tg.stone of tears-第21部分

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　She　ran　to　Richard　and　threw　her　arms　around　him　as　he　hunched；　panting。　‘Are　you　all　right？’
　
　He　hugged　her　with　his　free　hand；　nodding。　She　held　him　for　a　long　minute　as　shouting　hunters　with　torches　circled　around　them。　Richard　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。　In　the　torchlight；　she　could　see　a　ragged　gash　on　his　upper　arm。　She　tore　off　a　strip　of　his　shirtsleeve　and　tied　it　around　the　bleeding　wound。
　
　She　looked　around　at　the　hunters；　all　of　whom　held　either　nocked　arrows　or　spears。　‘Is　everyone　safe？’
　
　Chandalen　stepped　into　the　torchlight　and　spoke　to　Kahlan。　‘I　knew　you　would　bring　trouble。’
　
　She　peered　hard　at　his　face；　then　merely　thanked　him　and　his　men　for　trying　to　help。
　
　‘Kahlan；　what　was　that　thing？　And　what　in　the　world　did　you　do？’　Richard　was　slumping。
　
　She　slipped　her　arm　around　his　waist。　‘I　think　it’s　called　a　screeling。　And　I’m　not　entirely　sure　what　I　did。’
　
　A　screeling？　What　is　a　。。。’
　
　His　hands　came　to　the　sides　of　his　head　as　his　eyes　winced　shut。　He　sank　to　his　knees。　Kahlan　wasn’t　able　to　hold　his　weight。　Savidlin　was　there　and　reached　for　him；　but　before　he　could　get　an　arm　around　him；　Richard　fell　forward　on　his　face。　He　cried　out　in　the　dirt。
　
　‘Savidlin；　help　me　get　him　back　to　the　spirit　house；　and　send　someone　for　Nissel。　Please；　tell　them　to　hurry。’
　
　Savidlin　shouted　for　one　of　his　men　to　run　for　the　healer。　He　and　some　of　the　others　lifted　Richard。　Leaning　on　his　spear；　Chandalen　only　watched。
　
　A　torchlit　procession　wound　its　way　back　to　the　spirit　house。　Savidlin　and　the　men　carrying　Richard　went　inside　with　Kahlan。　They　laid　Richard　in　front　of　the　fire；　lowering　his　head　to　the　blanket。　Savidlin　sent　his　men　out；　but　stayed　with　her。
　
　Kahlan　knelt　next　to　Richard　and　with　trembling　hands　felt　his　forehead。　He　was　ice　cold　and　drenched　in　sweat。　He　appeared　to　be　nearly　unconscious。　She　bit　her　lip　and　tried　not　to　cry。
　
　‘Nissel　will　make　him　well；’　Savidlin　said。　‘You　will　see。　She　is　a　good　healer。　She　will　know　what　to　do。’
　
　Kahlan　could　only　nod。　Richard　mumbled　incoherently　as　his　head　twisted　about；　as　if　seeking　some　position　that　brought　no　pain。
　
　They　sat　in　silence　until　Savidlin　asked；　‘Mother　Confessor；　what　was　that　you　did？　How　did　you　make　lightning？’
　
　‘I’m　not　sure　how　I　did　it。　But　it　is　part　of　the　Confessor’s　magic。　It　is　called　the　Con　Dar。’
　
　Savidlin　studied　her　a　moment　as　he　squatted　on　his　feet　with　his　sinewy　arms　wrapped　around　his　knees。　‘I　never　knew　a　Confessor　could　call　down　lightning。’
　
　She　glanced　over。　‘I　have　known　for　only　a　few　days　myself。’
　
　‘And　what　was　the　dark　thing？’
　
　‘I　think　it　may　be　a　creature　from　the　underworld。’
　
　‘From　the　place　the　shadows　came　from；　before？’　Kahlan　nodded。　‘Why　would　it　e　now？’
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　Savidlin；　I　don’t　have　an　answer。　But　if　any　more　e；　tell　the　people　to　walk　away　from　them。　Don’t　stand　still；　and　don’t　run。　Just　walk　away；　and　e　get　me。’
　
　In　silence　he　contemplated　what　she　had　said。　At　last　the　door　squeaked　open　and　a　stooped　figure　flanked　by　two　men　with　torches　entered。
　
　Kahlan　sprang　up　and　ran　to　her；　taking　her　hand。　‘Nissel；　thank　you　for　ing。’
　
