tg.stone of tears-第16部分

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e　slapped。　‘Richard　With　The　Temper　has　sacrificed　more　than　you　could　ever　know　to　save　our　people　from　Darken　Rahl。　Why　do　you　hate　him？’
　
　‘The　two　of　you　have　brought　trouble　to　my　people。　You　will　bring　it　again。’
　
　‘Our　people；’　she　corrected。　Kahlan　unbuttoned　the　cuff　of　her　shirt　and　drew　the　sleeve　up　to　her　shoulder。　She　pushed　her　arm　up　in　front　of　his　face。　‘Toffalar　cut　me。　This　is　the　scar　he　left　as　he　tried　to　kill　me。　That　was　before　I　killed　him。　Not　after。　He　killed　himself　by　attacking　me。　I　did　not　go　after　him。’
　
　Without　emotion　Chandalen’s　gaze　rose　from　the　scar　to　her　eyes。　‘Uncle　never　was　very　good　with　a　knife。　Pity。’
　
　Kahlan’s　jaw　clenched　rigid。　She　couldn’t　back　down　now。
　
　She　kissed　the　end　of　her　fingers　as　she　held　his　gaze。　Reaching　out；　she　touched　the　kissed　fingers　to　his　cheek　where　she　had　slapped　him。　The　hunters　broke　into　angry　whispers；　yanking　their　spears　from　the　ground。　Chandalen’s　face　twisted　into　a　hateful　glare。
　
　This　was　the　worst　insult　you　could　give　a　hunter。　He　had　given　a　disrespectful　slight　by　not　slapping　her。　It　did　not　admit　to　having　no　respect　for　her　strength；　only　that　he　didn’t　wish　to　show　it　if　he　did。　By　placing　a　kiss　where　she　had　offered　a　slap　of　respect；　she　had　withdrawn　her　respect　for　his　strength。　The　touch　of　the　kiss　said　she　had　no　respect　for　his　strength　and　considered　him　no　more　than　a　foolish　child。　She　had　as　much　as　spat　on　his　honor　publicly。
　
　While　this　was　a　dangerous　thing　to　do；　it　was　more　dangerous　among　the　Mud　People　to　show　weakness　to　an　enemy。　That　would　be　an　invitation　to　be　murdered　in　your　sleep。　Showing　weakness　denied　you　the　right　to　face　an　adversary　in　the　light。　Honor　required　that　strength　be　challenged　openly。　Since　she　had　done　this　to　him　in　the　view　of　others；　honor　required　any　challenge　from　him　be　the　same。
　
　‘From　now　on；’　she　said；　‘if　you　want　my　respect；　you　must　earn　it。’
　
　Chandalen’s　white…knuckled　fist　jerked　back　to　his　ear；　preparing　to　strike　her。
　
　Kahlan　held　her　chin　out　for　him。　‘So　You　have　decided　to　show　your　respect　for　my　strength？’
　
　His　glare　flicked　to　something　behind　her。　His　hunters　flinched　and　reluctantly　thrust　the　butts　of　their　spears　into　the　ground。　Kahlan　turned　and　saw　about　fifty　men　with　drawn　bows。　Every　arrow　was　leveled　at　Chandalen　or　one　of　his　nine　men。
　
　‘So；’　Chandalen　sneered；　‘you　are　not　so　strong。　You　must　ask　others　to　back　you。’
　
　‘Lower　your　weapons；’　she　called　back　to　the　men。　‘No　one　is　to　raise　a　weapon　to　these　men　for　me。　No　one。　This　is　between　Chandalen　and　me　only。’
　
　Reluctantly；　all　the　bows　lowered；　and　the　arrows　rattled　back　into　quivers。
　
　Chandalen　folded　his　arms　once　more。　‘You　are　not　so　strong。　You　will　hide　behind　the　Seeker’s　sword；　too。’
　
　Kahlan　slapped　her　hand　onto　his　forearm　and　gripped　it　tightly。　Chandalen’s　eyes　widened　a　little　as　he　froze。　For　a　Confessor　to　place　her　hand　on　someone　in　this　manner　was　an　overt　threat；　and　he　recognized　it　as　such。　Defiant　or　not；　he　knew　better　than　to　move　a　muscle；　he　couldn’t　move　as　fast　as　her　thought；　and　that　was　all　she　needed。
　
　Her　voice　was　a　low　hiss。　‘In　the　last　year；　I　have　killed　more　men　than　you　have　falsely　boasted　to　have　killed　in　the　whole　of　your　life。　If　you　ever　try　to　harm　Richard；　I　will　kill　you。’　She　leaned　closer。　‘If　you　even　dare　to　express　the　thought　out　loud；　and　it　reaches　my　ears　…I　will　kill　you。’
