tg.wizardfirstrule-第123部分

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　marched　through　the　enormous　pair　of　brass…clad　doors　and　fanned　out　to　the　sides；　leaving　the　three　to　walk　on…Kahlan　in　the　lead。
　
　The　room　was　immense。　A　gleaming　sea　of　black　and　white　marble　tiles　swept　away　ahead　of　them。　Polished　stone　columns；　so　large　it　would　take　ten　people　holding　hands　to　reach　around　each；　and　fluted　with　spiraling；　carved　roping；　rose　in　a　line　to　both　sides　of　the　room；　supporting　row　upon　row　of　arches　at　the　edge　of　the　ribbed；　vaulted　center　ceiling。　Richard　felt　as　little　as　a　bug。
　
　Huge　tapestries　depicting　heroic　scenes　of　vast　battles　hung　on　the　side　walls。　He　had　seen　tapestries　before；　his　brother　had　two。　Richard　rather　favored　them；　and　had　always　thought　they　were　a　grand　extravagance。　But　Michael's　tapestries　were　to　these　as　a　stick　drawing　in　the　dirt　was　to　a　fine　oil　painting。　Richard　hadn't　even　known　such　majestic　things　as　these　existed。
　
　Zedd　leaned　a　little　closer　to　him　and　whispered。　〃Put　your　eyes　back　in　your　head；　and　shut　your　mouth。〃
　
　Chagrined；　Richard　snapped　his　mouth　closed　and　put　his　eyes　to　the　front。　He　leaned　close　to　Zedd；　and　asked　in　a　low　whisper；　〃Is　this　the　kind　of　place　she　is　used　to？〃
　
　〃No。　The　Mother　Confessor　is　used　to　much　better　than　this。〃
　
　Overwhelmed；　Richard　straightened　himself。
　
　Ahead　lay　a　grand　stairway。　By　Richard's　estimation；　his　entire　house　would　fit；　with　room　to　spare；　on　its　central　landing。　Carved　marble　railings　swooped　down　each　side。　Between　themselves　and　the　stairs　waited　a　knot　of　people。
　
　At　their　front　stood　Queen　Milena；　an　amply　fed　woman　in　layered　silks　of　garish　colors。　She　wore　a　cape　trimmed　in　rare　spotted　fox。　Her　hair　was　as　long　as　Kahlan's。　At　first；　Richard　couldn't　figure　out　what　she　was　holding；　but　when　he　heard　the　yapping；　he　realized　it　was　a　small　dog。
　
　As　they　approached；　everyone　but　the　Queen　dropped　to　a　knee　in　a　deep　bow。　When　they　stopped；　Richard　stared　openly；　he　had　never　seen　a　queen　before。　Zedd　gave　him　a　sideways　kick。　He　dropped　to　one　knee　and；　following　Zedd's　example；　bowed　his　head。　The　only　two　who　did　not　kneel　or　bow　were　Kahlan　and　the　Queen。　No　sooner　was　he　down　than　everyone　was　back　up；　with　him　ing　to　his　feet　last。　Richard　guessed　that　the　two　women　must　not　have　to　bow　to　each　other
　
　The　Queen　stared　at　Kahlan；　who；　with　her　head　held　high；　didn't　break　her　calm　countenance　and　didn't　even　look　at　the　Queen。　No　one　spoke　a　word。
　
　Kahlan　lifted　her　hand　a　little；　only　about　a　foot　away　from　her　body；　with　her　arm　held　unbending；　her　hand　held　limply　in　place。　The　Queen's　expression　turned　darker。　Kahlan's　didn't　change。　Richard　figured　that　if　anyone　had　blinked；　he　would　have　heard　it。　The　Queen　turned　slightly　to　the　side　and　handed　the　little　dog　to　a　man　in　a　bright　green；　sleeved　doublet　and　black　tights　with　red…and…yellow　striped　pantaloons。　There　was　a　whole　gaggle　of　men　behind　the　Queen　dressed　in　similar　fashion。　The　dog　growled　viciously　and　bit　the　man's　hand；　he　did　his　best　not　to　notice。
　
　The　Queen　lowered　herself　to　both　knees　in　front　of　Kahlan。　A　young　man　in　plain　black　clothes　immediately　came　to　the　Queen's　side；　holding　a　tray　out　in　front　of　himself。　He　bowed；　head　bent　impossibly　low；　holding　the　tray　out　to　the　Queen。　She　took　a　small　towel　from　the　tray；　dipped　it　in　a　silver　bowl　of　water；　and　used　it　to　wipe　her　lips。　She　returned　the　towel　to　the　tray。　。。
