tg.stone of tears-第158部分

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　‘Of　course　I　know　that！　I　had　no　delusions　of　us。　I　had　simply　hoped　to　return　and　be　treated　with　a　little　tact　and　sensitivity。’
　
　He　shrugged　again。　‘I’m　sorry；　Verna。　I　always　thought　of　you　as　a　woman　who　appreciated　candor；　one　who　had　no　use　for　word　sports。’　His　eyes　went　out　of　focus。　‘I　guess　I’ve　learned　so　much　about　。。。　life　。。。　since　back　then；　when　I　was　so　young。’
　
　She　removed　her　glare　from　his　handsome　face　and　started　away。　‘Good　night；　Jedidiah。’
　
　‘What　of　my　question？’　His　voice　had　an　unpleasant　edge　to　in。　He　softened　it。　‘What’s　the　new　one　like？’
　
　She　halted；　but　didn’t　turn。　‘You　were　there。　I　saw　you。　What　you　saw　of　Richard　is　what　he　is。’
　
　‘I　also　saw　what　happened　to　you。　I’m　gaining　a　little　influence　among　some　of　the　Sisters。　Maybe　I　can　do　something　to　help　you　with　your　situation。’　He　gestured　vaguely　with　a　hand。　‘If　you’re　open　with　me；　and　satisfy　my　curiosity；　maybe　I　can　help　you　out　of　your　unfortunate　predicament。’
　
　She　started　out　again。　‘Good　night；　Jedidiah。’
　
　‘I’ll　be　seeing　you　around　the　palace；　Verna。　Think　on　it。’
　
　She　couldn’t　believe　how　ignorant　she　had　been　all　those　years　ago。　She　remembered　Jedidiah　as　caring　and　sincere。　Maybe　her　memory　was　addled。
　
　Maybe　she　was　just　thinking　of　herself；　and　hadn’t　given　him　the　chance　to　be　kinder。　She　must　look　a　mess。　She　should　have　cleaned　herself　up；　put　on　a　nice　dress；　at　least　fixed　her　unruly　hair；　before　she　saw　Jedidiah。　But　she　had　not　had　the　chance。
　
　Maybe　if　she　had　touched　his　cheek；　he　would　have　remembered　the　spark　of　something；　maybe　remembered　the　tears　he　shed　the　day　she　left；　and　the　promises　he　had　made。　Promises　she　knew　the　moment　they　left　his　lips　would　be　broken　before　their　echo　faded；　so　long　ago。
　
　She　came　to　the　hall　that　led　to　the　novices’　apartments。　She　stood　looking　down　at　the　doors。　She　was　tired。　Sunup　to　sundown　in　the　stables　was　going　to　be　exhausting。　She　turned　the　other　way；　instead。　She　had　one　other　thing　to　do　before　she　slept。
　
　
　Pasha　came　to　a　stop　before　a　doorway　with　a　casing　of　stone；　carved　to　look　like　vines。　Nestled　in　the　center　of　the　stone　vines　was　a　large；　round…topped；　fumed　oak　door。
　
　Pasha　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　‘Your　dungeon。’
　
　‘There’s　no　bolt　on　the　outside　of　the　door。　How　will　you　lock　me　in？’
　
　She　seemed　surprised　by　the　question。　‘We　don’t　lock　our　boys　in。　You’re　free　to　e　and　go　as　you　please。’
　
　Richard　frowned。　‘You　mean　I’m　free　to　roam　this　building？’
　
　‘No。　You’re　free　to　go　wherever　you　wish。　You　may　go　most　anywhere　in　the　palace；　or　into　the　city；　if　you　wish。　Most　of　the　boys　spend　a　great　deal　of　their　time　in　the　city。’
　
　Her　face　reddened　a　little　at　the　last　of　what　she　said；　and　she　looked　away　from　his　face。
　
　‘What　about　the　country　around　the　city？’
　
　She　shrugged；　and　then　pulled　the　shoulder　of　her　blue　dress　back　up　a　little。　‘Of　course。　I　don’t　know　why　you　would　want　to　go　into　the　countryside；　none　of　the　other　boys　do；　but　there’s　nothing　stopping　you　from　going　outside　either　the　palace　or　the　city。’
　
　A　worried　wrinkle　came　to　her　brow。　‘But　you　must　stay　clear　of　the　Hagen　Woods。　It　is　extremely　dangerous。　Were　you　warned　about　the　Hagen　Woods？　Were　you　shown　where　it　is　while　you　journeyed　to　the　palace？’
