tg.stone of tears-第116部分

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ved　in　return　for　this　arrangement。
　
　Richard　also　learned　that　in　at　least　one　of　the　restricted　areas；　the　Sisters　had　a　‘special　guest’　who　never　came　out；　but　he　was　unable　to　discover　any　more。
　
　Richard　began　testing　the　guards’　loyalty　to　him　with　simple；　innocuous　requests。　He　told　Kevin　that　he　wanted　a　special　rose　for　Pasha　that　grew　only　in　the　Prelate’s　pound。　Richard　made　a　point　of　parading　Pasha；　wearing　the　yellow　rose；　past　Kevin。　Kevin　smiled　with　pride。
　
　At　other　restricted　areas；　Richard　used　the　flower　excuse；　or　said　that　he　wanted　to　get　a　view　of　the　sea　from　atop　a　particular　wall。　He　made　sure　to　remain　in　sight　at　all　times；　to　reassure　the　guards　and　dull　their　sense　of　caution。
　
　It　wasn’t　long　before　he　had　all　the　guards　accustomed　to　his　forays。　After　a　time；　he　was　ing　and　going　almost　as　he　pleased。　He　was　their　friend　…　a　trusted　and　valuable　friend。
　
　Since　he　was　collecting　so　many　rare　flowers　from　the　restricted　areas；　he　used　them　to　an　advantage　…　he　presented　them　to　the　Sisters　who　practiced　with　him。　They　were　puzzled　as　to　why　he　would　give　them　flowers　from　restricted　areas。　He　explained　that　he　considered　the　Sisters　who　trained　him　to　be　special；　and　he　therefore　didn’t　want　them　to　have　just　any　flowers；　but　those　that　were　special；　and　artfully　obtained。　Besides　making　them　blush；　this　explanation　also　disarmed　an　otherwise　inevitable　suspicion　if　he　frequented　restricted　areas。
　
　Though；　as　near　as　Richard　could　tell；　there　were　close　to　two　hundred　Sisters；　only　six　worked　with　him。
　
　Sisters　Tovi　and　Cecilia　were　older；　and　as　kind　as　doting　grandmothers。　Tovi　always　brought　cookies　or　some　other　treat　to　their　sessions。　Cecilia　insisted　on　bing　his　hair　back　off　his　forehead　with　her　fingers　and　planting　a　kiss　there　before　she　left。　Both　blushed　furiously　when　he　gave　them　rare　flowers。　Richard　had　difficulty　thinking　of　either　as　potential　enemies。
　
　The　first　time　Sister　Merissa　showed　up　at　his　door；　Richard　almost　swallowed　his　tongue。　Her　dark　hair　and　the　way　she　filled　her　red　dress　made　him　stumble　over　his　words　like　a　fool。　Sister　Nicci；　who　never　wore　any　color　but　black；　had　the　same　effect　on　him。　When　Sister　Nicci　locked　her　blue　eyes　on　his；　he　had　trouble　remembering　how　to　breathe。
　
　Sisters　Merissa　and　Nicci　were　older　than　Pasha　…　his　age；　or　maybe　at　most　a　couple　of　years　older。　They　carried　themselves　with　confidence　and　slow　grace。　Though　Merissa　was　dark；　and　Nicci　blonde；　they　seemed　to　be　cut　from　the　same　rare　cloth。
　
　The　power　of　their　Han　radiated　from　each；　making　them　almost　seem　to　glow。　Richard　sometimes　thought　he　could　almost　hear　the　air　crackle　around　them。　Neither　walked。　Both　glided　…　like　swans；　serene　and　cool。　Yet　he　was　sure　either　could　smelt　iron　ore　with　their　placid　glances。
　
　Neither　ever　grinned。　They　bestowed　small；　subdued　smiles。　And　only　while　looking　him　in　the　eye。　Richard　could　feel　his　heart　thumping　faster　when　they　did。
