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‘Now； cast the rage； the hate； the anger； the fire； at the hearth。’
Richard threw his hand out。 The slowly tumbling sphere of flame stayed with his hand。 He looked to the hearth； focusing the rage outward； casting it away from himself。
The liquid light howled as it streaked to the hearth； exploding there with a crack； like lightning。
Nathan smiled with pride。 That is how it’s done； my boy。 I doubt the Sisters could teach you that in a hundred years。 You’re a natural。 No doubt about it。 You are a war wizard。’
‘But Nathan； I didn’t feel my Han。 I didn’t sense anything different。 All I felt was angry； like when I use the sword。 For that matter； like when I shut my finger in a door。’
Nathan nodded knowingly。 ‘Of course not。 You are a war wizard。 Others have only one side of the gift。 They use what is around them； the air； heat； cold； fire； water； whatever they need。
‘War wizards aren’t like others。 They instead tap the core of power within themselves。 You don’t direct your Han； you direct your feelings。 The Sisters teach the ‘how’ of how everything is done。 That is irrelevant to your power。 For you； results are all that are important； because you draw power from within。 That is why the Sisters cannot teach you。’
‘What do you mean that’s why they cannot teach me？’
‘Have you ever seen a seamstress miss a pincushion？ The Sisters want you to watch your hand； the pin； and the pincushion。 That’s the way other wizards use their magic。 War wizards don’t watch； they just do。 Their Han acts instinctively。’
‘Was that 。。。 wizard’s fire？’
Nathan chuckled。 ‘That was to wizard’s fire what an annoyed moth is to an enraged bull。’
Richard tried again； but the fire wouldn’t e。 The anger wouldn’t e。 He could draw the sword’s anger； but it wasn’t the same kind he had done with Nathan； from within himself。
‘It won’t work。 Why can’t I do it again？’
‘Because I was helping you； showing you with my own power what it’s like。 You are not yet able to do it on your own。’
‘Why？’
Nathan reached over and tapped Richard’s head。 ‘Because it must e from in here。 You have yet to accept yourself； who you are。 You don’t believe。 You still fight who you are。 Until you accept yourself； until you believe； you won’t be able to call forth your Han； your power； except in great anger。’
‘What of the headaches that came from my gift？ The Sisters said they would kill me without the collar。’
‘The Sisters nibble around the truth as if it were gristle in a piece of meat。 They only eat it if they’re starving。 They want us prisoners so they can bring us to their ways。
‘What they attempt to do when they train with you is what I have just done。 The headaches are dangerous； but only if a young wizard is left alone with his power。 When you had the headaches； were you ever able to make them go away？’
‘Yes。 Sometimes when I concentrated on shooting arrows； or when something inside warned me of danger； or when I was angry and used the magic of the sword； then they went away for a time。’
That’s because you were bringing the gift into harmony with your mind。 The only thing required to keep the gift from harming you is a bit of instruction … like I just gave you。
Teaching wizards should be a wizard’s business。 For a wizard； bringing your mind into harmony with your gift is a simple matter； because it’s the male gift teaching the male gift。 What I have just done with you is enough to keep the gift from harming you for a good long time … without the Rada’Han。
‘In the future； joining with a wizard will take you the next step； and protect you until you reach the following plain。 It’s only important to have help available when you need it。 The Sisters need a hundred years to show you what I have just done。
They use the collar as an excuse to take us prisoner for their own purposes。 They have their own ideas about the training of wizards。 Their idea is to control wizards。’
‘Why？’
They think wizards are responsible for all the evil that has befallen mankind； and if they collar the power； control it； and indoctrinate it； they will bring the light of their theology to the people。 They are zealots who believe they are the only ones who know the true way to eternal reward in the Creator’s light。 They feel justified in using any means to gain that end。’
‘You mean that what you have just showed me； with my power； is enough to keep the gift from killing me； without the collar？’
‘It’s enough to keep the gift from killing you； but it would take many more lessons to teach you to be a real wizard。 All I have done is to hold the stallion’s bit； so he won’t buck you off。 It would take much more work to teach you to ride with grace。’
Richard could feel the muscles in his face draw tight。 ‘If this is true； then they are kicking the rump of a badger。 Thank you； for helping me。’ Richard rubbed his fingers together。 ‘Nathan； there is great trouble ing。 ing very soon。 I need to know a few things。 Do you know the Wizard’s Second Rule？’
‘Of course。 But you must learn the first； before you have the second。’
‘I already know the first。 I killed Darken Rahl with the first。 It states that people can be made to believe any lie； either because they want to believe it’s true； or because they are afraid it’s true。’
‘And the counter to it？’
The secret is that there is no counter。 I must be always vigilant； knowing that I； too； am vulnerable； and never arrogantly believe I am immune。 I must always be alert that I can fall prey。’
‘Very good。’
‘And the Second Rule？’
Nathan’s white eyebrows hooded his azure eyes。 The Second Rule involves unintended results。’
‘So； what is it？’
‘The Second Rule is that the greatest harm can result from the best intentions。 It sounds a paradox； but kindness and good intentions can be an insidious path to destruction。 Sometimes doing what seems right is wrong； and can cause harm。 The only counter to it is knowledge； wisdom； forethought； and understanding the First Rule。 Even then； that is not always enough。’
‘Good intentions； or doing right； can cause harm？ Such as？’
Nathan shrugged。 ‘It would seem kind to give candy to a small child； because they like it so。 Knowledge； wisdom； and forethought tell us that it would make the child sick if we continued this ‘kindness’ at the expense of good food。’
‘That’s obvious。 Anyone would know that。’
‘Say a person hurts their leg； and you bring them food while they heal； but after time they still don’t wish to get up； because it hurts at first。 So； you continue to be kind and bring them food。 Over time； their legs will shrivel； and it will be even more painful to get up； so you are kind and continue bringing food。 In the end； they will be bedridden； unable to ever walk again； because of your kindness。 Your good intentions have brought harm。’
‘I don’t think that happens often enough to be a problem。’
‘I’m trying to give you obvious examples； Richard； so you