　
　Richard　nodded。　‘How　far　may　I　go　into　the　countryside？’
　
　‘The　Rada’Han　will　prevent　you　from　going　too　far　afield；　we　must　be　able　to　find　you；　but　the　limit　is　a　good　number　of　miles　in　a　radius　around　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。’
　
　‘How　many　miles？’
　
　‘Farther　than　you　would　want　to　go。　I　expect　almost　all　the　way　to　the　land　of　the　savages。’
　
　‘You　mean　the　Baka　Ban　Mana。’
　
　She　nodded。　‘Nearly　that　far；　I　would　expect。’
　
　‘Unguarded？’
　
　She　put　her　hands　on　her　hips。　‘You　are　assigned　to　me。　I　will　acpany　you　most　everywhere　you　go；　for　now。　After　our　boys　are　more　experienced；　they　go　off　on　their　own　when　they　wish。’
　
　‘Whenever　I　want；　I　can　simply　wander　around？’
　
　‘Well；　you　live　here；　at　the　palace；　of　course。　And　you　must　be　around　for　your　lessons。　I　will　give　you　lessons；　and　so　will　a　number　of　the　Sisters。　We　will　teach　you　to　touch　your　Han；　and　then　once　you　are　able　to　do　that；　we　will　begin　to　teach　you　how　to　control　it。’
　
　‘Why　different　Sisters？　Why　not　just　one；　or　you？’
　
　‘Because　sometimes　the　Han　of　certain　people　works　better　together。　Also；　the　Sisters　have　more　experience　than　me；　have　more　knowledge。　There　may　be　one　or　several　of　us　who　are　better　able　to　help　you；　and　so　different　Sisters　give　you　lessons；　until　we　discover　with　whom　you　work　best。’
　
　‘Will　Sister　Verna　be　one　of　those？’
　
　Pasha　gave　him　a　look　from　under　her　eyebrows。　‘Verna　is　no　longer　a　Sister。　She　is　no　longer　entitled　to　the　appellation。　She　is　a　novice；　now；　and　should　be　addressed　simply　as　Verna。　Novices；　other　than　the　one　assigned　to　you　…　that　is　me　…　are　not　allowed　to　give　lessons。　Novices　of　the　first　rank；　like　Verna；　are　not　allowed　to　have　anything　to　do　with　our　boys。　The　duty　of　a　novice　is　to　learn；　not　to　teach。’
　
　Richard　didn’t　think　he　could　ever　think　of　Sister　Verna　as　simply　Verna。　It　sounded　too　strange　to　him。　‘When　will　she　be　a　Sister　again？’
　
　‘She　must　serve　as　a　novice；　and　advance　as　any　other　novice。　I　started　scrubbing　pots　in　the　kitchens　when　I　was　little。　It　has　taken　me　this　long　to　be　given　this　chance。　One　day；　if　Verna　works　as　hard　as　I　have；　then　she；　too；　will　have　the　chance　to　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light。　Until　then；　Verna　is　a　novice。’
　
　Richard　fumed　at　the　thought　of　Sister　Verna　being　demoted　on　his　account。　By　the　time　she　was　again　a　Sister；　she　would　be　an　old　woman。　He　changed　the　subject。　‘And　why　are　we　allowed　to　roam　around？’
　
　‘Because　you　are　not　a　danger　to　the　people。　Someday；　when　you　learn　to　control　your　Han；　then　you　begin　to　have　limits　placed　on　where　you　may　go。　The　people　in　the　city　are　afraid　of　boys　who　can　wield　the　power　…　unfortunate　incidents　have　happened　in　the　past　…　and　so　once　a　boy　bees　skilled　at　handling　his　Han；　he　is　then　restricted　from　the　city。　As　the　boys　advance　as　wizards；　they　are　placed　under　more　restrictions；　until　near　the　end；　and　their　release；　when　they　are　confined　to　certain　areas　of　the　palace。
　
　‘But　for　now；　you’re　free　to　go　almost　anywhere　you　wish。　I　will　know　where　you　are　all　the　time；　by　your　Rada’Han。’
　
　‘You　mean　any　Sister　can　find　me　by　this　cursed　thing？’
　
　‘No；　only　the　one　who　gave　it　to　you；　because　she　held　it　and　recognizes　its　power；　and　since　I’m　in　charge　of　you；　I　must　be　able　to　know　where　you　are　at　all　times；　so　I　will　need　to　allow　my　Han　to　recognize　your　Rada’Han’s　unique　feel。’
