tg.stone of tears-第171章

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d　Gratch；　and　make　it　up　to　him。　And　even　if　he　didn't；　the　gar　was　better　off　living　as　a　gar　should；　hunting　and　searching　out　its　own　kind。　It　would　e　to　have　its　own　happiness；　as　had　Richard。
　
　Although　he　wanted　more　than　anything　to　throw　his　arms　around　Kahlan；　hug　her　tight；　and　tell　her　how　much　he　loved　her；　he　couldn't。　He　was　still　a　prisoner　of　the　Sisters；　but　he　would　study；　and　learn；　and　get　the　collar　off。　He　would　get　the　collar　off；　and　return　to　Kahlan。　He　knew　without　a　doubt　that　she　would　be　waiting　for　him。　She　had　said　she　would　always　love　him。
　
　
　When　he　met　the　search　party　of　Sisters　at　the　edge　of　Tanimura；　he　told　them　that　they　needn't　bother；　that　they　would　find　the　beast　gone。　They　didn't　believe　him；　and　went　on　into　the　hills。　Richard　didn't　care。　Gratch　was　gone。　His　friend　was　safe。
　
　Richard　bought　a　gold　necklace　from　a　street　hawker。　He　didn't　know　if　it　was　real　gold；　but　he　didn't　care；　it　looked　pretty。　He　trotted　the　rest　of　the　way　to　the　palace。
　
　Pasha　was　pacing　up　and　down　in　the　hall　outside　his　room。
　
　'Richard！　Richard；　I　was　so　worried。　I　know　that　right　now　you're　furious　with　me；　but　in　time　you　will　see　that　。。。'
　
　He　grinned。　'I'm　not　angry；　Pasha。　In　fact；　I　brought　you　a　present；　to　thank　you。'
　
　She　smiled　in　coy　surprise　as　he　offered　her　the　necklace。　'For　me？　Why？'
　
　'Because　of　you；　I　figured　out　that　she　loves　me；　and　always　has。　I　was　just　being　a　blind　fool。　You　helped　me　see　that。'
　
　She　regarded　him　with　a　frosty　look。　'But　you　are　here；　now；　Richard。　You　will　forget　her　in　time。　You'll　see　that　I'm　the　one　for　you。'
　
　He　smiled　happily　at　her。　'Pasha；　I'm　sorry。　It's　nothing　against　you。　You're　a　beautiful　young　woman。　In　time；　you'll　find　the　one　for　you。　You　can　have　your　pick　of　nearly　any　man。　Everyone　likes　you。　But　I'm　not　the　one　for　you。　Maybe　if　I　lived　to　be　a　hundred；　but　short　of　that　。。。'
　
　Her　sly　smile　returned。　Then　I　will　wait。'
　
　He　kissed　the　top　of　her　head　before　going　through　the　door。　He　didn't　think　he　would　be　able　to　sleep　while　he　was　this　excited；　but　all　the　walking　and　running　had　left　him　exhausted。　His　last　thoughts　before　he　drifted　off　were　of　Kahlan。　He　pictured　her　in　his　mind；　as　if　she　was　there　with　him：　her　special　smile；　her　deep　green　eyes；　and　her　radiant　long　hair。　He　drifted　into　the　best　sleep　he　had　had　in　months。
　
　In　the　days　following；　Richard　felt　as　if　his　feet　hardly　touched　the　ground。　Everyone　was　puzzled　by　his　good　mood。　They　frowned　at　him　at　first；　but　were　eventually　caught　up　in　his　cheer。　Some　of　the　Sisters　giggled　when　he　told　them　they　looked　as　beautiful　as　a　sunny　day。
　
　He　urged　the　Sisters　who　came　to　practice　with　him　to　try　harder；　to　help　him　reach　his　Han。　He　had　them　stay　longer　than　usual。　Sisters　Tovi　and　Cecilia　bubbled　with　enthusiasm；　Merissa　and　Nicci　bestowed　small　smiles　of　pleasure；　Armina　was　cautiously　pleased；　and　Liliana　delighted。　He　wanted　his　collar　off；　and　until　he　could　do　what　they　wanted；　he　knew　it　would　stay　on。
　
　Having　not　seen　Warren　in　a　while；　he　finally　went　down　to　the　vaults　to　see　how　his　search　was　ing。　Sister　Becky　was　off　retching；　and　the　other　Sister　giggled　when　he　winked　at　her。
　
　Warren　was　pleasantly　surprised　to　see　him　and　exhilarated　about　some　of　the　things　he　had　found。　He　could　hardly　wait　to　tell　Richard。　When　the　door　to　one　of　the　back　rooms　had　grated　closed；　he　started　opening　volumes　on　the　table。
　
　'What　you　told　me　has　been　a　great　help。　Look　here。'　Warren　pointed　at　words　Richard　couldn't　understand。　'Just　like　you　told　me。　This　says　that　the　Stone　of　Tears　being　in　this　world；　in　itself；　does　not　free　the　Keeper。'
