tg.wizardfirstrule-第77部分

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　Richard　laughed　bitterly　through　the　tears。　〃Strike　you　dead。　That's　a　joke。　You're　all　I　have；　all　I'm　allowed　to　love。　How　could　I　kill　that？　It's　myself　I　should　kill。〃
　
　〃Don't　say　such　a　thing；〃　Zedd　whispered。　〃Richard；　I　know　how　you　feel　about　the　magic。　I　walked　away　from　it　too。　Sometimes　events　happen　that　you　have　to　deal　with。　You　are　all　I　have　left。　I　went　after　the　book　because　I　didn't　want　you　to　be　in　danger。　I　would　do　anything　to　spare　you　hurt。　But　I　cannot　spare　you　this。　We　must　stop　Darken　Rahl；　not　just　for　ourselves；　but　for　all　the　others　who　have　no　chance。〃
　
　Richard　scrubbed　his　eyes。　〃I　know。　I　won't　quit　until　it's　finished。　I　promise。　Then　maybe　I　can　give　up　the　sword；　before　it's　too　late　for　me。〃
　
　〃Go　and　get　some　sleep。　Each　day　will　get　a　little　better　for　you。　If　it's　any　consolation；　although　I　don't　know　why　Seekers　end　up　like　Samuel；　I　truly　don't　believe　it　will　happen　to　you。　But　if　it　does；　it　won't　happen　for　some　time；　and　therefore；　that　can　only　mean　you　have　defeated　Darken　Rahl；　and　all　the　people　of　the　lands　will　be　safe。　Know　that　if　it　happens　I　will　al…　ways　take　care　of　you。　If　we　can　stop　Rahl；　maybe　I　can　help　you　find　the　secret　to　turning　the　blade　white。〃
　
　Richard　nodded　and　rose　to　his　feet；　pulling　his　cloak　around　himself。　〃Thank　you；　my　friend。　Sorry　I've　been　so　hard　on　you　tonight。　I　don't　know　what's　gotten　into　me。　Maybe　the　good　spirits　have　deserted　me。　I'm　sorry　I　can't　tell　you　what　Shota　said。
　
　〃And　Zedd；　be　careful　tonight。　There's　something　out　there。　It's　been　following　us　for　days。　I　don't　know　what　it　is；　I　haven't　had　the　time　to　snap　a　circle　on　it。　But　I　don't　think　it　means　us　harm；　at　least　it　hasn't　so　far；　but　you　never　know　in　the　Midlands。〃
　
　〃I　will　be　careful。〃
　
　Richard　started　to　walk　away。　Zedd　called　his　name。　He　stopped　and　turned。
　
　〃Just　be　glad　she　cares　for　you　as　much　as　she　does。　If　she　didn't；　she　might　have　touched　you。〃
　
　Richard　stared　back　at　him　a　long　moment。　〃I'm　afraid；　in　a　way；　she　already　has。〃
　
　…＋
　
　Kahlan　picked　her　way　along　in　the　dark　among　the　rocks　and　trees；　and　found　Zedd　sitting　on　a　rock；　watching　her　e；　his　legs　crossed　under　him。
　
　〃I　would　have　e　and　woke　you　when　it　was　time；〃　he　said。
　
　She　went　and　sat　next　to　him；　hugging　her　cloak　around　herself。　〃I　know；　but　I　couldn't　sleep；　so　I　thought　I　would　e　and　sit　with　you。〃
　
　〃Did　you　bring　anything　to　eat？〃
　
　She　reached　in　her　cloak；　pulling　out　a　small　bundle。　〃Here。〃　She　smiled。　〃Some　rabbit　and　biscuits。〃
　
　While　Zedd　rubbed　his　hands　together　and　started　right　in；　she　watched　out　into　the　night；　thinking　how　to　put　the　question　she　had　e　to　ask　him。　It　didn't　take　him　long　to　finish　the　snack。
　
　〃Wonderful；　dear　one；　wonderful。　That's　all　you　brought？〃
　
　Kahlan　laughed。　〃I　also　brought　some　berries。〃　She　pulled　out　a　cloth　bundle。　〃I　thought　you　might　like　something　sweet。　Can　I　share　them　with　you？〃
　
　He　eyed　her　up　and　down。　〃I　guess　you're　small　enough；　you　couldn't　eat　that　many。〃
