tg.stone of tears-第13章

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　She　stared　at　him　in　surprise。　‘Because　we　keep　you　locked　inhere？’
　
　His　small　smile　returned。　There　are　many　different　kinds　of　prisons；　Sister。　As　far　as　I　am　concerned；　His　blessings　are　tainted。　The　only　thing　worse　than　being　touched　by　the　Creator　is　being　touched　by　the　Keeper。　And　of　that；　I　am　not　even　resolved。’
　
　She　took　her　hand　back。　‘I　will　still　pray　for　you；　Nathan。’
　
　‘If　you　care　so　much　for　me；　then　free　me。’
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　I　can’t　do　that。’
　
　‘You　mean；　you　won’t　do　that。’
　
　‘Look　at　it　how　you　will；　but　you　must　remain　here。’
　
　At　last　he　turned　away　from　her。　She　started　for　the　door。
　
　‘Sister？　Would　you　send　a　woman　to　visit　me？　To　spend　a　night　or　two　with　me？’
　
　The　pain　in　his　voice　almost　made　her　weep。　‘I　thought　you　would　be　beyond　that　age。’
　
　He　slowly　turned　to　her。　‘You　have　a　lover；　Sister　Margaret。’
　
　She　reeled　at　this。　How　could　he　know？　He　didn’t　know；　he　was　guessing。　She　was　young；　and　thought　attractive　by　some。　Of　course　she　would　be　interested　in　men。　He　was　only　guessing。　But　then；　none　of　the　Sisters　knew　what　he　was　able　to　do。
　
　He　was　the　only　wizard　they　couldn’t　trust　to　be　truthful　about　his　powers。
　
　‘You　listen　to　gossip；　Nathan？’
　
　He　smiled。　‘Tell　me；　Sister　Margaret；　do　you　have　the　day　planned　out　in　advance；　when　you　will　be　too　old　for　love；　even　if　it　is　only　for　a　time　as　fleeting　as　a　night？　Exactly　how　old；　Sister；　is　it；　when　we　lose　the　need　for　love？’
　
　She　stood　silent；　ashamed；　for　a　time。　‘I　will　go　myself；　Nathan；　into　the　city；　and　bring　back　a　woman　to　visit　you　for　a　time。　Even　if　I　must　pay　her　price　myself。　I　can’t　pledge　she　will　be　beautiful　to　your　eyes；　as　I　don’t　know　what　your　eyes　fancy；　but　I　can　vow　she　will　not　be　empty　between　the　ears；　as　I　think　you　value　this　more　than　you　will　admit。’
　
　She　saw　a　single　tear　fall　from　the　corner　of　his　eye。　‘Thank　you；　Sister　Margaret。’
　
　‘But　Nathan；　you　must　promise　me　you　will　tell　her　no　prophecy。’
　
　He　bowed　his　head　slightly。　‘Of　course；　Sister。　I　swear　it　on　my　word　as　a　wizard。’
　
　‘I　mean　it；　Nathan。　I　do　not　wish　to　have　a　part　in　being　responsible　for　people　dying。　Not　only　men　died　in　those　battles；　but　women；　too。　I　could　not　bear　having　a　part　in　it。’
　
　His　eyebrows　lifted。　‘Not　even；　Sister　Margaret；　if　one　of　those　women　would　bear；　had　she　lived；　a　boy　child　who　would　grow　into　a　brutal　tyrant　who　would　go　on　to　torture　and　slaughter　tens　of　thousands　upon　tens　of　thousands　of　innocent　people；　women　and　children　among　them？　Not　even；　Sister；　if　you　had　a　chance　to　choke　off　this　fork　of　a　terrible　prophecy？’
　
　She　stood　stunned；　frozen。　At　last　she　made　herself　blink。　‘Nathan；’　she　whispered；　‘are　you　saying　。。。’
　
　‘Good　night；　Sister　Margaret。’　He　turned　and　strode　off　to　the　solitude　of　his　small　garden；　pulling　up　his　black　hood　as　he　went。
　
　
　CHAPTER　6
　
　The　wind　ripped　at　her；　tugging　at　her　clothes　and　snapping　the　loose　ends。　After　yesterday’s　tangled　mess；　Kahlan　was　at　least　glad　she　had　thought　to　tie　back　her　hair。　She　clung　to　Richard　for　dear　life；　pressing　the　side　of　her　face　against　his　back　as　she　squeezed　her　eyes　tightly　shut。
　
　It　was　happening　again　…　the　thick　feeling　of　growing　heavy　that　made　the　knot　in　the　pit　of　her　stomach　sink　lower　of　its　own　accord。　She　thought　she　might　be　sick。　She　was　afraid　to　open　her　eyes；　she　knew　what　always　happened　when　she　felt　heavy　like　this。　Richard　called　back　for　her　to　look。
　
