tg.wizardfirstrule-第147章

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　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　mistake。　Darken　Rahl　didn't　look　to　be　having　the　slightest　trouble。　His　steady　hand　moved　with　precision。　Zedd　had　never　seen　a　wizard　of　his　talents。　At　least；　he　thought　bitterly；　they　would　be　killed　by　the　best。　He　couldn't　help　admiring　the　level　of　mastery。　It　was　a　magnitude　of　proficiency　he　had　never　witnessed　before。
　
　All　of　this　endeavor　was　simply　to　tell　which　box　was　the　one　Rahl　wanted；　he　could　open　one　at　any　time；　the　book　stated。　Zedd　knew　from　other　books　of　instruction　that　all　this　effort　was　a　precaution　against　the　magic　being　used　easily。　No　one　was　simply　going　to　decide　to　be　the　master　of　the　world。　and　read　how　in　a　book　of　magic。　Zedd；　as　much　as　he　knew；　didn't　have　the　required　knowledge　to　carry　out　the　instructions。　Darken　Rahl　had　been　studying　for　this　moment　almost　his　whole　life。　His　father　had　probably　begun　the　instruction　when　he　was　young。　Zedd　wished　the　wizard's　fire　that　had　killed　his　father　had　killed　Darken　Rahl；　too。　He　considered　that　thought　a　moment；　and　then　took　it　back。
　
　At　dawn；　after　all　the　enchantments　were　drawn；　the　boxes　were　placed　on　them；　each　box；　distinguished　by　the　number　of　shadows　it　threw；　was　placed　on　a　specific　drawing。　Spells　were　cast。　As　the　rays　of　sun　from　the　second　day　of　winter　lit　the　stone；　the　boxes　were　placed　on　the　altar　once　more。　Zedd　was　amazed　to　see　that　the　boxes　that　had　thrown　a　particular　number　of　shadows　the　day　before　now　threw　a　different　number…　another　precaution。　As　directed；　the　boxes　were　rearranged　so　the　one　throwing　a　single　shadow　was　to　the　left；　the　one　that　threw　two　was　in　the　center；　and　the　one　that　threw　three　was　to　the　right。
　
　Darken　Rahl　stared　at　the　black　boxes。　〃Continue。〃　‘
　
　Without　hesitation；　Richard　went　on。　〃Once　so　arranged；　Orden　is　at　the　ready　to　be　manded。　Where　one　shadow　is　insufficient　to　gain　the　power　to　sustain　the　life　of　the　player；　and　three　more　than　can　be　tolerated　by　all　life；　the　balance　is　struck　by　opening　the　box　with　two　shadows；　one　shadow　for　yourself；　and　one　for　the　world　that　would　be　yours　to　mand　by　the　power　of　Orden。　One　world　under　one　mand　is　marked　by　the　box　with　two　shadows。　Open　it　to　gain　your　reward。　〃
　
　Darken　Rahl's　face　turned　slowly　to　Richard。　〃Go　on。〃
　
　Richard　blinked。　〃Rule　as　you　have　chosen。　That　is　the　end。〃
　
　〃There　。　must　be　more。〃
　
　〃No；　Master　Rahl。　Rule　as　you　have　chosen。　That's　the　end；　the　last　words。〃
　
　Rahl　grabbed　Richard's　throat。　〃Did　you　learn　it　all？　The　entire　book？〃
　
　〃Yes；　Master　Rahl。〃
　
　Rahl's　face　reddened。　〃That　can't　be　right！　That　isn't　the　right　box！　The　box　with　two　shadows　is　the　one　that　will　kill　me！　I　told　you；　I　learned　that　much！　I　learned　which　one　will　kill　me！〃
　
　〃I　have　told　you　every　word　true。　Every　single　word。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　released　his　throat。　〃I　don't　believe　you。〃　He　looked　to　Michael。　〃Cut　her　throat。〃
　
　Richard　fell　to　his　knees　with　a　scream。　〃Please！　You　gave　me　your　word！　You　said　if　I　told　you；　you　wouldn't　harm　her！　Please！　I　have　told　you　the　truth！〃
　
　Rahl　held　his　hand　up　to　Michael；　but　kept　his　eyes　on　Richard。　〃I　don't　believe　you。　Unless　you　tell　me　the　truth；　right　now；　I　will　cut　her　open。　I　will　kill　your　mistress。〃
　
　〃No！〃　Richard　screamed。　〃I　have　told　you　the　truth！　I　can't　tell　you　anything　different；　it　would　be　a　lie！〃
　
　〃Last　chance；　Richard。　Tell　me　the　truth；　or　she　dies。〃
　
　〃I　can't　tell　you　anything　differently；〃　Richard　cried。　〃Anything　different　would　be　a　lie。　I　have　told　you　every　word　true。〃
　
