tg.wizardfirstrule-第66部分

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　any　of　the　dungeon　guards。　The　men　looked　around　the　room　at　the　people；　then　went　and　stood　on　each　side　of　the　big　archway　behind　the　Queen　and　folded　their　arms。　The　Queen　huffed　and　turned　around　in　her　chair　to　see　what　was　happening。
　
　A　man　with　blue　eyes；　and　long　yellow　hair　and　white　robes；　and　a　gold…handled　knife　at　his　belt；　came　through　the　archway。　He　was　the　handsomest…looking　man　she　had　ever　seen。　He　smiled　at　the　Queen。　She　jumped　to　her　feet。
　
　〃What　an　unexpected　surprise！〃　she　said　in　her　nicest　dog　voice。　〃We　are　honored。　But　we　weren't　expecting　you　until　tomorrow。〃
　
　The　man　again　smiled　a　pretty　smile　at　her。　〃I　couldn't　wait　to　get　here；　to　see　your　lovely　face　again。　Forgive　me　for　being　early；　Your　Majesty。〃
　
　The　Queen　giggled　as　she　held　her　hand　out　for　him　to　kiss。　She　was　always　having　people　kiss　her　hand。　Rachel　was　surprised　at　what　the　nice…looking　man　had　said。　She　never　knew　anyone　who　thought　the　Queen　was　lovely。　The　Queen　took　his　hand　in　hers　and　brought　him　forward。
　
　〃Lords　and　ladies；　may　I　introduce　Father　Rahl。〃
　
　Father　Rahl！　She　looked　around　to　see　if　anyone　had　seen　her　jump；　taut　no　one　had；　they　were　all　looking　at　Father　Rahl。　She　was　sure　he　was　going　to　look　at　her；　and　see　that　she　was　going　to　run　away　with　the　box。　She　looked　at　Giller；　but　he　didn't　look　back。　His　face　was　white。　Father　Rahl　was　here　before　she　had　run　away　with　the　box！　What　was　she　going　to　do？
　
　She　was　going　to　do　what　Giller　had　told　her　to　do；　that's　what。　She　was　going　to　be　brave　and　save　all　those　people。　She　had　to　think　of　a　way　to　get　out。
　
　Father　Rahl　looked　around　at　all　the　people　who　were　standing　up　now。　The　little　dog　barked。　He　turned　to　the　source　of　the　sound　and　it　stopped　barking；　instead　it　began　to　whine　softly。　He　turned　back　to　the　people。　It　got　real　quiet。
　
　〃Dinner　is　over。　You　will　excuse　us　now；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice。
　
　Everyone　started　whispering。　His　blue　eyes　watched。　The　whispering　stopped　and　they　started　to　leave；　first　slow；　then　faster。　Father　Rahl　looked　at　some　of　the　royal　advisors；　and　they　left；　looking　glad　to　be　doing　it。　A　few　he　didn't　look　at；　including　Giller；　stayed。　Princess　Violet　stayed；　too；　and　Rachel　tried　to　stay　behind　her　so　she　wouldn't　be　noticed。　The　Queen　smiled　and　held　her　arm　out　to　the　table。
　
　〃Won't　you　sit；　Father　Rahl；　I'm　sure　you　have　had　a　strenuous　journey。　Let　us　bring　you　something　to　eat。　We　have　a　lovely　roast　tonight。〃
　
　He　looked　at　her　with　blue　eyes　that　didn't　blink。　〃I　don't　approve　of　butchering　helpless　animals　and　then　consuming　their　flesh。〃
　
　Rachel　thought　the　Queen　was　going　to　choke。　〃Well；　then　。　。　。　we　also　have　a　lovely　turnip　soup；　and　some　other　things；　I'm　sure　。　。　。　there　must　be　something　。　。　。　if　there　isn't；　the　cooks；　will　make　whatever　。　。　。〃
　
　〃Perhaps　some　other　time。　I　am　not　here　to　eat；　I　am　here　for　your　contribution　to　the　alliance。〃
　
