tg.wizardfirstrule-第59部分

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　With　a　beat　of　his　heart　that　he　could　feel　in　the　straining　muscles　of　his　neck；　Richard　watched　out　of　his　peripheral　vision　with　expectant　elation　as　he　held　the　man's　blue　eyes；　watched　his　sword　finally　sweep　the　rest　of　the　agonizing　distance　around　in　a　smooth　arc；　at　long　last　contracting　the　enemy's　raised　sword。　He　saw　the　detail　of　it　shattering　ever　so。　slowly　in　a　burst　of　hot　fragments；　freeing　the　bulk　of　the　severed　blade　to　lift　into　the　air；　twisting　as　it　went；　its　polished　surface　glinting　in　the　light　with　a　flash　upon　each　of　the　three　revolutions　it　made　before　the　Seeker's　sword；　with　all　the　power　of　his　rage　and　the　magic　behind　it；　reached　the　man's　head；　contacting　the　chain　mail；　making　the　head　deflect　only　the　tiniest　bit　before　the　sword　exploded　through　the　steel　links　of　the　mail；　through　the　man's　head　at　eye　level；　filling　the　air　with　a　shower　of　steel　pieces　and　links。
　
　The　misty　morning　erupted　with　a　burst　of　red　fog　that　made　Richard　feel　a　flush　of　exhilaration　as　he　watched　clumps　of　blond　hair　and　bone　and　brain　tumble　madly　away　as　the　blade　continued　its　sweep　through　the　crimson　air；　clearing　the　last　ragged　fragments　of　the　enemy's　skull；　continuing　its　journey　around；　while　the　body　with　only　a　neck　and　jaw　and　little　else　recognizable　above　that；　began　dropping　away　as　if　all　its　bones　had　dissolved；　leaving　nothing　to　hold　it　up；　finally　hitting　the　ground　with　a　hard　jolt。　Globs　of　blood　were　flung　up　into　the'　air　in　long　strings　which　finally　arced　and　fell　back　to　the　ground　and　onto　Richard；　offering　the　victor　the　hot　satisfying　taste　of　it　in　his　mouth　where　some　of　it　had　landed　as　he　screamed　his　rage。　More　pumped　thick　and　copious　out　into　the　dirt　at　the　same　time　as　bits　of　steel　from　the　chain　mail　and　shattered　sword　rained　to　earth　while　other　bits　of　bone　and　steel　that　had　already　flown　past　Richard　bounced　and　skittered　across　the；　rock　behind　him　and　still　more　bone　and　brain　and　blood　from　up　in　the　air　fell　back　at　last　onto　the　ground　all　about？　tinting　everything　a　rich　red。
　
　The　bringer　of　death　stood　victorious　over　the　object　of　his　hate　and　rage；　soaked　in　blood　and　the　glory　of　joy　such　as　he　had　never　imagined。　His　chest　heaved　in　rapture。　Bringing　the　sword　to　the　front　again；　he　checked　for　any　other　threat。　There　was　none。
　
　And　then　the　world　imploded　upon　him。
　
　Everything　about　jolted　back　into　his　sight。　Richard　saw　a　wide…eyed　look　of　shock　on　Kahlan's　face　before　the　pain　took　him　to　his　knees；　ripping　through　him；　doubling　him　over。
　
　The　Sword　of　Truth　dropped　from　his　hands。
　
　Sudden　realization　of　what　he　had　done　slashed　through　him。　He　had　killed　a　man。　Worse；　he　had　killed　a　man　he　had　wanted　to　kill。　It　didn't　matter　that　he　was　protecting　another　life；　he　had　wanted　to　kill。　Had　reveled　in　it。　He　would　have　allowed　nothing　t9　deny　him　the　killing。
　
　The　vision　of　his　sword　exploding　through　the　man's　head　flashed　over　and　over　in　his　mind。　He　couldn't　make　it　stop。
　
　In　searing　pain　like　none　he　had　ever　known　he　clutched　his　arms　across　his　abdomen。　His　mouth　was　open；　but　no　scream　came　forth。　He　tried　to　let　himself　lose　consciousness　to　stop　the　pain；　but　could　not。　Nothing　else　existed　but　the　pain；　just　as　nothing　else　had　existed；　in　his　desire　to　kill；　but　the　man。
　
