tg.wizardfirstrule-第96部分

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y　be　removed　by　anyone　with　the　knowledge；　not　only　the　one　who　has　put　them　in　play。〃　Richard　reached　out　and　lifted　the　jeweled　box　off　the　granite。　〃Page　seventeen；　third　paragraph　down　on　the　page。　…If　not；　however；　in　the　hours　of　darkness；　but　in　the　hours　of　the　sun；　the　covering　may　be　removed　from　the　second　box　in　the　following　manner。　Hold　the　box　where　the　sun　may　touch　it；　and　face　north。　If　there　be　clouds；　hold　the　box　where　the　sun　would　touch　it　if　they　were　not　present；　but　face　the　west。〃　Richard　held　the　box　up　in　the　late…day　sunlight。　〃Turn　the　box　that　the　small　end　with　the　blue　stone　may　face　the　quadrant　with　the　sun。　The　yellow　stone　is　to　face　asp。　〃　Richard　turned　the　box。　〃With　the　second　finger　of　the　right　hand　on　the　yellow　stone　in　the　center　of　the　top；　place　the　thumb　of　the　right　hand　on　the　clear　stone　in　the　corner　of　the　bottom。　〃　Richard　grasped　the　box　as　directed。　〃Place　the　first　finger　of　the　left　hand　on　the　blue　stone　on　the　side　facing　away；　the　thumb　of　the　left　hand　on　the　ruby　stone　of　the　side　closest。　〃　Richard　placed　his　fingers　so。　〃Clear　your　mind　of　all　thought；　and　in　its　place；　put　nothing　but　the　image　of　white　with　a　square　of　black　in　its　center。　Pull　the　two　hands　apart；　taking　the　covering　away　with　them。〃
　
　As　Rahl　watched；　Richard　cleared　his　mind；　pictured　white　with　black　in　the　center；　and　pulled。　The　cover　made　a　clicking　sound；　and　came　apart。　He　held　the　box　just　over　the　granite　and　pulled　the　cover　away　as　if　he　were　putting　an　egg　in　a　frying　pan。　Two　equally　black　boxes　sat　side　by　side；　seeming　as　if　they　would　suck　the　light　from　the　room。
　
　〃Remarkable。〃　Rahl　breathed。　〃And　you　know　every　part　of　the　book　this　well？〃
　
　〃Every　word。〃　Richard　glared。　〃What　I　have　told　you　will　be　of　no　aid　in　removing　the　third　cover；　however。　They　each　e　off　differently。〃
　
　Rahl　gave　a　little　wave　of　his　hand。　〃No　matter。　I　will　get　it　off。〃　He　held　an　elbow　in　one　hand　and　touched　a　finger　of　the　other　to　his　chin；　absorbed　in　thought。　〃You　are　free　to　go。〃
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃What　do　you　mean；　I　am　free　to　go？　Aren't　you　going　to　try　to　get　the　book　out　of　me？　Kill　me？〃
　
　Rahl　shrugged。　〃It　would　do　me　no　good。　The　ways　I　have　of　getting　information　from　you　would　damage　your　brain。　The　information　would　be　disjointed。　°　If　it　were　anything　else；　I　would　be　able　to　put　the　pieces　together；　and　figure　it　out；　but　I　can　see　the　book　is　too　specific　for　that。　The　information　would　only　end　up　being　spoiled；　and　of　no　use　to　me。　You；　therefore；　are　of　no　use　to　me　right　now；　so　you　may　go。〃
　
　Richard　was　worried。　There　was　something　more　to　this。　〃Just　like　that？　I　may　go？　You　must　know　I　will　try　to　stop　you。〃
　
　Rahl　licked　his　fingers。　His　eyes　came　up。　〃I'm　not　worried　about　anything　you　could　do。　But　you　must　be　back　here　in　one　week；　when　I　open　the　boxes；　if　you　care　at　all　what　happens　to　everyone。〃
　
　Richard　narrowed　his　eyes。　〃What　do　you　mean；　if　I　care　what　happens　to　everyone？〃
