tg.wizardfirstrule-第146章

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shed；　and　threw　a　bolt　of　lightning　across　the　white　sorcerer's　sand。　He　drained　all　his　power　into　it。　The　blue　lightning　hit　the　sword；　knocking　it　from　Rahl's　hands。　It　flew　through　the　air；　landing　a　good　distance　away。　Darken　Rahl　screamed　something　to　Zedd；　then　turned　to　Kahlan；　speaking　to　her；　but　neither　could　understand　him。
　
　Darken　Rahl　backed　away　as　Kahlan　advanced。　He　bumped　into　the　altar；　able　to　back　away　no　farther。　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair　as　Kahlan　stopped　in　front　of　him。
　
　Zedd's　smile　faded。　Something　was　wrong。　The　way　Rahl　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair　sparked　his　memory。
　
　The　Mother　Confessor　reached　out　and　seized　Darken　Rahl　by　the　throat。　〃This　is　for　Richard。〃
　
　Zedd's　eyes　went　wide。　Ice　flashed　through　him。　He　understood　what　was　wrong。　He　gasped　in　recognition。
　
　That　wasn't　Darken　Rahl。
　
　Zedd　screamed。　〃Kahlan；　no！　Stop！　That's　。　。　。〃
　
　There　was　an　impact　to　the　air；　thunder　with　no　sound。　The　leaves　on　the　trees　about　shuddered。　The　grass　shook　in　a　wave；　radiating　outward　。
　
　。　。　。　Richard！〃　Too　late；　the　wizard　realized　the　truth。　Pain　gripped　him。
　
　〃Mistress；〃　he　whispered；　falling　to　his　knees　before　her。
　
　Zedd　stood　frozen。　Despair　crushed　the　elation　of　Richard　being　alive。　A　vine…covered　door　in　a　wall　to　the　side　opened。　The　real　Darken　Rahl　emerged；　followed　by　Michael　and　two　big　guards。　Kahlan　blinked　in　confusion。
　
　The　enemy　web　wavered；　and　in　a　shimmer　of　light　the　one　who　had　been　Darken　Rahl　was　returned　to　who　he　really　was。　Richard。
　
　Kahlan's　eyes　went　wide　in　horror　as　she　backed　away。　The　power　of　the　Con　Dar　faltered；　and　extinguished。　She　screamed　in　anguish　at　what　she　had　done。
　
　The　two　guards　stepped　behind　her。　Chase　reached　up　for　his　sword。　He　was　frozen　in　place　before　his　hand　reached　it。　Zedd　brought　his　hands　up；　but　there　was　no　power　left。　Nothing　happened。　He　ran　for　…them；　but　before　he　could　take　two　steps；　he　hit　an　invisible　wall。　He　was　encased　in　it；　held　like　a　prisoner　in　a　stone　cell。　He　railed　in　rage　at　his　own　stupidity。
　
　At　seeing　what　she　had　done；　Kahlan　yanked　a　knife　from　the　belt　of　a　guard。　With　a　cry　of　anguish；　she　held　it　up　in　both　hands　to　plunge　it　into　herself。
　
　Michael　grabbed　her　from　behind；　twisted　the　knife　from　her　hands；　and　held　it　to　her　throat。　Richard　launched　himself　in　a　fury　at　his　brother　but　crashed　into　an　invisible　wall　and　was　knocked　back。　Kahlan　had　expended　all　her　energy　in　the　Con　Dar；　and　was　too　weak　to　fight　back；　she　collapsed　in　tears。　One　of　the　guards　tied　a　gag　to　her　mouth；　preventing　her　from　even　mumbling　Richard's　name。
　
　Richard；　on　his　knees；　fell　against　Darken　Rahl；　gripping　his　robes；　pleading　up　to　him。　〃Don't　hurt　her！　Please。　Don't　hurt　her。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　put　a　hand　on　Richard's　shoulder。　〃So　glad　to　see　you　have　e　back；　Richard。　I　thought　you　might。　I'm　glad　you've　decided　to　help　me。　I　admire　your　devotion　to　your　friends。〃
　
　Zedd　was　bewildered。　What　help　could　Darken　Rahl　possibly　need　from　Richard？
　
　〃Please；〃　Richard　begged　in　tears；　〃don't　hurt　her。〃
　
　〃Well　now；　that's　entirely　up　to　you。〃　He　pulled　Richard's　hands　from　his　robes。
　
　〃Anything！　I'll　do　anything。　Just　don't　hurt　her。〃
　
　A　smile　spread　on　Darken　Rahl's　lips。　He　licked　the　tips　of　his　fingers。　He　ran　his　other　hand　through　Richard's　hair。　〃I'm　sorry　it　had　to　be　this　way；　Richard。　I　really　am。　It　would　have　been　a　pleasure　having　you　around　as　you　were。　Although　you　don't　realize　it；　you　and　I　are　very　much　alike。　But　I'm　afraid　you　have　fallen　victim　to　the　Wizard's　First　Rule。〃
　
　〃Don't　hurt　Mistress　Kahlan；〃　Richard　cried。　〃Please。〃
　