　〃But　。。。　this　is　sooner　than　expected；　we　haven't　finished　drawing　up　the　agreements；　there　are　many　papers　to　be　signed；　and　you　will　want　to　have　them　looked　over　first；　surely。〃
　
　〃I　will　be　only　too　happy　to　sign　anything　you　have　ready；　and　offer　my　word　that　I　will　sign　whatever　additional　documents　you　might　have　drawn　up。　I　trust　your　honesty　to　deal　with　me　fairly。〃　He　smiled。　〃You　don't　have　any　intention　of　tricking　me　somehow　with　these　agreements；　do　you？〃
　
　〃Well；　no；　Father　Rahl；　of　course　not。　Of　course　not。〃
　
　〃There　you　have　it；　then。　Why　would　I　need　anyone　to　look　over　these　papers；　if　you　are　being　fair　with　me？　You　are　being　fair；　you　say？〃
　
　〃Well；　of　course　I　am。　I　guess　there　is　no　need　。　。　。　but　this　is　most　unusual。〃
　
　〃So　is　our　alliance。　Let's　be　on　with　it；　then。〃
　
　〃Yes。　Yes；　of　course。〃　She　turned　to　one　of　her　advisors。　〃Go　get　whatever　of　the　alliance　treaty　you　have　ready　and　bring　it。　Bring　ink　and　pens。　And　my　seal。〃　He　bowed　and　left。　The　Queen　turned　to　Giller。　〃Wherever　you　have　secreted　the　box；　go　and　get　it。〃
　
　He　bowed。　〃Of　course；　Your　Majesty。〃　Rachel　felt　alone　and　afraid　when　she　saw　him　go　through　the　door；　his　silver　robes　flying　behind　him。
　
　While　they　waited；　the　Queen　introduced　the　Princess　to　Father　Rahl。　Rachel　stood　behind　Princess　Violet's　chair　after　she　went　to　have　her　hand　kissed。　Father　Rahl　bowed　to　her　and　kissed　her　hand　and　told　her　how　she　was　as　pretty　as　her　mother。　The　Princess　grinned　and　grinned　and　held　the　hand　he　had　kissed　to　her　breast。
　
　The　advisor　came　back　with　his　helpers；　they　each　carried　armfuls　of　papers。　They　moved　plates　aside　and　laid　the　papers　all　over　the　head　table；　pointing　to　where　the　Queen　and　Father　Rahl　should　sign　their　names。　One　of　the　helpers　dripped　red　wax　on　the　papers；　and　the　Queen　pressed　her　seal　into　it。　Father　Rahl　said　he　didn't　have　a　seal；　and　that　his　written　name　would　do；　that　he　was　sure　he　would　recognize　his　own　writing　in　the　future。　When　Giller　came　back；　he　stood　off　to　the　side　and　waited　until　they　finished。　The　men　started　gathering　up　all　the　papers；　arguing　with　each　other　about　which　order　they　went　in。　The　Queen　motioned　Giller　forward。
　
　〃Father　Rahl；〃　Giller　said　with　his　finest　smile；　〃may　I　present　you　with　Queen　Milena's　box　of　Orden。〃　He　held　the　fake　box　out　in　both　hands；　careful；　just　as　if　it　were　the　real　one。　The　jewels　all　sparkled　real　pretty。
　
　Father　Rahl　smiled　a　little　smile　as　he　reached　out　and　carefully　lifted　the　box　from　Giller's　hands。　He　turned　it　around　a　minute；　looking　at　the　pretty　jewels。　Then　he　motioned　one　of　the　big　men　with　all　the　muscles　to　e　forward。　When　he　did；　Father　Rahl　looked　him　in　the　eye　and　handed　him　the　box。
　
　With　one　hand；　the　man　squeezed　the　box。　It　shattered。　The　Queen's　eyes　got　real　big。
　
　〃What　is　the　meaning　of　this！〃　she　asked。
　
　Father　Rahl's　face　got　scary…looking。　〃That　would　be　my　question；　Your　Majesty。　This　box　is　a　counterfeit。〃
　
