tg.stone of tears-第60章

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llar；　and　hold　them　prisoner。　I　intend　to　have　this　collar　off。　When　I　decide　it's　time；　any　friend　will　help　me。　Those　who　try　to　stop　me　won't　be　my　friends；　they　will　be　dead　enemies。'
　
　Sister　Verna　shook　her　head　and　urged　Jessup　in　behind　him　as　he　started　away。　'The　beam　in　the　central　hall。　I'm　sure　of　it。'
　
　
　CHAPTER　20
　
　The　sound　of　her　heart　pounded　in　her　ears。　Struggling　to　control　her　panicked　breathing；　she　ducked　behind　the　fat　trunk　of　an　old　pine；　pressing　up　against　the　rough　bark。　If　the　Sisters　had　discovered　she　was　following　them　。。。
　
　The　dark；　damp　air　filled　her　lungs　in　ragged　pulls。　Her　lips　moved　soundlessly　with　prayers　to　the　Creator　beseeching　protection。　With　eyes　as　big　as　gold　pieces；　she　stared　into　the　darkness　and　swallowed；　trying　to　wet　her　throat。
　
　The　dark　form　glided　silently　closer。　She　could　just　see　it　as　she　peeked　out　past　the　edge　of　the　tree。　She　suppressed　the　urge　to　scream；　to　run；　and　prepared　herself　to　fight。　She　reached　for　the　sweet　light；　she　embraced　her　Han。
　
　The　shadow　slipped　closer；　hesitating；　searching。　One　more　step；　just　one　more；　and　she　would　spring。　She　would　have　to　do　it　right　…　make　sure　there　was　no　chance　to　raise　an　alarm。　It　had　to　be　fast；　and　it　would　take　different　kinds　of　webs；　all　thrown　at　once；　but　if　she　could　be　precise　and　quick；　there　would　be　no　chance　of　a　scream；　no　alarm；　and　she　would　know　for　sure　who　it　was。　She　held　her　breath。
　
　The　dark　shape　finally　took　another　step。　Spinning　out　from　behind　the　tree；　she　threw　the　webs。　Cords　of　air；　strong　as　dock　line；　whipped　around　the　form。　As　the　mouth　came　open；　she　jammed　a　solid　knot　of　air　into　it；　gagging　it；　before　it　had　a　chance　to　cry　out。
　
　She　slumped　a　little　with　relief　when　no　sound　came　forth；　but　her　heart　still　raced　nearly　out　of　control　as　she　gasped　for　air。　With　an　effort；　she　managed　to　bring　calm　back　to　her　mind；　although　she　maintained　a　firm　grip　on　her　Han；　fearful　to　let　her　caution　slip；　there　could　be　others　about。　She　took　a　deep　breath　and　stepped　closer　to　the　immobilized　shape。　When　she　was　close　enough　to　feel　its　breath　on　her　face；　she　extended　her　palm　up；　and　in　its　center　released　a　thread　of　fire；　to　light　a　tiny　flame；　just　enough　to　see　the　face。
　
　'Jedidiah！'　she　whispered。　She　pressed　her　hand　to　the　back　of　his　neck；　her　fingers　feeling　the　smooth；　cool　metal　of　the　Rada'Han；　and　leaned　her　forehead　against　his　as　she　closed　her　eyes。　Tears　ran　down　her　cheeks。　'Oh；　Jedidiah。　You　gave　me　a　such　a　fright。'
　
　She　opened　her　eyes　and　looked　up　at　his　terrified　face；　lit　by　the　tiny；　flickering　flame。　'I　will　release　you；'　she　whispered　softly；　'but　you　must　be　very　quiet。　Promise？'
　
　He　nodded；　as　best　he　could；　considering　how　tightly　she　had　him　bound。　She　slipped　off　the　webs；　pulling　out　the　gag　of　air。　Jedidiah　sagged　with　relief。
　
　'Sister　Margaret；'　he　whispered　in　a　shaky　voice；　'you　very　nearly　made　me　soil　myself。'
　
　She　laughed　soundlessly。　'I'm　sorry；　Jedidiah；　but　you　very　nearly　did　the　same　to　me。'
　
　She　snipped　the　thin　thread　of　Han　fueling　the　small　flame　and　they　both　sank　to　the　ground；　leaning　against　one　another；　recovering　from　the　fright。　Jedidiah；　several　years　younger；　was　bigger　than　she；　a　handsome　young　man。　Painfully　handsome；　she　thought。
　
　She　had　been　assigned　to　him　when　he　had　first　e　to　the　palace　and　she　had　been　a　novice。　He　had　been　eager　to　learn；　and　had　studied　hard。　He　had　been　a　pleasure　from　the　first　day。　She　knew　others　had　been　difficult；　but　not　Jedidiah。　He　had　done　everything　she　had　asked　of　him。　She　had　only　to　ask；　and　he　threw　himself　into　it。
　
