tg.wizardfirstrule-第78章

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o　do　with　my　crop；　how　to　divide　the　product　of　my　labor　among　others。〃
　
　Rachel　wished　the　man　would　keep　still。　He　was　going　to　get　his　head　chopped　off。　The　people　and　the　Queen　thought　he　was　funny；　though。
　
　〃And　my　family　goes　cold；〃　he　said；　and　his　face　looked　even　more　angry；　〃because　we　aren't　allowed　to　have　fire。〃　He　pointed　at　a　few　of　the　fireplaces。　〃But　here　there　is　fire；　to　warm　the　people　who　tell　me　we　are　all　equal　now；　how　there　will　no　longer　be　some　put　before　others　and　I　must　therefore　not　be　allowed　to　keep　what　is　mine。　Isn't　it　odd；　that　the　people　who　tell　me　how　we　are　to　all　be　the　same　under　the　alliance　with　Darken　Rahl　and　do　no　work　other　than　to　divide　up　the　fruit　of　my　labors；　are　all　well　fed；　and　warm；　and　have　fine　clothes　on　their　backs。　But　my　family　goes　hungry　and　cold。〃
　
　Everyone　laughed。　Rachel　didn't　laugh。　She　knew　what　it　was　like　to　be　hungry；　and　cold
　
　〃Lords　and　ladies；〃　the　Queen　said；　with　a　chuckle。　〃did　I　not　promise　you　royal　entertainment？　The　drink　of　enlightenment　lets　us　see　what　a　selfish　fool　this　man　truly　is。　Just　think；　he　actually　believes　it　is　right　to　profit　while　others　starve。　He　would　put　his　profit　above　the　lives　of　his　fellow　man。　For　his　greed；　he　would　murder　the　hungry。〃
　
　Everyone　laughed　with　the　Queen。
　
　The　Queen　smacked　her　hand　down　on　the　table。　Plates　jumped　and　a　few　glasses　fell　over；　spilling　a　red　stain　across　the　white　tablecloth。　Everyone　fell　quiet；　except　the　little　dog；　who　barked　at　the　man。　〃This　is　the　kind　of　greed　that　will　be　ended；　when　the　People's　Peace　Army　es　to　help　rid　us　of　these　human　leeches　that　suck　us　all　dry！〃　The　Queen's　round　face　was　as　red　as　the　stains　on　the　tablecloth。
　
　Everyone　cheered　and　clapped　for　a　long　time。　The　Queen　sat　back；　smiling　at　last。
　
　The　man's　face　was　as　red　as　hers。　〃Odd；　isn't　it；　now　that　all　the　farmers；　the　workers　in　town；　are　all　working　for　the　mon　good；　that　there　isn't　enough　good　to　go　around；　like　there　used　to　be；　or　enough　food。〃
　
　The　Queen　jumped　to　her　feet。　〃Of　course　not！〃　she　shouted。　〃Because　of　greedy　people　like　you！〃　She　took　some　deep　breaths；　until　her　face　wasn't　quite　so　red；　then　turned　to　the　Princess。　〃Violet　dear；　you　must　learn　matters　of　state　sooner　or　later。　You　must　learn　how　to　serve　the　public　good　for　all　our　people。　Therefore；　I　will　put　this　matter　in　your　hands；　so　you　may　gain　experience。　What　would　you　do　with　this　traitor　to　our　people？　You　choose；　dear；　and　it　will　be　done。〃
　
　Princess　Violet　stood。　Smiling；　she　looked　around　at　the　people。
　
　〃I　say；〃　she　said；　as　she　leaned　forward　a　little；　across　the　table；　to　look　at　the　big　man　in　chains；　〃I　say；　off　with　his　head！〃
　
　Everyone　cheered　and　clapped　again。　Guards　dragged　the　man　away　as　he　called　them　names　Rachel　didn't　understand。　She　was　sad　for　him；　and　for　his　family。
　
　After　the　assembled　crowd　talked　for　a　while　longer；　they　all　decided　to　go　watch　the　man　get　his　head　chopped　off。　When　the　Queen　left　and　Princess　Violet　turned　to　her　and　said　it　was　time　to　go　watch；　Rachel　stood　up　in　front　of　her　with　fists　at　her　side
　
　〃You're　really　mean。　You're　really　mean　to　say　to　chop　off　that　man's　head。〃
　
　The　Princess　put　her　hands　on　her　hips。　〃Is　that　so？　Well　you　can　just　spend　the　night　outside　tonight！〃
　
　〃But　Princess　Violet；　it's　so　cold　out　tonight！〃
　
　〃Well；　while　you're　freezing　you　can　just　think　about　how　you　dared　speak　to　me　in　that　tone！　And　so　you　remember　the　next　time；　you　are　to　stay　out　all　day　tomorrow；　and　tomorrow　night；　too！〃　Her　face　looked　mean；　like　the　Queen's　did　sometimes。　〃That　should　teach　you　some　respect。〃
　
