tg.stone of tears-第176节

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first　rank；　like　Verna；　are　not　allowed　to　have　anything　to　do　with　our　boys。　The　duty　of　a　novice　is　to　learn；　not　to　teach。’
　
　Richard　didn’t　think　he　could　ever　think　of　Sister　Verna　as　simply　Verna。　It　sounded　too　strange　to　him。　‘When　will　she　be　a　Sister　again？’
　
　‘She　must　serve　as　a　novice；　and　advance　as　any　other　novice。　I　started　scrubbing　pots　in　the　kitchens　when　I　was　little。　It　has　taken　me　this　long　to　be　given　this　chance。　One　day；　if　Verna　works　as　hard　as　I　have；　then　she；　too；　will　have　the　chance　to　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light。　Until　then；　Verna　is　a　novice。’
　
　Richard　fumed　at　the　thought　of　Sister　Verna　being　demoted　on　his　account。　By　the　time　she　was　again　a　Sister；　she　would　be　an　old　woman。　He　changed　the　subject。　‘And　why　are　we　allowed　to　roam　around？’
　
　‘Because　you　are　not　a　danger　to　the　people。　Someday；　when　you　learn　to　control　your　Han；　then　you　begin　to　have　limits　placed　on　where　you　may　go。　The　people　in　the　city　are　afraid　of　boys　who　can　wield　the　power　…　unfortunate　incidents　have　happened　in　the　past　…　and　so　once　a　boy　bees　skilled　at　handling　his　Han；　he　is　then　restricted　from　the　city。　As　the　boys　advance　as　wizards；　they　are　placed　under　more　restrictions；　until　near　the　end；　and　their　release；　when　they　are　confined　to　certain　areas　of　the　palace。
　
　‘But　for　now；　you’re　free　to　go　almost　anywhere　you　wish。　I　will　know　where　you　are　all　the　time；　by　your　Rada’Han。’
　
　‘You　mean　any　Sister　can　find　me　by　this　cursed　thing？’
　
　‘No；　only　the　one　who　gave　it　to　you；　because　she　held　it　and　recognizes　its　power；　and　since　I’m　in　charge　of　you；　I　must　be　able　to　know　where　you　are　at　all　times；　so　I　will　need　to　allow　my　Han　to　recognize　your　Rada’Han’s　unique　feel。’
　
　She　pushed　the　door　open　and　went　into　the　dark　room。　With　a　sweep　of　her　arm；　lamps　set　all　around　the　room　sprang　to　flame。
　
　‘You　must　teach　me　that　trick；’　he　muttered。
　
　‘It’s　not　a　trick。　It’s　simply　my　Han。　And　that’s　the　simplest　of　many　things　I　will　teach　you。’
　
　The　ceiling　of　the　huge　room　was　painted　around　its　molding　with　different…colored　lines　in　intricate　patterns。　The　walls　were　paneled　in　cherry　of　a　warm　color。　Tall　windows　hung　with　rich；　deep　blue　moire　drapes　looked　out　on　the　night。　There　was　a　fireplace；　with　a　white　column　to　each　side。　Most　of　the　wood　floor　was　covered　with　thick　carpets。　fortable…looking　chairs　and　couches　were　placed　about　the　room；　and　arranged　in　front　of　the　fireplace。
　
　Richard　thought　that　his　whole　house　would　fit　twice　into　the　room。　He　slipped　the　pack　off　his　back　and　leaned　it　against　the　wall　next　to　the　fireplace。　He　stood　the　quiver　of　arrows　and　the　unstrung　bow　beside　it。
　
　He　went　to　the　right；　to　a　set　of　double　doors　made　up　of　small　panes　of　glass　and　covered　over　with　sheer；　cream…colored　curtains。　Beyond　the　doors　was　an　expansive　balcony　overlooking　the　city。　Stone　urns　filled　with　flowers　were　set　about　the　slate　floor　of　the　balcony。　He　put　his　fingers　to　the　marble　railing　as　he　looked　to　his　right；　past　the　sparkling　lights　of　the　city；　to　the　hills　from　where　he　had　e。
