tg.wizardfirstrule-第91部分

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　〃Denna！〃　It　was　the　Queen；　at　the　head　of　her　advisors。
　
　〃Mistress　Denna；〃　she　corrected。
　
　The　Queen　looked　to　be　in　a　foul　mood。　〃Where　do　you　think　you　are　going　with　him？〃
　
　〃That　is　none　of　your　concern。　It　is　time　we　were　on　our　way。　How　is　the　Princess？〃
　
　The　Queen　glowered。　〃We　don't　know　if　she　will　live。　I　will　be　taking　the　Seeker。　He　is　to　pay。〃
　
　〃The　Seeker　is　the　property　of　myself　and　of　Master　Rahl。　He　is　being　punished；　and　will　continue　to　be　punished　until　either　Master　Rahl；　or　myself；　kills　him。　There　is　nothing　you　could　do　to　him　that　could　equal　what　is　already　being　done。〃
　
　〃He　is　to　be　executed。　Right　now。〃
　
　Denna's　voice　was　as　cold　as　the　night　air。　〃Go　back　to　your　castle；　Queen　Milena；　while　you　still　have　a　castle：〃
　
　Richard　saw　a　knife　in　the　Queen's　hand。　The　guard　standing　next　to　him　unhooked　his　battle…axe；　gripping　it　tightly　in　his　fist。　There　was　a　crystal　clear　moment　of　silence
　
　The　Queen　backhanded　Denna　and　lunged　with　the　knife　for　Richard。　Denna　effortlessly　caught　her　with　the　Agiel　against　her　large　chest。
　
　As　the　guard　went　past　him；　raising　the　axe　to　Denna；　the　strange　power　roared　awake。　Richard　summoned　all　his　strength；　became　one　with　the　power。　He　hooked　his　left　arm　around　the　guard's　throat　and　drove　his　knife　home。　Denna　gave　a　casual　glance　back　as　the　man　let　out　a　death　scream。　She　smiled；　and　her　eyes　glided　back　to　the　Queen；　who　stood　shaking；　paralyzed　in　place；　the　Agiel　between　her　breasts。　Denna　gave　a　twist　to　the　Agiel。　The　Queen　dropped　straight　down　in　a　heap。
　
　Denna　turned　her　glare　to　the　Queen's　advisors。　〃The　Queen's　heart　has　given　out。〃　She　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃Unexpectedly。　Please　express　my　condolence　to　the　people　of　Tamarang　on　the　death　of　their　ruler。　I　would　suggest　you　find　a　new　ruler　who　is　more　attentive　to　the　wishes　of　Master　Rahl。〃
　
　They　all　gave　a　quick　bow。　The　awakened　power　flickered　and　was　gone。　The　effort　of　stopping　the　guard　had　taken　all　the　strength　Richard　had　left。　His　shaking　legs　would　no　longer　hold　him。　The　ground　tilted　and　came　up　to　meet　him。
　
　Denna　grabbed　his　chair　near　the　collar；　raising　his　head　off　the　ground。　〃I　didn't　tell　you　to　lie　down！　You　were　not　given　permission！　On　your　feet！〃
　
　He　couldn't　move。　She　drove　the　Agiel　into　his　stomach；　dragged　it　up　his　chest；　to　his　throat。　Richard　convulsed　in　pain；　but　could　not　make　his　body　respond　to　her　wishes。
　
　〃Sorry　。　。　。〃　he　breathed。
　
　She　let　his　head　drop　to　the　ground　when　she　realized　he　wasn't　able　to　move　and　turned　to　the　guards。　〃Put　him　inside。〃
　
　She　climbed　in　after　him；　yelling　up　to…　the　driver　to　be　off；　and　pulled　the　door　shut。　Richard　slumped　back　as　the　carriage　jerked　ahead。
　
　〃Please；　Mistress　Denna；〃　he　said　in　a　slur；　〃forgive　me　for　letting　you　down；　for　failing　to　stand　as　you　wished。　I'm　sorry。　I　will　do　better　in　the　future。　Please　punish　me　to　teach　me　to　be　better。〃
　
