tg.stone of tears-第67章

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　Though　the　small　smile　still　rested　easily　on　her　face；　her　white　eyes　seemed　to　be　weighing　his　soul。　‘And　there　be　a　reason　you　be　here。　A　reason　I　fear　I　won’t　like。’
　
　He　pulled　his　hands　out　of　hers　and　pushed　some　of　his　unruly；　wavy　white　hair　back　while　frowning。　‘Bags；　woman；　are　you　going　to　feed　me　any　of　that　stew　or　not？’
　
　Adie　finally　withdrew　her　white　eyes　from　him　and　turned　back　into　her　home。　‘I　think　there　be　enough　stew；　even　for　you。　e　in　and　shut　the　door。　I　do　not　wish　to　see　another　gripper　tonight。’
　
　Invited　in。　Well；　things　were　going　smoothly。　He　wondered　how　much　he　was　going　to　have　to　tell　her。　Not　all；　he　hoped。　Wizard’s　work：　using　people。　The　worst　of　it　was　using　people　he　liked。　Especially　people　he　liked　deeply。
　
　As　Zedd　helped　her　right　the　chairs　and　table；　and　pick　up　the　pots　and　tin　plates　strewn　about　the　floor；　he　began　telling　her　of　the　things　that　had　happened　since　he　had　been　with　her　last。　He　started　with　the　harrowing　tale　of　going　through　the　pass；　protected；　somewhat；　by　the　bone　she　had　given　him　to　hide　him　from　the　beasts。　He　still　had　the　bone　on　a　thin　leather　thong　around　his　neck；　seeing　no　need　to　be　rid　of　it　after　he　had　gotten　safely　through。
　
　She　listened　without　ment　as　he　wove　the　tale；　and　when　he　told　of　Richard’s　capture　by　the　Mord…Sith；　she　didn’t　turn　to　show　her　face；　but　he　saw　the　muscles　in　her　shoulders　tense　for　the　briefest　of　moments。　With　no　small　amount　of　emphasis　to　make　his　point；　he　related　how　Darken　Rahl　had　taken　the　night　stone　from　Richard；　the　night　stone　she　had　given　him　to　see　him　safely　through　the　pass。
　
　He　scowled　at　her　back　as　she　picked　a　plate　off　the　floor。　‘I　was　nearly　killed　by　that　stone。　Darken　Rahl　used　it　to　trap　me　in　the　underworld。　I　escaped　by　the　thinnest　of　hairs。　You　almost　got　me　killed；　giving　that　thing　to　Richard。’
　
　‘Do　not　be　a　thickheaded　fool；’　she　scoffed。　‘You　be　smart　enough　to　save　yourself。　Had　I　not　given　the　night　stone　to　Richard；　he　would　have　died　in　the　pass；　and　then　Darken　Rahl　would　have　won；　and　right　now　would　no　doubt　be　torturing　you。　You　would　soon　be　dead。　By　giving　the　stone　to　Richard；　I　saved　your　life。’
　
　He　shook　a　leg　bone　of　some　sort　at　the　glance　she　cast　over　her　shoulder。　That　thing　was　dangerous。　You　shouldn’t　go　handing　out　dangerous　things　as　if　they　were　a　stick　of　candy。　Not　without　warning　people；　anyway。’　He　had　a　right　to　be　indignant。　He　had　been　the　one　sucked　into　the　underworld　by　that　wretched　stone。　The　woman　could　at　least　pretend　to　be　contrite。
　
　Zedd　went　on　with　the　story　of　how　Richard　had　escaped；　although　he　had　a　web　around　him　hiding　his　identity；　and　how　the　quads　had　attacked　Chase；　Kahlan；　and　himself。　He　had　to　make　an　effort　to　control　his　voice　at　the　telling　of　what　had　almost　happened　to　Kahlan；　and　how　she　had　called　forth　the　Con　Dar　and　killed　their　attackers。　He　finished　with　how　Richard　had　tricked　Darken　Rahl　into　opening　the　wrong　box。　He　told　her　how　the　Magic　of　Orden　had　taken　Darken　Rahl　for　his　mistake。　Zedd　smiled　to　himself　as　he　reached　the　end　of　his　story；　telling　her　that　Richard　had　somehow　gotten　past　Kahlan’s　power；　that　they　were　free　to　love　each　other　…　he　wasn’t　about　to　tell　her　how；　that　was　not　for　anyone　to　know　…　and　they　were　happily　together　now。
　
　He　was　pleased　that　he　had　managed　to　tell　the　story　without　having　to　delve　too　deeply　into　some　of　the　more　painful　events。　He　didn’t　want　to　have　to　revisit　some　of　those　hurts。　She　didn’t　ask　any　questions；　but　came　and　put　a　hand　on　his　shoulder；　saying　that　she　was　relieved　all　of　them　had　survived；　and　won。
