tg.wizardfirstrule-第105章

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f　some　of　your　subjects　choose　to　show　their　love　for　their　Queen　from　afar。〃
　
　〃Wizard　Giller〃…her　voice　got　real　nice；　like　when　she　talked　to　the　dog…〃please　forgive　me。　I　have　been　on　edge　lately；　what　with　Father　Rahl　ing　soon。　I　just　want　everything　to　go　well；　then　we　will　all　have　what　we　want。　I　know　you　only　have　my　best　interest　at　heart。　Please；　do　carry　on；　and　forget　the　momentary　foolishness　of　a　lady。〃
　
　〃As　you　wish；　Your　Majesty。〃　He　bowed　again。
　
　The　Queen　started　hurrying　away；　down　the　hall；　sneezing；　then　Rachel　heard　her　thumping　footsteps　and　the　clinking　armor　stop
　
　〃By　the　way；　wizard　Giller；〃　she　called　back；　〃did　I　tell　you？　A　messenger　came。　He　said　Father　Rahl　will　be　here　sooner　than　expected。　Much　sooner。　Tomorrow　in　fact。　He　will　be　expecting　the　box；　of　course；　to　seal　the　alliance。　Please　see　to　it。〃
　
　Giller's　leg　jerked　so　hard　it　almost　knocked　Rachel　over。　〃Of　course；　Your　Majesty。〃　lie　bowed　again。
　
　Giller　waited　until　the　Queen　was　gone　and　then　pulled　Rachel　up　with　big　hands　around　her　waist　and　field　her　against　his　hip　with　an　arm。　His　cheeks　weren't　red；　as　they　usually　were；　they　were　more　white。　He　put　his　finger　against　her　lips；　and　she　knew　he　wanted　her　to　keep　quiet。　He　stretched　his　neck；　looking　up　and　down　the　hall　again。
　
　〃Tomorrow！〃　he　muttered　to　himself。　〃Curse　the　spirits；　I'm　not　ready。〃
　
　〃What's　wrong；　Giller？〃
　
　〃Rachel；〃　he　whispered；　his　big　hook　nose　close　to　hers；　〃is　the　Princess　in　her　room　right　now？〃
　
　〃No；〃　Rachel　whispered　back。　〃She　went　to　pick　out　fabric　for　a　new　dress；　for　when　Father　Rahl　es　to　visit。〃
　
　〃Do　you　know　where　the　Princess　keeps　her　key　to　the　jewel　room‘〃
　
　〃Yes。　If　she　doesn't　have　it　with　her；　she　keeps　it　in　the　desk。　In　the　drawer　on　the　side　by　the　window。〃
　
　He　started　off　down　the　hall；　toward　Princess　Violet's　room。　His　feet　were　so　quiet　on　the　carpets　that　she　couldn't　even　hear　his　footsteps　as　he　carried　her。　〃Change　of　plans；　child。　Can　you　be　brave　for　me？　And　Sara？〃
　
　She　nodded　that　she　could　and　put　her　arms　around　his　neck　to　hold　on　as　he　walked　fast。　He　went　past　all　the　dark　wooden　doors　that　were　pointed　at　the　tops；　until　he　got　to　the　biggest　one；　a　double　door　set　back　in　a　little　hall；　with　stone　carving　all　around。　That　was　the　Princess's　room。　He　squeezed　her　tight。
　
　〃All　right；〃　he　whispered；　〃you　go　in　and　get　the　key。　I'll　stay　out　here　and　stand　guard。〃
　
　He　set　her　down　on　the　floor。　〃Hurry　now。〃　He　closed　the　door　behind　her。
　
　The　curtains　were　pulled　back；　letting　in　the　sunlight；　so　she　could　see　right　away　that　the　room　was　empty。　None　of　the　servants　were　cleaning　or　anything。　The　fire　was　burned　out；　and　the　servants　hadn't　yet　e　and　made　another　for　tonight。　The　Princess's　big　canopy　bed　was　already　made　up。　Rachel　liked　the　bedcover　with　all　the　pretty　flowers。　It　matched　the　gathered　canopy　and　curtains。　She　always　wondered　why　the　Princess　needed　such　a　big　bed。　It　was　big　enough　for　ten　people。　Where　she　came　from；　six　girls　slept　together　in　a　bed　half　the　size　of　this　one；　and　the　bedcover　was　plain。　She　wondered　what　the　Princess's　bed　felt　like。　She　had　never　once　even　sat　on　it。
　
　She　knew　Giller　wanted　her　to　hurry；　so　she　crossed　the　room；　walking　over　the　fur　rug；　to　the　polished　desk　with　the　pretty　swirled　wood。　She　put　her　fingers　through　the　gold　handle　and　slid　the　drawer　open。　It　made　her　nervous　to　do　it；　even　though　she　had　done　it　before　when　the　Princess　had　sent　her　to　get　the　key；　but　she　had　never　done　it　before　without　being　told　to　by　the　Princess。　The　big　key　to　the　jewel　room　was　lying　in　the　red　velvet　pocket；　right　next　to　the　little　key　to　her　sleeping　box。　She　put　the　key　in　her　pocket　and　slid　the　drawer　closed　again；　making　sure　it　was　shut　all　the　way。
