tg.stone of tears-第115部分

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　terrors　Kahlan　had　bravely　faced；　and　conquered？　Pasha　wasn’t　woman　enough　to　serve　Kahlan　tea。
　
　He　stuffed　the　lock　of　hair　back　into　his　pocket。　He　forced　his　thoughts　of　Kahlan　from　his　mind。　He　couldn’t　endure　the　pain。　He　had　other　things　to　do。
　
　Going　into　the　bedroom；　he　positioned　the　ash…framed　standing　mirror；　and　then　retrieved　his　pack　from　the　corner。　Richard　pulled　out　the　black　mriswith　cape。　He　threw　it　around　his　shoulders；　and　stood　inspecting　his　image　in　the　mirror。
　
　It　looked　like　a　normal　cape。　He　thought　it　quite　handsome；　actually。　The　cut　and　length　was　right；　the　mriswith　had　been　about　his　size。　The　heavy　fabric　was　inky　black；　almost　as　black　as　a　night　stone　that　Adie　had　given　him　to　help　him　across　the　pass；　almost　as　black　as　the　boxes　of　Orden。　Almost　as　black　as　eternal　death。
　
　But　the　pleasing　cut　of　the　cape　was　not　what　intrigued　him。
　
　Richard　moved　back　against　the　light…brownish　wall。　He　pulled　the　hood　up；　cowling　it　around　his　face；　and　drew　the　cape　closed。　As　he　watched　his　image　in　the　mirror；　he　concentrated　on　the　wall　he　was　standing　against。　In　the　span　of　a　breath；　his　image　vanished。　The　cape　had　bee　the　color　of　the　wall　he　stood　against；　to　such　a　degree　that　only　if　he　stared；　focusing　on　the　edges　of　the　cape；　could　he　distinguish　himself　standing　against　the　wall。　If　he　moved；　it　was　only　slightly　easier　to　pick　out　his　shape　against　the　wall。　Though　his　face　was　exposed；　somehow　the　magic　of　the　cape；　or　possibly　the　cape’s　magic　along　with　his　own；　served　to　mask　it；　too；　to　enfold　it　somehow　into　the　concealing　color。
　
　This　explained　why　the　mriswith　appeared　to　be　different　colors。
　
　Richard　moved　objects　behind　himself；　to　discover　what　effect　they　had。　He　stood　in　front　of　the　wall　and　partly　in　front　of　a　chair　with　his　red　coat　draped　over　it。　The　cape　produced　a　blotch　of　red　that　did　a　good　job　of　mimicking　the　color　and　shape　behind。　Though　it　wasn’t　as　flawless　as　when　he　stood　before　a　plain　wall；　it　would　still　be　easy　to　miss　him　if　he　stood　still。
　
　Movement　would　distort　the　plicated　images；　as　the　cape　changed　to　acmodate　new　conditions；　though　it　still　fooled　the　eye　into　missing　him；　but　if　he　stood　still；　he　virtually　vanished　in　front　of　anything。　The　effect；　at　times；　could　be　dizzying　to　watch。　When　he　stopped　concentrating；’　the　cape　would　return　to　black。
　
　This；　he　thought　as　he　looked　at　himself　in　the　mirror　standing　in　a　simple　black　cape；　was　going　to　be　useful。
　
　
　CHAPTER　56
　
　As　the　weeks　passed；　Richard　was　constantly　busy。
　
　He　remembered　that　Kahlan　and　Zedd　had　told　him　that　there　were　no　wizards　with　the　gift　left　in　the　Midlands。　Small　wonder；　they　seemed　to　all　be　at　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。　There　were　well　over　a　hundred　boys　and　young　men　at　the　palace。　From　what　Richard　could　discover；　a　goodly　number　of　the　older　ones；　at　least；　were　from　the　Midlands；　with　some　even　from　D’Hara。
　
　Killing　a　mriswith　had　earned　Richard　celebrity　status　among　the　younger　boys。　Two　of　them；　Kipp　and　Hersh；　were　the　most　persistent。　They　followed　him　around；　begging　to　hear　stories　of　his　adventures。　At　times　they　exhibited　the　maturity；　almost　wisdom；　of　old　men。　At　other　times　they；　like　all　boys；　seemed　interested　in　nothing　more　than　mischief。
　
　The　object　of　this　mischief　was　usually　a　Sister。　The　boys　never　seemed　to　tire　of　thinking　up　new　tricks　to　pull　on　them。　Most　of　the　pranks　appeared　to　involve　either　water；　mud；　or　reptiles。　The　Sisters　only　occasionally　erupted　in　anger　when　caught　up　in　the　boys’　antics；　and　even　then；　they　quickly　forgave　them。　As　far　as　Richard　could　tell；　the　boys　never　earned　more　than　a　stern　lecture。
　
