tg.wizardfirstrule-第105部分

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　Zedd　gave　him　a　stern　look。　〃As　much　as　I　agree　with　you；　there　is　nothing　we　can　do。　If　we　interfere；　she　will　kill　us。　If　you　take　two　steps　toward　her；　she　will　kill　you　before　you　can　take
　
　the　third。　A　Confessor　in　the　Blood　Rage　cannot　be　reasoned
　
　with。　It's　like　trying　to　reason　with　a　thunderstorm　it　will　only
　
　get　you　hit　by　lightning。〃　　〃
　
　Chase　released　the　wizard's　robes　with　a　frustrated　huff　and　folded　his　arms　in　resignation。　Kahlan　turned　the　mace　around；　holding　the　handle　down　to　Nass。
　
　〃Hold　this　for　me。〃
　
　He　took　it　and　held　it　at　his　side。　Kahlan　kneeled　down　in　front　of　him；　close。
　
　〃Spread　your　legs；〃　she　ordered　in　an　icy　voice。　She　reached　down　between　his　legs；　gripping　him　in　one　hand。　He　flinched；　grimaced。　〃Don't　move；〃　she　warned。　He　became　still。　〃How　many　of　the　little　boys　you've　molested　have　you　killed？〃
　
　〃I　don't　know；　Mistress；　I　don't　keep　count。　I've　done　it　for　many　years；　since　I　was　young。　I　don't　always　kill　them。　Most　live。〃
　
　〃Make　a　good　guess。〃
　
　He　thought　a　moment。　〃More　than　eighty。　Less　than　one　hundred　twenty。〃
　
　Zedd　could　see　a　glint　off　the　knife　as　she　put　it　under　him。　Chase　unfolded　his　arms　and　stood　up　straighter；　his　jaw　muscles　tightening　when　he　heard　what　Demmin　Nass　had　done。
　
　〃I'm　going　to　cut　these　off。　When　I　do；　I　don't　want　you　to　make　a　sound；〃　she　whispered。　〃Not　one　sound。　Don't　even　flinch。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress。〃
　
　〃Look　into　my　eyes。　I　wish　to　see　it　in　your　eyes。〃
　
　Her　arm　with　the　knife　strained；　and　jerked　up。　The　blade　came　up　red。
　
　Demmin's　knuckles　around　the　mace　were　white。
　
　The　Mother　Confessor　rose　to　her　feet　in　front　of　him。　〃Hold　out　your　hand。〃
　
　Demmin　held　a　shaking　hand　before　her。　She　put　the　bloody　sack　in　his　palm。
　
　〃Eat　them。〃
　
　Chase　smiled　as　he　watched。　〃Good　for　her；〃　he　whispered　to　no　one　in　particular。　〃A　woman　who　knows　the　meaning　of　justice。〃　She　stood　before　him；　watching；　until　he　finished。　She　tossed　the　knife　aside。　〃Give　me　the　mace。〃
　
　He　handed　it　up。　〃Mistress；　I　am　losing　a　lot　of　blood。　I　don't　know　if　I　can　remain　upright。〃
　
　〃It　will　displease　me　greatly　if　you　don't。　Just　hold　on。　It　won't　be　long。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress。〃
　
　〃Was　what　you　told　me　about　Richard；　the　Seeker；　true？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress。〃
　
　Kahlan's　voice　was　deadly　calm。　〃All　of　it？〃
　
　Demmin　thought　a　moment；　to　be　sure。　〃All　that　I　told　you；　Mistress。〃
　
　〃There　is　some　you　did　not　tell　me？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress。　I　did　not　tell　you　that　Mord…Sith　Denna　also　took　him　as　her　mate。　I　presume　so　that　she　might　hurt　him　more。〃
　
　There　was　an　eternity　of　silence。　Kahlan　stood　motionless　over　Demmin。　Zedd　could　hardly　breathe　with　the　pain；　could　hardly　breath　past　the　lump　in　his　throat。　His　knees　shook。
　
　Kahlan's　voice　came　so　soft；　Zedd　could　hardly　hear　it。　〃And　you　are　sure　he　is　dead？〃
　
