tg.stone of tears-第75部分

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　provisions　together　before　I　snatch　a　little　sleep。　I’ll　meet　you　back　here　three　hours　before　dawn。　We’ll　be　across　the　border　and　into　Galea　before　midday　tomorrow。’
　
　‘I　have　a　horse　at　the　stables。　We　might　as　well　take　her　along。　Stop　by　and　fetch　her　before　you　e　for　us。’　Zedd　dismissed　the　man　with　an　absent　wave　of　his　cane。　‘Three　hours　before　dawn。’
　
　His　mind　was　racing　in　other　directions。　This　was　more　serious　than　he　had　thought。　It　was　imperative　that　they　have　help　as　soon　as　possible。　Maybe　the　woman　in　Nicobarese　who　had　had　the　three　daughters　had　studied　somewhere；　perhaps　someplace　closer。　Maybe　they　could　find　what　they　needed　without　going　all　that　way。　Time　was　of　the　essence。
　
　The　light　only　knows；　Adie　had　said；　where　the　woman　had　learned　about　the　skrin。　The　‘light’　was　a　mon　reference　to　the　gift。　It　was　also　an　obscure　reference　to　something　else　entirely。　He　thumped　his　cane　on　the　floor。　Must　Adie　always　speak　in　sorceress’s　riddles！
　
　As　Ahern　headed　for　the　door；　the　wizard　rose　and　headed　for　the　stairs。
　
　
　CHAPTER　35
　
　Zedd　opened　the　door　to　be　confronted　by　a　haze　of　smoke　that　smelled　of　creosote。　The　window　was　opened；　letting　in　icy　cold　air；　and　letting　out　the　smoke。　Adie　sat　on　the　bed；　wrapped　nearly　to　her　neck　in　a　blanket；　brushing　her　straight；　black　and　gray；　jaw…length　hair。
　
　‘What’s　going　on？　What　happened？’
　
　She　pointed　with　the　hairbrush。　‘I　be　cold。　I　tried　to　start　a　fire。’
　
　Zedd　glanced　to　the　hearth。　‘You　need　wood；　Adie。　You　can’t　have　a　fire　without　wood。’
　
　He　expected　a　scowl。　Instead；　it　was　a　look　of　disquiet。　‘There　be　wood。　I　used　magic；　to　try　to　light　the　fire　from　where　I　be　in　bed。　But　there　be　a　big　puff　of　smoke　and　sparks。　I　opened　the　window　to　let　out　the　smoke。　When　I　looked　to　the　hearth；　the　logs　be　gone。’
　
　Zedd　stepped　closer　to　her。　‘Gone？’
　
　She　nodded　and　went　back　to　brushing。　‘Something　be　wrong。　Wrong　with　my　gift。’
　
　Zedd　stroked　a　hand　down　her　hair。　‘I　know。　I　had　a　similar　problem。　It　must　be　the　taint。’　He　sat　and　took　the　brush　from　her　hand；　setting　it　down。　Adie；　what　can　you　tell　me　about　this　taint；　about　the　skrin？　We　must　have　answers。’
　
　‘I　have　already　told　you　all　I　know。　The　skrin　be　force　on　the　cusp　between　the　world　of　the　living　and　the　world　of　the　dead。’
　
　‘But　why　won’t　the　cut　heal？　Why　won’t　my　magic　work　to　heal　it？　What　made　the　logs　disappear　when　you　used　magic？’
　
　‘Skrin　be　from　both　worlds。　Do　you　not　see？’　She　shook　her　head　in　frustration。　‘Skrin　be　magic；　magic　of　both　worlds；　so　it　can　work　in　both　worlds。　Additive　and　Subtrac…tive。　We　be　touched　by　that　force。　The　taint　be　Subtractive。’
　
　‘You　mean　that　you　think　the　taint　of　Subtractive　Magic　is　corrupting　our　magic？　Our　gift？’
　
　She　nodded。　‘It　be　like　you　have　just　cleaned　ashes　from　a　hearth　with　your　bare　hands；　and　without　washing　them　clean　you　try　to　hang　up　freshly　washed　white　sheets　to　dry。　Your　hands　be　tainted　with　the　ash；　and　it　gets　on　the　clean；　damp；　white　sheets。　Sticks　to　them。’
