tg.wizardfirstrule-第55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！


　
　〃Why？　Who；　is　it？〃
　
　Kahlan　sank　back；　into　herself。　〃It　is　the　witch　woman；　Shota。〃
　
　〃And　do　you　know　where　she　is？〃
　
　Kahlan　nodded；　her　brow　wrinkled　in　terror。　〃In　the　Agaden　Reach。〃　She　whispered　the　name　as　if　even　the　words　tasted　of　poison。　〃Not　even　a　wizard　would　dare　to　go　into　the　Reach。〃
　
　Richard　studied　the　visage　of　fear　in　her　face；　and　looked　to　the　elders　as　they　shook。
　
　〃Then　we　go　to　Agaden　Reach；　to　this　witch　woman；　Shota；〃　he　said　in　an　even　voice；　〃and　find　out　where　the　box　is。〃
　
　〃We　wish　you　kind　fates；　〃　the　spirits　said；　through　the　Bird　Man。　〃The　lives　of　our　descendants　depend　upon　you。　〃
　
　〃Thank　you　for　your　help；　honored　ancestors；〃；　Richard　said。　〃I　will　do　my　best　to　stop　Rahl。　To　help　our　people。〃
　
　〃You　must　use　your　head。　That　is　Darken　Rahl's　way。　Meet　him　on　his　terms；　and　you　will　lose。　It　will　not　be　easy。　You　will　have　to　suffer；　as　will　our　people；　as　will　other　people；　before　you　have　even　a　chance　to　succeed。　And　in　all　probability；　you　will　still　fail。　Heed　our　warning；　Richard　With　The　Temper。　〃
　
　〃I　will　remember　the　things　you　say。　I　pledge　to　do　my　best。〃
　
　〃Then　we　will　test　the　truth　of　your　pledge。　There　is　something　else　we　would　tell　you。　〃　They　paused　for　a　moment。　〃Darken　Rahl　is　here。　He　looks　for　you。　〃
　
　Kahlan　translated　in　a　rush；　jumping　to　her　feet。　Richard　came　up　beside　her。
　
　〃What！　He　is　here　now？　Where　is　he；　what　is　he　doing'？〃
　
　〃He　is　in　the　center　of　the　village。　He　is　killing　people。　〃
　
　Fear　raged　through　Kahlan。　Richard　took　a　step　forward。　'‘I　have　to　get　out　of　here。　I　have　to　get　my　sword。　I　have　to　try　to　stop　him！〃
　
　〃If　you　wish。　But　hear　us　out　first。　Sit；　〃　they　manded。
　
　Richard　and　Kahlan　sank　back　down；　looking　wide…eyed　at　each　other；　clutching　each　other's　hands。　Tears　welled　up　in　her　eyes。　〃Hurry；　then；〃　Richard　said。
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　wants　you。　Your　sword　cannot　kill　him。　Tonight；　the　balance　of　power　is　on　his　side。　If　you　go　out　there；　he　will　kill　you。　You　will　have　no　chance。　None。　In　order　to　win；　you　must　change　the　balance　of　power；　something　you　cannot　do　this　night。　The　people　he　kills　tonight　will　die　whether　or　not　you　go　out　to　fight　him。　If　you　do　go　out；　more　will　die　in　the　end。　Many　more。　If　you　are　to　succeed；　you　must　have　the　courage　to　let　these　die　tonight。　You　must　save　yourself　to　fight　at　another　time。　You　must　suffer　this　pain。　You　must　heed　your　head　rather　than　your　sword；　if　you　are　to　have　a　chance　to　win。　〃
　
　〃But　I　have　to　go　out　sooner　or　later！〃
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　has　loosed　many　dark　terrors。　He　must　balance　many　things；　including　his　time。　He　does　not　have　the　time　to　wait　all　night。　He　is　confident；　with　good　reason；　that　he　can　defeat　you　at　any　time　of　his　choosing。　He　has　no　reason　to　wait。　He　will　be　gone　soon；　to　tend　to　other　dark　matters；　to　look　for　you　another　day。
　