　〃If　you　do　as　I　say；　I　will　do　as　I　promised；　and　she　will　be　treated　well。　I　may　even　turn　you　into　something　pleasant；　something　you　would　like　to　be；　maybe　a　lapdog。　I　may　even　let　you　sleep　in　our　bedchamber　so　you　might　see　that　I　keep　my　word。　Maybe　I　will　even　name　my　son　in　honor　of　you；　for　helping　me
　
　Would　you　like　that？　Richard　Rahl。　Sort　of　ironic；　don't　you　think。〃
　
　〃Do　whatever　you　want　with　me；　but　please　don't　hurt　Mistress　Kahlan。　Tell　me　what　you　want　me　to　do；　please。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　patted　Richard's　head。　〃Soon；　my　son；　soon。　Wait　here。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　left　Richard　on　his　knees；　and　glided　around　the　circle　of　white　sand　to　Zedd。　The　blue　eyes　locked　on　the　old　man　as　he　came。　Zedd　felt　hollow；　empty。
　
　Rahl　stopped　in　front　of　him　and　licked　his　fingers；　stroking　them　over　his　eyebrows。
　
　〃What　is　your　name；　Old　One？〃
　
　Zedd　stared　back；　his　hopes　destroyed。　〃Zeddicus　Zu'l　Zorander。〃　He　held　his　chin　up。　〃I　am　the　one　who　killed　your　father。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　nodded。　〃And　do　you　know　that　your　wizard's　fire　also　burned　me？　Do　you　know　it　almost　killed　me　when　I　was　but　a　child？　And　that　I　spent　months　in　agony？　And　that　to　this　day　I　carry　the　scars　of　what　you　did；　both　those　on　the　outside；　and　others　on　the　inside？〃
　
　〃I'm　sorry　I　hurt　a　child；　regardless　of　who　the　child　was。　But　in　this　case；　I　would　call　it　premature　punishment。〃
　
　Rahl's　face　remained　pleasant；　the　hint　of　a　smile　still　on　his　lips。　〃We　are　going　to　have　a　long　time　together；　you　and　I。　I　am　going　to　teach　you　of　the　pain　I　endured；　and　more。　You　will　know　what　it　was　like。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　a　bitter　look。　〃Nothing　could　match　the　pain　you　have　already　given　me。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　licked　his　fingertips　as　he　turned　away。　〃We　will　see。〃
　
　Zedd　watched　in　hopeless　frustration　as　Rahl　returned　to　stand　once　more　in　front　of　Richard。　〃Richard！〃　Zedd　screamed。　〃Don't　help　him！　Kahlan　would　rather　die　than　have　you　help　him！〃
　
　Richard　looked　blankly　to　the　wizard　before　he　gazed　up　at　Darken　Rahl。　〃I'll　do　anything　if　you　don't　hurt　her。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　motioned　him　to　his　feet。　〃You　have　my　word；　my　son。　If　you　do　as　I　ask。〃　Richard　nodded。　〃Recite　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。〃　Zedd　reeled　in　shock。　Richard　turned　to　Kahlan。
　
　〃What　should　I　do；　Mistress？〃
　
　Kahlan　struggled　against　Michael；　against　the　knife　at　her　throat；　screamed　muffled　words　against　the　gag。
　
　Rahl's　voice　was　calm；　gentle。　〃Recite　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows；　Richard；　or　I　will　have　Michael　start　by　cutting　off　her　fingers　one　at　a　time。　The　longer　you　remain　silent；　the　more　he　will　cut　her。〃
　
　Richard　spun　back　to　Rahl；　panic　in　his　eyes。　〃Verification　of　the　truth　of　the　words　of　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows；　if　spoken　by　another；　rather　than　read　by　the　one　who　mands　the　boxes；　can　only　be　insured　by　the　use　of　a　Confessor　。　。　。　。　〃
　
　Zedd　sank　to　the　ground。　He　couldn't　believe　what　he　was　hearing。　As　he　listened　to　Richard　reading　out　the　book；　he　knew　it　was　true；　he　recognized　the　unique　syntax　of　a　book　of　magic。　Richard　couldn't　be　making　it　up。　It　was　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　Zedd　didn't　have　the　strength　to　wonder　at　how　Richard　had　learned　it。
　
　The　world　as　they　knew　it　was　ending。　This　was　the　first　day　of　the　rule　of　Rahl。　All　was　lost。　Darken　Rahl　had　won。　The　world　was　his。
　
　Zedd　sat　numbly；　listening。　Some　of　the　words　themselves　were　magic；　and　none　but　one　with　the　gift　could　keep　the　words　in　his　head；　the　magic　would　erase　the　whole　of　it　at　certain　magic　trigger　words。　Protection　against　unseen　circumstances。　Protection　against　just　anyone　getting　hold　of　the　magic　within。　That　Richard　could　recite　them　was　proof　he　was　born　to　it。　Born　of　and　to　the　magic。　As　much　as　Richard　hated　the　magic；　he　was　magic；　as　the　prophecies　foretold。
