tg.wizardfirstrule-第3部分

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m；　her　face　dead　calm；　devoid　of　emotion。
　
　〃Be　on　your　way；　boy。〃　The　leader's　voice　was　harder。　His　fierce　blue　eyes　glared。　He　gritted　his　teeth。　〃Last　time　offered。〃　。　j'
　
　Richard　swallowed　hard。
　
　He　tried　to　sound　sure　of　himself。　〃We　will　both　be　passing。〃　He　heart　felt　as　if　it　were　ing　up　into　his　throat。
　
　〃Not　this　day；〃　the　leader　said　with　finality。　He　pulled　free　a　wicked…looking　curved　knife。
　
　The　man　to　his　side　pulled　a　short　sword　clear　of　the　scabbard　。　strapped　across　his　back。　With　a　depraved　grin；　he　drew　it　across　the　inside　of　his　muscled　forearm；　staining　the　blade　red。　From　behind；　Richard　could　hear　the　ring　of　steel　being　drawn。　He　was　paralyzed　with　fear。　This　was　all　happening　too　fast。　They　had　no　chance。　None。
　
　For　a　brief　moment　no　one　moved。　Richard　flinched　when　the　four　gave　the　howling　battle　cries　of　men　prepared　to　die　in　mortal　bat。　They　charged　in　a　frightening　rush。　The　one　with　the　short　sword　swung　it　high；　ing　at　Richard。　He　could　hear　one　of　the　men　behind　him　grab　the　woman　as　the　man　with　the　sword　raced　toward　him。
　
　And　then；　just　before　the　man　reached　him；　there　was　a　hard　impact　to　the　air；　like　a　clap　of　thunder　with　no　sound。　The　violence　of　it　made　every　joint　in　his　body　cry　out　in　sharp　pain。　Dust　lifted　around　them；　spreading　outward　in　a　ring。
　
　The　man　with　the　sword　felt　the　pain　of　it；　too；　and　for　an　instant　his　attention　was　diverted　past　Richard；　to　the　woman。　As　he　came　crashing　forward；　Richard　fell　back　against　the　wall　and　with　both　feet　hit　the　man　square　in　the　chest　as　hard　as　he　could。　It　knocked　him　clear　of　the　path；　into　midair。　The　man's　eyes　went　wide　in　surprise　as　he　dropped　backward　to　the　rocks　below；　the　sword　still　held　over　his　head　in　both　hands。
　
　To　Richard's　shock；　he　saw　one　of　the　other　two　men　from　behind　him　falling　through　space；　too；　his　chest　ripped　and　bloody。　Before　Richard　could　give　it　a　thought；　the　leader　with　the　curved　knife　charged　past；　intent　on　the　woman。　He　hammered　the　heel　of　his　free　hand　into　the　center　of　Richard's　chest。　The　jolt　knocked　the　wind　out　of　him　and　flung　him　hard　against　the　wall；　smacking　his　head　against　the　rock。　As　he　fought　to　remain　conscious；　his　only　thought　was　that　he　had　to　stop　the　man　from　getting　to　her。
　
　Summoning　strength　he　didn't　know　he。　had；　Richard　snatched　the　leader　by　his　husky　wrist　and　spun　him　around。　The　knife　came　around　in　an　arc　toward　him。　The　blade　flashed　in　the　sunlight。　There　was　a　savage　hunger　in　the　man's　blue　eyes。　Richard　had　never　been　so　afraid　in　his　life。
　
　In　that　instant　he　knew　he　was　about　to　die。
　
　Seemingly　from　out　of　nowhere；　the　last　man；　with　a　short　sword　covered　in　gore；　smashed　into　the　leader；　driving　his　sword　through　the　other's　gut；　slamming　the　wind　out　of　him。　The　collision　was　so　fierce　it　carried　both　over　the　side　of　the　cliff。　All　the　way　down　the　last　man　howled　in　a　cry　of　rage　that　ended　only　when　they　met　the　boulders　below。
　
