tg.stone of tears-第202部分

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　‘Pasha；　Sister　Ulicia　is　a　Sister　of　the　Dark　。。。’
　
　‘She　told　me　you　would　say　that！　She　told　me　how　you　used　your　vile　magic　to　kill　Sister　Finella　and　the　Prelate！　That’s　why　you　were　always　wanting　to　go　to　the　Prelate’s　office！　So　you　could　kill　our　leader　in　the　Light！　You　are　filth！’
　
　The　world　swam　before　his　eyes。　He　saw　two　of　her；　moving　around　and　around　each　other。　‘Pasha　。。。　that’s　not　true。’
　
　‘Only　the　Keeper’s　tricks　saved　you　yesterday。　You　gave　someone　else　the　coat　I　loved；　to　humiliate　me！　Sister　Ulicia　told　me　how　the　Keeper　whispers　in　your　ear！
　
　‘I　should　have　killed　you　when　I　saw　you　on　the　bridge；　then　none　of　this　would　have　happened。　But　I　foolishly　thought　I　could　save　you　from　the　Keeper’s　clutches！　Those　Sisters；　and　the　Prelate；　would　be　alive　now　had　I　finished　the　job。　I　failed　the　Creator　when　you　tricked　me　into　killing　Perry；　but　that　will　not　save　you　again。　Your　vile　underworld　tricks　will　not　save　you　again！’
　
　‘Pasha；　please；　just　listen　to　me。　You’re　being　lied　to。　Please　listen。　The　Prelate　isn’t　dead。　I　can　take　you　to　her。’
　
　‘You　wish　to　kill　me；　too！　That’s　all　you　ever　talk　of　…killing！　You　profane　us　all！　And　to　think　I　could　have　ever　thought　I　loved　you！’
　
　She　raised　the　dacra　and；　with　a　scream；　ran　for　him。　Richard　somehow　managed　to　pull　the　sword；　woozily　wondering　which　image　of　her　to　try　to　stop。　The　anger；　the　magic；　of　the　sword　brought　strength　to　his　arms。　He　brought　the　sword　up　as　she　dove　for　him；　dacra　first。　The　two　images　of　her　converged。
　
　The　sword　never　touched　her。　With　a　shriek；　she　was　propelled　over　the　railing　above　him。　She　screamed　all　the　way　down。　Richard’s　eyes　winced　shut　when　he　heard　her　scream　terminate　as　she　hit　the　stone。
　
　Richard　opened　his　eyes　to　see　a　stunned　Warren　standing　in　the　doorway。　He　remembered　Jedidiah’s　fall　on　the　stairs。
　
　‘Oh；　dear　spirits；　no；’　Richard　whispered。
　
　He　levered　himself　to　his　feet　and　took　a　quick　glance　over　the　edge。　People　rushed　from　different　directions　toward　the　body。　Warren　was　shuffling　woodenly　toward　the　railing。　Richard　stopped　him　halfway　there。
　
　‘No；　Warren；　don’t　look。’
　
　Tears　welled　up　in　Warren’s　eyes。　Richard　put　his　arms　around　his　friend。　Why　did　you　do　that；　he　thought；　I　could　have　done　it。　I　was　going　to　do　it。　You　didn’t　have　to。
　
　Over　Warren’s　shoulder；　Richard　saw　Sister　Verna　standing　in　the　room。
　
　‘She　killed　Perry；’　Warren　said。　‘I　heard　her　admit　it。　She　was　going　to　kill　you。’
　
　I　could　have　done　it；　Richard　thought；　you　didn’t　need　to。　But　instead　he　said；　‘Thank　you；　Warren。　You　saved　my　life。’
　
　‘She　was　going　to　kill　you；’　he　cried　against　Richard’s　shoulder。　‘Why　would　she　do　that？’
　
　Sister　Verna　put　a　forting　hand　to　Warren’s　back。　‘She　was　lied　to　by　the　Sisters　of　the　Dark。　The　Keeper　filled　her　mind　with　lies。　She　heard　the　whispers　of　the　darkness。　The　Keeper　can　make　even　the　good　listen　to　his　whispers。　You　did　a　brave　thing；　Warren。’
　
　‘Then　why　do　I　feel　so　ashamed？　I　loved　her；　and　I　killed　her。’
　
　Richard　simply　held　him　as　he　wept。
　
　Sister　Verna　pulled　them　back　into　the　room。　She　made　Richard　bend　over　as　she　examined　his　head。　Blood　was　dripping　all　over　the　floor。
　
　‘This　must　be　tended　to。　I　can’t　fix　this　much　damage。’
