tg.wizardfirstrule-第122部分

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　〃Oh。　Yes；　I　guess　I　must　have。　Good　night。〃
　
　Wizard's　First　Rule。　Thank　you；　my　old　friend；　he　thought　to　himself；　for　teaching　me　how　to　protect　Kahlan's　life。
　
　He　walked　on　into　the　night；　his　head　pounding　with　pain；　from　without；　and　from　within
　
　CHAPTER　39
　THE　city　of　TAMARANG　couldn't　hold　all　the　people　who　wanted　in；　there　were　simply　too　many。　People　ing　from　every　direction；　seeking　protection　and　safety；　had　overflowed　to　the　countryside　around　the　established　quarters。　Tents　and　shacks　had　sprung　up　on　the　bare　ground　outside　the　city　walls　and　out　onto　the　hills。　In　the　morning；　people　had　flowed　down　from　the　hills　into　the　impromptu　market　quarter　outside　the　walls。　People　who　had　e　from　other　towns；　villages；　and　cities　lined　up　in　streets　laid　out　in　haphazard　fashion　at　makeshift　stands；　selling　whatever　they　had。　Vendors　sold　everything　from　old　clothes　to　fine　jewelry。　Fruits　and　vegetables　were　stacked　at　other　stands。
　
　There　were　barbers　and　healers　and　fortune…tellers；　people　who　had　paper　…and　wanted　to　draw　your　face；　and　people　who　had　leeches　and　wanted　to　draw　your　blood。　Wine　and　spirits　were　for　sale　everywhere。　Despite　the　circumstances　of　their　presence；　the　people　seemed　in　a　festive　mood。　The　imagined　protection　and　ample　supply　of　drink；　Richard　suspected。　Talk　floated　freely　of　the　wonders　of　Father　Rahl。　Speakers　stood　at　the　center　of　small　knots　of　citizens；　telling　the　latest　news；　the　latest　atrocities。　The　tattered　folk　moaned　and　wailed　at　the　outrages　done　by　the　Westlanders。　There　were　cries　for　vengeance。
　
　Richard　didn't　see　a　single　woman　with　hair　past　her　jaw　line。
　
　The　castle　proper　sat　at　the　top　of　a　high　hill；　within　its　own　walls；　within　the　walls　of　the　city。　Red　banners　with　a　black　wolf's　head　flew　at　evenly　spaced　intervals　around　the　formidable　castle　walls。　The　huge　wooden　doors　at　the　outer　city　walls　stood　closed。　To　keep　the　riffraff　at　bay；　it　appeared。
　
　Patrols　of　soldiers　prowled　the　streets　on　horseback；　their　。armor　glinting　in　the　noonday　sun；　specks　of　light　in　an　ocean　of　noisy　people。　Richard　saw　one　detachment；　red　banners　with　black　wolf's　head　flying　over　them；　as　they　swept　through　the　new　streets。　Some　people　cheered；　some　bowed；　but　all　backed　away　as　the　horses　passed。　The　soldiers　ignored　them；…as　if　they　didn't　exist。　People　who　didn't　move　out　of　the　way　quick　enough　got　a　boot　to　the　head。
　
　But　none　of　the　people　moved　out　of　the　way　of　the　soldiers　the　way　they　moved　out　of　the　way　for　Kahlan。　People　backed　away　from　the　Mother　Confessor　the　way　a　pack　of　dogs　backs　away　from　a　porcupine。
　
　Her　white　dress　shone　in　the　bright　sun。　Back　straight；　head　held　high；　she　walked　as　if　she　owned　the　whole　city。　She　kept　her　eyes　straight　ahead；　and　acknowledged　no　one。　She　had　refused　to　wear　her　cloak；　saying　it　wouldn't　be　proper；　and　that　she　wanted　there　to　be　no　doubt　as　to　who　she　was。　There　was　no　doubt。
　
　People　fell　over　each　other　getting　out　of　her　way。　Everyone　bowed　in　a　wave　in　the　wide　circle　around　her　as　she　passed。　Hushed　whispers　carried　Kahlan's　title　back　through　the　throng。　Kahlan　didn't　acknowledge　the　bows。
　