　Others　thought　he　was　more　eager　to　please　her　than　to　please　himself　in　what　he　did；　but　none　could　deny　that　he　was　a　better　student　than　any　other；　and　was　being　a　better　wizard；　and　that　was　all　that　mattered。　This　was　one　area　where　the　results　were　what　counted；　not　the　method；　and　she　had　quickly　earned　her　full　Sisterhood　for　the　way　she　had　brought　him　along。
　
　Jedidiah　had　been　more　proud　of　her　than　she　had　been　of　herself　when　she　had　been　named　a　Sister　of　the　Light。　She　was　proud　of　him；　too；　he　was　probably　the　most　powerful　wizard　the　palace　had　seen　in　a　thousand　years。
　
　'Margaret；'　he　whispered；　'what　are　you　doing　out　here？'
　
　'Sister　Margaret；'　she　corrected。
　
　'No　one　is　around。'　He　kissed　her　ear。
　
　'Stop　that；'　she　scolded。　The　tingle　from　the　kiss　ran　all　the　way　down　her　spine；　he　had　added　a　wisp　of　magic　to　the　kiss。　Sometimes　she　wished　she　hadn't　taught　him　that。　But　other　times　she　ached　to　have　him　do　it。　'Jedidiah；　what　are　you　doing　here？　You　have　no　business　following　me；　following　a　Sister；　out　of　the　palace。'
　
　'You're　up　to　something；　I　know　you　are；　and　don't　you　try　to　tell　me　you're　not。　Something　dangerous。　At　first；　I　was　only　a　little　concerned；　but　when　I　realized　you　were　headed　out　into　the　Hagen　Woods；　I　became　frightened　for　you。　I'm　not　going　to　let　you　go　wandering　into　a　dangerous　place　like　this。　Not　by　yourself　anyway。　Not　without　going　along　to　protect　you。'
　
　'Protect　me！'　she　whispered　harshly。　'Might　I　remind　you　of　what　just　happened？　You　were　helpless　in　a　heartbeat。　You　weren't　able　to　fight　off　even　a　single　one　of　my　webs。　You　weren't　able　to　break　one　of　them。　You　are　hardly　able　to　touch　your　Han；　much　less　use　it　effectively。　You　have　a　lot　to　learn　before　you　are　wizard　enough　to　go　around　protecting　anyone。　It's　all　you　can　do　at　this　point　to　keep　from　stepping　on　your　own　feet！'
　
　The　rebuke　silenced　him。　She　didn't　like　to　reprimand　him　so　harshly；　but　this　was　far　too　dangerous　for　him　to　be　involved　in；　if　what　she　suspected　was　true。　She　feared　for　him；　and　didn't　want　him　hurt。
　
　The　things　she　had　said　weren't　entirely　true；　either。　He　was　already　more　powerful　than　any　Sister；　when　he　could　bring　everything　together　properly；　even　though　that　wasn't　often。　Already；　there　were　Sisters　who　were　afraid　to　push　him　too　far。　She　could　feel　him　look　away。
　
　'I'm　sorry；　Margaret；'　he　whispered。　'I　was　afraid　for　you。'
　
　Her　heart　ached　at　the　hurt　in　his　voice。　She　kept　her　head　close　to　his　so　they　could　speak　in　soft　whispers。　'I　know　you　are；　Jedidiah；　and　I　appreciate　your　concern；　I　really　do。　But　this　is　Sister　business。'
　
　'Margaret；　the　Hagen　Woods　are　a　dangerous　place。　There　are　things　in　here　that　could　kill　you。　I　don't　want　you　in　here。'
　
　The　Hagen　Woods　were　indeed　dangerous。　They　had　been　for　thousands　of　years；　and　had　been　left　that　way　by　decree　of　the　palace。　As　if　they　could　do　anything　about　it。
　
　It　was　said　the　Hagen　Woods　were　a　training　ground　for　a　very　special　kind　of　wizard。　That　kind　of　wizard　was　not　sent　there；　but　went　in　by　choice。　Because　he　wanted　to。　Craved　to　。。。　needed　to。
　
　But　that　was　only　what　was　said。　She　knew　of　no　wizard　going　off　to　spend　time　in　the　Hagen　Woods；　at　least　not　for　the　last　few　thousand　years。　If　it　was　true　any　ever　did。　The　tales　said　that　in　ancient　times　there　were　wizards　of　that　kind；　with　that　much　power；　and　that　they　went　into　the　Hagen　Woods。　Few　ever　came　out；　it　was　also　said。　But　there　were　rules；　even　to　this　place。
　
　'The　sun　didn't　set　while　I　was　here。　I　came　after　dark。　If　you　don't　let　the　sun　set　on　you　in　the　Hagen　Woods；　you　can　leave；　and　I　don't　intend　to　stay　long　enough　for　the　next　sun　to　set　on　me。　It's　safe　enough。　For　me；　anyway。　I　want　you　to　go　home。　Right　now。'