　
　Zedd　was　silent　after　the　telling；　at　least　as　much　as　he　wanted　to　tell；　of　the　tale。　He　set　to　stacking　the　pile　of　loose　bones　into　the　corner　where　she　said　they　belonged。　By　the　way　they　were　scattered　about；　the　gripper　must　have　sought　refuge　in　them。　A　sorry　mistake。
　
　That　people　called　Adie　the　bone　woman　was　small　wonder；　the　house　had　little　else　in　it。　Her　life　seemed　devoted　to　bones。　A　sorceress　dedicated　to　bones　was　a　troubling　concept。　He　saw　little　evidence　of　potions；　powders；　or　the　usual　type　of　charms；　any　of　the　typical　things　he　knew　to　expect　from　a　woman　of　her　talents。　He　knew　what　she　was　probing　into；　just　not　why。
　
　Sorceresses　usually　confined　their　concerns　to　things　living。　She　was　a　searcher　into　things　dark　and　dangerous。　Things　dead。　Unfortunately；　that　was　what　he　was　doing；　too。　If　you　wanted　to　know　about　fire；　you　had　to　study　it；　he　guessed。　Of　course；　it　was　a　good　way　to　get　burned。　He　knew　he　didn’t　like　the　analogy　the　moment　it　popped　into　his　head。
　
　He　looked　up　from　the　bone　pile　as　he　placed　the　last　of　them。　‘If　you　don’t　want　grippers　in　your　house；　Adie；　you　should　keep　your　door　closed。’
　
　His　perfectly　apt；　scolding　frown　was　wasted；　as　she　didn’t　turn　from　her　task　of　stacking　the　firewood　back　in　its　bin　at　the　side　of　the　hearth。　The　door　be　closed。　And　bolted；’　she　said　in　her　dry　rasp；　in　a　tone　seemingly　meant　to　wither　his　unseen　scowl。　This　be　the　third　time。’
　
　Picking　up　a　bone　that　had　been　hiding　behind　a　stick　of　firewood；　she　straightened　and　carried　it　to　him。　‘Before；　the　grippers　never　came　near　my　house。’　Her　voice　lowered　as　if　in　a　threat　to　unseen　ears。　‘I　saw　to　that。’　She　handed　over　the　thick；　white　rib　bone；　peering　down　at　him　as　he　squatted　on　the　floor　next　to　the　bone　pile。　‘Now；　since　winter；　they　e　near。　The　bones　no　longer　seem　to　keep　them　away。　The　reason　be　a　mystery　to　me。’
　
　Adie　had　lived　in　this　pass　a　long　time。　No　one　knew　as　well　as　she　its　dangers；　its　quirks；　its　vagaries。　None　knew　better　than　she　what　it　took　to　be　safe　here；　to　live　on　the　cusp　between　the　world　of　the　living　and　the　world　of　the　dead；　at　the　edge　of　the　underworld。　Of　course；　the　boundary　was　gone　now。　It　should　be　safe　here　now。
　
　He　wondered　what　else　was　going　on　that　she　wasn’t　telling　him；　sorceresses　never　told　all　they　knew。　What　was　she　doing　still　living　here　with　strange；　and　dangerous；　things　happening？　Stubborn　women；　sorceresses；　the　lot　of　them。
　
　Adie　limped　slightly　as　she　walked　across　the　room　lit　only　by　the　fire。　‘Light　the　lamp？’
　
　Following　behind；　Zedd　swept　a　hand　in　the　direction　of　the　table。　The　lamp　lit　itself；　adding　a　soft　glow　to　that　of　the　fire　in　the　large　hearth　made　of　smooth　river　stones；　and　helped　illuminate　the　dark　walls　of　the　room。　Every　wall　held　white　bones。　Shelves　lined　one　wall；　and　were　stuffed　to　overflowing　with　the　skulls　of　dangerous　beasts。　Many　of　the　bones　had　been　made　into　ceremonial　objects；　some　had　been　made　into　necklaces；　decorated　with　feathers　and　beads；　and　some　had　been　inscribed　with　ancient　symbols。　Some　had　spells　drawn　on　the　wall　around　them。　It　was　the　oddest　collection　he　had　ever　seen。
　
　Zedd　pointed　a　bony　finger　down　at　her　foot。　‘Why　are　you　limping？’
　
　Adie　gave　him　a　sidelong　glance　as　she　stopped　and　lifted　a　spoon　from　a　hook　set　into　the　mortar　at　the　side　of　the　fireplace。　The　new　foot　you　grew　me　be　too　short。’
　
　Zedd　stood　with　one　hand　on　a　knobby　hip；　and　the　stick…like　fingers　of　the　other　holding　his　smooth　chin　as　he　looked　down　at　her　foot。　He　hadn’t　noticed　it　wasn’t　long　enough　when　he　had　grown　it　back；　he　had　needed　to　leave　soon　after　it　was　done。　‘Maybe　I　could　grow　the　ankle　a　little　longer；’　he　wondered　aloud。　He　took　his　hand　from　his　chin　and　flourished　it　in　the　air。　‘Make　them　even。’