　Zedd　came　to　his　feet。　He　watched　the　knife　at　Kahlan's　throat；　her；　green　eyes　were　wide；　he　watched　Darken　Rahl。　Rahl　had　obviously　found　some　of　the　information　from　a　source　other　than　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows；　and　that　information　was　in　conflict　with　the　information　in　the　book。　This　was　not　unmon；　surely　Darken　Rahl　must　know　that。　When　there　was　a　conflict；　the　information　in　the　instruction　book　for　that　specific　magic　must　always　take　precedence。　To　do　otherwise　was　always　fatal…it　was　a　safeguard　to　protect　the　magic。　Zedd　hoped　against　hope　that　Rahl's　arrogance　would　make　him　go　against　the　book。
　
　The　smile　came　back　to　Darken　Rahl's　face。　He　licked　his　fingertips；　and　wiped　them　on　his　eyebrows。　〃All　right；　Richard。　I　just　had　to　be　sure　you　were　telling　me　the　truth。〃
　
　〃I　am；　I　swear　on　Mistress　Kahlan's　life。　Every　word　I　told　yon　is　true。〃
　
　Rahl　nodded。　He　gave　a　wave　of　his　hand　to　Michael。　Michael　relaxed　the　knife。　Kahlan　closed　her　eyes　as　tears　ran　down　her　cheeks。　Rahl　turned　to　the　boxes；　letting　out　a　deep　breath。
　
　〃At　last；〃　he　whispered。　〃The　magic　of　Orden　is　mine。〃
　
　Zedd　couldn't　see　it；　but　he　knew　that　Darken　Rahl　lifted　the　lid　on　the　middle　box；　the　one　with　two　shadows；　he　could　tell　by　the　light　expanding　from　it。　Golden　light　lifted　and　as　if　it　were　a　great　weight；　it　settled　over　Master　Rahl；　lighting　him　in　a　golden　glow。　He　turned；　smiling。　The　light　about　him　moved　with　him　as　he　moved。　He　lifted　slightly　into　the　air；　enough　to　take　the　weight　from　his　feet；　and　floated　to　the　center　of　the　sorcerer's　sand；　his　arms　extended；　the　light　beginning　to　swirl　slowly　around　him。　He　faced　toward　Richard。
　
　〃Thank　you；　my　son；　for　ing　back；　for　helping　Father　Rahl。　You　will　be　rewarded　for　helping　me；　as　I　promised。　You　have　delivered　to　me　that　which　is　mine。　I　can　feel　it。　It's　marvelous。　I　can　feel　the　power。〃
　
　Richard　stood　without　emotion；　watching。　Zedd　sank　to　the　ground　again。　What　had　Richard　done？　How　could　he？　How　could　he　give　Rahl　the　magic　of　Orden？　Allow　him　to　rule　the　world？　He　had　been　touched　by　a　Confessor；　that　was　how；　it　wasn't　his　fault；　he　had　no　control。　It　was　over。　Zedd　forgave　him。
　
　Had　he　the　power；　Zedd　would　have　made　Wizard's　Life　Fire；　and　put　his　life　into　it。　But　he　had　no　power　here；　no　power　in　the　face　of　Master　Rahl。　He　felt　very　tired；　very　old。　He　knew　he　would　not　get　the　chance　to　get　much　older。　Darken　Rahl　would　see　to　that。　But　it　was　not　himself　he　grieved　for…it　was　everyone　else。
　
　Bathed　in　the　golden　light；　Darken　Rahl　slowly　rose　a　few　feet　off　the　ground；　above　the　white　sorcerer's　sand；　a　satisfied　grin　on　his　face；　his　blue　eyes　sparkling。　His　head　rolled　back　in　rapture；　his　eyes　closing；　his　blond　hair　hanging　away。　Sparkles　of　light　rotated　about　him。
　
　The　white　sand　turned　a　golden　color；　continued　turning　darker；　to　a　burnt　brown。　The　light　around　Rahl　darkened　to　amber。　His　head　came　down；　his　eyes　ing　open；　his　smile　fading。
　
　The　sorcerer's　sand　crisped　to　black。　The　ground　trembled。
　
　A　smile　spread　on　Richard's　face。　He　went　and　retrieved　the　Sword　of　Truth；　the　anger　of　the　sword's　magic　flooding　into　his　gray　eyes。　Zedd　came　to　his　feet。　The　light　around　Darken　Rahl　turned　an　ugly　brown。　His　blue　eyes　went　wide。
　
　A　wailing　roar　came　from　the　ground。　The　black　sand　under　Rahl's　feet　split　open。　Violet　light　shot　up；　engulfing　him。　He　twisted　in　it；　screaming　out。
　
　Richard；　his　chest　heaving；　stood　transfixed；　watching。
　
　The　invisible　prison　around　Zedd　shattered。　Chase's　hand　abruptly　pleted　its　journey　to　his　sword；　yanking　it　free　as　he　flew　toward　Kahlan。　The　two　guards　released　her　arms　and　met　him　halfway。
　