　Zedd；　wearing　Kahlan's　pack　for　her；　walked　at　Richard's　side；　two　paces　behind　her。　Both　his　and　Richard's　eyes　swept　the　crowds。　In　all　the　time　he　had　known　Zedd；　Richard　had　never　seen　him　wear　a　pack。　To　say　it　looked　odd　would　be　an　understatement。　Richard　kept　his　cloak　hooked　back　behind　the　Sword　of　Truth。　It　raised　a　few　eyebrows；　but　nothing　like　the　Mother　Confessor　did。
　
　〃Is　it　like　this　everywhere　she　goes？〃　Richard　whispered　to　Zedd
　
　〃I'm　afraid　so；　my　boy。〃
　
　Without　hesitation；　Kahlan　walked　smoothly　over　the　massive　stone　bridge　to　the　city　gates。　Guards　at　the　near　end　of　the　bridge　fell　back　out　of　her　way。　She　ignored　them。　Richard　surveyed　everything；　in　case　he　needed　to　find　a　fast　way　out。
　
　The　two　dozen　guards　at　the　city　gates　were　obviously　under　instruction　to　allow　no　one　to　enter。　The　guards；　who　had　been　standing　at　attention；　looked　nervously　at　each　other；　they　hadn't　expected　a　visit　from　the　Mother　Confessor。　With　a　clank　of　metal　against　metal；　some　of　them　moved　back；　bumping　into　each　other；　and　some　didn't；　not　knowing　what　to　do。　Kahlan　stopped；　she　stared　ahead　at　the　gates　as　if　she　expected　them　to　evaporate　out　of　her　way。　The　guards　in　front　of　her　pressed　their　backs　against　the　gates　as　they　looked　sideways　to　their　captain。
　
　Zedd　stepped　around　Kahlan；　turned　to　her；　bowed　deeply；　as　if　to　excuse　himself　for　stepping　in　front　of　her；　then　turned　to　the　captain。
　
　〃What's　the　matter　with　you？　Are　you　blind；　man？　Open　the　gates！〃
　
　The　captain's　dark　eyes　shifted　between　Kahlan　and　Zedd。　〃I'm　sorry；　but　no　one　is　to　enter。　And　your　name　is　。　。　。〃
　
　Zedd's　face　turned　bright　red；　Richard　had　to　work　at　keeping　his　own　face　straight。　The　wizard's　voice　was　a　low　hiss。　〃Are　you　telling　me；　Captain；　that　you　were　told　‘If　the　Mother　Confessor　es　by；　don't　let　her　in'？〃
　
　The　captain's　eyes　looked　less　sure。　〃Well　。。。　I　was　ordered　。　。　。　I'm　not　。　。　。〃
　
　〃Open　the　gates　right　now！〃　Zedd　bellowed；　fists　at　his　side。　〃And　get　a　proper　escort　here　this　instant！〃
　
　The　captain　almost　jumped　out　of　his　armor。　He　yelled　orders　and　men　started　running　at　his　direction。　The　gates　swung　inward。　Horses　thundered　up　from　behind　and　came　around　the　little　pany；　forming　a　rank　in　front　of　Kahlan　with　their　banners　at　the　lead。　More　horsemen　formed　up　behind。　Foot　soldiers　came　at　a　run；　falling　in　beside　her；　but　not　too　close。
　
　Richard　was　seeing　her　world　for　the　first　time；　the　loneliness　of　it。　What　had　his　heart　gotten　him　into？　With　cold　pain；　he　understood　her　need　for　a　friend。
　
　〃You　call　this　a　proper　escort？〃　Zedd　roared。　〃Well；　it　will　have　to　do。〃　He　turned　to　Kahlan　and　bowed　deeply。　〃My　apologies；　Mother　Confessor；　for　this　man's　insolence；　and　his　feeble　effort　at　an　escort。〃
　
　Her　eyes　went　to　Zedd　and　she　gave　a　slight　bow　of　the　head。
　
　Though　he　knew　he　had　no　right；　the　shape　of　her　in　that　dress　was　making　Richard　sweat。
　
　As　best　they　could；　the　men　in　the　ranks　kept　a　wary　eye　to　Kahlan；　waiting；　and　when　she　started　forward　they　stepped　in　with　her。　Dust　rose　around　the　horses　as　they　started　through　the　gates。
　
　Zedd　fell　in　next　to　Richard　as　the　procession　started　moving；　leaning　toward　the　captain　as　he　passed。　〃Count　your　blessings　the　Mother　Confessor　doesn't　know　your　name；　Captain！〃　he　snapped。
　
　Richard　saw　the　captain　sag　with　relief　when　they　moved　well　past　him。　Richard　smiled　to　himself。　He　had　wanted　to　give　them　a　worry；　but　he　had　no　idea　it　would　be　so　effective　a　worry。
　
