tg.wizardfirstrule-第85章

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s　eyes　carefully　as　she　spoke。　〃There　can　be　no　doubt　of　the　truth　of　this。　Your　sword　can　protect　you　from　the　wizard's　fire；　but　it　will　not　protect　you　from　her　touch。〃
　
　Richard　felt　the　stab　of　her　words；　as　if　they　cut　through　his　heart。
　
　〃No！〃　Kahlan　whispered。　They　both　looked　at　her；　her　face　wrinkled　with　pain　at　Shota's　words。　〃I　wouldn't！　Shota；　I　swear；　I　couldn't　do　that　to　him。〃
　
　Tears　ran　down　her　cheeks。　Shota　stepped　close　to　her　and　reached　through　the　snakes；　touching　her　face　tenderly；　to　fort　her。
　
　〃If　you　are　not　killed；　child；　I　am　afraid　you　will。〃　As　a　tear　rolled　down；　her　thumb　brushed　it　back。　〃You　have　already　e　close；　once；〃　Shota　said　with　surprising　passion。　〃Within　a　breath。〃　She　nodded　slightly　to　herself。　〃This　is　true；　is　it　not？　Tell　him。　Tell　him　if　I　am　speaking　the　truth。〃
　
　Kahlan's　eyes　snapped　to　Richard。　He　looked　into　the　depths　of　her　green　eyes　and　remembered　the　three　times　she　had　touched　him　when　he　had　been　holding　the　sword；　and　how　that　touch　made　the　magic　jump　in　warning。　The　last　time；　with　the　Mud　People　when　the　shadow　things　had　e；　the　magic's　reaction　had　been　so　strong　that　he　almost　put　the　sword　through　her　before　he　realized　who　it　was。　Kahlan's　eyebrows　wrinkled　together；　her　eyes　shrinking　from　his　gaze。　She　bit　her　bottom　lip　as　a　little　moan　escaped　her　throat。
　
　〃Is　this　true？〃　Richard　asked　in　a　whisper；　his　heart　in　his　throat。　〃Have　you　e　within　a　breath　of　using　your　power　against　me；　as　Shota　says？〃
　
　Kahlan's　face　drained　of　color。　She　let　out　a　loud；　painful　moan。　She　closed　her　eyes　and　cried　in　a　long；　agonizing　wail；　〃Please；　Shota。　Kill　me。　You　must。　I　am　sworn　to　protect　Richard；　to　stop　Rahl。　Please；〃　she　cried　in　choking　sobs。　〃It's　the　only　way。　You　must　kill　me。〃
　
　〃I　cannot；〃　Shota　whispered。　〃I　have　granted　a　wish。　A　very　foolish　one。〃
　
　Richard　could　hardly　stand　the　pain　of　seeing　Kahlan　like　this；　asking　to　die。　The　lump　in　his　throat　threatened　to　choke　him
　
　Kahlan　suddenly　cried　out　and　threw　up　her　arms；　to　make　the　snakes　bite　her。　Richard　lunged　for　them；　but　they　were　gone。　Kahlan　held　out　her　arms；　looking　for　snakes　that　were　no　longer　there。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Kahlan。　If　I　were　to　let　them　bite　you；　it　would　break　the　wish　I　granted。〃
　
　Kahlan　collapsed　to　her　knees；　crying　with　her　face　against　the　ground；　her　fingers　digging　into　the　earth。　〃I'm　so　sorry；　Richard；〃　she　wept。　Her　fists　grabbed　at　the　grass；　then　his　pants　legs。　〃Please；　Richard；〃　she　sobbed。　〃Please。　I'm　sworn　to　protect　you。　So　many　have　already　died。　Take　the　sword　and　kill　me。　Do　it。　Please；　Richard；　kill　me。〃
　
