tg.stone of tears-第26章

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　She　smiled。　‘Would　you　have　me　let　you　delude　yourself？’
　
　He　scrubbed　his　hands　on　his　face。　‘I　guess　not。　My　head　hurts　so　much；　I　guess　it’s　keeping　me　from　thinking　straight。’
　
　‘Then　let’s　do　something　about　it？　Let’s　go　in　and　at　least　talk　to　the　sisters；　and　hear　what　they　have　to　say？　They　said　they　want　to　help。’
　
　He　gave　her　a　dark　look。　‘So　did　Darken　Rahl。’
　
　‘Running　away　is　not　the　solution。　You　didn’t　run　from　Darken　Rahl。’
　
　He　looked　at　her　a　long　moment　and　then　nodded。　‘I’ll　listen。’
　
　The　three　were　standing　where　Kahlan　had　left　them。　They　gave　her　small　smiles　of　appreciation；　apparently　pleased　she　had　brought　him　back。　Richard　and　Kahlan　stood　close　together　in　front　of　the　three　women。
　
　‘We　will　listen　…　listen　…　to　what　you　have　to　say　about　my　headaches。’
　
　Sister　Grace　looked　to　Kahlan。　Thank　you　for　your　help；　Mother　Confessor；　but　we　will　speak　with　Richard　alone　now。’
　
　Richard’s　anger　flared　again；　but　he　kept　his　tone　in　check。　‘Kahlan　and　I　are　to　be　married。’　The　three　gave　each　other　the　look　again。　It　was　a　little　more　serious　this　time。　‘What　you　have　to　say　to　me　affects　her；　too。　If　you　want　to　talk　to　me；　she　will　stay　and　hear　it　too。　Both　of　us；　or　neither。　Choose。’
　
　The　looks　were　still　passing　between　the　three。　At　last　Sister　Grace　spoke。
　
　‘Very　well。’
　
　‘And　the　first　thing　you　should　know　is　that　I　don’t　like　magic；　and　I’m　not　convinced　I　have　the　gift。　If　I　do；　I　am　not　pleased　about　it；　and　only　want　to　be　rid　of　it。’
　
　‘We　are　not　here　to　please　you；　we　are　here　to　save　your　life。　To　do　that　we　must　teach　you　to　use　the　gift。　If　you　don’t　learn　to　control　it；　it　will　kill　you。’
　
　‘I　understand。　I　had　a　similar　problem　with　the　Sword　of　Truth。’
　
　The　first　thing　you　must　learn；’　Sister　Verna　said；　‘is　that　just　as　the　Mother　Confessor　is　to　be　treated　with　deference；　so　are　we。　We　have　worked　long　and　hard　to　bee　Sisters　of　the　Light；　and　expect　to　be　treated　with　due　respect。　I　am　Sister　Verna；　this　is　Sister　Grace；　and　this　is　Sister　Elizabeth。’
　
　Richard　glared　at　them。　At　last；　he　bowed　his　head。　As　you　wish。　Sister　Verna。’　He　regarded　each　in　turn。　And　who　are　the　Sisters　of　the　Light？’
　
　‘We　are　the　ones　who　train　wizards；　those　with　the　gift。’
　
　‘Where　are　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　from？’
　
　‘We　all　live　and　work　at　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。’
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　‘Sister　Verna；　I’ve　never　heard　of　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。　Where　is　it？’
　
　‘In　the　city　of　Tanimura。’
　
　Kahlan’s　frown　deepened。　‘I　know　every　city　in　the　Midlands。　I’ve　never　heard　of　Tanimura。’
　
　Sister　Verna　held　Kahlan’s　gaze　for　a　moment。　‘Nonetheless；　that　is　where　we　are　from。’
　
　‘Why　were　you　surprised　when　you　found　out　how　old　I　am？’
　
　‘Because；’　Sister　Grace　said；　‘it　is　almost　unheard　of　for　one　with　the　gift　not　to　e　to　our　attention　when　he　is　still　young。’
　
　‘How　young？’
　
　‘At　the　very　most；　a　third　your　age。’
　
　‘And　why　do　you　think　I　did　not　e　to　your　attention？’
　
　‘Obviously；　you　have　been　hidden　from　us；　somehow。’
　
　Kahlan　recognized　that　Richard　was　slipping　into　his　Seeker’s　role；　seeking　answers　to　his　questions　before　he　gave　them　anything　they　wanted。
　
　‘Did　you　train　Zedd？’
　
　‘Who？’
　
　‘Zeddicus　Zu’l　Zorander；　wizard　of　the　First　Order。’
　
　The　look　passed　between　them　again。　‘We　don’t　know　First　Wizard　Zorander。’
　
　‘I　thought　it　was　your　business　to　know　of　ones　with　the　gift。　Sister　Verna？’
　
　They　stiffened。　‘You　know　this　wizard　of　the　First　Order？’
　
　‘I　do。　Why　don’t　you？’
　
