tg.stone of tears-第25章

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about　killing　women。　Last　time　offered：　state　your　business；　or　this　conversation　is　ended。'
　
　She　glanced　to　the　Agiel　around　his　neck。　'Yes；　we　can　see　you　have　learned　some　lessons。'　Her　face　softened　a　little。　'Richard；　you　need　our　help。　We　have　e　because　you　have　the　gift。'
　
　Richard　looked　at　each　of　them　before　he　again　spoke。　'You　have　been　seriously　misinformed。　I　don't　have　the　gift　nor　do　I　want　anything　to　do　with　it。'
　
　He　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。　'I'm　sorry　you　have　e　a　long　way　for　nothing。'　He　took　Kahlan's　arm。　'The　Mud　People　don't　like　outsiders。　Their　weapons　are　tipped　with　poison；　and　they　are　not　shy　about　using　them。　I　will　tell　them　to　grant　you　safe　passage　out　of　their　land。　I　advise　you　not　to　test　their　restraint。'
　
　Richard　led　Kahlan　by　the　arm　toward　the　door。　She　could　feel　the　rage　radiating　from　him；　could　see　the　anger　in　his　eyes；　and　something　else；　too：　his　headache。　She　could　see　the　pain　he　suffered。
　
　The　headaches　will　kill　you；'　Sister　Grace　said　quietly。
　
　Richard　froze　in　his　tracks；　his　chest　heaving　as　he　stared　ahead　at　nothing。　'I've　had　headaches　all　my　life。　I'm　used　to　them。'
　
　'Not　like　these；'　Sister　Grace　pressed。　'We　can　see　it　in　your　eyes。　We　recognize　the　headaches　of　the　gift。　It's　our　job。'
　
　There　is　a　healer　here　who　is　taking　care　of　them。　She　is　very　good。　She　has　already　helped　me；　and　I　am　confident　she　will　soon　cure　me　of　them。'
　
　'She　can't。　No　one　can　but　us。　If　you　don't　let　us　help　you；　the　headaches　will　kill　you。　That　is　why　we're　here；　to　help　you；　not　to　bring　you　to　harm。'
　
　Richard's　hand　stretched　for　the　latch。　'You　needn't　concern　yourselves　about　me。　I'm　not　cursed　with　the　gift。　Everything　is　under　control。　Safe　journey　to　you；　ladies。'
　
　Kahlan　gently　put　her　hand　on　his　arm；　preventing　him　from　reaching　the　latch。　'Richard；'　she　whispered。　'Maybe　we　should　at　least　listen　to　them。　What　harm　can　there　be　in　listening　to　them？　Perhaps　you　could　learn　something　useful　to　help　the　headaches。'
　
　'I　don't　have　the　gift！　I　don't　want　anything　to　do　with　magic！　Magic　has　caused　me　nothing　but　trouble；　nothing　but　pain。　I　don't　have　the　gift　and　I　don't　want　it。'　He　reached　for　the　latch　again。
　
　'And　I　suppose　you　are　going　to　tell　us　that　your　eating　habits　haven't　changed；　all　of　a　sudden；'　Sister　Grace　said。　'I　would　say　in　just　the　last　few　days。'
　
　Richard　froze　again。　'Everyone　has　changes　in　mood　about　what　they　want　to　eat。'
　
　'Has　anyone　watched　you　sleep？'
　
　'What？'
　
　'If　anyone　has　watched　you　sleep；　they　will　have　noticed　that　you　now　sleep　with　your　eyes　open。'
　
　Kahlan　felt　a　cold　wave　of　goose　bumps。　Everything　was　starting　to　connect。　Wizards　all　had　odd；　specific　eating　habits；　and　they　all　slept　with　their　eyes　open；　sometimes；　even　those　without　the　gift。　In　those　with　the　gift；　like　Zedd；　it　was　more　often。
　
　'I　don't　sleep　with　my　eyes　open。　You　are　wrong。'
　
　'Richard；'　Kahlan　whispered；　'maybe　we　should　listen　to　them。　Hear　what　they　have　to　say。'
　
　He　looked　to　her；　as　if　pleading　for　her　to　help　him　escape　this。　Pleading　for　her　help。　'I　don't　sleep　with　my　eyes　open。'
　
　'Yes；　you　do。'　She　put　a　hand　on　his　arm。　'I　have　seen　you　sleeping　for　months　as　we　were　trying　to　stop　Rahl。　When　I　stood　watch；　I　often　saw　you　sleep。　Only　since　we　left　D'Hara　have　I　seen　you　sleep　with　your　eyes　open；　just　like　Zedd　does。'
　
　Richard　still　had　his　back　to　the　three　women。　'What　do　you　want？　How　can　you　help　me　with　the　headaches？'　he　called　to　them。
　
　'If　we　are　to　discuss　this；　we　are　not　going　to　talk　to　the　back　of　your　head。'　Sister　Verna's　tone　was　like　one　used　when　talking　to　an　obstinate　child。　'You　will　address　us　properly。'