　Rachel　started　to　say　something　else；　then　she　remembered　the　trouble　doll；　and　that　she　wanted　to　go　out。　The　Princess　pointed　at　the　archway　toward　the　door。
　
　〃Go　on。　Right　now；　with　no　supper。〃　She　stomped　her　foot。
　
　Rachel　looked　at　the　ground；　to　pretend　she　was　sad。　〃Yes；　Princess　Violet；〃　she　said；　as　she　curtsied。
　
　She　walked　with　her　head　down；　through　the　archway　and　down　the　big　hall　with　all　the　rugs　hung　on　the　high　walls。　She　liked　to　look　at　the　pictures　on　the　rugs；　but　she　kept　her　head　down　this　time；　in　case　the　Princess　was　watching；　she　didn't　want　to　look　happy　about　being　put　out。　Guards；　wearing　shiny　armor　breastplates　and　swords　and　holding　pikes；　opened　the　great；　tall；　iron　doors　for　her　without　saying　anything。　They　never　said　anything　to　her　when　they　let　her　out；　or　when　they　let　her　back　in。　They　knew　she　was　the　Princess's　playmate：　a　nobody。
　
　When　she　got　outside；　she　tried　not　to　walk　too　fast；　in　case　anyone　was　watching。　The　stone　was　as　cold　as　ice　on　her　bare　feet。　Carefully；　and　with　each　hand　under　the　other　armpit　to　keep　her　fingers　warm；　she　went　down　the　wide　steps　and　terraces；　taking　them　one　at　a　time　so　she　wouldn't　fall；　at　last　reaching　the　cobblestone　walk　at　the　bottom。　More　guards　patrolled　outside；　but　they　ignored　her。　They　saw　her　all　the　time。　The　closer　she　got　to　the　gardens；　the　faster　she　walked。
　
　Rachel　slowed　on　the　main　garden　path；　waiting　until　the　guards'　backs　were　turned。　The　trouble　doll　was　right　where　Giller　had　said　it　would　be。　She　put　the　fire　stick　in　her　pocket；　then　hugged　the　doll　to　her　as　tight　as　she　could　before　hiding　it　behind　her　back。　She　whispered　to　it；　a　warning　to　be　still。　She　couldn't　wait　to　get　to　her　wayward　pine　so　she　could　tell　the　doll　how　mean　Princess　Violet　was　to　have　that　man's　head　chopped　off。　She　looked　around　in　the　darkness。
　
　There　was　no　one　watching；　no　one　to　see　her　take　the　doll。　At　the　outer　wall；　more　men　were　patrolling　the　high　walks；　and　the　Queen's　guards　were　at　the　gate；　standing　stiffly　in　their　armor。　They　wore　their　fancy　uniforms　over　the　armor；　sleeveless　red　tunics　with　the　Queen's　mark；　a　black　wolf's　head；　emblazoned　in　the　center。　As　they　lifted　the　heavy　iron　bar　and　two　of　them　pulled　the　squeaky　door　open　for　her；　they　didn't　even　look　to　see　what　she　had　behind　her　back。　When　she　heard　the　clang　of　the　bar　dropping　back　in　place；　and　turned　around　to　see　the　backs　of　the　guards　on　the　wall；　then　at　last　she　smiled　and　started　to　run；　it　was　a　long　way。
　
　In　a　high　tower；　dark　eyes　watched　her　go。　Watched　her　pass　through　the　heavy　guard　without　raising　the　slightest　suspicion；　or　interest；　like　a　breath　through　fangs；　through　the　outer　wall　garden　gate　that　had　kept　determined　armies　out；　and　traitors　in；　watched　her　cross　the　bridge　where　hundreds　of　foes　had　died　in　battle；　yet　failed　to　gain；　watched　her　rim　across　the　fields；　barefoot；　unarmed；　innocent；　and　into　the　forest。　To　her　secret　place。
　
　…＋
　
　Furious；　Zedd　slapped　his　hand　to　the　cold　metal　plate。　The　massive　stone　door　slowly　grated　closed。　He　had　to　step　over　the　bodies　of　D'Haran　guards　as　he　walked　to　the　low　wall。　His　fingers　came　to　rest　on　the　familiar；　smooth　stone　as　he　leaned　forward；　looking　out　over　the　sleeping　city　below。
　
　From　this　high　wall　on　the　mountainside；　the　city　looked　peaceful　enough。　But　he　had　already　slipped　through　the　darkened　streets　and　seen　the　troops　everywhere。　Troops　that　were　there　at　the　cost　of　many　lives；　on　both　sides。
　
　But　that　wasn't　the　worst　of　it。
　
　Darken　Rahl　had　to　have　been　here。　Zedd　pounded　his　fist　to　the　stone。　It　had　to　be　Darken　Rahl　who　had　taken　it。
　