　
　Once；　he　offered　Sister　Nicci　one　of　his　rare　flowers　from　a　restricted　area。　His　explanation　of　where　it　had　e　from　and　the　story　of　why　he　was　giving　it　to　her　flew　right　out　of　his　head。　She　took　the　white　rose　gingerly　between　a　finger　and　thumb；　as　if　it　might　soil　her　hand；　and　while　her　gaze　held　his；　she　gave　him　one　of　her　subdued　smiles　and　said　in　an　indifferent　tone；　‘Why；　thank　you；　Richard。’　What　Pasha　had　told　him　about　boys　bringing　Sisters　frogs　came　to　his　mind。　He　never　gave　either　Sister　Nicci　or　Merissa　a　flower　again。　Anything　less　than　priceless　jewels　seemed　an　insult。
　
　Neither　ever　offered　to　sit　on　the　floor　for　their　sessions。　In　fact；　the　very　idea　of　Sisters　Merissa　ar　Nicci　sitting　on　the　floor　seemed　ludicrous　to　him。　The　older　Sisters；　Tovi　and　Cecilia；　sat　on　the　floor；　the　same　as　Pasha；　and　it　seemed　perfectly　natural。　Sisters　Merissa　and　Nicci　sat　in　chairs；　and　held　his　hands　across　a　small　table。　It　somehow　seemed　an　erotic　experience。　It　made　him　sweat。
　
　They　both　spoke　with　a　quiet　economy　of　words　that　added　an　air　of　nobility　to　their　bearing。　While　neither　ever　made　a　clear　offer；　they　managed　to　somehow　leave　no　doubt　in　Richard’s　mind　that　they　were　available　to　spend　the　night　with　him。　Richard　could　never　pin　down　anything　specific　in　what　they　said　to　confirm　the　impression；　but　he　had　no　doubt。　Their　oblique　words　left　him　room　to　feign　missing　their　intent；　and　neither　ever　deigned　to　clarify　what　she　had　said。
　
　He　prayed　that　they　would　never　make　the　offer　any　more　explicit；　because　if　they　did；　he　knew　he　would　have　to　bite　his　tongue　in　half　to　keep　from　saying　yes。　Both　brought　to　mind　what　Pasha　had　told　him　about　men　having　uncontrollable　urges。　He　had　never　been　around　anyone　who　could　make　him　stammer　and　fumble　and　in　general　make　himself　appear　a　fool　as　those　two　did。　Sisters　Merissa　and　Nicci　were　the　embodiment　of　pure；　unadulterated　lust。
　
　When　Pasha　found　out　that　Sisters　Merissa　and　Nicci　were　two　of　his　teachers；　she　gave　a　small　shrug；　and　said　that　they　were　very　talented　Sisters；　and　she　was　sure　they　would　help　him　reach　his　Han。　But　her　cheeks　broke　out　in　red　blotches。
　
　When　Perry　and　Isaac　found　out　about　Sisters　Merissa　and　Nicci；　they　both　nearly　succumbed　to　apoplexy。　They　said　they　would　give　up　all　the　women　in　the　city；　forever；　just　to　have　one　night　with　either。　They　said　that　if　Richard　was　ever　offered　the　opportunity；　he　had　to　take　it；　and　tell　them　every　detail。　Richard　assured　them　that　women　the　likes　of　those　two　would　never　be　interested　in　a　woods　guide　like　him。
　
　He　dared　not　say　out　loud　that　the　offer　had　been　made。
　
　The　fifth　Sister；　Armina；　was　older；　a　mature　woman　who　was　pleasant　enough；　but　all　business。　When　he　had　no　more　luck　finding　his　Han　with　her　than　any　of　the　others；　she　told　him　that　it　would　e　with　time；　and　not　to　feel　disappointed；　but　perhaps　he　should　try　to　put　more　effort　into　it。　Over　time；　she　warmed　to　him；　and　smiled　more。　She　was　surprised　and　flattered　by　the　special　flowers。　She　blushed　at　her　own　blushes。　Richard　liked　her　straightforward　personality。