　She　gripped　the　chain；　close　to　the　collar；　her　knuckles　white；　lifting　him　from　the　seat　back。　Her　lips　curled　a　sneer　over　gritted　teeth。　〃Don't　you　dare　die　on　me　now；　not　yet；　you　have　things　to　do　first。〃
　
　His　eyes　were　closed。　〃As　you　mand　。　。　。　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　She　let　go　of　the　chain；　took　his　shoulders；　laid　him　across　the　seat；　and　gave　him　a　kiss　on　his　forehead。　〃You　have　my　permission　to　rest　now；　my　love。　It's　a　long　way。　You　will　have　a　long　time　to　rest；　before　it　starts　again。〃
　
　Richard　felt　her　fingers　smoothing　his　hair　back　and　the　bouncing　of　the　carriage　as　it　sped　along　the　road；　and　fell　asleep。
　
　From　time　to　time；　he　came　partly　awake；　never　fully　conscious。　Sometimes　Denna　sat　next　to　him；　letting　him　lean　against　her　as　she　spooned　food　into　his　mouth。　Swallowing　was　painful；　almost　more　effort　than　he　could　bring　forth。　He　winced　with　each　spoonful；　his　hunger　not　sufficient　to　overe　the　pain　in　his　throat；　and　he　turned　his　head　from　the　spoon。　Denna　murmured　encouragement　to　him；　urging　him　to　eat　for　her。　Doing　it　for　her　was　the　only　thing　he　responded　to。
　
　Whenever　a　bump　in　the　road　brought　him　awake　suddenly；　he　would　clutch　at　her　for　protection；　safety；　until　she　told　him　it　was　nothing；　and　to　go　back　to　sleep。　He　knew　that　sometimes　he　slept　on　the　ground；　sometimes　in　the　carriage。　He　saw　nothing　of　the　countryside　they　traveled　through；　nor　did　he　care。　As　long　as　she　was　near　him；　that　was　all　that　mattered；　nothing　else　was　important；　except　being　ready　to　do　as　she　manded。　A　few　times；　he　slowly　came　awake　to　find　her　wedged　into　the　corner　with　him　stretched　out；　his　cloak　tucked　around　him；　his　head　on　her　breast；　as　she　stroked　his　hair。　When　it　happened；　he　tried　not　to　let　her　know　he　was　awake；　so　she　wouldn't　stop。
　
　When　this　happened；　and　he　felt　the　warm　fort　of　her；　he　also　felt　the　power　in　him　e　awake。　He　didn't　try　to　reach　it；　to　hold　it；　he　only　noted　it。　One　time　when　it　happened；　he　recognized　it；　knew　what　it　was。　It　was　the　magic　of　the　sword。
　
　As　he　lay　against　her；　feeling　the　need　of　her；　the　magic　stood　within　him。　He　touched　it；　fondled　it；　felt　its　power。　It　was　like　the　power　he　had　called　forth　when　he　was　going　to　kill　with　the　sword；　but　different　in　a　way　he　couldn't　understand。　The　power　he　had　known　before；　he　could　no　longer　feel。　Denna　had　that　power　now；　but　this　she　didn't。　When　he　tried　to　grasp　the　magic；　it　vanished；　like　vapor。　A　dim　part　of　his　mind　wanted　its　help；　but　since　he　couldn't　control　it；　call　it　forth　to　aid　him；　he　lost　interest　in　it。
　
　As　the　time　passed；　his　wounds　began　healing　over。　Each　time　he　came　awake　he　was　a　little　more　alert。　By　the　time　Denna　announced　that　they　had　arrived　at　their　destination；　he　was　able　to　stand　by　himself；　although　he　was　still　not　pletely　clearheaded。
　
