tg.wizardfirstrule-第148章

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　Zedd　shook　his　head　slowly；　a　wistful　smile　ing　to　his　lips。　〃He　is　my　grandson。〃
　
　〃You　lie！　Why　put　a　web　around　him；　hide　his　father's　identity；　if　it　is　not　you！〃
　
　〃I　put　a　web　around　him　because　I　did　not　want　him　to　know　who　the　blue…eyed　bastard　was　who　raped　his　mother　and　gave　him　life。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl's　eyes　widened。　〃Your　daughter　was　killed。　My　father　told　me　so。〃
　
　〃A　little　trick；　to　keep　her　safe。〃　Zedd's　expression　darkened。　〃Though　you　didn't　know　who　she　was；　you　hurt　her。　Without　intending　it；　you　also　gave　her　happiness。　You　gave　her　Richard。〃
　
　〃I　am　his　father？〃　Rahl　whispered。
　
　〃When　you　raped　my　daughter；　I　knew　I　couldn't　harm　you；　and　my　first　thought　was　to　fort　her；　protect　her；　so　I　took　her　to　Westland。　She　met　a　young　man；　a　man　widowed　with　a　baby　son。；　George　Cypher　was　a　good；　kind　man；　I　was　proud　to　have　him　as　my　daughter's　husband。　George　loved　Richard　as　his　own；　but　he　knew　the　truth；　except　about　me；　who　I　was；　that　was　hidden　by　the　web。
　
　〃I　could　have　hated　Richard　for　his　father's　crimes；　but　chose　instead　to　love　him　for　himself。　He　turned　out　to　be　quite　a　man；　don't　you　think？　You　have　been　defeated　by　the　heir　you　wanted。　An　heir　born　with　the　gift。　That　is　rare。　Richard　is　the　true　Seeker。　From　the　Rahl　blood；　he　has　the　rage　of　the　anger；　the　capacity　for　violence。　But　it's　balanced　with　Zorander　blood；　the　capacity　for　love；　understanding；　and　forgiveness。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　shimmered　in　the　shadows　of　the　magic　or　Orden。　He　twisted　in　pain　as　he　became　transparent　as　smoke。　〃To　think；　the　Zorander　and　Rahl　bloodlines；　joined　in　one。　Yet　he　is　still　my　heir。　In　a　way；〃　he　managed；　〃I　have　won。〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head。　〃You　have　lost；。　in　more　ways　than　one。〃
　
　Vapor；　smoke；　shadows；　and　light　spun　in　a　roar。　The　ground　shook　violently。　The　sorcerer's　sand；　now　black　as　pitch；　was　sucked　into　the　vortex。　The　whole　of　it　rotated　over　the　abyss；　the　sounds　of　the　world　of　life　and　the　underworld　mixing　in　a　terrible　howl。
　
　Darken　Rahl's　voice　came　hollow；　empty；　dead。　〃Read　the　prophecies；　old　man。　Things　may　not　yet　be　as　final　as　you　think。　I　am　an　agent。〃
　
　A　point　of　blinding　light　ignited　in　the　center　of　the　spinning　mass。　Zedd　shielded　his　eyes。　Beams　of　white…hot　light　shot　upward；　through　the　windows　overhead；　into　the　sky；　and　downward；　into　the　blackness　of　the　abyss。　There　was　a　piercing　shriek。　The　air　shimmered　with　the　heat；　light；　and　sound。　A　flash　lit　everything　around　to　white；　and　then　there　was　silence。
　
　Cautiously；　Zedd　took　his　hands　from　his　eyes。　It　was　gone。　The　whole　of　it　was　gone。　Winter　sunlight　warmed　the　ground　where　only　moments　before　the　black　abyss　had　been。　The　sorcerer's　sand　was　gone。　The　bare　circle　of　earth　it　had　covered　was　whole。　The　rupture　between　worlds　healed。　At　least　Zedd　hoped　it　was。
　
　The　wizard　felt　his　power　seeping　back　into　his　bones。　The　ones　who　had　drawn　the　spell　against　him　were　gone。　The　effect　of　the　spell　was　gone。
　
　He　stood　before　the　altar；　spread　his　arms　into　the　sunlight；　and　closed　his　eyes。
　
　〃I　recall　the　webs。　I　am　who　I　was　before：　Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander；　Wizard　of　the　First　Order。　Let　all　know　it　once　more。　And　the　rest；　too。〃　The　people　of　D'Hara　were　linked　to　the　House　of　Rahl；　a　link　forged　in　magic　long　ago　by　those　who　would　rule；　a　link　that　chained　the　people　of　D'Hara　to　the　House　of　Rahl；　and　House　of　Rahl　to　them。　With　the　webs　removed；　that　link　to　the　gift　would　be　felt　by　many；　and　let　them　know　that　Richard　was　now　Master　Rahl。
　