　In　the　beginning；　the　young　boys　thought　to　number　Richard　among　their　targets。　Richard　had　things　to　do；　and　had　no　time　or　patience　for　it。　When　the　boys　learned　that　Richard　was　neither　shy　nor　slow　with　discipline；　they　quickly　moved　on　to　other　targets　with　their　buckets　of　water。
　
　The　fact　that　Richard　set　limits　made　Kipp　and　Hersh　like　him　all　the　more。　They　seemed　starved　for　older　male　panionship。　Richard　rewarded　them　with　adventure　stories；　or　sometimes；　when　he　was　going　from　one　place　to　another；　and　their　presence　wouldn’t　impede　his　progress；　he　taught　them　about　the　woods；　tracking；　and　animals。
　
　They　coveted　staying　in　Richard’s　gbod　graces；　so　when　he　wanted　or　needed　to　be　alone；　and　signaled　with　a　finger　or　a　nod；　they　vanished。　Richard　let　them　be　around　often　when　he　was　with　Pasha；　since　he　couldn’t　do　more　important　tasks　then　anyway。　Frustrated；　because　she　couldn’t　seem　to　find　time　alone　with　him；　Pasha　was　somewhat　mollified　when　Richard　got　her　excluded　from　the　boys’　list　of　targets。　She　appreciated　not　having　her　fine　dresses　drenched　or　having　to　worry　about　discovering　a　snake　in　her　shawl。
　
　Richard　occasionally　asked　Kipp　and　Hersh　to　preform　little　errands；　just　to　test　them。　He　had　plans　for　their　talents。
　
　The　other　young　men　in　collars　wanted　to　show　Richard　the　city。　Two；　Perry　and　Isaac；　who　lived　in　Gillaume　Hall　with　him；　took　him　into　the　city　and　showed　him　the　tavern　where　many　of　the　guards　drank；　and　he　soon　after　bought　Swordsman　Kevin　Andellmere　the　ale　he　had　promised　him。
　
　Richard　discovered　that　most　of　the　young　men　spent　their　nights　away　from　the　palace；　staying　in　various　fine　inns　around　the　city。　It　didn’t　take　Richard　long　to　figure　out　why。　They　were　provided　money；　the　same　as　he；　and　they　were　practiced　at　spending　it。　They　bought　themselves　fancy　clothes；　dressing　like　princes；　and　on　their　overnight　stays　they　picked　the　finest　acmodations。
　
　There　was　no　shortage　of　women　wanting　to　share　those　acmodations。　Astonishingly　beautiful　women。
　
　When　Perry　and　Isaac　took　him　to　the　city；　they　were　always　quickly　surrounded　by　attractive　women。　Richard　had　never　seen　women　this　brazen。　Every　evening；　the　two　men　would　each　select　a　woman；　sometimes　several；　and　buy　them　presents；　maybe　a　dress　or　a　bauble；　and　then　depart　for　their　rooms。
　
　The　two　told　him　that　if　he　didn’t　want　to　bother　with　spending　time　buying　gifts；　he　could　simply　go　to　any　of　the　houses　of　prostitution；　but　they　assured　him　that　those　women　were　not　as　young；　or　nearly　as　pretty；　as　the　ones　who　approached　them　on　the　streets。　They　admitted；　though；　that　they　went　to　prostitutes　sometimes　when　they　didn’t　feel　like　wasting　time　being　sociable　for　no　more　than　a　simple　coupling。
　
　When　he　was　spotted　with　a　collar；　Richard　drew　women　the　same　as　Perry　and　Isaac　did。　Richard　was　beginning　to　see　in　a　new　light　what　Sister　Verna　meant　about　him　soon　finding　another　pair　of　pretty　legs。　The　other　two　men　thought　Richard　was　mad　to　turn　down　all　the　offers。　Sometimes；　Richard　wondered　if　they　might　not　be　right。
　
　Richard　asked　Perry　and　Isaac　if　they　weren’t　afraid　of　a　woman’s　father　cracking　their　skulls。　They　laughed　and　said　that　fathers　sometimes　brought　their　daughters　to　them。　Richard　threw　his　arms　up　and　asked　if　they　weren’t　concerned　about　getting　some　woman　they　didn’t　even　know　pregnant。　They　explained　that　if　a　woman　‘got　herself’　pregnant；　the　palace　would　provide　for　her　and　the　child；　even　her　whole　family。
　
　When　Richard　had　asked　Pasha　what　was　behind　such　a　bizarre　convention；　she　folded　her　arms　across　her　breasts　and　presented　her　back　to　him　while　she　explained　that　men　had　uncontrollable　urges；　and　those　urges　would　be　a　distraction　to　learning　to　use　their　Han；　so　the　Sisters　encouraged　the　men　to　satisfy　their　needs。　That　was　why　she　didn’t　go　to　the　city　with　him　at　night。　She　was　restricted　from　interfering　with　his　。。。　needs。
