tg.stone of tears-第179章

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　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　missed；　she　would　be　gone。
　
　As　she　had　feared；　the　boy　was　proving　troublesome　to　tame。　It　was　being　important　to　cultivate　other　options。　There　were　other　ways　of　seeing　to　the　Keeper’s　wishes；　other　ways　of　keeping　her　oath。
　
　‘I　agree　to　your　price。　In　fact；　I　double　it；　just　to　insure　your　loyalty。’
　
　She　pushed　the　purse　across　the　desk。　Captain　Blake　licked　his　cracked　lips　as　he　watched　it　moving　closer。　He　finally　reached　out　and　took　it；　testing　its　weight　before　tucking　it　in　his　coat。
　
　‘Very　generous　of　you；　Sister。　You’re　a　woman　who　knows　how　to　win　a　man’s　loyalty。’
　
　‘You　are　not　going　to　count　it；　Captain？’
　
　His　cold　eyes　weren’t　touched　by　his　servile　smile。　‘Aye；　Sister；　I’ll　be　counting　it　when　I　get　back　to　the　Lady　Sefa。　When　do　you　wish　to　sail？’
　
　There　were　still　a　few　matters；　a　few　loose　ends；　to　attend　to。　‘Soon。　I　have　paid　you　more　than　enough　to　have　you　at　the　ready；　until　I’m　ready。’
　
　Aye；　Sister；　you　have　at　that。’　He　scratched　his　scruffy　chin。　‘I’m　content　to　sit。　I’m　in　no　great　hurry　to　be　sailing　to　where　you　want　to　go。’
　
　She　leaned　forward。　‘You　are　sure　you　can　make　the　voyage。’
　
　‘Aye；　Sister。　The　Lady　Sefa　has　made　the　voyage　before；　and　can　again。　Still；　I’ve　no　itch　to　be　off　into　those　waters　until　I　have　to。’　He　straightened　his　tattered　coat。　‘How　many　ladies　will　you　be　bringing？’　An　apologetic　smile　spread　easily　on　his　weathered　face。　‘I’ll　need　to　see　to　the　proper　acmodations。’
　
　Sitting　back；　she　again　ground　her　teeth　at　the　memory　of　Liliana　pulling　off　her　hood　at　the　joining　rite。　Liliana　had　let　every　other　Sister　know　her　identity　by　doing　that。　Worse；　she　had　been　warned。　It　was　more　than　a　mistake；　it　was　arrogance。　Liliana　was　proving　dangerously　untrustworthy。　With　the　power　she　was　appropriating；　there　was　no　telling　what　she　would　do　next。　There　was　certainly　no　reason　to　take　Liliana。
　
　As　for　the　others；　why　take　them　all？　The　Prelate　had　made　a　mistake　by　speaking　her　suspicions　aloud；　thinking　a　shield　of　Additive　Magic　would　protect　her。　The　Prelate　would　have　cause　to　suspect　six　of　the　Sisters；　but　if　the　Prelate　were　to　die；　there　would　be　no　reason　for　anyone；　even　Liliana；　to　suspect　the　others。　Why　take　them；　when　they　might　prove　useful　here？
　
　She　was　liking　this　plan　more　by　the　moment。　‘Myself　and　five　others　will　be　going。’
　
　‘Mind　if　I　ask　why　you　fine　ladies　want　to　be　sailing　out　around　the　great　barrier。　Isn’t　the　Old　World　to　your　liking？’
　
　She　leveled　a　menacing　glare　on　the　man　standing　before　her。　‘I　have　bought　your　ship；　your　crew；　and　you；　for　as　long　as　I　want　them；　and　for　whatever　purpose　I　want　them。　Answering　questions　was　not　part　of　the　bargain。’
　
　‘No；　Sister。　I　just　thought　…’
　
　‘Your　silence　was。’　Without　taking　her　eyes　from　his；　she　flicked　her　wrist　and　brought　a　blade　to　hand。　‘I　have　always　thought　death　too　brief　a　lesson。　I　believe　in　long　lessons。　If　I　so　much　as　suspect　you　have　violated　your　part　of　the　bargain；　any　part　of　it；　they　will　find　you　still　breathing；　but　without　an　inch　of　skin　left　anywhere　on　you。　Do　we　understand　each　other？’
　
　Captain　Blake　stared　furiously　at　the　blue　and　yellow　carpet　beneath　his　feet。　‘Aye；　Sister。’
　
　Then　that　will　be　all；　Captain。　I　will　be　seeing　you　spon。　Be　ready　to　sail　the　instant　you　see　six　Sisters　ing。’
　
　After　he　had　gone；　she　pulled　a　spare　dacra　from　a　drawer　and；　resting　an　elbow　on　the　desk；　watched　it　spinning　in　her　fingers　as　she　thought。　She　didn’t　like　leaving　matters　to　chance。　Best　if　all　the　loose　ends　were　taken　care　of。
