tg.stone of tears-第196部分

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　‘There　are　Sisters　who　are　valuable　to　our　cause；　I　could　not　risk　one　of　them　on　such　a　task。　The　boy　may　prove　a　value　to　us；　but　he　is　not　as　important　as　other　matters　at　the　palace。　He　may　be　a　help。　It　was　simply　an　opportunity　I　thought　to　take。
　
　‘If　there　had　been　trouble；　and　none　of　you　made　it　back；　well；　I’m　sure　you　can　understand　that　a　general　would　not　want　to　lose　his　best　troops　on　a　low…priority　mission。’
　
　Verna’s　breathing　looked　forced。　Her　voice　sounded　it。　‘Of　course；　Prelate　Annalina。’
　
　Ann　shuffled　her　papers　impatiently。　‘I　have　important　matters　to　get　back　to。　Is　there　anything　else；　Sister？’
　
　‘No；　Prelate。’
　
　When　the　door　closed；　Ann　lowered　her　face　into　her　shaking　hands。　Tears　dripped　onto　her　papers。
　
　
　She　appraised　his　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　Richard　didn’t　know　if　she　would　say　yes　or　not；　but　he　had　had　to　tell　her　much　of　what　he　had　learned　just　to　get　her　to　agree　to　listen　to　his　plea。　He　couldn’t　afford　to　fail。　He　needed　help。　He　had　to　trust　someone。
　
　‘All　right；　Richard。　I　will　help　you。　If　half　of　what　you　say　is　true；　I　must　help　you。’
　
　Richard　sighed　as　he　closed　his　eyes　in　relief。　Thank　you；　Liliana。　I’ll　never　forget　you　for　this。　You’re　the　only　one　around　here　who　will　listen　to　reason。　Can　we　do　it　now？　Time　is　critical。’
　
　‘Now？’　she　whispered　harshly。　‘Here？　Richard；　if　what　you　say　about　you　having　Subtractive　Magic　is　true；　it　won’t　be　a　simple　matter　to　remove　your　Rada’Han。　I　will　need　to　retrieve　an　object　of　magic　that　the　Sisters　keep　guarded。　It’s　an　aid；　used　to　amplify　power。　Maybe　through　that；　and　with　your　help；　it　will　be　enough　to　get　the　collar　off。
　
　‘Not　only　that；　but　if　the　Nameless　One　is　involved；　there　is　no　telling　what　ears；　or　Han；　might　be　paying　attention。’
　
　Then；　when？　Where？　It　has　to　be　soon。’
　
　She　wiped　her　fingers　over　her　eyes　as　she　considered。　‘Well；　I　think　I　can　retrieve　the　object　before　tonight；　so　we　could　try　tonight。　But　where？　It　can’t　be　in　the　palace。　It　would　be　too　dangerous。’
　
　The　Hagen　Woods；’　Richard　said。　‘Everyone　avoids　the　Hagen　Woods。’
　
　Liliana　looked　up。　‘Richard；　you　can’t　be　serious。　It’s　dangerous　there。’
　
　‘Not　for　me。　I　already　told　you　how　I　can　tell　if　the　mriswith　are　ing。　We’ll　be　safe　enough；　and　we　won’t　have　to　worry　about　any　Sisters；　or　Pasha；　stumbling　by　while　we’re　trying　to　get　this　cursed　thing　off　my　neck。’
　
　She　let　out　a　frustrated　breath。　At　last　she　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　and；　giving　it　a　squeeze；　smiled。　‘All　right。　The　Hagen　Woods；　then。’
　
　With　a　stern　look；　she　gripped　his　shoulder　and　held　him　out　at　arm’s　length。　‘I’m　violating　a　whole　stack　of　rules　by　doing　this。　I　know　it’s　important；　and　the　right　thing　to　do；　but　if　they　catch　us　before　we　can　do　it；　they　will　make　sure　I　never　get　near　enough　to　you　to　ever　again　try。’
　
　‘I’m　ready　now；　let’s　go。’
　
　‘No。　I　must　try　to　retrieve　the　aid　first。’　She　cocked　her　head　to　the　side　as　she　frowned。　‘And　I　just　thought　of　something　else。　They　keep　telling　you　not　to　let　the　sun　set　on　you　there。　Why？’
　
　Richard　shrugged。　‘Because　it’s　dangerous。’
　
