tg.wizardfirstrule-第57部分

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le　stick　legs　against　her　fat　arm　as　it　shook；　making　little　dents　with　its　feet。　The　Queen　fed　it　scraps　of　meat　that　were　better　than　any　Rachel　had　ever　been　fed。　Before　today；　that　is；　she　thought　with　a　smile。
　
　Rachel　didn't　like　the　little　dog。　It　barked　a　lot；　and　sometimes　when　the　Queen　set　it　on　the　floor；　it　would　run　over　to　her　and　bite　her　legs　with　its　tiny　sharp　teeth；　and　she　didn't　dare　to　say　anything。　When　the　dog　bit　her；　the　Queen　always　told　it　to　be　careful；　not　to　hurt　itself。　She　always　used　a　funny；　high；　sweet　voice　when　she　talked　to　the　dog。
　
　While　the　Queen　and　her　ministers　talked　about　some　kind　of　alliance；　Rachel　…sat　jiggling　her　legs；　knocking　her　knees　together；　thinking　about　her　trouble　doll。　The　wizard　stood　behind　and　to　the　right　of　the　Queen；　offering　his　advice　when　asked。　He　looked　grand　in　his　silver　robes。　She　had　never　paid　much　attention　to　Giller　before；　he　had　just　been　another　one　of　the　Queen's　important　people；　always　there　with　her；　like　her　little　dog。　People　were　afraid　of　him；　too；　the　way　she　was　afraid　of　the　dog。　Now；　as　she　watched　him；　he　seemed　like　just　about　the　nicest　man　she　had　ever　seen。
　
　He　ignored　her　through　the　whole　dinner；　never　once　looking　her　way。　Rachel　figured　he　didn't　want　to　draw　attention　to　her；　and　make　the　Princess　mad。　That　was　a　good　idea。　Princess　Violet　would　be　cross　if　she　knew　Giller　had　said　he　thought　Rachel's　name　was　pretty。　The　Queen's　long　hair　hung　down　behind　her　fancy　carved　chair；　shaking　in　waves　when　her　important　people　talked　to　her　and　she　nodded　her　head。
　
　When　the　meal　was　finished；　servers　rolled　out　a　cart　with　the　crock　she　had　seen　the　cooks　mixing。　Goblets　were　filled　from　a　ladle　and　carried　to　all　the　guests。　Everyone　seemed　to　think　it　was　pretty　important。
　
　The　Queen　stood；　holding　her　goblet　in　the　air；　and　the　little　dog　in　her　other　arm。　〃Lords　and　ladies；　I　present　you　with　the　drink　of　enlightenment；　that　we　may　see　the　truth。　This　is　a　very　precious　modity；　few　are　offered　the　opportunity　of　enlightenment。　I　have　availed　myself　of　it　many　times；　of　course；　that　I　might　see　the　truth；　the　way　of　Father　Rahl；　in　order　to　lead　my　people　to　the　mon　good。　Drink　up。〃
　
　Some　people　looked　like　they　didn't　want　to；　but　only　for　a　minute。　Then　they　all　drank。　The　Queen　drank；　after　she　saw　that　everyone　else　had；　then　sat　back　down　with　a　funny　look　on　her　face。　She　leaned　to　a　server；　whispering。　Rachel　started　to　get　worried；　the　Queen　was　frowning。　When　the　Queen　frowned；　people　got　their　heads　chopped　off。
　
　The　tall　cook　came　out；　smiling。　The　Queen　motioned　to　him　with　her　finger　hooked；　to　lean　closer。　There　was　sweat　on　his　forehead。　Rachel　guessed　it　was　because　the　kitchen　was　so　hot。　She　was　sitting　behind　the　Princess；　who　sat　at　the　left　arm　of　the　Queen；　so　she　could　hear　them　talking。
　
　〃This　does　not　taste　the　same；〃　she　said　in　her　mean　voice。　She　didn't　always　talk　in　her　mean　voice；　but　when　she　did；　people　got　scared。