　〃Kahlan　。　。　。　I　could　never　。　。　。〃　He　couldn't　make　any　more　words　e。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Shota　said；　nearly　in　tears　herself；　〃if　she　isn't　killed；　then　before　Rahl　opens　the　boxes；　she　will　use　her　power　against　you。　There　is　no　doubt　of　this。　None。　It　cannot　be　changed　if　she　lives。　I　granted　your　wish；　I　cannot　kill　her。　So　you　must。〃
　
　〃No！〃　he　shrieked。
　
　Kahlan　wailed　again　in　anguish　and　pulled　her　knife。　As　she　brought　it　up　to　plunge　it　into　herself；　Richard　grabbed　her　wrist。
　
　〃Please；　Richard；〃　she　cried；　falling　against　him；　〃you　don't　understand。　I　have　to。　If　I　live　I　will　be　responsible　for　what　Rahl　will　do。　For　everything　that　will　happen。〃
　
　Richard　pulled　her　up　by　her　wrist　and　held　her　to　him　with　one　arm　as　she　cried；　keeping　her　arm　twisted　behind　her　back　so　she　couldn't　use　the　knife　on　herself。　He　glared　angrily　at　Shota；　who　stood　with　her　hands　loose　at　her　sides；　watching。　Was　any　of　this　possible？　Could　it　be　true？　He　wished　he　had　listened　to　Kahlan　and　never　e　here。
　
　He　relaxed　his　pressure　on　Kahlan's　arm　when　he　realized　by　the　way　she　cried　that　he　was　hurting　her。　He　wondered　numbly　if　he　should　let　her　kill　herself。　His　hand　shook。
　
　〃Please；　Richard；〃　Shota　said；　tears　in　her　own　eyes；　〃hate　me　for　who　I　am　if　you　will；　but　do　not　hate　me　for　telling　you　the　truth。〃
　
　〃The　truth　as　you　see　it；　Shota！　But　maybe　not　the　truth　as　it　will　be。　I　will　not　kill　Kahlan　on　your　word。〃　Shota　nodded　sadly；　looking　at　him　through　wet　eyes。
　
　〃Queen　Milena　has　the　last　box　of　Orden。〃　She　spoke　in　a　voice　barely　more　than　a　whisper。　〃But　heed　this　warning：　she　will　not　have　it　for　long。　If；　that　is；　you　choose　to　believe　the　truth；　as　T　see　it。〃　She　turned　to　her　panion；　〃Samuel；〃　she　said　gently；　〃guide　them　out　of　the　Reach。　Do　not　take　anything　that　belongs　to　them。　I　would　be　very　displeased　if　you　did。　That　includes　the　Sword　of　Truth。〃
　
　Richard　saw　a　tear　run　down　her　cheek　as　she　turned　without　looking　at　him　and　began　walking　up　the　road。　She　stopped　in　midstride　and　stood　a　moment；　her　beautiful　auburn　hair　lay　upon　her　shoulders　and　partway　down　the　back　of　the　wispy　dress。　Her　head　came　up；　but　didn't　turn　back　to　him。
　
　〃When　this　is　over；〃　she　said　in　a　voice　that　broke　with　emotion；　〃and　if　you　should　happen　to　win　。　。　。　don't　ever　e　here　again。　If　you　do　。　。　。　I　will　kill　you。〃
　
　She　walked　on；　toward　her　palace。
　
　〃Shots；〃　he　whispered　hoarsely；　〃I'm　sorry。〃
　
　She　did　not　stop　or　turn；　but　continued　on
　
　CHAPTER　32
　WHEN　SHE　CAME　AROUND　the　corner；　she　almost　bumped　into　his　legs；　he　was　walking　so　quietly。　She　looked　up　the　long　silver　robes　to　his　face；　far　up　in　the　air。
　
　〃Giller！　You　scared　me！〃
　
　His　hands　were　each　stuck　in　the　other　sleeve。　〃Sorry；　Rachel；　I　didn't　mean　to　frighten　you。〃　He　looked　both　ways　down　the　hall　and　then　lowered　himself　to　the　floor。　〃What　are　you　about'？〃
