tg.wizardfirstrule-第95部分

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say。　〃It　is　my　honor　to　be　here；　Master　Rahl。　I　live　only　to　serve。　I　am　humbled　in　your　presence。〃
　
　A　small　smile　came　to　Rahl's　lips。　〃Yes；　I　am　sure　you　are。〃　He　studied　Richard's　face　for　an　unfortable　moment。　〃I　have　some　questions。　You　are　going　to　give　me　the　answers。〃
　
　Richard　felt　himself　shaking　slightly。　〃Yes；　Master　Rahl。〃
　
　〃Kneel；〃　he　said　softly。
　
　Richard　went　to　his　knees　with　the　aid　of　the　Agiel　on　his　shoulder。　Denna　stepped　behind　and　put　a　boot　to　each　side　of　him。　She　pressed　her　thighs　against　his　shoulders；　bracing　against　them　for　leverage　as　she　held　his　hair　in　her　fist。　She　pulled　his　head　back　a　little；　making　him　look　up　into　the　Master's　blue　eyes。　Richard　swallowed　in　terror。
　
　Darken　Rahl　looked　down　without　emotion。　〃You　have　seen　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　before？〃
　
　Something　powerful　in　the　back　of　his　mind　told　Richard　he　shouldn't　answer。　When　he　said　nothing；　Denna　tightened　her　grip　on　his　hair；　and　pushed　the　Agiel　against　the　base　of　his　skull。
　
　There　was　a　stunning　explosion　of　pain　in　his　head。　Denna's　grip　on　his　hair　was　all　that　kept　him　upright。　It　was　as　if　she　had　pressed　the　pain　of　an　entire　training　session　into　that　one　touch。　He　couldn't　move；　breathe；　or　even　cry　out。　He　was　beyond　being　in　pain；　the　shock　took　everything　from　him；　and　in　its　place　left　an　all…consuming　agony　of　fire　and　ice。　She　took　away　the　Agiel。　He　didn't　know　where　he　was；　who　he　was；　or　who　was　holding　him；　only　that　this　was　more　pain　than　he　had　ever　known　before；　and　that　there　was　a　man　in　front　of　him；　dressed　in　a　white　robe。
　
　Blue　eyes　looked　down　at　him。　〃You　have　seen　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　before？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　he　heard　himself　say。
　
　〃Where　is　it　now？〃
　
　Richard　hesitated。　He　didn't　know　how　to　answer；　he　didn't　know　what　the　voice　wanted。　The　pain　exploded　in　his　head　again。　When　it　stopped；　he　felt　tears　running　down　his　cheeks。
　
　〃Where　is　it　now？〃　the　voice　repeated。
　
　〃Please；　don't　hurt　me　anymore；〃　he　cried。　〃I　don't　understand　the　question。〃
　
　〃What　is　there　not　to　understand？　Simply　tell　me　where　the　book　is　now。〃
　
　〃The　book；　or　the　knowledge　of　the　book？〃　Richard　asked　fearfully。
　
　The　blue　eyes　frowned。　〃The　book。〃
　
　〃I　burned　it　in　a　fire。　Years　ago。〃
　
　Richard　thought　the　eyes　were　going　to　tear　him　apart。　〃And　where　is　the　knowledge？〃
　
　Richard　hesitated　too　long。　When　he　was　aware　again；　Denna　yanked　his　head　up　to　look　into　the　blue　eyes　again。　Richard　had　never　felt　so　alone；　so　helpless；　so　afraid。
　
　〃Where　is　the　knowledge　that　was　in　the　book？〃
　
　〃In　my　head。　Before　I　burned　the　book；　I　learned　the　words；　the　knowledge。〃
　
　The　man　stood　staring；　unmoving。　Richard　cried　softly。
　
　〃Recite　the　words　of　the　book。〃
　
　　Richard　desperately　didn't　want　the　Agiel　in　the　back　of　his　head　again。　He　shook　with　the　fear　of　it。　〃Verification　of　the　truth　of　the　words　of　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows；　if　spoken　by　another；　rather　than　read　by　the　one　who　mands　the　boxes；　can　only　be　insured　by　the　use　of　a　Confessor　。。。。〃　Confessor。