　
　The　last　Sister；　Liliana；　was　Richard’s　favorite。　Her　easy　smile　was　disarming；　her　plain；　bony　looks　somehow　alluring　because　of　her　open；　friendly　nature。　She　treated　Richard　like　a　confidant。　Richard　felt　relaxed　with　her；　sometimes　spending　more　time　than　he　could　afford；　talking　with　her　late　into　the　night；　simply　because　he　enjoyed　her　pany。　Though　he　had　no　friends　among　his　captors；　she　came　closer　than　any。
　
　When　Richard　gave　her　the　special　flower；　she　hooked　some　of　her　brown　hair　behind　an　ear　and　leaned　in。　Her　eyes　were　wide　with　mischief；　wanting　to　know　how　he　had　gotten　past　the　guards。　She　giggled　when　he　told　the　story　he　invented　of　sneaking　behind　their　backs。　She　stuck　each　rose　proudly　through　a　buttonhole；　and　wore　it　until　it　wilted　or　he　gave　her　another。
　
　When　she　touched　him　in　a　friendly　way；　it　somehow　seemed　the　natural　thing　to　do。　He　found　himself　laying　a　hand　on　her　arm　in　the　same　manner　when　he　told　her　funny　stories　about　when　he　had　been　a　guide。　They　roared　with　laughter　together；　holding　their　ribs　and　getting　tears。
　
　Sister　Liliana　told　him　how　she　had　grown　up　on　a　farm；　and　loved　the　country。　Several　times　Richard　invited　her　on　a　picnic　out　in　the　hills。　She　was　fortable　and　happy　in　the　countryside。　She　didn’t　care　if　she　got　her　dress　dirty。　Richard　couldn’t　imagine　either　Sister　Merissa　or　Nicci　setting　a　foot　to　dirt；　but　Sister　Liliana　would　flop　right　down　on　the　ground　with　him。
　
　She　never　made　an　offer　to　sleep　with　him。　That　in　itself　put　him　at　ease。　She　never　displayed　any　pretense；　she　seemed　to　genuinely　enjoy　her　time　with　him。　When　he　opened　his　eyes　after　a　session　with　her　and　admitted　he　felt　no　Han；　she　would　squeeze　his　hands　and　tell　him　that　it　was　all　right；　and　that　she　would　try　harder　the　next　time　to　help　him。
　
　Richard　found　himself　telling　her　things　he　told　none　of　the　others。　When　he　confided　how　much　he　wanted　the　Rada’Han　off；　she　put　a　hand　to　his　arm　as　she　gave　him　a　wink；　and　told　him　that　she　would　see　to　it　that　he　had　his　wish；　that　when　the　time　came；　she　would　do　it　herself。　She　said　she　could　understand　his　feelings；　and　for　him　to　have　faith。
　
　She　promised　that　if　one　day　he　was　at　the　end　of　his　tolerance；　and　he　truly　could　stand　it　no　longer；　she　would　help　him；　she　would　remove　the　collar。　But　she　wanted　him　to　know　that　she　had　faith　in　him；　and　wanted　him　to　put　in　his　best　effort　to　learn　to　control　his　Han　before　she　even　considered　it。
　
　She　said　that　other　young　men　tried　to　forget　their　collar　by　bedding　every　woman　willing。　She　told　him　that　she　could　understand　urges；　but　she　hoped　that　if　he　chose　to　sleep　with　a　woman　it　would　be　because　he　liked　her；　and　not　because　he　was　trying　to　forget　the　collar。　She　told　him　not　to　go　to　the　prostitutes　because　they　were　dirty　and　he　would　catch　something。
　