　There　was　as　much　order　to　the　city　inside　the　walls　as　there　was　disorder　outside　its　gates。　Shops　with　their　wares　displayed　in　windows　lined　the　paved　streets　radiating　out　from　the　fortress　castle。　The　streets　lacked　the　dust　and　smells　of　those　outside。　There　were　inns　that　looked　to　be　finer　than　any　Richard　had　ever　seen　before；　much　less　stayed　in。　Some　had　doormen　standing　at　attention　in　red　uniforms　and　white　gloves。　Elaborately　carved　signs　hung　above　the　doors：　The　Silver　Garden　Inn；　The　Collins　Inn；　The　White　Stallion；　and　The　Carriage　House。
　
　Men　in　fine；　richly　colored　coats；　escorting　ladies　in　elaborate　dresses；　went　about　their　business　with　calm　grace。　One　thing　that　wasn't　different　about　the　people　inside　the　walls　was　that　they；　too；　bowed　deeply　when　they　saw　the　Mother　Confessor　approaching。　As　the　sound　of　the　horses'　hooves　on　the　stone；　and　armor　clanking；　drew　their　attention；　and　they　saw　Kahlan；　they　backed　away　and　bowed；　although　not　as　quickly。　There　was　no　snap　in　their　deference；　no　sincerity　in　their　submission。　There　was　a　wisp　of　contempt　in　their　eyes。　Kahlan　ignored　them。　The　people　inside　the　walls　also　noticed　the　sword　more　than　those　outside　had　noticed　it。　Richard　saw　the　men's　eyes　glide　over　it　as　he　passed；　saw　the　women's　cheeks　color　with　disdain
　
　Women's　hair　was　still　short；　but　occasionally　there　was　some　that　touched　the　shoulders。　None　longer。　That；　too；　made　Kahlan　stand　out　all　the　more；　the　way　her　hair　cascaded　off　her　shoulders　and　partway　down　her　back。　There　was　no　woman　with　hair　that　even　approached　it。　Richard　was　glad　he　hadn't　cut　it　for　her。
　
　One　of　the　horsemen　was　given　orders；　and　he　broke　rank　in　a　dead　run　toward　the　castle　to　announce　the　arrival　of　the　Mother　Confessor。　As　she　proceeded；　Kahlan　wore　the　calm　expression　that　showed　nothing；　an　expression　he　was　used　to　seeing　on　her。　He　now　realized　what　it　was。　It　was　the　expression　worn　by　a　Confessor。
　
　Before　they　reached　the　castle　gates；　trumpets　announced　the　arrival　of　the　Mother　Confessor。　The　tops　of　the　walls　were　alive　with　soldiers：　lancers；　bowmen；　and　swordsmen。　All　stood　in　ranks；　bowed　as　one　when　Kahlan　was　close　enough；　and　stayed。　bowed　until　she　passed　through　the　iron　gates　that　stood　open　for　her。　Inside　the　gates；　soldiers　standing　at　attention　lined　each　side　of　the　road；　and　bowed　in　unison　as　she　passed。
　
　Some　of　the　terraces　held　stone　urns　that　marched　off　to　either　Side；　some　of　them　still　holding　greenery；　or。　flowers　that　must　have　been　brought　out　daily　from　greenhouses。　Broad　flat　areas　displayed　hedges　trimmed　in　intricate　patterns；　even　mazes。　Closer　to　the　castle　walls；　hedges　were　larger；　cut　to　mimic　objects；　or　animals。　They　extended　off　to　the　sides　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see。
　
　The　walls　of　the　castle　soared　into　the　air　above　them。　The　plicated　stonework　left　Richard　awestruck。　He　had　never　been　this　close　to　anything　man…made　that　was　this　huge。　Shota's　palace　was　big；　but　not　this　big；　and　he　had　never　gotten　close　to　it。　Towers　and　turrets；　walls　and　ramps；　balconies　and　niches；　all　rose　high　into　the　air　above　them。　He　marveled　at　what　Kahlan　had　told　him；　that　this　was　an　insignificant　kingdom；　and　wondered　at　what　the　castles　in　the　more　important　lands　must　be　like。
　
　The　horsemen　had　left　them　at　the　rampart；　and　as　they　were　swallowed　into　the　castle　the　foot　soldiers；　six　abreast　with　room　for　another　six　to　each　side；　ma