　
　It　was　the　wrong　tone　to　use　on　Richard　at　that　moment。　He　yanked　the　door　open　and　slammed　it　as　he　went　out。
　
　Kahlan　thought　the　door　might　e　off　its　hinges；　but　it　didn't。　She　felt　heartsick　about　what　she　had　said　to　him。　He　had　wanted　her　to　take　his　side；　he　was　in　no　mood　to　hear　the　truth。
　
　She　was　puzzled　by　his　attitude。　Richard　was　not　one　to　avoid　the　truth。　But　he　was　deathly　afraid　of　something。　She　turned　and　looked　at　the　three　women。
　
　Sister　Grace　separated　her　hands　and　let　them　hang　at　her　sides。　This　is　no　game；　Mother　Confessor。　If　he　isn't　helped　by　us；　he　is　going　to　die。　He　doesn't　have　much　time。'
　
　Kahlan　nodded；　her　anger　gone；　replaced　by　an　empty　sadness。　'I　will　go　talk　to　him；'　she　said　in　a　small　voice　that　was　almost　lost　in　the　large　room。　'Please　wait　here。　I　will　bring　him　back。'
　
　Richard　was　sitting　on　the　ground；　leaning　against　the　short　wall；　right　under　where　his　sword　had　cut　a　swath　the　night　before　when　the　screeling　had　e。　His　elbows　were　on　his　knees；　his　hands　over　his　head；　fingers　locked　together。　He　didn't　look　up。　Kahlan　sat　tight　against　him。
　
　'Your　head　hurts　pretty　bad　right　now；　doesn't　it？'
　
　He　nodded。　She　pulled　the　dry　shaft　of　a　weed　and　held　it　between　her　hands　as　she　rested　her　forearms　on　her　knees。　As　if　what　she　had　said　reminded　him；　he　took　some　leaves　out　of　his　shirt　pocket　and　put　them　in　his　mouth。
　
　Kahlan　stripped　a　little　leaf　off　the　stem。　'Richard；　tell　me；　what　are　you　afraid　of？'
　
　He　chewed　the　leaves　a　moment；　and　then　lifted　his　head；　leaning　back。　'Do　you　remember　when　the　screeling　came；　and　I　said　I　sensed　it；　and　you　said　maybe　it　was　just　that　I　heard　it？'　She　nodded。　'When　I　killed　that　man　today；　I　sensed　him　too；　just　like　the　screeling。　It　was　just　the　same。　Danger。　I　didn't　know　what　either　was；　but　I　sensed　the　danger。　I　knew　there　was　trouble；　but　I　didn't　know　what　kind。'
　
　'What　does　that　have　to　do　with　the　three　in　there？'
　
　'Before　we　went　in　the　spirit　house；　to　see　those　women；　I　had　the　same　sensation：　danger。　I　don't　know　what　it　means；　but　it's　the　same　feeling。　Somehow；　I　know　those　women　are　going　to　e　between　us。'
　
　'Richard；　you　don't　know　that。　They　said　only　that　they　want　to　help　you。'
　
　'I　do　know。　Just　as　I　knew　the　screeling　was　there；　and　the　man　with　the　spear　was　there。　These　women　are　somehow　a　danger　to　me。'
　
　Kahlan　felt　a　lump　growing　in　her　throat。　'You　also　said　you　know　the　headaches　might　kill　you。　Richard；　I'm　afraid　for　you。'
　
　'And　I'm　afraid　of　magic。　I　hate　magic。　I　hate　the　magic　of　the　sword。　I　wish　I　could　be　rid　of　it。　You　can't　imagine　the　things　I've　had　to　do　with　it。　You　don't　know　what　it　took　to　turn　the　blade　white。　Darken　Rani's　magic　killed　my　father；　and　took　my　brother。　It　hurt　a　great　many　people。'　He　let　out　a　deep　breath。　'I　hate　magic。'
　
　'I　have　magic；'　she　said　softly。
　
　'And　it　almost　kept　us　apart　forever。'
　
　'But　it　didn't。　You　figured　out　how　to　make　it　work。　Without　my　magic；　I　would　never　have　met　you。'　She　rubbed　his　arm。　'Magic　also　gave　Adie　back　her　foot；　and　has　helped　a　lot　of　others。　Zedd　is　a　wizard；　he　has　the　gift。　Would　you　say　that　is　bad？　Zedd　has　always　used　his　gift　to　help　people。
　
　'Richard；　you　have　magic　too。　You　have　the　gift。　You　as　much　as　admitted　it。　You　used　it　to　sense　the　screeling。　You　saved　me。　You　used　it　to　sense　the　man　that　was　going　to　kill　Chandalen。　You　saved　him。'
　
　'I　don't　want　to　have　magic。'
　
　'It　seems　to　me　you　are　thinking　of　the　problem；　and　not　the　solution。　Isn't　that　what　you　always　say：　think　of　the　solution；　not　the　problem？'
　