　Nissel　smiled　and　patted　her　shoulder。　‘How　is　the　arm；　Mother　Confessor？’
　
　‘Healed；　thanks　to　you。　Nissel；　something　is　wrong　with　Richard　He　has　terrible　headaches。
　
　Nissel　smiled。　‘　Yes；　child。　We　will　have　a　look　at　him。’
　
　One　of　the　men　with　Nissel　handed　her　a　cloth　bag　as　she　knelt　beside　Richard。　The　objects　in　the　bag　clinked　against　one　other　as　she　set　it　on　the　ground。　She　told　the　man　to　bring　the　torch　around。　She　took　off　the　bloody　bandage　and；　with　her　thumbs；　pressed　open　the　wound。　Nissel　glanced　to　Richard’s　face　to　see　if　he　felt　it。　He　didn’t。
　
　‘I　will　tend　to　the　wound　first；　while　he　sleeps。’
　
　She　cleaned　the　gash　and　stitched　it　while　Kahlan　and　the　three　men　watched　in　silence。　The　torches　spit　and　hissed；　lighting　the　inside　of　the　nearly　empty　spirit　house　with　harsh；　flickering　light。　On　the　shelf；　the　skulls　of　ancestors　watched　along　with　the　rest　of　them。
　
　Sometimes　talking　to　herself　as　she　worked；　Nissel　finished　sewing；　packed　the　wound　with　a　poultice　that　smelled　of　pine　pitch；　and　wrapped　the　arm　with　a　clean　bandage。　Rummaging　around　in　her　bag；　she　told　the　men　they　could　leave。　As　he　went　past；　Savidlin　touched　Kahlan’s　shoulder　sympathetically　and　told　her　he　would　see　them　in　the　morning。
　
　After　they　were　gone；　Nissel　halted　her　pawing　in　the　bag　and　looked　up　at　Kahlan。　‘I　hear　you　are　to　be　mated　to　this　one。’　Kahlan　nodded。　‘I　thought　you　couldn’t　have　a　love；　because　you　are　a　Confessor；　that　your　power　would　take　him　。。。　when　you　make　babies。’
　
　Kahlan　smiled　across　Richard　to　the　old　woman。　‘Richard　is　special。　He　has　magic　that　protects　him　from　my　power。’　They　both　had　promised　Zedd　they　would　never　reveal　the　truth　…　that　it　was　his　love　for　her　that　protected　him。
　
　Nissel　smiled；　and　her　weathered　hand　touched　Kahlan’s　arm。　‘I　am　happy　for　you；　child。’　She　bent　back　to　her　bag　and　finally　pulled　out　a　handful　of　little　stoppered　pottery　bottles。　‘Does　he　get　these　headaches　often？’
　
　‘He　told　me　he　gets　bad　headaches　sometimes；　but　that　this　is　different；　that　it　hurts　more；　like　something　is　trying　to　get　out　of　his　head。　He　said　he　has　never　had　any　like　it　before。　Do　you　think　you　can　help　him？’
　
　‘We　will　see。’　Pulling　stoppers；　she　waved　the　bottles　one　at　a　time　under　his　nose。　One　of　them　finally　brought　Richard　awake。　Nissel　smelled　the　bottle　herself　to　see　what　it　was。　She　nodded　and　mumbled　and　went　back　into　her　bag。
　
　‘What’s　going　on？’　Richard　groaned。　Kahlan　bent　over　and　kissed　his　forehead。　‘Nissel　is　going　to　do　something　for　your　headaches。　Lie　still。’
　
　Richard’s　back　arched　as　he　squeezed　his　eyes　shut　against　the　pain。　He　put　his　shaking　fists　to　the　sides　of　his　head。
　
　The　healer　pressed　his　chin　down　with　her　fingers；　forcing　his　mouth　open；　and　with　her　other　hand　shoved　in　some　small　leaves。　‘Tell　him　to　chew。　Keep　chewing。’
　
　‘She　says　to　chew　the　leaves；　they　will　help　you。’　Richard　nodded　and　rolled　to　his　side　in　agony　as　he　chewed。　Kahlan　bed　his　hair　back　with　her　fingers；　feeling　helpless；　wishing　she　could　do　more。　It　terrified　her　to　see　him　in　pain。
　
　Nissel　poured　a　liquid　from　a　skin　into　a　large　cup　and　mixed　into　it　powders　from　other　jars。　She　and　Kahlan　helped　Richard　sit　up　to　drink　the　concoction。　When　he　finished；　he　flopped　back　down；　breathing　hard；　but　still　chewing　the　leaves。
　