　
　Zedd　silently　considered　the　problem　for　a　time。　‘Adie；’　he　whispered；　‘we　must　somehow　clean　our　hands。　Wash　the　taint　away。’
　
　‘You　have　a　talent　for　stating　the　obvious；　old　man。’
　
　Zedd　checked　his　tongue　and　took　a　different　tack。　‘Adie；　I　hired　us　a　coach　to　take　us　to　Nicobarese；　but　you’re　getting　weaker；　and　I’m　not　going　to　be　long　behind。　I　don’t　know　if　we　can　wait。　If　there’s　another　way；　maybe　someone　else　closer　who　can　help　us；　I　must　know。’
　
　‘There　be　no　other　way。　There　be　no　one　else。’
　
　‘Well；　what　about　this　woman　who　had　the　three　daughters？　Perhaps　she　studied　somewhere　closer　to　learn　some　of　these　things。　Maybe　we　could　go　there；　instead。’
　
　‘It　not　be　a　help。’
　
　‘Why　not？’
　
　Adie　considered　him　a　moment；　and　at　last　yielded。　‘She　studied　with　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。’
　
　Zedd　shot　to　his　feet。　‘What！’　He　paced　back　and　forth　between　the　bed　and　the　fireplace。　‘Bags　and　double　bags！　I　knew　it。　I　knew　it！’
　
　‘Zedd；　she　studied　with　them　to　learn。　Then　she　returned　home。　She　not　be　a　Sister。　The　Sisters　not　be　so　。。。　unreasonable　。。。　as　you　think。’
　
　He　halted　to　peer　at　her　with　one　eye。　‘And　how　would　you　know　that？’
　
　Adie　gave　a　resigned　sigh。　The　round　skrin　bone；　the　one　that　be　given　to　me　just　before　the　woman　died；　the　one　I　told　you　be　important；　the　one　we　lost　back　at　my　house　。。。　the　gifted　woman　who　gave　it　to　me　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light。’
　
　‘And　what　was　she　doing　in　the　New　World？’　Zedd　asked　in　a　level　tone。
　
　‘She　not　be　in　the　New　World。　I　be　in　the　Old　World；　at　the　time。’
　
　Zedd　put　both　fists　on　his　hips　as　he　leaned　toward　her。
　
　‘You　crossed　the　Valley　of　the　Lost？　You　went　into　the　Old　World！　You’re　just　filled　right　up　full　with　little　secrets。’
　
　Adie　shrugged　with　one　shoulder。　‘I　told　you　I　searched　out　women　with　the　gift；　to　learn　from　them　what　I　could。　Some　of　them　be　in　the　Old　World。　I　used　my　one　passing　through　the　valley　and　back　to　learn　what　I　could　of　what　I　needed　to　know。’
　
　Adie　snugged　the　blanket　tighter　around　her　shoulders。　The　Sisters；　some　of　them；　taught　me　the　little　bits　they　knew。　Important　little　bits。　The　Sisters　view　it　as　their　province　to　know　about　the　Keeper；　the　Nameless　One　as　they　call　him；　in　order　to　keep　souls　from　his　grasp。
　
　‘I　did　not　stay　at　their　palace　long；　they　would　not　let　me　stay　unless　I　wished　to　be　one　of　them；　but　for　a　time　they　let　me　study　with　them；　study　things　in　their　vaults。　There　be　Sisters　in　the　palace　I　would　not　trust　to　cook　me　breakfast；　but　there　be　some　who　were　great　help。’
　
　Muttering；　Zedd　started　pacing　again。　The　Sisters　of　the　Light　are　misguided　zealots。　They　make　the　Blood　of　the　Fold　look　to　be　reasonable　men！’　He　came　to　a　halt。　‘And　when　you　were　there；　did　you　see　any　of　their　boys？　Did　you　see　if　they　even　had　any　with　the　gift？’
　