　
　〃Errands；〃　she　told　him；　letting　out　a　deep　breath。　〃Princess　Violet　says　I'm　to　go　yell　at　the　cooks　for　her；　and　then　I'm　to　go　to　the　washwomen　and　tell　them　that　she　found　a　gravy　stain　on　one　of　her　dresses；　and　that　she　would　never　get　gravy　on　one　of　her　dresses；　and　that　they　must　have　done　it；　and　if　she　ever　finds　they　do　that　again；　she'll　have　their　heads　chopped　off。　I　don't　want　to　say　that　to　them；　they're　nice。〃　She　touched　the　pretty　silver　braiding　on　the　sleeve　of　Giller's　robes。　〃But　she　said　that　if　I　don't　say　it；　I'll　be　in　a　lot　of　trouble。〃
　
　Giller　nodded。　〃Well；　just　do　as　she　says；　I'm　sure　the　washwomen　will　know　they　aren't　really　your　words。〃　Rachel　looked　in　his　big　dark　eyes。　〃Everyone　knows　she　gets　her　own　gravy　on　her　own　dresses。〃
　
　Giller　laughed　a　quiet　laugh。　〃You're　right；　I've　seen　her　do　it　myself。　But　it　brings　no　fortune　to　pull　the　tail　of　a　sleeping　badger。〃　She　didn't　understand；　and　made　a　face。　〃That　means　you　will　get　in　trouble　if　you　point　it　out　to　her；　so　it's　best　to　keep　still。〃
　
　Rachel　nodded；　she　knew　that　that　was　true。　Giller　looked　up　and　down　the　hall　again；　but　there　was　no　one。　else　there。
　
　He　leaned　closer　and　whispered；　〃I'm　sorry　I　haven't　been　able　to　talk　to　you；　to　check。　Did　you　find　your　trouble　doll？〃
　
　She　nodded　with　a　smile。　〃Thank　you　so　much；　Giller。　She's　wonderful。　I've　been　put　out　twice　more　since　you　gave　her　to　me。　She　told　me　how　I　mustn't　talk　to　you　unless　you　say　it's　safe；　so　I　just　waited；　like　she　said。　We　talked　and　talked；　and　she　made　me　feel　so　much　better。〃
　
　〃I'm　glad；　child。〃　He　smiled。
　
　〃I　named　her　Sara。　A　doll's　got　to　have　a　name；　you　know。〃
　
　〃Is　that　so？〃　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃I　never　knew　that。　Well；　Sara　is　a　fine　name　for　her　then。〃
　
　Rachel　grinned；　she　was　happy　that　Giller　liked　her　doll's　name。　She　put　one　arm　around　his　neck　and　her　face　by　his　ear。　〃Sara's　been　telling　me　her　troubles　too；〃　she　whispered。　〃I　promised　her　I　would　help　you。　I　never　knew　you　wanted　to　run　away　too。　When　can　we　leave；　Giller？　I'm　getting　so　afraid　of　Princess　Violet。〃
　
　His　big　hand　patted　her　back　when　she　hugged　him。　〃Soon；　child。　But　there　are　things　we　must　prepare　first；　so　we　aren't　found　out。　We　wouldn't　want　anyone　to　follow　us；　to　find　us　and　bring　us　back；　now；　would　we？〃
　
　Rachel　shook　her　head　against　his　shoulder；　then　she　heard　footsteps。　Giller　stood　up；　looking　down　the　hall。
　
　〃Rachel；　it　would　be　very　bad　if　we　were　seen　talking。　Someone　might　。　。　。　find　out　about　the　doll。　About　Sara。〃
　
　〃I　better　go；〃　she　said　in　a　hurry。
　
　〃No　time。　Stand　against　the　wall；　show　me　how　brave；　and　quiet　you　can　be。〃
　