　
　She　took　in　the　hunters　with　a　deliberate　sweep　of　her　gaze。　‘My　hand　will　always　be　extended　to　each　of　you　in　friendship。　If　any　hand　extends　to　me　with　a　knife；　I　will　kill　you　as　I　killed　Toffalar。　I　am　the　Mother　Confessor　…　don’t　think　I　can’t。　Or　won’t。’
　
　She　held　the　gaze　of　each　hunter　in　turn　until　they　nodded　in　acknowledgment。　Her　hard　eyes　came　at　last　to　Chandalen。　Her　grip　tightened。　He　swallowed。　At　last　he；　too；　nodded。
　
　‘This　is　a　matter　between　us　I　will　not　speak　to　the　Bird　Man　of　it。’　She　took　her　hand　from　his　arm。　In　the　distance；　the　dragon　roared　its　return。　‘　We　are　on　the　same　side；　Chandalen。　We　both　fight　for　the　Mud　People　to　live。　That　part　of　you；　I　respect。’
　
　She　gave　him　a　very　small　slap。　She　offered　him　no　opportunity　to　return　it；　or　to　fail　to；　and　instead　turned　her　back　to　him。　The　slap　had　given　him　back　a　small　amount　of　his　respect　in　the　eyes　of　his　men；　and　would　make　him　look　foolish　and　weak　if　he　chose　to　press　an　attack　now。　It　was　a　small　offering；　but　it　had　shown　she　acted　honorably。　She　would　leave　it　up　to　his　men　to　decide　if　he　had。　Bullying　a　woman　brought　no　honor。
　
　But　then；　she　was　no　mere　woman；　she　was　a　Confessor。　Kahlan　let　out　a　deep　breath　as　she　returned　to　Savidlin　and　turned　to　watch　the　dragon　land。　Weselan　stood　next　to　him；　still　hugging　Siddin　tightly。　For　his　part；　Siddin　didn’t　look　to　want　anything　else　in　the　world　but　to　be　rocked　in　his　mother’s　arms。　Kahlan　gave　a　mental　shudder　at　the　thought　of　what　might　have　happened　to　him。
　
　Savidlin　turned　to　her　and　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘You　would　make　a　good　elder；　Mother　Confessor。　You　could　give　lessons　in　honor；　and　leadership。’
　
　‘I　would　prefer　the　lessons　weren’t　necessary。’　Savidlin　grunted　his　agreement。　Dust　and　wind　kicked　up　by　the　dragon’s　wings　fluttered　past　in　fits　that　billowed　her　cloak。　Kahlan　was　buttoning　her　cuff　when　the　two　men　slid　off　Scarlet。
　
　The　Bird　Man　looked　a　little　green；　but　he　was　grinning　from　ear　to　ear。　He　stroked　a　red　scale　respectfully　and　beamed　at　the　yellow　eye　that　watched　him。　Kahlan　approached；　and　the　Bird　Man　asked　her　to　translate　a　message　to　Scarlet。
　
　She　smiled　and　looked　up　at　the　dragon’s　huge　head；　at　its　ears；　which　were　now　turning　toward　her。　The　Bird　Man　would　like　you　to　know　that　this　has　been　one　of　the　greatest　honors　of　his　life。　He　says　you　have　given　him　the　gift　of　a　new　vision。　He　says　that　from　this　day　forward；　if　you　or　your　young　one　ever　need　refuge；　you　will　always　be　wele　and　safe　in　this　land。’
　
　Scarlet’s　snout　twisted　into　a　sort　of　dragon　grin。　Thank　you；　Bird　Man。　I　am　pleased。’　She　lowered　her　head　to　speak　to　Richard。　‘I　must　leave　now。　My　young　one　has　been　alone　long　enough；　and　will　be　hungry。’
　
　Richard　smiled　as　he　stroked　a　red　scale。　‘Thank　you；　Scarlet。　For　everything。　Thank　you　for　showing　us　your　little　one。　It　is　even　more　beautiful　than　you。　Take　care　of　the　both　of　you。　Live　free。’
　
　Scarlet　spread　her　jaws　wide　and　reached　into　the　back　of　her　mouth。　There　was　a　snap；　and　she　brought　a　tooth　point　out；　held　in　her　black…tipped　talons。　It　was　only　a　point；　but　a　good　six　inches　long。
　