　〃Why；　that's　simply　not　possible　。。。　there　is　no　way　。。。　I　know　for　a　fact　。。。〃　The　Queen　turned　her　head　to　Giller。　〃Giller！　What　do　you　know　of　this？〃
　
　He　held　his　hands　in　the　opposite　sleeves　of　his　robes。　〃Your　Majesty　。　。　。　I　don't　understand　。　。　。　no　one　has　tampered　with　the　magic　seal；　I　saw　to　that　myself。　I　assure　you；　this　is　the　same　box　I　have　guarded　ever　since　you　put　it　in　my　hands。　It　must　have　been　a　fake　from　the　first。　We　have　been　tricked。　That　is　the　only　possible　explanation。〃
　
　Father　Rahl's　blue　eyes　stayed　on　the　wizard　the　whole　time　he　talked。　Then　they　slid　to　one　of　his　men。　The　man　came　and　grabbed　the　robes　at　the　back　of　Giller's　neck。　He　lifted　Giller　off　the　ground　with　that　one　hand。
　
　〃What　are　you　doing！　Let　go　of　me；　you　big　ox！　Have　respect　for　a　wizard　or　you。　will　regret　it。　I　can　assure　you！〃　His　feet　were　dangling　in　the　air。
　
　Rachel　had　a　lump　in　her　throat；　tears　in　her　eyes。　She　tried　to　be　brave　and　not　cry。　She　knew　that　if　she　did；　they　might　notice　her。
　
　Father　Rahl　licked　his　fingertips。　〃Not　the　only　possible　explanation；　wizard。　The　real　box　has　magic；　a　particular　type　of　magic。　The　magic　of　this　box　is　wrong。　A　Queen　would　not　be　able　to　see　it；　to　know　if　it　was　the　real　box。　But　a　wizard　would。〃
　
　Father　Rahl　smiled　a　small　smile　to　the　Queen。　〃The　wizard　and　I　are　going　to　go　now；　and　have　a　private　conversation。〃　He　turned　and　walked　out　of　the　room；　white　robes　flying　behind　him。　The　man　holding　Giller　up　in　the　air　followed　Father　Rahl。　The　other　man　stepped　in　front　of　the　door　and　folded　his　arms。　Giller's　feet　didn't　touch　the　ground　as　he　was　carried　away。
　
　Rachel　wanted　to　run　after　Giller；　she　was　so　scared　for　him。　She　saw　his　head　turn　back　and　look　at　the　people。　His　dark　eyes　were　wide；　and　for　a　second；　they　looked　right　at　her；　right　into　her　eyes。　When　they　did；　she　heard　his　voice　in　her　head；　as　clear　as　if　he　had　yelled　to　her。　The　voice　in　her　head　screamed　only　one　word。
　
　Run。
　
　Then　he　was　gone。　Rachel　wanted　to　cry。　Instead；　she　sucked　the　hem　of　her　dress。　All　the　people　around　the　Queen　started　talking　at　once。　James；　the　court　artist；　started　picking　up　some　of　the　pieces　of　the　fake　box；　turning　them　over　in　his　one　hand；　looking　at　them；　holding　them　against　the　stump　of　his　other。　Princess　Violet　took　one　of　the　big　pieces　from　him　and　looked　at　the　jewels；　running　her　fingers　over　them。
　
　Rachel　kept　remembering　the　voice　in　her　head；　Giller's　voice；　yelling　at　her　to　run。　She　looked　around；　no　one　was　paying　any　attention　to　her。　She　went　around　the　tables；　keeping　her　head　down；　below　the　tabletops；　so　they　wouldn't　be　able　to　see　her。　When　she　got　to　the　other　side　of　the　room；　she　poked　her　head　up　to　see　if　anyone　was　looking。　They　weren't。
　
　She　reached　up　and　took　some　food　off　the　plates：　a　piece　of　meat；　three　bread　rolls；　and　a　big　piece　of　hard　cheese。　She　stuffed　them　all　in　her　pockets；　then　checked　the　people　again。
　
