tg.wizardfirstrule-第119部分

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　Glowing　green　eyes　glared　down　at　her。　The　purring　sound　was　a　low　growl。
　
　The　mouth　opened　with　a　louder　growl；　lips　pulling　back；　showing　its　long；　curved　teeth。
　
　Rachel　couldn't　run。　She　couldn't　move。　She　couldn't　even　scream。　She　shook　as　her　wide　eyes　looked　up　into　those　mean　eyes　that　glowed　green。　She　forgot　how　to　move　her　feet。
　
　A　big　claw　reached　for　her。
　
　She　felt　something　warm　running　down　her　legs
　
　CHAPTER　38
　RICHARD　FOLDED　HIS　ARMS　and　leaned　back　against　the　rock。　〃Enough！〃
　
　Zedd　and　Kahlan　both　turned　their　heads；　seeming　to　have　forgotten　he　was　even　there。　He　had　been　listening　to　the　two　of　them　arguing　for　at　least　the　last　half　hour　as　they　sat　in　front　of　the　fire；　and　was　tired　of　it。　In　fact；　he　was　just　plain　tired。　Dinner　was　long　since　done　。and　they　should　be　getting　some　sleep；　but　instead　they　were　trying　to　decide　what　they　would　do　tomorrow　when　they　reached　Tamarang。　Now；　instead　of　arguing；　they　started　presenting　their　cases　to　him。
　
　〃I　say　we　march　in　there　and　I　deal　with　Giller。　He　is　my　student。　I　will　get　him　to　tell　me　what's　going　on。　I'm　still　Wizard　of　the　First　Order。　He　will　do　as　I　say。　He　will　give　me　the　box。〃
　
　Kahlan　pulled　her　Confessor's　dress　from　her　pack　and　held　it　up　to　Richard。　〃This　is　the　way　we　deal　with　Giller。　He　is　my　wizard　and　he　will　do　as　I　say　because　he　knows　the　consequences。〃
　
　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath　as　he　rubbed　his　eyes　with　his　fingertips。　〃You　both　want　to　eat　a　chicken。　we　haven't　even　plucked　yet。　We　aren't　even　sure　whose　chicken　it　is。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Kahlan　asked。
　
　Richard　leaned　forward。　Now　he　had　their　attention；　at　last。　〃At　the　very　least；　Tamarang　is　giving　a　sympathetic　ear　to　D'Hara。　At　the　very　worst；　Darken　Rahl　is　there。　Most　likely；　the　fact　is　somewhere　between　the　two。　If　we　march　in　there　and　tell　them　what　we　want；　they　might　not　like　it。　Tamarang　has　a　whole　standing　army　to　express　to　us　how　much　they　don't　like　it。　Then　what？　Are　the　three　of　us　going　to　fight　a　war　with　their　army？　How　is　this　going　to　get　us　the　box？　How　is　it　going　to　even　get　us　to　Giller？　If　we　have　to　fight；　I'd　rather　it　be　on　the　way　out；　not　on　the　way　in。〃
　
　Richard　expected　one　of　them　to　express　some　sort　of　objection　while　they　sat　as　if　being　scolded；　but　neither　did；　so　he　went　on。
　
　〃Maybe　Giller　is　waiting　and　hoping　someone　will　e；　so　he　can　help　them　get　away　with　the　box。　Then　again；　maybe　he　will　not　be　so　willing　to　part　pany　with　it。　But　we　won't　know　if　we　never　make　it　to　him；　now；　will　we？〃　He　addressed　Zedd。　〃You　told　me　the　box　has　magic；　and　a　wizard；　or　Rahl；　can　feel　that　magic；　but　a　wizard　can　also　cover　the　feeling　of　that　magic　with　a　wizard's　web；　so　the　box　can't　be　detected。　That　could　be　why　Queen　Milena　wanted　a　wizard…to　hide　the　box　from　Rahl；　and　use　it　as　a　bargaining　tool。　If　we　create　a　big　motion；　and　scare　Giller；　no　matter　how　he　feels　about　us；　he　may　be　frightened；　and　use　the　opportunity　to　escape。　It　could　also　be　that　Rahl　is　just　waiting　for　the　quarry　to　be　flushed　from　cover；　and　then　he　will　pounce。〃
　
　Zedd　turned　to　Kahlan。　〃I　think　the　Seeker　has　some　good　points。　Perhaps　we　should　hear　him　out？〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　a　little。　〃I　believe　you　are　correct；　good　wizard。〃　She　turned　to　Richard。　〃What　is　your　way？〃
