tg.wizardfirstrule-第146部分

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　It　took　him　the　better　part　of　an　hour　to　find　his　way　out　of　the　labyrinth　of　halls；　out　into　the　frigid　night；　to　the　expanse　of　grounds。　He　kept　a　tight　grip　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword　as　he　went　past　two　big　guards　at　the　open　gate　through　the　outer　wall；　but　they　only　gave　a　polite　nod　of　their　heads；　as　if　he　were　an　invited　guest　departing　after　a　royal　dinner。
　
　He　stopped；　gazing　out　at　the　starlit　country　before　him。　He　had　never　been　so　happy　to　see　stars。　He　turned　about；　looking　at　everything。　The　People's　Palace；　surrounded　by　imposing　sheer　walls；　sat　atop　an　immense　plateau　that　dropped　off　before　him　to　a　plain。　The　plateau　stood　hundreds　of　feet　above　the　barren　land；　but　there　was　a　road　cut　into　the　cliffs；　switching　back　and　forth；　descending　to　the　flat　land。
　
　〃Horse；　sir？〃
　
　Richard　spun　around。　One　of　the　guards　had　spoken　to　him。　〃What？〃
　
　〃I　asked　if　you　would　like　a　horse　brought　up；　sir。　You　look　to　be　leaving。　It's　a　long　walk。〃
　
　〃What's　a　long　walk？〃
　
　The　guard　gave　a　nod　at　the　drop。　〃The　Azrith　Plains。　You're　looking　to　the　west；　across　the　Azrith　Plains。　It's　a　long　walk　across。　Would　you　like　a　horse？〃
　
　It　unnerved　him　that　Darken　Rahl　had　so　little　concern　for　what　he　might　do　that　he　would　let　him　have　a　horse。　〃Yes；　I　would　like　a　horse。〃
　
　The　guard　blew　a　small　whistle　in　a　series　of　short　and　long　bursts　to　anther　man　on　the　wall。　Richard　heard　the　short　tune　repeated　into　the　distance。
　
　The　guard　resumed　his　post。　〃Won't　be　long；　sir。〃
　
　〃How　far　to　the　Rang'Shada　Mountains？〃
　
　The　man　frowned　a　little。　〃Where　in　the　Rang'Shada？　They　run　a　long　way。〃
　
　〃Northwest　of　Tamarang。　As　close　as　they　e　to　Tamarang。〃　He　rubbed　his　chin　in　thought。　〃Four；　maybe　five　days。〃　He　considered　the　other　guard。　〃Wouldn't　you　says〃
　
　The　other　shrugged。　〃If　he　rides　hard；　day　and　night；　and　changes　horses　often；　maybe　five；　but　I　doubt　it　could　be　done　in　four。〃
　
　Richard's　heart　sank。　Of　course　Rahl　didn't　care　if　he　had。　a　horse。　Where　was　he　going　to　go？　Michael　and　the　Westland　army　were　four　or　five　days　away；　in　the　Rang'　Shada。　He　couldn't　get　to　them；　and　back；　before　the　week　was　out；　before　the　first　day　of　winter。
　
　But　Kahlan　had　to　be　closer。　Rahl　had　sent　that　man　with　the　black　stripe　in　his　hair；　and　two　quads；　to　get　her。　What　was　she　doing　this　close？　He　hack　told　them　not　to　e　after　him。　His　anger　flashed　at　Chase　for　not　following　his　instructions；　for　not　keeping　them　all　away。　Then　his　anger　wilted。　If　it　were　him；　he　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　sit　back　and　not　know　what　had　happened　to　a　friend。　Maybe　they　weren't　in　the　mountains；　but　all　on　their　way。　But　what　good　was　an　army　going　to　do？　Ten　good　men　in　a　place　like　this　could　hold　off　an　army　for　a　month。
　
　Two　soldiers　in　full　battle　armor　came　riding　through　the　gate；　bringing　a　third　horse　with　them。
　
　〃Would　you　like　an　escort；　sir？〃　the　guard　asked。　〃They're　good　men。〃
　
　〃No。〃　Richard　glared。　〃I　will　be　going　alone。〃
　
　The　guard　waved　the　soldiers　off。
　
　〃You'll　be　going　west…southwest；　then？〃　Richard　didn't　answer；　so　he　went　on。　〃Tamarang。　The　place　in　the　Rang'Shada　you　asked　about。　It's　to　the　west…southwest。　Piece　of　advice；　if　I　may；　sir？〃
　
　〃Go　on；〃　Richard　said　cautiously。
　