　The　intricate　web　of　shields　should　have　held；　but　they　hadn't。　He　had　been　away　too　many　years。　He　had　been　a　fool
　
　〃Nothing　is　ever　easy；〃　the　wizard　whispered
　
　CHAPTER　30
　〃KAHLAN；〃　RICHARD　ASKED；　〃REMEMBER；　when　we　were　back　with　the　Mud　People；　and　that　man　said　Rahl　had　e；　riding　a　red　demon？　Do　you　know　what　he　was　talking　about？〃
　
　They　had　traveled　three　days　across　the　plains；　with　Savidlin　and　his　hunters；　then　had　bid　him　goodbye　with　a　promise　to　his　sad　eyes　to　do　whatever　they　could　to　find　Siddin；　and　they　had　spent　the　past　week　climbing　up　into　the　high　country；　into　the　Rang'　Shada；　the　vast　spine　of　rock　that　Kahlan　had　said　ran　northeast　across　the　back　of　the　Midlands；　and　cradled　in　its　mountains　the　remote　place　known　as　Agaden　Reach。　A　place　she　said　was　surrounded　by　jagged　peaks；　like　a　wreath　of　thorns；　meant　to　keep　all　away。
　
　〃You　don't　know？〃　She　looked　a　little　surprised。
　
　When　he　shook　his　head；　she　slumped　down　on　a　hump　of　rock　to　take　a　break。　Richard　slipped　his　pack　off　with　a　tired　groan　and　flopped　on　the　ground；　leaning　against　a　short　rock；　putting　his　arms　back　on　it　to　stretch　them　into　a　different　position。　She　looked　different　to　him；　now　that　the　black　and　white　mud　had　been　washed　off　her　face。　He　had　gotten　used　to　it　over　those　three　days。
　
　〃So　what　was　it？〃　he　asked　again。
　
　〃A　dragon。〃
　
　〃A　dragon！　There　are　dragons　in　the　Midlands？　I　didn't　think　there　really　were　such　things！〃
　
　〃Well；　there　are。〃　She　frowned　over　at　him。　〃I　thought　you　knew。〃　He　gave　a　single　shake　of　his　head。　〃I　guess。　you　wouldn't；　since　Westland　has　no　magic。　Dragons　have　magic。　I　believe　that's　how　they　fly；　with　the　aid　of　magic。〃
　
　〃I　thought　dragons　were　just　legends；　old　tales。〃　He　flicked　a　pebble　between　his　thumb　and　second　finger；　watching　it　bounce　off　a　boulder。
　
　〃Old　tales　of　things　remembered；　maybe。　Anyway；　they　are　real　enough。〃　With　her　thumbs；　she　lifted　her　hair　away　from　the　back　of　her　neck；　to　cool　it；　and　closed　her　eyes。　〃There　are　different　kinds。　Gray；　green；　red；　and　a　few　others；　less　mon。　The　gray　ones　are　the　smallest；　rather　shy。　The　green　are　a　lot　bigger。　The　smartest　and　the　biggest　are　the　red　ones。　Some　peoples　of　the　Midlands　keep　the　gray　ones　as　pets；　and　for　hunting。　No　one　keeps　green　ones；　they're　rather　dumb；　have　bad　tempers　and　can　be　quite　dangerous。〃　Her　eyelids　slid　open　and　she　tilted　her　head　to　look　up　from　under　her　arched　eyebrows。　〃The　red　ones　are　something　altogether　different；　they　will　fry　you　and　eat　you　in　a　blink。　And；　they　are　smart。〃
　
　〃They　eat　people！〃　Richard　pressed　the　heels　of　his　hands　to　his　eyes　and　gave　a　groan。
　
　〃Only　if　they　are　hungry　enough；　or　angry　enough。　We　wouldn't　make　much　of　a　meal　for　them。〃　When　he　took　his　hands　away　and　opened　his　eyes；　her　green　eyes　were　looking　at　him。　〃The　thing　I　don't　understand　is　what　Rahl　was　doing　on　one。〃
　
　Richard　remembered　the　red　thing　in　the　sky　that　flew　over　him　in　the　upper　Ven　Forest；　just　before　he　found　Kahlan。　He　tossed　another　pebble　at　the　boulder。　〃That　must　be　how　he　covers　so　much　territory。〃
　
　She　shook　her　head　slowly。　〃No；　I　mean　I　don't　understand　why　a　red　dragon　would　submit　to　it。　They　are　fiercely　independent；　take　no　sides　in　human　affairs；　in　fact；　couldn't　care　less。　They　would　rather　die　than　be　subjugated。　And　they　would　make　a　good　fight　of　it；　believe　me。　As　I　said；　they　have　magic；　and　could　deal　even　the　one　from　D'Hara　quite　a　match；　for　a　time　anyway。　Even　if　he　threatened　them　with　death　from　some　of　his　own　magic；　they　wouldn't　care；　they　would　rather　die　than　be　ruled。
　
　〃They　would　simply　fight　until　they　killed；　or　were　killed。〃　She　leaned　a　little　toward　him　and　lowered　her　voice　meaningfully。　〃The　idea　of　one　flying　Rahl　around　on　i