　
　〃You've　dealt　with　this　Queen　Milena　before；　right？　What　sort　of　person　is　she？〃
　
　Kahlan　needed　no　time　to　give　it　any　thought。　〃Tamarang　is　a　minor　and　relatively　insignificant　land。　Still；　Queen　Milena　is　as　pompous　and　arrogant　as　any　queen　es。〃　〃A　small　snake；　but　a　snake　that　can　kill　us　nonetheless；〃　Richard　noted。
　
　Kahlan　nodded。。　〃But　a　snake　with　a　big　head。〃
　
　〃Small　snakes　have　to　be　careful；　cautious；　when　they　don't　know　what　they　are　up　against。　The　first　thing　we　have　to　do；　is　to　give　her　a　worry。　Make　her　unsure　enough　not　to　bite　us。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃　Kahlan　asked。
　
　〃You　said　you've　dealt　with　her　before。　Confessors　go　to　the　lands　to　take　confessions；　and　to　inspect　the　prisons；　to　find　out　what　they　will。　She　wouldn't　want　to　close　Tamarang　to　a　Confessor；　would　she？〃
　
　〃Not　if　she　has　half　a　brain；〃　Zedd　chuckled。
　
　〃Well；　that's　what　we　do　then。　You　put　your　dress　back　on；　and　do　your　duty。　Simply　a　Confessor　doing　what　Confessors　are　expected　to　do。　She　may　not　like　it；　but　she　will　treat　you　well；　she　will　want　you　to　be　happy。　She　will　want　you　to　see　what　you　will；　and　then　be　on　your　way。　The　last　thing　she　will　want　is　to　raise　a　fuss。　So；　you　inspect　her　dungeon；　smile；　or　frown；　or　whatever　it　is　you　do；　and　then　before　we're　on　our　way；　you　say　you　want　to　speak　to　your　former　wizard。〃
　
　〃You　think　she　should　go　alone？〃　Zedd　protested。
　
　〃No。　Kahlan　doesn't　have　a　wizard　with　her；　the　Queen　would　see　that　as　a　tempting　vulnerability。　We　don't　want　her　mouth　to　water。〃
　
　Zedd　folded　his　arms。　〃I　will　be　her　wizard。〃
　
　〃No；　you　will　not　be　her　wizard！　Darken　Rahl　is　killing　people　as　we　speak；　looking　for　you。　If　you　remove　the　wizard's　web；　let　them　know　who　you　are；　we'll　have　trouble　down　around　our　ears　before　we　can　get　away　with　the　box。　Who　。knows　what　reward　there　is　on　your　wrinkled　hide。　You　will　be　her　protection；　but　you　will　be　anonymous　protection。　You　will　be　。　。　。　〃　Richard　tapped　the　sword　hilt；　thinking。　His　eyes　came　back　down。　〃You　will　be　a　cloud　reader。　A　trusted　advisor　to　the　Mother　Confessor　in　the　absence　of　a　wizard。〃　Richard　frowned　slightly　at　Zedd's　grumble。　〃I'm　sure　you　know　how　to　play　the　part。〃
　
　〃Then　you　will　hide　your　sword；　your　identity；　from　her　as　well？〃　Kahlan　asked。
　
　〃No。　The　presence　of　the　…Seeker　will　give　her　pause；　something　else　to　worry　about；　something　to　keep　her　fangs　in　her　mouth　until　we're　away。　The　whole　point　is　to　give　her　something　she's　familiar　with；　a　Confessor；　so　as　not　to　raise　an　alarm。　At　the　same　time；　give　her　something　to　keep　her　worried；　a　cloud　reader　and　the　Seeker；　so　she　would　rather　be　rid　of　us　than　find　out　what　sort　of　trouble　we　might　be　able　to　cause。　The　way　you　two　want　to　do　it　gets　us　in　a　fight；　a　fight　where　one　or　all　of　us　could　be　hurt。　My　way　puts　us　at　minimum　risk　of　a　fight；　and　if　it　es；　at　least　it　will　be　when　we're　on　our　way　out　with　the　box。〃　He　gave　each　of　them　a　stern　look。　〃You　do　remember　the　box；　don'　you？　In　case　you've　forgotten；　that　is　what　we're　after；　not　Giller's　head　in　a　basket。　Whose　side　he's　on　is　not　an　issue。　We　must　only　get　the　box；　no　more。〃
　
　Kahlan　folded　her　arms　with　a　frown；　Zedd　rubbed　his　chin　while　he　looked　into　the　fire。　Richard　let　them　mull　it　over　for　a　while。　He　knew　that　the　way　they　wanted　to　do　it　was　sure　to　cause　trouble；　and　that　soon　enough　they　would　both　realize　it。