　Nissel　stood。　‘The　drink　will　help　him　to　sleep。’　Kahlan　came　to　her　feet　and　Nissel　handed　her　a　small　bag。　‘Have　him　chew　more　of　these　leaves　when　he　needs　them。　They　will　help　the　pain。’
　
　Kahlan　hunched　over　a　little；　so　as　not　to　tower　over　the　old　woman　quite　so　much。　‘Nissel；　do　you　know　what　is　wrong？’　Nissel　pulled　the　stopper　from　the　little　bottle　and　sniffed　it；　then　held　it　under　Kahlan’s　nose。　It　smelled　of　lilacs　and　licorice。　‘Spirit；’　she　said　simply。　‘Spirit？　What　do　you　mean？’
　
　‘It　is　a　sickness　of　his　spirit。　Not　of　his　blood；　not　of　his　balance；　not　of　his　air。　Spirit。’
　
　Kahlan　didn’t　know　what　any　of　that　meant；　but　it　wasn’t　really　what　she　wanted　to　know。　‘　Will　he　be　all　right？　Will　the　medicine；　and　the　leaves；　will　they　cure　him？’　Nissel　smiled　and　patted　Kahlan’s　arm。　‘I　would　like　very　much　to　be　there　when　you　are　wed。　I　will　not　give　up。　If　this　doesn’t　work；　there　are　other　things　to　try。’
　
　Kahlan　took　her　arm　and　walked　her　out　the　door。　‘Thank　you；　Nissel。’　Kahlan　saw　Chandalen　standing　near　the　short　wall。　Some　of　his　men　stood　farther　off　in　the　darkness。　Prindin　was　close；　against　the　spirit　house。　She　went　to　him。　‘Would　you　escort　Nissel　home；　please？’
　
　‘Of　course。’　He　took　the　healer’s　arm　respectfully　and　guided　her　into　the　night。
　
　Kahlan　shared　a　long　look　with　Chandalen；　and　then　went　over　to　him。　‘I　appreciate　you　and　your　men　guarding　us。　Thank　you。’
　
　He　regarded　her　without　emotion。　‘I　am　not　standing　guard　for　you。　I　am　guarding　our　people　from　you。　From　what　you　may　bring　next。’
　
　Kahlan　brushed　dirt　from　her　shoulders。　‘Either　way；　if　something　else　es；　don’t　try　to　kill　it　yourself。　I　don’t　want　any　Mud　People　to　die。　That　includes　you。　If　something　es；　you　must　not　stand　still；　or　run。　If　you　do；　it　will　kill　you。　You　must　walk。　e　and　get　me。　Don’t　try　to　fight　it　by　yourselves。　Understand？　e　and　get　me。’
　
　He　still　showed　no　emotion。　‘And　you　will　call　down　more　lightning？’
　
　She　looked　at　him　coolly。　‘If　I　have　to。’　She　wondered　if　she　could；　she　had　no　idea　how　she　had　done　it。　‘Richard　With　The　Temper　is　not　well。　He　may　not　be　able　to　shoot　arrows　with　you　and　your　men　tomorrow。’
　
　He　looked　smug。　‘I　thought　he　would　think　of　an　excuse　to　back　out。’
　
　Kahlan　took　a　deep　breath　through　gritted　teeth。　She　didn’t　want　to　stand　here　and　trade　insults　with　this　fool。　She　wanted　to　go　back　inside　to　be　with　Richard。　‘Goodnight；　Chandalen。’
　
　Richard　was　still　on　his　back；　chewing　the　leaves。　She　sat　beside　him；　heartened　to　see　that　he　looked　more　alert。
　
　‘These　things　are　starting　to　taste　better。’
　
　Kahlan　stroked　his　forehead。　‘How　do　you　feel？’
　
　‘A　little　better。　The　pain　es　and　goes。　I　think　these　leaves　are　helping。　Except　they　are　making　my　head　spin。’
　
　‘But　better　to　spin　than　to　pound？’
　
　‘Yes。’　He　put　his　hand　on　her　arm　and　closed　his　eyes。　‘Who　were　you　talking　to？’
　
　That　fool；　Chandalen。　He’s　guarding　the　spirit　house。　He　thinks　we　may　bring　more　trouble。’
　
　‘Maybe　he’s　not　such　a　fool。　I　don’t　think　that　thing　would　have　been　here　without　us。　What　did　you　call　it？’
　
　‘A　screeling。’
　
　‘And　what　is　a　screeling？’
　
　‘I’m　not　sure。　Nobody　I　know　has　ever　seen　one；　but　I’ve　heard　them　described。　They’re　supposed　to　be　from　the　underworld。’
　
　Richard　stopped　chewing　and　opened　his　eyes　to　look　at　her。　The　underworld？