　〃The　。symbols　painted　upon　you　open　our　eyes　to　you；　so　we　may　see　you。　They　close　his　eyes　to　you；　he　cannot　see　you。　Unless　you　draw　your　sword。　That；　he　will　be　able　to　see；　then　he　would　nave　you。　As　long　as　the　symbols　are　upon　you；　and　the　magic　of　your　sword　remains　in　its　scabbard；　while　you　are　in　Mud　People　territory　he　cannot　find　you。　〃
　
　〃But　I　can't　stay　here！〃
　
　〃Not　if　you　wish　to　stop　him。　When　you　leave　our　territory；　the　power　of　the　symbols　will　be　gone；　and　he　will　be　able　to　see　you　again。　〃
　
　Richard's　clenched　fists　shook。　Kahlan　could　see　by　the　look　on　his　face　that　he　was　close　to　disregarding　the　warning；　close　to　going　out　to　fight。
　
　〃The　choice　is　yours；　〃　the　spirits　said。　〃Wait　in　here　while　he　kills　some　of　our　people；　and　when　he　is　gone；　go　after　the　box；　to　kill　him。　Or　go　out　now；　and　acplish　nothing。〃　Richard　closed　his　eyes　tight。　His　chest　rose　and　fell　with　his　labored　breathing。
　
　〃I　will　wait；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　she　could　barely　hear。
　
　Kahlan　threw　her　arms　around　his　neck；　putting　her　head　against　his；　as　they　both　cried。　The　circle　of　elders　began　spinning　around　again。
　
　That　was　the　last　thing　she　remembered　until　she　and　Richard　were　shaken　awake　by　the　Bird　Man。　She　felt　as　if　she　were　ing　out　of　a　nightmare　as　she　recalled　the　things　the　spirits　said；　about　the　killing　of　the　Mud　People；　and　that　to　find　the　box　they　had　to　go　into　Agaden　Reach；　to　Shota。　She　recoiled　at　the　thought　of　the　witch　woman。　The　other　elders　were　standing　over　them；　and　helping　both　of　them　up。　All　wore　grim　faces。　Tears　tried　to　e　to　her　again。　She　forced　them　back。
　
　The　Bird　Man　pushed　the　door　open　to　the　cold　night　air；　to　a　clear；　starlit　sky。
　
　The　clouds　were　gone。　Even　the　snakelike　cloud。
　
　Dawn　was　less　than　an　hour　away；　and　already　the　eastern　sky　had　a　hint　of　color　to　it。　A　solemn…faced　hunter　handed　them　their　clothes；　and　Richard　his　sword。　Wordlessly；　they　dressed　and　went　out。
　
　A　phalanx　of　hunters　and　archers　protectively　surrounded　the　spirit　house。　Many　were　bloodied。　Richard　pushed　in　front　of　the　Bird　Man。
　
　〃Tell　me　what　happened；〃　he　ordered　in　a　quiet　voice。
　
　A　man　with　a　spear　stepped　forward。　Kahlan　waited　next　to　Richard；　to　translate。　Rage　flared　in　the　man's　eyes。
　
　〃The　red　demon　came　from　the　sky；　carrying　a　man。　He　wanted　you。　〃　Fire　in　his　eyes；　he　pushed　his　spearpoint　against　Richard's　chest。　The　Bird　Man；　stonefaced；　put　his　hand　on　the　spear；　raising　the　point　away　from　Richard。　〃When　he　could　only　find　your　clothes；　he　began　killing　people。　Children！〃　His　chest　was　heaving　with　anger。　〃Our　arrows　would　not　touch　him。　Our　spears　would　not　touch　him。　Our　hands　would　not　touch　him。　Many　of　those　who　tried　were　killed　by　magic　fire。　Then　he　became　even　more　angry　when　he　saw　that　we　use　fire。　He　made　all　the　fires　go　out。　Then　he　climbed　back　on　the　red　demon　and　told　us　that　if　we　use　fire　again；　he　will　e　back　and　kill　every　child　in　the　village。　With　magic；　he　floated　Siddin　into　the　air；
　
　407
　