　
　‘I　can；’　Warren　said。　‘I’m　fair　at　healing。　Let　me　do　it。’
　
　When　Warren　had　finished；　Sister　Verna　made　Richard　hold　his　head　over　the　basin　while　she　poured　the　ewer　of　water　over　him；　washing　off　the　blood。　Warren　sat　on　the　edge　of　a　chair；　his　head　in　his　hands。　Richard　thought　that　he　was　going　to　need　the　basin。
　
　Warren’s　head　came　up　when　the　Sister　finished。　‘I　figured　out　the　rule　you　told　me　about。　People　will　believe　a　lie　because　they　want　to　believe　it’s　true；　or　because　they　are　afraid　it　is。　Just　like　Pasha　believed　a　lie。　Am　I　right？’
　
　Richard　smiled。　‘You　are；　Warren。’
　
　Warren　managed　a　weak　smile。　‘Sister　Verna；　can　you　take　this　collar　off　me？’
　
　Sister　Verna　hesitated。　‘You　would　have　to　pass　the　test　of　pain；　Warren。’
　
　‘Sister；’　Richard　said。　‘What　do　you　think　he　just　did？’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　The　young　wizards　sent　back　through　the　valley　are　able　to　pass　because　they　don’t　have　sufficient　power　to　draw　the　spells　to　them；　they　are　not　full　wizards。　Zedd　told　me　that　wizards　have　to　pass　a　test　of　pain。
　
　‘Over　the　millennia；　the　Sisters　have　convoluted　that　into　making　them　endure　physical　pain。　I　think　they’re　wrong。　I　think　the　test　Warren　just　passed　is　more　pain　than　the　Sisters　could　ever　give。　Am　I　right；　Warren？’
　
　He　nodded；　his　face　going　white　again。　‘Nothing　they　ever　did　hurt　like　this。’
　
　‘Sister；　remember　when　I　told　you　how　I　turned　the　blade　white；　and　killed　that　woman　by　loving　her？　Maybe　that；　too；　was　a　form　of　the　test　of　pain。　I　know　how　much　that　hurt。’
　
　She　spread　her　hands　in　dismay。　‘Do　you　really　think　that　one　with　the　gift　must　kill　someone　they　love　to　pass　the　test？　Richard；　that　can’t　be。’
　
　‘No；　Sister；　they　don’t　have　to　kill　someone　they　love。　But　they　must　prove　they　can　make　the　right　decision。　They　must　prove　they　have　what　it　takes　to　choose　the　greater　good。　Would　one　with　the　gift　be　a　good　servant　to　this　Creator　of　yours；　to　the　hope　of　life；　if　they　could　act　only　for　selfish　needs？
　
　‘Giving　someone　pain；　as　the　Sisters　do；　doesn’t　prove　anything　except　that　the　victim　does　not　die。　Wouldn’t　serving　the　light　of　life；　and　loving　life；　require　that　the　person　prove　instead　that　of　their　own　free　will　they　would　choose　right；　choose　that　light　of　life　and　love　for　all　people？’
　
　‘Dear　Creator；’　she　whispered；　‘have　we　had　it　wrong　all　this　time？’　Her　hand　covered　her　mouth　a　moment。　‘And　we　thought　we　were　bringing　the　Creator’s　Light　to　these　boys。’
　
　Sister　Verna’s　back　straightened　with　resolve。　She　stood　before　Warren；　putting　her　hands　to　the　sides　of　his　Rada’Han。　As　she　stood　with　her　eyes　closed；　her　hands　to　the　collar；　there　was　a　humming　vibration　in　the　air。　After　a　moment；　silence　settled　over　the　room；　and　then　Richard　heard　a　snapping　sound。　The　Rada’Han　cracked　and　fell　away。
　
　Warren　looked　positively　giddy　at　the　sight　of　the　broken　collar。　Richard　wished　it　could　be　that　easy　for　him。
　
　‘What　are　you　going　to　do　now；　Warren？’　Richard　asked。　‘Are　you　going　to　leave　the　palace？’
　
　‘Maybe。　But　I　wish　to　study　the　books　some　more　first；　if　the　Sisters　will　allow　it。’
　
　‘They　will　allow　it；’　Sister　Verna　said。　‘I　will　see　to　it。’
　
　‘Then；　maybe　I　would　like　to　travel　to　Aydindril；　to　the　Wizard’s　Keep；　and　study　the　books　and　prophecies　you　told　me　were　kept　there。’