　
　Adie　glared　over　her　shoulder　as　she　stirred　the　stew。　‘No；　thank　you。’
　
　Zedd　arched　an　eyebrow。　‘Wouldn’t　you　appreciate　having　them　both　even？’
　
　‘I　appreciate　you　growing　my　foot　back　for　me。　Life　be　easier　with　two　of　them。　I　did　not　realize　how　much　I　hated　that　crutch。　But　the　foot　be　fine　the　way　it　is。’　She　lifted　the　long…handled　spoon　to　her　lips；　blowing　on　the　hot　stew。
　
　‘It　would　be　easier　if　they　were　even。’
　
　‘I　said　no。’　She　tasted　the　stew。
　
　‘Bags；　woman；　why　not？’
　
　Adie　tapped　the　spoon　clean　on　the　edge　of　the　iron　kettle　and　hung　it　back　on　its　hook；　then　lifted　a　dented　tin　from　the　side　of　the　mantel；　unscrewing　the　lid。　Her　voice　was　quiet；　her　rasp　softer。　‘I　do　not　wish　to　revisit　that　pain。　Had　I　known　what　it　would　be　like；　I　would　have　chosen　to　live　the　rest　of　my　life　without　the　foot。’　Reaching　her　hand　into　the　tin；　she　took　a　three…finger…and…thumb　pinch　of　five…spice　and　flung　it　into　the　stew。
　
　Zedd　tugged　at　his　ear。　Perhaps　she　was　right。　Growing　the　foot　back　for　her　had　nearly　killed　her。　He　hadn’t　expected　what　had　happened；　her　reaction　to　his　using　that　much　magic　on　her。　Still；　he　had　been　successful；　and　managed　to　draw　away　the　pain　of　the　memories；　though　he　still　didn’t　know　what　they　had　been　about。　But　he　should　have　taken　into　account　that　she　could　have　had　memories　that　held　that　much　pain。
　
　He　should　have　taken　the　Wizard’s　Second　Rule　into　account；　but　he　had　been　intent　on　doing　something　good　for　her。　That　was　the　way　it　worked　with　the　second　rule；　it　was　usually　hard　to　tell　if　you　were　violating　it。
　
　‘You　know　the　price　of　magic；　Adie；　almost　as　well　as　a　wizard。　And　besides；　I　made　it　up　to　you。　For　the　pain；　I　mean。’　He　knew　it　wouldn’t　take　as　much　magic　to　make　the　ankle　longer　as　it　had　to　grow　the　foot　back；　but　after　what　she　had　suffered；　he　could　understand　her　reluctance。　‘Perhaps　you　are　right。　Maybe　I　have　done　enough。’
　
　Her　white　eyes　settled　on　him　again。　‘Why　be　you　here；　wizard？’
　
　He　gave　her　an　impish　grin。　‘I　wanted　to　see　you。　You　are　a　hard　woman　to　forget。　And　I　wanted　to　tell　you　about　Darken　Rahl　being　defeated；　by　Richard。　That　we　won。’　He　frowned　at　her　stare。　‘Why　do　you　think　the　grippers　are　ing　here？’
　
　She　shook　her　head　with　a　sigh。　‘You　talk　like　a　drunk　man　walks：　in　every　direction　but　where　he　be　headed。’　She　flicked　a　finger　toward　the　table；　indicating　that　she　wanted　him　to　get　the　bowls。　‘I　already　knew　we　won。　The　first　day　of　winter　has　e　and　past。　Had　Rahl　won；　things　wouldn’t　be　so　peaceful　as　they　are。　Though　I　be　pleased　to　see　your　bones　again。’
　
　Her　voice　lowered；　became　even　more　raspy。　‘Why　be　you　here；　wizard？’
　
　He　strode　over　to　the　table；　glad　to　elude　the　scrutiny　of　those　eyes　for　a　moment。　‘You　didn’t　answer　my　question。　Why　do　you　think　the　grippers　are　ing　here？’
　
　Her　voice　lowered　into　a　deeper；　harsher　rasp；　bordering　on　anger。　‘I　think　the　grippers　be　here　for　the　same　reason　you　be　here：　to　cause　an　old　woman　trouble。’
　
　Zedd　grinned　as　he　returned　with　bowls。　‘My　eyes　don’t　see　an　old　woman。　They　see　only　a　handsome　woman。’
　
　She　regarded　his　grin　with　a　helpless　shake　of　her　head。　‘I　fear　your　tongue　be　more　dangerous　than　a　gripper。’
　
　He　handed　her　a　bowl。　‘Have　the　grippers　ever　e　here　before？’
　
　‘No。’　She　turned　and　began　spooning　stew　into　the　bowl。　‘When　the　boundary　be　in　place；　the　grippers　stayed　in　the　pass；　with　other　beasts。　After　the　boundary　went　down；　I　not　see　them　for　a　time；　but　when　winter　came；　so　did　the　grippers。　That　not　be　right。　I　think　something　be　wr