tg.stone of tears-第159部分

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　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。
　
　He　turned　away。　This　balcony　held　less　of　a　view　of　the　things　he　was　interested　in；　and　so　he　went　back　into　the　bedroom。
　
　She　followed　on　his　heels。　‘Look　here；　Richard；　you　will　learn　some　manners　or　else　I　will　。。。’
　
　That　was　the　end　of　his　indulgence。　He　spun　to　her。　She　lurched　to　a　halt；　almost　colliding　with　him。
　
　‘You’ve　never　been　in　charge　of　anyone　before；　have　you？’　She　didn’t　move。　‘I　would　say　that　this　is　the　first　time　you　have　been　given　responsibility；　and　you　are　terrified　you　will　muck　it　up。　Since　you　are　inexperienced；　you　think　acting　like　a　tyrant　will　fool　people　into　thinking　you　know　what　you　are　doing。’
　
　‘Well；　I　。。。’
　
　Her　voice　trailed　off　as　he　leaned　down；　putting　his　face　close　to　hers。
　
　‘You　should　not　be　frightened　of　letting　me　see　that　you　are　inexperienced　at　manding　people；　Pasha。　What　you　should　be　frightened　of　is　that　I　will　kill　you。’
　
　Her　eyes　narrowed　with　indignation。　‘Don’t　you　dare　threaten　me。’
　
　This　is　a　game　to　you。　A　way　for　you　to　fulfill　some　arcane　rules　by　prancing　around；　pulling　your　little　puppy　around　by　his　collar；　and　training　him　to　lick　your　hand；　so　you　may　gain　a　new　rank。’
　
　He　gritted　his　teeth　as　he　lowered　his　voice。　‘It　is　not　a　game　to　me；　Pasha。　It’s　a　matter　of　life　and　death。　I　am　a　prisoner；　held　in　a　collar；　as　a　beast；　or　a　slave。　I　have　only　as　much　control　of　my　life　as　you　people　allow。　I　know　I　am　to　be　tortured　by　you　as　a　way　of　breaking　my　will。
　
　‘You　are　wrong；　Pasha；　if　you　think　that　I’m　making　a　threat。　I’m　not。　I　am　making　a　promise。’
　
　‘I’m　not　what　you　think　of　me；　Richard；’　she　said　in　a　small　voice。　‘I　want　to　be　your　friend。’
　
　‘You　are　not　my　friend。　You　are　my　captor。’　He　held　a　finger　up　in　front　of　her　face。　‘Don’t　you　ever　turn　your　back　on　me；　because　I　will　kill　you；　just　as　I　killed　the　last　person　who　held　me　prisoner　in　a　collar。’
　
　She　blinked　up　at　him。　‘Richard；　I　don’t　know　what　happened　to　you　before；　but　we’re　not　like　that。　I　want　to　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light　to　help　people　see　the　Creator’s　goodness。’
　
　Richard　was　dangerously　close　to　letting　the　magic　slip　from　his　control。　He　struggled　to　maintain　his　grip。　He　had　other　things　to　do。　‘I　am　not　interested　in　your　theology。　Just　remember　what　I　told　you。’
　
　She　smiled。　‘I　will。　I　apologize　for　making　you　angry　by　calling　you　other　than　by　your　name。　Please　forgive　me。　I’ve　never　done　this　before。　I　was　only　doing　as　I　thought　I　should；　following　the　rules；　as　I　was　trained。’
　
　‘Forget　the　rules。　Just　be　yourself；　and　you　will　have　less　trouble　in　life。’
　
　‘If　that　would　help　you　believe　that　I’m　only　trying　to　help　you；　then　that’s　what　I　shall　do。’　She　pointed。　‘Here。　Sit　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。’
　
　‘Why？’
　
　Though　she　didn’t　move；　he　felt　a　gentle　push。　He　fell　back；　to　sit　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　‘Don’t　。。。’
　
　She　stepped　between　his　legs；　close　to　him。
　
　‘Hush。　Let　me　do　my　job。　I　told　you　before；　I　must　let　my　Han　e　to　know　your　Rada’Han；　so　I　will　know　where　you　are　at　all　times。’
　