　
　‘The　sunsets　are　beautiful　from　this　balcony；’　Pasha　said。
　
　Richard　wasn’t　interested　in　sunsets。　He　studied　the　courtyard　below；　the　gates；　the　roads；　the　patrolling　soldiers；　and　the　bridges　to　the　city　and　the　hills　beyond。　He　tried　to　fix　a　map　of　it　all　into　his　head。
　
　He　went　back　inside　and　marched　to　the　other　end　of　the　room；　to　the　doorway　there。　Beyond　was　a　bedroom　almost　as　large　as　the　first　room。　It　held　the　largest　bed　he　had　ever　seen；　covered　with　a　deep　purple　quilt。　Another　pair　of　glassed　doors　led　to　another　balcony；　but　this　one　looked　south；　out　over　the　sea。
　
　‘It’s　a　beautiful　view；’　Pasha　said。　‘A　romantic　view。’　She　saw　that　he　was　looking　to　the　sections　of　the　palace　below。　She　pointed。　‘Across　that　courtyard　are　some　of　the　women’s　quarters；　where　most　of　the　Sisters’　rooms　are。’　She　shook　the　finger　at　him。　‘You　will　stay　away　from　them；　young　man！’　She　turned　away。　‘Unless　a　Sister　invites　you　to　her　room；’　she　added　under　her　breath。　‘What　do　I　call　you；’　he　asked。　‘Sister　Pasha？’　She　giggled。　‘No。　I’m　a　novice；　though　I　hope　to　bee　a　Sister　if　I　prove　myself　with　you。　Until　then；　I　am　simply　Pasha。’
　
　Richard　turned　to　her；　directing　a　glare　to　her　eyes。　‘My　name　is　Richard。　Do　you　have　trouble　remembering　it？’
　
　‘Look　here；　you　are　assigned　to　me　and　。。。’
　
　‘If　that　is　too　difficult　for　you　to　remember；　you　have　no　chance　of　ever　being　a　Sister；　because　if　you　insist　on　trying　to　demean　me　by　calling　me　by　other　than　my　name；　I　will　see　to　it　that　you　quickly　fail　in　your　test。’　He　leaned　over　her　as　he　glowered　down　at　her　wide　eyes。　‘Do　you　understand；　Pasha！’
　
　She　swallowed。　‘You　will　not　raise　your　voice　to　me；　young　。。。’　She　lifted　her　chin　a　little。　‘You　will　not　raise　your　voice　to　me；　Richard。’
　
　That’s　better。　Thank　you。’　He　hoped　she　would　leave　it　at　that；　he　was　in　no　mood　to　be　kind　if　she　was　not。
　
　He　turned　away。　This　balcony　held　less　of　a　view　of　the　things　he　was　interested　in；　and　so　he　went　back　into　the　bedroom。
　
　She　followed　on　his　heels。　‘Look　here；　Richard；　you　will　learn　some　manners　or　else　I　will　。。。’
　
　That　was　the　end　of　his　indulgence。　He　spun　to　her。　She　lurched　to　a　halt；　almost　colliding　with　him。
　
　‘You’ve　never　been　in　charge　of　anyone　before；　have　you？’　She　didn’t　move。　‘I　would　say　that　this　is　the　first　time　you　have　been　given　responsibility；　and　you　are　terrified　you　will　muck　it　up。　Since　you　are　inexperienced；　you　think　acting　like　a　tyrant　will　fool　people　into　thinking　you　know　what　you　are　doing。’
　
　‘Well；　I　。。。’
　
　Her　voice　trailed　off　as　he　leaned　down；　putting　his　face　close　to　hers。
　
　‘You　should　not　be　frightened　of　letting　me　see　that　you　are　inexperienced　at　manding　people；　Pasha。　What　you　should　be　frightened　of　is　that　I　will　kill　you。’
　
　Her　eyes　narrowed　with　indignation。　‘Don’t　you　dare　threaten　me。’
　
