tg.stone of tears-第73部分

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ith　a　smile；　Zedd　rubbed　her　gray　nose。　‘Good　girl。’
　
　From　inside　the　house　came　a　low　growl　interspersed　with　angry　clicks。　Something　heavy　thudded　to　the　floor；　acpanied　by　a　thick　oath　in　a　foreign　tongue。
　
　‘e　out　from　under　there；　you　vile　beast！’
　
　Zedd　grinned　at　the　sound　of　the　familiar；　raspy　voice。　He　watched　the　horse　stroll　off　a　ways　to　graze　on　tufts　of　dry　grass；　lifting　her　head；　while　she　chewed；　to　look　back　toward　the　house　at　each　sharp　thump。
　
　Zedd　sauntered　up　the　curving　walk　toward　the　house。　He　paused；　turning　full　around　twice　to　admire　the　beauty　of　the　surrounding　woods。　They　truly　were　a　wonder；　calm　and　peaceful　in　a　place　that　had　been　a　pass　through　one　of　the　most　dangerous　spots　in　the　world：　the　boundary。　But　the　boundary　was　gone　now。　Yet；　the　woods　were　a　serene　refuge；　imbued　with　an　almost　palpable　tranquillity　that　Zedd　knew　wasn’t　natural。　They　had　been　infused　with　those　qualities　at　the　skilled　hands　of　the　woman　who　at　that　very　moment　was　throwing　curses　bold　enough　to　make　a　battle…hardened　Sandarian　lancer　blush。
　
　And　he　had　seen　one　of　those　curse　his　own　queen　into　a　dead　faint。　That；　of　course；　had　only　earned　the　man　the　rope。　The　fellow　had　had　a　few　things　to　say　to　the　hangman；　too；　which　in　turn　didn’t　bring　him　a　clean　drop；　but　did　offer　him　the　opportunity　to　get　off　one　last　eloquent；　if　vulgar；　oath。　The　other　lancers　seemed　to　think　the　trade　worth　the　price。
　
　For　her　part；　the　queen　never　seemed　to　fully　recover　her　delicate　air；　and　thereafter　always　flushed　a　fabulous　red　at　the　mere　sight　of　one　of　her　lancers；　needing　to　be　fanned　furiously　by　her　attendants　in　order　to　remain　conscious。　She　would　probably　have　had　them　all　hanged　had　they　not　saved　her　throne；　to　say　nothing　of　her　dainty　neck；　on　more　than　one　occasion。　But　that　was　a　long　time　ago；　in　another　war。
　
　Clasping　his　hands　together　behind　himself；　Zedd　inhaled　deeply；　relishing　the　clean；　crisp　air。　Bending　over；　he　plucked　a　dry；　wilted　wild　rose；　and　with　a　wisp　of　magic　brought　it　to　fresh　bloom。　The　yellow　petals　spread　and　swelled　with　new　vitality。　Closing　his　eyes；　he　took　a　deep　whiff　of　the　flower　and　then　idly　stuck　it　in　his　robes；　over　his　breast。　He　was　in　no　hurry。
　
　It　was　not　wise　to　interrupt　a　sorceress　in　a　snit。
　
　Through　the　open　door　came　a　more　serious　curse　as　the　object　of　the　sorceress’s　ire　was　at　last　brought　to　account。　With　a　whack　from　the　blunt　end　of　an　axe；　the　thing　was　sent　flying　through　the　doorway。　The　small；　armored　beast　landed　on　its　back　at　Zedd’s　feet。　Wobbling；　it　clicked　and　growled　as　it　raked　the　air　with　its　claws；　trying　to　right　itself。　It　appeared　no　worse　for　the　axe；　or　for　its　brief　flight　and　rough　landing。
　
　Filthy　gripper。　It　was　a　gripper　that　had　attached　itself　to　Adie’s　ankle　before。　Once　a　gripper　had　you；　there　was　virtually　no　way　to　get　it　off。　It　held　on　with　those　claws　and　rasped　its　teeth　into　you；　down　to　bone；　sucking　your　blood　with　its　puckered；　fang…ringed　mouth。　They　never　let　go　as　long　as　there　was　blood　to　feed　on；　and　that　armor　shed　any　counterattack。
　
　Adie　had　used　an　axe　to　chop　off　her　foot　where　the　gripper　had　been　attached；　chopped　off　her　own　foot　to　save　her　life。　Thinking　about　it　turned　his　stomach。　He　watched　the　beast　at　his　feet　for　a　moment；　then　gave　it　a　casual　kick；　sending　it　a　goodly　distance。　Landing　right　side　up；　it　waddled　off　into　the　woods　in　search　of　easier　prey。