　Richard　stood　stunned；　staring　over　the　edge。　Reluctantly　he　turned　to　the　woman；　afraid　to　look；　terrified　he　would　see　her　gashed　open　and　lifeless。　Instead；　she　was　sitting　on　the　ground；　leaning　against　the　cliff　wall；　looking　drained　but　unhurt。　Her　face　had　a　faraway　look。　It　was　all　over　so　fast　he　couldn't　understand　what　had　happened　or　how。　Richard　and　the　woman　were　alone　in　the　sudden　silence。
　
　He　slumped　down　beside　her　on　rock　warm　from　the　sun。　He　had　a　powerful　headache　from　having　his　head　whacked　on　the　wall。　Richard　could　see　she　was　all　right；　so　he　didn't　ask。　He　felt　too　overwhelmed　to　talk　and　could　sense　the　same　in　her。　She　noticed　blood　on　the　back　of　her　hand　and　wiped　it　off　on　the　wall；　adding　it　to　the　red　splatters　already　there。　Richard　thought　he　might　throw　up。
　
　He　couldn't　believe　they　were　alive。　It　didn't　seem　possible。　What　was　the　thunder　without　sound？　And　the　pain　he　felt　when　it　had　happened？　He　had　never　felt　anything　like　it　before。　He　shuddered　recalling　it。　Whatever　it　was；　she　had　something　to　do　with　it；　and　it　had　saved　his　life。　Something　unearthly　had　occurred；　and　he　wasn't　at　all　sure　he　wanted　to　know　what　it　was。
　
　She　leaned　her　head　back　against　the　rock；　rolling　it　to　the　side；　toward　him。　〃I　don't　even　know　your　name。　I　wanted　to　ask　before；　but　I　was　afraid　to　talk。〃　She　vaguely　indicated　the　dropoff。　〃I　was　so　frightened　of　them　。。。。　I　didn't　want　them　to　find　us。〃
　
　He　thought　maybe　she　was　about　to　cry　and　looked　over　at　her。　She　wasn't；　but　he　felt　that　he　might。　He　nodded　his　understanding　of　what　she　said　about　the　men。
　
　〃My　name　is　Richard　Cypher。〃
　
　Her　green　eyes　studied　his　as　he　looked　at　her。　The　light　breeze　carried　wisps　of　hair　across　her　face。
　
　She　smiled。　〃There　are　not　many　who　would　have　stood　with　me。〃　He　found　her　voice　as　attractive　as　the　rest　of　her。　It　matched　the　spark　of　intelligence　in　her　eyes。　It　almost　took　his　breath　away。　〃You　are　a　very　rare　person；　Richard　Cypher。〃
　
　To　his　intense　displeasure　Richard　felt　his　face　flush。　She　looked　away；　pulling　the　strands　of　hair　off　her　face；　and　pretended　not　to　notice　his　blushing。
　
　〃I　am　。　。　。〃　She　sounded　as　if　she　was　going　to　say　something　she　then　thought　better　of。　She　turned　back　to　him。　〃I　am　Kahlan。　My　family　name　is　Amnell。〃
　
　He　looked　into　her　eyes　a　long　moment。　〃You　too　are　a　very　rare　person；　Kahlan　Amnell。　There　are　not　many　who　would　have　stood　as　you　did。〃
　
　She　did　not　blush；　but　smiled　again。　It　was　an　odd　sort　of　smile；　a　special　smile；　not　showing　any　teeth。　Her　lips　were　pressed　together；　as　one　would　do　when　taking　another　into　one's　confidence。　Her　eyes　sparkled。　It　was　a　smile　of　sharing。
　
　Richard　reached　behind；　felt　the　painful　lump　on　the　back　of　his　head；　and　checked　his　fingers　for　blood。　There　was　none；　though　he　thought　that　by　all　rights　there　should　have　been。　He　looked　back　at　her；　again　wondering　what　had　happened；　wondering　what　she　had　done；　and　how　she　had　done　it。　There　was　that　thunder　with　no　sound；　and　he　had　knocked　one　of　the　men　off　the　cliff；　one　of　the　two　behind　him　had　killed　the　other　instead　of　her；　and　then　killed　the　leader　and　himself。