　She　put　her　hands　to　each　side　of　his　neck；　over　the　collar。　She　closed　her　eyes。　Her　breasts　were　right　in　front　of　his　face；　moving　with　each　breath。　He　felt　a　soft　tingling　sensation　that　sank　all　the　way　to　his　toes　and　then　came　back　up　through　him。　It　was　slightly　unfortable；　but　not　unpleasant；　and　in　fact　the　longer　it　went　on；　the　better　it　felt。
　
　When　she　took　her　hands　away；　the　absence　of　the　sensation　was　agony　for　a　moment。　The　world　seemed　to　hum　and　spin。　He　shook　his　head。
　
　‘What　did　you　do？’
　
　‘I　simply　let　my　Han　e　to　know　your　Rada’Han。’　She　looked　a　little　dazed。　She　swallowed　as　a　tear　ran　down　her　cheek。　‘And　something　of　your　Han；　your　essence。’
　
　She　turned　away。　Richard　stood。
　
　‘Does　that　mean　that　you　will　always　know　where　I　am；　now？　By　my　collar？’
　
　She　nodded　weakly　as　she　strode　slowly　across　the　room。　Her　voice　regained　its　control。　‘What　are　your　preferences；　for　food？　Your　special　requirements？’
　
　‘I　don’t　eat　meat。’
　
　She　stopped　in　her　tracks。　‘That’s　one　I’ve　never　heard　before。’
　
　‘And；　I　guess　I　don’t　like　cheese　anymore；　either。’
　
　She　considered　a　moment；　and　then　walked　on。　‘I　will　tell　the　cooks　your　special　requirements。’
　
　A　plan　was　forming　in　his　head；　and　she　wasn’t　part　of　it。　He　needed　to　get　rid　of　her。
　
　Pasha　went　to　a　tall；　pickled…pine　wardrobe。　It　was　filled　with　fine　clothes。　There　were　trousers　of　a　smooth　weave；　at　least　a　dozen　shirts；　mostly　white；　some　with　ruffles；　and　coats　of　every　color。
　
　‘These　are　yours；’　she　said。
　
　‘If　everyone　was　surprised　I　was　grown；　why　are　they　a　size　of　a　grown　man？’
　
　She　inspected　the　various　items；　feeling　the　fabric；　taking　some　out　and　holding　them　up　for　a　better　look。　‘Someone　must　have　known。　Verna　must　have　told　them。’
　
　‘Sister　Verna。’
　
　She　put　a　black　coat　back。　‘I’m　sorry；　Richard；　but　it　is　just　Verna；　now。’　She　pulled　out　a　white　shirt。　‘Do　you　like　this？’
　
　‘No。　I　would　look　foolish　wearing　fancy　things　like　that。’
　
　She　smiled　coquettishly。　‘I　think　you　would　look　very　handsome　in　it。　But　if　it　doesn’t　please　you；　there　are　coins　on　the　table　over　there。　I’ll　show　you　some　shops　in　the　city；　and　you　may　purchase　whatever　you　like　better。’
　
　Richard　glanced　to　the　marble…topped　table。　There　was　a　silver　bowl　of　silver　coins；　and　next　to　it；　a　gold　bowl　heaped　full　with　gold　coins。　If　he　worked　his　whole　life　as　a　guide；　he　would　never　earn　even　half　that　much　gold。
　
　‘It’s　not　mine。’
　
　‘Of　course　it　is。　You’re　a　guest　of　the　palace；　and　the　palace　provides　whatever　our　guests　require。　If　you　use　that　up；　it　will　be　replaced。’　She　pulled　out　a　red　coat　with　gold　brocade　on　the　shoulders　and　cuffs。　Her　eyes　brightened。　‘Richard；　this　would　look　simply　grand　on　you。’
　
　‘Even　if　you　cover　a　collar　with　precious　gems；　it’s　still　a　collar。’
　
　This　has　nothing　to　do　with　your　Rada’Han。　What　you’re　wearing　is　disgusting。　You　look　like　some　savage　from　the　woods。’　She　held　the　red　coat　open。　‘Here；　try　this　on。’
　
　He　snatched　the　coat　from　her　hands　and　threw　it　on　the　bed。　Gripping　her　by　the　arm；　he　marched　her　to　the　door　in　the　front　room。
　
　‘Richard！　Stop　it！　What　are　you　doing！’
　
　He　pulled　the　door　open。　‘I’m　tired；　it’s　been　a　long　day。　Good　night；　Pasha。’
　
　‘Richard；　I’m　only　trying　to　help　you　look　better。　You　look　uncivilized　in　that　outfit。　You　look　like　some　huge　beast。’
　