　〃If　you　go　that　way；　across　the　Azrith　Plains；　then　near　morning；　you'll　e　to　a　boulder　field　among　sharp　hills。　There'll　be　a　split　in　the　road　in　a　deep　canyon。　Take　to　the　left。〃
　
　Richard's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Why？〃
　
　‘Because　to　the　right；　there　be　a　dragon。　A　red　dragon。　A　red　dragon　of　a　bad　temper。　Master　Rahl's　dragon。〃
　
　Richard　mounted　the　horse　and　stared　down　at　the　guard。　〃Thanks　for　the　advice。　I'll　remember。〃
　
　He　put　heel　to　the　horse　and　took　to　the　steep　road；　down　the　side　of　the　plateau；　down　the　switchbacks。　Beyond　one；　he　saw　a　drawbridge　being　lowered　as　he　approached。　By　the　time　he　reached　it；　it　was　down　and　he　never　slowed；　galloping　the　horse　across　the；　heavy　wooden　planks。　He　could　see　that　the　load　was　the　only　practical　way　up　the　cliffs　of　the　plateau；　and　the　yawning　gap　spanned　by　the　bridge　would　prove　an　impasse　to　any　advancing　army。　Even　without　the　formidable　force　of　defenders　he　knew　was　behind　him；　even　without　Darken　Rahl's　magic；　the　simple　inaccessibility　of　the　People's　Palace　was　defense　enough。
　
　As　he　rode；　Richard　unbuckled　the　hated　collar　and　flung　it　into　the　night。　He　vowed　that　he　would　never　again　wear　a　collar。　Not　for　anyone。　Not　for　any　reason。
　
　Running　the　horse　across　the　plain；　Richard　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　the　black　shape　of　the　People's　Palace　atop　the　plateau；　looming　up；　blotting　out　an　entire　quadrant　of　stars。　The　cold　air　against　his　face　made　his　eyes　water。　Or　else　it　was　his　thoughts　about　Denna。　Try　as　he　might；　he　couldn't　get　her　out　of　his　mind。　If　it　weren't　for　Kahlan；　and　Zedd；　he　would　have　killed　himself　back　there；　he　was　hurting　that　much。
　
　Killing　with　the　sword　in　anger；　out　of　rage　and　hate；　was　horrible。　Killing　with　the　sword's　white　magic；　out　of　love；　was　beyond　horror。　The　blade　had　returned　to　its　polished　silver　gloss；　but　he　knew　how　to　make　it　white　again。　He　hoped　he　would　die　before　that　was　ever　required。　He　didn't　know　if　he　could　ever　bring　himself　to　do　it　again。
　
　And　yet；　here　he　was；　racing　across　the　night；　on　his　way　to　find　Zedd　and　Kahlan；　to　find　which　of　them　had　betrayed　the　box　to　Darken　Rahl；　had　betrayed　everyone　to　Darken　Rahl。
　
　The　whole　thing　didn't　make　any　sense。　Why　would　Rahl　use　the　night　stone　to　trap　Zedd；　if　Zedd　was　the　traitor？　And　why　would　he　send　men　after　Kahlan；　if　she　was　the　one？　Yet　Shota　had　said　each　would　try　to　kill　him。　It　had　to　be　one　of　them。　What　was　he　to　do？　Turn　the　sword　white；　and　kill　both？　He　knew　that　was　foolish。　He　would　rather　die　himself　first　than　harm　either。　But　what　if　Zedd　was　betraying　them；　and　the　only　way　to　save　Kahlan　would　be　to　kill　his　old　friend？　Or　what　if　it　was　the　other　way　around？　Would　he　still　rather　die　first；　then？
　
　The　important　thing　was　to　stop　Rahl。　He　had　to　recover　the　last　box。　He　had　to　stop　wasting　his　energy　thinking　about　things　he　couldn't　know。　All　that　mattered　was　stopping　Rahl；　then　everything　else　would　fall　into　place。　He　had　found　the　box　once；　he　would　have　to　find　it　again。
　
　But　how？　There　was　no　time。　How　was　he　going　to　find　Zedd　and　Kahlan？　He　was　one　man　on　a　horse；　and　there　was　a　whole　country　to　search。　They　wouldn't　be　traveling　by　road；　not　if　Chase　was　with　them。　Chase　would　keep　them　off　the　roads；　well　hidden。　Richard　didn't　know　the　roads；　much　less　the　trails。
　
　This　was　a　fool's　task。　There　was　too　much　country　to　search。
　