　‘And　after　everything　you’ve　learned；　you　believe　them？　You　trust　them？　Richard；　what　if　they　don’t　want　you　to　let　the　sun　set　on　you　there　because　you　might　learn　something　useful？　You　said　the　Hagen　Woods　were　placed　there　by　the　wizards　of　old　who　had　Subtractive　Magic；　in　order　to　help　those　like　you。　What　if　the　Sisters　don’t　want　you　to　have　that　help？　What　if　they　are　just　trying　to　make　you　afraid；　so　you　won’t　discover　it？’
　
　Wizard’s　First　Rule。　Were　they　deceiving　him？　Was　he　believing　a　lie？　‘You　may　be　right。　We’ll　go　before　sunset。’
　
　‘No。　We　don’t　want　to　be　seen　together。　And　it　will　take　me　some　time　to　steal　the　aid。　Do　you　know　where　the　long；　split　rock　sits　in　the　stream　to　southwest　corner　of　the　Hagen　Woods？’
　
　‘I　know　the　place。’
　
　‘Good。　You　get　there　before　the　sun　sets；　you　are　the　one　the　magic　is　for。　Go　in　the　woods　by　the　split　rock。　Tie　strips　of　cloth　to　branches　so　I　can　follow　where　you　went；　and　find　you。　I’ll　meet　you　there；　in　the　woods；　when　the　moon　is　two　hands　in　the　sky。　And　Richard；　don’t　you　dare　tell　anyone　about　this；　or　you　will　be　risking　not　only　my　life　and　yours；　but　Kahlan’s　too。’
　
　Richard　nodded　with　a　smile　of　thanks。　‘On　my　word。　Tonight；　then。’
　
　He　paced　his　room　after　she　left。　He　was　anxious　to　get　this　over　with；　and　be　off。　He　was　running　out　of　time。　If　Darken　Rahl　had　the　skrin　bone；　they　were　already　out　of　time。　But　that　was　just　foolish。　How　would　he　get　it？　He　was　a　spirit。　Maybe　it　was　as　Warren　said；　that　the　elements　were　rarely　all　in　place。
　
　It　was　Kahlan　he　was　worried　about。　He　had　to　help　her。
　
　A　knock　brought　him　out　of　his　thoughts。　He　thought　it　might　be　Liliana　e　back；　but　when　he　opened　the　door；　a　distraught　Perry　pushed　into　the　room。
　
　‘Richard！　I　need　your　help。’　He　pulled　out　a　fistful　of　robes。　‘Look　at　this！　They　promoted　me！’
　
　Richard　glanced　down　the　length　of　the　simple；　brown　robes。　‘Congratulations。　That’s　great；　Perry。’
　
　‘It’s　a　disaster！　Richard；　I　need　your　help！’
　
　Richard　frowned。　‘Why　is　it　a　disaster？’
　
　Perry　threw　his　arms　in　the　air；　as　if　it　should　be　obvious　to　anyone。　‘Because　I　can’t　go　into　the　city！　I’m　restricted　in　these　robes！　I’m　not　allowed　to　go　over　the　bridge！’
　
　‘Well；　I’m　sorry；　Perry；　but　I　don’t　see　how　I　can　help　you。’
　
　Perry　took　a　deep　breath　to　calm　himself。　He　looked　up　pleadingly。　‘There’s　a　woman　in　the　city　。。。　I’ve　been　seeing　her　steady　of　late。　Richard；　I　really　like　her。　I’m　supposed　to　meet　her　tonight。　If　I　don’t　show　up；　so　I　can　explain；　if　I　never　show　up　again；　she’ll　think　I　don’t　care　about　her。’
　
　‘Perry；　I　still　don’t　see　what　I　can　do　about　it。’
　
　Perry　grabbed　him　by　his　shirt。　‘They　took　all　my　clothes。　Richard；　you　could　lend　me　some　of　yours。　Then　no　one　would　recognize　me；　and　I　could　sneak　into　the　city；　and　see　her。　Please；　Richard；　lend　me　some　of　your　clothes？’
　
　Richard　thought　a　moment。　He　didn’t　care　if　he　was　violating　some　obscure　rule　of　the　palace；　it　seemed　insignificant　pared　to　what　he　was　doing；　but　he　still　worried　for　Perry。
　
　‘The　guards　all　know　me。　They　will　see　it’s　you　in　my　clothes　and　tell　the　Sisters。　Then　you’ll　be　in　for　trouble。’
　
　Perry　glanced　away；　frantically　thinking。　‘Night。　I’ll　wait　until　night；　and　then　I’ll　go。　They　won’t　see　so　clearly　who　it　really　is　at　night。　Please；　Richard？　Please？’
　