　He　went　calm　as　he　took　in　her　blue　dress；　blue　the　color　of　Kahlan’s　wedding　dress。
　
　‘That　color　does　not　bee　you；’　he　said。　‘Does　not　bee　you　at　all。’
　
　She　stood　in　the　hall；　staring　at　him　with　big　brown　eyes。　He　kicked　the　door　shut。
　
　He　waited　a　few　minutes；　and　then　checked　the　hall。　There　was　no　sign　of　her。　He　went　to　his　pack；　beside　the　fireplace；　and　started　taking　things　out。　He　wouldn’t　need　everything。　No　need　carrying　all　his　extra　clothes。
　
　As　he　was　stretching　the　string　to　the　bow；　there　was　a　soft　rap　at　the　door。　He　crept　across　the　carpets；　listening。　Maybe　she　would　go　away　if　he　didn’t　answer　it。　He　didn’t　need　her　hanging　around；　telling　him　what　to　wear。　He　had　important　things　to　do。
　
　The　soft　knock　came　again。　Maybe　it　wasn’t　Pasha。　Richard　pulled　his　knife。　He　yanked　the　door　open。
　
　‘Sister　Verna。’
　
　‘I　just　saw　Pasha；　running　down　the　hall　in　tears。　I’m　surprised　at　you；　Richard。’　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　‘I　didn’t　think　it　would　take　you　that　long。　I’ve　been　hiding　around　a　corner；　afraid　I　would　be　caught　while　I　waited。’　A　shawl　capped　her　curly　hair　and　spread　down　over　her　shoulders。　‘Did　you　have　to　make　her　cry？’
　
　‘She　is　fortunate　I　didn’t　make　her　bleed。’
　
　She　lifted　the　shawl　from　her　head　and　settled　it　around　her　shoulders。　A　small　smile　touched　her　lips。　‘May　I　e　in？’　He　held　out　his　arm　in　invitation。　And　it　is　simply　Verna；’　she　said　as　she　stepped　through　the　threshold。　‘I　am　not　a　Sister。’
　
　He　slipped　the　knife　back　into　its　sheath。　‘I’m　sorry；　but　I　don’t　think　I　could　bring　myself　to　call　you　anything　else。　To　me；　you　are　Sister　Verna。’
　
　‘It　is　not　proper　to　address　me　as　Sister。’　She　looked　around　the　room　as’lie　closed　the　door。　‘How　are　the　acmodations？’
　
　‘They　would　not　embarrass　a　king。　Sister　Verna；　I　know　you　won’t　believe　me；　but　I’m　really　sorry　about　what　happened。　I　didn’t　mean　to　bring　my　troubles　down　on　you。’
　
　A　broad　grin　spread　on　her　face。　‘You　have　been　a　constant　trouble　to　me；　Richard；　but；　for　once；　this　trouble　was　not　caused　by　you。　Another　brought　this　trouble　upon　me。’
　
　‘Sister；　I　know　I　caused　you　to　be　broken　to　a　novice。　I　didn’t　intend　that。　But　the　part　about　you　being　sent　to　work　in　the　stables；　that　was　your　own　doing。’
　
　Things　are　not　always　as　they　seem；　Richard。’　There　was　a　twinkle　in　her　eye。　‘I　hate　scrubbing　pots。　When　I　was　a　novice；　when　I　was　young；　I　hated　that　more　than　anything　else。　I’m　not　happy　in　a　kitchen；　and　less　so　with　my　hands　in　scalding　water。
　
　‘I　like　horses　much　better。　They　don’t　talk　back；　or　argue　with　me。　I　like　being　around　horses。　More　so；　since　you　destroyed　the　bits　and　I　became　friends　with　Jessup。　Sister　Maren　thought　she　held　the　reins；　as　it　were；　but　she　was　doing　what　I　wished。’
　
　Richard　smiled　with　one　side　of　his　mouth。　‘You　are　a　very　devious　woman；　Sister　Verna。　I’m　proud　of　you。　But　I’m　still　sorry　you　are　put　back　to　novice　because　of　me。’
　
　She　shrugged。　‘I　am　here　to　serve　the　Creator。　It　matters　not　how。　And　this　is　not　your　doing；　the　Prelate’s　orders　are　what　caused　me　to　be　broken　to　a　novice。’
　
　‘You　mean　the　orders　she　wrote　in　the　book？　She　forbade　you　from　using　your　power　on　me；　didn’t　she？’
　
　‘How　do　you　know　that？’
　
　‘I　figured　it　out。　You　were　often　angry　enough　to　spit　fire　at　me；