tg.stone of tears-第178章

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；　to　the　palace？’　Her　hands　unfolded　and　she　leaned　in　a　bit。　‘Why？’
　
　Ann　held　the　other’s　gaze。　‘Because　there　are　Sisters　of　the　Dark　in　the　palace。’
　
　She　didn’t　twitch。　She　knew。　At　least；　she　suspected。　Bless　you；　Verna；　you　are　a　bright　one。　Forgive　me　for　what　I　must　do。
　
　‘Is　this　room　shielded？’　Verna　asked　in　an　even　tone。
　
　‘Of　course。’　She　left　unsaid　that　her　shield　would　not　protect　against　these　Sisters。
　
　‘Do　you　have　proof　of　such　an　accusation；　Prelate？’
　
　‘I　do　not　need　proof；　right　now；　because　this　conversation　is　restricted。　You　will　not　speak　of　it。　Unless　you　plan　to　bring　charges。　If　you　do；　I　of　course　will　deny　it；　and　say　a　bitter　Sister　was　trying　to　accuse　the　Prelate　of　blasphemy　for　personal　gain。　And　then　we　would　have　to　hang　you。　Neither　of　us　wants　that；　now　do　we？’
　
　Verna　sat　stiff　and　still。　‘No；　Prelate。　But　what　does　that　have　to　do　with　bringing　Richard　here？’
　
　‘When　your　house　is　overrun　with　rats；　the　only　thing　you　can　do　is　bring　in　a　cat。’
　
　This　cat　sees　us　all　as　rats。　Maybe　with　good　reason。　Some　might　say　that　perhaps　you　were　not　bringing　in　a　cat　for　your　rats；　but　bait。　Richard　is　a　good　person。　I　would　not　like　to　think　he　is　being　sacrificed。’
　
　‘Do　you　know　why　you　were　selected　to　go　after　Richard？’
　
　‘I　had　thought　it　was　your　vote　of　confidence。’
　
　Ann　shrugged。　‘In　a　way；　it　was。　Although　I’m　not　sure　that　there　are　Sisters　of　the　Dark　in　the　palace；　and　I　have　no　idea　who　they　are　if　it’s　true；　I　had　to　assume　that　if　it　is　true；　then　since　Grace　and　Elizabeth　were　at　the　top　of　the　list；　they　would　be　Sisters　of　the　Dark。　I　knew　from　prophecy；　that　only　my　eyes　have　seen；　that　Richard　probably　has　Sub…tractive　Magic；　and　further；　that　he　would　refuse　the　first　two　offers。　I　knew　the　first　two　sisters　would　die。
　
　‘If　the　Nameless　One’s　disciples　knew　any　of　this；　they　would　want　the　third　name　on　the　list　to　be　one　of　theirs；　too。　I　used　my　prerogative　as　Prelate　to　pick　the　third　Sister。’
　
　‘You　chose　me；　because　you　had　faith　that　I　was　not　one　of　them？’
　
　What　Ann　wanted　to　say　was　I　have　known　you　since　you　were　a　child；　Verna。　I　know　your　quick　mind；　your　heart；　and　your　soul。　You；　of　all　the　Sisters；　were　the　one　I　trusted　with　the　fate　of　the　world。　I　knew　Richard　would　be　safe　in　your　hands。
　
　But　she　could　not　say　that。
　
　‘I　chose　you；　Verna；　because　you　were　far　down　on　the　list；　and　because；　all　in　all；　you　are　quite　unremarkable。’
　
　The　room　rang　with　silence　for　a　long　moment。　Verna　swallowed。　‘I　see。’
　
　Ann　affected　dispassionate　objectivity。　Inside；　her　heart　was　breaking。
　
　‘I　doubted　you　were　one　of　them。　You　are　a　person　of　little　note。　I’m　sure　Grace　and　Elizabeth　made　their　way　to　the　top　of　the　list　because　whoever　directs　the　Sisters　of　the　Dark　considered　them　expendable。　I　direct　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。　I　chose　you　for　the　same　reason。
　
　‘There　are　Sisters　who　are　valuable　to　our　cause；　I　could　not　risk　one　of　them　on　such　a　task。　The　boy　may　prove　a　value　to　us；　but　he　is　not　as　important　as　other　matters　at　the　palace。　He　may　be　a　help。　It　was　simply　an　opportunity　I　thought　to　take。
　
　‘If　there　had　been　trouble；　and　none　of　you　made　it　back；　well；　I’m　sure　you　can　understand　that　a　general　would　not　want　to　lose　his　best　troops　on　a　low…priority　mission。’
　
　Verna’s　breathing　looked　forced。　Her　voice　sounded　it。　‘Of　course；　Prelate　Annalina。’
　
　Ann　shuffled　her　papers　impatiently。　‘I　have　important　matters　to　get　back　to。　Is　there　anything　else；　Sister？’
　
　‘No；　Prelate。’
　
