Wizard 8

**Chapter 8**

Richard wakes up and has lunch. He's been asleep for over a day, but he's all better now. More irrelevant chatter, and we get a new zany witticism from Zedd: *“True as toasted toads.”* Which is simultaneously stupid and horrifying. \~/

More chatter. Richard figures out that Zedd is the Nameless Wizard, though a combination of simple logic and rather spurious reasoning. Let's see what tipped Richard off, shall we?

* When the Nameless Wizard left the Midlands, he did the worst thing he could to the Midlands Council: he left them to suffer the consequences of their actions. This sounded like something Zedd would do. Fair enough.
* When Richard told Zedd that Kahlan had been attacked by a quad, he watched Zedd's eyes and *“only someone who had suffered a loss like yours would have had that look in their eyes.”* That seems rather questionable. That's like saying, only someone who was tortured by the Nazis would react badly to hearing of marauding Nazis. If these quads are the assassin teams of the Evil Overlord, presumably they've killed other people than the Nameless Wizard's family. Presumably they're known feared. Inconclusive. \~/
* Upon hearing about the quad, Zedd's attitude towards Kahlan changed immediately, and *“only someone who had know the terror personally would have that kind of empathy.”* Because you can't empathize with someone unless you've literally experienced the same trauma. This is complete malarkey. \~/
* Zedd told Kahlan she would be safe in his house, and he wouldn't lie about something like that. Since a random old man wouldn't have the ability to keep her safe, but a wizard would, Zedd must be a wizard. A bit flimsy, but I'll let it go for now.
* Zedd knew what a quad was. Again, not very compelling; nothing indicates that quads are or were secretive or unknown. \~/

All in all, not very impressive. Nevertheless, Richard is completely right and has impressed Zedd with his brilliant, Holmesian deductions. You in the back! Pay up!

Zedd gets out a sword. Kahlan begs him not to do this, but he says it's not his choice. He gives Richard the sword, which is shiny and awesome and special, and has the word “Truth” on its hilt. Richard takes the sword and it makes him angry.

Yes. The sword makes him angry. Not angry at anything in particular, just...angry. And then the sword gets angry as well.

*“From deep within, [Richard] felt his anger stir, brought to life, seeking direction...*

*As his rage rose, he felt an awakening power rushing into him from the sword: the twin to his own anger. His own feelings had always seemed independent, whole. This was like having an image in a mirror come to life. It was a terrifying specter. His anger fed on the force from the sword, and in return, the wrath from the sword fed on his anger.”*

So Richard gets mad, which makes the sword mad, which makes Richard mad, which makes the sword mad, et cetera. It's *“frightening,” “seductive”* and *“bewitching,”* none of which are words I would have thought to use, but I'm not Terry Goodkind. How can anger be bewitching? How can Richard feel scared, horny, mad and fascinated simultaneously?

Who knows? \~/

Drinks: 5

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