tg.stone of tears-第219节

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here　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　recesses　of　his　mind；　he　felt　a　presence。
　
　Mriswith。
　
　He　felt　them　near。　His　level　of　alarm　rose。　They　were　around　him；　closing　in。
　
　And　then　he　heard；　as　if　from　a　great　distance；　Liliana’s　voice。　‘Wait；　my　pets。　You　may　have　what　is　left；　when　I　am　finished　with　him。　Wait。’
　
　He　could　dimly　see　the　mriswith　in　his　mind；　as　he　always　had　when　they　came　to　him。　When　Liliana　spoke；　they　moved　back。
　
　Why　would　she　say　that？　Why　would　the　mriswith　move　back　at　her　mand？　What　did　she　mean？　Maybe　the　pain　had　driven　him　insane；　and　it　was　only　a　mad　illusion。
　
　He　felt　a　presence　at　his　back。　Not　a　mriswith。　Worse。　More　gruesome　by　ten。　He　felt　its　fetid　breath　on　his　neck。
　
　Liliana’s　voice　came　in　a　dangerous　hiss。　‘I　said　wait。’　The　presence　receded　a　bit；　but　not　as　far　as　the　mriswith。
　
　What　did　she　mean；　they　could　have　what　was　left？　He　was　dying；　that　was　what　she　meant。　He　could　feel　it。　He　was　dying。
　
　No。　Liliana　said　he　would　think　that。　It　was　simply　happening　as　she　had　said；　that　was　all。　He　had　to　be　strong　for　Kahlan。　But　he　had　so　little　left　to　give。　He　was　dying。　He　knew　he　was。　The　statue　in　his　lap　was　glowing　brighter。
　
　The　hot　breath　returned　to　his　neck。　He　heard　a　low　growl　from　the　loathsome　thing。　He　vehemently　wanted　it　away　from　him。
　
　Liliana’s　menacing　voice　came　again。　‘Wait。　I　will　be　finished　in　a　moment；　and　then　you　may　have　his　body。　Wait。’
　
　In　that　instant；　something　deep　within　him　told　him　that　if　he　was　ever　going　to　save　himself；　this　was　the　last　chance。　It　had　to　be　now。　The　decision　to　act　was　sudden　desperation。
　
　From　deep　within；　from　the　core　of　his　mind；　from　the　core　of　his　being；　from　the　core　of　his　soul；　he　wrenched　his　will　to　action；　and　by　force　of　will；　with　frantic；　colossal　effort；　he　yanked　his　power；　his　life　…　himself　…　back。
　
　A　thundering　boom　sounded；　and　an　impact　sundered　the　air；　throwing　the　two　of　them　apart。　Richard　landed　on　his　back　at　one　edge　of　the　clearing；　Liliana　at　the　other。　The　Sword　of　Truth　was　in　the　center。