tg.wizardfirstrule-第138章

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aitor。　That　left　only　Kahlan。　Could　it　be　she　saw　him　for　who　he　really　was？
　
　Choked　with　fear　at　the　thought；　he　advanced　toward　her　as　his　stare　locked　on　her　green　eyes；　Kahlan's　back　stiffened；　her　hands　at　her　sides；　her　head　held　up。　Richard　recognized　the　stance；　it　was　one　of　warning。　Serious　warning。　He　knew　what　her　touch　would　do　to　him。　He　remembered　Shota's　warning　that　he　might　beat　Zedd；　but　that　Kahlan　would　not　fail。
　
　Zedd　tried　to　stay　between　them。　Richard　hardly　noticed　him　as　he　pushed　the　old　man　out　of　the　way。　Zedd　came　up　behind　him　and　put　his　thin　fingers　on　the　back　of　Richard's　neck。　They　gave　a　pain　something　like　the　Agiel　had　given。　Fire　burned　through　the　nerves　of　his　arms；　and　all　the　way　down　his　legs。　Before　all　the　time　spent　at　the　mercy　of　Denna；　the　wizard's　fingers　would　have　paralyzed　him　with　pain。　But　Denna　had　spent　a　long　time　training　him；　forcing　him　to　tolerate　pain；　to　deal　with　this　much　and　more。　Zedd　was　a　match　for　what　Denna　had　been　able　to　do；　but　Richard　pulled　resolve　from　deep　within　himself；　and　put　the　pain　from　his　mind；　letting　the　anger　of　the　sword　take　its　place。　He　gave　Zedd　a　look　of　warning。　The　wizard　didn't　back　off。　Richard　gave　him　another　shove。　He　pushed　harder　than　he　intended　to；　and　Zedd　tumbled　to　the　ground。　Kahlan　stood　frozen　in　front　of　him。
　
　〃Who　do　you　see　me　as？〃　the　Seeker　whispered。　〃Darken　Rahl；　or　Richard？〃
　
　She　trembled　slightly；　seemingly　unable　to　move。　Richard's　eye　was　caught　by　something；　his　view　flicked　down　for　an　instant；　and　he　saw　that　he　had　the　sword　point　at　her　throat；　at　the　hollow　of　her　neck。　He　hadn't　been　aware　of　putting　it　there；　it　was　as　if　the　magic　had　taken　it　there　of　its　own　accord。　But　he　knew　that　wasn't　true。　He　had　put　it　there。　That　was　why　she　was　trembling。　A　drop　of　blood　grew　against　her　skin；　under　the　sword's　point。　If　she　was　the　traitor；　he　had　to　kill　her。
　
　The　blade　had　turned　white。　So　had　Kahlan's　face。
　
　〃Who　do　you　see？〃　he　whispered　again。　'
　
　〃What　have　you　done　to　Richard？〃　Her　whisper　was　ragged　with　rage。　〃If　you　have　harmed　him；　I　swear　I　will　kill　you。〃
　
　He　remembered　the　way　she　had　kissed　him。　It　was　not　the　kiss　of　a　traitor；　it　was　a　kiss　of　love。　He　realized　there　was　no　way　he　could　kill　her；　even　if　his　fear　was　true。　But　he　knew　now　it　wasn't。　With　tears　in　his　eyes；　he　slid　the　sword　into　its　scabbard。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Kahlan。　May　the　good　spirits　forgive　me　for　what　I　almost　did。　I　know　you　can't　understand　me；　but　I'm　sorry。　Darken　Rahl　is　using　the　Wizard's　First　Rule　on　me；　trying　to　turn　us　against　one　another。　He　is　trying　to　make　me　believe　a　lie；　and　I　almost　did。　I　know　you　and　Zedd　would　never　betray　me。　Forgive　me　for　thinking　it。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　want？〃　Zedd　asked。　〃We　can't　understand　you。〃
　
　〃Zedd　。　。　。〃　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair　in　frustration。　〃How　can　I　make　you　understand？〃　He　grabbed　the　wizard's　robes　in　his　fists。　〃Zedd；　where's　the　box？　I　have　to　have　the　box　before　Rahl　finds　it！　We　can't　let　him　get　it！〃
　
　Zedd　frowned。　Richard　knew　this　was　doing　no　good；　none　of　them　could　understand　him。　He　went　to　the　horses　and　started　searching　through　the　packs。
　
　〃Look　all　you　want；　you'll　never　find　it；〃　the　wizard　smiled。　〃We　don't　have　the　box。　You　are　going　to　die　in　four　days。〃
　
　Richard　sensed　something　move　behind　him。　He　spun　around；　Chase　had　the　mace　raised。　A　stream　of　fire　shot　past；　between　them。　Scarlet　kept　the　fire　up　until　Chase　stepped　back。
　
　〃Some　friends　you　have；〃　the　dragon　grumbled。
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　put　a　wizard's　web　on　me。　They　don't　recognize　me。〃
