tg.wizardfirstrule-第17章

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　When　he　came　into　the　room；　Kahlan　answered　from　the　chair。　〃He　came　awake　several　times；　but　he　is　sleeping　now。　Did　you　find　the　root　you　need？〃
　
　〃I　wouldn't　be　here　otherwise。　Did　he　have　anything　to　say　when　he　was　awake？〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　up　at　the　old　man。　〃Just　that　he　was　worried　about　you。〃
　
　He　turned　and　went　back　into　the　front　room；　grumbling。　〃Not　without　good　reason。〃
　
　Sitting　at　the　table；　he　peeled　the　roots；　cut　them　into　thin　wafers；　put　the　wafers　into　a　pot　with　some　water；　and　then　hung　the　pot　on　the　crane　over　the　fire。　He　threw　the　peels　and　then　two　sticks　of　wood　into　the　fire　before　going　to　the　cupboard　and　pulling　down　a　number　of　different…sized　jars。　Without　hesitation　he　selected　first　one　jar；　then　another；　pouring　different…colored　powders　into　a　black　stone　mortar。　With　a　white　pestle；　he　ground　the　reds；　blues；　yellows；　browns；　and　greens　together　until　it　was　all　the　color　of　dry　mud。　After　licking　the　end　of　his　finger；　he　dipped　it　in　the　mortar　to　collect　a　sample。　He　put　the　finger　to　his　tongue　for　a　taste　and　lifted　an　eyebrow　while　he　smacked　his　lips　and　pondered。　At　last　he　smiled　and　nodded　in　satisfaction。　He　poured　the　powder　into　the　pot；　blending　it　in　with　a　spoon　from　a　hook　at　the　side　of　the　fireplace。　He　stirred　slowly　while　watching　the　concoction　bubble。　For　nearly　two　hours　he　stirred　and　watched。　When　at　last　he　determined　that　the　work　was　done；　he　plunked　the　pot　on　the　table　to　cool。
　
　Zedd　collected　a　bowl　and　cloth　and　after　a　while　called　to　Kahlan　to　e　help　him。　She　came　quickly　to　his　side　and　he　instructed　her　how　to　hold　the　cloth　over　the　bowl　while　he　poured　the　mixture　through。
　
　He　spun　his　。finger　around　in　the　air。　〃Now　twist　the　cloth　around　and　around　to　squeeze　the　liquid　out。　When　it's　all　out；　throw　the　cloth　and　its　contents　in　the　fire。〃　She　looked　at　him；　puzzled。　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃The　part　left　in　there　is　poison。　Richard　should　be　awake　any　time　now；　then　we　give　him　the　liquid　in　the　bowl。　You　keep　squeezing。　I　will　check　on　him。〃
　
　Zedd　went　into　the　bedroom；　bent　over　Richard；　and　found　him　to　be　deeply　unconscious。　He　turned　and　saw　that　Kahlan's　back　was　to　him　as　she　worked　at　her　task。　He　bent　over；　placing　a　middle　finger　to　Richard's　forehead。　Richard's　eyes　snapped　open。
　
　〃Dear　one；〃　Zedd　called　into　the　other　room；　〃we　are　in　luck。　He　has　just　e　awake。　Bring　the　bowl。〃
　
　Richard　blinked。　〃Zedd？　Are　you　all　right？　Is　everything　all　right？〃
　
　〃Yes；　yes；　everything　is　fine。〃
　
　Kahlan　came　in　holding　the　bowl　carefully；　trying　not　to　spill　any。　Zedd　helped　Richard　sit　up　so　he　could　drink。　When　he　finished；　Zedd　helped　him　to　lie　back　down。
　
　〃That　will　make　you　sleep；　and　break　the　fever。　The　next　time　you　awake；　you　will　be　well；　you　have　my　word；　so　worry　no　more　as　you　rest。〃
　
　〃Thank　you；　Zedd　。　。　。　。〃　Richard　was　asleep　before　he　could　say　more。
　
　Zedd　left　and　then　returned　with　a　tin　plate；　insisting　that　Kahlan　take　the　chair。　〃The　thorn　will　not　be　able　to　stand　the　root；〃　he　explained。　〃It　will　have　to　leave　his　body。〃　He　put　the　plate　under　Richard's　hand　and　sat　down　on　the　edge　of　the　bed　to　wait。　They　both　listened　to　Richard's　deep　breathing　and　the　crackling　of　the　fire　from　the　other　room；　otherwise　the　house　was　still。　It　was　Zedd　who　broke　the　silence　first。
　
　〃It　is　dangerous　for　a　Confessor　to　travel　alone；　dear　one。　Where　is　your　wizard？〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　him　with　tired　eyes。　〃My　wizard　sold　his　services　to　a　queen。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　a　disapproving　scowl。　〃He　abandoned　his　responsibilities　to　the　Confessors？　What　is　his　name？〃
