Blood of the Fold

Zedd lifted his other hand, and the ceiling lit, glowing with bluish light. As his hand lowered, a razor-thin plane of light, like the surface of a still lake, lowered, passing over them. Ann's eyes widened. The plane of light descended until it settled on the floor, turning it to a churning layer of boiling light. The light coalesced into points of brilliant intensity.

From the points, lightning erupted. Crackling cords of white fire climbed the walls all around, filling the room with a pungent smell. Zedd circled a finger and the lightning leapt from the wall to his collar. Flashes struck out at the metal. The room shook in sympathy with the dancing thunder. Stone dust filled the air.

The table lifted and then exploded in a cloud of dust that was sucked into the streams of twisting light. The room quaked and groaned as huge blocks of slone loosened and began chattering out of their place in the wall.

Through the fury of power, Zedd realized it wasn't working. The collar absorbed the violence without breaking. He whipped an arm out, cutting the cacophony and light. The room rang in sudden silence. Enormous stone blocks hung halfway from the wall. The entire floor was charred and black, yet none of them were burned.

Through his analysis of the Prelate, the girl, and Nathan via the light bond, he now knew the exact extent of the power of each, their strengths, and weaknesses. She could not have made the collar, it had been made by wizards, but she could use it.

"Are you quite through?" Ann asked. Her smile was finally gone.

"I have not yet begun."

Zedd lifted his arms. He would channel enough power to level a mountain, if he had to. Nothing happened.

"That will be enough," she said. Some of her smile returned. "I can see where Richard gets some of his fury."

Zedd thrust out a finger. "You! You're the one who collared him."

“I could have taken him when he was a child, instead of letting him grow up with your love and guidance."

Zedd could count on the fingers of one hand the times in his life he had truly lost control of his temper, and worse, his reason. He was rapidly approaching the need to start counting on his other hand. "Don't try to placate me with your self-righteous justifications; there can be none for slavery."

Ann sighed. "A Prelate, like a wizard, must sometimes use people. I'm sure you understand that. I regret having had to use Richard, and that I must use you, but I have no choice." A wistful smile passed across her face. "Richard was a handful in a collar."

"If you think Richard was trouble, you have seen nothing yet. Wait until you find out the trouble his grandfather will bring down on you." Zedd ground his teeth. "You put one of your collars around his neck. You abducted boys from the Midlands. You have broken the truce that has stood for thousands of years. You know the consequences of such a transgression. The Sisters of the Light will pay the price."

Zedd was standing at the brink of the abyss, at the brink of violating the Wizard's Third Rule, yet he couldn't bring his reason under control. That, in fact, was the only way to violate the Third Rule.

"I know the consequences of the Imperial Order taking the world. I know you don't understand right now, Wizard Zorander, but I hope you will come to see that we fight on the same side."

"I understand a lot more than you think I do. You are aiding the Order through this. I've never had to make my allies prisoners to fight for what's right!"

"Really. What would you call the Sword of Truth?"

Seething, he refused to argue with the woman. "You will remove this collar. Richard needs my help."

"Richard will have to take care of himself. He's a smart boy. You are partly responsible for that. That's why I let him grow up with you."

"The boy needs my help! He needs to know how to use his power. If I don't get to him, he could come up into the Keep. He doesn't know the dangers here. He doesn't know how to use his gift. He could be killed. I can't let that happen. We need him/

"Richard has already been up to the Keep. He spent most of yesterday there, and he left unharmed."

" 'Once lucky, " Zedd quoted, " 'twice confident, and thrice dead. »

"Have faith in your grandson. We must help him in other ways. There is no time to waste. We must be going.";

"I'm not going anywhere with you."

"Wizard Zorander, I'm asking you to help. I'm asking you to cooperate and come with us. Much is at stake. Please do as I ask, or I will be forced to use the collar. You would not like that."

"Listen to her, Zedd," Nathan said. "I can testify that you won't like it. You don't have a choice. I understand how you feel, but it will be easier if you just do as she asks."

"What manner of wizard are you?"

Nathan stood a bit taller. "I'm a prophet."

At least the man was honest. He hadn't recognized the light bond for what it was, and didn't know what Zedd could read from it. "And are you happy about being held in slavery?"