　‘I　had　my　own　learning　to　attend　to。　I　not　be　there　to　argue　theology　with　the　Sisters。　That　not　be　a　wise　thing　to　do。　They　did　not　let　me　have　anything　to　do　with　their　charges；　if　indeed　they　had　any。　I　be　sure　that　if　they　had　any　boys；　they　be　ones　from　their　side。
　
　They　know　better　than　to　risk　violation　of　that　truce。　They　strongly　fear　what　wizards　on　this　side　would　do　if　they　did。　They　let　me　learn　what　I　could　from　them；　and　let　me　study　in　the　vaults；　but　they　never　let　me　see　any　boys；　nor　would　they　tell　me　if　they　had　any。’
　
　‘Well；　of　course　they　don’t　have　any！’　he　snapped。　There　are　almost　never　any　born　with　the　gift；　anymore。　Too　many　wizards　have　been　killed　in　the　wars。　We　are　a　dying　breed。
　
　‘And　as　First　Wizard　I　would　never　turn　down　the　teaching　of　one　with　the　gift　as　happened　thousands　of　years　ago。　Nor　would　any　wizard　I　taught。　And　the　Sisters　know　that！　They　know　the　rules！　They　may　not　take　a　gifted　one　unless　every　wizard　declines　to　teach　him。　To　go　against　the　rules　just　once　would　mean　a　death　sentence　to　any　Sister　that　ever　again　crossed　that　valley。’
　
　They　know　that；　Zedd。　They　take　that　threat　seriously。’
　
　‘Well；　they　ought　to　know　it！　I　met　up　with　one　of　them　once；　when　I　was　young；　and　I　sent　my　warning　to　the　Prelate。’　He　flexed　his　fists　as　he　stared　off。　They　are　barbaric　in　their　methods。　They　are　children　teaching　surgery。　If　I　knew　how　to　get　past　those　accursed　towers；　I’d　go　down　there　and　lay　waste　to　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。’
　
　‘Zedd；　in　that　time　past　many　with　the　gift　died　because　there　be　none　who　would　teach　them　to　control　it。　Those　with　the　power　were　possessive　of　it；　and　did　not　want　to　train　another　who　one　day　might　be　a　threat　to　their　power。　They　abandoned　those　born　with　the　gift；　left　them　to　die　by　the　power　of　the　thing　they　be　born　with　but　didn’t　know　how　to　control。　The　Sisters　didn’t　want　to　let　those　abandoned　boys　die。　They　just　be　doing　what　they　think　best　to　help　people。’
　
　He　cast　her　a　withering　glare。　The　Sisters　of　the　Light　do　only　what　is　best　for　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。’
　
　‘Maybe　so；　but　they　are　sworn　to　follow　the　rules；　the　truce；　just　as　you　do；　by　letting　them　be　when　they　e　here。’
　
　He　stared　off；　shaking　his　head。　To　let　those　with　the　gift　die；　simply　for　their　own　selfish　gain　。。。　If　they　had　lived　up　to　their　responsibilities　as　wizards；　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　would　never　have　e　to　be。　Never　been　needed。’
　
　With　his　boot；　he　brushed　a　dead　ember　on　the　flagstone　hearth　back　into　the　fireplace。　They　would　never　think　of　allowing　a　wizard　to　teach　a　young　sorceress　to　use　her　gift；　yet　they　presume　to　teach　a　young　wizard　how　to　use　his。’
　
　‘Zedd；　I　believe　as　you；　but　listen　to　me：　dead　and　buried　causes　and　wars　not　be　our　concern。　The　veil　be　torn。　The　Stone　of　Tears　be　in　the　world　of　the　living。　Those　be　our　concerns。
　
　‘I　went　to　those　women　to　learn。　Magic　I　learned　there；　and　have　taught　you；　though　insufficient　to　stop　the　taint；　has　been　able　to　slow　it。　We　must　purge　the　taint　before　it　claims　us。’