　Richard　told　her　that　he　was　in　love　with　someone；　and　didn’t　want　to　be　unfaithful　to　her。　She　grinned　and　clapped　him　on　the　back　and　said　she　was　proud　of　him。　Richard　didn’t　tell　her　that　Kahlan　had　sent　him　away；　but　he　wanted　to。　He　knew　that　someday；　if　he　could　stand　it　no　longer；　he　could　tell　Liliana　and　she　would　listen；　and　understand。
　
　Because　he　was　so　fortable　around　her；　he　felt　that　if　anyone　could　help　him　find　his　Han；　it　would　be　her。　He　hoped　it　would　be　her。　Richard　had　had　only　a　brother；　and　didn’t　know　what　it　would　be　like　to　have　a　sister；　but　he　imagined　that　if　he　did　have　one；　she　would　be　like　Liliana。　The　name　Sister　Liliana　had　a　different　meaning　to　him　than　was　intended。　She　seemed　his　soulmate。
　
　Still；　he　couldn’t　let　himself　open　up　pletely　to　her。　The　Sisters　were　his　captors；　not　his　friends。　They　were　the　enemy；　for　now。　But　he　knew　that　when　the　time　came；　Liliana　would　side　with　him。
　
　Richard’s　lessons　with　the　six　Sisters　took　up　at　most　two　hours　a　day。　A　waste　of　two　hours　as　far　as　he　was　concerned。　He　was　no　closer　to　touching　his　Han　than　he　had　been　the　first　time　Sister　Verna　had　him　try。
　
　When　Richard　could　manage　to　be　alone；　he　explored　the　land　around　the　palace；　and　found　the　limits　of　his　invisible　chain。　When　he　reached　the　farthest　distance　the　collar　would　allow　him　to　go；　it　felt　like　trying　to　walk　through　a　ten…foot…thick　wall　of　mud　layered　over　solid　rock。　It　was　frustrating　to　be　able　to　see　beyond；　without　obstruction；　yet　not　be　able　to　continue　walking。
　
　It　happened；　as　near　as　he　could　tell；　about　the　same　distance　from　the　palace　in　any　direction。　It　was　a　good　number　of　miles；　but　once　he　found　the　limit；　his　world　began　to　feel　very　small　indeed。
　
　The　day　he　found　his　boundary；　the　limits　of　his　prison；　he　went　to　the　Hagen　Woods；　and　killed　a　mriswith。
　
　His　only　true　solace　was　Gratch。　Richard　spent　most　nights　with　the　gar。　He　wrestled　with　his　furry　friend；　ate　with　him；　and　slept　with　him。　Richard　hunted　food　for　Gratch；　but　the　gar　was　learning　to　hunt　on　his　own。　Richard　was　relieved　to　learn　that；　he　didn’t　have　the　time　to　be　with　him　every　night。　Hungry　or　not；　Gratch　was　always　distraught　when　Richard　missed　a　night。
　
　Richard　was　worried　that　Pasha　would　know　where　he　went　all　the　time；　by　his　collar；　but　quite　by　accident　he　discovered　something　else　his　mriswith　cape　did　…　it　masked　from　Pasha　his　whereabouts。　When　he　wore　the　cape；　she　couldn’t　find　him　by　his　Rada’Han；　by　his　Han。
　
　She　was　puzzled　by　his　blanking　out　from　her　sense　of　where　he　was；　but　didn’t　seem　too　concerned；　offering　that　perhaps　it　had　an　explanation　that　she　would　e　to　figure　out　one　day。　She　seemed　to　think　it　was　a　deficiency　on　her　part。　Richard　never　offered　her　the　solution。
　
　He　realized　that　this　was　the　reason　none　with　the　gift　ever　knew　a　mriswith　was　ing。　Richard　wondered　why　he　had　been　able　to　see　the　beast　in　his　mind。　Maybe　it　was　as　Sister　Verna　said；　that　he　was　using　his　Han。　But　Sisters　and　wizards　knew　how　to　use　their　Han；　and　couldn’t　detect　the　mriswith。
　