　
　She　had　turned　back　to　him　and　begged　him　to　e　to　her　with　his　needs；　saying　she　would　see　to　it　that　he　had　no　desire　to　go　to　other　women；　or　if　he　did　go　to　the　city；　to　at　least　allow　her　to　be　one　of　the　women　he　slept　with。　She　told　him　that　she　could　satisfy　him　better　than　any　other　woman；　and　offered　to　prove　it。
　
　Richard　was　dumbfounded　by　such　talk；　to　say　nothing　of　the　behavior。　He　told　Pasha　that　he　only　went　to　the　city　to　see　the　sights。　Having　grown　up　in　the　woods；　he　had　never　roamed　around　in　a　city　before。　He　told　her　that　where　he　came　from　it　wasn’t　right　to　treat　women　in　such　a　way。
　
　He　promised　that　if　he　was　ever　overe　with　need；　he　would　e　to　her　first。　She　was　so　happy　to　hear　this　that　she　didn’t　mind　when　he　reminded　her　that　he　wasn’t　ready　yet。　She　had　no　idea　that　there　were　times　when　he　felt　so　lonely　that　he　was　sorely　tempted　to　give　in　to　her。　She　was　unquestionably　alluring；　and　it　was　sometimes　difficult　for　him　to　make　himself　keep　her　at　arm’s　length。
　
　Richard　had　Pasha　show　him　everything　she　could　of　the　palace。　He　had　her　show　him　some　of　the　city；　and　take　him　on　a　tour　of　the　docks；　to　see　the　big　boats。　She　said　they　were　called　ships；　because　they　went　to　sea。　Richard　had　never　seen　anything　that　large　afloat。　She　told　him　that　they　brought　trade　from　cities　of　the　Old　World　farther　down　the　coast。
　
　Pasha　went　with　him　to　the　sea；　and　they　sat　for　hours；　watching　the　waves；　or　explored　the　tide　pools。　Richard　was　astounded　to　learn　that　the　sea　went　up　and　down；　with　tides；　all　by　itself。　She　assured　him　that　it　was　not　the　magic　of　the　palace；　but　did　such　a　thing　everywhere。　Richard　was　spellbound　by　the　ocean。　Pasha　was　content　to　simply　sit　with　him。　But　Richard　couldn’t　afford　to　sit　and　watch　the　ocean　too　often。　He　had　things　to　do。
　
　Pasha　wasn’t　permitted　to　go　with　him　to　the　city　in　the　evening；　in　case　he　chose　to　be　with　a　woman。　He　had　to　constantly　reassure　her　that　that　was　not　why　he　went　out　at　night。　Since　it　was　the　truth　that　he　wasn’t　sleeping　with　any　of　the　women；　he　had　no　difficulty　being　sincere　and　convincing　her。　He　did　not　tell　her　the　truth；　however；　about　what　he　really　was　doing。
　
　Richard　decided　that　as　long　as　the　palace　wanted　to　provide　him　with　money；　he　was　going　to　allow　them　to　finance　their　own　undoing。　He　spent　the　palace’s　money　wherever　it　would　help　him。　He　became　a　regular　at　the　taverns　and　inns　the　palace　guards　frequented。　Whenever　he　was　around；　they　never　paid　for　a　drink。
　
　Richard　made　an　effort　to　learn　all　their　names。　At　night；　he　would　write　down　the　name　of　any　new　guard　he　had　met；　and　everything　he　could　discover　about　him　or　any　of　the　other　guards。　He　paid　the　most　attention　to　those　who　guarded　the　Prelate’s　pound；　and　any　other　place　he　discovered　he　was　forbidden　access。　He　stopped　by　their　posts　whenever　he　was　at　the　palace；　and　inquired　idly　about　their　lives；　their　girlfriends；　their　wives；　their　parents；　their　children；　their　food；　their　problems。
　
　Richard　bought　Kevin　special　expensive　chocolates　that　his　girlfriend　favored；　but　which　Kevin　could　ill　afford　on　his　wages。　The　chocolates　earned　Kevin　favors　from　his　girlfriend。　Kevin　always　brightened　at　Richard’s　approach；　even　when　he　looked　tired　from　the　favors。
　
　Richard　loaned　money　to　any　guard　who　asked；　knowing　it　would　never　be　repaid。　When　a　few　made　excuses　as　to　why　they　didn’t　have　the　money　to　pay　back；　Richard　would　not　hear　their　reasons；　telling　them　that　he　understood　and　that　he　would　feel　bad　if　they　were　to　worry　about　it。
　