　
　‘That　sounds　a　wise　plan；　Warren。　Sister；　I　must　be　going。’
　
　‘Warren；’　she　said；　‘why　don’t　you　e　along　until　I　reach　the　valley？　You　are　free；　now。’　She　glanced　to　the　balcony。　‘I　think　it　would　do　you　good　to　get　away　from　here　for　a　time；　and　think　of　other　things。　And　I　could　use　some　help　when　we　reach　the　valley；　if　Richard　acplishes　what　he　thinks　he　will。’
　
　‘Really？　I　would　like　that。’
　
　As　the　three　of　them　lugged　their　gear　toward　the　stables；　three　guards　…　Kevin；　Walsh；　and　Bollesdun　…　spotted　them　and　ran　to　catch　up。
　
　‘We　may　have　found　them；　Richard；’　Kevin　said。
　
　‘May　have？　What　do　you　mean？　Where　are　they？’
　
　‘Well；　last　night；　the　Lady　Sefa　set　sail。　We　talked　to　people　down　at　the　docks　who　said　they　saw　some　women；　maybe　the　Sisters；　go　aboard。　Most　agree　they　saw　six　women　go　aboard　in　the　darkness；　just　before　she　sailed。’
　
　‘Sailed！’　Richard　groaned。　‘What’s　the　Lady　Sefa？’
　
　A　ship。　A　big　ship。　They　left　with　the　tide　late　in　the　night。　They　have　a　good　lead；　and　from　what　I　hear；　there　isn’t　a　ship　in　port　that　can　catch　the　Lady　Sefa；　or　go　as　far　to　sea。’
　
　‘We　can’t　go　after　them；　and　do　your　other　task；’　Sister　Verna　said。
　
　Richard　shifted　his　pack　in　annoyance。　‘You’re　right。　If　it’s　really　them；　they’re　gone　for　now；　but　I　know　where　they’re　going。　We’ll　have　to　deal　with　them　later。　At　least　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　is　safe。　We　have　more　important　things　to　tend　to　right　now。　Let’s　get　the　horses；　and　be　on　our　way。’
　
　
　CHAPTER　67
　
　Kahlan　ran　down　the　dark　stone　corridors　and　through　the　tomblike　chambers。　The　first　rays　of　light　splashed　golden　patches　against　the　coarse；　dark　gray　granite　wall　opposite　the　windows　as　she　raced　up　an　east　stairway。　Her　heart　pounded　with　the　effort。　She　had　not　stopped　running　since　Jebra　had　told　her　that　she　had　spied　a　light　in　the　Wizard’s　Keep：　that　Zedd　was　back。
　
　She　remembered　what　it　felt　like　to　run　with　long　hair：　the　weight　of　it；　the　way　it　streamed　out　behind；　flowing　with　her　strides。　She　felt　none　of　that　now。　But　it　didn’t　matter；　she　felt　only　desperate　elation　that　Zedd　was　back。　She　had　been　waiting　so　long。　She　screamed　his　name　as　she　ran。
　
　Bursting　into　the　cluttered　reading　room　she　stumbled　to　a　panting　halt。　Zedd　stood　behind　a　table　with　books　and　papers　scattered　over　it；　just　as　she　remembered　it　from　the　last　time　she　had　seen　it；　months　ago。　Candles　on　stands　gave　the　small　room　an　intimate　glow。　The　reading　room　had　but　a　single　window；　facing　the　still　murky　western　sky。
　
　A　big　man　with　bushy　eyebrows；　mostly　gray　hair；　and　a　weathered；　creased　face　looked　up　from　a　walking　stick　he　was　inspecting。　Adie　sat　in　a　chair　to　the　side；　her　head　flitting　toward　sounds。　Zedd　cocked　his　head　with　a　curious　frown。
　
　‘Zedd！’　She　gulped　air。　‘Oh；　Zedd；　I’m　so　relieved　to　see　you。’
　
　‘Zedd？’　He　turned　toward　the　big　man。　‘Zedd？’　The　big　man　gave　a　nod。　‘But　I　like　Ruben。’
　
　‘Zedd！　I　need　your　help！’
　
　‘Who　be　there？’　Adie　said　from　the　chair。
　
　‘Adie；　it’s　me。　Kahlan。’
　
　‘Kahlan？’　She　twitched　her　head　toward　Zedd。　‘Who　be　Kahlan？’
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　‘A　pretty　girl　with　short　hair。　She　seems　to　know　us。’
　
　‘What　are　you　talking　about！　Zedd；　I　need　help！　Richard　is　in　trouble！　I　ne