tg.wizardfirstrule-第109部分

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　He　stood　before　the　altar；　spread　his　arms　into　the　sunlight；　and　closed　his　eyes。
　
　〃I　recall　the　webs。　I　am　who　I　was　before：　Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander；　Wizard　of　the　First　Order。　Let　all　know　it　once　more。　And　the　rest；　too。〃　The　people　of　D'Hara　were　linked　to　the　House　of　Rahl；　a　link　forged　in　magic　long　ago　by　those　who　would　rule；　a　link　that　chained　the　people　of　D'Hara　to　the　House　of　Rahl；　and　House　of　Rahl　to　them。　With　the　webs　removed；　that　link　to　the　gift　would　be　felt　by　many；　and　let　them　know　that　Richard　was　now　Master　Rahl。
　
　Zedd　would　have　to　tell　Richard　that　Darken　Rahl　was　his　father；　but　not　this　day。　He　would　have　to　find　the　words　first。　There　were　many　things　to　tell　him；　but　not　this　day。
　
　…＋
　
　Richard　found　her；　kneeling　before　one　of　the　deserted　devotion　pools。　The　gag　was　still　tied　around　her　neck；　left　there　when　she　had　pulled　it　from　her　mouth。　Kahlan　hunched　over　in　tears；　her　long　hair　cascading　off　her　shoulders　as　she　leaned　forward；　the　knife　gripped　in　both　fists；　the　point　held　to　her　chest。　Her　shoulders　shook　with　her　sobs。　Richard　came　to　a　stop　next　to　the　folds　of　her　white　dress。
　
　〃Don't　do　that；〃　he　whispered。
　
　〃I　must。　I　love　you；〃　Kahlan　gave　a　little　moan。　〃I　have　touched　you　with　my　power。　I　would　rather　die　than　be　your　mistress。　It　is　the　only　way　to　release　you。〃　She　gave　a　tearful　shudder。　〃I　would　like　you　to　give　me　a　kiss；　and　then　leave　me。　I　don't　want　you　to　see　it。〃
　
　〃No。〃
　
　Her　eyes　snapped　up　to　his。　〃What　did　you　say？〃　she　whispered。
　
　Richard　put　his　fists　on　his　hips。　〃I　said　‘no。'　I'm　not　going　to　kiss　you　with　those　silly　things　painted　on　your　face。　They　nearly　scared　the　life　out　of　me。〃
　
　Her　green　eyes　stared　in　disbelief。　〃You　can　deny　me　nothing；　once　I　have　touched　you　with　my　power。〃
　
　Richard　squatted　down　close　to　her。　He　untied　the　gag　from　her　neck。　〃Well；　then；　you　have　ordered　me　to　kiss　you〃…he　dunked　the　cloth　in　the　water…〃and　I　told　you　I。　won't　do　it　with　this　thing　painted　on　your　face。〃　He　began　wiping　the　lightning　bolts　from　her　skin。　〃So；　I　guess　the　only　solution　is　to　get　rid　of　it。〃
　
　She　knelt；　frozen；　while　he　cleaned　the　red　off　her　face。　Richard　looked　into　her　wide　eyes　when　he　finished。　He　tossed　the　rag　aside；　and　knelt　in　front　of　her；　slipping　his　arms　around…her　waist。
　
　〃Richard；　I　touched　you　with　the　magic。　I　felt　it。　I　heard　it。　I
　
　saw　it。　How　could　the　power　not　have　taken　you？〃　　_
　
　〃Because　I　was。　protected。〃
　
　〃Protected？　How？〃
　
　〃By　my　love　for　you。　I　realized　I　loved　you　more　than　life　itself；　and　I　would　rather　give　myself　into　your　power　than　live　without　you。　Nothing　the　magic　could　do　to　me　could　be　worse　than　living　without　you。　I　was　willing　to　give　it　all　over　to　you。　I　offered　the　power　everything　I　have。　All　of　my　love　for　you。　Once　I　realized　how　much　I　loved　you；　was　willing　to　be　yours　on　any　terms；　I　understood　that　there　could　be　nothing　for　the　magic　to　harm。　I'm　already　devoted　to　you；　it　didn't　need　to　change　me。　I　was　protected；　because　I　have　already　been　touched　by　your　love。　I　had　utter　faith　that　you　felt　the　same；　and　had　no　fear　of　what　would　happen。　Had　I　had　any　doubt；　the　magic　would　have　latched　on　to　that　crack　and　taken　me；　but　I　had　no　doubt。　My　love　for　you　is　smooth　and　seamless。　My　love　for　you　protected　me　from　the　magic。〃