　Richard　had　an　easier　time　when　he　could　go　where　he　pleased；　and　know　Pasha　would　not　know　where　he　was；　it　saved　thinking　up　explanations。　He　worried　that　if　she　ever　discovered　the　reason；　she　would　destroy　his　cape；　so　he　hid　a　second　for　that　contingency。
　
　Gratch　seemed　to　be　bigger　every　time　Richard　saw　him。　By　the　end　of　Richard’s　first　month　at　the　palace；　the　gar　was　a　head　taller　than　R’ichard；　and　significantly　stronger。　When　they　wrestled；　Gratch　learned　to　be　careful　not　to　hurt　him。
　
　Richard　also　spent　some　of　his　time　with　Warren；　getting　him　used　to　going　outside。　At　first；　he　took　Warren　out　into　the　courtyards　at　night。　Warren　told　him　that　the　size　of　the　sky　and　landscape　frightened　him；　so　Richard　reasoned　that　night　would　show　him　less　of　the　landscape；　at　least　to　start。
　
　Warren　said　that　the　Sisters　had　had　him　down　in　the　vaults　for　so　long　that　he　thought　he　just　became　used　to　being　closed　in；　but　he　was　tired　of　it。　Richard　felt　sorry　for　him；　and　wanted　to　help　him。　He　really　liked　Warren。　He　was　about　as　smart　as　anyone　Richard　had　ever　met。　There　didn’t　seem　to　be　anything　that　Warren　didn’t　know　at　least　a　little　about。
　
　Warren　was　nervous　about　being　away　from　the　safety　of　the　palace；　but　was　reassured　by　Richard’s　presence；　and　the　way　Richard　never　ridiculed　his　fears。　Richard　was　always　considerate；　never　taking　Warren　farther　than　he　felt　fortable。　Richard　told　him　that　it　was　just　like　after　you　were　injured　and　had　been　laid　up　for　a　while：　it　took　time　to　stretch　the　old　muscles。
　
　After　a　few　weeks　of　their　nighttime　forays；　Richard　started　taking　Warren　out　in　the　daylight；　first　just　up　onto　the　walls　to　look　at　the　vastness　of　the　sky　and　ocean。　Warren　was　always　close　to　a　stairway　that　led　back　into　the　palace；　so　he　was　reassured　by　having　an　escape　route　close　by　if　he　felt　he　had　to　go　back　inside。　A　few　times　he　did；　and　Richard　always　went　with　him；　and　talked　about　other　things　to　take　his　mind　away　from　the　unfortable　feeling。　Richard　had　Warren　bring　a　book　outside　with　him；　so　he　could　be　distracted　by　reading。　Letting　Warren　forget　about　the　size　of　the　sky　helped。
　
　On　a　bright；　sunny　day；　after　Warren　had　bee　fortable　out…of…doors；　Richard　decided　to　try　taking　him　out　into　the　hills。　Warren　was　a　bit　giddy　at　first；　but　as　they　sat　on　a　rock　high　in　the　hills；　overlooking　the　countryside　and　the　city；　Warren　said　that　he　felt　as　if　he　had　mastered　his　fear。　He　said　that　he　still　felt　unfortable；　but　he　felt　the　fear　was　under　control。
　
　He　grinned　at　the　vast　landscape　spread　out　below；　enjoying　the　sight　that　for　so　long　his　fears　denied　him。　Richard　told　him　that　he　was　happy　that　he　was　the　one　to　have　been　able　to　guide　him　out　of　his　mole　hole。　Warren　laughed。
　
　Warren　said　he　needed　adventure　in　his　life；　and　this　felt　like　the　beginning。
　
　As　far　as　Warren’s　search　for　information　was　going；　he　had　been　able　to　find　out　precious　little。　He　had　so　far　found　only　a　few　references　in　old　books　that　talked　about　the　Valley　of　the　Lost；　and　the　Baka　Ban　Mana；　but　what　he　found