　
　'What's　so　important　that　you　would　go　in　here？　What　are　you　doing？　I　expect　an　answer；　Margaret。　A　truthful　answer。　I　won't　be　put　off。　There　is　danger　for　you　in　this　and　I　won't　be　put　off。'
　
　She　fingered　the　finely　worked　gold　flower　she　kept　on　a　chain　around　her　neck。　Jedidiah　had　made　it　for　her　himself；　not　with　magic；　but　with　his　own　hands。　It　was　a　morning　glory；　meant　to　represent　his　awakening　awareness　of　the　gift；　an　awareness　she　had　helped　to　blossom。　That　little　gold　flower　meant　more　to　her　than　anything　else　she　had。
　
　She　took　up　his　hand　and　leaned　against　him。　'All　right；　Jedidiah；　I　will　tell　you。　But　I　can't　tell　you　all　of　it。　It's　too　dangerous　for　you　to　know　everything。'
　
　'What's　too　dangerous？　What　can't　you　tell　me？'
　
　'Be　quiet　and　listen；　or　I　will　send　you　back　right　now。　And　you　know　I　can　do　it。'
　
　His　other　hand　went　to　the　collar。　'Margaret；　you　wouldn't　do　that。　Tell　me　you　wouldn't　do　that；　not　since　we　have　been。。。'
　
　'Hush！'　He　fell　silent。　She　waited　a　moment　to　be　certain　he　was　going　to　stay　hushed　before　she　went　on。　'I　have　suspected　for　a　time　that　some　of　the　ones　with　the　gift　who　have　gone　away；　or　died；　have　not　done　so　as　it　has　been　put　to　us。　I　think　they　have　been　murdered。'
　
　'What！'
　
　'Keep　your　voice　down！'　she　whispered　angrily。　'Do　you　want　to　get　us　killed；　too？'　He　fell　silent　once　more。　'I　think　something　awful　is　going　on　in　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。　I　think　some　of　the　Sisters　murdered　them。'
　
　He　stared　at　her　in　the　darkness。　'Murdered？　By　Sisters？　Margaret；　you　must　be　crazy　to　even　suggest　such　a　thing。'
　
　'Well；　I'm　not。　But　everyone　would　think　I　was　if　I　were　to　say　such　a　thing　aloud　inside　the　palace　walls。　I　have　to　figure　out　a　way　to　prove　it。'
　
　He　thought　a　moment。　'Well；　I　know　you　better　than　anyone；　and　if　you　say　it's　true；　then　I　believe　you。　I'll　help。　Maybe　we　could　dig　up　the　bodies；　find　something　to　go　against　what　was　said　about　their　deaths；　find　somebody　who　saw　something。　We　could　carefully　question　the　staff。　There　are　ones　I　know　who　。。。'
　
　'Jedidiah；　that's　not　the　worst　of　it。'
　
　'What　could　be　worse？'
　
　She　held　the　gold　flower　in　the　crook　of　a　finger　and　rubbed　her　thumb　against　it。　Her　voice　came　even　lower　than　before。　There　are　Sisters　of　the　Dark　in　the　palace。'
　
　Even　without　being　able　to　see　him　in　the　darkness；　she　knew　bumps　were　running　up　his　arms。　The　night　bugs　chirped　around　them　as　she　watched　the　dark　shape　of　his　face。　'Margaret。。。　Sisters　of　the　。。。　that　can't　be。　There　is　no　such　thing。　That　is　only　a　myth　。。。　a　fable。'
　
　'It　is　no　myth。　There　are　Sisters　of　the　Dark　in　the　palace。'
　
　'Margaret；　please　don't　keep　saying　that。　You　could　be　put　to　death　for　making　an　accusation　like　that。　If　you　accuse　a　Sister　of　that；　and　can't　prove　it；　you　would　be　put　to　death。　And　you　can't　prove　it　because　it　isn't　possible。　There　is　no　such　thing　as　a　Sister　of　the　。。。'
　
　He　couldn't　even　say　the　words。　The　thought　of　it　frightened　him　so　much；　he　couldn't　even　say　it　out　loud。　She　knew　his　fear。　She　had　felt　it　herself　until　she　had　happened　on　things　she　could　no　longer　ignore。　She　wished　she　hadn't　gone　to　see　the　Prophet　that　night；　or　at　least　not　listened　to　him。
　
　The　Prelate　had　been　angry　that　Margaret　wouldn't　give　the　Prophet's　message　to　one　of　her　aides。　When　she　had　finally　granted　an　audience；　the　Prelate　had　only　stared　blankly　at　her　and　asked　what　the　'pebble　in　the　pond'　was。　Margaret　didn't　know。　The　Prelate　had　lectured　her　sternly　for　bothering　her　with　Nathan's　nonsense。　Margaret　had　been　furious　at　Nathan　when　he　had　denied　remembering　giving　any　such