　
　She　gave　him　her　special　smile。　〃You　felt　that　way？　You　had　no　doubt？〃
　
　Richard　smiled　back。　〃Well；　for　a　moment；　when　I　saw　those
　
　lightning　bolts　on　your　face；　I　have　to　admit；　I　was　worried。　I
　
　didn't　know　what　they　were；　what　they　meant。　I　pulled　the
　
　sword；　trying　to　gain　time　to　think。　But　then　I　realized　it　didn't
　
　matter；　you　were　still　Kahlan；　and　I　still　loved　you；　no　matter
　
　what。　I　wanted　you　to　touch　me　more　than　anything；　to　prove　my
　
　love　and　devotion　for　you；　but　I　had　to　put　on　an　act　for　Darken
　
　Rahl's　benefit。〃
　
　〃These　symbols　mean　that　I；　too；　gave　everything　over　to　you；〃　she　whispered。
　
　Kahlan　circled　her　arms　around　his　neck；　kissing　him。　They　knelt　on　the　tiles　in　front　of　the　devotion　pool；　pressed　against　one　another。　Richard　kissed　her　soft　lips　the　way　he　had　dreamed　a　thousand　times　of　kissing　her。　He　kissed　her　until　he　was　dizzy；　and　then　kissed　her　some　more；　not　caring　that　bewildered　people　who　passed　watched　them。
　
　Richard　had　no　idea　how　long　they　knelt　there　embracing；　but　decided　at　last　that　they　had　better　go　find　Zedd。　With　her　arm　around　his　waist　and　her　head　leaning　against　him；　they　walked　back　to　the　Garden　of　Life；　kissing　once　more　before　they　went　through　the　doors。
　
　Zedd　stood　with　one　hand　on　a　bony　hip；　the　other　stroking　his　chin；　as　he　inspected　the　altar　and　other　things　behind　it。　Kahlan　fell　to　her　knees　before　him；　taking　his　hands　in　hers；　kissing　them。
　
　〃Zedd；　he　loves　me！　He　figured　out　how　to　make　it　work；　with　the　magic。　There　was　a　way；　and　he　found　it。〃
　
　Zedd　frowned　down　at　her。　〃Well；　it　took　him　long　enough。〃
　
　Kahlan　came　to　her　feet。　〃You　knew　how　to　do　it？〃
　
　Zedd　looked　indignant　at　the　question。　〃I'm　a　wizard　of　the　First　Order。　Of　course　I　knew。〃
　
　〃And　you　never　told　us？〃
　
　Zedd　smiled。　〃Had　I　told　you；　dear　one；　it　wouldn't　have　worked。　The　foreknowledge　would　have　interjected　a　grain　of　doubt。　That　single　。grain　would　have　caused　failure。　To　be　the　true　love　of　a　Confessor；　there　must　be　total　mitment；　to　get　past　the　magic。　Without　the　willingness　to　give　himself　over　to　you；　selflessly；　despite　the　knowledge　of　the　consequence；　it　wouldn't　work。〃
　
　〃You　seem　to　know　a　lot　about　it；〃　Kahlan　frowned。　〃I　have　never　heard　of　it　before。　How　often　does　this　happen？〃
　
　Zedd　rubbed　his　chin　in　thought；　looking　up　at　the　windows。　〃Well；　only　once　before　that　I　know　of。〃　His　eyes　rested　on　the　two　of　them。　〃But　you　can　tell　no　one；　just　as　I　wasn't　able　to　tell　you。　No　matter　how　much　pain　it　may　cause；　no　matter　the　consequences；　you　can　never　tell。　If　even　one　other　knows；　it　could　be　passed　on；　destroying　forever　the　chance　for　others。　It's　one　of　the　ironies　of　magic；　you　have　to　accept　failure　before　you　can　have　success。　It　is　also　one　of　the　burdens　of　magic；　you　must　accept　the　results；　even　the　death；　of　others；　to　protect　the　hope　for　the　future。　Selfishness　costs　the　lives；　the　chances；　of　those　yet　unborn。〃　Kahlan　nodded。　〃I　promise。〃
