tg.wizardfirstrule-第56章

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　〃He　be　Seeker；　that　be　what　Seekers　do：　they　solve　riddles。〃
　
　Zedd　held　up　a　bony　finger。　〃Riddles　of　life；　not　words。　There　is　a　difference。〃
　
　Adie　set　her　apple　down　and　leaned　forward；　putting　her　hands　on　the　table。　A　look　of　concern　softened　her　face。　〃Zedd；　I　was　trying　to　help　the　boy。　I　want　him　to　succeed。　I　lost　my　foot　in　the　pass；　he　would　have　lost　his　life。　If　the　Seeker　loses　his　life；　we　all　lose　ours　too。　I　did　not　mean　him　harm。〃
　
　Zedd　put　his　apple　down　and　dismissed　his　anger　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃I　know　you　meant　no　harm；　Adie。　I　did　not　mean　to　suggest　you　did。〃　He　took　Adie's　hands　in　his。　〃It　will　be　all　right。〃
　
　〃I　be　a　fool；〃　she　said　bitterly。　〃He　told　me　he　disliked　riddles；　but　I　never　thought　more　of　it。　Zedd；　seek　him　through　the　night　stone？　See　if　he　has　made　it　through？〃
　
　Zedd　nodded。　He　closed　his　eyes　and　let　his　chin　sink　to　his　chest　as　he　took　three　deep　breaths。　Then　he　stopped　breathing　for　a　long　time。　From　the　air　about　came　the　low；　soft　sound　of　distant　wind；　wind　on　an　open　plain：　lonely；　baleful；　haunting。　The　sound　of　the　wind　left　at　last；　and　the　wizard　began　breathing　again。　His　head　came　up；　and　his　eyes　opened。
　
　〃He　is　in　the　Midlands。　He　has　made　it　through　the　pass。〃
　
　Adie　gave　a　nod　of　relief。　〃I　will　give　you　a　bone　to　carry；　so　that　you　may　go　safely　through　the　pass。　Will　you　go　after　him　now？〃
　
　The　wizard　looked　down　at　the　table；　away　from　her　white　eyes。　〃No；〃　he　said　in　a　quiet　voice。　〃He　will　have　to　handle　this；　among　other　things；　on　his　own。　As　you　said；　he　is　the　Seeker。　I　have　an　important　task　to　attend　to；　if　we　are　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　I　hope　he　can　stay　out　of　trouble　in　the　meantime。〃
　
　〃Secrets？〃　the　sorceress　asked；　smiling　her　little　smile。
　
　〃Secrets。〃　The　wizard　nodded。　〃I　must　leave　right　away。〃
　
　She　took　one　hand　out　from　under　his　and　stroked　his　leathery　skin。
　
　〃It　be　dark　outside。〃
　
　〃Dark；〃　he　agreed。
　
　〃Why　not　stay　the　night？　Leave　with　the　light。〃
　
　Zedd's　eyes　snapped　up；　looking　at　her　from　under　his　eyebrows。　〃Stay　the　night？〃
　
　Adie　shrugged　as　she　stroked　his　hands。　〃It　be　lonely　here　sometimes。〃
　
　〃Well；〃　Zedd's　impish　grin　lit　his　face；　〃as　you　say；　it　is　dark　outside。　And　I　guess　it　would　make　more　sense　to　start　out　in　the　morning。〃　A　sudden　frown　broke　out；　wrinkling　his　brow。　〃This　isn't　one　of　your　riddles；　is　it？〃
　
　She　shook　her　head；　and　his　grin　came　back。
　
　〃I　have　my　wizard's　rock　along。　Could　I　interest　you？〃
　
　Adie's　face　softened　in　a　shy　smile。　〃I　would　like　that　very　much。〃　She　watched　him　as　she　sat　back；　taking　a　bite　of　her　apple。
　
　Zedd　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃Naked？〃
　
　…＋
　
　Wind　and　rain　bowed　the　long　grass　in　broad　slow　waves　as　the　two　of　them　made　their　way　across　the　open；　flat　plain。　Trees　were　few　and　far　between；　mostly　birch　and　alder　in　clusters　along　streams。　Kahlan　watched　the　grass　carefully；　they　were　near　the　Mud　People's　territory。　Richard　followed　silently　behind；　keeping　her　under　his　watchful　eye；　as　always。
　
　She　didn't　like　taking　him　to　the　Mud　People；　but　he　was　right；　they　had　to　know　where　to　look　for　the　last　box；　and　there　was　no　one　else　anywhere　near　who　could　point　them　in　the　right　direction。　Autumn　was　wearing　on；　and　their　time　was　dwindling。　Still；　the　Mud　People　might　not　help　them；　and　then　the　time　would　be　wasted
　
