tg.wizardfirstrule-第9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！


d　by　how　quickly　the　underworld　had　pulled　her　back。　He　didn't　think　that　was　supposed　to　happen。　She　hadn't　been　there　long；　and　exactly　how　he　had　gotten　her　back；　he　didn't　know；　but　he　knew　it　had　been　none　too　soon。
　
　The　fire　lent　a　soft　red　cast　to　the　inside　of　the　wayward　pine；　and　in　the　silence　it　seemed　a　secure　haven　again。　An　illusion；　he　knew。　He　held　her　and　stroked　her　hair　and　rocked　her　gently　for　a　long　time。　Something　in　the　way　she　clung　to　him　made　him　realize　that　no　one　had　held　her　and　forted　her　for　a　very　long　time。
　
　He　didn't　know　anything　about　wizards；　or　magic；　but　no　one　would　send　Kahlan　through　the　boundary；　through　the　underworld；　without　a　powerful　reason。　He　wondered　what　could　be　that　important。
　
　Pushing　herself　off　his　shoulder；　she　sat　up；　embarrassed。　〃I'm　sorry。　I　should　not　have　touched　you　in　that　manner。　I　was　。　。　。〃
　
　〃It's　all　right；　Kahlan。　It　is　the　first　responsibility　of　a　friend　to　provide　a　shoulder　to　cry　on。〃
　
　She　nodded　but　didn't　raise　her　head。　Richard　felt　her　eyes　on　him　as　he　took　the　soup　off　the　fire　to　let　it　cool　a　little。　He　put　another　piece　of　wood　into　the　flames；　sending　sparks　swirling　up　with　the　smoke。
　
　〃How　do　you　do　that？〃　she　asked　in　a　soft　voice。
　
　〃Do　what？〃
　
　〃How　do　you　ask　questions　that　fill　my　mind　with　pictures　and　make　me　answer；　even　when　I　have　no　intention　to？〃
　
　He　shrugged；　a　little　self…conscious。　〃Zedd　asks　me　that　too。　I　guess　it's　just　something　I　was　born　with。　Sometimes　I　think　it's　a　curse。〃　He　turned　from　the　fire　to　face　her　again。　〃I'm　sorry；　Kahlan；　for　asking　you　what　you　saw　there。　It　was　a　thoughtless　thing　to　do。　Sometimes　my　mon　sense　doesn't　keep　up　with　my　curiosity。　I'm　sorry　I　brought　you　pain。　You　being　pulled　back　into　the　underworld；　though；　that　shouldn't　have　happened；　should　it？〃
　
　〃No；　it　shouldn't。　It　was　almost　as　if　when　I　thought　back　to　what　I　had　seen；　someone　was　waiting　to　pull　me　back。　I　fear　if　you　hadn't　been　here；　I　might　have　been　lost　there。　In　the　darkness；　I　saw　a　light。　Something　you　did　brought　me　back。〃
　
　Richard　picked　up　the　spoon　while　he　thought。　〃Maybe　just　that　you　weren't　alone。〃
　
　Kahlan　gave　a　weak　shrug。　〃Maybe。〃
　
　〃I　only　have　one　spoon。　We　can　share　it。〃　He　took　a　spoonful　of　soup　and　blew　on　it　before　tasting　it。　〃Not　my　best　work；　but　it's　better　than　a　poke　in　the　eye　with　a　sharp　stick。〃　That　had　the　desired　effect：　she　smiled。　He　gave　her　the　spoon。
　
　〃If　I'm　to　help　you　to　stay　ahead　of　the　next　quad；　to　stay　alive；　I　need　answers。　And　I　don't　think　we　have　much　time。〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃I　understand。　It's　all　right。〃
　
　He　let　her　eat　some　soup　before　he　went　on。　〃So　what　happened　after　the　boundaries　went　up？　What　about　the　great　wizard？〃
　
　Before　handing　him　the　spoon　she　took　a　piece　of　sausage。　〃One　more　thing　happened　before　they　went　up。　While　the　great　wizard　was　holding　the　magic　at　bay；　Panis　Rahl　took　a　final　revenge。　He　sent　a　quad　out　of　D'Hara　。　。　。　。　They　killed　the　wizard's　wife；　and　his　daughter。〃