　
　〃Me　too；〃　Richard　said。　〃Zedd；　is　it　over？　With　Darken　Rahl；　I　mean。　Is　he　dead？〃
　
　Zedd　gave　Richard　a　look　he　found　unexpectedly　unfortable。　〃Darken　Rahl　is　dead。〃　Zedd　put　a　thin　hand　on　Richard's　shoulder；　his　bony　fingers　gripping　tightly。　〃You　have　gotten　it　right；　Richard；　all　of　it。　You　scared　the　wits　out　of　me。　I　have　never　seen　a　performance　to　match　it。〃
　
　Richard　grinned　in　pride。　〃Just　a　little　trick。〃
　
　Zedd　nodded；　his　white　hair　sticking　out　in　every　direction；　looking　wild。　〃More　than　a　trick；　my　boy。　More　than　little。〃
　
　They　all　turned　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　someone　approaching。　Chase　came　dragging　Michael　in　by　the　scruff　of　his　neck。　His　dirty　white　trousers　and　shirt　spoke　that　he　had　not　e　willingly。　Chase　gave　him　a　shove；　forcing　him　in　front　of　Richard。
　
　Richard's　mood　darkened　at　seeing　his　brother。　Michael's　defiant　eyes　came　up　to　meet　Richard's　gaze。
　
　〃I'll　not　be　treated　in　this　manner；　little　brother。〃　His　voice　was　as　condescending　as　it　had　ever　been。　〃You　don't　know　what　you've　interfered　with；　what　I　was　trying　to　do；　how　I　would　have　helped　everyone　by　uniting　Westland　and　D'Hara。　You　have　doomed　the　people　to　needless　suffering　that　Darken　Rahl　could　have　spared。　You　are　a　fool。〃
　
　Richard　thought　about　all　he　had　been　though；　about　all　that　Zedd；　and　Chase；　and　Kahlan　had　been　through。　He　thought　about　all　those　he　knew　who　had　died　at　Rahl's　hands；　and　the　countless　number　of　dead　he　would　never　know　of。　The　suffering；　the　cruelty；　the　brutality。　He　thought　of　all　the　tyrants　allowed　to　flourish　under　Darken　Rahl；　all　the　way　from　Darken　Rahl　himself　down　to　Princess　Violet。　He　thought　of　those　he　had　killed。　He　felt　pain　and　grief　at　the　things　he　had　had　to　do。
　
　The　metallic　ring　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　filled　the　air。　Michael's　eyes　went　wide　at　seeing　its　point　at　his　throat。
　
　Richard　leaned　a　little　closer　to　his　brother。　〃Give　me　the　loser's　salute；　Michael。〃
　
　Michael's　face　turned　crimson。　〃I　would　rather　die　first。〃
　
　Richard　nodded　as　he　straightened。　He　looked　deep　into　his　brother's　eyes　as　he　took　the　sword　away。　Richard　pulled　the　anger　back；　tried　to　make　the　sword　turn　white。　It　…would　not。　He　slid　the　blade　home　into　its　scabbard。
　
　〃I'm　glad　to　see　we　have　one　thing　in　mon；　Michael。　We　would　both　die　for　what　we　believe　in。〃　He　took　his　gaze　from　Michael；　to　the　big；　crescent　battleaxe　hanging　at　Chase's　belt。　His　eyes　came　up　to　the　boundary　warden's　grim　face。　〃Execute　him；〃　he　whispered。　〃Take　his　head　to　his　personal　guard。　Tell　them　he　was　executed　by　my　order；　for　treason　against　Westland。　Westland　will　have　to　find　a　new　First　Councilor。〃