　In　the　darkness；　she　led　him　from　the　carriage。　He　watched　her　feet　as　she　walked；　keeping　the　proper　slack　in　the　chain　attached　to　her　belt。　Even　though　he　kept　his　eyes　on　her；　he　still　noticed　the　place　they　were　entering。　It　was　immense；　dwarfing　the　castle　at　Tamarang。　Walls　stretched　off　into　the　nothingness　of　the　distance；　towers　and　roofs　rose　to　dizzying　heights。　He　was　aware　enough　to　note　that　the　design　of　the　vast　structure　was　elegant　and　graceful。　It　was　imposing；　but　not　harsh；　not　forbidding。
　
　Denna　led　him　through　halls　of　polished　marble　and　granite。　Columns　held　majestic　arches　to　the　sides。　As　they　walked　on　and　on；　he　noticed　how　his　strength　had　grown。　He　wouldn't　have　been　able　to　stand　for　this　long　even　a　few　days　ago。
　
　They　saw　no　other　people。　Richard　looked　up　at　her　braid；　and　thought　about　how　pretty　her　hair　was；　how　lucky　he　was　to　have　such　a　fine　mate。　At　the　thought　of　his　caring　for　her；　the　power　rose　up。　Before　it　had　a　chance　to　fade；　the　dim；　locked…away　part　of　his　mind　grabbed　it；　held　it；　while　the　rest　of　his　mind　thought　about　his　affection　for　her。　The　realization　that　he　had　control　of　it　made　him　stop　thinking　about　her；　and　grab　the　hope　of　escape。　The　power　evaporated。
　
　His　heart　sank。　What　did　it　matter；　he　thought；　he　was　never　going　to　escape；　and　why　would　he　want　to　anyway？　He　was　Denna's　mate。　Where　would　he　go？　What　would　he　do　without　her　to　tell　him　what　to　do？
　
　Denna　went　through　a　door；　closing　it　behind　him。　A　window　with　a　pointed　top　was　trimmed　with　simple　drapes　and　open　to　the　darkness　outside。　There　was　a　bed　with　a　thick　blanket　and　fat　pillows。　The　floor　was　polished　wood。　Lamps　stood　lit　on　the　table　next　to　the　bed；　and　on　the　table　with　a　chair　on　the　other　side　of　the　room。　There　were　cabinets　of　dark　wood　built　into　one　wall　next　to　another　door。　A　stand　held　a　basin　and　pitcher
　
　Denna　unhooked　his　chain。　〃These　are　my　quarters。　Since　you　are　my　mate；　you　will　be　permitted　to　sleep　here　if　you　please　me。〃　She　hooked　the　loop　over　the　post　of　the　footboard；　snapped　her　fingers；　and　pointed　at　the　floor　at　the　foot　of　the　bed。　〃You　may　sleep　there　tonight。　On　the　floor。〃
　
　He　looked　at　the　floor。　The　Agiel　laid　on　the　top　of　his　shoulder　took　him　to　his　knees。
　
　〃I　said　on　the　floor。　Now。〃
　
　〃Yes　Mistress　Denna。　I'm　sorry　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　〃I'm　exhausted。　I　don't　want　to　hear　another　sound　out　of　you　tonight。　Understand？〃
　
　He　nodded；　afraid　to　voice　his　agreement。
　
　〃Good。〃　She　flopped　facedown　in　the　bed　and　was　asleep　in　moments。
　
　Richard　rubbed　the　hurt　in　his　shoulder。　It　had　been　a　while　since　she　had　used　the　Agiel　on　him。　At　least　she　hadn't　chosen　to　draw　blood。　Maybe；　he　reasoned；　she　didn't　want　blood　in　her　quarters。　No；　Denna　liked　his　blood。　He　lay　down　on　the　floor。　He　knew　that　tomorrow　she　was　going　to　hurt　him　some　more。　He　tried　not　to　think　about　it；　he　was　just　getting　healed　from　before。
　
　He　was　awake　before　her；　the　shock　of　being　awakened　by　the　Agiel　was　something　he　wanted　to　avoid。　A　bell　rang　with　a　long　peal。　Denna　woke；　lay　on　her　back　awhile；　saying　nothing；　then　sat　up；　checking　that　he　was　awake。
　