　
　'So　what　significance　does　it　have？'
　
　'Well；　it's　as　if　there　are　a　number　of　locks　on　his　prison　door；　and　this　turns　the　key　in　one；　but　it　does　not　free　him。　There　are　a　number　of　ways　for　it　to　help　him；　a　number　of　objects　of　magic　to　help。　But　the　Stone　of　Tears　itself　must　be　used　by　one　from　this　world；　one　with　the　gift　for　both　Additive　and　Subtractive　Magic；　to　free　the　Keeper。　Those　with　only　the　gift　for　Additive　can　cause　harm；　tear　the　veil　more；　but　not　free　him　with　it。
　
　'I　think；'　Warren　said　with　a　twinkle；　'that　we're　safe　with　that　black　stone　in　this　world　as　long　as　we're　careful。'
　
　'It's　not　black。　I　never　told　you　it　was　black。　I　just　described　the　shape　and　size。'
　
　Warren　touched　a　finger　to　his　lower　lip。　'Not　black？　Then　what　color　is　it？'
　
　'Amber。'
　
　Warren　slapped　his　hands　to　his　chest　with　a　groan　of　relief。　Thank　the　Creator。'　He　let　out　an　uncharacteristic　whoop。　'That's　the　best　news　I've　heard　all　year！　Amber　means　it　was　touched　by　a　wizard's　tears。　That　repulses　the　Keeper。　It's　like　rotten；　festering　meat　would　be　to　us。　His　agents　won't　touch　it！'
　
　Richard's　grin　widened。　It　had　to　be　Zedd　who　had　done　it。　That　was　why　he　felt　Zedd's　pull　from　the　stone。　This；　on　top　of　his　discovery　about　Kahlan；　was　just　too　much。　He　couldn't　keep　the　happiness　to　himself。　'Warren；　I　have　other　good　news。　I'm　in　love。　I'm　going　to　be　wed。'
　
　Warren　gave　another　whoop；　but　then　his　smile　wilted。　'It's　not　Pasha；　is　it？　If　it　is；　that's　all　right；　I　will　understand。　You　two　will　make　a　handsome　。。。'
　
　Richard　lightly　touched　Warren's　shoulder。　'No；　it's　not　Pasha。　I'll　tell　you　about　her　some　other　time。　She's　the　Mother　Confessor。　I　didn't　mean　to　interrupt　you。　What　about　the　other　things？'
　
　'Well。'　He　pulled　another　book　across　the　table。　'There　are　precious　few　references　to　the　round　bone　you　spoke　of；　and　the　skrin。　One　of　them　is　in　a　forked　prophecy　having　to　do　with　the　winter　solstice　ing　up　in　a　couple　of　weeks。　It's　a　plicated　juncture　of　forks　and　crossovers。　We've　only　recently　learned　that　the　prophecy　about　that　woman　and　her　people　is　the　descendent　of　a　true　fork。　。。。'
　
　Whenever　Warren　went　off　on　his　talk　of　forks　and　junctures；　Richard　always　started　getting　lost。　About　the　only　thing　he　understood　was　winter　solstice。
　
　'What　does　the　winter　solstice　have　to　do　with　anything？'
　
　Warren　looked　up。　'Winter　solstice。　The　shortest　day　of　the　year。　Shortest　day；　longest　night。　See　what　I　mean？'
　
　'No。　What　does　that　have　to　do　with　the　skrin？'
　
　The　longest　night　of　the　year。　Longest　night；　most　darkness。　You　see；　the　Keeper　has　certain　times　when　he　can　exert　greater　or　lesser　influence　in　this　world。　His　is　the　world　of　darkness；　and　when　we　are　in　the　period　of　the　longest　darkness；　the　veil　is　at　its　weakest。　That's　when　he　is　able　to　do　the　most　harm。'
　
　Then　we're　in　danger　in　a　few　weeks；　at　winter　solstice。'
　
　Warren's　eyebrows　lifted　in　delight。　'Yes。　But　you've　given　me　the　information　to　solve　an　uping　prophecy；　along　with　what　we　now　know　to　be　the　true　fork　involved　along　with　it。　You　see；　with　this　winter　solstice；　there　is　a　prophecy　about　the　danger　to　the　world　of　the　living。
　
　The　Keeper　has　to　have　a　number　of　elements　in　place　for　it　to　be　a　true　fork；　such　as　an　open　gateway；　but　he　needs　an　agent　in　this　world　…　'　Warren　leaned　forward　in　delight。
　
　'　…　and　he　in　turn　needs　the　skrin。　If　he　has　the　skrin　bone　you　told　me　of；　he　can　invoke　the　guardian；　and　destroy　it。　If　the　guardian　is　destroyed；　the　Keeper　can　e　through　the　gateway。'
　
　'Warren；　that　sounds　pretty　frightening　to　me。'
　