　
　〃Ali；　well；　Your　Majesty；　you　see；　in　truth；　uh；　well；　it's　not；　you　see。　Not　the　same；　that　is。〃　Her　eyebrows　lifted　and　he　talked　faster。　〃You　see；　uh；　in　truth；　well；　I　knew　this　was　a　very　important　dinner。　Yes；　I　knew；　you　see；　that　you　wouldn't　want　anything　to　go　wrong。　You　see。　Wouldn't　want　anyone　to　fail　to　be　enlightened；　to　fail　to　see　your　brilliance；　about　all　this；　uh；　business；　so；　you　see；　well；〃　he　leaned　a　little　closer　and　lowered　his　voice　to　speak　confidentially；　〃so　I　took　the　liberty　of　making　the　drink　of　enlightenment　stronger。　Much　stronger；　actually；　you　see。　So　no　one　would　fail　to　see　the　rightness　of　what　you　say。　I　assure　you；　Your　Majesty；　it　is　so　strong；　no　one　will　fail　to　be　enlightened。〃　He　leaned　even　closer；　lowered　his　voice　even　more。　〃In　fact；　Your　Majesty；　it　is　so　strong　that　anyone　who　fails　to　be　enlightened；　and　opposes　you　after　drinking　it；　well；　they　could　only　be　a　traitor。〃
　
　〃Really；〃　the　Queen　whispered　in'　surprise。　〃Well；　I　thought　it　was　stronger。〃
　
　〃Very　perceptive；　Your　Majesty；　very　perceptive。　You　have　a　very　refined　palate。　I　knew　I　wouldn't　be　able　to　fool　you。〃
　
　〃Indeed。　But　are　you　sure　it　isn't　too　powerful？　I　can　feel　the　enlightenment　sweeping　through　me　already。〃
　
　〃Your　Majesty；〃　his　eyes　shifted　among　the　guests。　〃Where　your　mandate　is　concerned；　I　feared　to　make　it　any　weaker。〃　His　eyebrows　lifted　up。　〃Lest　any　traitor　go　unfound。〃
　
　She　smiled　at　last；　and　nodded。　〃You　are　a　wise　and　loyal　cook。　From　now　on；　I　put　you；　exclusively；　in　charge　of　the　drink　of　enlightenment。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Your　Majesty。〃
　
　He　bowed　a　bunch　of　times　and　left。　Rachel　was　glad　he　didn't　get　in　trouble。
　
　〃Lords　and　ladies；　a　special　treat。　Tonight；　I　had　the　cook　prepare　the　drink　of　enlightenment　extra　strong；　so　none　loyal　to　their　queen　could　fail　to　see　the　wisdom　of　Father　Rahl's　ways。〃
　
　The　people　all　smiled　and　nodded　how　pleased　they　were　about　this。　Some　told　how　they　could　already　feel　the　special　insights　the　drink　was　giving　them。
　
　〃A　special　treat；　lords　and　ladies；　for　your　entertainment。〃　She　snapped　her　fingers。　〃Bring　in　the　fool。〃
　
　Guards　brought　in　a　man；　and　made　him　stand　in　the　center　of　the　room；　directly　in　front　of　the　Queen；　all　the　tables　around　him。　He　was　big　and　strong…looking；　but　he　was　bound　with　chains。　The　Queen　leaned　forward。
　
　〃We　here　have　all　agreed　that　an　alliance　with　our　ally；　Darken　Rahl；　will　bring　great　benefits　to　all　our　people；　that　we　all　will　profit；　together。　That　the　little　people；　the　workers；　the　farmers；　will　benefit　the　most。　That　they　will　be　freed　from　the　oppression　of　those　who　would　only　exploit　them　for　profit；　for　gold；　for　greed。　That　from　now　on；　we　all　will　be　working　for　the　mon　good；　not　individual　goals。〃　The　Queen　frowned。　〃Please　tell　all　these　ignorant　lords　and　ladies〃…she　swept　her　hand　around　the　room…〃how　it　is　that　you　are　smarter　than　they；　and　why　you　should　be　allowed　to　work　only　for　yourself；　instead　of　your　fellow　man。〃