　When　the　door　closed；　Ann　lowered　her　face　into　her　shaking　hands。　Tears　dripped　onto　her　papers。
　
　
　She　appraised　his　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　Richard　didn’t　know　if　she　would　say　yes　or　not；　but　he　had　had　to　tell　her　much　of　what　he　had　learned　just　to　get　her　to　agree　to　listen　to　his　plea。　He　couldn’t　afford　to　fail。　He　needed　help。　He　had　to　trust　someone。
　
　‘All　right；　Richard。　I　will　help　you。　If　half　of　what　you　say　is　true；　I　must　help　you。’
　
　Richard　sighed　as　he　closed　his　eyes　in　relief。　Thank　you；　Liliana。　I’ll　never　forget　you　for　this。　You’re　the　only　one　around　here　who　will　listen　to　reason。　Can　we　do　it　now？　Time　is　critical。’
　
　‘Now？’　she　whispered　harshly。　‘Here？　Richard；　if　what　you　say　about　you　having　Subtractive　Magic　is　true；　it　won’t　be　a　simple　matter　to　remove　your　Rada’Han。　I　will　need　to　retrieve　an　object　of　magic　that　the　Sisters　keep　guarded。　It’s　an　aid；　used　to　amplify　power。　Maybe　through　that；　and　with　your　help；　it　will　be　enough　to　get　the　collar　off。
　
　‘Not　only　that；　but　if　the　Nameless　One　is　involved；　there　is　no　telling　what　ears；　or　Han；　might　be　paying　attention。’
　
　Then；　when？　Where？　It　has　to　be　soon。’
　
　She　wiped　her　fingers　over　her　eyes　as　she　considered。　‘Well；　I　think　I　can　retrieve　the　object　before　tonight；　so　we　could　try　tonight。　But　where？　It　can’t　be　in　the　palace。　It　would　be　too　dangerous。’
　
　The　Hagen　Woods；’　Richard　said。　‘Everyone　avoids　the　Hagen　Woods。’
　
　Liliana　looked　up。　‘Richard；　you　can’t　be　serious。　It’s　dangerous　there。’
　
　‘Not　for　me。　I　already　told　you　how　I　can　tell　if　the　mriswith　are　ing。　We’ll　be　safe　enough；　and　we　won’t　have　to　worry　about　any　Sisters；　or　Pasha；　stumbling　by　while　we’re　trying　to　get　this　cursed　thing　off　my　neck。’
　
　She　let　out　a　frustrated　breath。　At　last　she　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　and；　giving　it　a　squeeze；　smiled。　‘All　right。　The　Hagen　Woods；　then。’
　
　With　a　stern　look；　she　gripped　his　shoulder　and　held　him　out　at　arm’s　length。　‘I’m　violating　a　whole　stack　of　rules　by　doing　this。　I　know　it’s　important；　and　the　right　thing　to　do；　but　if　they　catch　us　before　we　can　do　it；　they　will　make　sure　I　never　get　near　enough　to　you　to　ever　again　try。’
　
　‘I’m　ready　now；　let’s　go。’
　
　‘No。　I　must　try　to　retrieve　the　aid　first。’　She　cocked　her　head　to　the　side　as　she　frowned。　‘And　I　just　thought　of　something　else。　They　keep　telling　you　not　to　let　the　sun　set　on　you　there。　Why？’
　
　Richard　shrugged。　‘Because　it’s　dangerous。’
　
　‘And　after　everything　you’ve　learned；　you　believe　them？　You　trust　them？　Richard；　what　if　they　don’t　want　you　to　let　the　sun　set　on　you　there　because　you　might　learn　something　useful？　You　said　the　Hagen　Woods　were　placed　there　by　the　wizards　of　old　who　had　Subtractive　Magic；　in　order　to　help　those　like　you。　What　if　the　Sisters　don’t　want　you　to　have　that　help？　What　if　they　are　just　trying　to　make　you　afraid；　so　you　won’t　discover　it？’
　
　Wizard’s　First　Rule。　Were　they　deceiving　him？　Was　he　believing　a　lie？　‘You　may　be　right。　We’ll　go　before　sunset。’
　
　‘No。　We　don’t　want　to　be　seen　together。　And　it　will　take　me　some　time　to　steal　the　aid。　Do　you　know　where　the　long；　split　rock　sits　in　the　stream　to　southwest　corner　of　the　Hagen　Woods？’
　
　‘I　know　the　place。’
　
　‘Good。　You　get　there　before　the　sun　sets；　you　are　the　one　the　magic　is　for。　Go　in　the　woods　by　the　split　rock。　Tie　strips　of　cloth　to　branches　so　I　can　follow　where　you　went；　and　find　you。　I’ll　meet　you　there；　in　the　woods；　when　the　moon　is　two　hands　in　the　sky。　And　Richard；　don’t　you　dare　tell　anyone　about　this；　or　you　will　be　risking　not　only　my　life　and　yours；　but　Kahlan’s　too。’
　