　and　took　him　under　his　arm。　A　gift；　he　said；　for　a　friend。　Then　he　flew　away。　And　where　were　you　and　your　sword！〃
　
　Savidlin's　eyes　filled　with　tears。　Kahlan　put　her　hand　against　the　ripping　pain　in　her　heart。　She　knew　who　the　gift　was　for。
　
　The　man　spat　on　Richard。　Savidlin　went　for　him；　but　Richard　held　his　arm　out；　held　Savidlin　back。
　
　〃I　heard　the　voices　of　our　ancestors'　spirits；　〃　Savidlin　said。　〃I　know　this　is　not　his　failing！〃
　
　Kahlan　put　her　arms　around　Savidlin；　and　forted　him。　〃Be　strong。　We　have　saved　him　once　when　it　。seemed　he　was　lost。　We　will　save　him　again。　〃
　
　He　nodded　bravely　as　she　pulled　back。　Richard　asked　softly　what　she　had　told　Savidlin。
　
　〃A　lie；〃　she　answered；　〃to　ease　his　pain。〃
　
　Richard　nodded　his　understanding；　and　turned　to　the　man　with　the　spear。
　
　〃Show　me　the　ones　he　killed；〃　he　said　without　emotion。
　
　〃Why？〃　the　man　demanded。
　
　〃So　I　will　never　forget　why　I　am　going　to　kill　the　one　who　did　this。〃
　
　The　man　gave　the　elders　an　angry　glance　and　then　led　them　all　to　the　center　of　the　village。　Kahlan　put　on　her　blank　expression；　to　shield　herself　from　what　she　knew　she　would　see。　She　had　seen　it　too　many　times　before；　in　other　villages；　other　places。　And　as　she　expected；　it　was　the　same　as　she　had　seen　before。　Lined　up　in　terrible　disarray　beside　a　wall　were　the　torn　and　ripped　bodies　of　children；　the　burned　bodies　of　men　and　dead　women；　some　without　arms；　or　jaws。　The　Bird　Man's　niece　was　among　them。　Richard　showed　no　emotion　as　he　walked　among　the　chaos　of　screaming　and　wailing　people；　past　the　dead；　looking；　the　calm　in　the　eye　of　the　hurricane。　Or　maybe；　she　thought；　the　lightning　about　to　strike。
　
　〃This　is　what　you　brought　us；　〃　the　man　hissed。　〃This　is　your　fault！〃
　
　Richard　watched　as　others　nodded　their　agreement；　then　turned　his　eyes　on　the　man　with　the　spear。　His　voice　was　gentle。
　
　〃If　it　eases　your　pain　to　think　so；　then　blame　me。　I　choose　to　blame　the　one　whose　hands　have　the　blood　on　them。〃　He　addressed　the　Bird　Man　and　the　other　elders。　〃Until　this　is　over；　don't　use　fire。　It　will　only　invite　more　killing。　I　swear　to　stop　this　man　or　die　in　the　attempt。　Thank　you；　my　friends；　for　helping　me。〃
　
　His　eyes　turned　to　Kahlan。　They　were　intense；　reflecting　his　anger　over　what　he　had　just　seen。　He　gritted　his　teeth。　〃Let's　go　find　this　witch　woman。〃
　
　They　had　no　choice；　of　course。　But　she　knew　of　Shota。
　
　They　were　going　to　die。
　
　They　might　as　well　go　ask　Darken　Rahl　to　tell　them　where　they　could　find　the　box。
　
　Kahlan　walked　up　to　the　Bird　Man；　then　suddenly　threw　he；　arms　around　him。
　
　〃Remember　me；　〃　she　whispered。
　
　When　they　separated；　the　Bird　Man　looked　around　at　the　people；　his　face　drawn。　〃These　two　need　some　men　to　guard　them　safely　to　the　edge　of　our　land。〃
　
　Savidlin　stepped　forward　instantly。　Without　hesitation；　a　banc　of　ten　of　his　best　hunters　came　to　stand　with　him
　
　CHAPTER　29