　
　The　man　had　an　angry　look　on　his　face。　Rachel　wished　he　would　change　it；　before　he　got　in　trouble。
　
　〃The　mon　good；〃　he　said；　sweeping　his　hand　around　the　room　like　the　Queen　had　done；　except　his　hands　had　chains　on　them。　〃This　is　what　you　call　the　mon　good？　All　you　fine　people　look　to　be　enjoying　the　good　food；　the　warm　fire。　My　children　go　hungry　tonight　because　most　of　our　crops　have　been　taken；　for　the　mon　good；　for　those　who　have　decided　not　to　bother　to　work；　but　to　eat　the　fruit　of　my　labor　instead。〃
　
　The　people　laughed。
　
　〃And　you　would　deny　them　food；　simply　because　you　are　fortunate　that　your　crops　grew　better？〃　the　Queen　asked。　〃You　are　a　selfish　man。〃
　
　〃Their　crops　would　grow　better　if　they　would　plant　seeds　in　the　ground　first。〃
　
　〃And　so　you　have　so　little　care　for　your　fellow　man；　that　you　therefore　would　condemn　them　to　starve？〃
　
　〃My　family　starves！　To　feed　others；　to　feed　Rahl's　army。　To　feed　you　fine　lords　and　ladies；　who　do　nothing　but　discuss　and　decide　what　to　do　with　my　crop；　how　to　divide　the　product　of　my　labor　among　others。〃
　
　Rachel　wished　the　man　would　keep　still。　He　was　going　to　get　his　head　chopped　off。　The　people　and　the　Queen　thought　he　was　funny；　though。
　
　〃And　my　family　goes　cold；〃　he　said；　and　his　face　looked　even　more　angry；　〃because　we　aren't　allowed　to　have　fire。〃　He　pointed　at　a　few　of　the　fireplaces。　〃But　here　there　is　fire；　to　warm　the　people　who　tell　me　we　are　all　equal　now；　how　there　will　no　longer　be　some　put　before　others　and　I　must　therefore　not　be　allowed　to　keep　what　is　mine。　Isn't　it　odd；　that　the　people　who　tell　me　how　we　are　to　all　be　the　same　under　the　alliance　with　Darken　Rahl　and　do　no　work　other　than　to　divide　up　the　fruit　of　my　labors；　are　all　well　fed；　and　warm；　and　have　fine　clothes　on　their　backs。　But　my　family　goes　hungry　and　cold。〃
　
　Everyone　laughed。　Rachel　didn't　laugh。　She　knew　what　it　was　like　to　be　hungry；　and　cold
　
　〃Lords　and　ladies；〃　the　Queen　said；　with　a　chuckle。　〃did　I　not　promise　you　royal　entertainment？　The　drink　of　enlightenment　lets　us　see　what　a　selfish　fool　this　man　truly　is。　Just　think；　he　actually　believes　it　is　right　to　profit　while　others　starve。　He　would　put　his　profit　above　the　lives　of　his　fellow　man。　For　his　greed；　he　would　murder　the　hungry。〃
　
　Everyone　laughed　with　the　Queen。
　
　The　Queen　smacked　her　hand　down　on　the　table。　Plates　jumped　and　a　few　glasses　fell　over；　spilling　a　red　stain　across　the　white　tablecloth。　Everyone　fell　quiet；　except　the　little　dog；　who　barked　at　the　man。　〃This　is　the　kind　of　greed　that　will　be　ended；　when　the　People's　Peace　Army　es　to　help　rid　us　of　these　human　leeches　that　suck　us　all　dry！〃　The　Queen's　round　face　was　as　red　as　the　stains　on　the　tablecloth。
　
　Everyone　cheered　and　clapped　for　a　long　time。　The　Queen　sat　back；　smiling　at　last。
　
　The　man's　face　was　as　red　as　hers。　〃Odd；　isn't　it；　now　that　all　the　farmers；　the　workers　in　town；　are　all　working　for　the　mon　good；　that　there　isn't　enough　good　to　go　around；　like　there　used　to　be；　or　enough　food。〃
