath caught in her throat Its shoulders shook It was laughing Rachel’s eyes were as big as they would go She could hear her heartbeats making a whooshing sound in her ears “Father ” she whined in a small voice He didn’t look down He just shushed her The thing put its leg over the wall and dropped down in front, still looking at her, still laughing Its shiny eyes looked at Chase and Zedd It hissed and then laughed as it hunched down Rachel tugged Chase’s pant leg and strained to make her voice work “Father it’s coming.” “All right Rachel Zedd, I still don’t know ” With a howl the dark thing sprang into the open It ran like a streak, just a blur of black Rachel screamed Chase spun just as it hit him Claws flashed through the air Chase fell to the ground as the thing leapt on Zedd The wizard’s arms flailed about Flashes of light shot from Zedd’s fingers, bouncing off the dark thing and tearing up dirt or stone where they hit The thing knocked Zedd to the ground Laughing in a loud howl, it jumped back on Chase as he was pulling his axe from his belt Rachel screamed again as the claws tore at Chase The thing was faster than any animal she had ever seen Its claws were just a blur Rachel was terrified Chase was being hurt It flung the axe out of Chase’s hand, laughing that awful laugh It was hurting Chase Rachel had the fire stick in her hand She jumped forward and put the fire stick on its back She screamed the magic words to make the fire stick work “Light for me!” The dark thing burst into flames It made a horrible scream as it spun to her Its mouth opened wide, teeth snapping as flames burned all over it It laughed again, but not like people laughed when they thought things were funny Its laugh made her skin prickle It hunched over and started walking toward her, still on fire, as Rachel backed up Chase let out a grunt as he threw one of the clubs with the sharp spikes sticking out of it The club hit the thing’s back, and stuck in its shoulder It looked around at Chase and laughed as it reached behind and pulled the club from its back It started for Chase again Zedd was up Fire flew from his fingers, covering the thing with even more flames It laughed at Zedd All the fire went out Smoke rose from it Its body looked the same now as before it got burned In fact, it had looked like it was dark from being burned even before Rachel had set it on fire Chase was on his feet, and there was blood on him Rachel got tears at seeing that Chase snatched the crossbow off his back and in a blink he shot an arrow It stuck in the thing’s chest With that terrible laugh it snapped the arrow off Chase threw aside the crossbow and yanked out the sword from over his shoulder, then ran for the thing, jumping over it as he stabbed with the sword The thing moved so fast Chase missed Zedd did something that sent the thing tumbling across the grass Chase put himself in front of Rachel, pushing her back with one hand while he held the sword out in the other The thing sprang to its feet again, looking at each of them “Walk!” Zedd yelled at them “Don’t run! Don’t stand still!” Chase grabbed Rachel’s wrist and started walking backward Zedd started walking backward, too The dark thing stopped laughing and looked at each of them, blinking Chase was breathing hard His chain-mail shirt and the tan leather tunic under it had big rips from the claws Rachel got more tears at all the blood on him Blood was running down his arm onto her hand She didn’t want him to be hurt She loved him something fierce She clutched Sara and the fire stick tighter Zedd stopped “Keep walking,” he told Chase The dark thing looked at Zedd standing there, and a big grin with sharp teeth came to its face again It laughed that awful laugh and tore at the ground as it started in a rush toward the wizard Zedd threw his hands up Dirt and grass flew up in the air around the thing It was lifted into the air Bolts of blue lightning struck it from all around before it hit the ground It howled in laughter as it thudded to the ground, smoking Something else happened, Rachel couldn’t tell what, and the thing stopped with its arms stretched out, like it was trying to run, but its feet were stuck It howled and twisted, but couldn’t move Zedd’s arms swirled around in circles and he threw them out once more The ground shook as if from thunder and there were flashes of light hitting the thing It laughed and there was a breaking sound, like wood snapping, and the thing started toward Zedd Zedd began walking again The thing stopped and frowned Then the wizard stopped and threw his arms out again A terrible ball of fire went through the air toward the thing as it ran for Zedd The ball of fire made a loud scream and grew bigger as it flew toward the dark thing The fire hit so hard it made the ground shake The blue and yellow light was so bright Rachel had to squint as she was walking backward The ball of fire stayed in that one place as it burned and made a loud roar Smoking, the dark thing stepped out of the fire, its shoulders shaking as it laughed The flames went out in little sparks that flew around in the air “Bags,” the wizard said as he started walking backward Rachel didn’t know what “bags” meant, but Chase had told Zedd not to say it in front of little ears She didn’t know what that meant either The wizard’s wavy, white hair was all messed up and sticking out in clumps Rachel and Chase were on the path through the trees, almost to the door Zedd was walking backward toward