tg.stone of tears-第78章

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　'I　have　nothing。　It　must　have　found　us　by　the　bones　at　my　house。'
　
　'But　the　bones　have　been　what　have　been　hiding　you！'
　
　There　was　no　mistaking　the　flash　of　green　light　this　time。　It　was　to　the　right。　Another　came　to　the　left。
　
　'Zedd！　I　think　the　skrin　be　bringing　up　the　underworld；　to　force　us　into　it！'
　
　Bones。
　
　'Can　it　do　that？'
　
　Her　voice　wasn't　as　loud　this　time。　'Yes。'
　
　'Bags；'　he　muttered　into　the　cold　wind　at　his　face。
　
　Eerie　green　light　flickered　between　the　trees。　It　was　closer。　If　he　didn't　think　of　something；　they　were　going　to　die。
　
　Think。
　
　Suddenly　the　green　light　seemed　to　ignite　into　a　solid　wall　to　each　side。　It　made　a　thump　he　could　feel　deep　in　his　chest　when　it　arrived；　whole；　in　this　world。　The　horse　galloped　down　the　path　between　them。　The　way　between　the　walls　was　narrowing。
　
　Bones。
　
　Skrin　bones。
　
　'Adie！　Give　me　the　necklace　around　your　neck！'
　
　The　luminous　green　walls　of　the　boundary　pressed　in　to　each　side。　They　were　out　of　time。　They　were　out　of　options。
　
　Adie　pulled　off　her　necklace　and　put　her　arm　around　him　again；　holding　out　the　bone　necklace。　Her　hand　was　slick　with　blood。　Zedd　yanked　his　own　necklace　over　his　head　and　snatched　hers　in　the　same　hand。
　
　'If　this　doesn't　work；　I'm　sorry；　Adie。　I　just　want　you　to　know　I've　enjoyed　sharing　time　with　you。'
　
　'What　are　you　going　to　do？'
　
　'Hold　tight！'
　
　The　green　walls　of　the　boundary　closed　together　ahead　of　them。　Zedd　held　the　horse　firmly　and　gave　her　a　silent　mand。
　
　She　dug　in　her　hooves　and　spun　around　to　a　halt　just　before　the　trail　ended　in　a　wall　of　the　underworld。
　
　Zedd　flung　the　two　necklaces　made　with　skrin　bone　into　the　green　light；　between　a　wide　gap　in　the　trees。
　
　The　skrin　was　upon　them。　Without　pause；　it　followed　the　necklaces　as　they　sailed　into　the　boundary；　into　the　green　light。　There　was　a　flash；　and　a　booming　clap；　like　a　lightning　strike；　as　the　skrin　went　through。
　
　The　green　light；　and　the　skrin；　flickered　and　were　gone。　The　dark　forest　was　silent　but　for　ragged　breathing。
　
　Adie　laid　her　head　wearily　against　his　back。　'You　be　right；　old　man。　Your　life　be　one　act　of　desperation　after　another。'
　
　Zedd　patted　her　knee　before　sliding　off　the　sweaty　horse。　The　poor　animal　was　so　exhausted　it　was　at　the　brink　of　death。　Zedd　held　its　head　between　his　hands　and　gave　it　a　dose　of　strength；　and　his　sincere　thanks。　He　laid　the　side　of　his　face　against　her　nose　as　he　closed　his　eyes　and　gave　reassuring　strokes　to　her　cheeks　for　a　moment　before　going　to　check　on　Adie。
　
　Blood　still　oozed　from　the　wound　on　her　arm。　The　size　of　the　horse　made　Adie　appear　smaller　than　she　really　was。　Her　slumped　shoulders　and　hanging　head　didn't　help　diminish　the　illusion。　She　didn't　acknowledge　any　pain　as　Zedd　inspected　the　wound。
　
　'I　be　a　fool；'　she　said。　The　whole　time　I　thought　I　be　hiding　under　the　Keeper's　nose；　he　be　hiding　under　mine。　He　knew　where　I　be　the　whole　time。　All　these　years。'
　
　'We　can　take　solace　in　the　fact　that　it　earned　him　no　profit。　He　has　wasted　his　investment。　Now　hold　still。　I　must　tend　to　this　wound。'
　
　There　be　no　time　for　that。　We　must　get　back　to　my　house。　I　must　get　my　bones。'
　
　'I　said　be　still。'
　
　'We　must　hurry。'
　
　Zedd　scowled　up　at　her。　'We　will　go　back　when　I'm　finished；　but　the　horse　is　exhausted；　she　must　be　walked。　I'll　walk　and　let　you　ride；　if　you　give　me　no　further　trouble。　Now　be　still　or　we　will　be　here　the　whole　night　quibbling。'
　
