tg.stone of tears-第117部分

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d　my　neck；　and　with　it　you　can　hurt　me；　perhaps　kill　me；　and　you　say　it　is　not　my　business？　You　tell　me　I　must　do　the　things　you　say；　that　I　must　take　them　on　faith；　even　though　that　faith　is　shaken　with　every　new　thing　I　discover；　yet　it’s　not　my　business？　You　tell　me　that　the　illusion　I　saw　was　not　as　things　are　in　the　real　world；　yet　I　find　it　was；　and　you　tell　me　it’s　not　my　business？’
　
　Sister　Verna　was　silent。　She　watched　him　without　emotion。　Watched　him；　he　thought；　as　if　he　were　a　bug　in　a　box。
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　will　you　tell　me　one　thing　I’ve　been　wondering　about？’
　
　‘If　I　can。’
　
　He　pulled　his　legs　up　tighter　under　himself。　He　tried　to　keep　any　hostility　out　of　his　tone。　‘When　you　first　saw　me；　you　were　surprised　that　I　was　grown。　You　thought　that　I　would　be　young。’
　
　That’s　right。　We　have　ones　at　the　palace　who　can　sense　one　born　with　the　gift。　But　you　were　hidden　from　us；　so　it　took　us　a　very　long　time　to　find　you。’
　
　‘But　you　told　me　just　the　other　day　that　you　had　spent　over　half　your　life　away　from　the　palace；　searching　for　me。　If　you’ve　spent　twenty…odd　years　looking　for　me；　how　could　you　expect　me　to　be　young？　You　would　have　expected　me　to　be　grown；　unless　you　didn’t　know　I　had　been　born；　and　started　searching　for　me　long　before　anyone　at　the　palace　sensed　me。’
　
　Her　answer　came　in　a　cautious；　quiet　voice。　‘It　is　as　you　say。　It　has　never　happened　this　way　before。’
　
　‘So　why　would　you　e　looking　for　me　before　any　of　you　sensed　that　one　with　the　gift　had　been　born？’
　
　She　chose　her　words　carefully。　‘We　didn’t　know　precisely　when　you　would　be　born；　but　we　knew　you　would　be；　so　we　were　sent　in　search。’
　
　‘How　did　you　know　I　would　be　born？’
　
　‘You　are　spoken　of　in　prophecy。’
　
　Richard　nodded。　He　wanted　to　know　about　this　prophecy　and　why　they　thought　he　was　so　important；　but　he　didn’t　want　to　stray　from　the　trail　he　was　following　at　the　moment。　‘So　you　knew　it　might　be　many　years　before　you　found　me？’
　
　‘Yes。　We　didn’t　know　when　you　would　be　born。　We　were　only　able　to　narrow　it　to　a　range　of　decades。’
　
　‘How　are　the　Sisters　who　are　to　be　sent　chosen？’
　
　‘We’re　selected　by　the　Prelate。’
　
　‘You　have　no　say　in　the　matter？’
　
　She　tensed；　as　if　suspicious　she　might　accidentally　be　slipping　her　neck　through　a　noose；　yet　was　unable　to　keep　from　voicing　her　faith。　‘We　work　in　the　service　of　the　Creator。　We　would　have　no　reason　to　object。　The　whole　purpose　of　the　palace　is　to　help　those　with　the　gift。　To　be　selected　to　save　one　with　the　gift　is　one　of　the　greatest　honors　a　Sister　may　receive。’
　
　‘So；　none　of　the　others　sent　have　ever　had　to　give　up　so　many　years　of　their　lives　to　rescue　one　with　the　gift？’
　
　‘No。　I’ve　never　heard　of　it　taking　more　than　a　year。　But　I　knew　this　assignment　could　last　for　decades。’
　
　Richard　smiled　to　himself　in　triumph。　He　leaned　back；　stretching　his　muscles。　He　took　a　deep　breath。　‘Now　I　understand。’
　
　Her　eyes　narrowed。　‘What　do　you　understand？’
　
　‘I　understand；　Sister　Verna；　why　you　treat　me　the　way　you　do。　I　understand　why　we’re　always　fighting；　why　we’re　always　at　each　other’s　throats。　I　understand　why　you　resent　me。　Why　you　hate　me。’
　
　She　looked　like　someone　waiting　for　the　trapdoor　to　fall　put　from　under　her。　‘I　don’t　hate　you；　Richard。’
　