　
　〃In　one　week；　on　the　first　day　of　winter；　I'm　going　to　open　one　of　the　boxes。　I　have　been　able　to　learn；　from　sources　other　than　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows；　the　same　sources　that　told　me　how　I　might　remove　the　cover；　how　to　tell　which　box　it　is　that　would　kill　me。　Beyond　that；　I　will　have　to　guess。　If　I　open　the　right　one；　I　will　rule　unchallenged。　If　I　open　the　other；　the　world　will　be　destroyed。〃
　
　〃You　would　let　that　happen？〃
　
　Darken　Rahl's　eyebrows　lifted　as　he　leaned　toward　Richard。　〃One　world；　or　no　world。　That　is　the　way　it　shall　be。〃
　
　〃I　don't　believe　you。　You　don't　know　which　box　will　destroy　you。〃
　
　〃Even　if　I　were　lying；　I　would　still　have　two　chances　in　three　of　having　my　way。　You　would　have　only　one　in　three　of　it　working　out　in　your　favor。　Not　good　odds；　for　you。　But；　I'm　not　lying。　Either　the　world　is　destroyed；　or　I　rule　it。　You　must　decide　which　you　would　rather　have　happen。　If　you　don't　help　me；　and　I　open　the　wrong　box；　I　will　be　destroyed；　along　with　everyone　else；　including　those　you　care　for。　If　you　don't　help　me；　and　I　open　the　one　I　want；　then　I　will　turn　Kahlan　over　to　Constance；　for　training。　A　good　long　training。　You　will　watch　the　whole　thing　before　I　kill　you。　Then　Kahlan　will　bear　me　a　son；　an　heir。　A　son　who　will　be　a　Confessor。〃
　
　Richard　went　cold　with　pain　worse　than　any　Denna　had　given　him。　〃You　are　trying　to　make　me　an　offer　of　some　sort？〃
　
　Rahl　nodded。　〃If　you　e　back　in　time；　and　help　me；　you　will　be　permitted　to　go　about　your　life。　I　will　let　you　be。〃
　
　〃What　about　Kahlan？〃
　
　〃She　will　live　here；　in　the　People's　Palace；　and　be　treated　like　a　queen。　She　will　have　every　fort　any　woman　could'　have；　the　kind　of　life　a　Confessor　is　used　to。　Something　you　could　never　provide　her。　She　will　live　a　life　of　peace　and　safety；　and　she　will　bear　me　the　Confessor　son　I　wish。　Either　way；　she　will　bear　me　a　son。　That　is　my　choice。　Your　choice　is　how：　as　Constance's　pet；　or　as　a　queen。　So　you　see？　I　think　you　will　be　back。　And　if　I　am　wrong。。。〃　He　shrugged。　〃One　world；　or　no　world。〃
　
　Richard　could　hardly　breathe。　〃I　don't　think　you　know　which　box　will　destroy　you。〃
　
　〃You　will　have　to　decide　what　you　will　believe。　I　feel　no　need　to　convince　you。〃　His　expression…darkened。　〃Choose　wisely；　my　young　friend。　You　may　not　like　the　choices　I　have　given　you；　but　you　will　like　the　results　of　not　helping　me　even　less。　Not　all　choices　in　life　are　ones　you　would　like；　but　those　are　all　that　are　presented　to　you。　Sometimes　you　must　choose　what　is　better　for　the　ones　you　love　than　yourself。〃
　
　〃I　still　don't　think　you　know　which　box　will　kill　you；〃　Richard　Whispered。
　
　〃Think　what　you　will；　but　ask　yourself　if　you　are　willing　to　bet　Kahlan's　future　with　Constance　on　what　you　think。　Even　if　you　were　right；　it　still　gives　you　only　one　chance　in　three。〃
　
　Richard　felt　empty；　devastated。　〃Am　I　free　to　go　now？〃
　
　〃Well；　there　are　a　few　other　matters　you　may　want　to　know　about。〃
　
