r be grateful to the good spirits she be a skip； but bitter at them that I be gifted。
‘In Nicobarese； those with the gift be loathed and distrusted。 It be thought the gift be allied to the flows of power not only from the Creator； but also from the Keeper。 Even ones using the gift for good be suspected of being a baneling。 You know of the banelings； yes？’
Zedd tore off a piece of bread。 ‘Yes。 Ones turned to the Keeper。 Sworn to him。 They hide in the light； as well as the shadows； serving his wishes； working to his ends。 They can be anyone。 Some work for good for years； hiding； waiting to be called。 But when they are called； they do the Keeper’s bidding。
They are also called by different names； but they’ are all agents of the Keeper。 Some books call them that： agents。 Some are important people； like Darken Rahl； used for important tasks。 Some are everyday people； used for dirty little deeds。 Those with the gift； like Darken Rahl； are the most difficult for the Keeper to turn。 Those without it are easier； but even they are rare。’
Adie’s eyes widened。 ‘Darken Rahl be a baneling？’
Zedd lifted an eyebrow as he nodded。 ‘Admitted it to me himself。 He said he was an agent； but it’s the same thing； whatever the word； and I’ve heard any number。 They all serve the Keeper。’
‘This be dangerous news。’
Zedd sopped up some stew with the piece of bread。 ‘I bring very little of any other kind。 You were saying about your grandmother Lindel？’
‘In the time of Grandmother Lmdel’s youth； sorceresses be put to death for anything that fate brought： sickness； accidents； still births。 Put to death； wrongly； for being banelings。 Some of the gifted fought back at being wrongly persecuted。 They fought well。 It deepened the hatred； and only served to confirm the fears of many of the Nicobarese people。
‘At last； there was a truce。 Nicobarese leaders agreed to let the gifted women be； if they would give a soul oath； as a way of proving they not be banelings； an oath not to use their power unless permission be granted by a governing body； the king’s circle of their town； for instance。 It be an oath to the people。 An oath not to use the gift and bring the Keeper’s notice。’
Zedd swallowed a mouthful of stew。 ‘Why would people think sorceresses were banelings？’
‘Because it be easier to blame a woman for their troubles than to admit the truth； and more satisfying to accuse than to curse the unknown。 Those with the gift use power that can help people； but it can also be used to harm them。 Because it can be used to harm； it be believed the power must be given； at least in part； by the Keeper。’
‘Superstitious nonsense；’ he growled。
‘As you well know； superstition needs no grounding in truth； but once rooted； it grows a strong though twisted tree。’
He grunted his assent。 ‘So no sorceress used her power？’
Adie shook her head。 ‘No。 Unless it be for some mon good； and they went before the king’s circle of their town first and asked permission。 Every sorceress went before the circle of their town or district and swore an oath to the people； an oath on her soul； to abide by the wishes of the people。 Swore a solemn oath not to use her power on or for another unless asked to do so by the agreement of the circle。’
Zedd put his spoon down in disgust。 ‘But they had the gift。 How could they not use it？’
‘They used it； but only in private。 Never where anyone could see； and never on another。’
Zedd leaned back in his chair； shaking his head in silent wonder at the Wizard’s First Rule； at the things people would believe； while Adie went on。
‘Grandmother Lindel be a stern old woman who lived by herself。 She never wanted anything to do with teaching me about using the gift。 She told me only to let it be。 And my mother； of course； could teach me nothing。 So I learned on my own as I grew； as the gift grew； but I knew very well the wickedness of using it。 I be lectured on that almost every day。 To use the gift in a manner not permitted was made to seem like touching the taint of the Keeper himself； and I believed it so。 I feared greatly going against what I be taught。 I be a fruit of the tree of that superstition。
‘One day； when I be eight or nine； I be in the town square with my mother and father； on market day； and across the square； a building caught fire。 There be a girl； about my age； on the second floor； trapped by the flames。 She screamed for help。 No one could reach her because the fire be all through the first floor。 Her screams of terror burned every nerve in me。 I started to cry。 I wanted to help。 I could not stand the screams。’ Adie folded her hands in her lap and looked down at the table。 ‘I made the fire to go out。 The girl be saved。’
Zedd watched her placid expression as she stared at the table。 ‘I don’t suppose anyone； except the girl and her parents； were happy？’
Adie shook her head。 ‘Everyone knew I had the gift。 They knew it be me who had done it。 My mother stood and cried。 My father just stood looking the other way。 He would not look at me； at an agent of the Keeper’s evil。
‘Someone went for Grandmother Lindel； she was respected because of how she stood by the oath。 When Grandmother Lindel came； she took me and the girl before the men of the king’s circle。 Grandmother Lindel switched the girl who I saved。 She bawled a good long time。’
Zedd was incredulous。 ‘She beat the girl！ Why？’
‘For letting the Keeper use her to bring forth the use of the gift。’ Adie sighed。 The girl and I had known each other； had been friends； of a sort。 She never spoke to me again。’
Adie hugged her arms across her stomach。 ‘And then Grandmother Lindel stripped me naked in front of those men； and switched me until I was covered with welts and blood。 I screamed more than the girl had in the fire。 Then she marched me； naked and bloody； through the town； to her house。 The humiliation be worse than the beating。
‘When we got to her house； I asked how she could be so of hers still on her face。 And then she said； ‘Though you be wild of spirit； child； you have worked to tame it。 The people have asked for your oath； and you have given it。 May I not live to see you break it。 You owe no debt beyond that。 I will take care of the circle and see to Mathrin Galliene。 You will wed Pell。’ I wept into the hem of her dress。’
Adie was silent； staring into the fire； lost in the memories。 Zedd lifted an eyebrow。 ‘Well； did you wed your love？’
‘Yes；’ she whispered in her soft rasp。 She took the spoon off its hook and stirred the stew while Zedd watched her。 At last； she hung it back at its place。 ‘For three months； I thought life be beyond bliss。’
Her mouth worked soundlessly as she stared into nothingness。 Zedd put an arm around her shoulder and gently led her back to the table。 ‘Sit； Adie。 Let me bring you a cup of tea。’
She was still sitting； her hands folded together on the table； staring off； when he returned with the steaming cups。 He placed one in her thin hands as he sat opposite her。 He didn’t press her to go on before she was ready。
At last； she did。 ‘One day； the day of my birth and nineteen years； Pell and I had taken a walk in the country。 I be with child。’ She lifted the cup in both hands and took a sip。 ‘We spent the day walking past farms； thinking of names for our child； holding hands； and 。。。 well； you know the foolishness of love at that age。
‘On our way back； we had to walk past the Choora mill； just outside of town。 I thought it strange no one be there。 Someone always be at the mill。’ Adie closed her eyes for a moment and then took another sip of tea。 ‘As it turned out； there be people there。 The Blood of the Fold。 They be waiting for us。’
Zedd knew of them。 In the larger cities of Nicobarese； the Blood of the Fold were an organized corps of men who hunted banelings； rooted out evil； as they saw it。 In other lands； there were men like them； who went by other names； but they were the same。 None were especially picky about proof。 A corpse was the only proof they need show of their job well done。