tg.wizardfirstrule-第86节

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　went　on。
　
　〃'Course；　it's　up　to　you。　I'm　willing　to　give　it　a　try；　but　I　thought　you　should　know　of　the　ways　of　my　homeland。　I　didn't　think　it　would　be　fair　not　to　tell　you。〃　Now　Richard　turned　to　them；　his　eyebrows　set　in　a　menacing　frown；　his　voice　carrying　a　thread　of　threat。　〃So；　if　the　elders；　in　their　wisdom；　wish　to　ask　me　not　to　perform　this　duty；　I　will　understand；　and　with　regret；　ply　with　their　wishes。〃
　
　He　held　them　in　his　hard　gaze。　Savidlin　grinned。　The　other　five　were　of　no　mind　to　challenge　Richard；　and　turned　to　the　Bird　Man　beseeching　direction。　He　sat　still；　a　bead　of　sweat　rolling　down　the　leathery　skin　of　his　neck；　silver　hair　limp　on　the　buckskin　shoulders　of　his　tunic；　holding　Richard's　eyes　for　a　short　time。　His　mouth　turned　up　in　a　small　smile　that　showed　in　his　eyes；　too；　and　he　nodded　slightly　to　himself。
　
　〃　Richard　With　The　Temper；　〃　his　voice　was　even；　and　strong；　for　not　only　the　elders；　but　also　the　crowd　that　had　gathered　around　the　platform；　were　listening；　〃since　you　are　from　a　different　land；　and　your　seed　could　be　poisonous　to　this　young　woman　。　。　。　〃　he　lifted　one　eyebrow；　leaning　the　slightest　bit　forward；　〃　。　。　。　my　niece；〃　he　looked　to　her；　then　back　to　Richard；　〃we　beg　that　you　not　hold　us　to　this　tradition；　that　you　not　take　her　as　your　wife。　I　am　sorry　to　have　to　ask　this　of　you。　I　know　you　were　looking　forward　to　giving　us　your　child。　〃
　
　Richard　nodded　seriously。　〃Yes；　I　was。　But　I　will　just　have　to　live　with　my　failing；　and　try　to　make　the　Mud　People；　my　people；　proud　of　me　in　other　ways。〃　He　was　closing　the　deal　with　a　condition　of　his　own：　they　were　not　going　to　be　allowed　to　back　out　now；　he　was　a　Mud　Person　and　this　would　not　change　it。
　
　There　was　a　collective　sigh　of　relief　from　the　other　elders。　They　all　nodded；　only　too　happy　to　have　the　matter　settled　to　his　liking。　The　young　woman　smiled　with　relief　at　her　uncle　and　left。　Richard　turned　to　Kahlan；　his　face　showed　no　emotion。
　
　〃Are　there　any　other　conditions　that　I　don't　know　about？〃
　
　〃No。〃　Kahlan　felt　confused。　She　didn't　know　if　she　felt　happy　because　Richard　had　gotten　out　of　taking　a　wife；　or　if　she　was　heartbroken　because　he　felt　she　had　betrayed　him。
　
　He　turned　to　the　elders。　〃Is　my　presence　required　any　longer　tonight？〃
　
　The　five　were　delighted　to　grant　him　his　wish　to　leave。　Savidlin　seemed　a　little　disappointed。　The　Bird　Man　said　that　the　Seeker　had　been　a　great　savior　of　his　people；　had　performed　his　duties　with　honor；　and　that　if　he　was　tired　from　the　struggles　of　the　day；　he　could　be　excused。
　
　Richard　stood　slowly；　towering　over　her。　His　boots　were　right　in　front　of　her。　Kahlan　knew　he　was　looking　down　at　her；　but　she　fixed　her　eyes　on　the　floor。
　
　〃Piece　of　advice；〃　he　said　in　a　voice　that　surprised　her　with　its　gentleness；　〃since　you　have　never　had　a　friend　before。　Friends　don't　bargain　away　another　friend's　rights。　Or　their　hearts。〃
　
　She　couldn't　bring　herself　to　look　up　at　him。
　