　This　is　a　game　to　you。　A　way　for　you　to　fulfill　some　arcane　rules　by　prancing　around；　pulling　your　little　puppy　around　by　his　collar；　and　training　him　to　lick　your　hand；　so　you　may　gain　a　new　rank。’
　
　He　gritted　his　teeth　as　he　lowered　his　voice。　‘It　is　not　a　game　to　me；　Pasha。　It’s　a　matter　of　life　and　death。　I　am　a　prisoner；　held　in　a　collar；　as　a　beast；　or　a　slave。　I　have　only　as　much　control　of　my　life　as　you　people　allow。　I　know　I　am　to　be　tortured　by　you　as　a　way　of　breaking　my　will。
　
　‘You　are　wrong；　Pasha；　if　you　think　that　I’m　making　a　threat。　I’m　not。　I　am　making　a　promise。’
　
　‘I’m　not　what　you　think　of　me；　Richard；’　she　said　in　a　small　voice。　‘I　want　to　be　your　friend。’
　
　‘You　are　not　my　friend。　You　are　my　captor。’　He　held　a　finger　up　in　front　of　her　face。　‘Don’t　you　ever　turn　your　back　on　me；　because　I　will　kill　you；　just　as　I　killed　the　last　person　who　held　me　prisoner　in　a　collar。’
　
　She　blinked　up　at　him。　‘Richard；　I　don’t　know　what　happened　to　you　before；　but　we’re　not　like　that。　I　want　to　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light　to　help　people　see　the　Creator’s　goodness。’
　
　Richard　was　dangerously　close　to　letting　the　magic　slip　from　his　control。　He　struggled　to　maintain　his　grip。　He　had　other　things　to　do。　‘I　am　not　interested　in　your　theology。　Just　remember　what　I　told　you。’
　
　She　smiled。　‘I　will。　I　apologize　for　making　you　angry　by　calling　you　other　than　by　your　name。　Please　forgive　me。　I’ve　never　done　this　before。　I　was　only　doing　as　I　thought　I　should；　following　the　rules；　as　I　was　trained。’
　
　‘Forget　the　rules。　Just　be　yourself；　and　you　will　have　less　trouble　in　life。’
　
　‘If　that　would　help　you　believe　that　I’m　only　trying　to　help　you；　then　that’s　what　I　shall　do。’　She　pointed。　‘Here。　Sit　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。’
　
　‘Why？’
　
　Though　she　didn’t　move；　he　felt　a　gentle　push。　He　fell　back；　to　sit　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　‘Don’t　。。。’
　
　She　stepped　between　his　legs；　close　to　him。
　
　‘Hush。　Let　me　do　my　job。　I　told　you　before；　I　must　let　my　Han　e　to　know　your　Rada’Han；　so　I　will　know　where　you　are　at　all　times。’
　
　She　put　her　hands　to　each　side　of　his　neck；　over　the　collar。　She　closed　her　eyes。　Her　breasts　were　right　in　front　of　his　face；　moving　with　each　breath。　He　felt　a　soft　tingling　sensation　that　sank　all　the　way　to　his　toes　and　then　came　back　up　through　him。　It　was　slightly　unfortable；　but　not　unpleasant；　and　in　fact　the　longer　it　went　on；　the　better　it　felt。
　
　When　she　took　her　hands　away；　the　absence　of　the　sensation　was　agony　for　a　moment。　The　world　seemed　to　hum　and　spin。　He　shook　his　head。
　
　‘What　did　you　do？’
　
　‘I　simply　let　my　Han　e　to　know　your　Rada’Han。’　She　looked　a　little　dazed。　She　swallowed　as　a　tear　ran　down　her　cheek。　‘And　something　of　your　Han；　your　essence。’
　
　She　turned　away。　Richard　stood。
　
　‘Does　that　mean　that　you　will　always　know　where　I　am；　now？　By　my　collar？’
　
　She　nodded　weakly　as　she　strode　slowly　across　the　room。　Her　voice　regained　its　control。　‘What　are　your　preferences；　for　food？　Your　special