tg.wizardfirstrule-第15部分

快捷操作: 按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页 按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页 按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部! 如果本书没有阅读完，想下次继续接着阅读，可使用上方 "收藏到我的浏览器" 功能 和 "加入书签" 功能！


ood　and　came　around　the　table。　When　Richard　stood；　they　hugged。　〃I　have　also　never　been　this　sad　for　you。〃　Zedd　held　Richard　in　a　tight　embrace　for　a　moment　longer。　〃Sit。　I　will　be　right　back。　I　have　something　for　you。　Both　of　you　sit　and　wait　a　moment。〃
　
　Zedd　cleared　the　table；　then；　holding　the　plates　in　the　crook　of　his　arm；　he　strode　to　the　house。　Kahlan　looked　worried　as　she　watched　him　go。　Richard　had　thought　that　she　would　be　happy　to　have　found　the　wizard；　but　now　she　looked　more　frightened　than　anything　else。　Things　were　going　differently　from　what　he　had　expected。
　
　When　Zedd　reappeared；　he　was　carrying　something　long。　Kahlan　came　to　her　feet。　Richard　realized　Zedd's　fist　clutched　the　scabbard　of　a　sword。　Kahlan　put　herself　in　front　of　him　before　he　reached　the　table；　grabbing　fistfuls　of　his　robes。
　
　〃Don't　do　this；　Zedd。〃　Her　voice　was　desperate。
　
　〃It　is　not　my　choice。〃
　
　〃Zedd；　please　no；　choose　someone　else；　not　Richard　。　。　。　。〃
　
　Zedd　cut　her　off。　〃Kahlan！　I　warned　you　about　this。　I　told　you；　he　picks　himself。　If　I　choose　someone　other　than　the　true　one；　we　all　die。　If　you　have　a　better　way　。　。　。　put　words　to　it！〃
　
　He　swept　her　aside；　came　to　the　side　of　the　table　opposite　Richard；　and　slammed　the　sword　down　in　front　of　him。　Richard　jumped。　He　looked　from　the　sword　up　into　Zedd's　fierce　eyes　as　the　other　leaned　over　the　table。
　
　〃This　belongs　to　you；〃　the　wizard　said。　Kahlan　turned　her　back　to　them。
　
　Richard's　gaze　fell　upon　the　sword。　The　silver　scabbard　gleamed　with　gold　flourishes　that　embellished　it　in　sweeps　and　waves。　Steel　crossguards　swept　out　and　down　aggressively。　Finely　twisted　silver　wire　covered　the　grip；　and　interwoven　along　the　side　of　the　braided　silver；　gold　wire　formed　the　word　Truth。　This；　Richard　thought；　was　the　sword　of　a　king。　It　was　the　finest　weapon　he　had　ever　seen。
　
　Slowly；　he　rose　to　his　feet。　Zedd　picked　up　the　scabbard　by　the　point　and　held　the　hilt　of　the　sword　to　Richard。　〃Draw　it。〃
　
　As　if　in　a　trance；　Richard　closed　his　fingers　around　the　hilt　and　pulled　the　sword　free；　the　blade　making　a　ringing；　metallic　sound　that　hung　in　the　air。　Richard　had　never　heard　a　sword　make　a　sound　quite　like　it。　His　hand　closed　tightly　around　the　grip；　and　in　his　palm　and　on　his　fingers　opposite　he　could　feel　the　bumps　of　the　gold　wire　that　spelled　out　the　word　Truth　on　each　side　of　the　hilt　pressing　almost　painfully　into　his　flesh。　Inexplicably；　it　felt　precisely　correct。　The　weight　fit　him　exactly。　He　felt　as　if　a　part　of　him　was　now　plete。
　
　From　deep　within；　he　felt　his　anger　stir；　brought　to　life；　searching　direction。　He　was　suddenly　aware　of　the　tooth　against　his　chest。
　