　He　dropped　the　apple　core　in　her　lap　and　walked　off；　disappearing　in　the　crowd。
　
　…＋
　
　Kahlan　sat　on　the　elders'　platform；　in　a　fog　of　loneliness；　watching　her　fingers　shake。　The　others　watched　the　dancers。　With　supreme　effort　she　counted　the　drumbeats　and　used　the　count　to　help　her　control　her　breathing　and　keep　from　crying。　The　Bird　Man　came　and　sat　next　to　her。　She　found　herself　cheered　by　the　pany。
　
　He　raised　an　eyebrow　to　her；　leaning　closer。　〃Someday；　I　would　like　to　meet　the　wizard　who　named　that　one。　1　would　like　to　know　where　he　fends　such　Seekers。　〃
　
　Kahlan　was　surprised　she　could　still　laugh。
　
　〃Someday；　〃　she　said；　smiling　at　him；　〃if　I　live；　and　we　win；　I　promise　I　will　bring　him　here；　to　meet　you。　In　many　ways；　he　is　as　remarkable　as　Richard。〃
　
　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃1　shall　hone　my　wits　to　defend　myself　in　the　encounter。　〃
　
　She　leaned　her　head　against　him　and　laughed　until　she　started　to　cry。　He　put　his　aria　protectively　around　her　shoulders。
　
　〃I　should　have　listened　to　you；　〃　she　sobbed。　〃1　should　have　asked　him　his　wishes。　I　had　no　right　to　do　as　I　did。　〃
　
　〃Your　desire　to　stop　Darken　Rahl　made　you　do　what　you　thought　necessary。　Sometimes；　making　the　wrong　choice　is　better　than　making　no　choice。　You　have　the　courage　to　go　forward；　that　is　rare。　A　person　who　stands　at　the　fork；　unable　to　pick；　will　never　get　anywhere。　〃
　
　〃But　it　hurts　so　much　to　have　him　angry　at　me；〃　she　cried。
　
　〃I　will　tell　you　a　secret　you　might　riot　otherwise　learn　until　you　are　too　old　to　benefit　from　the　knowledge。　〃　Wet　eyes　looked　up　at　his　smile。　〃It　hurts　him　just　as　much　to　be　angry　at　you；　as　it　hurts　you　when　he　is　that　angry。　〃
　
　〃Really？　〃　He　laughed　silently　and　nodded。　〃Take　it　on　faith；　child。〃
　
　〃I　had　no　right；　I　should　have　。seen　that　before。　I　am　so　sorry　l　did　it。　〃
　
　〃Don't　tell　me。　Tell　him。　〃
　
　She　pushed　away；　looking　at　his　weathered　face。　〃l　think　I　will。　Thank　you；　honored　elder。　〃
　
　〃And　while　you　are　offering　apologies；　offer　mine　also。　〃
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　〃For　what？〃
　
　He　sighed。　〃Being　old；　being　an　elder；　does　not　exclude　you　from　holding　foolish　ideas。　Today；　I　too　made　a　mistake；　for　Richard；　and　for　my　niece。　I；　too；　had　no　right。　Thank　him　for　me；　for　keeping　me　from　imposing　deeds　I　should　have　questioned；　but　did　not。　〃　He　took　his　whistle　from　around　his　neck。　〃Give　him　this　gift；　with　my　thanks；　for　opening　my　eyes。　May　it　serve　him　well。　Tomorrow；　I　will　show　him　how　to　use　it。〃
　
　〃But；　you　need　it　to　call　the　birds。　〃
　
　He　smiled。　〃1　have　others。　Go　now。〃
　
　Kahlan　took　the　whistle；　clutching　it　tightly　in　her　hand。　She　wiped　the　tears　from　her　face。　〃In　my　whole　life；　I've　hardly　ever　cried。　Since　the　boundary　to　D'Hara　came　down；　it　seems　as　if　that's　all　I　do。　〃
　
　〃We　all　do；　child。　Go。〃
　
　She　kissed　his　cheek　quickly　and　left。　Searching　the　open　areas；　she　found　no　sign　of　Richard。　People　she　asked　hadn't　seen　him。　She　walked　around　in　circles；　looking。　Where　was　he？　Children　tried　to　draw　her　into　their　dancing；　people　offered　her　food；　others　wanted　to　talk　to　her。　She　politely　turned　them　all　down。