　
　Richard　stared　at　her。　〃What　did　the　wizard　do　to　Rahl？〃
　
　〃He　held　Rahl's　magic　back　and　held　him　in　D'Hara　until　just　as　the　boundary　was　going　up。　At　that　very　moment　he　sent　a　ball　of　wizard's　fire　through　it；　letting　it　touch　death；　to　give　it　the　power　of　both　worlds。　Then　the　boundaries　were　there。〃
　
　Richard　had　never　heard　of　wizard's　fire；　but　he　didn't　think　it　required　an　explanation。　〃So　what　happened　to　Panis　Rahl？〃
　
　〃Well；　the　boundaries　were　there；　so　no　one　can　say　for　sure；　but　I　don't　think　anyone　would　have　traded　their　lot　for　that　of　Panis　Rahl。〃
　
　Richard　gave　her　the　spoon；　and　she　ate　some　more　while　he　tried　to　imagine　the　righteous　wrath　of　a　wizard。　After　a　few　bites　she　gave　back　the　spoon　and　continued。
　
　〃At　first　everything　was　fine；　but　then　the　council　of　the　Mid　lands　started　taking　actions　the　great　wizard　said　were　corrupt。　Something　to　do　with　the　magic。　He　found　out　the　council　had　reneged　on　agreements　about　how　the　power　of　magic　was　to　be　controlled。　He　told　them　that　their　greed　and　the　things　they　were　doing　would　lead　to　worse　horrors　than　those　put　down　in　the　wars。　They　thought　they　knew　better　than　he　how　the　magic　should　be　managed。　They　made　a　political　appointment　of　a　very　important　position　that　was　a　wizard's　and　a　wizard's　alone　to　fill。　He　was　furious；　he　told　them　the　position　was　one　for　which　only　a　wizard　could　find　the　right　person；　and　the　appointment　only　a　wizard's　to　make。　The　great　wizard　had　trained　other　wizards；　but　in　their　greed；　these　others　sided　with　the　council。　He　was　enraged。　He　said　his　wife　and　daughter　had　died　for　nothing。　As　punishment；　the　great　wizard　told　them　he　would　do　the　worst　thing　possible　to　them；　he　would　leave　them　to　suffer　the　consequences　of　their　actions。〃
　
　Richard　smiled。　That　sounded　like　something　Zedd　would　say。
　
　〃He　said　that　if　they　knew　so　well　how　things　were　to　be　done；　they　did　not　need　him。　He　refused　to　help　them　further；　and　vanished。　But　as　he　left；　he　cast　a　wizard's　web　。　。　。〃
　
　〃What's　that；　a　wizard's　web？〃
　
　〃It　is　a　spell　a　wizard　casts。　As　he　left；　he　cast　a　wizard's　web　over　everyone；　making　them　forget　his　name；　even　what　he　looked　like。　So　that　is　why　no　one　knows　what　his　name　is　or　who　he　is。〃
　
　Kahlan　tossed　a　stick　in　the　fire；　staring　off　into　her　thoughts。　He　went　back　to　eating　soup　while　he　waited　for　her　go　on　with　the　story。　After　a　few　minutes；　she　did。
　
　〃At　the　beginning　of　last　winter；…the　movement　started。〃
　
　He　backed　the　spoonful　of　soup　away　from　his　mouth　as　he　looked　up。　〃What　movement？〃
　
　〃The　Darken　Rahl　movement。　It　seemed　to　spring　up　out　of　nowhere。　All　of　a　sudden　crowds　of　people　in　the　bigger　cities　were　chanting　his　name；　calling　him　‘Father　Rahl；'　calling　him　the　greatest　man　of　peace　that　ever　lived。　The　strange　thing　is；　he　is　the　son　of　Panis　Rahl；　from　D'　Hara；　on　the　other　side　of　the　boundary；　so　how　did　anyone　even　know　anything　about　him？〃　She　paused；　allowing　him　to　ponder　the　significance　of　this。
　