　Richard　sighed。　‘It’s　fine　by　me；　Perry；　if　you　want　to　risk　it。　Just　don’t　get　yourself　caught。　I’d　hate　to　know　I　helped　get　you　in　trouble。’　He　gestured　to　the　bedroom；　where　the　wardrobe　was。　‘e　on。　Take　whatever　you　like。　You　aren’t　quite　my　size；　but　I　guess　you’re　close　enough。’
　
　Perry　added　a　grin　to　his　sidelong　look。　‘The　red　coat？　I　can　have　the　red　coat？　She’d　like　me　in　that。’
　
　‘Sure。’　Richard　led　a　giddy　Perry　toward　the　bedroom。　‘If　that　is　what　you　would　like；　take　it。　I’m　glad　someone　will　enjoy　wearing　the　red　coat。’
　
　Perry　sorted　through　the　wardrobe；　looking　for　a　pair　of　pants　and　a　shirt　he　thought　would　look　dashing。
　
　‘I　saw　Sister　Liliana　leaving　your　room；　just　before　I　came。’　He　pulled　out　a　ruffled；　white　shirt。　‘She　one　of　your　teachers？’
　
　‘Yes。　I　like　her。　She’s　the　nicest　of　the　lot。’
　
　Perry　held　up　the　shirt　in　front　of　himself。　‘How　does　this　look　on　me？’
　
　‘Better　than　on　me。　You　know　Liliana？’
　
　‘Not　really。　She　just　always　gave　me　the　shivers。　Those　strange　eyes　of　hers。’
　
　Richard　thought　about　Liliana’s　pale；　pale　blue　eyes　shot　through　with　violet　flecks。　He　shrugged。　‘I　thought　they　were　strange；　too；　at　first。　But　she’s　so　bubbly　and　friendly　that　I　don’t　even　notice　them　anymore。　She　has　such　a　warm　smile　that　it’s　hard　to　see　anything　else。’
　
　
　She　considered　the　captain　standing　before　her　desk。　He　was　asking　an　outrageous　price。　But　then；　what　was　the　Palace’s　gold　to　her？　Before　it　was　missed；　she　would　be　gone。
　
　As　she　had　feared；　the　boy　was　proving　troublesome　to　tame。　It　was　being　important　to　cultivate　other　options。　There　were　other　ways　of　seeing　to　the　Keeper’s　wishes；　other　ways　of　keeping　her　oath。
　
　‘I　agree　to　your　price。　In　fact；　I　double　it；　just　to　insure　your　loyalty。’
　
　She　pushed　the　purse　across　the　desk。　Captain　Blake　licked　his　cracked　lips　as　he　watched　it　moving　closer。　He　finally　reached　out　and　took　it；　testing　its　weight　before　tucking　it　in　his　coat。
　
　‘Very　generous　of　you；　Sister。　You’re　a　woman　who　knows　how　to　win　a　man’s　loyalty。’
　
　‘You　are　not　going　to　count　it；　Captain？’
　
　His　cold　eyes　weren’t　touched　by　his　servile　smile。　‘Aye；　Sister；　I’ll　be　counting　it　when　I　get　back　to　the　Lady　Sefa。　When　do　you　wish　to　sail？’
　
　There　were　still　a　few　matters；　a　few　loose　ends；　to　attend　to。　‘Soon。　I　have　paid　you　more　than　enough　to　have　you　at　the　ready；　until　I’m　ready。’
　
　Aye；　Sister；　you　have　at　that。’　He　scratched　his　scruffy　chin。　‘I’m　content　to　sit。　I’m　in　no　great　hurry　to　be　sailing　to　where　you　want　to　go。’
　
　She　leaned　forward。　‘You　are　sure　you　can　make　the　voyage。’
　
　‘Aye；　Sister。　The　Lady　Sefa　has　made　the　voyage　before；　and　can　again。　Still；　I’ve　no　itch　to　be　off　into　those　waters　until　I　have　to。’　He　straightened　his　tattered　coat。　‘How　many　ladies　will　you　be　bringing？’　An　apologetic　smile　spread　easily　on　his　weathered　face。　‘I’ll　need　to　see　to　the　proper　acmodations。’
　
　Sitting　back；　she　again　ground　her　teeth　at　the　memory　of　Liliana　pulling　off　her　hood　at　the　joining　rite。　Liliana　had　let　every　other　Sister　know　her　identity　by　doing　that。　Worse；　she　had　been　warned。　It　was　more　than　a　mistake；　it　was　arrogance。　Liliana　was　proving　dangerously　untrustworthy。　With　the　power　she　was　appropriating；　there　was　no　telling　what　she　would　do　next。　There　was　certainly　no　reason　to　take　Liliana。
　
　As　for　the　othe