　〃I　did　not　see　him　killed；　Mistress。　But　I　am　sure。〃
　
　〃Why　is　that？〃
　
　〃It　looked　to　me　as　if　Master　Rahl　was　in　the　mood　to　kill　him；　and　even　if　he　didn't；　Denna　would　have。　That　is　what　Mord…Sith　do。　Mates　of　Mord…Sith　do　not　live　this　long：　I　was　surprised　he　was　still　alive　when　I　left　him。　He　looked　to　be　in　bad　shape。　I　have　not　seen　a　man　have　the　Agiel　put　to　the　base　of　his　skull　that　many　times　and　still　be　alive。
　
　〃He　cried　your　name。　The　only　reason　Denna　hadn't　allowed　him　to　die　before　that　day　was　because　Master　Rahl　wanted　to　talk　to　him　first。　While　I　did　not　see　it　with　my　own　eyes；　Mistress；　I　am　sure。　Denna　held　him　with　the　magic　of　his　sword；　there　could　be　no　escape　for　him。　She　had　him　for　a　lot　longer　than　is　usual；　she　hurt　him　more　than　is　usual；　she　held　him　on　the　cusp　between　life　and　death　longer　than　is　usual。　I　have　never　seen　a　man　last　as　long　as　he　had。　For　some　reason；　Master　Rahl　wanted　the　Seeker　to　suffer　a　long　time；　which　is　why　he　chose　Denna；　none　enjoy　it　more　than　her；　none　have　her　talent　for　prolonging　the　pain；　the　others　don't　know　how　to　keep　their　pets　alive　that　long。　If　nothing　else；　he　would　be　dead　now　from　being　the　mate　of　a　Mord…Sith。　He　could　not　have　survived　until　now。〃
　
　Zedd　sank　to　his　knees；　his　heart　breaking　with　agony。　He　cried　with　the　pain。　He　felt　as　if　his　world　had　ended。　He　didn't　want　to　go　on。　He　wanted　to　die。　What　had　he　done？　How　could　he　have　allowed　Richard　to　be　pulled　into　this？　Richard；　of　all　people。　Now　he　knew　why　Rahl　hadn't　killed　him　when　he　had　had　the　chance；　he　wanted　Zedd　to　suffer　first。　That　was　the　way　of　a　Rahl。
　
　Chase　squatted　down　next　to　him　and　put　his　arm　around　him。　〃I'm　sorry；　Zedd；〃　he　whispered。　〃Richard　was　my　friend；　too。　I'm　so　sorry。〃
　
　〃Look　at　me；〃　Kahlan　said；　the　mace　held　high　in　both　her　hands。
　
　Nass's　eyes　came　up　to　hers。　She　brought　the　mace　down　with　all　her　strength。　With　a　sickening　sound；　it　buried　in　his　forehead；　stuck　solid；　tearing　from　her　hands　as　he　went　down；　limp　and　fluid；　as　if　he　had　no　bones。
　
　Zedd　forced　himself　to　stop　crying　and　e　to　his　feet　as　she　walked　toward　them；　picking　up　a　tin　bowl　from　a　pack　along　the　way。
　
　She　handed　the　bowl　to　Chase。　〃Fill　this　half　full　with　poison　berries　from　a　bloodthroat　bush。〃
　
　Chase　looked　at　the　bowl；　a　little　confused。　〃Now？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　He　noticed　the　warning　in　Zedd's　eyes；　and　stiffened。　〃All　right。〃　He　turned　starting　to　leave；　but　turned　back；　taking　his　heavy　black　cloak　off；　putting　it　around　her　shoulders；　covering　her　nakedness。　〃Kahlan　。　。　。〃　He　stared　at　her；　finally　unable　to　bring　forth　the　words；　and　went　off　to　his　task。
　
　Kahlan　gazed　fixedly；　vacantly；　at　nothing。　Zedd　put　his　arm　around　her　and　sat　her　down　on　a　bedroll。　He　retrieved　what　was　left　of　her　shirt；　ripping　it　into　strips；　which　he　wet　with　water　from　a　skin。　As　she　sat　without　protest；　he　cleaned　the　blood　off　her；　applied　salve　to　some　of　her　wounds　and　magic　to　others。　She　endured　it　without　ment。　When　he　finished；　he　put　his　fingers　under　her　chin；　lifting　her　eyes　to　his