　Zedd　would　have　to　tell　Richard　that　Darken　Rahl　was　his　father；　but　not　this　day。　He　would　have　to　find　the　words　first。　There　were　many　things　to　tell　him；　but　not　this　day。
　
　…＋
　
　Richard　found　her；　kneeling　before　one　of　the　deserted　devotion　pools。　The　gag　was　still　tied　around　her　neck；　left　there　when　she　had　pulled　it　from　her　mouth。　Kahlan　hunched　over　in　tears；　her　long　hair　cascading　off　her　shoulders　as　she　leaned　forward；　the　knife　gripped　in　both　fists；　the　point　held　to　her　chest。　Her　shoulders　shook　with　her　sobs。　Richard　came　to　a　stop　next　to　the　folds　of　her　white　dress。
　
　〃Don't　do　that；〃　he　whispered。
　
　〃I　must。　I　love　you；〃　Kahlan　gave　a　little　moan。　〃I　have　touched　you　with　my　power。　I　would　rather　die　than　be　your　mistress。　It　is　the　only　way　to　release　you。〃　She　gave　a　tearful　shudder。　〃I　would　like　you　to　give　me　a　kiss；　and　then　leave　me。　I　don't　want　you　to　see　it。〃
　
　〃No。〃
　
　Her　eyes　snapped　up　to　his。　〃What　did　you　say？〃　she　whispered。
　
　Richard　put　his　fists　on　his　hips。　〃I　said　‘no。'　I'm　not　going　to　kiss　you　with　those　silly　things　painted　on　your　face。　They　nearly　scared　the　life　out　of　me。〃
　
　Her　green　eyes　stared　in　disbelief。　〃You　can　deny　me　nothing；　once　I　have　touched　you　with　my　power。〃
　
　Richard　squatted　down　close　to　her。　He　untied　the　gag　from　her　neck。　〃Well；　then；　you　have　ordered　me　to　kiss　you〃…he　dunked　the　cloth　in　the　water…〃and　I　told　you　I。　won't　do　it　with　this　thing　painted　on　your　face。〃　He　began　wiping　the　lightning　bolts　from　her　skin。　〃So；　I　guess　the　only　solution　is　to　get　rid　of　it。〃
　
　She　knelt；　frozen；　while　he　cleaned　the　red　off　her　face。　Richard　looked　into　her　wide　eyes　when　he　finished。　He　tossed　the　rag　aside；　and　knelt　in　front　of　her；　slipping　his　arms　around…her　waist。
　
　〃Richard；　I　touched　you　with　the　magic。　I　felt　it。　I　heard　it。　I
　
　saw　it。　How　could　the　power　not　have　taken　you？〃　　_
　
　〃Because　I　was。　protected。〃
　
　〃Protected？　How？〃
　
　〃By　my　love　for　you。　I　realized　I　loved　you　more　than　life　itself；　and　I　would　rather　give　myself　into　your　power　than　live　without　you。　Nothing　the　magic　could　do　to　me　could　be　worse　than　living　without　you。　I　was　willing　to　give　it　all　over　to　you。　I　offered　the　power　everything　I　have。　All　of　my　love　for　you。　Once　I　realized　how　much　I　loved　you；　was　willing　to　be　yours　on　any　terms；　I　understood　that　there　could　be　nothing　for　the　magic　to　harm。　I'm　already　devoted　to　you；　it　didn't　need　to　change　me。　I　was　protected；　because　I　have　already　been　touched　by　your　love。　I　had　utter　faith　that　you　felt　the　same；　and　had　no　fear　of　what　would　happen。　Had　I　had　any　doubt；　the　magic　would　have　latched　on　to　that　crack　and　taken　me；　but　I　had　no　doubt。　My　love　for　you　is　smooth　and　seamless。　My　love　for　you　protected　me　from　the　magic。〃
　
　She　gave　him　her　special　smile。　〃You　felt　that　way？　You　had　no　doubt？〃
　
　Richard　smiled　back。　〃Well；　for　a　moment；　when　I　saw　those
　
　lightning　bolts　on　your　face；　I　have　to　admit；　I　was　worried。　I
　
　didn't　know　what　they　were；　what　they　meant。　I　pulled　the
　
　sword；　trying　to　gain　time　to　think。　But　then　I　realized　it　didn't
　
　matter；　you　were　still　Kahlan；　and　I　still　loved　you；　no　matter
　
　what。　I　wanted　you　to　touch　me　more　than　anything；　to　prove　my
　
　love　and　devotion　for　you；　but　I　had　to　put　on　an　act　for　Darken
　
　Rahl's　benefit。〃
　
　〃These　symbols　mean　that　I；　too；　gave　everything　over　to　you；〃　she　whispered。
　
　Kahlan　circled　her　arms　around　his　neck；　kissing　him。　They　knelt　on　the　tiles　in　front　of　the　devotion　pool；　pressed　against　one　another。　Richard　kissed　her　soft　lips　the　way　he　had　dreamed　a　thousand　times　of　kissing　her。　He　kissed　her　until　he　was　dizzy；　and　then　kissed　her　some　more；　not　caring　that　bewildered　people　who　passed　watched　them。