　
　〃Giller。〃
　
　〃Giller。〃　He　repeated　the　name　with　a　sour　expression；　then　leaned　toward　her　a　bit。　〃So　why　did　another　not　e　with　you？〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　hard　look。　〃Because　they　are　all　dead；　at　their　own　hands。　Before　they　died；　they　all　gathered　and　cast　a　web　to　see　me　safely　through　the　boundary；　with　the　guidance　of　a　night　wisp。〃　Zedd　stood　at　this　news。　Sadness　and　concern　etched　his　face　as　he　rubbed　his　chin。　〃You　knew　the　wizards？〃　she　asked。
　
　〃Yes；　yes。　I　lived　in　the　Midlands　a　long　time。〃
　
　〃And　the　great　one？　You　know　him　also？〃
　
　Zedd　smiled；　rearranged　his　robes；　and　seated　himself　again。　〃You　are　persistent；　dear　one。　Yes；　I　knew　the　old　wizard；　once。　But　even　if　you　could　find　him；　I　don't　think　he　would　have　anything　to　do　with　this　business。　He　would　not　be　inclined　to　help　the　Midlands。〃
　
　Kahlan　leaned　forward；　taking　his　hands　in　hers。　Her　voice　was　soft　but　intense。
　
　〃Zedd；　there　are　many　people　who　disapprove　of　the　High　Council　of　the　Midlands　and　its　greed。　They　wish　it　were　not　so；　but　they　are　just　mon　people　who　have　no　say。　They　only　wish　to　live　their　lives　in　peace。　Darken　Rahl　has　taken　the　food　that　was　stored　for　the　ing　winter　and　given　it　to　the　army。　They　waste　it；　or　let　it　rot；　or　sell　it　back　to　the　people　they　stole　it　from。　Already　there　is　hunger；　this　winter　there　will　be　death。　Fire　has　been　outlawed。　People　are　cold。
　
　〃Rahl　says　it　is　all　the　great　wizard's　fault；　for　not　ing　forward　to　be　put　on　trial　as　an　enemy　of　the　people。　He　says　the　wizard　has　brought　this　on　them；　that　he　is　to　blame。　He　doesn't　explain　how　this　could　be；　but　many　believe　it　anyway。　Many　believe　everything　Rahl　says；　even　though　what　they　see　with　their　own　eyes　should　be　enough　to　tell　them　otherwise。
　
　〃The　wizards　were　under　constant　threat；　and　forbidden　by　edict　from　using　magic。　They　knew　that　sooner　or　later　they　would　be　used　against　the　people。　They　may　have　made　mistakes'　in　the　past；　and　disappointed　their　teacher；　but　the　most　important　thing　they　were　taught　was　to　be　protectors　of　the　people　and　in　。　no　way　to　bring　them　harm。　As　their　most　loving　act　for　the　people；　they　gave　their　lives　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　I　think　their　teacher　would　have　been　proud。
　
　〃But　this　is　not　about　just　the　Midlands。　The　boundary　between　D'Hara　and　the　Midlands　is　down；　the　boundary　between　the　Midlands　and　Westland　is　failing；　and　soon　it　too　will　be　down。　The　people　of　Westland　will　be　taken　by　the　very　thing　they　fear　most：　magic。　Terrible；　frightening　magic　like　none　they　have　ever　imagined。〃
　
　Zedd　showed　no　emotion；　offered　no　objection　or　opinion；　only　listened。　He　continued　to　allow　her　to　hold　his　hands。
　
　〃All　I　have　said；　the　great　wizard　could　have　an　argument　for；　but　the　fact　that　Darken　Rahl　has　put　the　three　boxes　of　Orden　into　play　is　something　altogether　different。　If　he　succeeds；　then　on　the　first　day　of　winter　it　will　be　too　late　for　anyone。　That　includes　the　wizard。　Rahl　already　searches　for　him；　it　is　personal　vengeance　he　seeks。　Many　have　died　because　they　could　not　offer　his　name。　When　Rahl　opens　the　correct　box；　though；　he　will　have　unchallenged　power　over　all　things　living；　and　then　the　wizard　will　be　his。　He　can　hide　in　Westland　all　he　wants；　but　e　the　first　day　of　winter；　his　hiding　is　over。　Darken　Rahl　will　have　him。〃
　
　There　was　bitterness　in　her　expression。　〃Zedd；　Darken　Rahl　has　used　quads　to　kill　all　the　other　Confessors。　I　found　my　sister　after　they　were　finished　with　her。　She　died　in　my　arms。　With　all　the　others　dead；　that　leaves　only　me。　The　wizards　knew　their　teacher　did　not　want　to　help；　so　they　sent　me　as　the　last　hope。　If　he　is　too　foolish　to　see　that　in　helping　me；　he　helps　himself；　then　I　must　use　my　power　against　him；　to　make　him　help。〃