　〃Anyway；　then　the　gars　started　ing　over　the　boundary
　
　They　killed　a　lot　of　people　before　everyone　learned　to　stay　inside　at　night。〃
　
　〃But　how　did　they　get　across　the　boundary？〃
　
　〃It　was　weakening；　only　no　one　knew　it。　As　it　weakened；　it　faded　from　the　top　first；　so　the　gars　could　fly　over。　In　the　spring　it　faded　pletely　away。　Then　the　People's　Peace　Army；　Darken　Rahl's　army；　marched　right　into　the　bigger　cities。　Instead　of　fighting　him；　crowds　of　Midlanders　threw　flowers　at　them　wherever　they　went。　People　who　didn't　throw　flowers　were　hung。〃
　
　Richard　stared　wide…eyed。　〃The　army　killed　them？〃
　
　She　looked　at　him　hard。　〃No。　The　flower　throwers　did。　Said　they　were　a　threat　to　peace；　so　they　killed　them。　The　People's　Peace　Army　never　had　to　lift　a　finger。　The　movement　said　that　proved　Darken　Rahl　only　wanted　peace；　since　his　army　didn't　kill　the　dissenters。　After　a　time；　the　army　stepped　in　and　stopped　the　killing。　Instead；　the　dissenters　were　sent　to　the　schools　of　enlightenment　to　learn　about　the　greatness　of　Father　Rahl；　about　what　a　man　of　peace　he　is。〃
　
　〃And　did　they　learn　at　these　schools　of　enlightenment　how　great　Darken　Rahl　is？〃
　
　〃No　one　is　as　fanatical　as　a　convert。　Most　just　sit　around　all　day；　chanting　his　name。〃
　
　〃So　the　Midlands　didn't　fight　back？〃
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　went　before　the　council　and'　asked　them　to　join　him　in　an　alliance　of　peace。　Those　who　did　were　held　up　as　champions　of　harmony。　Those　who　did　not　were　held　up　as　traitors；　and　publicly　executed　on　the　spot　by　Darken　Rahl　himself。〃
　
　〃How　did　。　。　。
　
　She　held　up　her　hand　and　closed　her　eyes。　〃Darken　Rahl　has　a　curved　knife　he　keeps　at　his　belt。　He　takes　great　pleasure　in　using　it。　Please；　Richard；　do　not　ask　me　to　tell　you　what　he　did　to　those　men。　My　stomach　cannot　bear　its　recounting。〃
　
　〃I　was　going　to　ask　how　the　wizards　reacted　to　all　this。〃
　
　〃Oh。　Well；　it　started　to　open　their　eyes。
　
　〃Rahl　then　outlawed　the　use　of　all　magic　and　declared　anyone　using　it　an　insurrectionist。　You　must　understand　that　in　the　Midlands　magic　is　a　part　of　many　people；　many　creatures。　It　would　
　
　be　like　saying　you　are　a　criminal　for　having　two　arms　and　two　legs；　and　must　have　them　cut　them　off。　Then　he　outlawed　fire。〃
　
　His　eyes　came　up　from　the　soup。　〃Fire？　Why？〃
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　does　not　explain　his　orders。　But　wizards　use　fire。　Even　so　he　does　not　fear　wizards。　He　has　more　power　than　his　father　ever　did；　more　than　any　wizard。　His　followers　give　all　kinds　of　reasons；　the　main　one　being　that　it　was　used　against　Darken　Rahl's　father；　so　fire　is　a　sign　of　disrespect　to　the　house　of　Rahl。〃
　
　〃That's　why　you　wanted　to　sit　in　front　of　a　fire。〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃To　have　a　fire　in　the　wrong　place　in　the　Midlands；　without　the　approval　of　Darken　Rahl　or　his　followers；　is　to　invite　death。〃　She　pushed　at　the　dirt　with　a　stick。　〃Maybe　in　Westland；　too。　Your　brother　seems　close　to　outlawing　fire。　Maybe　。　。　。〃
　