　
　She　laughed　again　and　took　a　small　handful　from　the　open　bundle　in　his　hands。　〃I　think　I　know　why　Richard　is　so　good　at　finding　food。　Growing　up　around　you；　he　had　to　be　good；　or　he　would　starve。〃
　
　〃I　would　never　let　him　starve；〃　he　protested。　〃I　care　for　him　too　much。〃
　
　〃I　know。　Me；　too。〃
　
　He　chewed　a　few　berries。　〃I　want　to　thank　you　for　keeping　your　word。〃
　
　〃My　word？〃
　
　Zedd　peered　up　at　her　as　he　hunched　over　the　bundle；　eating　berries　one　at　a　time。　〃Your　word　not　to　touch　him；　not　to　use　your　power　on　him。〃
　
　〃Oh。〃　She　looked　off　into　the　night；　gathering　her　courage。　〃Zedd；　you　are　the　only　wizard　left；　other　than　Giller。　I　am　the　last　Confessor。　You　have　lived　in　the　Midlands；　you　have　lived　in　Aydindril。　You　are　the　only　one　who　knows　what　it　is　like　to　be　a　Confessor。　I　tried　to　explain　it　to　Richard；　but　it　takes　a　lifetime　to　truly　understand；　and　then；　I　think　none　but　another　Confessor　or　a　wizard　can　really　understand。〃
　
　Zedd　patted　her　arm。　〃You　may　be　right。〃
　
　〃I　have　no　one。　I　can　have　no　one。　You　can't　imagine　what　that's　like。　Please；　Zedd。〃　Her　eyebrows　wrinkled　together。　〃Please；　can　you　use　your　magic　to　remove　this　from　me？　Can　you　take　the　Confessor's　magic　from　me；　and　let　me　be　a　normal　woman？〃
　
　She　felt　as　if　she　was　hanging　by　a　thin　strand　over　a　gaping；　dark；　bottomless　pit。　She　twisted　on　the　end　of　the　strand　while　she　watched　his　eyes。
　
　His　head　bent。　He　didn't　look　up。　〃There　is　only　one　way　to　release　you　from　the　magic；　Mother　Confessor。〃
　
　Her　heart　leapt　into　her　throat。　〃How？〃　she　whispered。
　
　His　eyes　came　to　hers。　They　were　filled　with　pain。　〃I　could　kill　you。〃
　
　She　felt　the　strand　of　hope　break。　She　put　all　her　effort　to　making　her　face　show　nothing；　a　Confessor's　face；　as　she　felt　herself　disappearing　down　into　the　blackness。　〃Thank　you；　wizard　Zorander；　for　hearing　my　request。　I　didn't　really　think　there　was；　I　just　thought　I　would　ask。　I　appreciate　your　honesty。　You　better　go　get　some　sleep　now。〃
　
　He　nodded。　〃First；　you　must　tell　me　what　Shota　said。〃
　
　She　maintained　her　expression。　〃Ask　the　Seeker。　It　is　to　him　she　spoke；　I　was　covered　with　snakes　at　the　time。〃
　
　〃Snakes。〃　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃Shots　must　have　liked　you。　I　have　seen　her　do　worse。〃
　
　Kahlan　held　his　eyes。　〃She　did　worse　to　me；　too。〃
　
　〃I　asked　Richard。　He　won't　tell　me。　You　must。〃
　
　〃You　would　have…　me　step　between　two　friends？　You　would　ask　me　to　betray　his　trust？　No；　thank　you。〃
　
　〃Richard　is　smart；　perhaps　the　smartest　Seeker　I　have　ever　seen；　but　he　knows　very　little　of　the　Midlands。　He　has　seen　only　a　tiny　portion　of　it。　In　some　ways　it's　his　best　defense　and　strongest　asset。　He　found　where　the　last　box　is　by　going　to　Shota。　No　Seeker　from　the　Midlands　would　have　done　that。　You　have　spent　your　whole　life　here；　you　know　many　of　the　dangers。　There　are　creatures　here　who　could　use　the　magic　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　against　him。　There　are　creatures　who　would　suck　the　magic　from　him　and　kill　him　with　it。　There　are　dangers　of　every　kind。　We　don't　。have　the　time　to　teach　him　all　he　needs　to　know；　so　we　must　protect　him；　so　he　can　do　his　job。　I　must　know　what　Shota　said　so　I　can　judge　if　it's　important；　if　we　need　to　protect　him。〃