　
　Zedd　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃And　what　is　one　dried…up　old　wizard　to　do　against　the　power　of　this　Darken　Rahl？〃　He　was　now　holding　her　hands　in　his。
　
　〃He　must　appoint　a　Seeker。〃
　
　〃What！〃　Zedd　jumped　to　his　feet。　〃Dear　one；　you　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about。〃
　
　Confused；　Kahlan　leaned　back　a　little。　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　〃Seekers　appoint　themselves。　The　wizard　just　sort　of　recognizes　what　has　happened；　and　makes　it　official。〃
　
　〃I　don't　understand。　I　thought　the　wizard　picked　the　person；　the　right　person。〃
　
　Zedd　sat　back　down；　rubbing　his　chin。　〃Well；　that's　true　in　a　sense；　but　backwards。　A　true　Seeker；　one　who　can　make　a　difference；　must　show　himself　to　be　a　Seeker。　The　wizard　doesn't　point　to　someone　and　say；　‘Here　is　the　Sword　of　Truth；　you　will　be　the　Seeker。'　He　doesn't　really　have　a　choice　in　the　matter。　It　isn't　something　you　can　train　someone　for。　One　should　simply　be　a　Seeker　and　show　himself　to　be　so　by　his　actions。　A　wizard　must　watch　a　person　for　years　to　be　sure。　A　Seeker　doesn't　have　to　be　the　smartest　person；　but　he　has　to　be　the　right　person；　he　has　to　have　the　right　qualities　within　himself。　A　true　Seeker　is　a　rare　person。
　
　〃The　Seeker　is　a　balance　point　of　power。　The　council　made　the　appointment　a　political　bone　to　be　thrown　to　one　of　the　sniveling　dogs　at　their　feet。　It　was　a　sought…after　post　because　of　the　power　a　Seeker　wields。　But　the　council　didn't　understand：　it　wasn't　the　post　that　brought　the　power　to　the　person；　it　was　the　person　that　brought　the　power　to　the　post。〃
　
　He　edged　closer　to　her。　〃Kahlan；　you　were　born　after　the　council　took　this　power　upon　itself；　so　you　may　have　been　a　Seeker　when　you　were　young；　but　in　those　days　they　were　pretend　Seekers；　you　have　never　seen　the　real　thing。〃　His　eyes　got　round　in　the　telling；　his　voice　low　and　full　of　passion。　〃I　have　seen　a　true　Seeker　make　a　king　quake　in　his　boots　with　the　asking　of　a　single　question：　When　a　real　Seeker　draws　the　Sword　of　Truth　。　。　。〃　He　held　his　hands　up　and　rolled　his　eyes　in　delight。　〃Righteous　anger　can　be　an　extraordinary　thing　to　behold。〃　Kahlan　smiled　at　his　excitement。　〃It　can　make　the　good　tremble　with　joy；　and　the　wicked　shiver　in　fear。〃　The　smile　left　his　face。　〃But　people　rarely　believe　the　truth　when　they　see　it　and　less　so　when　they　don't　want　to；　and　that　makes　the　position　of　Seeker　a　dangerous　one。　He　is　an　obstacle　to　those　who　would　subvert　power。　He　draws　lightning　from　many　sides。　Most　often　he　stands　alone；　and　frequently　not　long。〃
　
　〃I　know　the　feeling　well；〃　she　said；　with　only　the　hint　of　a　smile。
　
　Zedd　leaned　closer。　〃Against　Darken　Rahl；　I　doubt　even　a　true　Seeker　would　last　long。　And　then　what？〃
　
　She　took　up　his　hands　again。　〃Zedd；　we　must　try。　It　is　our　only　chance。　If　we　don't　take　it；　we　have　none。〃
　
　He　sat　up；　pulling　away　from　her。　〃Any　person　the　wizard　picks　would　not　know　the　Midlands。　He　would　have　no　chance　there。　It　would　be　a　sentence　of　quick　death。〃
　
　〃That　is　the　other　reason　I　was　sent。　To　be　his　guide；　and　stand　with　him；　to　offer　my　life　if　need　be；　to　help　protect　him。　Confessors　spend　their　life　traveling　the　lands。　I　have　been　almost　everywhere　in　the　Midlands。　A　Confessor　is　trained　from　birth　in　languages。　She　has　to　be；　because　she　never　knows　where　she　will　be　called。　I　speak　every　major　language；　and　most　of　the　minor　ones。　And　as　far　as　drawing　lightning；　a　Confessor　draws　her　fair　share。　If　we　were　easy　to　kill；　Rahl　would　not　need　to　send　quads　to　get　the　job　done。　And　many　of　them　have　died　in　the　doing。　I　can　help　protect　the　Seeker；　if　need　be；　with　my　own　life。〃
　
　〃What　you　propose　not　only　would　put　someone's　life　at　terrible　risk；　as　Seeker；　dear　one；　but　yours　also。〃
　
　She　raised　an　eyebrow。　〃I　am　hunt