tg.wizardfirstrule-第103章

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；　and　it　wasn't　the　snakes。　It　was　Shota　that　her　eyes　followed；　the　way　the　eyes　of　an　animal　in　a　trap　follow　the　trapper；　not　the　trap。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Shota　asked；　while　she　held　Kahlan's　stare；　〃would　you　be　able　to　kill　her　if　you　had　to？　If　she　was　a　threat　to　your　success；　would　you　have　the　courage　to　kill　her？　If　it　meant　the　lives　of　everyone　else？　The　truth；　now。〃
　
　Despite　the　disarming　tone　of　Shota's　voice；　her　words　went　through　him　like　an　ice　dagger。　Richard　met　Kahlan's　widening　eyes；　then　looked　to　the　woman　beside　him。　〃She　is　my　guide。　I　need　her；〃　he　said　simply；　offhandedly。
　
　Big　almond　eyes　stared　back　at　him。　〃That；　Seeker；　is　not　the　question　I　asked。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　say　anything；　he　tried　to　betray　nothing　with　his　face。
　
　Shota　gave　a　smile　of　regret。　〃As　I　thought。　And　that　is　why　you　made　a　mistake　with　your　wish。〃
　
　〃I　made　no　mistake；〃　Richard　protested。　〃If　I　hadn't　used　it　as　I　did；　you　would　have　killed　her！〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　Shota　nodded　grimly；　〃I　would　have。　The　image　of　Zedd　was　a　test。　You　passed　the　test；　and　as　a　reward；　I　gave　you　a　wish；　not　that　you　might　have　something　you　want；　but　that　I　might　do　an　onerous　deed　for　you；　because　you　lack　the　required　courage。　That　was　your　second　test。　That　test；　dear　boy；　you　failed。　I　must　honor　your　wish。　That　is　your　mistake；　you　should　have　let　me　kill　her　for　you。〃
　
　〃You're　mad！　First　you　try　to　tell　me　how　you're　not　evil；　how　I　should　judge　you　by　your　actions；　and　now　you　prove　your　true　self　by　telling　me　how　I　made　a　mistake　by　not　allowing　you　to　kill　Kahlan！　And　for　what！　Some　perceived　threat？　She　has　done　nothing　to　threaten　you；　nor　would　she。　She　wishes　only　to　stop　Darken　Rahl；　same　as　me。　Same　as　you！〃
　
　Shota　listened　patiently　until　he　finished。　The　timeless　look　passed　across　her　eyes　again。　〃Were　you　not　listening　when　I　said　not　all　acts　are　as　they　seem？　That　some　are　meant　to　save　you？　Once　again　you　judge　too　quickly；　without　knowing　all　the　facts。〃
　
　〃Kahlan　is　my　friend。　That　is　the　only　fact　that　matters。〃
　
　Shota　took　a　breath；　as　if　she　were　trying　to　remain　patient；　as　if　she　were　trying　to　teach　something　to　a　child。　Her　expression　made　him　feel　somehow　stupid。
　
　〃Richard。　Listen　to　me。　Darken　Rahl　has　put　the　boxes　of　Orden　in　play。　If　he　succeeds；　there　will　be　no　one　with　the　power　to　restrain　him。　Ever。　A　great　many　people　will　die。　You。　Me。　It's　in　my　own　interest　to　help　you　because　you　are　the　only　one　who　has　a　chance　to　stop　him。　How；　or　why；　I　don't　know；　but　I　can　see　the　flow　of　power。　You　are　the　only　one　with　a　chance。
　
　〃That　does　not　mean　you　will　succeed；　only　that　you　have　the　chance。　No　matter　how　small；　it　is　within　you。　Know　also　that　there　are　forces　to　defeat　you　before　you　could　bring　your　chance　to　bear。　The　old　wizard　does　not　have　the　power　to　stop　Rahl。　That's　why　he　gave　you　the　sword。　I　do　not　have　the　power　to　stop　Rahl。　But　I　do　have　the　power　to　be　of　aid　to　you。　That's　all　I　wish　to　do。　In　so　doing　I　help　myself。　I　do　not　want　to　die。　If　Rahl　wins；　I　will。〃