　By　the　time　they　reached　Adie's　house；　dawn　was　breaking；　offering　a　cold；　weak　light。　It　was　a　sad　sight。　The　skrin　had　torn　the　place　to　splinters。　Adie　disregarded　the　leaning；　holed　walls　as　she　rushed　inside；　stepping　over　debris；　picking　up　bones；　holding　them　in　the　crook　of　her　other　arm；　as　she　worked　her　way　toward　the　corner　where　they　had　last　seen　the　round；　carved　bone。
　
　Zedd　was　inspecting　the　ground　outside　when　he　heard　her　calling　to　him。
　
　'e　help　me　find　the　round　bone；　wizard。'
　
　He　stepped　over　a　fallen　beam。　'I　don't　expect　you　will　find　it。'
　
　She　pushed　a　board　aside。　'It　be　here　somewhere。'　She　stopped；　looking　back　over　her　shoulder。　'What　do　you　mean；　you　don't　expect　we　will　find　it？'
　
　'Someone　has　been　here。'
　
　She　looked　around　at　the　ruin。　'You　be　sure？'
　
　Zedd　waved　his　arm　vaguely　toward　where　he　had　been　studying　the　ground。　'I　saw　a　footprint；　over　there。　It　isn't　ours。'
　
　She　let　the　bones　in　her　arm　drop　to　the　floor。　'Who？'　。　He　laid　his　hand　on　a　beam　that　hung　from　the　ceiling；　its　end　resting　on　the　floor。　'I　don't　know；　but　someone　has　been　here。　It　looks　to　be　a　woman's　boot；　but　it　isn't　yours。　I　suspect　she　will　have　taken　the　round　bone。'
　
　Adie　pawed　through　the　rubble　in　the　corner；　searching。　At　last　she　stopped。　'You　be　right；　old　man。　The　bone　be　gone。'　She　turned；　seeming　to　inspect　the　very　air　with　her　white　eyes。　'Banelings；'　she　hissed。　'You　be　wrong　about　the　Keeper　wasting　his　effort。'
　
　'I　fear　you're　right。'　Zedd　brushed　his　hand　clean　on　the　side　of　his　leg。　'We　had　better　get　away　from　here。　Far　away。'
　
　Adie　leaned　toward　him；　her　voice　low　but　firm。　'Zedd；　we　must　have　that　bone。　It　be　important　for　the　veil。'
　
　'She　has　covered　her　trail　with　magic。　I　don't　have　any　idea　where　she　went。　I　only　saw　one　footprint。　We　must　be　away　from　here；　the　Keeper　might　expect　us　to　return。　I'll　cover　our　trail；　so　no　one　will　know　where　we're　going。'
　
　'You　be　so　sure　about　that？　The　Keeper　seems　to　know　where　we　be；　and　sends　his　minions　for　us　at　will。'
　
　'He　tracked　us　by　the　necklaces　we　wore。　He　will　be　blind　to　us　for　the　time　being。　But　we　must　get　away　from　here。　He　may　have　eyes　watching；　the　same　eyes　that　took　the　bone。'
　
　Her　head　sunk　lower　as　she　closed　her　eyes。　'Forgive　me；　Zedd；　for　endangering　you　so。　For　being　a　fool。'
　
　'Nonsense。　No　one　knows　everything。　You　can't　expect　to　walk　through　life　without　stepping　in　the　muck　now　and　again。　The　important　thing　is　to　maintain　your　footing　when　you　do；　and　not　fall　on　your　face　and　make　it　worse。'
　
　'But　that　bone　be　important！'
　
　'It's　gone。　We　can　do　nothing　about　it　now。　At　least　we　foiled　the　Keeper；　he　didn't　get　us。　But　we　must　be　away　from　here。'
　
　Adie　bent　to　pick　up　the　bones　she　had　dropped。　'I　will　hurry。'
　
　'We　can't　take　anything；　Adie；'　he　said　quietly。
　
　She　straightened。　'I　must　take　my　bones。　Some　of　them　be　important。　Some　have　powerful　magic。'
　
　Zedd　took　up　her　thin　hand。　Adie；　the　Keeper　knew　where　we　were　by　one　of　the　bones。　He's　been　watching　you。　We　can't　know　if　he　would　recognize　any　of　these；　too。　We　must　leave　them；　but　we　can't　risk　having　someone　else　taking　them；　they　must　be　destroyed。'
　
　Her　mouth　worked　for　a　moment　before　she　found　words。　'I　will　not　leave　them。　They　be　important。　They　were　extremely　difficult　to　obtain。　It　took　me　years　to　find　some　of　them。　The　Keeper　could　not　have　marked　them。　He　could　not　know　the　trouble　I　went　to。'
　
　Zedd　patted　her　hand。　Adie；　he　wouldn't　have　placed　one　he　wanted　you　to　have；　to　mark　you；　right　in　your　path。　He　would　have　made　you　struggle　for　it；　so　you　would　value　it　and　keep　it　close。'
　
　She　yanked　her　hand　back。　'Then　he　could　have　marked　anything！'　She　pointed。　'How　do　you　know　this　horse　was　not　given　by　a　baneling？'
　
　Zedd　gave　her　a　level　look。　'Because　it　was　not　the　one　offered。　I　took　another。'