　
　Kahlan。
　
　The　name　Kahlan　went　through　Richard's　mind　like　a　bolt　of　lightning。　The　power　roared　to　life；　blasting　away　the　fog　with　the　burning；　white…hot　glare　of　his　memories。　The　door　to　the　locked　room　in　his　mind　was　flung　open。　It　all　came　back　to　him；　brought　back　by　the　power　as　it　rose　in　him。　Richard　was　one　with　the　power；　at　the　thought　of　Darken　Rahl　having　Kahlan；　hurting　her。
　
　Darken　Rahl　turned　to　the　other　men。　The　one　with　the　black　stripe　came　forward。
　
　〃You　see；　my　friend？　The　fates　work　for　me。　She　is　already　on　her　way　here　with　the　Old　One。　Find　her。　See　to　it　she　is　brought　to　me。　Take　two　quads；　but　I　want　her　alive；　do　you　understand？〃　The　man　gave　a　nod。　〃You　and　your　men　will　have　the　protection　of　my　spell。　The　Old　One　is　with　her；　but　he　will　have　no　weapon　against　an　underworld　spell；　if　he　is　even　alive　by　then。〃　Rahl's　voice　became　harder。　〃And　Demmin；　I　don't　care　what　your　men　do　to　her；　but　she　had　better　be　alive　when　she　gets　here；　and　able　to　use　her　power。〃
　
　A　little　of　the　color　left　the　man's　face。　〃I　understand。　It　will　be　done　as　you　wish；　Lord　Rahl。〃　He　bowed　deep。
　
　He　turned　and　left　after　meeting　Richard's　eyes　and　giving　a　knowing　smile。
　
　Darken　Rahl　returned　his　blue　eyes　to　Richard。　〃Continue。〃
　
　Richard　had　gone　as　far　as　he　was　going　to　go。　He　remembered　everything。
　
　It　was　time　to　die。
　
　〃I　will　not。　There　is　nothing　you　can　do　to　make　me　tell　you。　I　wele　the　pain。　I　wele　death。〃
　
　Before　the　Agiel　could　e；　Rahl's　eyes　snapped　up　to　Denna。　Richard　felt　her　fist　loosen　on　his　hair。　One　of　the　guards　marched　forward；　grabbed　her　by　the　throat　with　his　big　hand；　squeezing；　until　Richard　could　hear　her　struggling　to　breathe。
　
　Rahl　glared　at　her。　〃You　told　me　he　was　broken。〃
　
　〃He　was；　Master　Rahl。〃　She　struggled　to　speak　as　she　was　being　choked。　〃I　swear。〃
　
　〃I　am　very　disappointed　in　you；　Denna。〃
　
　As　the　man　lifted　her　feet　off　the　ground；　Richard　could　hear　her　sounds　of　pain。。　Again；　the　power　turned　white…hot　in　him。　Denna　was　being　hurt。　Before　anyone　knew　what　was　happening；　he　was　on　his　feet；　the　power　of　the　magic　raging　through　him。
　
　Richard　threw　one　arm　around　the　man's　thick　neck；　grasping　his。　opposite　shoulder。　He　grabbed　the　man's　head　with　his　other　arm　and　in　a　blink　gave　a　powerful　twist。　The　man's　neck　snapped。　He　went　down　in　a　heap。
　
　Richard　spun。　The　other　guard　was　almost　on　him；　his　hand　reaching　out。　Richard　seized　the　man's　wrist　and　used　his　advancing　weight　to　pull　his　adversary　into　the　knife。　He　drove　it　in　up　to　his　fist　and　gave　a　mighty　pull；　cutting　all　the　way　up　to　the　man's　heart　as　his　blue　eyes　went　wide　in　surprise。　His　insides　spilled　across　the　ground　when　he　hit。
　
　Richard　stood　panting　with　the　power。　Everything　in　his　peripheral　vision　was　white。　White　from　the　heat　of　the　magic。　Denna　had　her　hands　to　her　throat；　clutching　at　the　pain。
　