　
　Zedd　spoke　softly。　〃He　did　not　die　for　nothing；　dear　one。　He　found　the　box；　he　has　saved　everyone。　Remember　him　for　doing　what　no　other　could　have。〃
　
　Light　mist　from　the　thick　clouds　that　hugged　the　ground　began　to　dampen　their　faces。　〃I　will　remember　only　that　I　love　him；　and　that　I　could　never　tell　him。〃
　
　Zedd　closed　his　eyes　against　the　pain；　the　burden；　of　being　a　wizard。
　
　Chase　returned；　offering　her　the　bowl　of　poison　berries。　She　asked　for　something　to　crush　them　with。　With　a　few　quick　strokes；　Chase　whittled　a　stout　stick　into　a　shape　that　satisfied　her　and　she　went　to　work。
　
　She　stopped　as　if　she　thought　of　something　and　looked　up　at　the　wizard；　her　green　eyes　ablaze。　〃Darken　Rahl　is　mine。〃　It　was　a　warning。　A　threat。
　
　He　nodded　to　her。　〃I　know；　dear　one。〃
　
　She　went　back　to　crushing；　a　few　tears　running　down　her　face。
　
　〃I'm　going　to　bury　Brophy；〃　Chase　said　softly　to　Zedd。　〃The　others　can　rot。〃
　
　Kahlan　crushed　the　red　berries　into　a　paste；　adding　a　little　ash　from　the　fire。　When　she　was　finished；　she　had　Zedd　hold　a　little　mirror　for　her　while　she　applied　it　in　the　pattern　of　the　Con　Dar；　twin　lightning　bolts；　the　magic　guiding　her　hand。　Starting　from　the　temple　on　each　side；　in　a　mirror　image　of　each　other；　the　top　part　of　each　bolt　zigzagged　over　the　eyebrow；　the　center　lobe　of　each　passed　over　an　eyelid；　with　the　bottom　zigzag　over　the　cheekbones；　finally　terminating　in　a　point　at　the　hollow　of　each　cheek。
　
　The　effect　was　frightening…and　meant　to　be。　It　was　a　warning　to　the　innocent。　A　vow　to　the　guilty。
　
　After　she　had　brushed　the　tangles　from　her　hair；　she　pulled　her　Confessor's　dress　from　her　pack；　took　the　cloak　off；　and　slipped　on　the　dress。　Chase　returned。　Kahlan　handed　him　his　cloak；　thanking　him。
　
　〃Wear　it；〃　Chase　said；　〃it's　warmer　than　yours；〃
　
　〃I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。　I　will　wear　no　cloak。〃
　
　The　boundary　warden　didn't　argue。　〃The　horses　are　gone。　All　of　them。〃　She　gave　him　an　indifferent　look。　〃Then　we　will　walk。　We　will　not　stop　at　night；　we　will　keep　going。　You　may　e　if　you　wish；　if　you　do　not　slow　me　down。〃
　
　Chase　raised　an　eyebrow　at　the　unwitting　insult；　but　let　it　drop。　Kahlan　turned　and　started　off　without。　picking　up　any　of　her　things。　Chase　looked　over　at　Zedd；　letting　out　a　noisy　breath。
　
　He　bent　to　collect　his　things。　〃I'm　not　leaving　without　my　weapons。〃
　
　〃We　better　hurry　before　she　gets　too　far　ahead。　She　won't　wait　for　us。〃　The　wizard　picked　up　Kahlan's　pack；　stuffing　gear　into　it。　〃We　better　at　least　grab　some　of　our　supplies。〃　He　smoothed　a　wrinkle　on　the　pack。　〃Chase；　I　don't　think　we　are　going　to　return　from　this；　the　Con　Dar　is　a　suicide　venture。　You　have　a　family。　There　is　no　need　for　you　to　go。〃
　
　Chase　didn't　look　up。　〃What's　a　Mord…Sith？〃　he　asked　quietly。
　