　The　pain　whited　his　vision　out。　He　was　blind。　Fire　burned　through　every　muscle；　bone；　and　organ　of　his　body；　consuming　him；　taking　his　breath　from　his　lungs；　choking　him　in　convulsing　agony。　He　fell　to　his　side　on　the　ground；　his　knees　pulled　up　to　his　chest；　the　screams　ing　at　last　in　pain　now　as　he　had　screamed　in　rage　before。　Richard　felt　the　life　being　drawn　from　him。　Through　the　anguish　and　hurt；　he　knew　that　if　this　went　on　he　wasn't　going　to　be　able　to　retain　his　sanity；　or　worse；　his　life。　The　power　of　the　magic　was　crushing　him。　He　could　never　have　imagined　that　this　level　of　pain　existed；　now　he　couldn't　imagine　it　ever　leaving。　He　felt　it　stripping　his　sanity　from　him。　In　his　mind；　he　begged　for　death。　If　something　didn't　change；　and　quick；　he　would　have　it；　one　way　or　…another。
　
　In　the　fog　of　agony；　a　realization　came　to　him；　he　recognized　the　pain。　It　was　the　same　as　the　anger。　It　coursed　through　him　the　same　way　as　the　anger　from　the　sword。　He　knew　that　feeling　well　enough；　it　was　the　magic。　Once　he　recognized　it　as　the　magic；　he　urgently　tried　to　take　control　of　it；　the　way　he　had　learned　to　control　the　anger。　This　time　he　knew　he　must　win　control；　or　die。　He　reasoned　with　himself；　came　to　prehend　the　need　of　what　he　had　done；　horrible　as　it　was。　The　man　had　sentenced　himself　to　death　with　his　own　intent　to　kill。
　
　At　last；　he　was　able　to　put　away　the　pain；　as　he　had　learned　to　put　away　the　anger。　Relief　washed　over　him。　He　had　won　both　battles。　The　pain　lifted；　and　was　gone。
　
　Lying　on　his　back；　panting；　he　felt　the　world　e　rushing　back。　Kahlan　was　kneeling　beside　him；　wiping　a　cool；　damp　cloth　over　his　face。　Wiping　off　the　blood。　Her　brow　was　wrinkled；　tears　ran　down　her　cheeks。　Splatters　of　the　man's　blood　lay　in　long　streaks　across　her　face。
　
　Richard　rose　to　his　knees　and　took　the　cloth　from　her　hand；　to　wipe　her　face；　as　if　to　wipe　from　her　mind　the　sight　of　what　he　had　done。　Before　he　could；　she　threw　her　arms　around　him；　embracing　him　tighter　than　he　would　have　thought　her　capable　of。　He　hugged　her　back　just　as　tight　while　her　fingers　went　up　the　back　of　his　neck；　into　his　hair；　holding　his　head　to　her　as　she　cried。　He　couldn't　believe　how　good　it　felt　to　have　her　back。　He　didn't　want　to　let　her　go；　ever。
　
　〃I'm　so　very　sorry；　Richard；〃　she　sobbed。
　
　〃For　what？〃
　
　〃That　you　had　to　kill　a　man　on　my　account。〃
　
　He　rocked　her　gently；　stroking　her　hair。　〃It's　all　right。〃
　
　She　shook　her　head　against　his　neck。　〃I　knew　how　much　the　magic　would　hurt　you。　That's　why　I　didn't　want　you　to　have　to　fight　the　men　back　at　the　inn。〃
　
　〃Zedd　told　me　the　anger　would　protect　me　from　the　pain。　Kahlan；　I　don't　understand；　There　is　absolutely　no　way　I　could　have　been　any　more　angry。〃
　
　She　separated　from　him；　her　hands　on　leis　arms；　squeezing　as　if　to　keep　testing　that　he　was　real。　〃Zedd　told　me　to　watch　out　for　you；　if　you　used　the　sword　to　kill　a　man。　He　told　me　that　what　he　said　about　the　anger　protecting　you　was　true；　but　he　said　the　first　time　was　different；　that　the　magic　tested；　took　a　measure　of　the　Seeker　with　the　pain；　and　nothing　could　protect　you　from　it。　He　said　that　he　couldn't　tell　you　because　if　you　knew；　it　would　make　you　hold　back；　be　more　cautious　in　its　use；　and　that　could　be　disastrous。　He　said　the　magic　has　to　join　to　the　Seeker　with　its　first　ultimate　use；　to　ascertain　his　intent　when　he　kills。〃　She　squeezed　his　arms。　〃He　said　the　magic　could　do　terrible　things　to　you。　It　tests　with　the　pain；　to　see　who　will　be　the　master；　who　the　ruled。〃