　Michale's　face　paled。　He　stared　in　shock　as　Chase　cut　down　one　of　the　men。　Kahlan　drove　her　elbow　into　Michael's　gut　and　grabbed　the　knife；　twisting　it　from　his　hand。　Disarmed；　Michael　scanned　about　with　quick　jerks　of　his　head；　his　eyes　wild；　and　raced　off　down　a　path　between　the　trees。
　
　Chase　and　the　second　guard　tumbled　to　the　ground；　both　grunting　with　lethal　intent　as　they　rolled　over　each　other　trying　to　gain　advantage。　The　guard　cried　out。　Chase　came　to　his　feet。　The　other　didn't。　He　gave　a　glance　at　Darken　Rahl；　and　ran　off　down　the　path　Michael　had　taken。　Zedd　saw　a　glimpse　of　Kahlan's　dress　as　she　disappeared　in　another　direction。
　
　Zedd　stood　as　Richard　did；　spellbound；　their　stares　riveted　to　Darken　Rahl　as　he　struggled；　trapped　in　the　grip　of　the　magic　of　Orden。　Violet　light　and　dark　shadows　held　him　tight　in　the　air　above　the　black　hole。
　
　〃Richard！〃　Rahl　shrieked。　〃What　have　you　done！〃
　
　The　Seeker　stepped　closer　to　the　circle　of　black　sand。　〃Why；　only　what　you　wanted；　Master　Rahl；〃　he　said　innocently。　〃I　have　told　you　what　you　wanted　to　hear。〃
　
　〃But　it　was　the　truth！　You　told　the　words　true！〃
　
　Richard　nodded。　〃Yes；　I　did。　I　just　didn't　tell　you　all　of　them。　I　left　out　most　of。　the　paragraph　at　the　end。　Be　cautioned。　The　effect　of　the　boxes　is　fluid。　It　shifts　with　the　intent。　To　be　Master　of　all；　so　you　may　help　others；　shift　one　box　to　the　right。　To　be　Master　of　all；　so　all　will　do　your　bidding；　shift　one　box　to　the　left。　Rule　as　you　have　chosen。　Your　information　was　correct；　the　box　with　two　shadows　was　the　one　that　would　kill　you。〃
　
　〃But　you　had　to　do　as　I　said！　You　were　touched　by　a　Confessor's　power！〃
　
　Richard　Smiled。　〃Was　I？　Wizard's　First　Rule。　It's　the　first　rule　because　it's　the　most　important。　You　should　have　guarded　better　against　it。　That's　the　price　of　arrogance。　I　accept　my　vulnerability；　you　don't。
　
　〃I　didn't　like　the　choices　you　gave　me。　I　couldn't　win　by　your　rules；　so　I　made　some　new　ones。　The　book　said　you　had　to　confirm　the　truth　with　the　use　of　a　Confessor。　You　only　thought　you　had　done　that。　Wizard's　First　Rule。　You　believed　because　you　wanted　to。　I　have　beaten　you。〃
　
　〃It　can't　be！　It's　not　possible！　How　could　you　have　known　how　to　do　this！〃
　
　〃You　taught　me：　nothing；　including　magic；　is　one…dimensional。　Look　at　the　whole；　you　said；　nothing　that　exists　has　only　one　side。　Look。　at　the　whole。〃　Richard　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃You　should　never　have　taught　me　something　you　didn't　want　me　to　know。　Once　you　teach　me　something；　it's　mine　to　use。　Thank　you；　Father　Rahl；　for　teaching　me　the　most　important　thing　I　will　ever　learn…how　to　love　Kahlan。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl's　face　distorted　in　pain。　He　laughed　and　screamed。
　
　Richard　looked　around。　〃Where's　Kahlan？〃
　
　Zedd　pointed　a　long　finger。　〃I　saw　her　leave　that　way。〃　Richard　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard　as　he　turned　his　eyes　to　the　figure　held　in　the　shadows　and　light。　〃Good…bye；　Father　Rahl。　I　trust　you　will　die　without　my　watching　it。〃
　
　〃Richard！〃　Rahl　shrieked　as　he　watched　the　Seeker　stride　away。　〃Richard！〃
　
　'Zedd　stood　alone　with　Darken　Rahl。　He　watched　as　transparent　fingers　of　smoke　entwined　around　the　white　robes；　pinning　Rahl's　arms　to　his　sides。　Zedd　stepped　closer；　the　blue　eyes　ing　to　the　old　wizard。
　
　〃Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander；　you　have　won　this　much　of　it；　but　maybe　not　all　of　it。〃
　
　〃Arrogant　to　the　end？〃
　
　Rahl　smiled。　〃Tell　me　who　he　is。〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃The　Seeker。〃
　
　Rahl　laughed；　struggling　in　pain。　The　blue…eyed　gaze；　came　back　to　Zedd。　〃He　is　your　son；　isn't　he？　I　have　at　least　been　defeated　by　wizard　blood。　You　are　his　father。〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head　slowly；　a　wistful　smile　ing　to　his　lips。　〃He　is　my　grandson。〃
　
　〃You　lie！　Why