　
　At　last　she　went　off　to　Savidlin's　home；　deciding　that　that　was　where　he　would　be。　But　the　house　was　empty。　She　sat　down　on　the　floor　skin；　thinking。　Would　he　leave　without　her？　Her　heart　panicked。　Her　eyes　searched　around　the　floor。　No。　His　pack　was　still　there；　where　she　had　left　it　when　she　had　gotten　him　the　apple。　Besides；　he　wouldn't　leave　before　the　gathering。
　
　Then　it　came　to　her。　She　knew　where　he　was。　She　smiled　to　herself；　took　an　apple　out　of　his　pack；　and　headed　through　the　dark　walkways　between　the　buildings　of　the　Mud　People's　village；　headed　for　the　spirit　house。
　
　Light　flared　suddenly　in　the　darkness；　lighting　the　walls　around　her。　At　first；　she　didn't　realized　what　it　was；　then；　looking　out　between　the　buildings；　she　saw　lightning。　Lightning　at　the　horizon；　in　every　direction；　all　around；　lacing　its　angry　fingers　into　the　sky；　into　the　dark　clouds；　lighting　them　from　inside　with　boiling　colors。　There　was　no　thunder。　And　then　it　was　gone；　leaving　darkness　once　more。
　
　Was　there　no　end　to　this　weather；　she　wondered。　Would　she　ever　again　see　stars；　or　the　sun？　Wizards　and　their　clouds；　she　thought；　shaking　her　head。　She　wondered　if　she　would　ever　see　Zedd　again。　At　least　the　clouds　protected　Richard　from　Darken　Rahl。
　
　The　spirit　house　sat　in　the　dark；　away　from　the　sound　and　activity　of　the　banquet。　Cautiously；　Kahlan　pulled　back　the　door。　Richard　sat　on　the　floor　in　front　of　the　fire；　his　sword；　in　its　scabbard；　lay　at　his　side。　He　didn't　turn　at　the　sound。
　
　〃Your　guide　wishes　to　speak　with　you；〃　she　said　meekly。
　
　The　door　squeaked　closed　behind　her　as　she　kneeled　down；　sitting　back　on'　her　heels　next　to　him；　her　heart　pounding。
　
　〃And　what　does　my　guide　wish　to　tell　me？〃　He　smiled；　she　thought　in　spite　of　himself。
　
　〃That　she　made　a　mistake；〃　she　said　softly；　picking　at　a　string　on　her　pants。　〃And　that　she　is　sorry。　Very；　very　sorry。　Not　just　for　what　she　did；　but　mostly　for　not　trusting　you。〃
　
　The　insides　of；　his　elbows　were　hooked　around　his　knees；　one　hand　holding　the　other。　He　turned　to　face　her；　the　warm；　red　glow　of　firelight　reflecting　in　his　gentle　eyes。
　
　〃I　had　a　whole　speech　rehearsed　in　my　mind。　But　now　I　can't　remember　a　word　of　it。　You　have　that　effect　on　me。〃　He　smiled　again。　〃Apology　accepted。〃
　
　Relief　swept　through　her。　She　felt　as　if　her　heart　were　mending。　From　under　her　eyebrows；　she　looked　up　at　him。　〃Was　it　a　good　speech？〃
　
　His　grin　widened。　〃It　seemed　so　at　the　time；　but　now　I　don't　think　so。〃
　
　〃You　are　pretty　good　at　speeches。　You　nearly　scared　the　wits　out　of　the　elders；　including　the　Bird　Man。〃　Reaching　out；　she　placed　the　whistle　over　his　head；　around　his　neck。
　
　Unclasping　his　hands；　he　touched　it　with　his　fingers。　〃What's　this　for？〃　〃It　is　a　gift　from　the　Bird　Man；　with　his　apology　for　what　he　tried　to　make　you　do。　He　said　he；　too；　had　no　right；　and　wishes　to　thank　you；　with　this　gift；　for　opening　his　heart's　eyes。　Tomorrow　he　will　teach　you　to　use　it。〃　Kahlan　turned　to　sit　with　her　back　to　the