　
　Richard　had　no　idea　how　long　they　knelt　there　embracing；　but　decided　at　last　that　they　had　better　go　find　Zedd。　With　her　arm　around　his　waist　and　her　head　leaning　against　him；　they　walked　back　to　the　Garden　of　Life；　kissing　once　more　before　they　went　through　the　doors。
　
　Zedd　stood　with　one　hand　on　a　bony　hip；　the　other　stroking　his　chin；　as　he　inspected　the　altar　and　other　things　behind　it。　Kahlan　fell　to　her　knees　before　him；　taking　his　hands　in　hers；　kissing　them。
　
　〃Zedd；　he　loves　me！　He　figured　out　how　to　make　it　work；　with　the　magic。　There　was　a　way；　and　he　found　it。〃
　
　Zedd　frowned　down　at　her。　〃Well；　it　took　him　long　enough。〃
　
　Kahlan　came　to　her　feet。　〃You　knew　how　to　do　it？〃
　
　Zedd　looked　indignant　at　the　question。　〃I'm　a　wizard　of　the　First　Order。　Of　course　I　knew。〃
　
　〃And　you　never　told　us？〃
　
　Zedd　smiled。　〃Had　I　told　you；　dear　one；　it　wouldn't　have　worked。　The　foreknowledge　would　have　interjected　a　grain　of　doubt。　That　single　。grain　would　have　caused　failure。　To　be　the　true　love　of　a　Confessor；　there　must　be　total　mitment；　to　get　past　the　magic。　Without　the　willingness　to　give　himself　over　to　you；　selflessly；　despite　the　knowledge　of　the　consequence；　it　wouldn't　work。〃
　
　〃You　seem　to　know　a　lot　about　it；〃　Kahlan　frowned。　〃I　have　never　heard　of　it　before。　How　often　does　this　happen？〃
　
　Zedd　rubbed　his　chin　in　thought；　looking　up　at　the　windows。　〃Well；　only　once　before　that　I　know　of。〃　His　eyes　rested　on　the　two　of　them。　〃But　you　can　tell　no　one；　just　as　I　wasn't　able　to　tell　you。　No　matter　how　much　pain　it　may　cause；　no　matter　the　consequences；　you　can　never　tell。　If　even　one　other　knows；　it　could　be　passed　on；　destroying　forever　the　chance　for　others。　It's　one　of　the　ironies　of　magic；　you　have　to　accept　failure　before　you　can　have　success。　It　is　also　one　of　the　burdens　of　magic；　you　must　accept　the　results；　even　the　death；　of　others；　to　protect　the　hope　for　the　future。　Selfishness　costs　the　lives；　the　chances；　of　those　yet　unborn。〃　Kahlan　nodded。　〃I　promise。〃
　
　〃Me　too；〃　Richard　said。　〃Zedd；　is　it　over？　With　Darken　Rahl；　I　mean。　Is　he　dead？〃
　
　Zedd　gave　Richard　a　look　he　found　unexpectedly　unfortable。　〃Darken　Rahl　is　dead。〃　Zedd　put　a　thin　hand　on　Richard's　shoulder；　his　bony　fingers　gripping　tightly。　〃You　have　gotten　it　right；　Richard；　all　of　it。　You　scared　the　wits　out　of　me。　I　have　never　seen　a　performance　to　match　it。〃
　
　Richard　grinned　in　pride。　〃Just　a　little　trick。〃
　
　Zedd　nodded；　his　white　hair　sticking　out　in　every　direction；　looking　wild。　〃More　than　a　trick；　my　boy。　More　than　little。〃
　
　They　all　turned　when　they　heard　the　sound　of　someone　approaching。　Chase　came　dragging　Michael　in　by　the　scruff　of　his　neck。　His　dirty　white　trousers　and　shirt　spoke　that　he　had　not　e　willingly。　Chase　gave　him　a　shove；　forcing　him　in　front　of　Richard。
　
　Richard's　mood　darkened　at　seeing　his　brother。　Michael's　defiant　eyes　came　up　to　meet　Richard's　gaze。
　
　〃I'll　not　be　treated　in　this　manner；　little　brother。〃　His　voice　was　as　condescending　as　it　had　ever　been。　〃You　don't　know　what　you've　interfered　with；　what　I　was　trying　to　do；　how　I　would　have　helped　everyone　by　uniting　Westland　and　D'Hara。　You　have　doomed　the　people　to　needless　suffering　that　Darken　Rahl　could　have　spared。　You　are　a　fool。〃
　
　Richard　thought　about　all　he　had　been　though；　about　all　that　Zedd；　and　Chase；　and　Kahlan　had　been　through。　He　thought　about　all　those　he　knew　who　had　died　at　Rahl's　hands；　and　the　countless　number　of　dead　he　would　never　know　of。　The　suffering；　the　cruelty；　the　brutality。　He　thought　of　all　the　tyrants　allowed　to　flourish　under　Darken　Rahl；　all　the　way　from　Darken　Rahl　himself　down　to　Princess　Violet。　He　thought　of　those　he　had　killed。　He　felt　pain　and　grief　at　the　things　he　had　had　to　do。