　
　The　Queen　took　the　Mother　Confessor's　hand　lightly　in　her　own；　and　kissed　it　with　her　freshly　cleaned　lips。
　
　〃Fidelity　sworn　to　the　Confessors；　on　my　crown；　on　my　land；　on　my　life。〃
　
　Richard　had　heard　few　people　lie　as　smoothly。
　
　Kahlan　at　last　moved　her　eyes。　She　looked　down　at　the　Queen's　bowed　head。　〃Rise；　my　child。〃
　
　More　than　a　queen；　indeed；　Richard　thought。　He　remembered　teaching　Kahlan　to　make　a　snare；　to　read　tracks；　to　dig　roots；　and　felt　himself　turning　crimson。
　
　Queen　Milena　laboriously　pushed　herself　to　her　feet。　Her　lips　smiled。　Her　eyes　didn't。　〃We　have　not　requested　a　Confessor。〃
　
　〃Nonetheless；　I　am　here。〃　Kahlan's　voice　could　have　frozen　water。
　
　〃Yes；　well；　this　is　。　。。　grand。　Simply　。。。　grand。〃　Her　face　brightened。　〃We　will　have　a　banquet。　Yes；　a　banquet。　I　will　send　out　runners　with　invitations　immediately。　Everyone　will　e。　I'm　sure　they　will　be　most　pleased　to　dine　with　the　Mother　Confessor。　This　is　quite　an　honor。〃　She　turned；　indicating　the　men　in　the　red…and…yellow　pantaloons。　〃These　are　my　barristers。〃　The　men　all　bowed　deeply　again　at　the　introduction。　〃I　don't　remember　all　their　names。〃　She　held　her　hand　out　to　two　men　in　gold　robes。　〃And　this　is　Silas　Tannic；　and　Brandin　Gadding；　the　chief　advisors　to　the　crown。〃　The　two　gave　a　nod。　〃And　my　minister　of　finance；　Lord　Rondel；　my　star　guide；　Lady　Kyley。〃　Richard　didn't　see　a　silver…robed　wizard　among　the　Queen's　entourage。　The　Queen　waved　her　hand　at　a　shabbily　dressed　man　in　the　back。　〃And　James；　my　court　artist。〃
　
　From　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Richard　saw　Zedd　stiffen。　James　kept　his　lecherous　eyes　on　Kahlan　as　he　gave　a　shallow　bow。　He　was　missing　his　right　hand　at　the　wrist。　The　oily　smile　he　gave　her　made　Richard　reach　for　his　sword　instinctively　before　he　realized　what　he　was　doing。　Without　looking　over；　Zedd's　hand　grabbed　his　wrist　and　took　the　hand　away　from　the　sword。　Richard　glanced　around　at　the　other　people　to　see　if　anyone　had　noticed。　No　one　had。　They　were　all　watching　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　Kahlan　turned　to　the　two　of　them。　〃Zeddicus　Zorander；　cloud　reader；　trusted　advisor　to　the　Mother　Confessor。〃　Zedd　bowed　dramatically。　〃And　Richard　Cypher；　the　Seeker；　protector　to　the　Mother　Confessor。〃　Richard　imitated　Zedd's　bow。
　
　The　Queen　looked　at　him；　lifting　an　eyebrow　with　a　sour　look。　〃Pretty　pathetic　protection　for　a　Mother　Confessor。〃
　
　Richard　made　no　change　in　his　expression。　Kahlan　remained　unruffled。　〃It　is　the　sword　that　cuts；　the　man　is　unimportant。　His　brain　may　be　small；　but　his　arms　are　not。　He　tends　to　use　the　sword　too　often；　though。〃
　
　The　Queen　didn't　seem　to　believe　her。　Behind　the　royal　party；　a　small　girl　came　gliding　down　the　stairs。　She　wore　a　pink　satin　dress　and　jewelry　that　was　too　large　for　her。　She　strode　up　beside　the　Queen；　flipping　her　long　hair　back　over　her　shoulder。　She　did　not　bow。
　
　〃My　daughter；　the　Princess　Violet。　Violet；　dear；　this　is　the　Mother　Confessor。〃
　
　Princess　Violet　scowled　up　at　Kahlan。　〃Your　hair　is　too　long。　Perhaps　we　should　cut　it　for　you。〃
　
　Richard　detected　the　slightest　smile　of　satisfaction　on　the　Queen's　face。　He　decided　it　was　time　to　elevate　her　level　of　worry
　
　The　Sword　of　Truth　came　out；　sending　its　distinctive　ring　around　the　huge　room；　the　stone　amplifying　the　sound。　With　the　sword　point　an　inch　from　Princess　Violet's　nose；　he　let　the　anger　of　it　rage　through　him；　to　make　his　words　more　dramatic。