　‘Is　he　old？’　Richard　nodded。　‘Perhaps　he　was　before　our　time。’
　
　‘Perhaps。’　Richard；　with　a　fist　on　his　hip；　strolled　a　few　steps　away　and　stopped　with　his　back　to　them。　‘How　do　you　know　about　me？　Sister　Elizabeth。’
　
　‘It　is　our　business　to　know　about　those　with　the　gift：　wizards。　Though　you　were　obviously　hidden　from　us；　when　you　triggered　the　gift；　we　knew。’
　
　‘What　if　I　don’t　want　to　be　a　wizard？’
　
　‘That　is　your　business。　Ours　is　to　teach　you　to　control　the　magic。　We　are　not　here　to　force　you　to　be　a　wizard；　only　to　help　you　control　the　magic　so　you　will　live。　Then　you　may　be　what　you　wish。’
　
　Richard　marched　back　and　put　his　face　close　to　Sister　Verna。　‘How　do　you　know　I　have　the　gift？’
　
　‘We　are　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。　It　is　our　business　to　know。’
　
　‘You　thought　I　would　be　young。　You　thought　I　would　be　with　my　parents。　You　didn’t　know　I　was　the　Seeker。　You　don’t　know　who　the　First　Wizard　is。　You　seem　to　be　slipping　in　your　business。　Besides　these　errors；　perhaps　you　are　also　mistaken　about　me　having　the　gift；　Sister　Verna？　Your　mistakes　do　not　inspire　confidence。　Does　your　position　of　respect　tolerate　such　mistakes？’
　
　Each　woman’s　face　was　crimson。　Sister　Verna　controlled　her　voice　with　an　effort。　‘Richard；　our　job；　our　calling；　is　to　help　those　with　the　gift。　We　have　devoted　our　lives　to　it。　We　are　from　far　away。　What　we　have　learned　has　been　done　at　a　great　distance。　We　don’t　have　all　the　answers。　The　matters　you　speak　of　are　not　important。　What　is　important　is　that　you　have　the　gift；　and　if　you　don’t　let　us　help　you；　you　will　die。
　
　‘One　reason　we　help　those　with　the　gift　when　they　are　young；　and　we　wanted　to　see　your　parents；　is　because　of　the　very　difficulty　we　are　having　right　now。　If　we　can　talk　to　the　parents；　we　can　help　them　see　what　is　best　for　their　son。　Parents　are　more　interested　in　the　well…being　of　their　children　than　one　of　your　age　is　in　himself。　Teaching　one　of　your　age　is　going　to　be　difficult。　People　are　more　easily　taught　when　they　are　young。’
　
　‘Before　they　are　able　to　think　for　themselves；　Sister　Verna？’　She　was　silent。　‘I　will　ask　again。　How　do　you　know　I　have　the　gift？’
　
　Sister　Grace　smoothed　her　straight　black　hair。　‘When　one　is　born　with　the　gift；　it　lies　dormant；　and　is　harmless。　We　strive　to　find　these　boys　when　they　are　young。　We　have　a　number　of　ways　of　knowing　who　they　are。　It　has　happened　that　one　with　the　gift　does　things　that　trigger　its　growth；　its　evolution。　When　that　happens　it　bees　a　threat　to　them。　How　you　managed　to　slip　by　our　knowledge　is　something　we　can’t　answer。
　
　‘Once　triggered；　the　power　begins　to　evolve。　It　cannot　be　stopped。　It　must　be　mastered　or　you　will　die。　This　is　what　has　happened　to　you。　It　is　exceedingly　rare　for　it　to　happen　this　way。　To　be　honest；　though　we　have　been　taught　it　has　happened　before；　none　of　us　has　personal　knowledge　of　it。
　
　Back　at　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　there　will　be　old　records　of　this　in　others；　and　we　will　look　into　it。　But　that　doesn’t　change　what　matters：　you　have　the　gift；　it　has　been　triggered；　and　the　evolution　has　begun。
　
　‘We　have　never　had　to　teach　one　of　your　age　before。　I　fear　the　trouble　it　is　going　to　cause　at　the　palace。　Teaching　the　gift　requires　discipline。　One　of　your　age　has　obvious　difficulty　with　this。’
　
　Richard　softened　his　tone；　but　his　gaze　hardened。　‘Sister　Grace；　I　will　ask　for　the　last　time。　How　do　you　know　I　have　the　gift？’
　
　She　stood　up　a　little　straighter　and　let　out　a　noisy　breath。　She　nicked　a　glance　to　Sister　Verna。　‘Tell　him。’
　