　As　his　rage　rose；　he　felt　an　awakening　power　rushing　into　him　from　the　sword：　the　twin　to　his　own　anger。　His　own　feelings　had　always　seemed　independent；　whole。　This　was　like　having　an　image　in　a　mirror　e　to　life。　It　was　a　terrifying　specter。　His　anger　fed　on　the　force　from　the　sword；　and　in　return；　the　wrath　from　the　sword　fed　on　his　anger。　Together　the　twin　storms　spiraled　through　him。　He　felt　like　a　helpless　bystander；　being　dragged　along。　It　was　a　frightening　and　at　the　same　time　seductive　sensation　that　bordered　on　violation。　Fearful　perceptions　of　his　own　anger　twisted　with　tantalizing　promise。　The　bewitching　emotions　rushed　headlong　through　him；　seizing　his　anger；　soaring　with　it。　Richard　struggled　to　control　the　rage。　He　was　on　the　brink　of　panic。　On　the　brink　of　abandon。
　
　Zeddicus　Zu'l　Zorander　threw　his　head　back　and　spread　his　arms。　To　the　sky；　he　called　out；　〃Fair　warning　to　those　living　and　those　dead！　The　Seeker　is　named！〃
　
　Thunder　from　the　blue　sky　shook　the　ground　and　rolled　off　toward　the　boundary。
　
　Kahlan　fell　to　her　knees　in　front　of　Richard；　head　bowed；　hands　held　behind　her　back。　〃I　pledge　my　life　in　the　defense　of　the　Seeker。〃
　
　Zedd　knelt　beside　her；　his　head　bowed。　〃I　pledge　my　life　in　the　defense　of　the　Seeker。〃　'
　
　Richard　stood　gripping　the　Sword　of　Truth　in　his　hand；　eyes　wide　in　breathless　bewilderment。
　
　〃Zedd；〃　he　whispered；　〃what　in　the　name　of　everything　good　is　a　Seeker？〃　
　
　CHAPTER　9
　WITH　THE　AID　OF　a　hand　to　his　knee；　Zedd　rose　to　his　feet；　rearranged　his　robes　around　his　bony　body；　and　held　his　hand　out　to　Kahlan；　who　was　staring　at　the　ground。　Noticing　the　hand；　she　took　it；　ing　to　her　feet　as　well。　Her　face　bore　a　distressed　expression。　Zedd　considered　her　for　a　moment；　and　she　nodded　that　she　was　all　right。
　
　Zedd　turned　to　Richard。　〃What　is　a　Seeker？　A　wise　first　question　in　your　new　capacity；　but　not　one　swiftly　answered。〃
　
　Richard　gazed　down　at　the　gleaming　sword　in　his　hand；　not　at　all　sure　he　wanted　anything　to　do　with　it。　He　slid　it　back　into　its　scabbard；　glad　to　be　free　of　the　feelings　it　invoked；　and　held　it　in　both　hands　before　him。　〃Zedd；　I've　never　seen　this　before。　Where　have　you　kept　it？〃
　
　Zedd　smiled　proudly。　〃In　the　cabinet；　in　the　house。〃
　
　Richard　eyed　him　skeptically。　〃There's　nothing　in　the　cabinet　but　dishes　and　pans　and　your　powders。〃
　
　〃Not　that　cabinet；〃　he　said；　lowering　his　voice　as　if　to　thwart　anyone　who　might　be　listening；　〃in　my　wizard's　cabinet！〃　Richard　straightened　with　a　frown。　〃I've　never　seen　any　other　cabinet。〃
　
　〃Bags；　Richard！　You're　not　supposed　to　see　it！　It's　a　wizard's　cabinet；　it's　invisible！〃
　
　Richard　felt　more　than　a　little　stupid。　〃And　how　long　have　you　had　this？〃
　
　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；　maybe　a　dozen　years　or　so。〃　Zedd　swept　his　slender　hand　in　the　air　as　if　trying　to　brush　the　question　away。
　
　〃And　how　did　you　e　to　have　it？〃
　