　He　nodded；　and　pulled　the　catch　on　that　trapdoor。　‘Yes；　you　do。　You　hate　me。　And　I　don’t　blame　you。　I　understand。　You　had　to　give　up　Jedidiah　because　of　me。’
　
　She　flinched　as　if　a　noose　had　just　tightened　around　her　neck。　‘Richard！　You　will　not　speak　to　me　in　。。。’
　
　‘You　resent　me　because　of　that。　Not　because　of　what　happened　to　the　other　two　Sisters。　It’s　because　of　Jedidiah。　If　it　weren’t　for　me；　you　would　be　with　him。　You　would　have　been　with　him　for　the　last　twenty　years。　You　had　to　give　up　the　love　of　your　life　to　go　on　this　accursed　quest　to　find　me。　They　sent　you。　You　had　no　choice；　you　had　to　go。　It’s　your　duty；　and　it　cost　you　your　love；　and　the　children　you　might　have　had。　That’s　what　I’ve　cost　you；　why　you　hate　me。’
　
　Sister　Verna　sat　and　stared；　she　neither　spoke　nor　moved。　Finally；　she　said；　The　Seeker；　indeed。’
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　Sister　Verna。’
　
　‘No　need　to　be；　Richard。　You　don’t　know　what　you　are　talking　about。’　She　slowly　lifted　the　rabbit　from　the　fire；　setting　it　on　the　iron　plate　with　the　bannock。　For　a　moment　she　stared　off　into　nothing。　‘We　had　better　finish　eating。　We　must　be　on　our　way。’
　
　‘Fine。　But　I　just　want　you　to　consider；　Sister；　that　it’s　not　by　my　choice。　I　didn’t　do　this　to　you。　The　Prelate　did。　You　should　either　be　angry　with　her；　or　if　you’re　so　devoted　to　your　duty；　to　your　Creator；　as　you　claim；　then　you　should　have　joy　in　His　service。　Either　way；　please　stop　blaming　me。’
　
　She　opened　her　mouth　to　speak；　but　then　instead　fumbled　with　the　stopper　on　the　waterskin；　finally　getting　it　off；　and　took　a　long　drink。　Drawing　deep　breaths　when　she　finished；　she　dabbed　her　sleeve　to　her　wet　lips。
　
　Her　unwavering　gaze　locked　on　his。　‘Soon；　Richard；　we　will　be　to　the　palace；　but　first　we　have　to　pass　through　the　land　of　a　very　dangerous　people。　The　Sisters　have　an　arrangement　with　them；　to　be　allowed　to　pass。　You　will　have　to　do　a　task　for　them。　You　will　do　it；　or　there　will　be　great　trouble。’
　
　‘What　will　I　have　to　do？’
　
　‘You　will　have　to　kill　someone　for　them。’
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　I　promise　you；　I’m　not　going　to　。。。’
　
　Her　index　finger　rose　from　her　fist；　manding　silence。　‘Don’t　you　dare　swing　the　axe　this　time；　Richard；’　she　whispered。　‘You　have　no　idea　of　the　consequences。’
　
　She　rose　to　her　feet。　‘Get　the　horses　ready。　We　must　be　leaving。’
　
　Richard　stood。　‘Aren’t　you　going　to　have　your　breakfast？’
　
　She　ignored　his　question　and　stepped　close　to　him。
　
　‘It　takes　two　to　argue；　Richard。　You’re　always　angry　with　me；　with　everything　I　tell　you。　You　resent　me。　You　hate　me；　because　you　think　I　made　you　put　on　that　collar。　But　I　didn’t；　and　you　know　it。　Kahlan　made　you　put　it　on。　It’s　because　of　her　you　wear　the　Rada’Han。　If　it　weren’t　for　her；　you　wouldn’t　be　with　me。　That’s　what　I’ve　cost　you；　and　why　you　hate　me。
　
　‘But　I　think　you　should　consider；　Richard；　that　it’s　not　by　‘my　choice。　I　didn’t　do　this　to　you。　Kahlan　did。　You　should　either　be　angry　with　her；　or　if　you’re　so　devoted　to　her；　as　you　claim；　then　have　joy　in　carrying　out　her　wishes。　Perhaps　she　has　valid　reasons　for　them。　Maybe　she　has　your　interests　at　heart。　Either　way；　please　stop　blaming　me。’
　
　Richard　tried　to　swallow；　but　couldn’t。
　
　
　CHAPTER　37
　