　Richard　felt　himself　abruptly　paralyzed；　as　if　invisible　hands　were　gripping　him。　He　couldn't　move　a　muscle。　Darken　Rahl　reached　into　Richard's　pocket　and　took　out　the　leather　pouch　with　the　night　stone。　Richard　fought　against　the　force　that　held　him；　but　could　not　move。　Rahl　dumped　the　night　stone　in…his　hand。　He　held　it　up　in　his　palm；　smiling。
　
　Shadow　things　began　to　materialize。　They　gathered　around　Rahl；　their　numbers　growing。　Richard　wished　he　could　back　away；　but　he　couldn't　move。
　
　〃Time　to　go　home；　my　friends。〃
　
　The　shadows　began　swirling　around　Rahl；　faster　and　faster；　until　they　were　a　blur　of　gray。　A　howl　rose　as　they　were　sucked　into　the　night　stone　in　a　whirl　of　shadows　and　shapes。　Silence。　They　were　gone。　The　night　stone　turned　to　ash　in　Rahl's　palm。　He　blew　on　it　and　the　ash　puffed　into　the　air。
　
　〃The　Old　One　has　been　checking　on　you；　using　the　night　stone　to　find　where　you　are。　The　next　time　he　searches；　he　is　going　to　have　a　very　unpleasant　experience。　He　is　going　to　find　himself　in　the　underworld。〃
　
　Richard　was　furious　at　what　Darken　Rahl　was　doing　to　Zedd；　and　he　was　furious　that　he　couldn't　move；　that　he　was　helpless　and　could　only　watch。
　
　Richard　relaxed　his　mind；　shed　the　effort　of　trying　to　move；　and　replaced　it　with　calm。　He　let　his　mind　be　empty；　let　himself　be　soft；　limp。　The　force　melted　away。　He　took　a　step　forward；　free　of　the　grip　that　had　held　him。
　
　Rahl　smiled　warmly。　〃Very　good；　my　boy。　You　know　how　to　break　a　wizard's　web；　at　least　a　little　one。　But　very　good　nonetheless。　The　Old　One　chooses　his　Seekers　well。〃　He　nodded
　
　〃But　you　are　more　than　a　Seeker。　You　have　the　gift。　I　look　forward　to　the　day　we　will　be　on　the　same　side。　I　will　enjoy　having　you　around。　The　ones　I　have　to　deal　with　are　very　limited。　After　the　world　is　joined；　I　will　teach　you　more；　if　you　wish。〃
　
　〃We　will　never　be　on　the　same　side。　Never。〃
　
　〃That　is　your　choice；　Richard。　I　bear　no　ill　will　toward　you。　I　hope　we　will　bee　friends。〃　Rahl　studied　Richard's　face。　〃There　is　one　more　thing。　You　may　stay　in　the　People's　Palace；　or　you　may　leave　if　you　wish。　My　guards　will　acmodate　you。　You　will；　however；　have　a　wizard's　web　around　you。　Unlike　the　one　you　just　broke；　it　will　not　affect　you；　but　those　who　see　you；　and　therefore　you　will　not　be　able　to　break　it。　It's　called　an　enemy　web。　All　will　see　you　as　their　enemy。　That　means　that　when　your　allies　see　you；　they　will　see　an　enemy。　Those　who　honor　me　will　see　you　as　yourself；　since　you　are　my　enemy；　for　the　time　being；　and　therefore　already　their　enemy。　At　least　for　now。　But　those　who　are　your　friends　will　see　you　as　the　person　they　fear　most；　their　worst　enemy。　I　would　like　you　to　see　the　way　people　think　of　me；　see　the　world　through　my　eyes；　see　how　unjustly　I　am　regarded。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　have　to　try　to　hold　back　the　anger；　there　was　none。　He　felt　an　odd　sort　of　peace。　〃Am　I　free　to　go　now？〃
　
　〃Of　course；　my　boy。〃
　
　〃What　about　Mistress　Denna？〃
　
　〃Once　you　leave　this　room；　you　will　be　back　under　her　power。　She　still　controls　the　magic　of　your　sword。　Once　a　Mord…Sith　has　your　magic；　it　is　hers　to　keep。　I　cannot　take　it　from　her　to　give　it　back　to　you。　You　must　get　it　back　yourself。〃