　Richard　thumped　his　head　back　against　the　wall　and　closed　his　eyes。　He　let　out　an　exasperated　breath。　'Is　this　what　being　married　to　you　is　going　to　be　like？　For　the　rest　of　my　life；　you　always　telling　me　when　I'm　being　stupid？'
　
　She　smiled。　'Would　you　have　me　let　you　delude　yourself？'
　
　He　scrubbed　his　hands　on　his　face。　'I　guess　not。　My　head　hurts　so　much；　I　guess　it's　keeping　me　from　thinking　straight。'
　
　'Then　let's　do　something　about　it？　Let's　go　in　and　at　least　talk　to　the　sisters；　and　hear　what　they　have　to　say？　They　said　they　want　to　help。'
　
　He　gave　her　a　dark　look。　'So　did　Darken　Rahl。'
　
　'Running　away　is　not　the　solution。　You　didn't　run　from　Darken　Rahl。'
　
　He　looked　at　her　a　long　moment　and　then　nodded。　'I'll　listen。'
　
　The　three　were　standing　where　Kahlan　had　left　them。　They　gave　her　small　smiles　of　appreciation；　apparently　pleased　she　had　brought　him　back。　Richard　and　Kahlan　stood　close　together　in　front　of　the　three　women。
　
　'We　will　listen　…　listen　…　to　what　you　have　to　say　about　my　headaches。'
　
　Sister　Grace　looked　to　Kahlan。　Thank　you　for　your　help；　Mother　Confessor；　but　we　will　speak　with　Richard　alone　now。'
　
　Richard's　anger　flared　again；　but　he　kept　his　tone　in　check。　'Kahlan　and　I　are　to　be　married。'　The　three　gave　each　other　the　look　again。　It　was　a　little　more　serious　this　time。　'What　you　have　to　say　to　me　affects　her；　too。　If　you　want　to　talk　to　me；　she　will　stay　and　hear　it　too。　Both　of　us；　or　neither。　Choose。'
　
　The　looks　were　still　passing　between　the　three。　At　last　Sister　Grace　spoke。
　
　'Very　well。'
　
　'And　the　first　thing　you　should　know　is　that　I　don't　like　magic；　and　I'm　not　convinced　I　have　the　gift。　If　I　do；　I　am　not　pleased　about　it；　and　only　want　to　be　rid　of　it。'
　
　'We　are　not　here　to　please　you；　we　are　here　to　save　your　life。　To　do　that　we　must　teach　you　to　use　the　gift。　If　you　don't　learn　to　control　it；　it　will　kill　you。'
　
　'I　understand。　I　had　a　similar　problem　with　the　Sword　of　Truth。'
　
　The　first　thing　you　must　learn；'　Sister　Verna　said；　'is　that　just　as　the　Mother　Confessor　is　to　be　treated　with　deference；　so　are　we。　We　have　worked　long　and　hard　to　bee　Sisters　of　the　Light；　and　expect　to　be　treated　with　due　respect。　I　am　Sister　Verna；　this　is　Sister　Grace；　and　this　is　Sister　Elizabeth。'
　
　Richard　glared　at　them。　At　last；　he　bowed　his　head。　As　you　wish。　Sister　Verna。'　He　regarded　each　in　turn。　And　who　are　the　Sisters　of　the　Light？'
　
　'We　are　the　ones　who　train　wizards；　those　with　the　gift。'
　
　'Where　are　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　from？'
　
　'We　all　live　and　work　at　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。'
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　'Sister　Verna；　I've　never　heard　of　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。　Where　is　it？'
　
　'In　the　city　of　Tanimura。'
　
　Kahlan's　frown　deepened。　'I　know　every　city　in　the　Midlands。　I've　never　heard　of　Tanimura。'
　
　Sister　Verna　held　Kahlan's　gaze　for　a　moment。　'Nonetheless；　that　is　where　we　are　from。'
　
　'Why　were　you　surprised　when　you　found　out　how　old　I　am？'
　
　'Because；'　Sister　Grace　said；　'it　is　almost　unheard　of　for　one　with　the　gift　not　to　e　to　our　attention　when　he　is　still　young。'
　
　'How　young？'
　
　'At　the　very　most；　a　third　your　age。'
　
　'And　why　do　you　think　I　did　not　e　to　your　attention？'
　
　'Obviously；　you　have　been　hidden　from　us；　somehow。'
　
　Kahlan　recognized　that　Richard　was　slipping　into　his　Seeker's　role；　seeking　answers　to　his　questions　before　he　gave　them　anything　they　wanted。
　
　'Did　you　train　Zedd？'
　
　'Who？'
　
　'Zeddicus　Zu'l　Zorander；　wizard　of　the　First　Order。'
　
　The　look　passed　between　them　again。　'We　don't　know　First　Wizard　Zorander。'
　
　'I　thought　it　was　your　business　to　know　of　ones　with　the　gift。　Sister　Verna？'
　
　The