them as the dark thing watched Zedd stopped and the thing started coming again Walls of flame shot up in front of it The air smelled like smoke and roared with noise The thing stepped through the wall of fire Zedd made another, and it stepped through that, too When the wizard started walking again, it stopped by a short, vine-covered wall, watching Fat vines ripped off the wall by themselves and grew suddenly longer They whipped around the dark thing as it stood there, tangling all around it Zedd was almost up with them “Where are we going?” Chase asked him Zedd turned He looked tired “Let’s see if we can shut it in here.” The thing tore at the vines as they pulled it to the ground, and was slicing through them with its sharp claws as the three of them went through the big doorway Chase and Zedd each took one of the golden metal doors and pushed it shut From the other side came a howl, and then a loud crash A big dent popped out in the door, knocking Zedd to the ground Chase put a hand on each door and put all his weight against them as the thing pounded from the other side Horrible screeches came through the metal as the thing clawed at the door Chase was covered with sweat and blood Zedd jumped to his feet and helped Chase hold the doors closed A claw stuck through the crack between the two doors and slid down; then another came out from underneath Through the door, Rachel could hear the thing laughing Chase grunted as he pushed The doors creaked The wizard stood back and held out his arms, with his fingers up, like he was pushing against the air The creaking stopped The thing howled louder Zedd grabbed Chase’s sleeve “Get out of here.” Chase backed away from the doors “Is that going to hold it?” “I don’t think so If it comes for you, walk Running or standing still attracts its attention Tell anyone else you see.” “Zedd, what is that thing?” There was another loud crash and another big dent popped out in the door The tips of claws broke through the metal and made rips in the door The noise it made hurt Rachel’s ears “Go! Now!” Chase snatched her up with an arm around her waist and started running down the hall box of Orden He called it the gateway He said it takes both Additive and Subtractive Magic to it or it would have destroyed all life.” He gripped her shoulders and held her out “Richard has Subtractive Magic? Impossible.” “He had a beard, and made it vanish He said to remind you of the lesson you gave him, that only Subtractive could that.” “Wonder of wonders.” His sharp features came closer “You’re all in a lather, girl.” He put a sticklike hand to her forehead “You don’t have a fever Why are you sweating?” “It was hot, in that other world Quite hot.” He peered at her hair “You hair is all tangled What kind of wizard would grow hair back all tangled? I would have grown it back straight That boy has a lot to learn He didn’t it right.” Kahlan’s eyes went out of focus “Believe me, he did it right.” He turned his head, appraising her with one eye “What were you doing all night? you’ve been gone the whole night What have you two been doing?” Kahlan could feel her ears heat She was glad she had long hair again “Well, I don’t know What you and Adie when you are alone together all night?” Zedd straightened “Well ” He cleared his throat “Well, we ” He lifted his chin and pointed a finger skyward “We talk That’s what we do, we talk.” Kahlan shrugged “That’s what we did, too Just like you and Adie all night We talked.” A sly grin stole onto his face He hugged her tightly in his thin arms, patting her back “I’m so happy for you, dear one.” Zedd took her hands in his and danced around the room Ahern smiled and pulled out a little flute, playing a bouncy tune “My grandson is a wizard! My grandson will be a great wizard! Just like his grandfather!” The celebration went on for a few minutes, with everyone joining in the laughing They all clapped in time with the tune as Zedd danced with her around the room Kahlan saw one person not joining in Adie sat in a rocking chair in the corner She had a small, sad smile on her face as she turned her ear to follow them She went to the old woman and knelt before her Kahlan took up her frail hands “I be happy for you, child,” Adie said “Adie,” Kahlan said in a soft voice, “the spirits sent a message for you.” She shook her head regretfully “I be sorry, child, but it would mean nothing to me I not remember being this woman Adie.” “I promised to deliver the message It’s important to one beyond that you have it Will you hear the message?” “Tell me then, though I be sorry I won’t know its meaning.” “It’s a message from one named Pell.” The room was silent behind her Adie’s rocking came to a halt She straightened the littlest bit Her eyes filled with tears Adie’s hands tightened around Kahlan’s “From Pell? A message from my Pell?” “Yes, Adie He wants you to know that he loves you, and that he is in a place of peace He said to tell you that he knows you never betrayed him He knows how much you love him, and he is sorry you have had to suffer He said to tell you to be at peace, knowing all is well between your spirits.” Adie turned her ear away and looked at Kahlan with her white eyes Tears rolled down her cheeks “My Pell knows I did not betray him?” Kahlan nodded “Yes, Adie He knows, and loves you as always.” Adie pulled Kahlan into her arms as she wept “Thank you Kahlan You could never know how much this means to me You have given me back everything You have given me