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Richard’s chest heaved with the burning hurt of his grief at knowing nohat had happened to his father, and with that knowledge there was closure, too Thoughts he had never permitted himself to have became his only desire Caution and consequence vanished before a flood of lust for vengeance

In that instant, his only want, his only desire, his only need, was to kill Darken Rahl Nothing else had any significance

With his other hand he reached out and seized the hilt of his sword to pull it free Zedd’s hand clamped down over his The Seeker’s eyes snapped up, livid at the interference

“Richard” Zedd’s voice was gentle “Calm down”

The Seeker, his lowered into the other’s tranquil eyes So hi He bent over the table to the wizard, his teeth gritted

“I accept the position of Seeker”

“Richard,” Zedd repeated calht Relax Sit down”

The world ca back into his mind He pulled his readiness to kill back a notch, but not his rage Not only the door, but also the wall that had contained his anger, was gone Even though the world about hih different eyes—eyes he had always had, but had been afraid to use: the eyes of a Seeker

Richard realized that he was standing He didn’t re his hands froer It wasn’t the sah It didn’t shut it away, didn’t lock it behind a door, but pulled it back, unafraid, to ain

So hi within him He felt liberated, unafraid, unashamed of his temper for the first ti his muscles relax

He looked up into Zedd’s calm, undisturbed face The old ular face set in a perceptive cast, studied hihtest hint of a smile fixed at the corners of his thin mouth

“Congratulations,” the wizard said “You have passed my final test to become Seeker”

Richard pulled back in confusion “What do you mean? You already appointed me Seeker”

Zedd shook his head slowly “I told you before Weren’t you listening? A Seeker appoints himself Before you could become Seeker you had to pass one determinative test You had to show me you could use all your mind For many years, Richard, you have kept part of it locked away Your anger I had to know you could release it, call upon it I’ve seen you angry, but you were unable to ader to yourself A Seeker who couldn’t allow hier would be hopelessly weak It is the strength of rage that gives the heedless drive to prevail Without the anger, you would have turned down the sword, and I would have let you, because you wouldn’t have had as required But that is irrelevant now You have proven you are no longer a prisoner to your fears Be cautioned, though As ie, it is equally important to be able to restrain it You have always had that ability Don’t let yourself lose it now You h to knohich path to choose Sorievousit in”

Richard nodded soleht about the way it felt to hold the shen he was in the rage, the way he felt its power, the liberating sensation of giving hie, from within himself, and from the sword

“The sword has uardedly “I felt it”

“It does But Richard, ic is only a tool, like any other When you use a whetstone to sharpen a knife, you are si the knife work better for its intended purpose Sa of the intent” Zedd’s eyes were clear and sharp “Soic than, say, by a blade, as if somehow one is less dead if killed by a blow or cut than if killed by the unseen But listen well Dead is dead The fear of the h, can be a powerful weapon Keep that in mind”

Richard nodded The late-afternoon sun warmed his face and out of the corner of his eye he could see the cloud Rahl would be watching it, too Richard remembered the man from the quad, on Blunt Cliff, how he had pulled his sword across his ar blood before he attacked He remembered the look in the man’s eyes He hadn’t understood it at the tiht