　He　cut　her　off。　〃Our　mother　was　burned　to　death　in　a　fire。〃　His　tone　was　a　hot　warning。　〃That's　why　Michael　is　concerned　about　fire。　That's　the　only　reason。　And　he　never　said　anything　about　outlawing　it；　only　that　he　wanted　to　do　something　so　others　wouldn't　be　hurt　like　she　was。　There's　nothing　wrong　with　wanting　people　。not　to　be　hurt。〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　him　from　under　her　eyebrows。　〃He　didn't　seem　to　care　about　hurting　you。〃
　
　Richard　let　his　anger　die　as　he　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I　know　it　seemed　that　way；　but　you　don't　understand　him。　That's　just　his　way。　I　know　it　isn't　his　intention　to　hurt　me。〃　Richard　pulled　his　knees　up　and　folded　his　arms　across　them。。　〃After　our　mother　died；　Michael　spent　more　and　more　time　with　his　friends。　He　would　make　friends　with　anyone　he　thought　was　important。　Some　of　them　were　pompous　and　arrogant。　Father　didn't　like　some　of　Michael's　friends；　and　told　him　so。　They　would　argue　about　it。
　
　〃One　time　Father　came　home　with　a　vase　that　had　these　little　figures　sculpted　around　the　top；　like　they　were　dancing　on　the　rim。　He　was　proud　of　it。　He　said　it　was　old；　and　he　thought　he　could　get　a　gold　piece　for　it。　Michael　said　he　could　get　more。　They　argued；　and　finally　Father　let　Michael　take　the　vase　to　sell。　Michael　came　back　and　threw　four　gold　pieces　on　the　table。　My　father　just　stared　at　them　for　the　longest　time。　Then　he　said；　in　a　real　quiet　voice；　that　the　vase　wasn't　worth　four　gold　pieces；　and　wanted　to　know　what　Michael　had　told　the　people。　Michael　said　he　told　them　what　they　wanted　to　hear。　Father　reached　out　to　pick　up　the　four　coins；　and　Michael　slapped　his　hand　over　them。　He　picked　up　three　and　said　only　one　was　for　my　father；　because　one　was　all　he　expected　to　get。　Then　he　said；　‘That　is　the　value　of　my　friends；　George。'
　
　〃Mat　was　the　first　time　Michael　called　him　'George。'　My　father　never　let　him　sell　anything　for　him　again。
　
　〃But　do　you　know　what　Michael　did　with　the　money？　The　next　time　my　father　left　on　a　trip；　he　paid　off　most　of　the　family　debts。　He　didn't　even　buy　anything　for　himself。
　
　〃Sometimes　Michael　is　crude　in　the　way　he　does　things；　like　today　when　he　told　everyone　about　our　mother；　and　pointed　at　me；　but　I　know　。　。　。　I　know　that　he　has　everyone's　best　interests　at　heart。　He　doesn't　want　anyone　hurt　by　fire。　That's　all；　he　just　doesn't　want　anyone　to　go　through　what　we　did。　He　is　only　trying　to　do　what　is　best　for　everyone。〃
　
　Kahlan　didn't　look　up。　She　pushed　at　the　dirt　a　moment　more　and　then　tossed　the　stick　in　the　fire。　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard。　I　shouldn't　be　so　suspicious。　I　know　how　much　it　hurts　to　lose　your　mother。　I'm　sure　you're　right。〃　Finally；　she　looked　up。　〃Forgive　me？〃
　
　Richard　smiled　and　gave　her　a　nod。　〃Of　course。　I　guess　if　I　had　been　through　all　you　have；　I　would　be　quick　to　think　the　worst；　too。　I'm　sorry　I　jumped　on　you。　If　you　will　forgive　my　tone；　I'll　let　you　finish　the　soup。〃
　
　She　nodded　her　agreement　with　a　smile　as　he　handed　her　the　last　of　the　soup。
　