　Warren　lifted　his　hand　with　a　dismissive　wave。　'No；　no。　Many　prophecies　sound　ominous；　like　this　one。　But　the　elements　are　rarely　all　in　place；　so　they　turn　out　to　be　false　forks；　as　most　do。　The　books　are　clogged　with　false　forks；　because　…'
　
　'Warren；　get　to　the　point。'
　
　'Oh；　yes。　Well；　you　see；　you　told　me　that　your　friend　has　the　bone　that　can　invoke　the　skrin。　And　the　Keeper　would　need　an　agent；　but　he　doesn't　have　one。　Without　the　skrin　bone；　and　with　the　uping　fork　which　we　know　must　be　passed　correctly；　and　we　think　it　will；　this　is　just　another　false　fork；　so　we're　safe！'
　
　Richard　felt　a　distant　tingling　of　apprehension；　but　Warren's　bubbly　confidence　overwhelmed　it。　He　was　caught　up　in　Warren's　enthusiasm。　He　gave　the　young　man　a　clap　on　the　back。
　
　'Good　work；　Warren。　Now　I　can　concentrate　on　learning　to　use　my　Han。'
　
　Warren　beamed。　Thank　you；　Richard。　I'm　so　glad　you've　been　able　to　help　me。　I've　made　more　progress　than　I　ever　thought　I　would　before　I　met　you。'
　
　Still　grinning；　Richard　shook　his　head　in　wonder。　'Warren；　I've　never　met　anyone　that　was　so　smart；　yet　so　young。'
　
　Warren　laughed　as　if　that　was　the　funniest　thing　he　had　ever　heard。
　
　'What's　so　funny？'
　
　'Your　joke；'　Warren　said；　wiping　tears　from　his　eyes。
　
　'What　joke？'
　
　Warren's　laughter　slowed　to　a　frowning　chuckle。　'About　me　being　young。　It　was　funny。'
　
　Richard　held　his　polite　smile。　'Warren；　why　is　that　funny？'
　
　Warren's　chuckle　died　down　to　a　grin。　'Because　I'm　one　hundred　and　fifty…seven　years　old。'
　
　Richard's　flesh　prickled。　'Now　you're　making　a　joke。　That's　a　joke。　It　is　a　joke；　Warren；　isn't　it？'
　
　Warren's　good　humor　evaporated。　He　blinked。　'Richard　。。。　you　do　know；　don't　you。　They　must　have　told　you。　I　was　sure　they　would　have　told　you　by　now。　。。。'
　
　Richard's　arm　swept　the　books　aside。　He　scooted　his　chair　closer。　Told　me　what？　Warren；　don't　you　say　something　like　that　and　then　go　silent　on　me。　You're　my　friend；　you　tell　me。'
　
　Warren　cleared　his　throat　and　then　wet　his　lips　with　his　tongue。　He　leaned　in　a　little。　'Richard；　I'm　sorry。　I　thought　you　knew；　or　I　would　have　told　you　myself　a　long　time　ago。　I　would　have。'
　
　'Told　me　what！'
　
　'The　magic。　The　magic　of　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。　It　has　Additive　and　Subtractive　elements　to　it　that　are　tied　to　the　other　worlds。　That　makes　time　move　differently　here。'
　
　'Warren；'　Richard　said　hoarsely；　'do　you　mean　it　affects　all　of　us？　All　those　wearing　the　collar？'
　
　'No　。。。　everyone　at　the　palace。　The　Sisters；　too。　This　place　is　spelled。　As　long　as　the　Sisters　live　at　the　palace；　they　age　the　same　as　we　do。　The　spell　makes　us　age　more　slowly；　makes　time　seem　different　to　us。'
　
　'What　do　you　mean；　'different'？'
　
　The　spell　slows　our　aging　process。　For　every　year　we　age；　those　outside　age　between　ten　and　fifteen　years。'
　
　Richard's　head　was　spinning。　'Warren；　that　can't　be　true。　It　can't。'　He　tried　desperately　to　think　of　proof。　'Pasha。　Pasha　could　only　be　。。。'
　
　'Richard；　I've　known　Pasha　for　over　a　hundred　years。'
　
　Richard　slid　the　chair　back　and　stood。　He　raked　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　That　doesn't　make　any　sense。　It　has　to　be　some　kind　of　。。。　Why　would　it　work　like　that？'
　
　Warren　took　Richard's　arm　and　sat　him　down。　He　pulled　his　own　chair　close。　He　spoke　in　a　soft；　concerned　voice；　as　one　would　when　breaking　calamitous　news　to　a　someone。
　
　'It　takes　a　long　time　to　train　a　wizard。　Outside；　in　the　rest　of　the　world；　over　twenty　years　had　gone　by　before　I　was　even　able　to　touch　my　Han。　But　because　I　live　here；　I　had　aged　less　than　two　years。　Twenty　years　had　passed　here；　too；　but　I　aged　only　two。　If　the　palace　did　not　slow　our　aging；　we　would　all　die　of　old　age　before　we　could　even　light　a　lamp　with　our　Han