tg.wizardfirstrule-第131部分

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you。　You　are　going　to　learn　to　do　as　I　say　without　question；　without　hesitation；　no　matter　what　it　is。　You　are　going　to　learn。　to　beg　for　anything　you　get。
　
　〃After　a　few　days　of　training　here；　and　I　think　you　have　made　enough　progress；　then　I　will　take　you　to　another　place；　where　there　are　other　Mord…Sith；　and　I　will　continue　training　you　there　until　I'm　finished；　no　matter　how　long　it　takes。　I　will　let　some　of　the　other　Mord…Sith　play　with　you；　so　you　can　see　how　lucky　you　are　to　have　me。　I　rather　like　men。　Some　of　the　others　hate　them。　I　will　let　some　of　them　have　you　for　a　while；　so　you　can　see　how　gentle　I　really　am。〃
　
　〃And　what　is　the　purpose　of　this　training；　Mistress　Denna？　To　what　end？　What　is　it　you　want？〃
　
　She　seemed　to　genuinely　enjoy　telling　him　these　things。　〃You　are　someone　special。　Master　Rahl　himself　wants　you　trained。〃　Her　smiled　widened。　〃He　asked　for　me。　I　would　guess　he　has　something　he　wants　to　ask　you。　I　will　not　let　you　embarrass　me　in　his　eyes。　When　I'm　done　with　you；　you　will　beg　to　tell　him　anything　he　wants　to　know。　When　he　is　finished　with　you；　then　you　are　to　be　mine；　for　life。　However　long　that　may　be。〃
　
　Richard　had　to　concentrate　on　her　hair；　had　to　fight　to　keep　the　anger　down。　He　knew　what　Darken　Rahl　wanted　to　know；　he　wanted　to　know　about　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows：　The　box　was　safe。　Kahlan　was　safe。　Nothing　else　mattered。　Denna　could　kill　him；　for　all　he　cared。　In　fact；　it　would　be　doing　him　a　favor。
　
　Denna　walked　around　him；　looking　him　up　and　down。　〃If　you　prove　to　be　a　good　pet；　I　may　even　choose　you　for　my　mate。〃　She　stopped　in　front　of　him；　put　her　face　close　to　his；　gave　him　a　coy　smile。　〃Mord…Sith　mate　for　life。〃　Her　smile　showed　her　teeth。　〃I've　had　many　mates。　But　don't　get　yourself　too　excited　by　the　prospect；　my　pet；〃　she　breathed。　〃I　doubt　you　will　find　it　to　be　an　experience　you　enjoy；　if　you　live　through　it。　None　of　the　others　have。　They　all　died　after　a　short　time　as　my　mate。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　think　that　was　anything　he　had　to　worry　about。　Darken　Rahl　wanted　the　book。　If　he　didn't　find　a　way　to　escape；　Darken　Rahl　was　going　to　kill　him；　in　the　same　way　he　had　killed　Richard's　father；　and　Giller。　The　most　he　would　learn　from　reading　Richard's　entrails　was　where　that　place　was…inside　Richard's　head…and　there　was　no　way　any　amount　of　the　reading　of　his　entrails　was　going　to　read　the　book　out　to　him。　Richard　only　hoped　he　could　live　long　enough　to　see　the　look　of　surprise　on　Darken　Rahl's　face　when　he　realized　he　had　made　a　fatal　mistake
　
　No　book。　No　box。　Darken　Rahl　was　a　dead　man。　That　was　all　that　mattered。
　
　As　for　the　question　of　him　being　betrayed；　he　decided　that　he　didn't　believe　it。　Darken　Rahl　knew　the　Wizard's　Rules；　and　he　was　just　using　the　first；　trying　to　make　him　afraid　of　the　possibility。　The　first　step　to　believing。　Richard　decided　that　he　was　not　going　to　be　tricked　by　the　Wizard's　First　Rule。　He　knew　Zedd　and　Chase　and　Kahlan。　He　would　not　believe　Darken　Rahl　over　his　friends。
　
　〃By　the　way；　where　did　you　get　the　Sword　of　Truth？〃
　
　He　looked　right　into　her　eyes。　〃I　bought　it　from　the　last　man　who　had　it。　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　〃Is　that　so？　What　did　you　have　to　give　for　it？〃
　
　Richard　held　her　eyes。　〃Everything　I　had。　It　would　appear　it　is　to　also　cost　me　my　freedom；　and　probably　my　life。〃
