tg.wizardfirstrule-第77部分

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bear；　and　feared　greatly。
　
　Richard　was　just　doing　what　was　necessary　to　get　a　gathering；　what　was　necessary　to　find　the　box　and　stop　Rahl。　Kahlan　wiped　the　tears　from　her　eyes。
　
　But　he　didn't　have　to　be　so　delighted　about　it。　He　could　do　it　without　acting　like　。　。　。
　
　She　snatched　an　apple　from　his　pack。　What　did　it　matter。　She　couldn't　change　the　way　things　were。　But　she　didn't　have　to　be　happy　about　it。　She　bit　her　lip　as　she　stomped　out　the　door；　trying　to　make　her　face　once　again　show　nothing。　At　least　it　was　dark。
　
　When　she　had　crossed　the　gauntlet　of　celebration；　she　found　Richard　with　his　shirt　oft。　The　girls　were　painting　him　with　Mud　People　symbols　of　the　hunter。　Their　fingers　were　applying　the　black　and　white　mud　in　jagged　lines　across　his　chest；　in　rings　around　his　upper　arms。　They　stopped　when　she　stood　over　them；　glaring　down。
　
　〃Here。〃　She　slapped　the　apple　in　his　hand　and　sat　down　in　a　huff。
　
　〃I　still　haven't　been　able　to　decide；〃　he　said；　polishing　the　apple　on　his　pants　leg；　looking　from　one　girl　to　another。　〃Kahlan；　are　you　sure　you　don't　have　a　preference？　I　could　use　your　help。〃　His　voice　lowered　meaningfully；　the　hard　edge　returning。　〃I'm　surprised　you　didn't　just　pick　one　for　me　in　the　first　place。〃
　
　Stunned；　her　eyes　came　up　to　his。　He　knew。　He　knew　this；　too；　was　a　mitment　she　had　made　on　his　behalf。　〃No。　Whatever　you　decide　will　be　fine；　I'm　sure。〃　She　looked　away　again。
　
　〃Kahlan；〃　he　asked；　waiting　until　she　turned　back　to　him；　〃are　any　of　these　girls　related　to　the　elders？〃
　
　She　looked　again　at　their　faces。　〃The　one　at　your　right　arm。　The　Bird　Man　is　her　uncle。
　
　〃Uncle！〃　His　smile　widened　as　he　continued　to　polish　the　apple　on　his　leg。　〃Well；　then；　I　guess　I'll　pick　her。　It　will　be　a　sign　of　respect　for　the　elders；　that　I　pick　the　Bird　Man's　niece。〃
　
　He　took　the　girl's　head　in　both　of　his　hands；　kissing　her　on　the　forehead。　She　beamed。　The　Bird　Man　beamed。　The　elders　beamed。　The　other　girls　left。
　
　Kahlan　glanced　back　at　the　Bird　Man；　and　he　gave　her　a　look　of　sympathy；　a　look　that　said　he　was　sorry。　She　turned；　staring　absently；　painfully；　out　into　the　night。　So　now　Richard　had　picked。　So　now；　she　though　bleakly；　the　elders　would　perform　a　ceremony　and　the　happy　couple　would　be　going　off　somewhere　to　make　a　baby。　She　watched　the　other　couples　walking；　hand　in　hand；　happy　to　be　together。　Kahlan　swallowed　back　the　lump；　the　tears。　She　heard　the　snap　as　Richard　bit　into　his　stupid；　stupid　apple。
　
　And　then　she　heard　a　collective　gasp　from　the　elders　and　their　wives；　then　shouts。
　
　The　apple！　In　the　Midlands；　red　fruit　was　poison！　They　didn't　know　what　an　apple　was！　They　thought　Richard　was　eating　poison！　She　spun　around。
　
　Richard　was　holding　his　arm　back　to　the　elders；　manding　silence；　and　for　them　to　stay　put。　But　he　was　looking　right　into　her　eyes。
　
　〃Tell　them　to　sit　down；〃　he　said　in　a　quiet　voice。
　
　Wide…eyed；　she　looked　back　at　the　elders　and　told　them　what　Richard　had　said。　They　lowered　themselves　uncertainly　back　in　place。　He　leaned　back；　turning　casually　to　them；　an　innocent　expression　on　his　face。
　