　PRINCESS　VIOLET　TURNED　SUDDENLY　and　slapped　Rachel's　face。　Hard。　Rachel　had　done　nothing　wrong；　of　course；　the　Princess　just　liked　to　slap　her　when　she　least　expected　it。　The　Princess　thought　it　was　fun。　Rachel　didn't　try　to　hide　how　much　it　hurt；　if　it　didn't　hurt　enough；　the　Princess　would　slap　her　again。　Rachel　put　her　hand　over　the　sting；　her　bottom　lip　quivering；　tears　welling　up　in　her　eyes；　but　she　said　nothing。
　
　Turning　back　to　the　shiny；　polished　wall　of　little　wooden　drawers；　Princess　Violet　put　her　stubby　finger　through　a　gold　handle　and　slid　open　another　drawer；　taking　out　a　sparkling　silver　necklace　studded　with　large　blue　stones。
　
　〃This　one's　pretty。　Hold　my　hair　up。〃
　
　She　turned　to　the　tall　wood…framed　mirror；　admiring　herself　as　her　fingers　hooked　the　clasp　behind　her　plump　neck　while　Rachel　held　her　long；　dull；　brown　hair　out　of　the　way　for　her。　Rachel　eyed　herself　in　the　mirror；　inspecting　the　red　mark　on　her　face。　She　hated　looking　at　herself　in　the　mirror；　hated　seeing　her　hair；　how　it　looked　when　the　Princess　chopped　it　off　short。　She　wasn't　allowed　to　let　her　hair　grow；　of　course；　she　was　a　nobody；'　but　she　wished　so　much　it　could　at　least　be　cut　even。　Almost　everyone　else　had　their　hair　cut　short；　but　it　was　even。　The　Princess　liked　chopping　it　for　her；　liked　making　it　all　jagged。　Princess　Violet　liked　it　when　other　people　thought　Rachel　was　ugly。
　
　Rachel　shifted　her　weight　to　her　other　foot　and　rolled　her　free　ankle　around　to　ease　its　stiffness。　They'd　been　in　the　Queen's　jewel　room　all　afternoon；　the　Princess　trying　on　one　piece　of　jewelry　after　another；　then　primping　and　turning　in　front　of　the　tall　mirror。　It　was　her　favorite　thing　to　do；　trying　on　the　Queen's　jewelry　and　looking　at　herself　in　the　mirror。　Being　her　playmate；　Rachel　was　required　to　be　with　her；　to　make　sure　the　Princess　was　enjoying　herself。　Dozens　of　the　little　drawers　stood　open；　some　a　little；　some　a　lot。　Necklaces　and　bracelets　hung　halfway　out　of　some；　like　sparkling　tongues。　More　were　scattered　around　the　floor；　along　with　brooches；　tiaras；　and　rings。
　
　The　Princess　looked　down　her　nose　and　pointed　to　a　blue　stone　ring　on　the　floor。　〃Give　me　that　one。〃
　
　Rachel　slipped　it　over　the　finger　held　in　front　of　her　face；　then　the　Princess　watched　herself　in　the　mirror　as　she　turned　her　hand　this　way　and　that。　She　ran　her　hand　over　the　pretty　pale　blue　satin　dress；　admiring　the　ring。　Letting　out　a　long；　bored　sigh；　she　walked　over　to　the　fancy　white　marble　pedestal　that　stood　by　itself　in　the　opposite　corner　of　the　jewel　room。　She　was　looking　up　at　her　mother's　favorite　object；　one　she　fawned　over　at　every　opportunity。
　
　Princess　Violet's　pudgy　fingers　reached　up；　pulling　the　gold　jewel…encrusted　box　off　its　honored　resting　place。
　
　〃Princess　Violet！〃　Rachel　blurted　out　before　she　had　a　chance　to　think。　〃Your　mother　said　you　mustn't　touch　that。〃
　
　The　Princess　turned　with　an　innocent　expression；　then　tossec　her　the　box。　Rachel　gasped；　catching　the　box；　horrified　it　might　crash　against　the　wall。　Terrified　that　she　had　it　in　her　hands；　she　immediately　set　it　down　on　the　floor　as　if　it　were　a　hot　coal。　She　backed　away；　fearful　of　getting　whipped　just　for　being　caught　near　the　Queen's　precious　box。