　
　〃Well；　Kahlan；　my　friend；　can　you　tell　me　how　it　is　that　we　are　alive　and　those　four　men　are　not？〃
　
　She　looked　at　him；　in　surprise。　〃Do　you　mean　that？〃
　
　〃Mean　what？〃　She　hesitated。　〃　‘Friend。'　〃
　
　Richard　shrugged。　〃Sure。　You　just　said　I　stood　with　you。　That's　the　kind　of　thing　a　friend　does；　isn't　it？〃　He　gave　her　a　smile。
　
　Kahlan　turned　away。　〃I　don't　know。〃　She　fingered　the　sleeve　of　her　dress　as　she　looked　down。　〃I　have　never　had　a　friend　before。　Except　maybe　my　sister　。　。　。　。〃
　
　He　felt　the　pain　in　her　voice。　〃Well；　you　have　one　now；〃　he　said　in　his　most　cheerful　tone。　〃After　all；　we　just　went　through　something　pretty　frightening　together。　We　helped　each　other；　and　we　survived。〃　。
　
　She　simply　nodded。　Richard　looked　out　over　the　Ven；　the　forests　where　he　was　so　at　home。　Sunlight　made　the　green　of　the　trees　vibrant；　lush。　His　eyes　were　drawn　to　the　left；　to　spots　of　brown；　the　dead　and　dying　trees　that　stood　out　among　their　healthy　neighbors。　Until　that　morning；　when　he　found　the　vine　and　it　bit　him；　he　had　had　no　idea　that　the　vine　was　up　by　the　boundary；　spreading　through　the　woods。　He　rarely　went　up　into　the　Ven；　that　close　to　the　boundary。　Other　people　wouldn't　go　within　miles　of　it。　Others　went　closer；　if　they　traveled　on　Hawkers　Trail；　or　to　hunt；　but　none　went　too　close。　The　boundary　was　death。　It　was　said　that　to　go　into　the　boundary　was　not　only　to　die　but　to　forfeit　your　soul。　The　boundary　wardens　made　sure　people　stayed　away。
　
　He　gave　her　a　sideways　glance。　〃So　what　about　the　other　part？　The　part　about　us　being　alive。　How　did　that　happen？〃
　
　Kahlan　didn't　meet　his　gaze。　〃I　think　the　good　spirits　protected　us。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　believe　a　word　of　it。　But　as　much　as　he　wanted　to　know　the　answers；　it　was　against　his　nature　to　force　someone　to　tell　something　she　didn't　want　to。　His　father　had　raised　him　to　respect　another　person's　right　to　keep　his　own　secrets。　In　her　own　time　she　would　tell　him　her　secrets；　if　she　wanted　to；　but　he　would　not　try　to　force　her。
　
　Everyone　had　secrets；　he　certainly　had　his　own。　In　fact；　with　his　father's　murder　and。　with　today's　events　he　felt　those　secrets　stirring　unpleasantly　in　the　back　of　his　mind。
　
　〃Kahlan；〃　he　said；　trying　to　make　his　voice　sound　reassuring；　〃being　a　friend　means　you　don't　have　to　tell　me　anything　you　don't　want　to；　and　I'll　still　be　your　friend。〃
　
　She　didn't　look　at　him；　but　nodded　her　agreement。
　
　Richard　got　to　his　feet。　His　head　hurt；　his　hand　hurt；　and　now　he　realized　his　chest　hurt　where　the　man　had　hit　him。　To　top　it　off　he　remembered　he　was　hungry。　Michael！　He　had　forgotten　about　his　brother's　party。　He　looked　at　the　sun　and　knew　he　was　going　to　be　late。　He　hoped　he　wouldn't　miss　Michael's　speech。　He　would　take　Kahlan；　tell　Michael　about　the　men；　and　get　some　protection　for　her。
　
　He　held　out　his　hand　to　help　her　up。　She　stared　at　it　in　surprise。　He　continued　to　hold　it　out　for　her。　She　gazed　up　into　his　eyes；　and　took　the　hand。