　
　〃I　know　all　this。　That's　why　I　said　you　would　answer　my　question　without　my　having　to　use　the　wish。〃
　
　〃But　there　are　other　things　I　know；　Richard；　that　you　do　not。〃
　
　Her　beautiful　face　studied　him　with　a　sadness　that　hurt。　Her　eyes　had　the　same　fire　in　them　that　Kahlan's　had；　the　tire　of　intelligence。　Richard　felt　the　need　in　her；　the　need　to　help　him。　He　feared　suddenly　what　it　was　she　knew；　because　he　realized　that　it　wasn't　meant　to　hurt　him；　it　was　simply　truth。　Richard　saw　Samuel　watching　the　sword　and　became　aware　of　his　own　left　hand；　resting　around　the　hilt；　aware　of　how　tightly　he　was　gripping　it；　and　how　the　raised　letters　of　the　word　Truth　were　pressing　painfully　into　his　palm
　
　〃Shota；　what　are　these　things　you　know？〃
　
　〃The　easiest　first；〃　she　sighed。　〃You　know　the　way　you　stopped　the　wizard's　fire　with　the　sword？　Practice　the　move。　I　gave　you　that　test　for　a　reason。　Zedd　will　use　the　wizard's　fire　against　you。　Only　the　next　time；　it　will　be　for　real。　The　flow　of　time　does　not　say　who　will　prevail；　only　that　you　have　a　chance　to　beat　him。〃
　
　Richard's　eyes　widened。　〃That　can't　be　true　。　。。　。〃
　
　〃True；〃　she　said；　clipping　off　his　words；　〃as　a　tooth　given　by　a　father　to　show　the　keeper　of　the　book；　to　show　the　truth　of　how　it　was　taken。〃
　
　That　rattled　him　to　his　bones。
　
　〃And　no；　I　don't　know　who　the　keeper　is。〃　Her　eyes　burned　into　him。　〃You　will　have　to　find　him　yourself。〃
　
　Richard　could　hardly　draw　a　breath；　could　hardly　make　himself　ask　the　next　question。　〃If　that　was　the　easy　part；　then　what　is　the　hard？〃
　
　Auburn　hair　tumbled　off　her　shoulder　as　Shota　looked　away　from　his　eyes；　to　Kahlan；　who　stood　stone　still　while　the　snakes　writhed　on　her。　〃I　know　what　she　is；　and　how　it　is　she　is　a　threat　to　me　。　。　。　。〃　Her　voice　trailed　off。　She　turned　back　to　him。　〃It　is　obvious　you　do　not　know　what　she　is；　or　perhaps　you　would　not　be　with　her。　Kahlan　has　a　power。　Magic　power。〃
　
　〃That　much　I　know；〃　Richard　offered　cautiously。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Shota　said；　trying　to　find　the　words　for　something　she　found　difficult；　〃I　am　a　witch　woman。　As　I　said；　one　of　my　powers　is　that　I　can　see　things　as　they　will　e　to　pass。　It　is　one　reason　fools'　fear　me。〃　Her　face　drew　closer　to　his；　unfortably　close。　Her　breath　smelled　of　roses。　〃Please；　Richard；　don't　be　one　of　these　fools；　don't　fear　me　because　of　things　I　have　no　control　over。　I'm　able　to　see　the　truth　of　events　that　will　e　to　be；　I　do　not　dictate　or　control　them。　And　just　because　I　see　them；　that　does　not　mean　I'm　at　all　happy　about　them。　It　is　only　by　action　in　the　present　that　we　can　change　what　otherwise　will　e　to　pass。　Have　the　wisdom　to　use　the　truth　to　your　advantage；　don't　simply　rail　against　it。〃
　
　〃And　what　truth　do　you　see；　Shota？〃　he　whispered。
　
　Her　eyes　had　an　intensity　that　halted　his　breath；　her　voice　the　sharp　edge　of　a　blade
　