　Two　of　the　toughest；　who　guarded　a　restricted　area　on　the　west　side　of　the　palace；　would　let　him　buy　their　ale；　but　wouldn’t　warm　to　him。　Richard　took　it　as　a　challenge。　He　finally　struck　on　the　idea　of　hiring　them　the　services　of　four　prostitutes　…　two　each；　just　to　get　their　attention。　They　wanted　to　know　why。　Richard　told　them　how　the　palace　provided　him　with　money　and　he　didn’t　see　why　only　he　should　enjoy　it。　He　told　them　that　since　they　had　to　stand　up　all　day　guarding　the　palace；　he　thought　it　only　fair　for　the　palace　to　pay　to　put　a　lady　under　them　when　they　lay　down。
　
　The　offer　was　too　much　for　them　to　resist。　They　were　soon　giving　him　surreptitious　winks　when　he　passed。　Once　they　became　amenable　to　his　offers；　he　saw　to　it　that　they　had　reason　to　give　him　the　winks　on　a　more　frequent　basis。
　
　As　Richard　knew　they　would；　the　two　guards　began　bragging　about　their　romps。　When　some　of　the　other　men　found　out　that　Richard　had　been　willing　to　provide　those　two　with　the　services　of　ladies；　they　pointed　out　to　Richard　that　it　wasn’t　fair　to　the　others　that　they　should　be　excluded。　Richard　conceded　that　he　saw　the　logic　of　their　argument。　He　soon　discovered　that　he　didn’t　have　the　time　to　handle　individual　requests；　so　he　struck　on　an　idea。
　
　He　found　a　mistress　of　a　brothel　open　to　an　inventive　business　arrangement。　He　put　the　establishment　on　retainer；　open　only　to　his　‘friends。’　He　calculated　that　in　this　manner　he　was　actually　saving　the　palace　money；　over　a　piecemeal　arrangement。
　
　He　wanted　the　men　to　remember　to　whom　they　owed　their　gratitude；　so　required　they　give　the　mistress　the　code　phrase　‘a　friend　of　Richard　Cypher’　before　they　would　be　granted　admittance。　There　were　no　other　restrictions。　Richard　gave　the　mistress　a　healthy　raise　in　the　retainer　when　she　plained　to　him　that　business　was　steadier　than　she　had　anticipated。
　
　Richard　soothed　his　conscience　about　the　morals　of　what　he　was　doing　by　reminding　himself　that　he　couldn’t　change　what　people　chose　to　do；　and　it　might　save　him　from　having　to　kill　the　guards　when　the　time　came。　In　that　light；　it　made　sense。
　
　One　day　when　Pasha　was　with　him；　and　a　man　gave　him　a　wink；　she　asked　why。　He　told　her　it　was　because　he　was　with　the　most　attractive　woman　at　the　palace。　She　smiled　for　an　hour。
　
　Richard　accustomed　the　guards　to　seeing　him　in　the　black　cape　of　the　mriswith。　He　kept　Pasha　happy　when　he　was　with　her　by　frequently　wearing　the　red　coat　she　liked　best。　Sometimes　he　wore　the　others：　the　black；　the　dark　blue；　the　brown；　or　the　green。　Pasha　most　liked　taking　him　to　the　city；　but　she　went　for　hikes　in　the　surrounding　countryside　to　try　to　be　a　part　of　his　interests。
　
　Richard　learned　that　the　guards　were　soldiers　in　the　Imperial　Order；　on　special　detachment　to　the　palace。　The　Imperial　Order　ruled　all　of　the　Old　World；　but　seemed　to　have　a　nonintervention　policy　with　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。　They　never　interfered　with　any　Sister；　or　any　man　wearing　a　Rada’Han。
　
　The　guards　were　stationed　at　the　palace　to　handle　all　the　people　who　came　to　Halsband　Island。　Every　day；　people　poured　over　the　bridges　to　e　to　the　palace。　Sisters　saw　petitioners　of　every　want。　Some　requested　charity；　some　intervention　in　disputes；　and　some　wished　to　be　guided　in　the　Creator’s　wisdom。　Others　came　to　worship　in　the　courtyards　scattered　throughout　the　island。　They　viewed　the　place　where　Sisters　of　the　Light　lived　as　hallowed。
　
　Richard　learned　that　the　city　of　Tanimura；　vast　though　it　was；　was　merely　an　outpost　of　the　Old　World；　at　the　fringe　of　the　empire。　Apparently；　the　emperor　of　the　Imperial　Order　had　an　arrangement　with　the　palace　to　provide　guards；　but　not　law。　Richard　suspected　that　the　guards　were　the　emperor’s　eyes　in　an　area　of　his　empire　where　he　was　denied　dominion。　Richard　wondered　what　the　emperor　received　in　return　for　this　arrangement。
　
　Richard　also　learned　that　in　at　least　one　of　the　restrict