　
　Richard　smiled。　〃Never　had　a　friend　give　you　a　hand　up　before？〃
　
　She　averted　her　eyes。　〃No。〃
　
　Richard　could　tell　she　felt　unfortable；　so　he　changed　the　subject。
　
　〃When's　the　last　time　you　had　something　to　eat？〃
　
　〃Two　days　ago；〃　she　said　without　emotion。
　
　His　eyebrows　went　up。　〃Then　you　must　be　even　more　hungry　than　I　am。　I'll　take　you　to　my　brother。〃　He　peered　over　the　edge　of　the　cliff。　〃We'll　have　to　tell　him　about　the　bodies。　He'll　know　what　to　do。〃　He　turned　again　to　her。　〃Kahlan；　do　you　know　who　those　men　were？〃
　
　Her　green　eyes　turned　hard。　〃They　are　called　a　quad。　They　are；　well；　they　are　like　assassins。　They　are　sent　to　kill　。　。　。〃　She　caught　herself　again。　〃They　kill　people。〃　Her　face　regained　the　calm　countenance　it　had　when　he　first　saw　her。　〃I　think　that　maybe　the　fewer　people　who　know　about　me；　the　safer　I　will　be。〃
　
　Richard　was　startled；　he　had　never　heard　of　anything　like　this。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair；　trying　to　think。　Dark；　shadowy　thoughts　started　to　swirl　again。　For　some　reason；　he　was　terrified　of　what　she　might　say；　but　had　to　ask。
　
　He　looked　hard　into　her　eyes；　expecting　the　truth　this　time。　〃Kahlan；　where　did　the　quad　e　from？〃
　
　She　studied　his　face　a　moment。　〃They　must　have　tracked　me　out　of　the　Midlands；　and　through　the　boundary。〃
　
　Richard's　skin　went　cold；　and　prickles　bumped　up　along　his　arms　in　a　wave　that　rolled　up　to　the　back　of　his　neck；　making　the　fine　hairs　there　stand　stiffly　out。　An　anger　deep　within　him　awakened　and　his　secrets　stirred。
　
　She　had　to　be　lying。　No　one　could　cross　the　boundary。
　
　No　one。
　
　No　one　could　go　into　or　e　out　of　the　Midlands。　The　boundary　had　sealed　it　away　since　before　he　was　born。
　
　The　Midlands　was　a　land　of　magic
　
　CHAPTER　3
　Michael's　HOUSE　WAS　a　massive　structure　of　white　stone；　set　back　quite　a　distance　from　the　road。　Slate　roofs　in　a　variety　of　angles　and　rakes　came　together　in　plicated　junctures　topped　with　a　leaded…glass　peak　that　let　light　into　the　central　hall。　The　walkway　to　the　house　was　shaded　from　the　bright　afternoon　sun　by　towering　white　oaks　as　it　passed　through　sweeping　stretches　of　lawn　before　ing　to　formal　gardens　laid　in　symmetrical　patterns　to　each　side。　The　gardens　were　in　full　bloom。　Since　it　was　so　late　in　the　year；　Richard　knew　the　flowers　had　to　have　been　raised　in　greenhouses　just　for　the　occasion。
　
　People　in　fine　clothes　strolled　the　lawns　and　gardens；　making　Richard　feel　suddenly　out　of　place。　He　knew　he　must　look　a　mess　in　his　dirty；　sweat…stained　forest　garb；　but　he　hadn't　wanted　to　waste　the　time　going　out　of　his　way　to　his　house　to　get　cleaned　up。　Besides；　he　was　in　a　dark　mood　and　didn't　much　care　how　he　looked。　He　had　more　important　things　on　his　mind。
　
　Kahlan；　on　the　other　hand；　didn't　look　so　out　of　place。　The　unusual　but　striking　dress　she　wore　belied　the　fact　that　she；　too；　had　just　walked　out　of　the　woods。　Considering　how　much　blood　there　
　