　〃Morning　devotions；〃　she　announced。　〃That　was　the　bell；　the　call。　After　devotions；　you　will　be　trained。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　She　hooked　his　chain　to　her　belt　and　led　him　once　more　through　the　halls　to　a　square；　open　to　the；　sky；　with　pillars　supporting　arches　on　all　four　sides。　The　center　of　the　square；　under　the　open　sky；　was　white　sand；　raked　in　concentric　lines　around　a　dark；　pitted　rock。　On　the　top　of　the　rock　was　a　bell…the　one　he　had　heard　before。　On　the　tile　floor　among　the　columns　were　people　on　their　knees；　bent　forward；　with　their　foreheads　touching　the　tile。
　
　The　people　chanted　in　unison。　〃Master　Rahl　guide　us。　Master　Rahl　teach　us。　Master　Rahl　protect　us。　In　your　light　we　thrive。　In　your　mercy　we　are　sheltered。　In　your　wisdom　we　are　humbled。　We　live　only　to　serve。　Our　lives　are　yours。〃
　
　Over　and　over　they　chanted　the　same　thing。　Denna　snapped　her　fingers；　pointing　at　the　floor。　Richard　kneeled　down；　imitating　the　others。　Denna　kneeled　next　to　him；　putting　her　forehead　to　the　tiles。　She　started　chanting　in　unison　with　the　others；　but　stopped　when　she　_　heard　he　wasn't。
　
　〃That's　two　hours。〃　She　frowned　darkly　at　him。　〃If　I　have　to　remind　you　again；　it's　six。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　He　began　chanting　along。　He　had　to　concentrate　on　a　vision　of　Denna's　braid　to　be　able　to　say　the　words　without　bringing　on　the　pain　of　the　magic。　He　wasn't　sure　how　long　the　chanting　lasted；　but　he　thought　it　was　about　two　hours。　His　back　hurt　from　bending　with　his　head　to　the　floor。　The　words　never　varied。　After　a　time　they　melted　into　the　sound　of　gibberish；　feeling　like　mush　in　his　mouth。
　
　The　bell　rang　twice；　and　the　people　rose　to　their　feet；　going　off　in　different　directions。　Denna　rose。　Richard　stayed；　where　he　was；　unsure　of　what　to　do。　He　knew　he　might　get　in　trouble　for　staying　where　he　was；　but　knew　if　he　got　up　and　wasn't　supposed　to；　the　punishment　would　be　much　worse。　He　heard　footsteps　ing　toward　them；　but　didn't　look　up。
　
　A　woman's　husky　voice　spoke。　〃Sister　Denna；　how　good　to　see　you've　returned。　D'Hara　has　been　lonely　without　you。〃
　
　D'Hara！　Through　the　fog　of　his　training；　the　word　ignited　his　thoughts。　Instantly；　he　brought　to　mind　the　vision　of　Denna's　braid；　protecting　him。
　
　〃Sister　Constance。　It's　good　to　be　home；　and　see　your　face　again。〃
　
　Richard　recognized　the　ring　of　sincerity　in　Denna's　voice。　The　Agiel　touched　the　back　of　his　neck；　taking　his　breath　away。　It　felt　as　if　a　rope　were　tightening　around　his　throat。　By　the　way　it　was　held；　he　knew　it　wasn't　Denna's。
　
　〃And　what　have　we　here？〃　Constance　asked。
　
　She　took　the　Agiel　away。　Coughing　in　pain；　Richard　gasped　for　air。　He　came　to　his　feet　when　Denna　told　him　to　do　so；　wishing　he　could　hide　behind　her。　Constance　was　a　good　head　shorter　than　Denna；　her　stout　figure　dressed　in　a　leather　outfit　like　Denna's；　only　brown。　Her　dull　brown　hair　was　done　in　a　braid；　too；　but　didn't　have　the　fullness　of　Denna's。　The　look　on　her　face　made　it　seem　she　had　just　eaten　something　she　didn't　like。
　
　Denna　gave　his　stomach　an　easy　slap　with　the　back　of　her　hand。　〃My　new　mate。〃
　