　〃You　know；　back　in　Hartland；　in　Westland；　where　I　am　from；　we　eat　these　things　all　the　time。〃　He　took　a　couple　more　bites。　Their　eyes　were　wide。　〃Have　for　as　long　as　anyone　knows。　Men　and　women　both　eat　them。　We　have　healthy　children。〃　He　snapped　off　another　piece；　turning　and　watching　her　as　she　translated。　He　chewed　slowly；　prolonging　the　tension。　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　at　the　Bird　Man。　〃'Course；　it　could　be　that　it　makes　a　man's　seed　poison　to　any　woman　other　than　one　of　our　own。　Never　been　put　to　the　test；　far　as　I　know。〃
　
　He　let　his　gaze　settle　back　on　Kahlan　as　he　took　another　bite；　letting　his　words　sink　in　after　she　translated。　The　girl　next　to　him　was　getting　nervous。　The　elders　were　getting　nervous。　The　Bird　Man　showed　no　emotion。　Richard　had　his　arms　half　folded；　one　elbow　resting　in　his　other　hand；　so　he　could　hold　the　apple　near　his　mouth；　where　everyone　could　see　it。　He　started　to　take　a　bite；　then　stopped；　thinking　to　offer　a　bite　to　the　Bird　Man's　niece。　She　turned　her　head　away。　He　looked　back　at　the　elders。
　
　〃I　find　them　quite　good。　Really。〃　He　shrugged。　〃But　then；　there　is　the　thing　about　them　maybe　making　my　seed　poison。　But　I　don't　want　you　to　think　I'm　not　willing　to　try。　I　just　thought　you　should　know；　that's　all。　I　wouldn't　want　it　to　be　said　I　wasn't　willing　to　go　along　with　the　duties　that　go　with　being　a　Mud　Person。　I　am。　More　than　willing。〃　He　ran　the　back　of　his　finger　down　the　girl's　cheek。　〃I　assure　you；　it　would　be　an　honor。　This　fine　young　woman　will　make　a　splendid　mother　for　my　child；　I　am　sure。〃　Richard　let　out　a　sigh。　〃If　she　lives；　of　course。〃　He　took　another　bite。
　
　The　elders　looked　apprehensively　from　one　to　another。　None　spoke。　The　mood　on　the　platform　had　definitely　changed。　They　were　no　longer　in　control；　Richard　was。　It　had　happened　in　a　blink。　They　were　now　afraid　to　move　much　more　than　their　eyes。　Without　looking　at　them；　Richard　went　on。
　
　〃'Course；　it's　up　to　you。　I'm　willing　to　give　it　a　try；　but　I　thought　you　should　know　of　the　ways　of　my　homeland。　I　didn't　think　it　would　be　fair　not　to　tell　you。〃　Now　Richard　turned　to　them；　his　eyebrows　set　in　a　menacing　frown；　his　voice　carrying　a　thread　of　threat。　〃So；　if　the　elders；　in　their　wisdom；　wish　to　ask　me　not　to　perform　this　duty；　I　will　understand；　and　with　regret；　ply　with　their　wishes。〃
　
　He　held　them　in　his　hard　gaze。　Savidlin　grinned。　The　other　five　were　of　no　mind　to　challenge　Richard；　and　turned　to　the　Bird　Man　beseeching　direction。　He　sat　still；　a　bead　of　sweat　rolling　down　the　leathery　skin　of　his　neck；　silver　hair　limp　on　the　buckskin　shoulders　of　his　tunic；　holding　Richard's　eyes　for　a　short　time。　His　mouth　turned　up　in　a　small　smile　that　showed　in　his　eyes；　too；　and　he　nodded　slightly　to　himself。
　
　〃　Richard　With　The　Temper；　〃　his　voice　was　even；　and　strong；　for　not　only　the　elders；　but　also　the　crowd　that　had　gathered　around　the　platform；　were　listening；　〃since　you　are　from　a　different　land；　and　your　seed　could　be　poisonous　to　this　young　woman　。　。　。　〃　he　lifted　one　eyebrow；　leaning　the　slightest　bit　forward；　〃　。　。　。　my　niece；〃　he　looked　to　her；　then　back　to　Richard；　〃we　beg　that　you　not　hold　us　to　this　tradition；　that　you　not　take　her　as　your　wife。　I　am　sorry　to　have　to　ask　this　of　you。　I　know　you　were　looking　forward　to　giving　us　your　child。　〃
　
　Richard　nodded　seriously。　〃Yes；　I　was。　But　I　will　just　have　to　live　with　my　failing；　and　try　to　make　the　Mud　People；　my　people；　proud　of　me　in　other　ways。〃　He　was　closing　the　deal　with　a　condition　of　his　own：　they　were　not　going　to　be　allowed　to　back　out　now；　he　was　a　Mud　Person　and　this　would　not　change　it。
　