back the meaning of life.” “I know how much it means, Adie.” Adie stroked the back of Kahlan’s head as she held her close “Yes, child, perhaps you do.” Jebra and Chandalen cooked breakfast while the rest of them talked and planned Though it would be a grisly job clearing Ebinissia of all the bodies, at least it was still winter, and not the task it would be in spring From Ebinissia, they would pull the Midlands back together Kahlan told them that Richard would try to meet up with them in the Galean Crown city, and that he said that then he might need to take Zedd back to Westland, to see about the Sisters of the Dark But for now, they were safely out to sea After a good meal, filled with joy and happy conversation that had been missing for so long, they started packing up their things Chandalen, with an uneasy expression, pulled Kahlan aside “Mother Confessor, I wish to ask you something I would not ask you, except I know no one else to ask.” “What is it, Chandalen?” “How you say ‘breasts’ in your tongue?” “What?” “What is the word for breasts? I wish to tell Jebra that she has fine breasts.” Kahlan rolled her shoulder self-consciously “Chandalen, I’m sorry, but I meant to have a talk with you about that I guess with everything that happened, I never got around to it.” “So talk now I wish to tell Jebra how much I like her fine breasts.” “Chandalen, with the Mud People, that is a proper thing to say to a woman It’s a compliment But in other places, it is not taken as a compliment, but as improper Very improper, until two people know each other.” “I know her well.” “Not well enough Will you trust me in this? If you really like her, then you must not tell her this, or she will not like you.” “But, women here not like to hear the truth?” “It’s not that simple Would you tell a woman in your village you would like to see her with the mud washed from her hair, even though it is the truth?” He lifted an eyebrow “I see what you mean.” “Do you like other things about her?” He nodded enthusiastically “Yes I like everything about her.” “Then tell her you like her smile, or her hair, or her eyes.” “How I know which is the proper thing to compliment?” Kahlan sighed “Well, for now, just stick to anything that isn’t covered by clothes, and you will be safe.” He nodded thoughtfully “You are wise, Mother Confessor I am glad you have Richard back as your mate, or you would surely have chosen Chandalen.” Kahlan laughed and gave him a hug He returned it warmly Outside, she saw to the men: Captain Ryan, Lieutenant Hobson, Brin and Peter, and others she knew They were infected by her smile and good cheer In the stables she checked on Nick Chandalen had stolen him back when they fled Aydindril The big warhorse neighed softly at her approach Kahlan rubbed his gray nose as he nudged his head against her “How you doing, Nick?” He nickered “How would you like to carry the queen of Galea to the palace in Ebinissia?” Nick tossed his head enthusiastically, anxious to be out of the stables and off into the brightening day Water dripped from melting icicles at the edge of the stable roof Kahlan looked out over the hills It was going to be a rare, warm day in the winter But soon it would be spring Mistress Sanderholt was surprised when Richard took another bowl of soup and chunk of bread “Mistress Sanderholt, you make the best spice soup in the world, after mine.” In the kitchen beyond, the help was busily going about breakfast preparations She closed the door “Richard, I am pleased you are so much better I was worried you would something terrible last night, you were grieving so But this is too much of a change Something must have happened to make you have such a turnaround in spirit.” He looked up at her as he chewed He swallowed the bread “I will tell you if you promise to keep it a secret, for now It could cause serious trouble if you told anyone.” “I promise, then.” “Kahlan is not dead.” She stared blankly at him “Richard, you are worse than I thought I myself saw ” “I know what you saw The wizard you saw is my grandfather He used a spell to make everyone think she was executed, so they would not be hunted down, so that they could escape She is safe.” She threw her arms around his neck “Oh, dear spirits be praised!” “Indeed,” Richard said with a grin Richard took the bowl of soup outside to watch the dawn He was too exhilarated to be cooped up indoors He sat on the vast steps, looking around at the magnificent palace soaring up all around him Towers and spires and sweeping roofs loomed in the early dawn light As he ate his soup, he watched a gargoyle atop the edge of a nearby, enormous frieze supported by fluted columns The pink clouds were just beginning to glow behind it, silhouetting the grotesque, hunched shape Richard had just put a spoonful of spice soup in his mouth when he thought he saw the gargoyle take a deep breath Richard set the bowl down He rose to his feet, his eyes never leaving the dark shape It moved again, just a little twitch “Gratch! Gratch, is that you!” The shape didn’t move Maybe it was just his imagination Richard held his arms open wide “Gratch! Please, if that’s you, forgive me Gratch, I’ve missed you!” It was still a moment, and then the wings stretched out It leapt from the corner of the building and swooped down in a glide toward him With a flutter of wings, the huge gar landed on the steps a short distance away “Gratch! Oh, Gratch, I’ve missed you!” The gar watched with glowing green eyes “I