　
　The　Queen　jumped　to　her　feet。　〃Of　course　not！〃　she　shouted。　〃Because　of　greedy　people　like　you！〃　She　took　some　deep　breaths；　until　her　face　wasn't　quite　so　red；　then　turned　to　the　Princess。　〃Violet　dear；　you　must　learn　matters　of　state　sooner　or　later。　You　must　learn　how　to　serve　the　public　good　for　all　our　people。　Therefore；　I　will　put　this　matter　in　your　hands；　so　you　may　gain　experience。　What　would　you　do　with　this　traitor　to　our　people？　You　choose；　dear；　and　it　will　be　done。〃
　
　Princess　Violet　stood。　Smiling；　she　looked　around　at　the　people。
　
　〃I　say；〃　she　said；　as　she　leaned　forward　a　little；　across　the　table；　to　look　at　the　big　man　in　chains；　〃I　say；　off　with　his　head！〃
　
　Everyone　cheered　and　clapped　again。　Guards　dragged　the　man　away　as　he　called　them　names　Rachel　didn't　understand。　She　was　sad　for　him；　and　for　his　family。
　
　After　the　assembled　crowd　talked　for　a　while　longer；　they　all　decided　to　go　watch　the　man　get　his　head　chopped　off。　When　the　Queen　left　and　Princess　Violet　turned　to　her　and　said　it　was　time　to　go　watch；　Rachel　stood　up　in　front　of　her　with　fists　at　her　side
　
　〃You're　really　mean。　You're　really　mean　to　say　to　chop　off　that　man's　head。〃
　
　The　Princess　put　her　hands　on　her　hips。　〃Is　that　so？　Well　you　can　just　spend　the　night　outside　tonight！〃
　
　〃But　Princess　Violet；　it's　so　cold　out　tonight！〃
　
　〃Well；　while　you're　freezing　you　can　just　think　about　how　you　dared　speak　to　me　in　that　tone！　And　so　you　remember　the　next　time；　you　are　to　stay　out　all　day　tomorrow；　and　tomorrow　night；　too！〃　Her　face　looked　mean；　like　the　Queen's　did　sometimes。　〃That　should　teach　you　some　respect。〃
　
　Rachel　started　to　say　something　else；　then　she　remembered　the　trouble　doll；　and　that　she　wanted　to　go　out。　The　Princess　pointed　at　the　archway　toward　the　door。
　
　〃Go　on。　Right　now；　with　no　supper。〃　She　stomped　her　foot。
　
　Rachel　looked　at　the　ground；　to　pretend　she　was　sad。　〃Yes；　Princess　Violet；〃　she　said；　as　she　curtsied。
　
　She　walked　with　her　head　down；　through　the　archway　and　down　the　big　hall　with　all　the　rugs　hung　on　the　high　walls。　She　liked　to　look　at　the　pictures　on　the　rugs；　but　she　kept　her　head　down　this　time；　in　case　the　Princess　was　watching；　she　didn't　want　to　look　happy　about　being　put　out。　Guards；　wearing　shiny　armor　breastplates　and　swords　and　holding　pikes；　opened　the　great；　tall；　iron　doors　for　her　without　saying　anything。　They　never　said　anything　to　her　when　they　let　her　out；　or　when　they　let　her　back　in。　They　knew　she　was　the　Princess's　playmate：　a　nobody。
　
　When　she　got　outside；　she　tried　not　to　walk　too　fast；　in　case　anyone　was　watching。　The　stone　was　as　cold　as　ice　on　her　bare　feet。　Carefully；　and　with　each　hand　under　the　other　armpit　to　keep　her　fingers　warm；　she　went　down　the　wide　steps　and　terraces；　taking　them　one　at　a　time　so　she　wouldn't　fall；　at　last　reaching　the　cobblestone　walk　at　the　bottom。　More　guards　patrolled　outside；　but　they　ignored　her。　They　saw　her　all　the　time。　The　closer　she　got　to　the　gardens；　the　faster　she　walked。
　