　She　opened　her　eyes　just　a　little；　peeking　through　narrow；　squinting　slits。　As　she　suspected；　the　world　was　tilted　at　a　crazy　angle。　Her　head　spun　sickeningly。　Why　did　the　dragon　have　to　tip　over　whenever　it　made　a　turn？　She　could　feel　herself　being　pressed　against　the　red　scales。　She　couldn’t　understand　why　she　wasn’t　falling　off。
　
　Richard　had　told　her　he　had　figured　out　that　it　was　just　like　when　you　swung　a　bucket　of　water　around　over　your　head　and　the　water　didn’t　fall　out。　She　had　never　swung　a　bucket　of　water　over　her　head　and　wasn’t　entirely　sure　he　was　telling　the　truth　about　the　water　not　falling　out。　She　looked　longingly　at　the　ground　and　saw　what　Richard　was　pointing　at　…　the　Mud　People’s　village。
　
　Siddin　squealed　with　glee　from　his　place　in　Richard’s　lap　as　Scarlet’s　huge；　leathery　wings　caught　the　air　and　pulled　them　into　a　tight　spiral。　As　the　red　dragon　plummeted　earthward；　the　knot　of　Kahlan’s　stomach　felt　as　if　it　were　ing　up　in　her　throat。　She　didn’t　understand　how　they　could　like　doing　this。　They　enjoyed　it。　They　actually　enjoyed　it！　Arms　stuck　up　in　the　air；　they　were　both　laughing　with　delight；　acting　like　little　boys。　Well；　one　was　a　little　boy；　and　she　guessed　he　had　a　right。
　
　She　suddenly　smiled　and　then　laughed　herself。　Not　at　flying　on　a　dragon；　but　at　seeing　how　happy　Richard　was。　She　would　fly　on　a　dragon　every　day　just　to　see　him　laughing　and　happy。　She　stretched　up　and　kissed　the　back　of　his　neck。　He　brought　his　hands　down　and　rubbed　one　on　each　of　her　legs　She　clasped　them　tighter　around　him　and　forgot　a　little　about　feeling　sick。
　
　Richard　called　forward　for　Scarlet　to　land　in　the　open　field　in　the　center　of　the　village。　The　sun　was　almost　down；　making　the　tan；　plastered；　mud…bricked　buildings　in　the　circle　of　the　village　stand　out　brightly　in　the　slanting　light。　Kahlan　could　smell　the　sweet　smoke　from　the　cooking　fires。　The　long　shadows　trailed　the　people　running　for　cover。　Women　ran　from　the　cooking　shelters　and　men　from　their　weapons　making；　all　shouting　and　calling　out。
　
　She　hoped　they　wouldn’t　be　too　frightened。　The　last　time　Scarlet　had　e　here　she　had　carried　Darken　Rahl；　and　when　he　didn’t　find　Richard　he　had　killed　people。　These　people　didn’t　know　Rahl　had　forced　Scarlet　to　fly　him　around　after　he　had　stolen　her　egg。　Of　course；　even　without　Darken　Rahl　riding　her；　no　one　ever　thought　of　a　red　dragon　as　anything　but　a　deadly　threat。　She　herself　would　have　run　for　her　life　at　seeing　a　red　dragon。　The　red　were　the　most　fearsome　of　all　the　dragons；　and　no　one　would　ever　imagine　doing　anything　with　a　red　dragon　except　trying　to　kill　it；　or　running　for　his　life。
　
　No　one　but　Richard；　that　is。　Who　else　but　Richard　would　think　to　befriend　one？　He　had　risked　his　life　to　get　her　egg　free　from　Rahl’s　control　so　she　would　help　him；　and　in　the　process　had　made　a　friend　for　life；　although　Scarlet　still　professed　her　intent　to　eat　him　someday。　Kahlan　suspected　it　was　some　private　joke　between　the　two；　as　Richard　laughed　whenever　she　said　it。　At　least　Kahlan　hoped　it　was　only　a　joke　…　she　wasn’t　entirely　sure。　Kahlan　looked　down　at　the　village　and　hoped　the　hunters　didn’t　start　shooting　poison　arrows　before　they　saw　who　was　riding　the　red　dragon。
　
　Siddin　suddenly　recognized　his　home。　He　pointed　excitedly；　and　jabbered　to　Richard　in　the　Mud　People’s　language。　Richard　couldn’t　understand　a　word　of　it　but　smiled　and　nodded　and　ruffled　Siddin’s　hair。　They　both　gripped　the　spikes　on　Scarlet’s　back　as　she　pulled　out　of　the　steep　descent。　Dust　swept　up　around　them；　lifted　by　the　fluttering　of　Scarlet’s　huge　wings　as　she　settled　on　the　ground。
　
　Richard　grabbed　hold　of　Siddin　and　sat　the　little　boy　up　on　his　broad　shoulders；　then　stood　up　on　Scarlet’s　back。　The　stiff；　cold　breeze　carried　the　dust　away　to　reveal　a　ragged　ring　of　hunters；　their　bows　drawn；　poison　arrows　pointing　up　at　the　three　of　them。　Kahlan　held　her　breath。