　
　Someone　would　have　to　eliminate　Richard　Rahl。　Someone　not　going　with　them。　She　smiled。　Someone　expendable。
　
　
　CHAPTER　65
　
　Richard　sat　quietly　with　his　legs　folded　and　the　sword　across　his　knees。　He　wore　his　mriswith　cape　so　that　Pasha　and　Sister　Verna　wouldn’t　know　where　he　was。　He　didn’t　want　either　to　know　the　sun　had　set　on　him　in　the　Hagen　Woods。　Either　would　surely　e　after　him　if　they　knew　what　he　was　doing。
　
　He　had　found　a　small　clearing；　high　enough　to　be　dry；　and　had　waited　there　since　the　sun　had　gone　down。　He　could　see　the　full　moon　through　the　tight　tangle　of　branches；　and　judged　it　about　two　hands　high。　He　didn’t　know　what　was　supposed　to　happen　in　the　Hagen　Woods　when　the　sun　set　on　you　there；　but　so　far　it　seemed　as　it　always　had　when　he　had　been　there　before　at　night。
　
　He　returned　Liliana’s　call；　and　she　came　out　from　behind　a　fat　oak。　She　looked　about　at　the　woods。　It　wasn’t　a　tentative　glance；　but　a　confident　appraisal。
　
　She　sat　before　him；　crossing　her　legs。　‘I　got　it。　The　aid　I　told　you　about。’
　
　Richard　smiled　in　relief。　‘Thanks；　Liliana。’
　
　She　pulled　it　from　her　cloak。　In　the　moonlight；　he　could　see　it　was　a　small　statue　of　a　man　holding　something　clear　as　glass。　She　held　it　up；　showing　it　to　him。
　
　‘What　is　it？’
　
　‘The　crystal；　this　clear　part　here；　has　the　power　to　amplify　the　gift。　I　don’t　have　the　power　to　get　your　Rada’Han　off；　if　it　is　true　that　you　have　Subtractive　Magic；　because　I　have　only　Additive。　You　will　hold　this　in　your　lap。　When　we　join　our　minds　this　will　help　amplify　your　power；　so　I　can　use　it；　and　be　able　to　break　the　hold。’
　
　‘Good。　Let’s　begin。’
　
　She　pulled　the　statue　back。　‘Not　until　I　tell　you　the　rest。’
　
　He　looked　into　her　pale；　pale　blue　eyes；　at　the　dark　flecks　spread　through　them。　‘So　tell　me。’
　
　‘The　reason　you　can’t　help　get　the　collar　off　is　because　you　don’t　have　the　training　to　use　your　gift。　You　don’t　know　how　to　direct　the　power。　This　will　overe　that　deficiency。　I　hope。’
　
　‘You’re　trying　to　work　up　to　warning　me　about　something。’
　
　She　gave　a　single　nod。　‘You　don’t　know　how　to　control　the　flow；　so　you　be　will　at　the　mercy　of　the　aid。　But　the　aid　doesn’t　understand　pain。　It　simply　does　what　it　must。　What　I　need。’
　
　‘So　you’re　telling　me　it　might　hurt。　I’m　prepared　to　endure　pain。　Let’s　get　started。’
　
　‘Not　‘might。’’　She　held　up　a　cautionary　finger。　‘Richard；　this　is　dangerous。　It　will　hurt　you。　It　will　feel　like　your　mind　is　being　torn　apart。　I　know　you　want　to　do　this；　but　I　don’t　want　to　deceive　you。　This　will　make　you　think　you　are　dying。’
　
　He　felt　a　trickle　of　sweat　run　down　his　neck。
　
　‘It　must　be　done。’
　
　‘I　will　be　directing　my　Han　to　try　to　break　the　hold　of　the　collar。　The　aid　will　be　pulling　power　from　you；　to　do　as　I　need　to　overe　the　Rada’Han。　It　will　hurt　you。’
　
　‘Liliana；　I　can　take　whatever　is　necessary。　It　must　be　done。’
　
　‘You　listen　to　me；　Richard。　I　know　you　want　to　do　this；　but　you　listen。　I　will　be　pulling　the　gift　from　you；　to　help　break　the　collar。　Your　mind　will　feel　like　I’m　trying　to　pull　the　very　life　from　you。　Your　inner　mind　may　interpret　that　as　me　trying　to　suck　the　gift；　the　very　life；　from　you。
　
　‘You　will　have　to　endure　the　feeling　of　having　your　life　ripped　from　you。　You　will　have　to　endure　it　until　the　collar　breaks。　If　you　try　to　stop　it　when　my　power　is　in　you；　trying　to　do　as　I　must　。。。’
　
　‘So　what　you　are　saying　is　that　if　it’s　too　much；　and　I　want　to　stop；　I　can’t。　If　I　try　to　stop　the　pull　on　my　magic；　it　will　kill　me。’
　