　Worse；　although　she　knew　they　probably　would　not　dare　to　kill　a　Confessor；　even　one　traveling　without　the　protection　of　a　wizard；　she　had　no　idea　if　they　would　dare　to　kill　the　Seeker。　She　had　never　traveled　the　Midlands　before　without　a　wizard。　No　Confessor　did；　it　was　too　dangerous。　Richard　was　better　protection　than　Giller；　the　last　wizard　assigned　her；　but　Richard　was　not　supposed　to　be　her　protection；　she　was　supposed　to　be　his。　She　couldn't　allow　him　to　put　his　life　at　risk　for　her　again。　He　was　more　important　than　she　to　stopping　Rahl。　That　was　what　mattered；　above　all　else。　She　had　pledged　her　life　in　defense　of　the　Seeker　。。。in　defense　of　Richard。　She　had　never　meant　anything　more　ardently　in　her　life。　If　a　time　came　that　called　for　a　choice；　it　must　be　she　who　died。
　
　The　path　through　the　grasses　came　to　two　poles；　one　set　to　each　side　of　the　trail。　They　were　wrapped　in　skins　dyed　with　red　stripes。　Richard　stopped　by　the　poles；　looking　up　at　the　skulls　fixed　atop　them。
　
　〃This　meant　to　warn　us　away？〃　he　asked　as　he　stroked　one　of　the　skins。
　
　〃No；　they　are　the　skulls　of　honored　ancestors；　meant　to　watch　over　their　lands。　Only　the　most　respected　are　accorded　such　recognition。〃
　
　〃That　doesn't　sound　threatening。　Maybe　they　won't　be　so　unhappy　to　see　us　after　all。〃
　
　Kahlan　turned　to　him　and　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃One　of　the　ways　you　get　to　be　revered　by　the　Mud　People　is　by　killing　outsiders。〃　She　looked　back　at　the　skulls。　〃But　this　is　not　meant　as　a　threat　to　others。　It　is　simply　a　tradition　of　honor　among　themselves。〃
　
　Richard　took　a　deep　breath　as　he　withdrew　his　hand　from　the　pole。　〃Let's　see　if　we　can　get　them　to　help　us；　so　they　can　go　on　revering　their　ancestors；　and　keeping　outsiders　away。〃
　
　〃Remember　what　I　told　you；〃　she　warned。　〃They　may　not　want　to　help。　You　have　to　respect　that　if　it　is　their　decision。　These　are　some　of　the　people　I　am　trying　to　save。　I　don't　want　you　to　hurt　them。〃
　
　〃Kahlan；　it's　not　my　desire　or　intention　to　hurt　them。　Don't　worry；　they　will　help　us。　It's　in　their　own　interest。〃
　
　〃They　may　not　see　it　that　way；〃　she　pressed。　The　rain　had　stopped；　replaced　by　a　light；　cold　mist　she　felt　on　her　face。　She　pushed　the　hood　of　her　cloak　back。　〃Richard；　promise　me　you　won't　hurt　them。〃
　
　He　pushed　his　hood　back　also；　put　his　hands　on　his　hips；　and　surprised　her　with　a　little　smile　out　of　one　side　of　his　mouth。　〃Now　I　know　how　it　feels。〃
　
　〃What？〃　she　asked；　a　tone　of　suspicion　in　her　voice。
　
　As　he　looked　down　at　her；　his　smile　grew。　〃Remember　when　I　had　the　fever　from　the　snake　vine；　and　I　asked　you　not　to　hurt　Zedd？　Now　I　know　how　you　felt　when　you　couldn't　make　that　promise。〃
　
　Kahlan　looked　into　his　gray　eyes；　thinking　of　how　much　she　wanted　to　stop　Rahl；　and　thought　of　all　those　she　knew　whom　he　had　killed。
　
　〃And　now　I　know　how　you　must　have　felt　when　I　could　not　make　that　promise。〃　She　smiled　in　spite　of　herself。　〃Did　you　feel　this　foolish　for　asking？〃
　
　He　nodded。　〃When　I　realized　what　was　at　stake。　And　when　I　realized　what　kind　of　person　you　were；　that　you　wouldn't　do　anything　to　harm　anyone　unless　there　was　no　choice。　Then　I　felt　foolish。　For　not　trusting　you。〃
　
　She　did　feel　foolish　for　not　trusting　him。　But　she　knew　he　trusted　her　too　much。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；〃　she　said；　the　smile　still　on　her　lips。　〃I　should　know　you　better　than　that。〃
　
　〃Do　you　know　how　we　can　get　them　to　help　us？〃
　
　She　had　been　to　the　village　of　the　Mud　People　several　times；　none　of　them　by　invitation；　they　would　never　request　a　Confessor。　It　was　a　mon　chore　among　Confessors；　paying　a　professional　call　on　the　different　peoples　of　the　Midlands。　They　had　been　polite　enough；　out　of　fear；　but　they　had　made　it　clear　that　they　handled　their　own　affairs；　and　did　not　want　outside　involvement。　They　were　not　a　people　who　would　respond　to　threats。
　
