tg.stone of tears-第49章

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　'I　would　not　expect　you　to　forgive　me。　I　only　wish　you　to　understand　the　truth　of　what　I　am　telling　you；　the　truth　of　Richard's　madness。'
　
　'Why！　To　what　purpose！'
　
　'So　that　you　will　understand　what　you　must　do。　Wearing　a　collar　is　the　core　of　that　insanity。　It　symbolizes　everything　I　did　to　him。　In　his　mind；　magic　is　madness；　torture。　A　collar　is　madness；　torture。　Insanity。
　
　The　thought　of　having　a　collar　around　his　neck　brings　that　madness　out　of　the　darkest　corners　of　his　being；　brings　out　his　deepest　fears。　He　is　not　exaggerating　when　he　says　he　would　rather　die　than　put　a　collar　around　his　neck。　He　will　not　do　it　to　save　himself。　If　he　doesn't；　he　will　die。　There　is　only　one　thing　in　the　world　that　will　make　him　put　on　the　collar。'
　
　Kahlan's　head　snapped　up。　Her　eyes　were　wide。　'You　want　me　to　ask　him　to　put　a　collar　around　his　neck。'　She　went　weak　with　dread。　'You　would　have　me　do　that　to　him？　After　what　you　have　told　me？'
　
　Denna　nodded。　'He　will　do　it　if　you　tell　him　to。　He　will　not　do　it　for　any　other　reason。　None。'
　
　Richard's　limp　arm　slipped　from　Kahlan's　shaking　hands。　Her　fingers　covered　her　mouth。　Denna　was　right。　After　what　she　knew　now；　what　she　had　heard；　she　knew　Denna　was　right。
　
　She　knew　now　what　it　had　been　that　she　had　seen　in　Richard's　eyes　when　he　looked　at　the　collar　the　Sisters　held　out　to　him。　It　had　been　madness。　Richard　would　never　put　a　collar　around　his　neck　of　his　own　accord。　Never。　She　knew　that　now。　Really　knew　it。
　
　A　small　cry　escaped　her　throat。　'If　I　make　him　put　on　the　collar；　he　will　think　I　have　betrayed　him。　In　his　madness；　he　will　think　I　want　to　hurt　him。'　Pain　welled　up　inside　her；　and　she　started　to　cry　all　over　again。　'He　will　hate　me。'
　
　Denna's　voice　came　in　a　soft　whisper。　'I　am　sorry；　Kahlan。　That　could　be　the　truth　of　it。　We　can't　know　for　sure；　but　he　may　very　well　see　it　that　way。　I　don't　know　how　much　the　madness　will　take　over　when　he　knows　he　must　put　on　the　collar；　when　you　tell　him　he　must。　But　he　loves　you　more　than　life　itself；　and　will　put　it　on　for　no　other　reason。'
　
　'Denna；　I　don't　know　if　I　could　do　that　to　him。　Not　after　what　you　have　told　me。'
　
　'You　must；　or　he　will　die。　If　you　love　him　enough；　you　must　do　this。　You　must　be　strong　enough　in　your　love　for　him　to　force　him　to　do　it；　knowing　the　pain　it　will　bring　him。　You　may　have　to　act　as　I　would　have　acted；　to　frighten　him　enough　to　do　as　you　say。　You　may　have　to　bring　the　madness　to　full　flower；　make　him　think　the　way　he　did　when　he　was　with　me；　when　he　would　have　done　anything　he　was　told。
　
　'You　may　lose　his　love。　He　may　hate　you　forever。　But　if　you　really　love　him；　you　will　see　that　you　are　the　only　one　who　can　help　him；　the　only　one　who　can　save　him。'
　
　Kahlan　snatched　desperately　for　a　way　out。　'But　in　the　morning；　we　were　going　to　go　to　Zedd；　a　wizard；　who　might　be　able　to　help　him　control　the　gift。　Richard　thinks　Zedd　will　know　what　to　do；　that　he　will　be　able　to　help　him。'
　
　'That　may　be　true。　I'm　sorry；　Kahlan；　I　don't　know　the　answer　to　that。　It　may　work。　But　I　do　know　that　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　have　the　power　to　save　him。　If　they　e；　and　he　turns　them　down　for　the　third　time；　he　will　forever　lose　the　opportunity　to　get　their　help。　If　it　turns　out　that　this　wizard　can't　help　Richard；　then　he　will　die。　His　time　is　short；　days　at　most。
　
　'Do　you　understand　what　that　means；　Kahlan？　He　won't　just　die；　the　Keeper　will　have　him；　have　everyone。　Richard　is　the　only　one　who　can　close　the　veil。'
　
　'How？　Do　you　know　how　he　can　close　it？'
　