　‘Yes。　You　must　not　resist。　If　you　do；　you　will　die。’　Her　expression　was　as　serious　as　he　had　ever　seen　it。　‘You　must　trust　me；　and　not　try　to　stop　what　is　happening　to　you；　or　you　will　die；　and　then　Kahlan　will　die。　Are　you　sure　you　can　do　that？’
　
　‘Liliana；　I　would　do　anything；　endure　anything；　to　save　Kahlan。　I　trust　you。　I　will　put　my　life　in　your　hands。’
　
　She　at　last　nodded　and　placed　the　statue　in　his　lap。　She　gazed　into　his　eyes　a　long　moment；　and　then　kissed　her　finger。　She　touched　the　kissed　finger　to　his　cheek。
　
　‘Into　the　void；　then；　together。　Thank　you　for　your　trust；　Richard。　You　will　never　know　what　this　means　to　me。’
　
　‘Nor　to　me；　Liliana。　What　do　you　want　me　to　do？’
　
　The　same　as　we　have　always　done　before。　You　just　try　to　touch　your　Han；　as　always；　and　I　will　do　the　rest。’
　
　She　wiggled　forward　until　their　knees　were　pressed　together。　They　held　hands；　letting　them　rest　over　their　knees。　Each　drew　a　deep　breath；　and　closed　their　eyes。
　
　At　first；　it　was　the　same　as　it　always　was；　just　deep　relaxation　as　he　concentrated　on　the　image　of　the　Sword　of　Truth。　The　pain；　at　first；　was　simply　an　unfortable　tingling。　It　spiraled　deeper；　settling　at　the　base　of　his　spine；　。feeling　like　a　pulled　muscle。　The　pain　worked　its　way　up　his　back。
　
　Abruptly；　it　erupted　everywhere　at　once；　something　like　the　pain　of　the　Agiel；　a　hot　ache　searing　through　the　marrow　of　his　bones。　Denna　had　taught　him　to　endure　pain。　He　said　a　silent　thank　you　to　Denna；　for　what　she　had　done。　Maybe　it　would　be　what　he　needed　to　endure　this；　to　save　Kahlan。
　
　The　twisting　torture　took　his　breath。　His　back　stiffened。　Sweat　instantly　drenched　his　face。　His　lungs　burned　for　air。　With　the　greatest　of　effort；　he　drew　a　breath。
　
　Shattering　pain　exploded　through　his　mind；　plunging　him　into　a　timeless　place　of　ripping；　unending　agony。　He　struggled　to　hold　the　sword　in　his　mind。　Tears　ran　down　his　face。　He　had　to　do　this。
　
　It　felt　as　if　every　nerve　in　his　body　were　exposed　and　being　held　to　a　flame。　He　thought　his　eyes　might　burst。　He　thought　his　heart’　might　burst。　He　flinched　with　each　agonizing　tug　of　pain。　It　was　torture　beyond　endurance。
　
　And　then　it　seemed　as　if　what　he　had　felt　had　not　yet　been　the　beginning　of　it。　He　was　unable　to　scream；　to　breathe；　to　move。　It　seemed　his　very　soul　was　being　ripped　from　him。
　
　As　Liliana　had　warned　him；　it　seemed　as　if　his　very　life　was　being　pulled　from　him。　He　felt　a　wash　of　panic　that　this　was　killing　him。　He　felt　dark　death　soaking　into　the　void　left　by　what　was　being　ripped　from　him。　He　dimly　worried　that　this　wasn’t　right。　Terror　burgeoned　deep　within　him；　and　then　that　too　was　pulled　into　the　swirling　torrent　erupting　outward。
　
　He　wanted　nothing　more　than　to　scream；　as　if　it　would　somehow　ameliorate　the　agony。　But　he　could　not。　His　muscles　seemed　to　be　losing　their　life　along　with　the　rest　of　him。　He　could　not　breathe；　or　even　hold　his　head　up。
　
　Please；　Liliana；　please　hurry。　Please。
　
　He　struggled　not　to　resist　what　she　was　doing。　He　prayed　that　he　would　not　fight　her。　He　had　to　get　to　Kahlan。　She　needed　him。
　
　His　eyes　were　open；　he　realized；　when　he　recognized　the　statue　in　his　lap。　His　head　was　hanging。　The　crystal　was　beginning　to　glow　a　dull　orange。　A　dim　part　of　him　thought　that　that　must　mean　it　was　working；　doing　its　job。　His　head　felt　as　if　it　were　ing　apart。　He　expected　to　see　blood　dripping　down；　but　he　saw　only　the　orange　glow　increasing。
　
　Please；　Liliana；　hurry。
　
　Blackness　was　enveloping　him。　Even　the　insufferable　pain　was　beginning　to　seem　distant。　He　felt　life　slipping　from　his　grasp。　He　felt　an　emptiness　ing　upon　him　that　was　more　ghastly　that　anything　he　thought　possible。
　
　In　the　fading