　
　〃What's　the　big　deal？〃　Princess　Violet　snapped。　〃Magic　keep　it　from　being　taken　from　this　room。　It's　not　like　anyone's　going　to　steal　it　or　anything。〃　Rachel　didn't　know　anything　about　any　magic；　but　she　knew　she　didn't　want　to　be　caught　touching　the　Queen's　box。
　
　〃I'm　going　down　to　the　dining　room；〃　the　Princess　said；　lifting　her　nose；　〃to　watch　the　guests　arrive；　and　wait　for　dinner。　Clean　up　this　dreadful　mess；　then　go　to　the　kitchen　and　tell　the　cooks　I　don't　want　my　roast　cooked　like　leather；　like　the　last　time；　or　I'll　tell　my　mother　to　have　them　beaten。〃
　
　〃Of　course；　Princess　Violet。〃　Rachel　curtsied。
　
　The　Princess　held　her　big　nose　up。　〃And？〃
　
　〃And　。　。　。　thank　you；　Princess　Violet；　for　bringing　me；　and　letting　me　see　how　pretty　you　look　in　the　jewelry。〃
　
　〃Well；　it's　the　least　I　can　do；　you　must　get　tired　of　looking　at　your　ugly　face　in　the　mirror。　My　mother　says　we　must　do　kind　things　for　the　less　fortunate。〃　She　reached　in　a　pocket　and　brought　out　something。　〃Here。　Take　the　key　and　lock　the　door　when　you're　finished　putting　everything　back。〃
　
　Rachel　curtsied　again。　〃Yes；　Princess　Violet。〃
　
　While　the　key　was　dropping　into　Rachel's　outstretched　hand；　the　Princess's　other　hand　came　out　of　nowhere；　slapping　Rachel's　face　unexpectedly；　and　unexpectedly　hard。　She　stood　stunned　as　Princess　Violet　walked　out　of　the　room；　laughing　a　high；　squeaky；　snorting　laugh。　Princess　Violet's　laugh　hurt　almost　as　much　as　the　slap。
　
　Tears　fell　from　her　face　as　she　crawled　around　on　the　floor　on　her　hands　and　knees；　picking　up　fingerfuls　of　rings　from　the　carpets。　She　stopped　and　sat　back　a　moment；　carefully　touching　her　fingertips　to　the　place　where　she　had　been　slapped。　It　hurt　like　anything。
　
　Rachel　deliberately　worked　around　the　Queen's　box；　giving　it　sidelong　glances；　afraid　to　touch　it；　yet　knowing　she　would　have　to；　because　she　had　to　put　it　back。　She　worked　slowly；　meticulously　laying　the　jewelry　in　its　place；　carefully　pushing　the　drawers　closed；　hoping　somehow　she　wouldn't　finish；　so　she　wouldn't　have　to　pick　up　the　box；　the　Queen's　favorite　thing　in　the　whole　world。
　
　The　Queen　wouldn't　be　happy　at　all　if　she　knew　that　some　nobody　had　touched　it。　Rachel　knew　the　Queen　was　always　having　somebody's　head　chopped　off。　Sometimes；　the　Princess　made　Rachel　go　with　her　to　watch；　but　Rachel　always　closed　her　eyes。　The　Princess　didn't。
　
　When　all　the　jewelry　was　put　away；　the　last　drawer　closed；　she　looked　out　of　the　corner　of　her　eye；　down　at　the　box　sitting　on　the　floor。　She　felt　as　if　it　were　looking　back；　as　if　it　might　somehow　tell　the　Queen。　Finally；　squatting　down；　eyes　wide；　she　picked　it　up。　Holding　it　at　arm's　length；　she　carefully　shuffled　her　feet　over　the　edges　of　carpets；　terrified　she　might　drop　it。　She　set　the　box　in　its　place　as　slowly　as　she　could；　carefully；　gingerly；　fearing　a　jewel　might　fall　out　or　something。　She　quickly　drew　her　fingers　away；　relieved。
　
　Turning　back；　she　caught　sight　of　the　hem　of　a　silver　robe　that　touched　the　floor。　Her　breath　caught　in　h