　The　bloodred　light　of　day’s　death　oozed　through　the　bones　of　trees　lining　the　spine　of　the　next　ridge。　Her　green…eyed　gaze　left　the　well…hidden　places　where　outposts　of　sentries　were　stationed。　They　were　too　far　apart；　she　noted；　or　she　would　not　be　standing　unnoticed　where　she　was。　She　tallied　the　men　in　rank　upon　rank　of　tents　marching　up　the　valley　floor　below。　Five　thousand　would　be　generous；　she　concluded。
　
　Horses　were　picketed　to　her　left；　near　supply　wagons　all　neatly　lined　up。　To　the　far　side　of　the　valley；　latrines　had　been　dug　in　the　snow。　Cook　wagons　stationed　between　the　men　and　the　supply　wagons　were　packing　up　for　the　night。　Colorful　battle　flags　flew　over　the　mand　tents。　It　was　probably　the　most　orderly　army　she　had　ever　seen　afield。　Galeans　did　have　a　penchant　for　order。
　
　‘They　look　very　nice；’　Chandalen　said　in　a　quiet　voice；　‘for　men　about　to　be　slaughtered。’　The　two　brothers　gave　nervous　chuckles　of　agreement。
　
　Kahlan　nodded　absently。　That　morning；　they　had　seen　the　army　these　men　were　chasing。　They　were　not　neat。　They　were　not　orderly。　They　were　not　pretty。　And　their　sentries　were　not　stationed　too　far　apart。　Still；　Chandalen　and　the　two　brothers　had　managed　to　get　her　close　enough　to　see　what　she　had　wanted　to　see；　and　to　take　a　tally。
　
　She　had　guessed　their　numbers　at　fifty　thousand。　And　that　was　not　being　generous。
　
　She　let　out　a　long　breath；　its　thin；　white　cloud　drifting　away　in　the　cold　air。　‘I　have　to　stop　this。’　She　hiked　her　pack　and　bow　up　on　her　back。　‘Let’s　get　down　there。’
　
　Chandalen；　Prindin；　and　Tossidin　followed　behind　as　she　slogged　down　the　hillside　of　fluffy　snow。　It　had　taken　her　longer　than　she　had　hoped　to　catch　these　men。　A　blizzard　high　in　Jara　Pass　had　left　the　four　of　them　holed　up　in　the　shelter　of　a　wayward　pine　for　two　days。　Wayward　pines　always　reminded　Kahlan　of　Richard；　and　as　she　had　lain　in　her　fur　mantle；　listening　to　the　howl　of　the　wind；　she　had　dreamed　of　him　while　she　slept；　and　while　she　was　awake。
　
　She　was　furious　that　she　had　to　lose　valuable　time　on　the　way　to　Aydindril　to　stop　this　army　from　their　suicide　pursuit　…of　the　forces　that　had　destroyed　Ebinissia；　but　as　the　Mother　Confessor　she　couldn’t　allow　nearly　five　thousand　men　to　die　to　no　purpose。　She　had　to　stop　them　before　they　got　close　to　the　army　that　had　plundered　Ebinissia。　They　were　too　close　now。　They　would　surely　make　contact　by　the　next　day。
　
　The　army　sprang　to　alert　as　the　four　figures　in　white　wolf…pelt　mantles　marched　toward　them。　Shouts　erupted；　and　were　repeated　back　through　the　ranks。　Tent　flaps　were　flung　open　and　men　poured　out。　Swords　were　drawn；　sending　the　ring　of　steel　into　the　cold；　twilight　air。　Men　with　spears　came　running　through　the　snow。　Men　with　bows　took　up　positions；　nocking　arrows。　A　wall　of　several　hundred　men　put　themselves　between　her　and　the　mand　tents。　More　were　ing　at　a　run；　pulling　on　clothes；　shouting　to　others　still　in　their　tents。
　
　Kahlan　and　the　three　men　with　her　came　to　a　halt。　She　stood　tall　and　still。　Behind　her；　Chandalen；　Prindin；　and　Tossidin　leaned　lazily　on　their　spears。
　
　A　man　of　rank　tumbled　out　of　the　largest　tent　as　he　pulled　on　a　heavy；　brown　coat。　He　made　his　way　through　the　wall　of　men；　shouting　at　the　archers　to　hold　their　arrows。　He　was　joined　by　two　others　of　rank　as　he　stumbled　through　the　line　of　defenders。　She　recognized　his　rank　as　he　approached。　He　was　the　captain。　The　two　men　with　him；　one　to　each　side；　were　lieutenants。
　
　When　he　drew　himsel