　Darken　Rahl　stood　calmly；　licking　the　tips　of　his　fingers　as　he　watched　Richard。
　
　Denna　brought　on　the　pain　of　the　magic　enough　to　take　Richard　to　his　knees。　He　folded　his　arms　across　his　gut。
　
　〃Master　Rahl；〃　Derma　gasped；　〃let　me　take　him　back　for　the　night。　I　swear　that　in　the　morning；　he　will　answer　anything　you　ask　him。　If　he's　still　alive。　Allow　me　to　redeem　myself。〃
　
　〃No；〃　Rahl　said；　deep　in　thought；　waving　his　hand　a　little。　〃I　apologize；　my　pet。　This　is　not　your　failing。　I　had　no　idea　what　we　were　dealing　with。　Turn　off　the　pain　in　him。〃
　
　Richard　recovered　and　returned　to　his　feet。　The　fog　had　cleared　from　his　head。　He　felt　as　if　he　were　waking　from　a　dream　only　to　find　himself　in　a　nightmare。　The　rest　of　him　was　out　of　the　little　locked　room　in　his　mind；　and　he　wasn't　putting　it　away　again。　He　would　die　with　all　of　his　mind；　his　dignity；　intact。　He　kept　the　anger　choked　off；　but　there　was　fire　in　his　eyes。　Fire　in　his　heart。
　
　〃Did　the　Old　One　teach　you　that？〃　Rahl　asked；　a　curious　frown　on　his　face。
　
　‘〃Teach　me　what？〃
　
　〃To　partition　your　mind。　That　was　how　you　kept　from　being　broken。〃
　
　〃I　don't　know　what　you're　talking　about。〃
　
　〃You　put　up　a　partition；　to　protect　the　core；　sacrificed　the　rest　to　what　would　be　done。　A　Mord…Sith　cannot　break　a　partitioned　mind。　Punish；　yes。　Break；　no。〃　He　turned　to　Denna。　〃Once　again；　I　am　sorry；　my　pet。　I　thought　you　had　failed　me。　You　have　not
　
　None　but　the　most　talented　could　have　taken　him　this　far。　You　have　done　well；　but　this　makes　matters　altogether　different。〃
　
　He　smiled；　licked　his　fingertips；　smoothed　them　over　his　eyebrows。　〃Richard　and　I　are　going　to　have　a　private　conversation　now。　While'　he　is　in　this　room　with　me；　I　wish　you　to　let　him　speak　without　the　pain　of　the　magic。　It　interferes　with　what　I　may　need　to　do。　While　he　is　here；　he　is　to　be　free　of　your　control。　You　may　return　to　your　quarters。　When　I　am　done　with　him；　and　if　he　is　still　alive；　I　will　send　him　back　to　you；　as　promised。〃
　
　Denna　bowed　deeply。　〃I　live　to　serve；　Master　Rahl。〃　。
　
　She　turned　to　Richard；　her　face　crimson；　and　put　a　finger　under　his　chin；　lifting　it　a　little。　〃Don't　disappoint　me；　my　love。〃
　
　The　Seeker　smiled。　〃Never；　Mistress　Derma。〃
　
　He　let　the　anger　rage；　just　to　feel　it　again；　as　he　watched　her　walk　away。　Rage　at　her；　and　at　what　had　been　done　to　her。　Don't　think　of　the　problem；　he　told　himself；　think　of　the　solution。　Richard　turned　to　face　Darken　Rahl。　The　other's　face　was　calm；　and　showed　nothing。　Richard　made　his　do　the　same。
　
　〃You　know　I　want　to　know　what　the　rest　of　the　book　says。〃
　
　〃Kill　me。〃
　
　Rahl　smiled。　〃So　eager　to　die；　are　we？〃
　
　〃Yes。　Kill　me。　Just　like　you　killed　my　father。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　frowned；　the　smile　still　on　his　lips。　〃Your　father？　I　have　not　killed　your　father；　Richard。〃
　
　〃George　Cypher！　You　killed　him！　Don't　try　to　deny　it！　You　killed　him　with　that　knife　at　your　belt！〃
　
　Rahl　spread　his　hands　in　mock　innocence。　〃Oh；　I　don't　deny　killing　George　Cypher。　But　I　have　not　killed　your　father。〃
　