　The　wizard　swallowed　hard；　his　hands　gripping　the　pack　so　firmly　they　shook。　〃Mord…Sith　are　trained　from　a　young　age　in　the　art　of　torture；　and　the　use　of　a　merciless　weapon　of　pain；　called　an　Agiel。　That　was　the　red　thing　hanging　from　Darken　Rahl's　neck。　Mord…Sith　are　used　against　those　with　magic。　They　have　the　power　to　take　a　person's　magic；　and　use　it　against　them。〃　Zedd's　voice　broke；　〃Richard　would　not　have　known　that。　He　had　no　chance。　The　only　purpose　in　life　for　a　Mord…Sith；　the　only　thing　they　live　for；　is　to　torture　to　death　those　with　magic。〃
　
　Chase　rammed　a　fistful　of　blanket　into　the　pack。　〃I'm　going。〃
　
　Zedd　nodded　his　understanding。　〃I　will　be　glad　for　your　pany。〃
　
　〃Are　these　Mord…Sith　a　danger　to　us？〃
　
　〃Not　to　you；　you　have　no　magic；　and　not　to　wizards；　I　have　protection。〃
　
　〃What　about　to　Kahlan。〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head。　〃A　Confessor's　magic　is　different　from　any　other。　The　touch　of　a　Confessor's　magic　is　death　to　a　Mord…Sith。　A　very　bad　death。　I　saw　it　once。　I　don't　want　to　ever　see　it　again。〃　Zedd's　eyes　glided　over　the　bloody　mess；　thinking　of　what　they　had　done　to　Kahlan；　and　what　they　almost　did。　〃I　guess；〃　he　whispered；　〃I　have　seen　a　lot　of　things　I　wish　to　never　see　again。〃
　
　As　Zedd　hoisted　Kahlan's　pack　to　his　shoulder；　there　was　an　impact　to　the　air；　thunder　with　no　sound。　They　both　ran　to　the　trail；　ran　for　Kahlan。　They　had　only　gone　a　short　distance　when　they　found　the　last　man；　sprawled　across　the　way　where　he　had　lain　in　wait。　His　own　sword　jutted　from　his　chest。　Both　his　hands　held　the　hilt　in　a　death　grip。
　
　They　both　kept　running　until　they　caught　up　with　her。　She　strode　purposefully　along；　eyes　ahead；　disinterested　in　what　was　about　her。　Her　Confessor's　dress　flowed　and　flapped　behind　her　like　a　flame　in　wind。　Zedd　had　always　thought　Confessors　looked　beautiful　in　their　dresses；　especially　the　white　of　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　But　he　saw　it　now　for　what　it　really　was。　Battle　armor
　
　CHAPTER　48
　WATER　FROM　THE　DRIZZLE　collecting　on　Richard's　face　ran　down　his　nose；　hanging　in　a　drip　at　the　end；　tickling。　He　angrily　wiped　it　off。　He　was　so　tired　that　he　hardly　knew　what　he　was　doing　anymore。　The　only　thing　he　knew　for　sure　was　that　he　couldn't　find　Kahlan；　and　Zedd；　and　Chase。　He　had　searched　relentlessly；　going　down　endless　trails　and　roads；　back　and　forth；　crisscrossing　his　way　toward　the　People's　Palace；　and　had　not　seen　a　sign　of　them。　There　were　trails　and　paths　everywhere；　and　he　knew　he　had　searched　only　a　fraction　of　them。　He　had　stopped　only　for　a　few　hours　at　night；　mostly　to　rest　the　horse；　and　then　he　had　sometimes　searched　on　foot。　Since　he　had　left　his　brother；　the　clouds　had　hung　low　and　thick；　limiting　visibility。　He　was　furious　that　they　had　to　e　now；　when　he　needed　Scarlet　more　than　ever。
　
　He　felt　that　everything　was　conspiring　against　him；　that　the　fates　did　indeed　work　for　Darken　Rahl。　Rahl　would　have　Kahlan　by　now。　It　was　too　late；　she　must　be　in　the　People's　Palace　by　now。
　