　〃。Kahlan　has　a　power；　and　if　she　isn't　killed；　she　will　use　that　power　against　you。〃　She　watched　his　eyes　carefully　as　she　spoke。　〃There　can　be　no　doubt　of　the　truth　of　this。　Your　sword　can　protect　you　from　the　wizard's　fire；　but　it　will　not　protect　you　from　her　touch。〃
　
　Richard　felt　the　stab　of　her　words；　as　if　they　cut　through　his　heart。
　
　〃No！〃　Kahlan　whispered。　They　both　looked　at　her；　her　face　wrinkled　with　pain　at　Shota's　words。　〃I　wouldn't！　Shota；　I　swear；　I　couldn't　do　that　to　him。〃
　
　Tears　ran　down　her　cheeks。　Shota　stepped　close　to　her　and　reached　through　the　snakes；　touching　her　face　tenderly；　to　fort　her。
　
　〃If　you　are　not　killed；　child；　I　am　afraid　you　will。〃　As　a　tear　rolled　down；　her　thumb　brushed　it　back。　〃You　have　already　e　close；　once；〃　Shota　said　with　surprising　passion。　〃Within　a　breath。〃　She　nodded　slightly　to　herself。　〃This　is　true；　is　it　not？　Tell　him。　Tell　him　if　I　am　speaking　the　truth。〃
　
　Kahlan's　eyes　snapped　to　Richard。　He　looked　into　the　depths　of　her　green　eyes　and　remembered　the　three　times　she　had　touched　him　when　he　had　been　holding　the　sword；　and　how　that　touch　made　the　magic　jump　in　warning。　The　last　time；　with　the　Mud　People　when　the　shadow　things　had　e；　the　magic's　reaction　had　been　so　strong　that　he　almost　put　the　sword　through　her　before　he　realized　who　it　was。　Kahlan's　eyebrows　wrinkled　together；　her　eyes　shrinking　from　his　gaze。　She　bit　her　bottom　lip　as　a　little　moan　escaped　her　throat。
　
　〃Is　this　true？〃　Richard　asked　in　a　whisper；　his　heart　in　his　throat。　〃Have　you　e　within　a　breath　of　using　your　power　against　me；　as　Shota　says？〃
　
　Kahlan's　face　drained　of　color。　She　let　out　a　loud；　painful　moan。　She　closed　her　eyes　and　cried　in　a　long；　agonizing　wail；　〃Please；　Shota。　Kill　me。　You　must。　I　am　sworn　to　protect　Richard；　to　stop　Rahl。　Please；〃　she　cried　in　choking　sobs。　〃It's　the　only　way。　You　must　kill　me。〃
　
　〃I　cannot；〃　Shota　whispered。　〃I　have　granted　a　wish。　A　very　foolish　one。〃
　
　Richard　could　hardly　stand　the　pain　of　seeing　Kahlan　like　this；　asking　to　die。　The　lump　in　his　throat　threatened　to　choke　him
　
　Kahlan　suddenly　cried　out　and　threw　up　her　arms；　to　make　the　snakes　bite　her。　Richard　lunged　for　them；　but　they　were　gone。　Kahlan　held　out　her　arms；　looking　for　snakes　that　were　no　longer　there。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Kahlan。　If　I　were　to　let　them　bite　you；　it　would　break　the　wish　I　granted。〃
　
　Kahlan　collapsed　to　her　knees；　crying　with　her　face　against　the　ground；　her　fingers　digging　into　the　earth。　〃I'm　so　sorry；　Richard；〃　she　wept。　Her　fists　grabbed　at　the　grass；　then　his　pants　legs。　〃Please；　Richard；〃　she　sobbed。　〃Please。　I'm　sworn　to　protect　you。　So　many　have　already　died。　Take　the　sword　and　kill　me。　Do　it。　Please；　Richard；　kill　me。〃
　
　〃Kahlan　。　。　。　I　could　never　。　。　。〃　He　couldn't　make　any　more　words　e。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Shota　said；　nearly　in　tears　herself；　〃if　she　isn't　killed；　then　before　Rahl　opens　the　boxes；　she　will　use　her　power　against　you。　There　is　no　doubt　of　this。　None。　It　cannot　be　changed　if　she　lives。　I　granted　your　wish；　I　cannot　kill　her。　So　you　must。〃
　
　〃No！〃　he　shrieked。
　
　Kahlan　wailed　again　in　anguish　and　pulled　her　knife。　As　she　brought　it　up　to　plunge　it　into　herself；　Richard