　
　〃Then　how　am　I　free　to　leave？〃
　
　〃Isn't　it　obvious？　If　you　want　to　leave；　you　must　kill　her。〃
　
　〃Kill　her！〃　Richard　was　stunned。　〃Don't　you　think　if　I　could　kill　her；　I　would　have　done　so　by　now？　Do　you　think　I　would　have　endured　what　she　has　done　to　me　if　I　could　have　killed　her？〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　smiled　a　little　smile。　〃You　have　always　been　able　to　kill　her。〃
　
　〃How？〃
　
　〃There　is　nothing　that　exists　that　has　only　one　side。　Even　a　piece　of　paper；　thin　as　it　is；　has　two　sides。　Magic　is　not　one　dimensional　either。　You　have　been　looking　at　only　one　side　of　it；　most　people　do。　Look　at　the　whole。〃　He　pointed　at　the　bodies　of　his　two　guards。　The　guards　Richard　had　killed。　〃She　controls　your　magic；　yet　you　did　this。〃
　
　〃But　that's　different；　it　won't　work　against　her。〃
　
　Rahl　nodded。　〃Yes；　it　will。　But　you　must　be　its　master；　half　measures　will　get　you　in　a　lot　of　trouble。　She　controls　you　with　one　dimension　of　your　magic；　the　side　you　offered　her。　You　must　use　the　other　side。　It　is　something　all　Seekers　have　been　capable　of；　but　none。　has　ever　succeeded　in　mastering。　Perhaps　you　will　be　the　first。〃
　
　〃And　if　I'm　not？　If　I　don't　succeed　at　it？〃　Darken　Rahl　was　sounding　altogether　too　much　like　Zedd　for　Richard's　fort。　This　was　the　way　Zedd　had　always　taught　him…by　making　him　think　for　himself；　find　the　answers　in　his　own　way；　with　his　own　mind。
　
　〃Then；　my　young　friend；　you　are　going　to　be　in　for　a　very　rough　week。　Denna　is　not　pleased　at　how　you　embarrassed　her。　At　the　end　of　the　week；　she　will　bring　you　to　me；　and　you　will　tell　me　your　decision；　to　help；　or　to　let　all　your　friends　suffer　and　die。〃
　
　〃Just　tell　me　how　to　use　the　magic　of　the　sword；　how　to　master　it。〃
　
　〃Of　course。　Right　after　you　tell　me　the　knowledge　in　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。〃　Rahl　smiled。　〃I　didn't　think　so。　Good　night；　Richard。　Don't　forget；　one　week。〃
　
　The　sun　was　fading　as　Richard　left　the　garden　and　Darken　Rahl。　His　mind　was　spinning　with　all　the　things　he　had　learned。　That　Darken　Rahl　knew　which　box　would　kill　him　was　troublesome；　but　he　reasoned　that　Rahl　might　be　using　the　Wizard's　First　Rule　on　him。　Worse　was　that　one　of　his　own　had　betrayed　him。　He　liked　that　not　one　bit。　What　he　liked　less　was　that　he　knew　who　it　had　to　be。　Shota　had　told　him　that　Zedd　and　Kahlan　would　use　their　power　against　him。　It　had　to　be　Zedd　or　Kahlan。　He　couldn't　make　that　fit；　no　matter　how　he　tried；　no　matter　how　he　reasoned　it　out。　It　couldn't　be　either；　yet　it　had　to　be　one。　He　loved　them　both　more　than　his　need　to　live。　Zedd　had　told　him　he　had　to　be　prepared　to　kill　any　of　them　if　they　jeopardized　winning；　even　if　he　thought　there　was　only　a　chance　that　they　did。　He　forced　the　thought　out　of　his　mind。
　