　
　Zedd　looked　up　at　the　figure　standing　in　the　doorway；　scowling　at　him　with　her　pletely　white　eyes；　her　breast　still　heaving。　She　wore　robes　the　same　light　burlap　color　as　his；　but　unlike　his；　hers　were　decorated　at　the　neck　with　yellow　and　red　beads　sewn　in　the　ancient　symbols　of　her　profession。　She　put　her　fists　on　her　hips。　The　scowl　held　a　firm　grip　on　her　features；　not　that　it　diminished　in　the　least　how　handsome　they　were。
　
　She　still　held　the　axe　in。　one　hand；　though；　a　worrisome　sign。　Best　not　to　trouble　her　too　quickly　with　what　he　wanted。
　
　Zedd　smiled。　‘You　really　shouldn’t　play　with　grippers；　Adie。　That’s　how　you　lost　your　foot　the　last　time；　you　know。’　He　plucked　the　yellow　rose　from　its　place　at　his　chest。　His　thin　lips　pushed　his　wrinkled　cheeks　back　farther　as　his　smile　widened。　‘Got　anything　to　eat？　I’m　starving。’
　
　She　watched　him　silently　for　a　moment　without　moving；　then　slipped　the　axe　head　to　the　floor　and　leaned　the　handle　against　the　wall　just　inside　the　door。　‘What　do　you　be　doing　here；　wizard？’
　
　Zedd　stepped　onto　the　tiny　porch　and　gave　a　dramatic　bow。　When　he　came　up；　he　offered　her　the　flower　as　if　it　were　a　priceless　jewel。　‘I　just　couldn’t　stay　away　from　your　tender　embrace；　dear　lady。’　He　flashed　his　most　irresistible　smile。
　
　Adie　studied　him　a　moment　with　those　white　eyes。　That　be　a　lie。’
　
　Zedd　cleared　his　throat　and　pressed　the　flower　closer。　He　thought　maybe　he　needed　to　practice　his　smile。　‘Is　that　stew　I　smell？’
　
　Without　taking　her　gaze　from　him；　she　accepted　the　flower；　sticking　it　in　her　straight；　jaw…length　black　and　gray　hair。　She　truly　was　handsome。　‘It　be　stew。’
　
　Her　soft；　thin　hands　took　his。　A　small　smile　stole　onto　her　finely　wrinkled　face；　and　she　gave　a　slight　nod。　‘It　be　good　to　see　you　again；　Zedd。　For　a　time；　I　feared　I　never　would。　I　spent　many　a　night　in　a　sweat；　knowing　what　would　happen　had　you　failed。　When　winter　came　and　the　Magic　of　Orden　didn’t　sweep　the　land；　I　knew　you　had　succeeded。’
　
　Zedd　was　encouraged　that　his　best　smile　hadn’t　been　wasted　after　all；　but　he　was　careful　with　his　answer。　‘Darken　Rahl　has　been　defeated。’
　
　‘What　of　Richard　and　Kahlan？　Do　they　be　safe？’
　
　Zedd　puffed　up　with　pride。　‘Yes。　In　fact；　Richard　was　the　one　who　defeated　Darken　Rahl。’
　
　She　nodded　again。　‘I　think　there　be　more　to　the　story。’
　
　He　shrugged；　trying　to　make　it　seem　less　important　than　it　was。　‘A　bit　of　a　tale。’
　
　Though　the　small　smile　still　rested　easily　on　her　face；　her　white　eyes　seemed　to　be　weighing　his　soul。　‘And　there　be　a　reason　you　be　here。　A　reason　I　fear　I　won’t　like。’
　
　He　pulled　his　hands　out　of　hers　and　pushed　some　of　his　unruly；　wavy　white　hair　back　while　frowning。　‘Bags；　woman；　are　you　going　to　feed　me　any　of　that　stew　or　not？’
　
　Adie　finally　withdrew　her　white　eyes　from　him　and　turned　back　into　her　home。　‘I　think　there　be　enough　stew；　even　for　you。　e　in　and　shut　the　door。　I　do　not　wish　to　see　another　gripper　tonight。’
　
　Invited　in。　Well；　things　were　going　smoothly。　He　wondered　how　much　he　was　going　to　have　to　tell　her。　Not　all；　he　hoped。　Wizard’s　work：　using　people。　The　worst　of　it　was　using　people　he　liked。　Especially　people　he　liked　deeply。
　