　Sister　Verna　gave　a　resigned　nod　and　pulled　a　small　black　book　from　behind　her　belt。　With　a　frown；　she　began　leafing　through　it。　Those　with　the　gift　have　some　use　of　it　throughout　their　life；　in　little　ways；　even　though　it　lies　dormant。　Perhaps　you　have　noticed　how　you　could　do　some　things　that　others　could　not；　yes？　The　evolution　of　the　gift　is　triggered　by　the　specific　use　of　the　magic。　Once　triggered；　it　cannot　be　undone。　This　is　what　you　have　done。’
　
　She　continued　turning　pages；　running　her　finger　down　them。　‘Ah。　Here　it　is。’　She　lowered　the　book　and　looked　up。　‘There　are　three　things　that　must　be　done；　in　a　specific　manner；　to　trigger　the　gift。　We　don’t　fully　understand　the　precise　nature　of　these　things；　but　we　understand　their　general　principles。　You　have　done　these　three　things。　First；　you　must　use　the　gift　to　save　another。　Second；　you　must　use　the　gift　to　save　yourself。　Third；　you　must　use　the　gift　to　kill　another　with　the　gift。　Perhaps　you　can　see　the　difficulty　in　acplishing　them；　and　why　we　haven’t　seen　this　before？’
　
　‘And　what　is　written　about　me　in　that　book？’
　
　She　looked　once　more　to　the　book；　then　glanced　up；　lifting　an　eyebrow；　to　make　sure　he　was　paying　attention　before　consulting　the　pages　as　she　spoke。　‘First；　you　used　the　gift　to　save　the　life　of　one　who　was　being　pulled　back　into　the　underworld。　Not　physically；　but　by　her　mind。　You　drew　her　back。　Without　you；　she　would　have　been　lost。’　She　looked　up　from　under　her　eyebrows。　‘You　understand；　yes？’
　
　Kahlan　looked　at　Richard。　They　both　understood。　She　was　the　one　he　had　saved。　‘In　the　wayward　pine；’　she　said；
　
　‘the　first　night　we　met。　When　you　kept　the　underworld　from　taking　me　back。’
　
　Richard　nodded　to　Sister　Verna。　‘Yes；　I　understand。’
　
　Sister　Verna　put　her　finger　back　to　the　book。　‘As　for　saving　yourself　with　the　gift　。。。　let’s　see　。。。　I　saw　it　here　a　minute　。。。　ah！　Yes；　here　it　is。’　She　looked　up　from　under　her　eyebrows　again。　‘Second；　you　used　the　gift　to　save　your　own　life。’　She　tapped　the　book　with　a　finger。　‘You　partitioned　your　mind。　You　understand；　yes？’
　
　Richard’s　eyes　closed。　‘Yes；　I　understand；’　he　said　in　a　weak　voice。　Kahlan　didn’t　understand　that　one。
　
　Sister　Verna　went　back　to　the　book。　‘Third；　you　used　the　gift　to　kill　a　wizard。　His　name　was　Darken　Rahl。　You　understand；　yes？’
　
　‘Yes。’　He　opened　his　eyes。　‘How　do　you　know　these　things？’
　
　The　things　you　have　done　used　magic；　specific　magic；　that　leaves　an　essence　because　of　who　you　are　and　because　you　are　untrained。　Were　you　trained；　it　would　not　leave　this　essence；　and　we　would　not　know。　We　have　ones　back　at　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　who　are　sensitive　to　such　events。’
　
　Richard　glared　at　her。　‘You　have　violated　my　privacy；　spied　on　me。　And　as　for　the　third　of　your　three　things；　I　didn’t　exactly　kill　Darken　Rahl。　Not　technically。’
　
　‘I　can　understand　how　you　feel；’　Sister　Grace　said　quietly。　‘But　it　is　only　done　to　help　you。　If　you　wish　to　stand　here　and　argue　with　us　about　whether　or　not　these　things　qualify　as　the　three　triggers；　I　will　put　your　doubts　at　ease。　Once　they　are　done；　you　begin　the　process　of　being　a　wizard。　You　may　not　believe　it；　or　choose　to　be　a　wizard；　but　there　is　no　doubt　it　has　happened。　We　do　not　place　this　burden　on　you。　We　are　only　here　to　help　you　deal　with　it。’
　
　‘But　。。。’
　
　‘But　nothing。　When　the　magic　is　triggered；　at　least　three　changes　e　about。　First；　you　begin　to　have　fetishes　about　food。　It　may　be　things　you　crave；　or　things　you　have　always　eaten　that　you　now　refuse　to　eat。　We　have　studied　this；　and　don’t　understand　its　cause；　but　it　has　something　to　do　with　influences　at　the　time　the　gift　es　to　life。
　
　‘Second；　you　begin　to　sleep；　at　least　some　of　the　time；　with　your　eyes　open。　All　wizards　do　this；　even　ones　who　only　have　the　calling。　It　has　something　to　do　with