　
　Zedd　turned　back　to　him。　〃Of　course　you　are　right。　I　agree。〃　His　thin　face　turned　to　Kahlan。　〃Mother　Confessor？〃
　
　She　studied　Zedd's　face　a　moment　before　looking　up　at　Richard。　〃Agreed。　But　Richard；　the　two　of　you　will　have　to　play　the　part　of　courtiers　to　the　Mother　Confessor。　Zedd　knows　the　protocol；　but　you　don't。〃
　
　〃I　hope　not　to　be　there　long。　Just　tell　me　what　I　need　to　know　to　get　by　for　a　short　time。〃
　
　Kahlan　drew　a　deep　breath。　〃Well；　I　guess　the　most　important　thing　is　to　look　like　you　are　part　of　my　escort；　be　。　。　。　respectful。〃　She　cleared　her　throat；　diverting　her　eyes。　〃Just　pretend　like　I　am　the　most　important　person　you　have　ever　been　around；　and　treat　me　in　that　manner；　and　no　one　will　question。　Every　Confessor　allows　her　attendants　different　liberties；　and　as　long　as　you　are　deferential；　no　one　will　think　anything　of　it　if　you　should　happen　to　do　something　not　quite　proper。　Even　if　you　think　my　behavior　。　。　。　odd；　just　play　along。　All　right？〃
　
　Richard　watched　her　a　moment　while　she　studied　the　ground。　He　rose　to　his。　feet。　〃It　would　be　my　honor；　Mother　Confessor。〃　He　gave　a　bow。
　
　Zedd　cleared　his　throat。　〃A　little　deeper；　my　boy。　You　are　not　traveling　with　a　mere　Confessor。　You　are　an　escort　to　the　Mother　Confessor　herself。〃　〃All　right；〃　Richard　sighed。　〃I'll　do　my　best。　Now；　get　some　sleep。　I'll　take　first　watch。〃　He　started　walking　toward　the　trees。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Zedd　called　after　him。　He　stopped；　turning　back。　〃There　are　many　in　the　Midlands　who　have　magic。　Many　different；　and　dangerous；　types　of　magic。　There。　is　no　telling　what　manner　of　sycophants　Queen　Milena　has　surrounded　herself　with。　You　pay　attention　to　what　Kahlan　and　I　tell　you；　and　do　your　best　not　to　cross　anyone。　You　may　not　know　who；　or　what；　her　attendants　are。〃
　
　Richard　drew　his　cloak　around　himself。　〃In　and　out　with　minimum　fuss。　That's　what　I　want　too。　If　all　goes　well；　tomorrow　at　this　time　we　will　have　the　box　and　our　only　worry　will　be　to　find　a　hole　to　hide　in　until　winter。〃
　
　〃Good。　You　have　it　right；　my　boy。　Good　night。〃
　
　In　a　spot　thin　of　brush；　Richard　found　a　moss…covered　log　to　sit　on　while　he　kept　an　eye　toward　the　camp　and　the　surrounding　woods。　He　checked　to　make　sure。；　the　moss　was　dry。　He　didn't　want　to　sit　in　damp　moss　and　then　have　wet　pants　to　make　him　colder。　The　moss　was　dry；　so　he　rearranged　his　sword；　sat　down；　and　wrapped　his　cloak　tight。　Clouds　hid　the　moon。　If　it　wasn't　for　the　fire　lending　the　little　illumination　it　did　to　the　surrounding　woods；　it　would　be　the　kind　of　dark　that　made　you　think　you　were　blind。
　
　Richard　sat　and　brooded。　He　didn't　like　the　idea　of　Kahlan　having　to　put　on　the　dress　and　put　herself　at　risk。　He　liked　it　less　that　it　was　his　own　idea。　He　wondered；　and　worried；　at　what　she　meant　about　her　acting　〃odd；〃　and　his　playing　along。　He　wondered；　and　worried　even　more　at　what　she　had　said　about　pretending　she　was　the　most　important　person　he　had　ever　been　around。　He　liked　that　not　at　all。　He　always　pictured　Kahlan　in　his　mind　as　his　friend；　at　the　least。　He　didn't　like　to　picture　her　as　the　Mother　Confessor。　It　was　Confessor's　magic　that　made　it　impossible　for　them　to　be　more　than　friends。　He　was　afraid　to　see　her　as　others　saw　her；　as　the　Mother　Confessor。　Any　reminder　of　what　she　was；　her　magic；　only　brought　the　hurt　deeper　into　his　heart。
　
　It　was　the　smallest　of　sounds　that　made　him　sit