　
　Chase's　big　fist　grabbed　Michael　by　the　hair。　Michael　screamed　out；　falling　to　his　knees；　giving　the　loser's　salute。
　
　〃Richard！　Please；　I'm　your　brother！　Don't　do　this！　Don't　let　him　kill　me！　I'm　sorry；　forgive　me。　I　was　wrong。　Please；　Richard；　forgive　me。〃
　
　Richard　stared　down　at　his　brother；　who　was　on　his　knees　before　him；　his　hands　together；　imploring。　Richard　held　out　the　Agiel　in　his　fist；；　feeling　the　pain　it　gave　him；　tolerating　it；　remembering　it；　the　visions　flashing　through　his　mind。　〃Darken　Rahl　told　you　what　he　was　going　to　do　to　me。　You　knew。　You　knew　what　was　going　to　happen　to　me；　and　you　were　indifferent　because　it　brought　you　personal　gain。　Michael；　I　forgive　everything　you　have　done　against　me。〃
　
　Michael　sagged　in　relief。　The　Seeker　stiffened。　〃But　I　cannot　forgive　what　you　have　done　against　others。　Others　have　forfeited　their　lives　because　of　the　things　you　have　done。　It　is　for　those　crimes　that　you　are　to　be　executed；　not　the　ones　against　me。〃
　
　Michael　screamed　and　cried　as　Chase　dragged　him　away。　Richard　watched　in　pain；　shaking；　as　his　brother　was　taken　to　his　execution。
　
　Zedd　placed　his　hand　over　Richard's　on　the　Agiel。　〃Let　it　go；　Richard。〃
　
　Richard's　thoughts　masked　the　pain　it　was　giving　him。　He　looked　to　Zedd；　standing　before　him　with　his　bony；　leathery　hand　over　his；　saw　things　in　his　friend's　eyes　he　had　never　seen　before；　a　shared　understanding　of　the　pain。　He　released　the　Agiel。
　
　Kahlan's　eyes　went　to　it　as　it　fell　against　his　chest。　〃Richard；　do　you　have　to　keep　that？〃
　
　〃For　now；　I　do。　It　was　a　promise　I　made　to　one　who　I　killed。　One　who　helped　teach　me　how　much　I　love　you。　Darken　Rahl　thought　this　would　defeat　me。　Instead；　it　taught　me　how　to　defeat　him。　If　I　discard　it　now；　I　would　be　denying　what　is　inside　me；　what　1　am。〃
　
　Kahlan　put　her　hand　on　his　arm。　〃Right　now；　I　don't　understand；　but　someday；　I　hope　I　will。〃
　
　Richard　looked　around　the　Garden　of　Life；　thinking　about　Darken　Rahl's　death；　and　about　his　father's　death。　He　had　seen　justice　done。　He　grieved　a　moment　when　his　memories　touched　his　father。　But　then　the　pain　lifted　as　he　realized　that　he　had　pleted　the　task　his　father　had　given　him。　Richard　had　remembered　every　word　of　the　secret　book　perfectly。　His　duty　was　done。　His　father　could　rest　in　peace。
　
　Zedd　straightened　his　robes　with　a　huff。　〃Bags！　A　place　this　big　must　have　something　to　eat；　don't　you　suppose？〃
　
　Richard　grinned；　putting　an　arm　around　each　of　them　as　he　led　them　out　of　the　Garden　of　Life。　He　took　them　to　a　dining　hall　he　remembered。　People　sat　at　tables　as　if　nothing　had　changed。　The　three　of　them　found　a　table　in　the　corner。　Servers　brought　plates　of　rice；　vegetables；　brown　bread；　cheese　and　bowls　of　steaming　spice　soup。　The　surprised　but　smiling　servers　kept　bringing　more　as　Zedd　resolutely　emptied　the　plates　of　food。
　
　Richard　tried　the　cheese；　and　to　his　surprise　found　it　had　a　sickening　flavor。　He　threw　it　back　on　the　table　as　he　made　a　sour　face。
　
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Zedd　asked。