　
　〃Well；　if　you　stay　with　them　much　longer；　they　are　going　to　kill　you。〃
　
　Richard　…realized　that　they　wouldn't　have　the　box。　Not　if　they　were　ing　to　D'Hara　to　save　him。　They　wouldn't　have　risked　taking　the　box　to　Rahl。　The　three　of　them　silently　watched　him　and　the　dragon。
　
　　〃Scarlet；　say　something　to　them；　see　if　they　can　understand　you。〃
　
　The　dragon's　head　swept　closer　to　the　three。　〃This　is　not　Darken　Rahl；　but　your　friend；　hidden　by　a　wizard's　web。　Can　any　of　you　understand　me？〃
　
　The　three　stood　mute。　Aggravated；　Richard　stepped　closer　to　Zedd。
　
　〃Zedd；　please　try　to　understand　me。　Don't　seek　the　night　stone。　If　you　do；　Rahl　will　trap　you　in　the　underworld。　Try　to　understand！〃
　
　None　of　the　three　grasped　a　word　he　was　saying。　He　had　to　get　the　box　first；　then　he　would　e　back　and　protect　them　from　the　men　Rahl　had　sent。　Reluctantly；　he　climbed　back　up　onto　Scarlet。　She　kept　a　wary　eye　to　the　three；　puffing　a　little　smoke　and　flame　in　warning。　Richard　wanted　desperately　to　stay　with　Kahlan；　but　he　couldn't…he　had　to　get　the　box　first。
　
　〃bet's　get　out　of　here。　We　have　to　go　find　my　brother。〃
　
　With　a　roar　of　flame；　warning　the　three　to　stay　back；　Scarlet　took　to　the　air。　Richard　held　her　spikes　tight。　Her　red；　scaled　neck　stretched　out　as　she　climbed　into　the　sky　among　the　drifting　white　clouds；　weaving　between　them。　He　watched　his　three　friends　watching　back　until　he　could　see　them　no　more。　He　felt　desperately　helpless。　He　wished　he　could　have　seen　Kahlan's　smile；　just　once。
　
　〃Now　what？〃　Scarlet　asked　over　her　shoulder。
　
　〃We　have　to　find　my　brother。　He　should　be　with　an　army　of　about　a　thousand　men；　somewhere　between　here　and　the　Rang'Shada。　They　shouldn't　be　as　hard　to　find。〃　'
　
　〃They　couldn't　understand　my　words；　the　web　must　affect　me　too；　since　I'm　with　you。　But　it　must　be　a　web　for　people；　not　dragons；　for　I　see　the　truth。　If　these　three　wanted　to　kill　you　because　of　a　wizard's　web；　surely　the　others　will　too。　I　can't　protect　you　against　a　thousand　men。〃
　
　〃I　have　to　try。　I'll　think　of　something。　Michael　is　my　brother；　I'll　think　of　a　way　to　make　him　see　the　truth。　He's　on　his　way　with　the　army　to　help　me。　I　need　his　help　very　badly。〃
　
　Since　an　army　would　be　easier　to　spot；　they　flew　high；　to　see　more　ground。　Scarlet　made　gentle　sweeping　turns　among　the　immense；　cottony　clouds。　Richard　hadn't　realized　how　big　clouds　really　were；　when　viewed　this　close。　As　some　of　them　gathered；　it　was　like　being　in　a　wonderland　of　white　mountains；　and　valleys。　The　dragon　skimmed　under　their　dark　bases；　sometimes　passing　through　a　damp　wisp　that　hung　down；　her　head　disappearing　in　the　whiteness　at　the　end　of　her　neck；　the　tips　of　her　wings　vanishing；　too。　The　size　of　the　clouds　made　even　Scarlet　seem　small　and　insignificant。
　
　They　searched　for　hours　without　seeing　any　sign　of　an　army。　Richard　was　getting　so　used　to　flying；　he　didn't　have　to　hold　on　to　Scarlet's　spikes　all　the　time。　He　leaned　back　against　two　of　them；　letting　his　body　relax　while　he　looked　at　the　landscape　below。　'　As　they　flew；　Richard　thought　about　what　he　could　do　to　convince　Michael　of　who　he　was。　Michael　would　have　the　box；　that　had　to　be　where　Zedd　had　left　it。　Zedd　would　have　hidden　it　from　Rahl　with　magic；　and　let　the　army　protect　it。　He　had　to　think　of　a　way　to　show　Michael　who　he　was。　Once　he　had　the　box；　he　would　have　Scarlet　fly　it　up　to　her　cave　with　her　egg。　There　it　would　be　safe　from　Rahl。
　
　Then　he　could　go　back　to　Kahlan　and　protect　her　from　Rahl's　men。　Maybe　he　could　have　Scarlet　fly　her　to　the　cave；　too。　There　she　would　be　safe　from　the　men。
　
　Three　and　a　half　days；　and　then　Darken　Rahl　would　die。　Then　Kahlan　would　be　safe　for　sure。　Forever。　Then　he　would　go　back　to　Westland；　and　be　finished　with　the　magic。　Be　famished　with　Kahlan。　The　thought　of　never；　seeing　her　again　made　him　weak　with　pain。