　
　〃Zedd；　please；　he　is　my　only　friend。　Don't　ask　me　to　betray　his　trust。〃
　
　〃Dear　one；　he　is　not　your　only　friend。　I'm　your　friend　too。　Help　me　protect　him。　I　will　keep　it　from　him　that　you　told　me。〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　meaningful　glare。　〃He　has　an　uncanny　way　of　finding　out　things　you　wish　him　not　to　know。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　a　knowing　smile　at　that；　then　his　face　hardened。　〃Mother　Confessor；　this　is　not　a　request；　this　is　an　order。　I　expect　you　to　treat　it　as　such。〃
　
　Kahlan　folded　her　arms；　half　turning　away　from　him　as　she　bristled。　She　could　hardly　believe　he　was　doing　this　to　her。　She　no　longer　had　a　say　in　the　matter。　〃Shots　said　Richard　was　the　only　one　who　has　a　chance　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　She　doesn't　know　how；　or　why；　but　he　is　the　only　one　with　a　chance。〃
　
　Zedd　waited　in　silence。　〃Go　on。〃
　
　Kahlan　gritted　her　teeth。　〃She　said　you　would　try　to　kill　him；　that　you　would　use　wizard's　fire　against　him；　and　that　he　has　a　chance　to　beat　you。　There　is　a　chance　you　will　fail。〃
　
　Silence　settled　around　them　again。　〃Mother　Confessor　。　。　。〃
　
　〃She　said　that　I　too　will　use　my　power　on　him。　But　he　has　no　chance　against　it。　If　I　live；　I　will　not　fail。〃
　
　Zedd　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　see　why　he　didn't　want　to　tell　me。〃　He　thought　in　silence　a　moment。　〃Why　didn't　Shota　kill　you？〃
　
　Kahlan　wished　he　would　stop　asking　questions。　She　turned　back　to　him。　〃She　planned　on　it。　You　were　there。　Well；　it　wasn't　really　you；　it　was　just　an　illusion；　but　we　thought　it　was　you。　You；　I　mean；　your　image；　tried　to　kill　Shota。　Richard　knew　she　was　the　only　way　to　find　the　box；　so　he；　well；　he　protected　her。　He　。　。　。　well；　he　turned　back　your　wizard's　fire；　and　gave　Shota　a　chance　to　。　。　。　to　use　her　power　on　you。〃
　
　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃Really　。　。　。
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　〃In　return　for　‘saving'　her；　she　granted　him　a　wish。　He　used　it　to　save　us。　He　made　her　spare　our　lives。　Richard　wouldn't　back　down。　Shota　was　not　happy。　She　said　that　if　he　ever　es　back　to　Agaden　Reach；　she　will　kill　him。〃
　
　〃That　boy　never　fails　to　amaze　me。　He　really　picked　the　information　over　my　life？〃
　
　She　was　a　little　surprised　by　his　smile。　She　nodded。　〃He　jumped　right　in　front　of　the　wizard's　fire。　He…used　his　sword　to　turn　it　away。〃
　
　Zedd　rubbed　his　chin。　〃How　wondrous：　That's　precisely　what　he　should　have　done。　I　had　always　feared　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　do　what　was　necessary；　if　it　came　right　down　to　it。　I　guess　I　need　fear　no　longer。　Then　what？〃
　
　Kahlan　looked　down　at　her　hands。　〃I　Wanted　Shota　to　kill　me；　but　she　wouldn't；　because　she　had　granted　him　the　wish。　Zedd；　I　。　。　。　I　couldn't　stand　the　thought　of　doing　that　to　him。　I　begged　him　to　kill　me。　I　didn't　want　to　live　to　carry　out　the　prophecy；　to　hurt　him。〃
　