　There　was　a　collective　sigh　of　relief　from　the　other　elders。　They　all　nodded；　only　too　happy　to　have　the　matter　settled　to　his　liking。　The　young　woman　smiled　with　relief　at　her　uncle　and　left。　Richard　turned　to　Kahlan；　his　face　showed　no　emotion。
　
　〃Are　there　any　other　conditions　that　I　don't　know　about？〃
　
　〃No。〃　Kahlan　felt　confused。　She　didn't　know　if　she　felt　happy　because　Richard　had　gotten　out　of　taking　a　wife；　or　if　she　was　heartbroken　because　he　felt　she　had　betrayed　him。
　
　He　turned　to　the　elders。　〃Is　my　presence　required　any　longer　tonight？〃
　
　The　five　were　delighted　to　grant　him　his　wish　to　leave。　Savidlin　seemed　a　little　disappointed。　The　Bird　Man　said　that　the　Seeker　had　been　a　great　savior　of　his　people；　had　performed　his　duties　with　honor；　and　that　if　he　was　tired　from　the　struggles　of　the　day；　he　could　be　excused。
　
　Richard　stood　slowly；　towering　over　her。　His　boots　were　right　in　front　of　her。　Kahlan　knew　he　was　looking　down　at　her；　but　she　fixed　her　eyes　on　the　floor。
　
　〃Piece　of　advice；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　that　surprised　her　with　its　gentleness；　〃since　you　have　never　had　a　friend　before。　Friends　don't　bargain　away　another　friend's　rights。　Or　their　hearts。〃
　
　She　couldn't　bring　herself　to　look　up　at　him。
　
　He　dropped　the　apple　core　in　her　lap　and　walked　off；　disappearing　in　the　crowd。
　
　…＋
　
　Kahlan　sat　on　the　elders'　platform；　in　a　fog　of　loneliness；　watching　her　fingers　shake。　The　others　watched　the　dancers。　With　supreme　effort　she　counted　the　drumbeats　and　used　the　count　to　help　her　control　her　breathing　and　keep　from　crying。　The　Bird　Man　came　and　sat　next　to　her。　She　found　herself　cheered　by　the　pany。
　
　He　raised　an　eyebrow　to　her；　leaning　closer。　〃Someday；　I　would　like　to　meet　the　wizard　who　named　that　one。　1　would　like　to　know　where　he　fends　such　Seekers。　〃
　
　Kahlan　was　surprised　she　could　still　laugh。
　
　〃Someday；　〃　she　said；　smiling　at　him；　〃if　I　live；　and　we　win；　I　promise　I　will　bring　him　here；　to　meet　you。　In　many　ways；　he　is　as　remarkable　as　Richard。〃
　
　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃1　shall　hone　my　wits　to　defend　myself　in　the　encounter。　〃
　
　She　leaned　her　head　against　him　and　laughed　until　she　started　to　cry。　He　put　his　aria　protectively　around　her　shoulders。
　
　〃I　should　have　listened　to　you；　〃　she　sobbed。　〃1　should　have　asked　him　his　wishes。　I　had　no　right　to　do　as　I　did。　〃
　
　〃Your　desire　to　stop　Darken　Rahl　made　you　do　what　you　thought　necessary。　Sometimes；　making　the　wrong　choice　is　better　than　making　no　choice。　You　have　the　courage　to　go　forward；　that　is　rare。　A　person　who　stands　at　the　fork；　unable　to　pick；　will　never　get　anywhere。　〃
　
　〃But　it　hurts　so　much　to　have　him　angry　at　me；〃　she　cried。
　
　〃I　will　tell　you　a　secret　you　might　riot　otherwise　learn　until　you　are　too　old　to　benefit　from　the　knowledge。　〃　Wet　eyes　looked　up　at　his　smile。　〃It　hurts　him　just　as　much　to　be　angry　at　you；　as　it　hurts　you　when　he　is　that　angry。　〃
　
　〃Really？　〃　He　laughed　silently　and　nodded。　〃Take　it　on　faith；　child。〃
　
　〃I　had　no　right；　I　should　have　。seen　that　before。　I　am　so　sorry　l　did　it。　〃
　
　〃Don't　tell　me。　Tell　him。　〃
　
　She　pushed　away；　looking　at　his　weathered　face。　〃l　think　I　will。　Thank　you；　honored　elder。　〃
　
　〃And　while　you　are　offering　apologies；　offer　mine　also。　〃
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　〃For　what？〃
　
　He　sighed。　〃Being　old；　being　an　elder；　does　not　exclude　you　from　holding　fool