　He　had　to　think　of　a　way　to　get　away　from　Denna。　He　could　be　of　no　help；　and　none　of　the　rest　of　it　mattered　if　he　couldn't　get　away　from　Denna。　It　would　do　him　no　good　to　think　of　the　other　problems　if　he　couldn't　get　away；　and　if　he　didn't　figure　it　；　out　soon；　then　Denna　was　going　to　hurt　him；　and　he　wouldn't　be　able　to　think　anymore。　The　things　she　did　to　him　made　it　too　hard　to　think；　made　him　forget　things。　He　had　to　concentrate　on　that　problem　first；　and　worry　about　the　others　later。
　
　The　sword；　he　thought　Denna　controlled　the　magic　of　the　sword。　He　didn't　need　the　sword；　maybe　he　could　just　get　rid　of　it；　get　rid　of　the　magic　she　controlled。　He　reached　for　the　hilt；　but　the　pain　of　the　magic　stopped　him　before　he　could　even　touch　it。
　
　He　walked　on　through　the　halls；　toward　Denna's　quarters。　It　was　still　a　long　way。　Maybe　he　could　simply　go　another　way；　leave　the　People's　Palace。　Darken　Rahl　had　told　him　none　of　the　guards　would　stop　him。　When　the　next　intersection　of　halls　came；　he　started　to　turn　down　one。　The　pain　dropped　him　to　his　knees。　With　great　effort；　he　managed　to　get　back　to　the　hall　he　was　supposed　to　be　in。　He　had　to　stop　and　rest；　the　pain　having　taken　his　breath　away。
　
　Close；　just　ahead；　the　way　he　was　going；　the　bell　for　the　evening　devotion　rang。　He　would　go　to　the　devotion；　that　would　give　him　time　to　think。　He　knelt；　relieved　that　the　pain　of　the　magic　didn't　e　on。　It　was　one　of　the　squares　with　water。　He　liked　them　best；　they　were　the　most　peaceful。　Close　to　the　edge　of　the　water；　with　people　all　about；　Richard　put　his　head　to　the　tile　floor　and　began　chanting；　clearing　his　mind；　letting　himself　go　empty。　He　used　the　chanting　to　melt　his　worries；　his　fears；　his　concerns。　He　put　his　thoughts　of　all　the　problems　away；　let　his　mind　seek　peace；　let　it　wander　where　it　would。　The　devotion　was　over；　it　seemed；　in　no　time。　He　stood；　refreshed；　renewed；　and　started　off　again　toward　Denna's　quarters。
　
　The　halls　he　passed　through；　the　rooms　and　stairways；　were　breathtakingly　beautiful；　and　Richard　again　marveled　at　them　as　he　passed。　He　wondered　at　how　someone　as　vile　as　Darken　Rahl　would　care　to　surround　himself　with　such　loveliness。
　
　Nothing　was　one…dimensional。　Two　sides　to　the　magic
　
　Richard　thought　about　the　times　the　strange　power　had　e　awake　in　him。　When　he　had　felt　sorry　for　Princess　Violet；　when　the　Queen's　guard　had　tried　to　harm　Denna；　when　he　had　felt　the　pain　of　what　had　been　done　to　Denna；　when　he　thought　of　Rahl　hurting　Kahlan；　when　Rahl's　guards　had　tried　to　hurt　Denna。　He　remembered　that　each　time　it　had　made　part　of　his　vision　turn　white。
　
　Each　time；　he　knew；　it　was　the　magic　of　the　sword。　But　in　the　past　the　magic　of　the　sword　had　been　rage；　too。　Yet　this　was　a　different　kind　of　rage。　He　thought　of　how　he　used　to　feel　when　he　drew　the　sword　in　anger。　The　wrath；　the　fury；　the　want　to　kill。
　
　The　hate。
　
　Richard　stopped　dead　still　in　the　center　of　the　quiet　hall。　It　was　late　and　there　were　no　people　around。　He　was　alone。　He　felt　a　wave　of　cold　wash　through　him；…　prickling　his　skin。
　
　Two　sides。　He　understood。
　
　The　spirits　help　him；　he　understood。
　
　He　brought　it　forth；　let　it　cast　everything　in　a　white　sheen。
　
　…＋
　
　Cradled　numbly　in　the　white　haze　of　the　magic；　pearly