　Then　she　ran　for　the　hall。　She　kept　herself　from　getting　tears；　to　be　brave　for　Giller。　Her　bare　feet　ran　down　the　carpets；　past　the　picture　rugs　hanging　on　the　walls。　Before　she　got　to　the　guards　at　the　doors；　she　slowed　down；　so　they　wouldn't　see　her　running。　When　they　saw　her　ing；　they　pulled　up　the　big　bolt　and　didn't　say　anything　as　she　went　through　the　door。　The　guards　on　the　outside　of　the　door　just　glanced　at　her　as　she　came　through；　then　looked　back　out；　watching　the　grounds。
　
　Rachel　wiped　some　tears　off　her　face　as　she　went　down　the　cold　stone　steps。　She　had　tried　to　keep　them　from　ing；　but　a　few　got　out　before　she　could　stop　them。　The　guards　on　patrol　ignored　her　as　she　walked　fast　over　the　cobblestones；　toward　the　garden。
　
　Away　from　the　torches　hung　on　the　walls　outside　the　castle　it　was　dark；　but　she　knew　her　way。　The　grass　was　wet　on　her　bare　feet。　At　the　third　urn；　she　knelt　down；　looking　to　see　that　no　one　was　watching；　then　reached　under　the　flowers。　She　felt　the　cloth　around　the　bread；　and　pulled　it　out。　Untying　the　knots；　she　laid　the　four　corners　back；　then　reached　in　her　pockets　and　put　the　meat；　the　three　hard　rolls；　and　the　cheese　on　top　of　the　bread　and　tied　the　corners　of　the　cloth　back　up。
　
　Just　before　she　started　running　for　the　outer…wall　gate；　she　remembered；　and　made　a　little　gasp。　She　froze　stiff；　her　eyes　wide。
　
　She　had　forgotten　Sara　Her　doll　was　still　in　her　sleeping　box！　Princess　Violet　would　find　her　doll；　she　would　throw　Sara　in　the　fire！　Rachel　couldn't　leave　her　doll　there；　she　was　running　away　and　not　ing　back。　Sara　would　be　afraid　without　her。　Sara　would　get　burned　up。
　
　She　pushed　the　bundle　with　the　bread　back　under　the　flowers；　looked　around；　and　ran　for　the　castle。　She　had　to　slow　down　and　walk　when　she　got　close；　back　into　the　torchlight。　One　of　the　guards　at　the　door　looked　down　at　her。
　
　〃I　just　let　you　out；〃　he　said。
　
　She　swallowed　hard。　〃I　know。　But　now　I　have　to　go　back　in　for　a　few　minutes。〃
　
　〃Forget　something？〃
　
　She　nodded　and　managed　to　make　herself　say；　〃Yes。〃
　
　He　shook　his　head　and　lifted　the　little　window。　〃Open　the　door；〃　he　said　to　the　guard　inside。　She　heard　the　heavy　bolt　open。
　
　Once　back　inside；　she　looked　down　the　hall。　The　big　room　with　the　black…and…white　floor　and　the　grand　stairs　was　ahead；　a　few　turns　down　some　long　halls　and　through　a　couple　of　big　rooms。　One　of　the　big　rooms　was　the　dining　room。　That　was　the　shortest　way。　But　the　Queen；　or　the　Princess；　might　be　there；　or　even　Father　Rahl。　They　might　see　her。　She　couldn't　let　them　see　her。　Princess　Violet　might　take　her　up　to　her　room　and　lock　her　in　the　sleeping　box；　it　was　late。
　
　She　turned　and　went　through　the　little　door　on　the　right。　That　was　the　servants'　passageway。　It　was　a　lot　longer；　but　no　one　important　would　be　in　the　servant　halls　or　on　the　servant　stairs。　None　of　the　servants　would　stop　her；　they　all　knew　she　was　the　Princess's　playmate；　and　they　didn't　want　the　Princess　mad　at　them。　She　would　have　to　go　down　through　the　place　where　the　servants　stayed；　down　under　the　big　rooms　and　under　the　kitchen。
　