　〃The　Mud　People　hold　a　gathering；　called　a　council　of　seers。　I　have　never　been　allowed　to　attend；　maybe　because　I　am　an　outsider；　maybe　because　I　am　a　woman。　This　group　divines　the　answers　to　questions　that　affect　the　village。　They　will　not　hold　a　gathering　at　sword　point；　if　they　are　to　help　us；　they　must　do　so　willingly。　You　must　win　them　over。〃　He　gazed　intently　into　her　eyes。　〃With　your　help；　we　can　do　it。　We　must。〃
　
　She　nodded；　and　turned　to　the　path　once　more。　Clouds　hung　low　and　thick　above　the　grassland；　seeming　to　boil　slowly　as　they　rolled　along　in　an　endless　procession。　Out　on　the　plains；　there　seemed　to　be　much　more　sky　than　there　was　anywhere　else。　It　was　an　overpowering　presence；　dwarfing　the　unchanging；　flat　land。
　
　Rains　had　swollen　the　streams　until　the　churning；　muddy　water　pounded　and　frothed　with　a　roar　at　the　bottoms　of　the　crossing　logs　that　were　used　as　bridges。　Kahlan　could　feel　the　power　of　the　water　making　the　logs　shudder　under　her　boots。　She　stepped　carefully；　as　the　logs　were　slippery；　and　there　was　no　hand　rope　to　aid　her　crossing。　Richard　offered　her　his　hand；　to　steady　her；　and　she　was　glad　for　the　excuse　to　take　it。　She　found　herself　looking　forward　to　the　stream　crossings；　to　being　able　to　take　his　hand。　But　as　deeply　as　it　hurt；　she　couldn't　allow　herself　to　encourage　his　feelings　for　her。　She　wished　so　much　she　could　just　be　a　woman；　like　any　other。　But　she　wasn't。　She　was　a　Confessor。　Still；　sometimes　for　brief　moments；　she　could　forget；　and　pretend。
　
　She　wished　Richard　would　walk　next　to　her；　but　he　instead　stayed　behind；　scanning　the　countryside；　watching　out　for　her。　He　was　in　a　strange　land；　taking　nothing　for　granted；　seeing　threat　in　everything。　In　Westland；　she　had　felt　the　same　way；　so　she　understood　the　feeling。　He　was　putting　his　life　at　great　peril　against　Rahl；　against　things　he　had　never　encountered　before；　and　was　right　to　be　wary。　The　wary　died　quick　enough　in　the　Midlands；　the　unwary　faster　still。
　
　After　crossing　another　stream　and　plunging　back　into　the　wet　grass；　eight　men　sprang　up　suddenly　in　front　of　them。　Kahlan　and　Richard　came　to　an　abrupt　halt。　The　men　were　wearing　animal　skins　over　most　of　their　bodies。　Sticky　mud　that　didn't　wash　away　in　the　rain　was　smeared　over　the　rest　of　their　skin　and　faces；　and　their　hair　smoothed　down　with　it。　Clumps　of　grass　were　tied　to　their　arms　and　to　the　skins；　and　stuffed　under　headbands；　making　them　invisible　when　they　had　been　squatted　down。　They　stood　silently　in　front　of　the　two　of　them。　All　wore　grim　expressions。　Kahlan　recognized　several　of　the　men；　it　was　a　hunting　party　of　Mud　People。
　
　The　eldest；　a　fit；　wiry　man　she　knew　as　Savidlin；　approached　her。　The　others　waited；　spears　and　bows　relaxed　but　ready。　Kahlan　could　feel　Richard's　presence　close　behind　her。　Without　turning；　she　whispered　for　him…　to　stay　calm　and　do　as　she　did。　Savidlin　stopped　in　front　of　her。
　
　〃Strength　to　Confessor　Kahlan；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Strength　to　Savidlin　and　the　Mud　People；　〃　she　answered　in　their　language。
　
　Savidlin　slapped　her　across　the　face；　hard。　She　slapped　him　back　just　as　hard。　Instantly　Kahlan　heard　the　ringing　sound　of　Richard's　sword　being　pulled　free。　She　spun　on　her　heels。
　
　〃No；　Richard！〃　He　had　the　sword　up；　ready　to　strike。　〃No！〃　She　grabbed　his　wrists。　〃I　told　you　to　stay　calm　and　do　as　I　do。〃
　
　His　eyes　flicked　from　Savidlin's　to　hers。　They　were　filled　with　unleashed　anger；　the　magic　that　was　ready　to　kill。　The　muscles　in　his　jaw　flexed　as　he　clenched　his　teeth。　〃And　if　they　slit　your　throat；　would　you　have　me　let　them　slit　mine　as　well？〃
　
　〃That　is　the　way　they　greet　people。　It　is　meant　to　show　respect　for　another's　strength。〃
　
　He　frowned；　hesitating。
　
　〃I'm　sorry　I　did　not　warn　you。　Richard；　put　the　sword　away。〃
　
　His　eyes　went　from　hers　to　Savidlin；　and　then　back　to　hers　again；　before　he　yielded　and　angrily　thrust　the　sword　back　into　i