　
　She　pushed　the　door　open　and　went　into　the　dark　room。　With　a　sweep　of　her　arm；　lamps　set　all　around　the　room　sprang　to　flame。
　
　‘You　must　teach　me　that　trick；’　he　muttered。
　
　‘It’s　not　a　trick。　It’s　simply　my　Han。　And　that’s　the　simplest　of　many　things　I　will　teach　you。’
　
　The　ceiling　of　the　huge　room　was　painted　around　its　molding　with　different…colored　lines　in　intricate　patterns。　The　walls　were　paneled　in　cherry　of　a　warm　color。　Tall　windows　hung　with　rich；　deep　blue　moire　drapes　looked　out　on　the　night。　There　was　a　fireplace；　with　a　white　column　to　each　side。　Most　of　the　wood　floor　was　covered　with　thick　carpets。　fortable…looking　chairs　and　couches　were　placed　about　the　room；　and　arranged　in　front　of　the　fireplace。
　
　Richard　thought　that　his　whole　house　would　fit　twice　into　the　room。　He　slipped　the　pack　off　his　back　and　leaned　it　against　the　wall　next　to　the　fireplace。　He　stood　the　quiver　of　arrows　and　the　unstrung　bow　beside　it。
　
　He　went　to　the　right；　to　a　set　of　double　doors　made　up　of　small　panes　of　glass　and　covered　over　with　sheer；　cream…colored　curtains。　Beyond　the　doors　was　an　expansive　balcony　overlooking　the　city。　Stone　urns　filled　with　flowers　were　set　about　the　slate　floor　of　the　balcony。　He　put　his　fingers　to　the　marble　railing　as　he　looked　to　his　right；　past　the　sparkling　lights　of　the　city；　to　the　hills　from　where　he　had　e。
　
　‘The　sunsets　are　beautiful　from　this　balcony；’　Pasha　said。
　
　Richard　wasn’t　interested　in　sunsets。　He　studied　the　courtyard　below；　the　gates；　the　roads；　the　patrolling　soldiers；　and　the　bridges　to　the　city　and　the　hills　beyond。　He　tried　to　fix　a　map　of　it　all　into　his　head。
　
　He　went　back　inside　and　marched　to　the　other　end　of　the　room；　to　the　doorway　there。　Beyond　was　a　bedroom　almost　as　large　as　the　first　room。　It　held　the　largest　bed　he　had　ever　seen；　covered　with　a　deep　purple　quilt。　Another　pair　of　glassed　doors　led　to　another　balcony；　but　this　one　looked　south；　out　over　the　sea。
　
　‘It’s　a　beautiful　view；’　Pasha　said。　‘A　romantic　view。’　She　saw　that　he　was　looking　to　the　sections　of　the　palace　below。　She　pointed。　‘Across　that　courtyard　are　some　of　the　women’s　quarters；　where　most　of　the　Sisters’　rooms　are。’　She　shook　the　finger　at　him。　‘You　will　stay　away　from　them；　young　man！’　She　turned　away。　‘Unless　a　Sister　invites　you　to　her　room；’　she　added　under　her　breath。　‘What　do　I　call　you；’　he　asked。　‘Sister　Pasha？’　She　giggled。　‘No。　I’m　a　novice；　though　I　hope　to　bee　a　Sister　if　I　prove　myself　with　you。　Until　then；　I　am　simply　Pasha。’
　
　Richard　turned　to　her；　directing　a　glare　to　her　eyes。　‘My　name　is　Richard。　Do　you　have　trouble　remembering　it？’
　
　‘Look　here；　you　are　assigned　to　me　and　。。。’
　
　‘If　that　is　too　difficult　for　you　to　remember；　you　have　no　chance　of　ever　being　a　Sister；　because　if　you　insist　on　trying　to　demean　me　by　calling　me　by　other　than　my　name；　I　will　see　to　it　that　you　quickly　fail　in　your　test。’　He　leaned　over　her　as　he　glowered　down　at　her　wide　eyes。　‘Do　you　understand；　Pasha！’
　
　She　swallowed。　‘You　will　not　raise　your　voice　to　me；　young　。。。’　She　lifted　her　chin　a　little。　‘You　will　not　raise　your　voice　to　me；　Richard。’
　
　That’s　better。　Thank　you。’　He　hoped　she　would　leave　it　at　that；　he　was　in　no　mood　to　be　kind　if　she　was　not