　〃Mate。〃　Constance　spat　the　word　out　as　if　it　tasted　bitter。　〃I　swear；　Denna；　I'll　never　understand　how　you　can　bear　to　take　a　mate。　The　thought　of　it　gives　me　a　stomach　ache。　So；　the　Seeker；　I　see　by　his　sword。　Quite　a　catch；　anyway。　It　must　have　been　difficult。〃
　
　Denna　smiled　smugly。　〃He　only　killed　two　of　my　men；　before　he　turned　his　magic　on　me。〃　The　look　of　shock　on　Constance's　face　made　Denna　laugh。　〃He's　from　Westland。〃
　
　Constance's　eyebrows　went　up。　〃No！〃　She　peered　into　Richard's　eyes。　〃Is　he　broken？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　Denna　said；　sighing。　〃But　he　still　gives　me　reason　to　smile。　It's　only　the　morning　devotion；　and　already　he's　earned　two　hours。〃
　
　A　grin　spread　on　Constance's　face。　〃Mind　if　I　e　along？〃
　
　Denna　gave　her　a　warm　smile。　〃You　know　that　anything　that　is　mine；　is　yours　also；　Constance。　In　fact；　you　will　be　my　second。〃
　
　Constance　seem　pleased；　and　proud。　Richard　had　to　furiously　think　of　Denna's　braid　as　the　edges　of　the　anger　burned　to　get　away　from　him。
　
　Denna　leaned　closer　to　her　friend。　〃In　fact；　for　you　only；　if　you　wish　to　borrow　him　for　a　night；　I　would　not　object。〃　Constance　stiffened　with　displeasure。　Denna　laughed。　〃Never　try；　never　know。〃
　
　Constance　scowled。　〃。‘I　will　have　my　pleasure　from　his　flesh　in　other　ways。　I'll　go　change　into　the　red；　and　meet　you　there。〃
　
　〃No　。　。　。　the　brown　is　fine；　for　now。〃　Constance　studied　her　face。　〃That's　not　like　you；　Denna。〃
　
　〃I　have　my　reasons。　Besides；　Master　Rahl　himself　sent　me　for　this　one。〃　　‘
　
　〃Master　Rahl　himself。　As　you　wish；　then。　After　all；　he　is　yours　to　do　with　as　you　will。〃
　
　The　training　room　was　a　simple　square　with　walls　and　floor　of　gray　granite　and　a　beamed　ceiling。　On　the　way　in；　Constance　tripped　him。　He　landed　on　his　face。　Before　he　could　stop　it；　the　anger　gripped　him。　She　stood　over　him；　pleased　with　herself；　watching　him　struggle　to　regain　control。
　
　Denna　attached　a　device　to　him　that　held　his　wrists　and　elbows　tightly　together　behind　his　back。　It　was　hooked　to　a　rope　that　ran　through　a　pulley　in　the　ceiling；　and　was　tied　off　at　the　wall。　She　hoisted　him　up　until　he　had　to　stand　on　his　toes　before　she　tied　the　rope　off　at　the　wall。　The　pain　in　his　shoulders　was　excruciating；　making　it　hard　to　breathe；　and　she　hadn't　even　touched　the　Agiel　to　him　yet。　He　was　helpless；　off　balance；　and　in　agony　before　she　even　started。　His　mood　sank。
　
　Denna　sat　in　a　chair　against　the　wall；　telling　Constance　to　enjoy　herself。　When　Denna　had　trained　him；　she　often　had　a　smile　on　her　face。　Constance　never　smiled　once。　She　went　about　her　work　like　an　ox　at　a　plow；　strands　of　hair　ing　loose；　and　in　no　time　her　face　was　covered　with　a　sheen　of　sweat。　She　never　varied　the　touch　of　her　Agiel。　It　was　always　the　same；　always　hard；　harsh；　angry。　Richard　didn't　have　to　anticipate；　there　was　no　pause。　She　worked　with　rhythmic　timing；　never　giving　him　a　rest。　But　she　didn't　draw　blood。　Denna　had　a　constant　smile　on　her　face　as　she　sat　with　the　chair　leaned　against　the　wall。　At　last　Constance　stopped；　Richard　panting；　groaning。
　
　〃He