　She　did　what　he　told　her　and　he　stood　in　front　of　her；　hiding　her　behind　his　robes。　Rachel　heard　the　clinking　of　armor。　Just　some　guards；　she　thought。　Then　she　heard　the　little　barks。　The　Queen's　dog！　It　must　be　the　Queen　and　her　guards！　They　would　be　in　a　fine　mess　if　the　Queen　found　her　hiding　behind　the　wizard's　robes。　She　might　find　out　about　the　doll！　She　scrunched　up　tighter　in　the　dark　folds。　The　robes　moved　a　little　when　Giller　bowed。
　
　〃Your　Majesty；〃　Giller　said　as　he　stood　back　up。
　
　〃Giller！〃　she　said　in　her　mean　voice。　〃What　are　you　doing　lurking　about　up　here？〃
　
　〃Lurking；　Your　Majesty？　It　was　my　understanding　I　was　in　your　employ　to　see　to　it　there　was　no　lurking　going　on。　I　was　merely　checking　the　magic　seal　on　the　jewel　room　to　make　sure　it　hadn't　been　tampered　with。〃　Rachel　heard　the　little　dog　sniffing　around　the　bottom　of　Giller's　robes。　〃If　it　is　your　wish；　Your　Majesty；　I　will　leave　matters　to　the　fates；　and　not　investigate　where　I　feel　a　worry。〃　The　little　dog　came　around　the　side　of　the　robes；　close　to　her；　she　could　hear　the　sniff；　sniff；　sniff。　Rachel　wished　he　would　leave；　before　she　got　found　out。　〃We　will　all　just　go　to　bed　at　night　with　a　simple　prayer　to　the　good　spirits　that　when　Father　Rahl　arrives；　all　will　be　well。　And　if　anything　is　amiss；　well；　we　can　simply　tell　him　we　didn't　want　to　have　any　lurking　about；　so　we　didn't　check。　Perhaps　he　will　be　understanding。〃
　
　The　little　dog　started　to　growl。　Rachel　was　getting　tears　in　her　eyes。
　
　〃Don't　get　your　feathers　ruffled；　Giller；　I　was　simply　asking。〃　Rachel　could　see　the　little　black　nose　sticking　under　the　robes。　〃Precious；　what　have　you　found　there？　What　is　it；　my　little　Precious？〃
　
　The　dog　growled　and　gave　out　a　little　bark。　Giller　backed　up　a　little；　pushing　her　tighter　to　the　wall。　Rachel　tried　to　think　about　Sara；　wishing　she　were　with　her　right　now。
　
　〃What　is　it；　Precious？　What　do　you　smell？〃
　
　〃I'm　afraid；　Your　Majesty；　I　have　also　been　lurking　about　in　the　stables；　I'm　quite　sure　that　is　what　your　dog　smells。〃　Giller's　hand　went　into　his　robes　right　by　her　head。
　
　〃The　stables？〃　Her　mean　voice　wasn't　quite　gone。　〃What　could　there　possibly　be　for　you　to　investigate　in　the　stables？〃　Rachel　could　hear　her　voice　getting　louder；　the　Queen　was　bending　over；　to　get　her　dog。　〃What　are　you　doing　there；　Precious？〃
　
　Rachel　sucked　the　hem　of　her　dress；　to　keep　from　making　a　noise　as　she　shook。　Giller's　hand　came　out　of　his　robe。　She　saw　a　pinch　of　something　between　his　thumb　and　finger。　The　dog　pushed　his　head　under　the　robe　and　started　harking。　Giller　opened　his　fingers；　and　sparkling　dust　dropped　down　on　the　dog's　head。　The　dog　started　sneezing。　Then　Rachel　saw　the　Queen's　hand　e　and　pull　him　away。
　
　〃There；　there；　my　little　Precious。　It's　all　right　now。　Poor　little　thing。〃　Rachel　could　hear　her　kissing　the　dog's　nose　the　way　she　liked　to　do　all　the　time；　then　she　snee