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  　Zedd inclined his head toward Warren, but the boy was already falling to his knees and bowing his blond head.

  　"Wizard Zorander! This is quite an honor." He popped back up and seized Zedd's hand in both of his, pumping it until Zedd thought his arm might come undone at the shoulder. "I'm so pleased to meet you. Richard told me all about you. I'm so pleased to meet a wizard of your standing and talent. I would be so happy to learn from you!"

  　The happier he looked, the more Verna scowled.

  　"Well, I'm pleased to meet you, too, my boy." Zedd didn't tell Warren that Richard had never mentioned him. But that was not out of disrespect or neglect; Richard had never had a chance to tell Zedd a great number of very important things. Zedd thought he could sense through Warren's grip that the young man was a wizard of unusual talents.

  　A bear of a man with a curly rust-colored beard, a white scar from his left temple to his jaw, and heavy eyebrows stepped forward. His grayish green eyes fixed on Zedd with fierce intensity, but he had a grin like a soldier on a long march who had spotted a lonely cask of ale..

  　"General Reibisch, commander of the D'Haran forces here in the south," the man said, taking Zedd's hand when Warren at last surrendered it and stepped back . beside Verna. "Lord Rahl's grandfather! What good fortune to see you, sir." His

  　grip was firm, but not painful. It got tighter. "What very good fortune."

  　"Yes, indeed," Zedd muttered. "Unfortunate as the circumstances are, General Reibisch."

  　"Unfortunate . . . ?"

  　"Well, never mind, for the moment," Zedd said, waving off the question. He asked another, instead. "Tell me, General, have you begun to dig all the mass graves, yet? Or do you intend the few who are left alive to simply abandon all the bodies."

  　"Bodies?"

  　"Why . . . yes, the bodies of all your troops who are going to die."

  　CHAPTER 16

  　I hope you like eggs," Sister Philippa sang out as she swept into the tent, holding out a steaming plate.

  　Zedd rubbed his hands together. "Delightful!"

  　Everyone else was still standing in stiff, stunned silence. Sister Philippa didn't seem to notice all the hanging jaws.

  　"I had the cook add some ham and a few other things he had about." She glanced down at Zedd's form. "I thought you could use some substance."

  　"Marvelous!" Zedd grinned as he relieved her of the plate mounded high with scrambled eggs and ham.

  　"Ah . . ." the general began, seemingly befuddled as to how to frame his question, "might you kindly explain . . . what you mean by that, Wizard Zorander?"

  　"Zedd will do." Zedd looked up from inhaling the intoxicating aroma of the dish. "Dead." He drew the fork across his throat. "You know, dead. Nearly all of them. Dead." He turned back to Sister Philippa. "This 【创建和谐家园】ells delightful." He again inhaled the steam lifting from the plate of eggs. "Simply delightful. You are a woman of a kind heart and a skillful mind, to think to have the cook add such a splendid complement of ingredients. Simply delightful."

  　The Sister beamed.

  　The general lifted a hand. "Wizard Zorander, if I may - "

  　Adie hushed the burly general. "You be poor competition to food. Be patient."

  　Zedd took a forkful, humming his pleasure at the flavor he encountered. As he took a second forkful, Adie guided him to a simple bench at the side of the tent. A table in the middle held a few mugs and a lamp that lent the cozy tent not only its light but its oily odor as well.

  　Despite Adie's advice to be patient, everyone began talking at once, asking questions and offering objections. Zedd ignored them as he shoveled in the scrambled eggs. The large chunks of ham were delicious. He waved a particular juicy piece of meat to the confounded spectators to indicate his pleasure with it. The spices, the onions, the peppers, and the warm lumps of cheese were delightful. He rolled his eyes and moaned in bliss.

  　It was the best food he'd had in days. His traveling rations were simple and had long ago become boring. He had often grumbled that Spider ate better than he did. Spider seemed 【创建和谐家园】ug about it, too, which he had always found annoying. It wasn't good for a horse to be 【创建和谐家园】ug with you.

  　"Philippa," Verna growled, "must you be so pleased about a plate of eggs?"

  　"Well the poor man is practically starving." Puzzled by Verna's scowl, she waggled her hand at Zedd. "Just look at him. I'm simply happy to see him enjoy his meal, and pleased I could help one of the Creator's gifted."

  　Zedd slowed when he all too soon approached the end of his meal, putting off the last few bites. He could have eaten another plate the same size. General Reibisch, sitting on a bench on the opposite side of the 【创建和谐家园】all tent, had been furiously twisting a strand of beard. Now, he leaned forward, his intent gaze fixed on Zedd.

  　"Wizard Zorander, I need - "

  　"Zedd. Remember?"

  　"Yes, Zedd. Zedd, the lives of these soldiers are my responsibility. Could you please tell me if you think they are in danger?"

  　Zedd spoke around a mouthful. "I already did."

  　"But . . . what is the nature of the danger?"

  　"The gifted. You know, magic."

  　The general straightened with a sober expression. His fingers dug into his muscular thighs. "The gifted?"

  　"Yes. The enemy has gifted among them. I thought you knew."

  　He blinked a few times as he seemed to run it through his mind again, trying to discover the nugget of invisible danger in Zedd's simple statement.

  　"Of course we know that."

  　"Ah. Then why haven't you dug some mass graves?"

  　Verna shot to her feet. "In the name of Creation! What do you think we are, serving wenches? Here to bring you dinner? We are gifted Sisters, here to defend the army from Jagang's captive Sisters!"

  　Adie stealthily signaled Verna to sit down and keep quiet. Her voice came out like gravel in honey. "Why don't you tell us what you have found, Zedd? I be sure the general and the Prelate would like to hear how to improve our defenses."

  　Zedd scraped the 【创建和谐家园】all yellow lumps across the plate, collecting them into a final, pitifully 【创建和谐家园】all forkful. "Prelate, I didn't mean to imply a deliberate inadequacy on your part."

  　"Well you certainly

  　"You are all too good, that's all."

  　"I beg your pardon?"

  　"Too good. You and your Sisters have spent your lives trying to help people."

  　"Well . . . I, we - why, of course we help people. That's our calling."

  　"Killing is not. Jagang will be intent on killing you all."