　
　His　mood　cooled　under　the　scrutiny　of　her　white　eyes。　‘Of　course　you　are　right；　Adie。　We　have　pressing　problems　to　deal　with。’
　
　She　favored　him　with　one　of　her　little　smiles。　‘I　be　glad　you　be　wise　enough　to　listen　to　wisdom。’
　
　He　rubbed　the　ache　in　the　back　of　his　neck；　squeezing　the　tight　muscles。　‘Do　you　really　think　this　woman　with　the　three　daughters　would　have　known　about　this　taint？　It’s　a　long　way　to　go　on　a　hunch　and　a　hope。’
　
　‘She　studied　with　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　many　years。　They　liked　her　and　wanted　her　to　stay；　to　be　a　Sister。　But　she　did　not　believe　as　they；　and　so　finally　went　home。　I　don’t　know　the　extent　of　her　knowledge；　but　if　the　Sisters　know　anything　about　the　taint；　and　taught　her；　she　would　have　taught　her　daughters。　As　much　as　I　don’t　like　the　idea；　they　be　in　Nicobarese。’
　
　When　Zedd　saw　Adie　wrapping　the　blanket　up　around　her　shoulders；　he　closed　the　window。　Kneeling　at　the　hearth；　he　placed　a　handful　of　kindling　on　the　grate　and　stacked　on　wood　from　the　bucket　to　the　side。　He　was　about　to　use　magic　to　start　the　fire；　but　thought　better　of　it　and　instead　lit　a　stick　in　the　lamp。　He　squatted；　touching　the　flame　to　the　curls　of　the　kindling。
　
　‘Zedd；　my　friend；’　Adie　said　in　a　quiet；　gentle　voice；　‘I　not　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light。　I　know　that　be　what　you　are　wondering。　I　not　be　one　of　them。’
　
　That　was　exactly　what　Zedd　had　been　wondering。
　
　‘And　if　you　were；’　he　asked　without　turning；　‘would　you　tell　me？’
　
　She　was　silent。　He　looked　over　his　shoulder　to　see　her　smiling　at　him。　‘The　Sisters　of　the　Light　value　honesty　above　almost　anything　else。　But　to　them；　lying　in　the　service　of　their　Creator　be　a　virtue。’
　
　The　fire　took　a　good　start。　Zedd　stood　before　her；　looking　down　without　returning　her　smile。　‘That　is　no　fort　to　me。’
　
　She　took　hold　of　his　hand；　patting　it　with　her　other。
　
　‘Zedd；　I　will　tell　you　the　truth。　I　be　in　debt　to　some　of　them　for　the　things　they　did　for　me；　but　I　give　you　an　oath　on　the　soul　of　my　dead　Pell：　I　not　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light。　I　would　never　let　them　have　one　of　the　gifted　from　our　side；　as　long　as　I　knew　there　be　a　wizard　to　teach　him。　I　would　never　allow　a　boy　to　be　taken　and　subjected　to　their　ways；　had　I　a　say。’
　
　Zedd　smoothed　the　fringe　of　a　carpet　with　his　foot。　‘I　know　you’re　not　one　of　them；　dear　lady。　It’s　just　that　I　hate　the　thought　of　those　women　doing　those　things　to　ones　with　the　gift；　when　I　can　show　them　the　joy　of　their　talent。　It’s　a　gift。　They　treat　it　like　a　curse。’
　
　With　a　thumb；　she　rubbed　the　back　of　his　hand。　‘I　see　you　have　yourself　a　dashing　new　cane。’
　
　Zedd　grunted。　‘I　hate　to　think　what　Master　Hillman　is　scheming　to　charge　me　for　it。’
　
　‘And　did　you　find　us　transportation？’
　
　Zedd　nodded。　‘A　man　named　Ahern。　We　better　try　to　get　a　bit　of　sleep。　He’s　going　to　be　here　with　a　coach　three　hours　before　dawn。’
　