　She　paused；　and　for　a　moment　silence　hung　between　them
　
　〃He　wouldn't　do　it。　So　I　tried　to。　For　days　I　tried。　He　took　my　knife　away；　he　tied　me　up　at　night；　he　watched　me　every　second。　I　felt　like　I　had　lost　my　mind。　Maybe　for　a　time；　I　had。　At　last；　he　convinced　me　that　we　couldn't　know　what　the　prophecy　meant；　or　even　that　it　wasn't　he　who　would　turn　against　us；　and　would　have　to　be　killed　in　order　to　defeat　Darken　Rahl。　He　made　me　see　that　I　couldn't　act　on　a　prophecy　we　didn't　yet　understand。〃
　
　〃I'm　very　sorry；　dear　one；　that　I　had　to　make　you　tell　me；　and　for　what　you　two　have　been　through。　But　Richard　is　right。　Prophecies　are　dangerous　things　to　take　too　seriously。〃
　
　〃But　a　witch　woman's　prophecies　are　always　true；　aren't　they
　
　〃Yes。〃　He　shrugged　as　he　spoke　softly。　〃But　not　always　in　the　way　。you　think。　Sometimes；　prophecies　can　even　be　self　fulfilling。〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　puzzled　look。　〃Really？〃
　
　〃Sure。　Just　imagine；　for　the　sake　of　illustration；　that　I　tried　to　kill　you　because　I　wanted　to　protect　Richard；　from　this　prophecy　ing　true。　He　sees　this；　we　fight；　one　of　us　wins；　say　it's　him。　That　part　of　the　prophecy　is　fulfilled；　so　he　fears　the　other　part　will　be　too；　and　thinks　he　must　kill　you。　You　don't　want　to　be　killed；　so　you　touch　him　to　protect　yourself。　There　you　have　it；　prophecy　fulfilled。
　
　〃The　problem　is；　it's　a　self…fulfilling　prophecy。　Without　it；　none　of　these　things　would　have　happened。　There　was　no　outside　influence　other　than　the　prophecy。　Prophecies　are　always　true；　but　we　seldom　know　how。〃　He　gave　her　a　look　as　if　asking　of　she　understood。
　
　〃I　always　thought　prophecies　were　to　be　taken　seriously。〃
　
　〃They　are；　but　only　by　those　who　understand　such　things；　prophecies　are　dangerous。　The　wizards　guard　books　of　prophecies；　as　you　know。　When　I　was　at　my　Keep；　I　reread　some　of　the　pertinent　books。　But　I　don't　understand　most　of　them。　There　used　to　be　wizards　who　did　nothing　else　but　study　the　books　of　prophecies。　There　are　prophecies　in　them　I　have　read　that　would　scare　you　blind；　if　you　knew　them。　They　sometimes　make　even　me　wake　at　night　in　a　sweat。　There　are　things　in　them　I　think　might　be　about　Richard；　that　frighten　me；　and　there　are　things　in　them　I　know　are　about　Richard；　but　I　don't　know　what　they　will　turn　out　to　mean；　and　I　dare　not　act　on　what　I　have　read。　We　can't　always　know　what　the　prophecies　mean；　and　so　they　must　be　kept　secret。　Some　of　these　could　cause　great　trouble　if　people　heard　them。〃
　
　Kahlan's　eyes　were　wide。　〃Richard　is　in　the　books　of　prophecies？　I　have　never　met　anyone　before　who　was　in　the　books。〃
　
　He　gave　her　an　even　gaze。　〃You　are　in　the　books　too。〃
　
　〃Me！　My　name　is　in　the　books　of　prophecies！〃
　
　〃Well；　yes　and　no。　That's　not　how　it　works。　You　seldom　know　for　sure。　But　in　this　case；　I　do。　It　says　things　like；　‘The　last　Mother　Confessor'　this；　and　‘The　last　Mother　Confessor'　that；　but　there　can　be　no　doubt　who　the　last　Mother　Confessor　is。　It　is　you；　Kahlan。　There　can　also　be　no　doubt　who　‘the　Seeker　who　mands　the　wind　against　the　heir　to　D'Hara'　is。　It　is　Richard。　Heir　to　D'Hara　is　Rahl。〃