　Zedd's　tone　hardened。　〃The　naming　of　the　Seeker　is　a　wizard's　task。　The　High　Council　wrongly　took　it　upon　itself　to　name　the　person。　They　didn't　care　anything　about　finding　the　right　person。　They　gave　the　post　to　whoever　suited　them　at　the　time。　Or　whoever　offered　the　most。　The　sword　belongs　to　the　Seeker　as　long　as　he　is　alive；　or　as　long　as　he　chooses　to　be　Seeker。　In　between；　while　a　new　Seeker　is　sought；　the　Sword　of　Truth　belongs　to　the　wizards。　Or　more　precisely；　it　belongs　to　me；　as　naming　Seekers　is　my　responsibility。　The　last　fellow　who　had　it　became　。　。　。〃　His　eyes　turned　up；　as　if　searching　the　sky　for　the　right　word。　〃。　。　。　entangled；　with　a　witch　woman。…So；　while　he　was　distracted；　I　went　into　the　Midlands　and　retrieved　what　is　mine。　Now　it　is　yours。〃
　
　Richard　felt　himself　being　drawn　into　something　not　of　his　own　choosing。　He　looked　to　Kahlan。　She　seemed　to　have　shed　her　anguish　and　was　unreadable　again。　〃This　is　what　you　came　here　for？　This　is　what　you　wanted　the　wizard　to　do？〃
　
　〃Richard；　I　wanted　the　wizard　to　name　a　Seeker。　I　did　not　know　it　would　be　you。〃
　
　He　was　beginning　to　feel　trapped　as　he　looked　from　one　to　the　other。　〃You　two　think　I　can　somehow　save　us。　That's　what　you　both　are　thinking：　that　somehow　I'm　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　A　wizard　can't　do　it；　but　I'm　to　try？〃　Terror　rose　with　his　heart　into　his　throat。
　
　Zedd　came　and　put　a　reassuring　arm　around　his　shoulder。　〃Richard；　look　up　in　the　sky。　Tell　me　what　you　see。〃　Richard　looked　and　saw　the　snakelike　cloud。　He　didn't　need　to　answer　the　question。　Zedd　pressed　his　strong；　bony　fingers　into　Richard's　flesh。　〃e。　Sit；　and　I　will　tell　you　what　you　need　to　know。　Then　you　decide；　for　yourself；　what　it　is　you　will　do
　
　e。〃　He　put　his　other　arm　around　Kahlan's　shoulder　and　guided　them　both　to　the　bench　at　the　table。　He　went　to　his　place　opposite　them　and　sat。　Richard　laid　the　sword　on　the　table　between　them　to　signify　that　the　matter　was　yet　to　be　decided。
　
　Zedd　pushed　his　sleeves　up　his　arms　a　little。　〃There　is　a　magic；〃　he　began；　〃an　ancient　and　dangerous　magic　of　immense　power。　It's　a　magic　spawned　from　the　earth；　from　life　itself。　It　is　held　in　three　vessels　called　the　three　boxes　of　Orden。　The　magic　is　dormant　until　the　boxes　are　put　into　play；　as　it　is　called。　To　do　so　is　not　easy。　It　requires　a　person　who　has　knowledge　gained　from　long　scholarship　and　who　can　call　upon　considerable　power　on　his　own。　Once　a　person　has　at　least　one　of　the　boxes；　the　magic　of　Orden　can　be　put　in　play。　He　then　has　one　year　from　that　time　to　open　a　box；　but　he　must　have　all　three　before　any　will　open。　They　work　together；　you　can't　simply　have　one　and　open　it。　If　the　person　who　puts　them　in　play　fails　to　acquire　all　three；　and　to　open　one　within　the　allotted　time；　he　forfeits　his　life　to　the　magic。　There　is　no　going　back。　Darken　Rahl　must　open　one　of　the　boxes；　or　die。　On　the　first　day　of　winter；　his　year　is　up。〃
　
　Zedd's　face　was　tight　with　hard　wrinkles　and　determination。　He　leaned　forward　a　little。　〃Each　box　holds　a　different　power；　which　is　released　upon　its　opening。　If　Rahl　opens　the　correct　one；　he　gains　the　magic　of　Orden；　the　magic　of　life　itself；　power　over　all　things　living　and　dead。　He　will　have　unchallenged　power　and　authority。　He　will　be　a　master　with　immutable　dominion　over　all　people。　Anyone　he　doesn't　like；　he　will　be　able　to　kill　with　a　thought；　in　any　manner　of　his　choosing；　wherever　that　person　is；　no　matter　how　far　away。〃