　Richard　stood　caught　off　guard。　〃What　are　you　talking　about？〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　strolled　around　him；　watching　his　eyes　as　Richard　tried　to　follow　him　by　turning　his　head。　〃It's　quite　good。　It　really　is。　The　best　I　have　ever　seen。　Done　by　the　great　one　himself。〃
　
　〃What？〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　licked　his　fingers　and　stopped　in　front　of　him。　〃The　wizard's　web　around　you。　I've　never　seen　one　like　it。　It's　wound　around　you　tight　as　a　cocoon。　Been　there　a　good　long　time。　It's　quite　intricate；　I　don't　think　even　I　could　untangle　it。〃
　
　〃If　you　are　trying　to　convince　me　George　Cypher　is　not　my　father；　you　have　failed。　If　you　are　trying　to　convince　me　you　are　mad；　you　needn't　bother。　That　much　I　already　know。〃
　
　〃My　dear　boy；〃　Rahl　laughed；　〃I　couldn't　care　less　who　you　believe　your　father　to　be。　Nonetheless；　there　is　a　wizard's　web　hiding　the　truth　from　you。〃
　
　〃Really？　I'll　play　along。　Who's　my　father；　if　it's　not　George　Cypher？〃
　
　〃I　wouldn't　know；〃　Rahl　shrugged。　〃The　web　hides　it。　But　from　what　I've　seen；　I　have　my　suspicions。〃　The　smile　left。　〃What　does　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　say？〃
　
　Richard　shrugged。　〃That's　your　question？　You　disappoint　me。〃
　
　〃How　so？〃
　
　〃Well；　after　what　was　done　to　your　bastard　father；　I　thought　sure　you'd　want　to　know　the　old　wizard's　name。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　glared　as　he　slowly　licked　his　fingertips。　〃What　is　the　old　wizard's　name？〃
　
　It　was　Richard's　turn　to　smile。　He　spread　his　arms　wide。　〃Cut　me　open。　It's　written　on　my　guts。　You　will　have　to　find　it　there。〃
　
　Richard　kept　the　smirk　on　his　face；　he　knew　he　was　defenseless　and　was　hoping　Rahl　would　be　driven　to　kill　him。　If　he　was　dead；　the　book　died　kith　him。　No　box；　no　book。　Rahl　was　going　to　die；　Kahlan　would　be　safe　then：　That　was　all　that　mattered。
　
　〃In　one　week；　it　will　be　the　first　day　of　winter；　and　I　will　know　the　name　of　the　wizard；　and　have　the　power　to　snatch　him　from　wherever　he　is；　and　bring　his；　hide　to　me。〃
　
　〃In　one　week；　you　will　be　dead。　You　have　only　two　boxes。〃；
　
　Darken　Rahl　licked　his　fingers　again　and　smoothed　them　over　his　lips。　〃I　have　two　right　now；　and　the　third　is　on　its　way　here；　as　we　speak。〃
　
　Richard　tried　not　to　believe　him。　He　let　his　face　show　nothing。　〃A　brave　boast。　But　a　lie；　nonetheless。　In　one　week；　you　are　going　to　die。〃
　
　Rahl　raised　his　eyebrows。　〃I　speak　the　truth。　You　have　been　betrayed。　The　same　one　who　has　betrayed　you　to　me　has　also　betrayed　the　box　to　me。　It　will　be　here　in　a　few　days。〃
　
　〃I　don't　believe　you；〃　Richard　said　flatly。
　
　Darken　Rahl　licked　his　fingertips　and　turned；　walking　around　the　circle　of　white　sand。　〃No？　Let　me　show　you　something。〃
　
　Richard　followed　him　to　a　wedge　of　white　stone　upon　which　sat　a　flat　slab　of　granite　held　up　by　two　short　fluted　pedestals。　In　the　center　of　the　slab　sat　two　of　the　boxes　of　Orden。　One　was　ornately　jeweled　like　the　one　Richard　had　seen　before。　The　other　was　as　black　as　the　night　stone；　its　surface　a　void　in　the　light　of　the　room：　the　box　itself；　its　protective　covering　removed。