　
　Late　in　the　afternoon；　Scarlet　spotted　the　army。　She　was　better　at　seeing　things　from　this　height　than　he。　They　were　still　a　long　way　off　and　Richard　had　to　stare　awhile。　At　first　he　saw　only　a　wispy　column　of　dust；　then　he　saw　the　ranks；　moving　along　a　road。
　
　〃Well；　what's　your　plan？　What　do　you　want　to　do？〃　she　called　back　to　him。
　
　〃Do　you　think　you　could　land　us　ahead　of　them；　without　letting　them　see　us？〃
　
　A　big　yellow　eye　frowned　back　at　him。　〃I'm　a　red　dragon。　I　could　land　us　in　the　middle　of　them；　and　they　wouldn't　see　me；　if　I　didn't　want　them　to。　How　close　do　you　want　to　be　to　them？〃
　
　〃I　don't　want　them　to　see　me。　I　have　to　get　to　Michael　without　his　men　seeing　me。　I　need　to　avoid　trouble。〃　Richard　thought　a　moment。　〃Set　us　down　a　few　hours'　march　ahead　of　them。　Let　them　e　to　us。　It'll　be　dark　soon；　then　I　can　get　to　Michael。〃
　
　Scarlet　held　her　wings　spread；　gliding　in　a　spiral　toward　hills　ahead　of　the　advancing　army。　She　came　down　behind　some　of　the　higher　ground；　flew　up　the　valleys；　keeping　out　of　sight　of　the　road；　and　landed　in　a　small　clearing　of　long　brown　grass。　Her　bright　red　scales；　glossy　and　lustrous；　stood　out　in　the　late　afternoon　light。　Richard　slid　off　her　shoulder。
　
　Her　head　came　around。　〃What　now？〃
　
　〃I　want　to　wait　until　dark；　until　they　set　up　camp　for　the　night
　
　After　they　eat；　I'll　be　able　to　sneak　into　Michael's　tent；　and　talk　to　him　alone。　I'll　think　of　a　way　to　convince　him　of　who　I　really　am。〃
　
　The　dragon　grumbled；　looking　up　at　the　sky；　and　toward　the　road。　Her　head　swung　back　around；　tilting；　a　big　yellow　eye　peering　at　him。
　
　〃It　will　be　dark　soon。　I　must　return　to　my　egg。　It　needs　to　be　warmed。〃
　
　〃I　understand；　Scarlet。〃　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath；　thinking。　〃e　back　for　me　in　the　morning。　I'll　wait　for　you　in　this　field　at　sunrise。〃
　
　Scarlet　looked　up　at　the　sky。　〃Clouds　are　gathering。〃　Her　head　came　back　down。　〃If　there　are　clouds；　I　can't　fly　in　them。〃
　
　Why？〃
　
　She　grunted；　a　puff　of　smoke　rising　from　her　nostrils。　〃Because　clouds　have　rocks　in　them。〃
　
　Richard　frowned。　〃Rocks
　
　Her　tail　swished　impatiently。　〃The　clouds　hide　things；　it's　like　fog；　you　can't　see。　When　you　can't　see；　you　run　into　things；　like　hills　and　mountains。　I　may　be　strong；　but　running　into　rock　when　I'm　flying　would　break　my　neck。　If　the　cloud　bottoms　are　high　enough；　I　can　fly　under　them。　If　the　tops　are　low　enough；　I　can　fly　over　them；　but　then　I　won't　be　able　to　see　the　ground。　I　won't　be　able　to　find　you。　What　if　there　are　clouds　and　I　can't　find　you；　or　what　if　something　else　goes　wrong？〃
　
　Richard　rested　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　his　sword；　looking　off　toward　the　road。　〃If　anything　goes　wrong；　I'll　have　to　go　back　to　my　other　three　friends。　I'll　try　to　stick　to　the　main　road；　so　you　will　be　able　to　see　me。〃　Richard　swallowed　hard。　〃If　all　else　fails；　I　will　have　to　go　back　to　the　People's　Palace。　Please；　Scarlet；　if　I　can't　stop　Rahl　with　what　I　do　here；　I　must　be　in　the　People's　Palace　three　days　from　tomorrow。〃
　
　〃Not　much　time。〃
　
　〃I　know。〃
　
　〃Three　days　from　tomorrow；　and　then　I'm　done　with　you。〃
　
　Richard　smiled。　〃That's　our　bargain。〃
　
　Scarlet　peered　up　once　more。　〃I　don't　like　the　look　of　the　sky。　Good　luck；　Richard　Cypher。　I　will　return　in　the　morning。〃
　
　She　took　a　little　run　and　lifted　into　the　air。　Richard　watched　her　circle　around　him　once；　low；　then　fly　off　getting　smaller；　disappearing　between　hills。　A　memory　struck　him：　the　memory　of　having　seen　her　before。　It　had　been　the　day　he　had　first　met　Kahlan；　right　after　the　snake　vine　had　bit　him。　He　had　seen　her　fly　overhead　just　as　she　had　done　now；　an