　Richard　nodded　with　a　smile　of　thanks。　‘On　my　word。　Tonight；　then。’
　
　He　paced　his　room　after　she　left。　He　was　anxious　to　get　this　over　with；　and　be　off。　He　was　running　out　of　time。　If　Darken　Rahl　had　the　skrin　bone；　they　were　already　out　of　time。　But　that　was　just　foolish。　How　would　he　get　it？　He　was　a　spirit。　Maybe　it　was　as　Warren　said；　that　the　elements　were　rarely　all　in　place。
　
　It　was　Kahlan　he　was　worried　about。　He　had　to　help　her。
　
　A　knock　brought　him　out　of　his　thoughts。　He　thought　it　might　be　Liliana　e　back；　but　when　he　opened　the　door；　a　distraught　Perry　pushed　into　the　room。
　
　‘Richard！　I　need　your　help。’　He　pulled　out　a　fistful　of　robes。　‘Look　at　this！　They　promoted　me！’
　
　Richard　glanced　down　the　length　of　the　simple；　brown　robes。　‘Congratulations。　That’s　great；　Perry。’
　
　‘It’s　a　disaster！　Richard；　I　need　your　help！’
　
　Richard　frowned。　‘Why　is　it　a　disaster？’
　
　Perry　threw　his　arms　in　the　air；　as　if　it　should　be　obvious　to　anyone。　‘Because　I　can’t　go　into　the　city！　I’m　restricted　in　these　robes！　I’m　not　allowed　to　go　over　the　bridge！’
　
　‘Well；　I’m　sorry；　Perry；　but　I　don’t　see　how　I　can　help　you。’
　
　Perry　took　a　deep　breath　to　calm　himself。　He　looked　up　pleadingly。　‘There’s　a　woman　in　the　city　。。。　I’ve　been　seeing　her　steady　of　late。　Richard；　I　really　like　her。　I’m　supposed　to　meet　her　tonight。　If　I　don’t　show　up；　so　I　can　explain；　if　I　never　show　up　again；　she’ll　think　I　don’t　care　about　her。’
　
　‘Perry；　I　still　don’t　see　what　I　can　do　about　it。’
　
　Perry　grabbed　him　by　his　shirt。　‘They　took　all　my　clothes。　Richard；　you　could　lend　me　some　of　yours。　Then　no　one　would　recognize　me；　and　I　could　sneak　into　the　city；　and　see　her。　Please；　Richard；　lend　me　some　of　your　clothes？’
　
　Richard　thought　a　moment。　He　didn’t　care　if　he　was　violating　some　obscure　rule　of　the　palace；　it　seemed　insignificant　pared　to　what　he　was　doing；　but　he　still　worried　for　Perry。
　
　‘The　guards　all　know　me。　They　will　see　it’s　you　in　my　clothes　and　tell　the　Sisters。　Then　you’ll　be　in　for　trouble。’
　
　Perry　glanced　away；　frantically　thinking。　‘Night。　I’ll　wait　until　night；　and　then　I’ll　go。　They　won’t　see　so　clearly　who　it　really　is　at　night。　Please；　Richard？　Please？’
　
　Richard　sighed。　‘It’s　fine　by　me；　Perry；　if　you　want　to　risk　it。　Just　don’t　get　yourself　caught。　I’d　hate　to　know　I　helped　get　you　in　trouble。’　He　gestured　to　the　bedroom；　where　the　wardrobe　was。　‘e　on。　Take　whatever　you　like。　You　aren’t　quite　my　size；　but　I　guess　you’re　close　enough。’
　
　Perry　added　a　grin　to　his　sidelong　look。　‘The　red　coat？　I　can　have　the　red　coat？　She’d　like　me　in　that。’
　
　‘Sure。’　Richard　led　a　giddy　Perry　toward　the　bedroom。　‘If　that　is　what　you　would　like；　take　it。　I’m　glad　someone　will　enjoy　wearing　the　red　coat。’
　
　Perry　sorted　through　the　wardrobe；　looking　for　a　pair　of　pants　and　a　shirt　he　thought　would　look　dashing。
　
　‘I　saw　Sister　Liliana　leaving　your　room；　just　before　I　came。’　He　pulled　out　a　ruffled；　white　shirt。　‘She　one　of　your　teachers？’
　
　‘Yes。　I　like　her。　She’s　the　nicest　of　the　lot。’
　
　Perry　held　up　the　shirt　in　front　of　himself。　‘How　does　this　look　on　me？’
　
　‘Better　than　on　me。　You　know　Liliana？’
　
　‘Not　really。　She　just　always　gave　me　the　shivers。　Those　strange　eyes　of　hers。’
　
　Richard　thought　about　Liliana’s　pale；　pale　blue　eyes　shot　through　with　violet　flecks。　He　shrugged。　‘I　thought　they　were　strange；　too；　at　first。　But　she’s　so　bubbly　and　friendly　that　I　don’t　even　notice　them　anymore。　She　has　such　a　warm　smile　that　it’s　hard　to　see　anything　else。’
　
　
　She　considered　the　captain　standing　before　her　desk。　He　was　asking　an　outrageous　price。　But　then；　what　was　the　Palace’s　gold　to　her？　Before　it　was　miss