　
　Richard　sat　back　on　his　heels；　startled。　Adie　had　said　the　wizard　kept　a　secret　from　him。　This　must　have　been　it。　Zedd　must　have　been　very　worried；　and　afraid　for　him。　Richard　felt　sorry　for　his　old　friend。
　
　For　the　first　time；　Richard　truly　understood　the　meaning　of　being　Seeker；　in　a　way　no　one　else　but　a　Seeker　could。　Bringer　of　death。　He　understood　it　now。　Understood　the　magic；　how　he　used　it；　how　it　used　him；　how　they　were　now　joined。　For　better　or　worse；　he　would　never　be　the　same　again。　He　had　tasted　fulfillment　of　his　darkest　desire。　It　was　done。　There　was　no　going　back　to　being　as　he　was　before。
　
　Richard　brought　the　cloth　up　and　wiped　the　blood　from　Kahlan's　face。
　
　〃I　understand。　I　know　now　what　he　was　talking　about。　You　were　right　to　not　tell　me。〃　He　touched　the　side　of　her　face；　his　voice　gentle。　〃I　was　so　afraid　you　were　killed。〃
　
　She　put　her　hand　over　his。　〃I　thought　you　were　dead。　One　minute　I　was　holding　your　hand；　and　then　I　realized　I　wasn't。〃　Her　eyes　filled　with　tears　again。　〃I　couldn't　find　you。　I　didn't　know　what　to　do。　The　only　thing　I　could　think　of　was　to　go　get　Zedd；　to　wait　for　him　to　wake；　to　get　him　to　help　me。　I　thought　you　were　lost　to　the　underworld。〃
　
　〃I　thought　that's　what　happened　to　you　too。　I　almost　went　on；　alone。〃　He　grinned。　〃Seems　I　have　to　keep　ing　back　for　you。〃
　
　She　smiled　for　the　first　time　since　he　had　found　her；　then　put　her　arms　around　him　again。　Quickly；　she　pushed　away。
　
　〃Richard；　we　have　to　get　out　of　here。　There　are　beasts　about。　They　will　e　for　his　body；　we　can't　be　here　when　they　do。〃
　
　He　nodded；　turned；　picked　up　his　sword；　and　got　to　his　feet。　He　reached　down　for　her；　to　help　her　up。　She　took　his　hand。
　
　The　magic　ignited　in　a　rage；　warning　its　master。
　
　Startled；　Richard　stared　at　her　in　shock。　Just　as　the　last　time；　when　she　had　touched　his　hand　when　he　held　the　sword；　the　magic　had　e　to　life；　only　this　time　it　was　stronger。　Smiling；
　
　292
　
　she　didn't　seem　to　feel　anything。　Richard　forced　the　anger　down。　It　went　with　great　reluctance。
　
　She　hugged　him　once　more；　a　quick　hug　with　her　free　arm。　〃I　still　can't　believe　you　are　alive。　I　was　so　sure　I　had　lost　you。〃
　
　〃How　did　you　get　away　from　the　shadows？'。'
　
　Kahlan　shook　her　head：　〃I　don't　know。　They　were　following　us；　and　when　we　became　separated　and　I　went　back；　I　didn't　see　them　anymore。　Did　you　see　any？〃
　
　Richard　nodded　solemnly。　〃Yes；　I　saw　them。　And　my　father　again。　They　came　for　me；　tried　to　push　me　into　the　boundary。〃
　
　Concern　came　over　Kahlan's　face。　〃Why　just　you？　Why　not　both　of　us？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know。　Last　night　at　the　split　rock；　and　later；　when　they　started　following　us；　it　must　have　been　me　they　were　after；　not　you。　The　bone　protected　you。〃
　
　〃The　last　time　at　the　boundary；　they　came　for　everyone　but　you；〃　she　said。　〃What's　different　this　time？〃
　
　Richard　thought　a　moment。　〃I　don't　know；　but　we　have　to　get　across　the　pass。　We're　too　tired　to　have　to　spend　tonight　fighting　shadows　again。　We　must　get　to　the　Midlands　before　dark。　And　this　time；　I　promise　I　won't　let　go　of　your　hand。〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　and　squeezed　his　hand。
　
　〃I　won't　let　go　of　yours　either。〃
　
　〃I　ran　back　through　the　Narrows。　It　didn't　take　long　that　way。　You　up　to　that？〃
　
　She　nodded　arid　they　star