　'I'm　sorry；　I　don't。　I　know　only　that　it　must　be　torn　the　rest　of　the　way　from　this　side。　That　is　why　the　Keeper　has　agents　on　this　side。　That　is　why　Darken　Rahl　came　here。　Somehow；　Richard　is　the　only　one　who　can　stop　them；　and　also　the　only　one　with　the　power　to　repair　what　has　been　rent。
　
　'If　he　turns　the　Sisters　down；　and　this　wizard　can't　help　him；　then　he　dies；　soon；　and　it　will　be　as　if　the　mark　itself　took　him　to　the　Keeper。　If　he　can　get　to　this　wizard　before　he　turns　the　Sisters　down　for　the　third　time；　he　can　learn　whether　he　can　be　helped　without　them　。。。　without　the　collar。　But　if　they　e　before　he　can　get　to　Zedd；　I　must　have　your　promise　you　will　do　what　must　be　done　to　save　him。'
　
　There　is　time。　The　Sisters　won't　be　back　for　at　least　a　few　days。　We　can　get　to　Zedd　first。　There　is　time！'
　
　'I　hope　you　are　right；　I　really　do。　I'm　sure　you　won't　believe　me；　but　I　don't　want　Richard　to　ever　have　to　wear　a　collar；　to　ever　face　that　madness　again。　But　if　you　can't　get　to　Zedd；　then　you　must　promise　me　you　won't　allow　him　to　miss　the　chance　at　life　the　Sisters　offer。'
　
　Tears　streamed　from　Kahlan's　burning　eyes。　Richard　would　hate　her　if　she　made　him　put　on　the　collar；　she　knew　he　would。　He　would　think　she　had　betrayed　him。
　
　'But　what　of　the　mark？　He　still　has　the　mark　on　him。'
　
　Denna　watched　her　a　long　time。　Her　voice　came　so　softly　Kahlan　could　scarcely　hear　it。　'I　will　take　the　mark。　I　will　go　to　the　Keeper　in　his　place。'　A　shimmering　tear　ran　down　her　cheek。　'But　I　will　only　do　it；　I　will　only　give　up　my　soul；　if　I　know　it　gives　him　a　chance。'
　
　Kahlan　stared　incredulously。　'You　would　do　that　for　him？'　she　whispered。　'Why？'
　
　'Because　after　all　I　had　done　to　him；　he　cared　about　my　pain。　He　is　the　only　one　who　ever　did　anything　to　stop　my　pain。　When　Darken　Rahl　beat　me；　he　cried；　and　he　made　a　potion　to　take　away　my　pain；　though　I　had　never　once　stopped　torturing　him　no　matter　how　much　he　begged。　Not　once。
　
　'And　after　all　the　things　I　have　told　you　I　did　to　him；　he　forgave　me。　He　understood　what　I　had　suffered。　He　took　my　Agiel　to　wear　around　his　neck　and　promised　to　remember　me；　to　remember　that　I　was　more　than　a　Mord…Sith；　to　remember　that　I　was　once　just　Denna。'
　
　Another　shimmering　tear　ran　down。　'And　because　I　love　him。　Even　in　death；　I　love　him。　Though　I　know　my　love　will　never　be　requited；　I　still　love　him。'
　
　Kahlan　looked　at　Richard　as　he　lay　on　his　back；　unconscious；　helpless；　with　the　Keeper's　mark；　black　and　bleeding；　on　his　chest。　The　black　and　white　mud　painted　everywhere　on　him　made　him　look　wild；　savage；　but　he　wasn't；　he　was　the　gentlest　person　she　had　ever　known。　She　realized　then　that　she　would　do　anything　to　save　him。　Anything。
　
　'I　will　do　it；'　she　whispered。　'I　promise。　If　we　can't　find　Zedd　before　the　Sisters　e　back　for　the　third　time；　I　will　make　him　put　on　the　collar；　no　matter　what　it　takes。　Even　if　it　makes　him　hate　me。　Even　if　it　kills　me。'
　
　Denna's　hand　reached　out　to　her。　'An　oath　then；　between　the　living　and　the　dead；　to　do　what　must　be　done　to　save　him。'
　
　Kahlan　stared　at　the　hand　before　her。　'I　still　can't　forgive　you。　I　won't　forgive　you。'
　
　The　hand　stayed　where　it　was；　waiting。　The　only　forgiveness　I　need　has　already　been　granted。'
　
　Kahlan　stared　at　the　hand；　and　then　reached　out　and　took　it。　'An　oath　then；　to　save　the　one　we　love。'
　
　They　clasped　hands；　and　shared　a　silent　joining。
　
　Denna　took　away　her　hand。　'Time　is　short　for　him。　It　must　be　now。'　Kahlan　nodded。　'When　it　is　done；　get　help　for　him。　Though　the　pull　of　the　mark　will　be　removed；　the　wound　will　still　be　there；　and　it　is　a　serious　one。'
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　There　is　a　healer　here。　She　will　help　him。'
　