　
　Grinning；　Siddin　waved　both　hands　over　his　head；　as　Richard　had　told　him　to。　Scarlet　held　her　head　down　so　the　Mud　People　could　get　a　clear　view　of　who　was　riding　her。　The　hunters；　astonished；　cautiously　lowered　their　bows。　Kahlan　exhaled　when　she　saw　the　tension　e　off　the　bowstrings。
　
　A　figure　in　buckskin　pants　and　tunic　stepped　through　the　ring　of　hunters。　Long　silver　hair　hung　down；　spreading　over　his　shoulders。　It　was　the　Bird　Man；　his　sun…browned　face　a　picture　of　shock。
　
　‘It’s　me；　Richard！　I　have　returned！　With　your　help；　we　have　defeated　Darken　Rahl。　And；　we　have　brought　Savidlin　and　Weselan’s　son　back。’
　
　The　Bird　Man　looked　to　Kahlan　as　she　translated。　A　beaming　grin　spread　on　his　face。　‘We　wele　you　both　back　to　your　people　with　open　arms。’
　
　Women　and　children　were　gathering　among　the　ring　of　hunters；　their　dark；　mud…slicked　hair　framing　amazed　faces。　Scarlet　lowered　her　bulky　body　to　the　ground　and　Richard　slid　off　her　shoulder；　landing　on　his　boots　with　a　thump。　He　held　Siddin　in　one　arm　as　he　reached　up　with　the　other　and　helped　Kahlan　down。　She　was　quietly　joyful　to　have　her　feet　on　the　earth　again。
　
　Weselan　pushed　through　the　throng；　running　to　them；　Savidlin　right　at　her　heels。　She　wailed　her　son’s　name。　Siddin　held　his　arms　out　gleefully　and　practically　leapt　into　her　arms。　Weselan　alternated　between　crying　and　laughing　as　she　tried　to　hug　her　son　and　Richard　and　Kahlan　all　at　once。　Savidlin　rubbed　his　boy’s　back　and　looked　to　her　and　Richard　with　wet　eyes。
　
　‘He　was　brave　as　any　hunter；’　Kahlan　told　him。
　
　He　gave　a　single；　firm；　pride…filled　nod。　He　appraised　her　for　a　moment　and　then　stepped　closer；　giving　her　a　gentle　slap。　‘Strength　to　Confessor　Kahlan。’
　
　Kahlan　returned　the　slap　and　greeting；　and　then　he　threw　his　arms　around　her　and　squeezed　nearly　all　the　breath　out　of　her。　When　finished　with　hugging　her；　he　straightened　his　elder’s　coyote　hide　on　his　shoulders　and　looked　up　at　Richard。　He　shook　his　head　in　wonderment。　And　then　he　gave　Richard　a　powerfully　hard　whack　across　the　jaw；　a　demonstration　of　his　heartfelt　respect　for　Richard’s　strength。
　
　‘Strength　to　Richard　With　The　Temper。’
　
　Kahlan　wished　he　hadn’t　done　that。　She　could　tell　by　Richard’s　eyes　that　he　had　a　headache。　He　had　had　it　since　yesterday；　and　she　had　hoped　it　would　be　better　after　a　good　sleep　the　night　before　in　Scarlet’s　cave。　Siddin　had　played　with　the　little　red　dragon　until　he　was　dead　tired；　and　then　had　cuddled　between　them　and　gone　to　sleep。
　
　Having　not　slept　for　days；　she　thought　she　would　have　no　trouble　sleeping；　but　she　found　she　didn’t　want　to　stop　looking　at　Richard。　She　had　finally　put　her　head　on　his　shoulder；　held　his　hand　in　both　of　hers；　and　fallen　asleep　smiling。　They　had　all　needed　the　rest。　Bad　dreams　had　caused　Richard　to　jerk　awake　several　times　in　a　cold　sweat；　and　even　though　he　had　said　nothing；　she　could　see　in　his　eyes　that　he　still　had　the　headache。　Richard　didn’t　let　it　bother　him；　though；　and　returned　Savidlin’s　slap　in　kind。
　
　‘Strength　to　Savidlin。　My　friend。’
　
　Properly　greeted；　souls　protected；　Savidlin　let　his　grins　and　backslaps　fly。　After　they　had　exchanged　greetings　with　the　Bird　Man；　Richard　addressed　the　crowd。
　
　‘This　brave　and　noble　dragon；　Scarlet；’　he　called　out　in　a　voice　for　all　to　hear；　even　though　they　couldn’t　understand　the　words；　‘has　helped　me　kill　Darken　Rahl　and　avenge　our　murdered　people。　She　has　brought　us　here　so　Siddin　could　be　returned　before　his　parents　could　fear　for　him　another　night。　She　is　my　friend；　a　friend　to　the　Mud　People。’
　
　Everyone　was　dumbfounded　as　Kahlan　translated。　The　hunters；　at　least；　puffed　up　at