　
　〃Bow　to　the　Mother　Confessor；〃　he　hissed；　〃or　die。〃
　
　Zedd　acted　bored。　Kahlan　waited　calmly。　No　one　else　had　eyes　as　wide　as　the　Princess　as　she　stared　at　the　sword　point。　She　dropped　to　her　knees　and　bowed　her　head。　Standing　back　up；　her　eyes　went　to　him；　as　if　asking　if　the　bow　was　all　right。
　
　〃Be　careful　how　you　use　that　tongue；〃　Richard　sneered。　〃The　next　time　I　will　separate　it　from　you。〃
　
　She　nodded　and　walked　around　her　mother；　standing　on　the　far　side　of　her。　Richard　sheathed　his　sword；　turned；　bowed　deeply　to　Kahlan；　who　didn't　look　at　him；　and　returned　to　his　station　behind　her。
　
　The　demonstration　had　the　desired　effect　on　the　Queen；　her　voice　being　a　bright　singsong。　〃Yes；　well；　as　I　was　saying；　it　is　grand　having　you　here。　We　are　all　simply　delighted。　Let　us　show　you　to　our　finest　room。　You　must　be　tired　from　your　journey。　Perhaps　you　would　like　to　rest　before　dinner；　and　then　after　dinner　we　can　all　have　a　nice　long　。　。　。
　
　〃I　am　not　here　to　eat。〃　Kahlan　cut　her　off。　〃I　am　here　to　inspect　your　dungeon。〃
　
　〃Dungeon？〃　She　made　a　face。　〃It's　filthy　down　there。　Are　you　sure　you　wouldn't　rather　。
　
　Kahlan　started　walking。　〃I　know　the　way。〃　Richard　and　Zedd　fell　in　behind　her。　She　stopped；　and　turned　back　to　the　Queen。　〃You　will　wait　here〃…her　voice　was　like　ice…〃until　I　am　finished。〃　As　the　Queen　began　bowing　her　assent；　Kahlan　strode　off　with　a　swish　of　her　dress　as　she　turned　on　her　heels。
　
　If　Richard　hadn't　known　her　as　well　as　he　did；　the　entire　encounter　would　have　scared　the　breath　out　of　him。　In　fact；　he　wasn't　sure　it　hadn't。
　
　Kahlan　led　them　downstairs　and　through　rooms　that　became　less　and　less　grandiose　the　deeper　they　went　into　the　castle。　Richard　was　amazed　at　the　size　of　the　place。
　
　〃I　was　hoping　Giller　would　have　been　there；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃Then　we　wouldn't　need　to　do　this。〃
　
　〃Me　too；〃　Zedd　grumbled。　〃You　just　make　a　quick　inspection；　ask　if　anyone　wants　to　give　a　confession；　and　when　they　say　no；　we　go　back　up　and　ask　to　see　Giller。〃　He　gave　her　a　smile。　〃You've　handled　it　well　so　far；　dear　one。〃　She　returned　the　smile　to　the　two　of　them。　〃And　Richard；〃　he　cautioned；　〃you　keep　away　from　that　artist；　James。〃
　
　〃Why？　He　might　draw　a　bad　likeness　of　me？〃
　
　〃Wipe　that　grin　off　your　face。　You　stay　away　from　him　because　he　might　draw　a　spell　around　you。〃
　
　〃A　spell？　Why　would　you　need　an　artist　to　put　a　spell　on　someone？〃
　
　〃Because　there　are　many　different　languages　in　the　Midlands；　though　the　main　one　is　the　same　as　is　spoken　in　Westland。　To　be　spelled；　you　have　to　be　able　to　understand　it。　If　you　can't　speak　their　language；　you　can't　put　a　spell　on　them。　But　everyone　can　understand　a　drawing。　He　can　draw　a　spell　on　almost　anyone；　not　Kahlan　or　me；　but　he　can　on　you。　Stay　away　from　him。〃
　
　Their　footsteps　echoed　as　the　three　quickly　descended　stone　steps。　The　walls；　far　belowground；　leaked　water　and　were　covered　in　places　with　slime。　；
　
　Kahlan　indicated　a　heavy　door　to　the　side。　〃Through　here。〃
　
　Richard　pulled　it　open　by　the　iron　ring；　the　strap　hinges　creaking。。　Torchlight　lit　the　way　down　a　narrow　stone　corridor　with　a　ceiling　he　had　to　stoop　to　avoid　hitting　with　his　head。　Straw　covered　the　wet　floor；　and　smelled　of　decay。　Near　the　end　she　slowed　to　a　walk　and　approached　a