　
　Zedd　mourned　the　things　he　had　done。　Mourned　that　he　had　tried　to　protect　Richard　from　the　forces　that　would　have　sought　to　use　him；　had　they　known　what　he　was。　。Those　born　with　the　gift　were　always　vulnerable　when　they　were　young。　Darken　Rahl　was　proof　of　that。　Zedd　had　deliberately　chosen　not　to　teach　Richard；　as　a　way　of　protecting　him　from　those　forces　learning　of　him。　Zedd　had　always　feared；　and　hoped；　that　Richard　had　the　gift；　but　had　hoped　he　would　grow　before　it　manifested　itself；　and　then　Zedd　might　have　the　time　to　teach　him　when　he　was　strong　enough；　when　he　was　old　enough。　And　before　it　could　kill　him。　It　had　been　a　futile　effort。　It　had　e　to　no　good　end。　Zedd　guessed　that　he　had　always　known　Richard　had　the　gift；　was　someone　special。　Everyone　who　knew　Richard　knew　he　was　someone　special。　Rare。　The　mark　of　magic。
　
　Zedd　wept　as　he　recalled　the　time　he　had　enjoyed　with　Richard。　They　had　been　good　years。　None　had　been　better　in　his　life。　The　years　away　from　the　magic。　To　have　someone　love　him　without　fear；　and　only　for　himself。　To　be　a　friend。
　
　Richard　read　out　the　book　without　hesitation　or　a　single　falter。　Zedd　marveled　that　he　knew　it　so　perfectly；　and　caught　himself　being　proud；　but　then　wished　Richard　weren't　so　talented。　Much　of　what　he　recited　was　about　things　already　finished　with；　such　as　removing　the　covers　from　the　boxes；　but　Darken　Rahl　didn't　stop　him　or　hurry　him　over　those　sections　for　fear　that　he　might　miss　something。　He　let　Richard　recite　it　at　his　own　pace；　and　stood　mute；　listening　carefully。　Occasionally；　Rahl　had　him　repeat　a　section；　to　be　sure　he　had　it　right；　and　stood　absorbed　in　thought　as　Richard　told　of　sun　angles；　of　clouds；　of　wind　patterns。
　
　The　afternoon　wore　on；　Richard　reciting；　Rahl　standing　before　him　listening；　Michael　with　a　knife　at　Kahlan's　throat；　the　two　guards　holding　her　arms；　Chase　frozen　in　place；　his　hand　halfway　to　his　sword；　and　Zedd　sitting　on　the　ground；　doomed；　locked　in　his　invisible　prison。　Zedd　realized　that　the　procedure　for　opening　the　boxes　was　going　to　take　longer　than　he　would　have　thought。　It　would　take　all　night。　There　were　enchantments　to　be　drawn。　That　was　the　reason　Darken　Rahl　needed　so　much　sorcerer's　sand。　The　boxes　had　to　be　placed　just　so；　the　winter's　first　sun　touching　them；　dictating　their　position　once　they　each　cast　a　shadow。
　
　Each　box；　although　they　looked　identical；　cast　a　different　shadow。　As　the　sun　sank　lower　in　the　sky；　the　fingers　of　shadows　grew　away　from　each　box。　One　of　the　boxes　cast　a　single　finger　of　shadow；　another　cast　two　fingers　of　shadow；　and　the　third　cast　three。　Now　he　knew　why　it　was　called　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。
　
　At　the　proper　places　in　the　book；　Darken　Rahl　had　Richard　stop　while　the　enchantments　were　drawn　in　the　sorcerer's　sand。　Some　of　the　spells　were　called　by　names　Zedd　had　never　heard　before。　But　Rahl　had。　He　drew　without　hesitation。　When　darkness　fell；　he　lit　torches　in　a　ring　around　the　sand。　Under　the　light　of　the　torches；　he　drew　the　enchantments　as　they　were　called　for。　Everyone　stood　in　silence；　watching　as　he　carefully　drew　in　the　sand。　Zedd　was　impressed　by　his　level　of　skill　at　drawing　the　charms；　and　was　more　than　a　little　uneasy　at　seeing　underworld　runes。
　
　The　geometric　patterns　were　plex；　and　Zedd　knew　they　must　be　done　without　error；　and　in　the　proper　order；　each　line　drawn　at　the　proper　time；　in　the　proper　sequence。　They　could　not　be　corrected　or　erased　and　started　over　if　there　was　a　mistake。　A　mistake　was　death。
　
　Zedd　had　known　wizards　who　had　spent　years　studying　a　spell　before　they　would　dare　to　attempt　drawing　it　in　sorcerer's　sand；　for　fear　of　making　a　fatal