don’t know if you can understand, but I didn’t mean what I said I was only trying to save your life Please, forgive me? Richard loves Gratch.” His wings fluttered A cloud of breath came from between long fangs His ears perked up “Grrratch luuug Raaaach aaarg.” The gar bounded into Richard’s arms, knocking him to the steps Richard hugged the furry beast, and Gratch enfolded him in arms and wings Each stroked the other’s back, and each grinned in his own way When they finally sat up, Gratch hunched down, staring curiously at Richard’s face With the back of a huge claw, he stroked Richard’s jaw Richard felt his smooth face as he smiled “It’s gone I’m not going to have a beard anymore.” Gratch’s nose wrinkled in disgust He let out a gurgling growl of displeasure Richard laughed “You’ll get used to it.” They sat together in the quiet of the dawn “Do you know, Gratch, that I’m a wizard?” Gratch gurgled a laugh and frowned dubiously Richard wondered how a gar could know what a wizard was Gratch never failed to astonish him with what he knew, with what he could grasp “No, really I am Here, let me show you; I’ll make fire.” Richard held his palm out He called the power from the calm center Try as he might, nothing happened He could not make so much as a spark He sighed as Gratch howled in a roar of laughter, his wings flapping with the joke A sudden memory came to him—something Denna had told him He had asked her how he had done all those things with magic She had looked at him with that all-knowing smile of peace, and said, Be proud you made the right choices, Richard, the choices that allowed to happen what came about, but not call arrogance to your heart by believing that all that happened was your doing Richard wondered where the line was He realized he had a lot to learn before he was a real wizard He wasn’t even sure he wanted to be a wizard, but he now accepted who he was—one born with the gift, born to be the pebble in the pond, son of Darken Rahl, but lucky enough to have been raised by people who loved him He felt the hilt of the sword at his elbow It had been made for him He was the Seeker The true Seeker Richard’s thoughts again touched the spirit who had brought him more happiness than in life had brought him pain He was deeply gratified that Denna had found peace He could want nothing more for her, for someone he loved He came out of his thoughts and patted the gar’s arm “You wait here a minute, Gratch I’ll get you something.” Richard ran into the kitchen and retrieved a leg of mutton As he ran back down the steps, Gratch danced from one foot to the other in excitement Together, they sat on the steps, Richard eating his soup, and Gratch tearing into the meat with his fangs When they had finished—Gratch had even eaten the bone—Richard pulled out a long lock of Kahlan’s hair “This is from the woman I love.” Gratch considered, then looked up as he gently reached out “I want you to have it I told her about you, and what you mean to me She will love you just as I love you, Gratch She will never chase you away You can be with us whenever you want, for as long as you want Here, give it back a moment.” Gratch held out the length of hair Richard took off the thong holding Scarlet’s tooth It would him no good any longer; he had already called her with it He tied the long lock of hair to the thong, and then the whole thing over Gratch’s head With a claw, Gratch stroked the long hair His grin wrinkled his nose and showed the full length of his fangs “I’m going to go to her now Would you like to come along?” Gratch nodded his enthusiasm, his head bobbing, his ears twitching, and his wings fluttering Richard looked down on the city Troops were moving about A lot of troops Imperial Order troops It wouldn’t be long before they gained the courage to investigate the death of the council, even if it was at the hands of a wizard Richard smiled “Then I guess I better find a horse, and we can be on our way I think it best if we were away from here.” He looked out on the brightening day A breeze with a hint of warmth ruffled his mriswith cape Before long it would be spring Table of Contents Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 Chapter 70 Chapter 71 Table of Contents Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter Chapter 10 Chapter 11 Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Chapter 14 Chapter 15 Chapter 16 Chapter 17 Chapter 18 Chapter 19 Chapter 20 Chapter 21 Chapter 22 Chapter 23 Chapter 24 Chapter 25 Chapter 26 Chapter 27 Chapter 28 Chapter 29 Chapter 30 Chapter 31 Chapter 32 Chapter 33 Chapter 34 Chapter 35 Chapter 36 Chapter 37 Chapter 38 Chapter 39 Chapter 40 Chapter 41 Chapter 42 Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Chapter 45 Chapter 46 Chapter 47 Chapter 48 Chapter 49 Chapter 50 Chapter 51 Chapter 52 Chapter 53 Chapter 54 Chapter 55 Chapter 56 Chapter 57 Chapter 58 Chapter 59 Chapter 60 Chapter 61 Chapter 62 Chapter 63 Chapter 64 Chapter 65 Chapter 66 Chapter 67 Chapter 68 Chapter 69 Chapter 70 Chapter 71 ... the better.” With a clatter of claws against stone, the screeling charged across the hall The tips of the claws scratched into the floor, sending little spurts of stone dust behind along with... fingers away He had to struggle to keep the tears of hurt from showing He knew without a doubt now: she wore the Stone in calling The Stone, to match the color of her eyes, and worn over the forehead,... 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