　He　gave　her　a　grim　look。　‘Adie；　until　we　get　to　Nicobarese　and　can　rid　ourselves　of　this　taint；　I　think　we　had　better　consider　the　consequences　very　carefully　before　using　magic。’
　
　
　‘Are　we　safe　here？’
　
　A　soft　hand　extended　from　the　fog　of　dim　light；　brushing　her　cheek；　forting　her。
　
　You　are　safe　here；　Rachel。　Both　of　you　are　safe。　Now；　and　always。　You　are　safe。
　
　Rachel　smiled。　She　did　feel　safe。　Safer　than　she　ever　felt　before。　Not　just　safe　like　she　felt　when　she　was　with　Chase；　but　safe　like　she　had　felt　in　her　mother’s　arms。　She　hadn’t　been　able　to　remember　her　mother　before；　but　she　remembered　now；　remembered　the　encircling　arms　holding　her　to　a　breast。
　
　The　terrible　fright　she　had　shared　with　Chase　while　。they　raced　to　catch　Richard　was　melting　away。　The　bone…tired　worry　of　whether　or　not　they　would　catch　him　in　time　was　melting　away。　The　terror　of　the　people　who　had　tried　to　stop　them；　the　fights　Chase　had　had；　the　horror　of　the　blood　she　had　seen；　all　the　blood　she　had　seen　。。。　it　was　all　melting　away。
　
　As　she　stood　before　the　sparkling　pool；　the　hands　reached　to　her　again。　Reached　to　her　from　the　gentle　smiles　of　reassurance。　The　hands　helped　her　undo　the　buttons　of　her　dirty；　sweaty　dress；　and　pull　it　off。　She　flinched　when　her　dress　pulled　against　the　bruise　on　her　shoulder；　the　bruise　she　got　when　a　man　chasing　them　had　knocked　her　down。
　
　The　smiles　turned　to　sad　looks　of　concern　for　her　pain。　The　soft；　gentle　voices　cooed　fort　to　her。　The　glowing　hands　caressed　the　shoulder；　and　when　they　lifted；　the　bruise　was　gone。　The　hurt　was　gone。
　
　All　better？
　
　Rachel　nodded。　‘Yes！　It’s　all　better。　Thank　you。’
　
　The　hands　pulled　off　her　shoes　and　stockings。　She　sat　on　a　warm　rock　and　dangled　her　bare　feet　in　the　soothing　water。　It　would　be　so　wonderful　to　bathe　and　be　rid　of　the　dirt　and　sweat。
　
　The　hands　reached　for　the　stone　hanging　on　the　necklace　around　her　neck。　The　hands　drew　back；　as　if　afraid。
　
　We　cannot　remove　this　thing。　You　must　do　it　without　our　help。
　
　Through　the　soothing　warmth　and　security　of　the　beautiful　land　around　her；　through　the　fort　of　the　peace　she　had　found；　through　her　desire　to　do　as　the　gentle　murmurs　had　asked；　a　voice　rose　up　in　her　mind。　It　was　Zedd’s　voice；　telling　her　that　she　must　not　give　the　Stone　to　anyone；　for　any　reason；　telling　her　how　important　it　was　for　her　to　guard　it　always。
　
　She　looked　up；　from　the　circles　of　ripples　her　feet　made　in　the　water；　to　the　gentle　faces。　‘I　don’t　want　to　take　it　off。　Can’t　I　leave　it　on？’
　
　The　smiles　returned　and　widened。
　
　Of　course　you　can；　Rachel；　if　that　is　what　you　wish。　If　that　is　what　would　make　you　happy。
　
　‘I　want　it　to　stay　on。　That　would　make　me　happy。’
　
　Then　it　will　stay　on。　Now；　and　forever；　if　you　wish。
　
　She　smiled　a　smile　of　peace　and　security　as　she　slipped　into　the　soothing　water。　It　felt　so　good。　She　floated　and　drifted。　She　felt　all　her　troubles　sloughing　away　with　the　dirt。　One　moment；　it　seemed　she　couldn’t　feel　any　more　safe　or　happy；　and　then　the　next　moment　she　did；　and　the　next　yet　more。
　
　She　drew　her　arms　th