　
　〃Sounds　like　a　terribly　evil　magic；〃　Richard　said。
　
　Zedd　leaned　back；　taking　his　hands　from　the　table。　He　shook　his　head。　〃No；　not　really。　The　magic　of　Orden　is　the　power　of　life。　Like　all　power；　it　simply　exists。　It's　the　user　who　determines　what　use　it　will　be　put　to。　The　magic　of　Orden　can　just　as　easily　be　used　to　help　crops　grow；　to　heal　the　sick；　to　end　conflict。　It's　all　in　what　the　user　wants。　The　power　is　neither　evil　nor　good；　it　simply　exists。　It　is　up　to　the　mind　of　man　to　put　it　to　use。　I　think　we　all　know　which　use　Darken　Rahl　would　choose。〃
　
　Zedd　paused；　as　was　his　way；　to　let　Richard　ponder　the　meaning　of　what　he　had　been　told。　His　thin　face　fixed　in　resolve　as　he　waited。　Kahlan；　too；　had　a　look　that　told　him　she　was　determined　to　have　him　fully　understand　the　ominous　nature　of　what　Zedd　was　saying。
　
　Richard；　of　course；　didn't　need　to　ponder　it；　since　he　knew　it　all　from　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　The　book　was　explicit。　From　the　book；　he　knew　Zedd　was　barely　touching　on　the　full　extent　of　the　cataclysm　that　would　sweep　the　land　if　Darken　Rahl　opened　the　correct　box。　He　knew；　also；　what　would　happen　if　one　of　the　other　boxes　was　opened；　but　he　couldn't　reveal　his　foreknowledge；　and　so　had　to　ask　anyway。　〃And　if　he　opens　one　of　the　others？〃
　
　Zedd　came　forward　against　the　table　in　a　blink。　He　had　expected　that　this　would　be　the　next　question。　〃Open　the　wrong　box；　and　the　magic　claims　him。　He's　dead。〃　Zedd　snapped　his　fingers。　〃Just　like　that。　We　are　all　safe；　the　threat　is　removed。〃　He　leaned　closer；　his　brow　furrowed；　and　gave　Richard　a　hard　look。　〃Open　the　other　wrong　box；　and　every　bug；　every　blade　of　grass；　every　tree；　every　man；　woman；　and　child；　every　living　thing；　is　incinerated　into　nothingness。　It　would　be　the　end　of　all　life。　The　magic　of　Orden　is　twin　to　the　magic　of　life　itself；　and　death　is　part　of　everything　that　lives；　so　the　magic　of　Orden　is　tied　to　death；　as　well　as　life。〃
　
　Zedd　sat　back；　seeming　to　be　overwhelmed　by　the　telling　of　the　choices　of　catastrophe。　Though　Richard　already　knew　it　all；　he　still　swallowed　hard　at　hearing　it　out　loud。　Somehow　it　seemed　more　real　to　him　like　this；　more　real　when　there　was　a　name　put　to　it。　When　he　had　learned　the　book；　it　was　all　so　abstract；　so　hypothetical；　that　he　had　never　given　any　thought　to　the　possibility　that　it　would　e　to　pass。　His　only　concern　had　been　that　the　knowledge　be　preserved　so　as　to　be　returned　to　its　keeper。　He　wished　he　could　tell　Zedd　what　he　knew；　but　his　oath　to　his　father　prevented　him　from　saying　anything。　It　also　required　him　to　keep　up　the　pretense　by　asking　another　question　to　which　he　already　knew　the　answer。
　
　〃How　will　Rahl　know　which　box　to　open？〃
　
　Zedd　rearranged　the　sleeves　of　his　robes　and　looked　down　at　the　table；　watching　his　hands　as　he　spoke。　〃Putting　the　boxes　in　play　imparts　to　the　person　certain　privileged　information。　It　must　be　that　this　information　tells　him　how　he　can　discover　which　box　is　which。〃
　