　Rachel　slowed　on　the　main　garden　path；　waiting　until　the　guards'　backs　were　turned。　The　trouble　doll　was　right　where　Giller　had　said　it　would　be。　She　put　the　fire　stick　in　her　pocket；　then　hugged　the　doll　to　her　as　tight　as　she　could　before　hiding　it　behind　her　back。　She　whispered　to　it；　a　warning　to　be　still。　She　couldn't　wait　to　get　to　her　wayward　pine　so　she　could　tell　the　doll　how　mean　Princess　Violet　was　to　have　that　man's　head　chopped　off。　She　looked　around　in　the　darkness。
　
　There　was　no　one　watching；　no　one　to　see　her　take　the　doll。　At　the　outer　wall；　more　men　were　patrolling　the　high　walks；　and　the　Queen's　guards　were　at　the　gate；　standing　stiffly　in　their　armor。　They　wore　their　fancy　uniforms　over　the　armor；　sleeveless　red　tunics　with　the　Queen's　mark；　a　black　wolf's　head；　emblazoned　in　the　center。　As　they　lifted　the　heavy　iron　bar　and　two　of　them　pulled　the　squeaky　door　open　for　her；　they　didn't　even　look　to　see　what　she　had　behind　her　back。　When　she　heard　the　clang　of　the　bar　dropping　back　in　place；　and　turned　around　to　see　the　backs　of　the　guards　on　the　wall；　then　at　last　she　smiled　and　started　to　run；　it　was　a　long　way。
　
　In　a　high　tower；　dark　eyes　watched　her　go。　Watched　her　pass　through　the　heavy　guard　without　raising　the　slightest　suspicion；　or　interest；　like　a　breath　through　fangs；　through　the　outer　wall　garden　gate　that　had　kept　determined　armies　out；　and　traitors　in；　watched　her　cross　the　bridge　where　hundreds　of　foes　had　died　in　battle；　yet　failed　to　gain；　watched　her　rim　across　the　fields；　barefoot；　unarmed；　innocent；　and　into　the　forest。　To　her　secret　place。
　
　…＋
　
　Furious；　Zedd　slapped　his　hand　to　the　cold　metal　plate。　The　massive　stone　door　slowly　grated　closed。　He　had　to　step　over　the　bodies　of　D'Haran　guards　as　he　walked　to　the　low　wall。　His　fingers　came　to　rest　on　the　familiar；　smooth　stone　as　he　leaned　forward；　looking　out　over　the　sleeping　city　below。
　
　From　this　high　wall　on　the　mountainside；　the　city　looked　peaceful　enough。　But　he　had　already　slipped　through　the　darkened　streets　and　seen　the　troops　everywhere。　Troops　that　were　there　at　the　cost　of　many　lives；　on　both　sides。
　
　But　that　wasn't　the　worst　of　it。
　
　Darken　Rahl　had　to　have　been　here。　Zedd　pounded　his　fist　to　the　stone。　It　had　to　be　Darken　Rahl　who　had　taken　it。
　
　The　intricate　web　of　shields　should　have　held；　but　they　hadn't。　He　had　been　away　too　many　years。　He　had　been　a　fool
　
　〃Nothing　is　ever　easy；〃　the　wizard　whispered
　
　CHAPTER　30
　〃KAHLAN；〃　RICHARD　ASKED；　〃REMEMBER；　when　we　were　back　with　the　Mud　People；　and　that　man　said　Rahl　had　e；　riding　a　red　demon？　Do　you　know　what　he　was　talking　about？〃
　
　They　had　traveled　three　days　across　the　plains；　with　Savidlin　and　his　hunters；　then　had　bid　him　goodbye　with　a　promise　to　his　sad　eyes　to　do　whatever　they　could　to　find　Siddin；　and　they　had　spent　the　past　week　climbing　up　into　the　high　country；　into　the　Rang'　Shada；　the　vast　spine　of　rock　that　Kahlan　had　said　ran　northeast　across　the　back　of　the　Midlands；　and　cradled　in　its　mountains　the　remote　place　known　as　Agaden　Reach。　A　place　she