　
　Denna　laughed。　〃You　have　spirit。　I　love　breaking　a　man　with　spirit。　Do　you　know　why　Master　Rahl　picked　me？〃
　
　〃No；　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　〃Because　I　am　relentless。　I　may　not　be　as　cruel　as　some　of　the　others；　but。　I　enjoy　breaking　a　man　more　than　any　of　them。　I　love　hurting　my　pets　more　than　anything　else　in　life。　I　live　to　do　it。〃　She　arched　an　eyebrow　and　smiled。　〃I　don't　give　up；　I　don't　tire　of　it；　and　I　don't　ease　up。　Ever。〃
　
　〃I　am　honored；　Mistress　Denna；　to　be　in　the　hands　of　the　best。〃
　
　She　put　the　Agiel　against　the　cut　on　his　lip　and　held　it　there　until　he　was　on　his　knees　and　tears　ran　from　his　eyes。　〃That　is　the　last　flippant　thing　T　ever　want　to　hear　from　you。〃　She　took　the　Agiel　away　and　kneed　him　in　his　mouth；　knocking　him　sprawling　on　his　back。　She　pressed　the　Agiel　against　his　stomach。　Before　he　passed　out；　she　pulled　it　away。　〃What　do　you　have　to　say？〃
　
　〃Please；　Mistress　Denna；〃　he　managed　with　the　greatest　of　effort；　〃forgive　me。〃
　
　〃All　right；　get　up。　It's　time　to　begin　your　training。〃
　
　She　went　to　the　table　and　retrieved　something。　She　pointed　to　a　spot　on　the　floor。　〃Stand　there。　Now！〃
　
　Richard　moved　as　fast　as　he　could。　He　couldn't　straighten　himself；　the　pain　wouldn't　allow　it。　He　stood　on　the　spot；　breathing　hard；　sweating。　She　handed　him　something　with　a　thin　chain　attached。　It　was　a　collar　made　of　leather；　the　same　color　as　she　wore。
　
　Her　voice　lost　its　pleasant　quality。　〃Put　it　on。〃
　
　Richard　was　in　no　condition　to　ask　questions。　He　realized　that　he　was　starting　to　believe　he　would　do　anything　to　avoid　the　touch　of　the　Agiel。　He　buckled　the　collar　around　his　neck。　Denna　picked　up　the　chain。　The　end　of　it　had　a　loop　of　metal；　which　she　slipped　over　the　post　on　the　back　of　the　wooden　chair。
　
　〃The　magic　will　punish　you　for　going　against　my　wishes。　When　I　place　this　chain　somewhere；　it　is　my　wish　for　it　to　stay　there　until　I　remove　it。　I　want　you　to　learn　that　you　are　helpless　to　remove　it。〃　She　pointed　at　the　door；　which　stood　open。　〃For　the　next　hour；　I　want　you　to　try　your　best　to　make　it　to　that　doorway。　If　you　don't　try　your　hardest；　this　is　what　I　will　do　for　the　rest　of　the　hour。〃　She　put　the　Agiel　to　the　side　of　his　neck　until　he　was　on　his　knees；　screaming　in　agony；　and　begging　for　her　to　stop。　She　took　it　away　and　told　him　to　begin；　then　went　to　lean；　arms　folded；　against　a　wall。
　
　The　first　thing　he　did　was　simply　to　try　to　walk　to　the　door。　The　pain　buckled　his　legs　before　he　was　able　to　put　even　a　little　tension　on　the　chain；　and　stopped'　only　when　he　scooted　backward　toward　the　chair。
　
　Richard　reached　for　the　ring。　The　pain　of　the　magic　cramped　his　arms　until　he　was　shaking　with　the　strain　of　reaching　for　it。　Sweat　ran　off　his　face。　He　tried　backing　to　the　chair；　then　turning；　but　before　his　fingers　could　touch　the　chain；　the　pain　took　him　to　the　ground　again。　He　pushed　against　the　pain；　straining　to　reach　the　chair；　but　couldn't　get　there　past　the　pain；　the　effort　causing　him　to　fall　to　the　ground；　vomiting　blood。　When　it　ended；　he　held　himself　up　with　one　hand；　tears　dripping　from　his　face　as　he　held　his　stomach　with　his　other　hand　and　shook。　From　the　corner　of　his　eye；　he　saw　Denna　unfold　her　arms　and　stand　up　straight。　He　started　moving　again。
　
　What　he　was　doing　was　clearly　not　going　to　work。　He　had　to　think　of　something　else。　He　drew　the　sword；　thinking　to　lift　the　chain。　For　a　brief　instant；　and　with　the　greatest　effort；　he　managed　to　touch　the　chain　with　the　blade。　The　pain　made　him　drop　the　sword。　He　was　able　to　stop　the　hurt　only　by　putting　the　sword　back　in　its　scabbard。