　Denna's　eyes　were　filled　with　passion。　Thank　you；　Kahlan；　for　loving　him　enough　to　help　him。　May　the　good　spirits　be　with　you　both。'　She　gave　a　small；　frightened　smile。　'Where　I　am　going；　I　will　never　see　any　of　them；　or　I　would　send　them　to　help　you。'
　
　Kahlan　touched　the　back　of　the　other's　hand；　offering　a　silent　prayer　for　strength。
　
　Denna　returned　the　touch　to　Kahlan's　cheek；　and　then　knelt　next　to　Richard。　Her　hand　went　to　the　mark；　covering　it；　dissolving　into　it。　Richard's　chest　heaved。
　
　Denna's　features　twisted　in　pain。　She　threw　her　head　back　with　a　piercing　scream　that　shot　through　Kahlan。
　
　And　then　she　was　just　gone。
　
　Richard　groaned。　Kahlan　bent　over　him；　caressing　him。　Crying。
　
　'Kahlan？'　he　moaned。　'Kahlan；　what　happened？　It　hurts。　It　hurts　so　。。。'
　
　'Lie　still；　my　love。　Everything　is　all　right。　You　are　safe；　with　me。　I'll　get　help。'
　
　He　nodded　and　she　ran　to　the　door；　throwing　it　open。　The　elders　were　sitting　in　a　small　circle　in　the　dark；　just　outside　the　door。　They　looked　up　expectantly。
　
　'Help　me！'　she　screamed。　'Carry　him　to　Nissel！　There's　no　time　to　get　her！'
　
　
　CHAPTER　17
　
　When　he　stirred；　Kahlan　lifted　her　head。
　
　His　gray　eyes　blinked　and　searched　around　the　small　room　until　they　found　her　face。　'Where　are　we？'
　
　She　gave　his　shoulder　a　little　squeeze。　'At　Nissel's。　She　tended　your　burn。'
　
　His　right　hand　came　up　and　touched　the　bandage…covered　poultice。　He　winced。　'How　long　。。。　What　time　is　it？'
　
　Kahlan　looked　up　from　where　she　was　crouched　on　the　floor　next　to　him；　rubbed　her　eyes；　and　squinted　out　the　partly　opened　door　at　the　gray　light。　'It　has　been　light　for　an　hour　or　two。　Nissel　is　in　the　back　room；　sleeping。　She　was　up　most　of　the　night；　tending　your　wound。　The　elders　are　all　outside；　watching　over　you。　They　haven't　left　since　we　brought　you　here。'
　
　'When？　When　did　you　bring　me　here？'
　
　'In　the　middle　of　the　night。'
　
　Richard　looked　around　again。　'What　happened？　Darken　Rahl　was　there。'　His　big　hand　grasped　her　arm。　'He　touched　me。　He　。。。　marked　me。　Where　did　he　go？　What　happened　after　he　touched　me？'
　
　She　shook　her　head。　'I　don't　know。　He　just　left。'
　
　His　hand　squeezed　her　arm　painfully。　His　eyes　were　wild。　'What　do　you　mean　he　left！　Did　he　go　back　into　the　green　light？　Back　into　the　underworld？'
　
　She　pulled　at　his　fingers。　'Richard！　You're　hurting　me。'
　
　He　let　go。　'I'm　sorry。'　He　cradled　her　head　to　his　good　shoulder。　'I'm　sorry。　I　didn't　mean　to。　I'm　sorry。'　He　let　out　a　noisy　breath。　'I　can't　believe　how　stupid　I　am。'
　
　She　kissed　his　neck。　'It　didn't　hurt　that　much。'
　
　'That's　not　what　I　mean。　I　mean　I　can't　believe　how　stupid　I　was　to　call　him　back　from　the　underworld。　I　can't　believe　I　did　something　that　stupid。　I　was　warned。　I　should　have　thought。　I　should　have　figured　it　out。　I　let　myself　focus　on　one　thing　so　strongly　that　I　didn't　look　around　and　see　what　was　ing　from　a　different　direction。　I　must　be　mad　to　have　done　that。'
　
　'Don't　say　that；'　she　whispered。　'You're　not　mad。'　She　pushed　herself　up　and　looked　down　at　him。　'Don't　you　ever　say　that　about　yourself。'
　
　He　blinked；　then　pushed　himself　up　to　sit　facing　her。　He　winced　when　he　touched　the　bandage　again。　He　reached　out　to　run　his　hand　down　her　cheek；　through　her　hair。　He　smiled　the　smile　that　made　her　heart　melt。
　
　He　sought　her　eyes。　'You　are　the　most　beautiful　woman　in　the　world。　Did　I　ever　tell　you　that？'
　
　'All　the　time。'
　
　'Well；　you　are。　I　love　your　green　eyes；　your　hair。　You　have　the　most　beautiful　hair　I　ever　saw。　Kahlan；　I　love　you　more　than　anything　in　the　world。'
　
　She　forced　herself　to　hold　back　tears。　'I　love　you　more　than　anything　else；　too。　Please；　Richard；　promise　me　you　won't　ever　doubt　my　love。　Promise　me　that　no　matter　what　happens；　you　won't　ever　doubt　how　much　I　love　you。'
　
　He　cupped　her　cheek。　'I