　
　〃Two　of　the　boxes　of　Orden；〃　Rahl　announced；　holding　his　hand　out　to　them。　〃Why　would　I　want　the　book？　The　book　would　be　useless　to　me　without　the　third　box。　You　had　the　third　box。　The　one　who　betrayed　you　told　me　so。　If　the　box　were　not　on　its　way；　why　would　I　need　the　book？　I　would　instead　cut　you　open　to　get　the　location　of　the　box。〃
　
　Richard　shook　with　anger。　〃Who　betrayed　me　and　the　box？　Tell　me　the　name。〃
　
　〃Or　what？　Or　you　will　cut　me　open　and　read　the　name　on　my　guts？　I　will　not　betray　the　name　of　one　who　has　helped　me。　You　are　not　the　only　one　with　honor。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　know　what　to　believe。　Rahl　was　right　about　one　thing。　He　wouldn't　need　the　book　if　he　didn't　have　all　three　boxes。　Someone　really　had　betrayed　him。　It　was　impossible；　but　it　must　be　true。
　
　〃Just　kill　me；〃　Richard。　said　in　a　weak　voice；　turning　away。　〃I'm　not　going　to　tell　you。　You　might　as　well　cut　me　open。〃
　
　〃First　you　must　convince　me　you　are　telling　the　truth。　You　could　be；　deceiving　me　that　you　really　know　the　whole　book。　You　may　have　read　just　the　first　page；　and　burned　the　rest；　or　simply　be　inventing　what　you　have　told　me　of　it。〃
　
　Richard　folded　his　arms　and　looked　back　over　his　shoulder。　〃And　what　possible　reason　could　I　have　for　wanting　you　to　believe　me？〃
　
　Rahl　shrugged。　〃I　thought　you　cared　about　this　Confessor。　Kahlan。　I　had　thought　you　cared　what　happened　to　her。　You　see；　if　you　can't　convince　me　that　。you　are　telling　the　truth；　then　I　will　have　to　cut　her　open；　and　have　a　look　at　her　entrails；　see　if　they　have　anything　to　say　about　this。〃
　
　Richard　glared。　〃That　would　be　the　biggest　mistake　you　could　make。　You　need　her　to　confirm　the　troth　of　the　book。　If　you　harm　her；　you　destroy　your　chance。〃
　
　Rahl　shrugged。　〃So　you　say。　How　would　I　know　you　really　do　know　what　the　book　says？　It　could　even　be　that　this　is　the　manner　in　which　she　will　confirm　the　truth。〃
　
　Richard　said　nothing；　his　mind　racing　in　a　thousand　directions　at　once。　Think　of　the　solution；　he　told　himself；　not　the　problem。
　
　〃How　did　you　get　the　covering　off　that　box；　without　the　book？〃
　
　〃The　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　is　not　the　only　source　of　in…；　formation　about　the　boxes。　There　are　other　places　that　are　of　aid　to　me。〃　He　looked　down　at　the　dark　box。　〃It　took　a　full　day；　and　every　talent　I　have；　to　get　the　covering　off。〃　He　looked　back　up；　lifting　an　eyebrow。　〃It's　held　on　with　magic；　you　know。　But　I　did　it；　and　I　will　be　able　to　do　it　to　the　other　two。〃
　
　It　was　discouraging　that　Rahl　had　managed　to　get　the　covering　off。　To　open　a　box；　the　covering　had　to　be　removed。　Richard　had　hoped　that　without　the　book；　Rahl　wouldn't　be　able　to　figure　out　how　to　remove　the　covers；　and　not　be　able　to　open　a　box。　That　hope　was　now　lost。
　
　Richard　stared　blankly　at　the　jeweled　box。　〃Page　twelve　of　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　Under　the　heading　Shedding　the　Covers；　it　says：　The　covering　on　the　boxes　may　be　removed　by　anyone　with　the　knowledge；　not　only　the　one　who　has　put　them　in　play。〃　Richard　reach