　
　〃That　has　to　be　the　worst…tasting　cheese　I've　ever　eaten！〃
　
　Zedd　sniffed　it　and　took　a　bite。　〃Nothing　wrong　with　the　cheese；　my　boy。〃
　
　〃Fine；　then　you　eat　it。〃
　
　Zedd　was　only　too　happy　to　ply。　Richard　and　Kahlan　ate　spice　soup　and　brown　bread；　and　smiled　as　they　watched　their　old　friend　eat。　Zedd　had　his　fill　at　last；　and　they　resumed　their　journey　out　of　the　People's　Palace。
　
　As　they　strode　through　the　halls；　the　bells　tolled　in　a　single；　long　peal；　calling　people　to　the　devotion。　Kahlan　watched　with　a　frown　as　everyone　gathered　at　the　squares；　bowing　to　the　center；　chanting。　Since　Richard　had　changed　the　words　in　his　devotion；　he　no　longer　felt　the　pull；　the　nervous　need　to　join　the　people。　They　passed　a　number　of　squares　as　they　continued。　on；　each　filled　with　people　chanting。　Richard　wondered　if　he　should　do　something　about　it；　stop　them　somehow；　but　decided　at　last　he　had　already　done　the　most　important　part。
　
　The　three　emerged　from　the　cavernous　halls　out　into　the　winter　sunlight。　The　hillside　of　steps　cascaded　down　before　them；　to　the　huge　expanse　of　courtyard。　The　three　paused　at　the　brink。　Richard　gasped　when　he　saw　the　numbers　gathered　there。
　
　Spread　out　before　them　were　thousands　of　men；　standing　tall　in　rank　upon　rank。　At　the　head；　at　the　base　of　the　steps；　stood　Michael’s　personal　guard；　formerly　known　as　the　Home　Guard；　before　Michael　took　that　name　from　them。　Their　mail；　shields；　and　yellow　banners　shone　brightly　in　the　sun。　Behind　them；　nearly　a　thousand　men　of　the　Westland　army。　Behind　them；　many　more　of　the　D'Haran　forces。　Chase　stood　before　them　all；　his　arms　folded；　looking　up　the　steps。　Next　to　him；　planted　in　the　ground；　was　a　pole　with　Michael's　head　atop　it。　Richard　stood；　stunned　by　the　silence。　If　a　man　in　the　back；　a　half　mile　away；　had　coughed；　he　would　have　heard　it。
　
　Zedd's　hand　on　his　back　started　him　down　the　steps。　It　felt　a　little　too　much　like　a　push。　Kahlan　took　his　arm；　giving　it　a　squeeze；　and　held　herself　tall　as　they　descended　the　series　of　steps　and　expansive　landings。　Chase　watched　Richard's　eyes　as　he　came。　Richard　saw　Rachel　beside　him；　clutching　one　arm　around　his　leg；　holding　Sara　in　the　other　hand。　Sharing　the　grip　with　the　doll　was　Siddin's　hand。　Siddin　saw　Kahlan　and　broke　from　the　hand；　running　to　meet　her。　Kahlan　laughed　and　scooped　him　up　in　her　arms。　He　grinned　at　Richard　and　jabbered　something　Richard　didn't　understand；　before　throwing　his　arms　around　Kahlan's　neck。　After　she　hugged　him　and　whispered　to　him；　she　put　him　down；　holding　his　hand　tightly。
　
　The　captain　of　the　Home　Guard　stepped　forward。　〃The　Home　Guard　stands　ready　to　swear　loyalty　to　you；　Richard。〃
　
　The　mander　of　the　Westland　army　stepped　up　next　to　the　captain。　〃As　does　the　Westland　army。〃
　
　A　D'Haran　officer　came　forward。　〃As　do　the　D'Haran　forces。〃
　
　Richard　stared　numbly　at　them；　blinking。　He　felt　the　anger　heat　in　him。
　
　〃No　one's　swearing　loyalty　to　anyone；　least　of　all　me！　I'm　a　woods　guide。　Nothing　more。　Get　that　through　your　heads　right　now。　A　woods　guide！〃
　
　Ric