　Darken　Rahl　had　planted　too　many　doubts　in　him。　Swirling　thoughts　twisted　on　themselves；　became　more　and　more　confusing；　hopeless。　He　felt　that　his　own　mind　was　his　worst　enemy　right　now。　Richard　cleared　his　mind　and　chanted　the　devotion　to　keep　himself　from　thinking。　He　smiled　at　the　stupidity　of　chanting　a　devotion　to　a　man　he　wanted　to　kill；　but　he　chanted　anyway　as　he　rode　on　into　the　night。　Master　Rahl　guide　us：　Master　Rahl　teach　us。　Master　Rahl　protect　us。　In　your　light　we　thrive。　In　your　mercy　we　are　sheltered。　In　your　wisdom　we　are　humbled　We　live　only　to　serve。　Our　lives　are　yours。
　
　Twice；　he　walked　the　horse　to　rest　it；　but　pushed　on　hard　the　rest　of　the　time。。　The　Azrith　Plains　seemed　endless。　The　flat　country；　devoid　of　almost　all　vegetation；　stretched　on　forever。　The　chanting　helped　him　keep　his　mind　clear　of　all　thoughts；　except　one：　the　horror　of　killing　Denna。　That　memory　he　couldn't　shake。　Those　tears　he　couldn't　keep　back。
　
　Dawn　brought　him　his　own　shadow　to　chase。　Boulders　appeared；　looking　out　of　place　on　the　flat　ground；　casting　long　shadows　of　their　own。　They　gathered　in　numbers　as　he　rode。　The　terrain　began　undulating；　opening　up　in　gullies；　rising　in　ridges。　He　rode　through　narrow　passes　and　rifts；　down　a　canyon　with　walls　of　crumbling　rock。　The　road　took…　a　bend　to　the　left；　with　a　narrower　road　to　the　right。　Richard　took　the　horse　to　the　left；　remembering　what　the　guard　had　told　him。
　
　Out　of　the　clearness　of　his　mind；　a　thought　came　to　him。　Richard　brought　the　horse　to　a　skidding　halt。　He　looked　off　down　the　right　road。　He　thought　about　it　a　minute；　then　pulled　the　reins　to　the　right；　urging　the　animal　on；　down　the　right…hand　road。
　
　Darken　Rahl　had　told　him　he　was　free　to　go　where　he　pleased
　
　He　had　even　let　him　have　a　horse　so　he　might　go　where　he　wished。　Maybe　Darken　Rahl　wouldn't　mind　if　Richard　borrowed　his　dragon。
　
　Letting　the　horse　pick　its　own　way；　he　watched　carefully　all　about；　resting　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword。　Surely　a　red　dragon　wouldn't　be　hard　to　spot。　There　was　no　sound　but　the　horse's　hooves　on　the　hard　ground。　Richard　didn't　know　how　far　it　was；　and　rode　for　a　long　time　among　the　rubble　of　boulders　on　the　canyon　floor。　He　began　to　worry　that　the　dragon　was　gone；　that　maybe　Rahl　himself　was　riding　it　somewhere。　Maybe　to　get　the　box。　He　didn't　know　if　his　present　course　was　a　good　idea；　but　it　was　the　only　idea　he　could　think　of。
　
　A　blinding　burst　of　fire　erupted　with　a　deafening　roar。　The　horse　reared。　Richard　leapt　off；　landed　on　his　feet；　and　scrambled　behind　a　boulder　as　the　air　was　filled　with　flying　stones　and　fire。　Shards　of　rock　ricocheted　past　his　head。　He　heard　the　horse　thud　to　the　ground　and　smelled　burnt　hair。　It　screamed　a　terrible　neigh　until　there　was　a　snapping　of　bones。　Richard　crouched　tighter　against　the　rock；　afraid　to　look。
　
　As　he　listened　to　the　periodic　roar　of　fire；　the　breaking　of　bones；　the　ripping　of　flesh；　Richard　decided　that　this　had　been　a　very　stupid　idea。　He　could　hardly　believe　the　dragon　was　so　well　hidden　that　he　hadn't　even　seen　it。　He　wondered　if　it　had　seen　him　dive　behind　the　boulder。　At　least　for　the　moment；　it　didn't　seem　so。　He　searched　about　for　a　way　to　escape；　but　the　terrain　was　too　open　to　run　without　being　seen。　The　sound　of　the　horse　being　eaten　made　his　stomach　turn。　At　last　it　ended。　He　wondered　if　dragons　took　naps　after　they　ate。　'There　were　a　few　snorts。　The　snorts　came　closer。　Richard　tri