　He　urged　the　horse　up　the　mountain　trail；　through　stands　of　big　spruce　that　grew　on　the　steep　ground。　Spongy　moss　muffled　the　passing　of　the　horse's　hooves。　Darkness　hid　nearly　everything。　As　he　rode　higher；　through　the　mist　and　darkness；　the　trees　thinned；　exposing　him　to　the　cold　wind　ing　up　the　slope。　It　flapped　his　cloak　and　moaned　in　his　ears。　Black　patches　of　cloud　and　mist　blew　across　the　trail。　Richard　pulled　his　hood　up　against　the　elements。　Although　he　couldn't　see　anything；　he　knew　he　had　reached　the　top　of　the　mountain　pass　and　was　starting　down　the　opposite　side。
　
　It　was　deep　in　the　night。　The　dawn　would　bring　the　first　day　of　winter。　The　last　day　of　freedom。
　
　Finding　a　small　shelter　of　overhanging　rock；　Richard　decided　to　get　a　few　hours'　sleep　before　the　dawn　that　would　be　his　last。　He　warily　slid　off　the　horse's　wet　back　and　tethered　ii　to　a　nearby　scrub　pine　that　hunched　among　long　grass。　He　didn't　even　take　his　pack　off；　but　simply　rolled　himself　in　his　cloak　under　the　rock　and　tried　to　sleep；　thinking　of　Kahlan；　thinking　of　what　he　would　have　to　do　to　keep　her　out　of　the　hands　of　a　Mord…Sith。　After　he　finished　helping　Darken　Rahl　open　the　box　that　would　give　him　the　power　he　sought；　Rahl　would　kill　him。　Despite　Darken　Rahl's　assurance　that　Richard　Would　be　free　to　go　about　his　life；　what　life　could　he　have　after　he　was　touched　by　Kahlan's　power？
　
　Besides；　he　knew　Rahl　was　lying。　Rahl　intended　to　kill　him。　He　hoped　only　that　his　death　would　be　quick。　He　knew　his　decision　to　help　Darken　Rahl　meant　that　Zedd　would　die；　too；　but　it　meant　that　many　more　would　live。　Live　under　the　brutal　rule　of　Darken　Rahl；　but　live　nonetheless。　Richard　couldn't　bear　the　thought　of　being　responsible　for　everyone　and　everything　dying。　Rahl　had　told　the　truth　about　Richard　being　betrayed；　and　he　probably　was　telling　the　truth　about　knowing　which　box　would　kill　him。　Even　if　he　was　lying；　Richard　couldn't　risk　everyone　on　that　one　chance。　Richard　had　run　out　of　options；　he　had　no　choice　but　to　help　Darken　Rahl。
　
　His　ribs　still　hurt　from　what　Denna　had　done　to　him。　It　was　still　hard　to　lie　down；　and　still　hurt　to　breathe。　His　sleep　brought　the　nightmares　he　had　had　every　night　since　leaving　the　People's　Palace；　the　nightmares　of　the　things　Denna　had　done　to　him；　the　nightmares　he　had　promised　her　he　would　have。　He　dreamed　of　hanging　helpless　while　Denna　hurt　him；　of　being　powerless　to　stop　her；　of　never　being　able　to　escape。　He　dreamed　of　Michael　standing　there；　watching。　He　dreamed　of　seeing　Kahlan　being　tortured；　and　Michael　watching　that；　too。
　
　He　came　awake　drenched　in　sweat；　shaking　with　fear；　heard　himself　whimpering　with　the　terror　of　the　dreams。　Sunlight　was　slanting　sideways　under　the　overhang　of　the　rock。　The　orange　sun　was　just　breaking　above　the　horizon　to　the　east。
　
　Richard　stood　and　stretched　the　cramps　from　his　muscles；　surveying　the　dawn　of　the　first　day　of　winter。　He　was　high　on　a　mountain。　The　surrounding　peaks　thrust　themselves　above　a　blanket　of　clouds　below　that　stretched　off　before　him；　to　the　eastern　horizon；　like　a　sea　of　gray　tinged　in　orange。
　
　The　sea　of　clouds　was　unbroken　except　for　one　thing…the　People's　Palace。　Touched　by　the　sunlight；　in　the　far　distance；　it　rose　proud　on　its　plateau；　standing　above　the　clouds；　waiting　for　him。　A　cold　feeling　ran　through　his　gut；　it　was　a