　
　〃mands　the　wind！　What　does　that　mean？〃
　
　〃I　haven't　the　slightest　idea。〃
　
　Kahlan　frowned　and　looked　down　as　she　picked　at　the　rock。　〃Zedd；　what　does　it　say　about　me　in　the　books　of　prophecies？〃
　
　He　was　watching　her　when　her　eyes　came　back　up。　〃I'm　sorry；　dear　one；　I　can't　tell　you　that。　You　would　be　too　frightened　to　ever　sleep　again。〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃I　feel　very　foolish　now；　for　wanting　to　kill　myself　because　of　Shota's　prophecy。　To　keep　it　from　ing　true；　I　mean。　You　must　think　me　stupid。〃
　
　〃Kahlan；　until　it　es　to　be；　we　can't　know。　But　you　shouldn't　feel　foolish。　It　could　be　that　it's　just　as　it　says；　that　Richard　is　the　only　one　with　a　chance；　and　you　will　betray　us；　and　take　him；　and　thus　give　victory　to　Rahl。　There　is　a　chance　you　should　have　done　it　to　save　us　all。〃
　
　〃You　are　not　making　me　feel　any　better。〃
　
　〃It　could　also　be　that　Richard　will　somehow　be　a　traitor；　and　you　will　save　us　all。〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　dark　look。　〃Either　way；　I　don't　like　it。〃
　
　〃Prophecies　are　not　meant　for　people　to　see。　They　can　cause　more　trouble　than　you　could　believe；　there　have　been　wars　over　them。　Even　I　don't　understand　most　of　them。　If　we　had　the　wizards　of　old；　the　experts　in　the　prophecies；　maybe　they　could　help　us；　but　without　them　to　guide　us；　it　is　best　to　leave　Shota's　prophecy　be。　The　first　page　of　one　of　the　books　of　prophecies　says：　‘Take　these　Prophecies　to　mind；　not　to　heart。'　It　is　the　only　thing　on　the　whole　page；　in　a　book　half　as　big　as　a　good…size　table。　Each　letter　is　gilded。　It　is　that　important。
　
　〃The　prophecy　from　Shota　is　different　somehow；　from　those　in　books；　isn't　it？〃
　
　〃Yes。　Prophecy　given　directly　from　one　to　another；　is　meant　to　be　an　aid　to　that　person。　Shota　was　trying　to　help　Richard。　Shota　herself　wouldn't　even　know　how　it　is　meant　to　help；　though；　she　was　only　the　channel。　Someday；　it　may　mean　something　to　Richard；　it　may　aid　him。　There　is　no　way　to　tell；　though：　I　was　hoping　I　would　be　able　to　understand　it；　and　help　him。　He　doesn't　take　to　riddles。　Unfortunately；　it　is　of　the　kind　called　a　Forked　Prophecy；　and　I　can　be　of　no　aid。〃
　
　〃Forked；　that　means　it　can　go　different　ways？〃
　
　〃Yes。　It　could　mean　what　it　says；　or　just　about　anything　else。　Forked　Prophecies　are　almost　always　useless。　Hardly　better　than　a　guess。　Richard　was　right　in　his　choice　not　to　be　guided　by　it。　I　would　like　to　think　it's　because　I　have　taught　him　well；　but　it　could　be　his　instinct。　He　had　the　instincts　of　a　Seeker。〃
　
　〃Zedd；　why　don't　you　just　tell　him　these　things；　like　you　have　told　me？　Doesn't　he　have　a　right　to　know　all　this？〃
　
　Zedd　stared　off　into　the　night　for　a　long　time。　〃It's　difficult　to　explain。　You　see；　Richard　has　a　feel　for　things。〃　He　made　an　odd　frown。　〃Have　you　ever　shot　a　bow？〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled。　She　drew　her　knees　up；　folded　her　fingers　together　over　them；　and　rested　her　chin　on　her　fingers。　〃Girls　are　not　supposed　to　do　such　things。　So　I　took　it　up　as　a　diversion　when　I　was　young。　Before　I　bega