　
　Tears　welled　up　in　her　eyes。　'Please；　Zedd；'　she　whispered。　'They　be　mine。　They　be　how　I　was　going　to　reach　my　Pell。'
　
　'I　will　help　you　get　your　message　to　your　Pell。　I　have　given　you　my　word；　but　this　is　not　the　way　to　do　it；　it　hasn't　worked　yet。　I'll　help　you　find　a　new　way。'
　
　She　limped　a　step　closer　to　him。　'How？'
　
　He　regarded　her　stricken　face　with　sympathy。　'I　have　a　way　to　bring　spirits　through　the　veil　for　a　brief　time；　to　speak　with　them。　Even　if　I　can't　bring　Pell　through；　I　might　be　able　to　get　a　message　to　him。　But　Adie；　you　must　listen　to　me；　we　can't　do　it　now。　We　must　wait　until　the　veil　is　closed。'
　
　Her　trembling　fingers　touched　his　arm。　'How？　How　can　such　a　thing　be　done？'
　
　'It　can　be　done。　That　is　all　you　must　know。'
　
　'Tell　me。'　Her　ringers　tightened　on　his　arm。　'I　must　know　you　speak　the　truth。　I　must　know　it　can　be　done。'
　
　He　weighed　the　decision　a　long　moment。　He　had　used　the　wizard's　rock　his　father　had　given　him　to　call　the　spirits　of　his　father　and　mother　to　himself；　but　they　had　told　him　explicitly　not　to　call　them　again　until　this　was　finished；　or　they　would　risk　tearing　the　veil　apart。　Using　the　rock　in　such　a　fashion　was　dangerous　even　in　the　best　of　times；　and　he　had　been　cautioned　not　to　do　it　except　in　the　gravest　circumstances。
　
　Opening　a　path　to　the　spirits　was　always　a　great　risk。　You　never　knew　what　you　could　be　letting　through；　unintended。　Enough　dark　things　were　getting　through　without　his　helping　them。
　
　Even　though　Adie　was　a　sorceress；　this　use　of　the　wizard's　rock　was　not　for　her　to　know。　It　was　a　secret；　like　many　others；　that　wizards　must　keep。　His　heart　felt　heavy　with　that　responsibility。
　
　'You　will　have　to　trust　my　word　that　it　can　be　done。　I've　given　my　word　that　I'll　help　you；　and　when　it　is　safe；　I'll　try。'
　
　Her　fingers　still　dug　urgently　into　his　arm。　'How　can　such　a　thing　be？　Are　you　sure？　How　could　you　know　such　a　thing？'
　
　He　straightened　his　shoulders。　'I'm　a　wizard　of　the　First　Order。'
　
　'But　are　you　sure？'
　
　'Adie；　you　must　take　my　word。　I　don't　give　it　lightly。　I'm　not　sure　it　will　work；　but　I　believe　it　may。　Right　now　the　important　thing　is　to　use　what　we　know；　what　you　and　I　know；　to　stop　the　Keeper　from　tearing　the　veil。　It　would　be　wrong　to　use　what　I　know　for　selfish　reasons　and　thus　endanger　the　safety　of　everyone　else。　Maintaining　the　veil　requires　a　delicate　balance　of　forces；　this　could　disturb　it。　It　could　even　be　that　such　a　use　would　tear　the　veil。'
　
　She　took　her　hand　from　his　arm　and　wiped　a　stray　strand　of　gray　hair　from　her　face。　'Forgive　me；　Zedd。　You　be　right。　I　have　studied　the　cusp　between　the　worlds　for　most　of　my　life。　I　should　know　better。　Forgive　me。'
　
　He　smiled　as　he　hugged　her　around　her　shoulders。　'I'm　gratified　that　you　hold　your　vows　to　be　so　important。　It　means　that　you　are　a　person　of　honor。　There's　no　better　ally　than　a　person　of　honor。'
　
　She　looked　around　her　shattered　home。　'It　just　be　that　。。。　I　have　spent　my　life　gathering　these　things。　I　have　been　their　caretaker　for　so　long。　Others　have　entrusted　them　to　me。'
　
　Zedd　walked　her　out　of　the　rubble。　'Others　have　invested　their　trust　in　you　to　use　the　gift　you　were　given　to　protect　those　without　power。　They　are　the　ones　who　wrote　the　prophecies。　You　have　been　brought　to　this　point　for　a　reason。　That's　the　trust　you　must　keep。'
　
　She　nodded；　rubbing　a　thin　hand　on　his　back　as　they　walked　away　from　the　remains　of　her　home。
　
　'Zedd；　I　think　several　other　bones　be　missing；　too。'
　
　'I　know。'
　
　They　be　dangerous　in　the　wrong　hands。'
　
　'I　know　that　too。'
　
　'Then　what　do　you　plan　to　do　about　it？'
　
　'I　plan　to　do　what　the　proph