　He　wanted　to　hear　the　rest　of　her　story；　but　he　waited　and　watched　her　eat　for　a　while　before　he　asked；　〃So　have　the　D'Haran　forces　conquered　all　of　the　Midlands？〃
　
　〃The　Midlands　is　a　big　place；　the　People's　Peace　Army　occupies　only　a　few　of　the　larger　cities。　People　in　many　areas　ignore　the　alliance。　Rahl　does　not　really　care。　He　considers　it　a　petty　problem。　His　attention　has　been　diverted　to　something　else。　The　wizards　found　out　his　real　goal　was　the　magic　the　great　wizard　had　warned　the　council　about；　the　magic　they　had　mishandled　for　their　own　avarice。　With　the　magic　Darken　Rahl　seeks；　he　will　be　master　of　all；　without　having　to　fight　anyone。
　
　〃Five　of　the　wizards　realized　they　had　been　wrong；　that　the　great　wizard　was　right　after　all。　The　sought　to　gain　redemption　in　his　eyes；　and　save　the　Midlands；　and　Westland；　from　what　will　happen　if　Darken　Rahl　gains　the　magic　he　seeks。　So　they　searched　for　the　great　wizard；　but　Rahl　hunts　him　also。〃
　
　〃You　said　five　wizards。　How　many　are　there？〃
　
　〃There　were　seven：　the　great　wizard　and　his　six　students。　The　old　one　has　vanished；　one　of　the　others　sold　his　services　to　a　queen；　a　very　dishonorable　thing　for　a　wizard　to　do。〃　She　paused；　considering　that　a　moment。　〃And　as　I　told　you　before；　the　five　others　are　dead。　Before　they　died　they　had　the　whole　of　the　Midlands　searched；　but　the　great　one　was　not　to　be　found。　He　is　not　in　the　Midlands。〃
　
　〃So　they　believed　him　to　be　in　Westland？〃
　
　Kahlan　dropped　the　spoon　in　the　empty　pot。　〃Yes。　He　is　here。〃
　
　〃And　they　thought　this　great　wizard　could　stop　Darken　Rahl；　even　though　they　could　not？〃　Something　was　wrong　with　this　story；　and　Richard　wasn't　sure　he　wanted　to　know　what　was　ing　next。
　
　〃No；〃　she　said　after　a　pause；　〃he　does　not　have　the　power　to　go　against　Darkeh　Rahl　either。　What　they　wanted；　what　we　need　to　save　and　keep　us　all　from　what　will　be；　is　for　the　great　wizard　to　make　the　appointment　only　he　can　make。〃
　
　By　the　care　with　which　she　was　choosing　her　words；　he　knew　she　was　dancing　around　secrets　he　was　not　to　ask　about；　so　he　didn't；　and　instead　asked；　〃Why　didn't　they　e　after　him　themselves；　and　ask　him　to　do　it？〃
　
　〃Because　they　feared　he　would　say　no；　and　they　did　not　have　the　power　to　force　him。〃
　
　〃Five　wizards　did　not　have　the　power　of　this　one？〃
　
　She　shook　her　head　with　a　sad　smile。　〃They　were　his　students；　ones　who　wanted　to　be　wizards。　They　were　not　born　wizards；　born　with　the　gift。　The　great　one　was　born　to　a　father　who　was　a　wizard　and　a　mother　who　was　a　sorceress。　It　is　in　his　blood；　not　just　his　head。　They　could　never　be　the　wizard　he　is。　They　simply　did　not　have　the　power　to　make　him　do　what　they　wanted。〃　She　fell　silent
　
　〃And　。　。　。〃　He　didn't　say　anything　else。　With　his　silence　he　let　her　know　his　next　question；　and　that　he　would　have　the　answer　to　it。
　
　At　last；　she　gave　him　the　answer　in　a　soft　whisper。
　
　〃And　so　they　sent　me；　because　I　do。〃
　
　The　fire　crackled　and　hissed。　He　could　feel　the　tension　in　her；　and　he　knew　she　had　gone　as　far　with　that　answer　as　she　would　on　the　subject；　so　he　remained　still　to　let　her　feel　safe。　Without　looking　over；　he　put　his