　That　made　sense。　No　one　knew　of　the　book　but　its　keeper；　and；　it　appeared；　the　person　who　put　the　boxes　in　play。　The　book　made　no　reference　to　this；　but　it　seemed　logical。　A　sudden　jolt　went　through　him：　Darken　Rahl　must　be　after　him　for　the　book。　He　almost　didn't　hear　Zedd　beginning　to　speak　again。
　
　〃Rahl　has　done　something　out　of　the　ordinary；　though。　He　has　put　the　boxes　in　play　before　he　has　all　three。〃
　
　　Richard　came　to　attention　immediately。　〃He　must　be　stupid；　or　very　　confident。〃
　
　〃Confident；〃　the　wizard　said。　〃When　I　left　the　Midlands；　it　was　for　two　main　reasons。　The　first　was　because　the　High　Council　took　the　naming　of　the　Seeker　upon　itself。　The　second　was　because　they　mishandled　the　boxes　of　Orden。　People　had　e　to　believe　that　the　power　of　the　boxes　was　just　a　legend。　They　thought　me　an　old　fool　for　telling　them　it　was　no　legend　but　the　truth。　They　refused　to　heed　my　warnings。〃
　
　He　pounded　his　fist　down　on　the　table；　causing　Kahlan　to　jump。　〃They　laughed　at　me！〃　His　face　was　red　with…anger；　making　it　stand　out　all　the　more　against　the　mass　of　his　white　hair。　〃I　wanted　the　boxes　kept　far　apart　from　each　other；　and　with　magic；　hidden　and　locked　away　so　as　to　never　be　found　again。　The　council；　instead；　wanted　them　given　to　important　people；　like　trophies　to　be　shown　off。　They　used　them　as　payments　for　favors　or　promises。　This　exposed　the　boxes　to　covetous　hands。　I　don't　know　what　happened　to　them　in　the　intervening　years。　Rahl　has　at　least　one；　but　not　all　three。　Not　yet　anyway。〃　Zedd's　eyes　flashed　with　fervor。　〃Do　you　see；　Richard？　We　don't　have　to　go　up　against　Darken　Rahl；　we　have　only　to　find　at　least　one　of　the　boxes　before　he　does。〃
　
　〃And　keep　it　from　him；　which　may　prove　considerably　harder　than　finding　it；〃　Richard　pointed　out；　letting　the　words　hang　in　the　air　a　moment。　He　had　a　sudden　thought。　〃Zedd；　do　you　think　one　of　the　boxes　could　be　here　in　Westland？〃
　
　〃Not　likely。〃
　
　〃Why　not？〃
　
　Zedd　hesitated。　〃Richard；　I　never　told　you　I　was　a　wizard；　but　you　never　asked　before；　so　I　didn't　really　lie　about　it。　I　did　tell　you　one　lie；　though。　I　told　you　I　came　here　before　the　boundary　went　up；　in　reality　I　didn't　e　here　before　it　went　up；　because　I　couldn't。　You　see；　in　order　to　create　a　Westland　free　of　magic；　there　could　be　none　here　when　the　boundary　went　up。　Magic　could　e　here　after　the　boundary　was　established；　but　not　be　here　before。　Since　I　have　magic；　my　presence　would　have　prevented　it　from　happening；　so　I　had　to　stay　in　the　Midlands　until　after；　and　only　then　was　I　able　to　e　through。〃
　
　〃Everyone　has　their　little　secrets。　I　don't　begrudge　you　yours。　But　what's　your　point？〃
　
　〃My　point　is；　we　know　none　of　the　boxes　could　have　been　here　before　the　boundary　went　up；　or　their　magic　would　have　prevented　it。　So　if　they　were　all　in　the　Midlands　before　the　boundary；　because　of　the　magic；　and　I　didn't　bring　one　with　me；　they　have　to　still　be　in　the　Midlands。〃
　
　Richard　thought　about　this　awhile；　feeling　his　spark　of　hope　die。　He　turned　his　thoughts　back　to　the　matter　at　hand。
　
　〃You　still　have　not　told　me　what　a　Seeker　is。　Or　my　part　in　this。〃
　
　Zedd　folded　his　hands　together。　〃A　Seeker　is　a　person　who　answers　to　no