　
　A　thought　came　to　him。　He　lay　down　on　the　ground；　and　in　a　quick　movement；　kicked　the　chair　out　from　under　the　chain　before　the　pain　could　paralyze　him。　The　chair　skidded　across　the　floor；　hit　the　table；　and　fell　over。　The　chain　fell　from　the　post。
　
　The　victory　lasted　only　the　briefest　of　moments。　With　the　chain　off　the　chair；　the　pain　elevated　to　a　new　height。　He　choked　and　gasped　against　the　floor。　With　all　his　effort；　he　clawed　his　way　across　the　stone。　Each　inch　he　moved　only　increased　the　pain　until　he　was　blinded　by　it。　His　eyes　felt　as　if　they　would　explode　from　his　head。　He　had　managed　to　move　only　about　two　feet。　He　didn't　know　what　to　do；　the　pain　wouldn't　let　him　move；　and　it　was　keeping　him　from　thinking。
　
　〃Please；　Mistress　Denna；〃　he　whispered　with　all　his　strength；　〃help　me。　Please　help　me。〃　He　realized　he　was　crying；　but　didn't　care。　He　only　wanted　the　chain　back　on　the　chair　so　the　pain　would　stop。
　
　He　heard　her　boots　walking　toward　him。　She　bent　and　picked　up　the　chair；　righted　it；　and　replaced　the　loop。　His　pain　lifted；　but　he　couldn't　stop　crying　as　he　rolled　onto　his　back。
　
　She　stood　over　him　with　her　hands　on　her　hips。　〃That　was　only　fifteen　minutes；　but　since　I　had　to　e　help　you；　the　hour　starts　over。　The　next　time　I　have　to　e　help　you；　it　will　be　two　hours。〃　She　bent　and　pushed　the　Agiel　against　his　stomach；　making　pain　bloom　inside　him。　〃Understand？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress　Denna；〃　he　cried。　He　was　afraid　there　was　a　way　to　escape；　and　afraid　of　what　would　happen　to　him　if　he　found　it；　and　afraid　of　not　trying。　If　there　was　a　way；　by　the　end　of　the　hour；　he　had　not　found　it。
　
　She　came　and　stood　over　him　as　he…　rested　on　his　hands　and　knees。　〃Do　you　think　you　understand　now？　Do　you　understand　what　will　happen　if　you　try　to　escape？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress　Denna。〃　And　he　really　did。　There　was　no　way　for　him　to　ever　get　away。　Hopelessness　closed　around　him；　feeling　as　if　it　would　suffocate　him。　He　wanted　to　die。　He　thought　about　the　knife　at　his　belt。
　
　〃Stand　up。〃　As　if　reading；　his　mind；　she　spoke　softly。　〃If　you　should　think　you　would　end　your　service　as　my　pet；　think　again
　
　The　magic　will　prevent　it；　the　same　as　it　prevents　you　from　moving　the　chain　from　where　I　put　it。〃　Richard　blinked　numbly　at　her。　〃There　is　no　way　for　you　to　escape　me；　not　even　through　death。　You　will　be　mine　as　long　as　I　choose　to　let　you　live。〃
　
　〃That　won't　be　long；　Mistress　Denna。　Darken　Rahl　is　going　to　kill　me。〃
　
　〃Perhaps。　But　even　if　he　does；　it　will　only　be　after　you　tell　him　what　he　wants　to　know。　What　I　want　is　for　you　to　answer　his　questions；　and　you　are　going　to　do　what　I　want　without　hesitation。〃　Her　brown　eyes　had　the　hardness　of　steel。　〃You　may　not　believe　that　right　now；　but　you　have　no　idea　how　good　I　am　at　training　people。　I　have　never　failed　to　break　a　man。　You　may　think　you　will　be　the　first；　but　you　will　soon　be　begging　to　please　me。〃
　
　The　first　day　with　her　wasn't　over；　and　already　Richard　knew　he　would　do　almost　anything　she　said。　She　had　weeks　left　to　train　him。　If　he　could　have　willed　himself　to　die　on　the　spot；　he　would　have　done　it。　The　worst　thing　was　knowing　she　was　right；　there　was　nothing　he　could　do　to　stop　her。　He　was　at　her　mercy；　and　he　didn't　thin