　The　stairs　were　all　stone；　worn　smooth　on　the　front　edges。　One　window　at　the　top　was　uncovered　and　it　let　in　rain；　and　the　steps　always　had　water　leaking　from　the　stone　walls；　running　down　them。　Some　places　it　was　just　a　little；　some　places　more；　and　there　was　green　slime　on　some　of　the　steps。　She　always　had　to　step　careful　to　keep　from　stepping　in　the　slime。　Torches　in　iron　brackets　made　the　stone　and　the　steps　look　red　and　yellow。
　
　There　were　some　people　in　the　halls　on　the　bottom　floor；　servants　carrying　linens　and　blankets；　washwomen　with　buckets　of　water　and　mops；　and　men　carrying　bundles　of　firewood　for　the　fireplaces　upstairs。　Some　of　the　people　stopped　and　whispered　to　each　other。　They　seemed　excited。　She　heard　Giller's　name　and　it　made　her　get　a　lump　in　her　throat。
　
　When　she　went　past　the　servants'　quarters；　all　the　oil　lamps　were　burning；　hung　from　the　big　beams　of　the　low　ceilings；　and　there　were　bunches　of　people　gathered　around；　telling　each　other　what　they　had　seen。　Rachel　saw　one　of　the　men　talking　loud；　with　mostly　women；　but　some　men；　too；　standing　around　him。　It　was　Mr。　Sanders；　the　man　who　wore　the　fancy　coat　and　greeted　the　fine　ladies　and　gentlemen　when　they　came　to　dinner；　and　announced　their　names　when　they　came　in。
　
　〃Heard　it　myself；　from　those　two　that　stand　watch　over　the　dining　room。　You　know　who　I'm　talking　about；　the　young　one；　Frank　and　the　other；　with　the　limp；　Jenkins。　Said　the　D'Haran　guards　told　them　personal　that　there's　going　to　be　a　search　of　the　castle；　top　to　bottom。〃
　
　〃What're　they　lookin'　for？〃　a　woman　asked。
　
　〃Don't　know。　Least　they　didn't　tell　Frank　and　Jenkins。　But　I　wouldn't　want　to　be　the　one　that　had　whatever　they're　after。　Those　men　from　D'Hara　could　give　you　nightmares　when　you　were　wide　awake。〃
　
　〃Wish　they'd　find　whatever　it　is　under　Violet's　bed；〃　somebody　else　said。　〃It'd　do　her　up　right　to　get　a　nightmare　for　a　change；　'stead　of　givin'　'em。〃　Everyone　laughed。
　
　Rachel　went　on；　through　the　big　storeroom　with　all　the　columns。　Barrels　were　on　one　side；　all　piled　up　in　rows　on　top　of　one　another；　boxes　and　crates　and　sacks　were　stacked　up　on　the　other　side。　The　room　smelled　damp　and　musty；　and　she　could　always　hear　mice　scratching　about。　She　went　down　the　middle；　past　the　lamps　hung　on　the　side　of　columns；　to　the　heavy　door　at　the　other　end。　The　iron　strap　hinges　creaked　when　she　strained　and　pulled　on　the　iron　ring　and　opened　the　door。　Rust　from　the　ring　got　on　her　hands；　so　she　wiped　them　on　the　stone。　Another　big　door　to　the　right　led　to　the　dungeon。　She　went　up　the　stairway。　It　was　dark；　with　only　one　torch　at　the　top；　and　she　could　hear　water　go　plink；　plink；　plink　and　echo。　Through　the　door　at　the　top　that　stood　open　a　crack；　she　went　down　the　stone　block　halls　like　the　wind　that　was　always　in　them。　She　was　too　scared　to　cry。　She　wanted　Sara　to　be　safe；　with　her；　and　away　from　here
　
　On　the　top　floor；　at　last；　she　peeked　her　head　around　the　door；　looking　up　and　down　the　hall　that　ran　past　Princess　Violet's　room。　The　hall　was　empty。　Tiptoeing　across　the　carpet　with　the　pictures　of　the　boats　on　it；　she　reached　the　entryway　set　back　from