　‘Dragons　have　magic；’　she　told　him。　‘Hold　out　your　hand。’　She　dropped　the　tooth　point　in　Richard’s　palm。　‘You　seem　to　have　a　knack　for　getting　yourself　in　trouble。　Keep　this　safe。　If　you　ever　have　great　need；　call　me　with　it；　and　I　will　e。　Be　certain；　as　it　will　only　work　once。’
　
　‘But　how　can　I　call　you　with　it？’
　
　Her　head　floated　closer　to　him。　‘You　have　the　gift；　Richard　Cypher。　Just　hold　it　in　your　hand　and　call　to　me。　I　will　hear。　Remember；　great　need。’
　
　‘Thank　you　Scarlet；　but　I　don’t　have　the　gift。’
　
　Scarlet　threw　her　head　back　and　rumbled　in　laughter。　The　ground　shook。　The　scales　on　her　throat　vibrated。　When　her　fit　of　laughter　died　out　in　spurts；　she　tilted　her　head　to　look　at　him　with　one　yellow　eye。　‘If　you　don’t　have　the　gift；　then　no　one　does。　Live　free；　Richard　Cypher。’
　
　Everyone　in　the　village　watched　in　silence　as　the　red　dragon　grew　smaller　in　the　golden　sky。　Richard　put　his　arm　around　Kahlan’s　waist；　pulling　her　close　against　him。
　
　‘I　hope　that　I’ve　finally　heard　the　last　of　this　nonsense　about　me　having　the　gift；’　he　muttered　half　to　himself。　‘I　saw　you　from　up　in　the　air。’　He　pointed　with　his　chin　across　the　clearing。　‘You　want　to　tell　me　what　that　was　all　about　with　our　friend　over　there？’
　
　Chandalen　was　making　a　point　of　not　looking　at　her。　‘No　It’s　not　important。’
　
　
　‘Are　we　ever　going　to　get　to　be　alone？’　Kahlan　asked　with　a　coy　smile。　‘Pretty　soon　I’m　going　to　have　to　start　kissing　you　in　front　of　all　of　these　people。’
　
　Dusk　was　bringing　a　cozy；　fading　light　to　the　impromptu　feast。　Richard　glanced　around　the　grass…roofed　shelter　at　the　elders　in　their　coyote　hides。　They　were　all　smiles　and　chatter。　Their　wives　and　a　few　children　had　joined　the　group。　People　were　stopping　by　the　shelter　to　wele　the　two　of　them　back；　smiling　and　exchanging　gentle　slaps。
　
　Little　children　across　the　way　were　chasing　brown　chickens　that　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　find　a　place　to　roost　for　the　night。　The　chickens　squawked　as　they　made　flapping　escapes。　She　couldn’t　understand　how　the　children　could　stand　to　be　naked；　as　cold　as　it　was。　Women　in　bright　dresses　were　bringing　woven　trays　of　tava　bread　and　glazed　pottery　bowls　of　roasted　peppers；　rice　cakes；　long　boiled　beans；　cheese；　and　roasted　meats。
　
　‘You　really　think　they’re　going　to　let　us　get　away　before　we　tell　them　the　whole　story　of　our　great　adventure？’
　
　‘What　great　adventure？　All　I　remember　is　being　scared　to　death　all　the　time　and　being　in　more　trouble　than　I　knew　how　to　get　out　of　Her　insides　twisted　in　pain　at　the　memory　of　learning　he　had　been　captured　by　a　Mord…Sith。　And　thinking　you　were　dead。’
　
　He　smiled。　‘Didn’t　you　know？　That’s　what　an　adventure　is：　being　in　trouble。’
　
　‘I’ve　had　enough　of　adventure　to　last　me　the　rest　of　my　life。’
　
　Richard’s　gray　eyes　looked　distant。　‘Me；　too。’　Her　gaze　went　to　the　red　leather　rod；　the　Agiel；　which　hung　on　a　gold　chain　around　his　neck。　She　reached　back　and　took　a　piece　of　cheese　from　a　platter。　Her　face　brightened。　She　put　the　cheese　to　his　mouth。　‘Maybe　we　can　just　make　up　a　story　that　sounds　like　a　proper　adventure。　A　short　adventure。’
　
　‘Suits　me；’　he　said；　and　then　bit　off　a　chunk　of　the　cheese　as　she　held　it　to　his　mouth。
　
　Immediately；　he　spit　the　cheese　into　his　hand　and　made　a　sour　face。　This　is　awful！’　he　whispered。
　
　‘Really？’　She　sniffed　the　piece　she　still　held。　She　took　a　tiny　bite。