　had　been　up　on　Blunt　Cliff；　he　was　surprised　that　she　didn't　have　any　on　her。　She　had　somehow　managed　to　stay　clear　while　the　men　killed　each　other。
　
　When　she　had　seen　how　upset　he　had　bee　when　she　had　told　him　she　had　e　through　the　boundary　from　the　Midlands；　she　had　fallen　silent　on　the　subject。　Richard　needed　time　to　think　about　it；　and　hadn't　pressed。　Instead　she　asked　him　about　Westland；　what　the　people　were　like　and　where　he　lived。　He　told　her　about　his　house　in　the　woods；　how　he　liked　living　away　from　town；　and　that　he　was　a　guide　for　travelers　through　the　Hartland　Woods　on　their　way　to　or　from　the　town　itself。
　
　〃Does　your　house　have　a　fireplace？〃　she　had　asked。
　
　〃It　does。〃
　
　〃Do　you　use　it？〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　cook　on　it　all　the　time；〃　he　had　told　her。　〃Why？〃
　
　She　had　merely　shrugged　as　she　looked　off　to　the　countryside。　〃I　just　miss　sitting　in　front　of　a　fire；　that's　all。〃
　
　As　unsettling　as　the　day's　events　had　been；　on　top　of　his　grief；　it　felt　good　to　have　someone　to　talk　to；　even　if　she　did　dance　around　her　secrets。
　
　〃Invitation；　sir？〃　someone　called　in　a　deep　voice　from　the　shade　beside　the　entry。
　
　Invitation？　Richard　spun　around　to　see　who　had　addressed　him　and　was　met　by　a　mischievous　grin。　Richard　broke　into　a　grin　of　his　own。　It　was　his　friend　Chase。　He　clasped　hands　with　the　boundary　warden　in　a　warm　greeting。
　
　Chase　was　a　big　man；　clean…shaven；　with　a　head　of　light　brown　hair　that　showed　no　sign　of　receding　but　instead　gave　way　to　age　by　going　gray　at　the　sides。　Heavy　brows　shaded　intense　brown　eyes　that　stole　slowly　about；　even　as　he　talked；　and　saw　everything。　This　habit　often　gave　people　the　impression…a　seriously　mistaken　impression…that　he　wasn't　paying　attention。　Despite　his　size；　Chase　was；　Richard　knew；　frighteningly　quick　when　there　was　need。　Chase　wore　a　brace　of　knives　to　one　side　of　his　belt；　and　a　six…bladed　battle　mace　to　the　other。　The　hilt　of　a　short　sword　stood　above　his　right　shoulder；　and　a　crossbow　with　a　full　plement　of　barbed；　steel…tipped　bolts　hung　from　a　leather　strap　on　his　left
　
　Richard　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃Looks　like　you　plan　on　getting　your　share　of　the　food。〃
　
　The　grin　left　Chase's　face。　〃Not　here　as　a　guest。〃　His　gaze　settled　on　Kahlan。
　
　Richard　felt　the　awkwardness。　He　took　Kahlan's　arm　and　drew　her　forward。　She　came　easily；　unafraid。
　
　〃Chase；　this　is　my　friend；　Kahlan。〃　He　gave　her　a　smile。　〃This　is　Dell　Brandstone。　Everyone　calls　him　Chase。　He's　an　old　friend　of　mine。　We're　safe　with　him。〃　He　turned　back　to　Chase。　〃You　can　trust　her；　too。〃
　
　She　looked　at　the　big　man　and　gave　him　a　smile　and　nod　of　acknowledgment。
　
　Chase　nodded　once　to　her；　the　matter　settled；　Richard's　word　being　all　the　reassurance　he　needed。　His　eyes　scanned　the　crowd；　lingering　on　various　people；　checking　their　interest　in　the　three　of　them。　He　pulled　them　both　away　from　the　sunlit　openness　of　the　steps　and　into　the　shade　off　to　the　side。
　
　〃Your　brother　called　in　all　the　boundary　wardens。〃　He　paused；　taking　another　look　around。　〃To　be　his　personal