　As　Zedd　helped　her　right　the　chairs　and　table；　and　pick　up　the　pots　and　tin　plates　strewn　about　the　floor；　he　began　telling　her　of　the　things　that　had　happened　since　he　had　been　with　her　last。　He　started　with　the　harrowing　tale　of　going　through　the　pass；　protected；　somewhat；　by　the　bone　she　had　given　him　to　hide　him　from　the　beasts。　He　still　had　the　bone　on　a　thin　leather　thong　around　his　neck；　seeing　no　need　to　be　rid　of　it　after　he　had　gotten　safely　through。
　
　She　listened　without　ment　as　he　wove　the　tale；　and　when　he　told　of　Richard’s　capture　by　the　Mord…Sith；　she　didn’t　turn　to　show　her　face；　but　he　saw　the　muscles　in　her　shoulders　tense　for　the　briefest　of　moments。　With　no　small　amount　of　emphasis　to　make　his　point；　he　related　how　Darken　Rahl　had　taken　the　night　stone　from　Richard；　the　night　stone　she　had　given　him　to　see　him　safely　through　the　pass。
　
　He　scowled　at　her　back　as　she　picked　a　plate　off　the　floor。　‘I　was　nearly　killed　by　that　stone。　Darken　Rahl　used　it　to　trap　me　in　the　underworld。　I　escaped　by　the　thinnest　of　hairs。　You　almost　got　me　killed；　giving　that　thing　to　Richard。’
　
　‘Do　not　be　a　thickheaded　fool；’　she　scoffed。　‘You　be　smart　enough　to　save　yourself。　Had　I　not　given　the　night　stone　to　Richard；　he　would　have　died　in　the　pass；　and　then　Darken　Rahl　would　have　won；　and　right　now　would　no　doubt　be　torturing　you。　You　would　soon　be　dead。　By　giving　the　stone　to　Richard；　I　saved　your　life。’
　
　He　shook　a　leg　bone　of　some　sort　at　the　glance　she　cast　over　her　shoulder。　That　thing　was　dangerous。　You　shouldn’t　go　handing　out　dangerous　things　as　if　they　were　a　stick　of　candy。　Not　without　warning　people；　anyway。’　He　had　a　right　to　be　indignant。　He　had　been　the　one　sucked　into　the　underworld　by　that　wretched　stone。　The　woman　could　at　least　pretend　to　be　contrite。
　
　Zedd　went　on　with　the　story　of　how　Richard　had　escaped；　although　he　had　a　web　around　him　hiding　his　identity；　and　how　the　quads　had　attacked　Chase；　Kahlan；　and　himself。　He　had　to　make　an　effort　to　control　his　voice　at　the　telling　of　what　had　almost　happened　to　Kahlan；　and　how　she　had　called　forth　the　Con　Dar　and　killed　their　attackers。　He　finished　with　how　Richard　had　tricked　Darken　Rahl　into　opening　the　wrong　box。　He　told　her　how　the　Magic　of　Orden　had　taken　Darken　Rahl　for　his　mistake。　Zedd　smiled　to　himself　as　he　reached　the　end　of　his　story；　telling　her　that　Richard　had　somehow　gotten　past　Kahlan’s　power；　that　they　were　free　to　love　each　other　…　he　wasn’t　about　to　tell　her　how；　that　was　not　for　anyone　to　know　…　and　they　were　happily　together　now。
　
　He　was　pleased　that　he　had　managed　to　tell　the　story　without　having　to　delve　too　deeply　into　some　of　the　more　painful　events。　He　didn’t　want　to　have　to　revisit　some　of　those　hurts。　She　didn’t　ask　any　questions；　but　came　and　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　saying　that　she　was　relieved　all　of　them　had　survived；　and　won。
　
　Zedd　was　silent　after　the　telling；　at　least　as　much　as　he　wanted　to　tell；　of　the　tale。　He　set　to　stacking　the　pile　of　loose　bones　into　the　corner　where　she　said　they　belonged。　By　the　way　they　were　scattered　about；　the　gripper　must　have　sought　refuge　in　them。　A　sorry　mistake。
　
　That　people　called　Adie　the　bone　woman　was　small　wonder；　the　house　had　little　else　in　it。　Her　life　seemed　devoted　to　bones。　A　sorceress　dedicated　to　bones　was　a　troubling　concept。　He　saw　little　evidence　of　potions；　powders；　or　the　usual　type　of　charms；　any　of　the　typical　things　he　k