　
　As　she　started　for　the　door；　she　looked　at　the　er　where　her　sleeping　box　was。　She　knew　Giller　wanted　her　to　hurry；　but　she　ran　over　to　the　box　anyway…she　had　to　check。　She　crawled　inside；　into　the　dark；　and　went　to　the　back　corner　where　the　blanket　was　pushed　up　in　a　pile。　Carefully；　she　pulled　the　blanket　back。
　
　Sara　looked　back　at　her。　The　doll　was　right　where　she　had　left　her。
　
　〃I　have　to　go　quick；〃　she　whispered。　〃I'll　be　back　later。〃
　
　Rachel　kissed　the　doll's　head　and　covered　her　back　up　with　the　blanket；　hiding　her　in　the　corner　so　no　one　would　find　her。　She　knew　it　was　trouble　to　bring　Sara　to　the　castle；　but　she　couldn't　bear　to　leave　her　in　the　wayward　pine；　all　alone。　She　knew　how　lonely　and　scary　it　got　in　the　wayward　pine。
　
　Finished；　she　ran　to　the　door；　pulled　it　open　a　crack；　and　looked　up　at　Giller's　face。　He　nodded　to　her　and　motioned　with　his　hand　that　it　was　all　right　to　e　out。
　
　〃The　key？〃
　
　She　pulled　it　out　of　the　pocket　where　she　kept　her　magic　fire　stick；　to　show　him。　He　smiled　and　called　her　a　good　girl。　No　one　had　ever　called　her　a　good　girl　before；　at　least　not　for　a　long　time。　He　picked　her　up　again　and　walked　fast　down　the　hall　and　then　down　the　dark；　narrow　servants'　stairs。　She　could　hardly　ever　hear　his　footsteps　on　the　stone。　His　whiskers　tickled　her　face。　At　the　bottom　he　set　her　down　again。
　
　〃Rachel；〃　he　said；　squatting　down　close　to　her；　〃listen　carefully；　this　is　very　important；　this　is　no　game。　We　must　get　out　of　the　castle；　or　we　will　both　get　our　heads　chopped　off；　just　like　Sara　told　you。　But　we　must　be　smart　about　it；　or　we　will　get　caught。　If　we　run　away　too　quickly；　without　doing　the　right　things　first；　we　will　be　found　out。　And　if　we　are　too　slow；　well；　we　just　better　not　be　too　slow。〃
　
　She　started　to　get　tears　in　her　eyes。　〃Giller；　I'm　afraid　to　get　my　head　chopped　off；　people　say　it　hurts　terrible　bad。〃
　
　Giller　hugged　her　tight。　〃I　know；　child。　I'm　afraid　too。〃　He　put　his　hands　on　her　shoulders；　holding　her　up　straight　while　he　looked　in　her　eyes。　〃But　if　you　trust　me；　and　do　exactly　as　I　say；　and　are　brave　enough；　we　will　get　away　from　here；　and　go　to　where　no　one　ever　chops　off　people's　heads；　or　locks　them　in　boxes；　and　where　you　can　have　your　doll　and　people　will　let　you；　and　they　will　never　take　Sara　away　from　you　or　throw　her　in　the　fire。　All　right？〃
　
　Her　tears　started　to　go　away。　〃That　would　be　wonderful；　Giller。〃
　
　〃But　you　must　be　brave；　and　do　just　as　I　tell　you。　Some　of　it　will　be　hard。〃
　
　〃I　will；　I　promise。〃
　
　〃And　I　promise；　Rachel；　that　I　will　do　whatever　I　must　to　protect　you。　We　are　in　this　together；　you　and　me；　but　a　lot　of　other　people　are　depending　on　us　too。　If　we　do　a　good　job；　we　will　be　able　to　fix　it　so　a　lot　of　other　people；　innocent　people；　won't　get　their　heads　chopped　off　anymore。〃
　
　Her　eyes　got　wide。　〃Oh；　I　would　like　that；　Giller。　I　hate　it　when　people　get　their　heads　chopped　off。　It　scares　me　fierce。〃
　
　〃All　right　then；　the　first　thing　I　need　you　to　do　is　to　go　scold　the　cooks；　just　like　you　are　supposed　to；　and　while　you　are　down　in　the　kitchen；　get　a　big　loaf　of　bread；　the　biggest　you　can　find。　I　don't　care　how　you　get　it；　steal　it　if　you　have　to。　Just　get　it。　Then　bring　it　up　to　the　jewel　room。　Use　the　key　and　wait　inside　for　me。　I　must　tend　to　some　other　things。　I'll　tell　you　more　then。　Can　you　do　that？〃　〃Sure；〃　she　nodded。　〃Easy。〃
　
　〃Off　with　you　then。〃
　
　She　went　through　the　door　into　the　big　hall　on　the　first　floor　while　Giller　disappeared　up　the　steps　without　making　a　sound。　The　stairs　to　the　kitchen　were　at　the　other　end；　on　the　other　side　of　the　grand　stairs　in　the　middle　that　the　Queen　used。　Rachel　liked　going　up　the　grand　stairs　with　the　Princess　because　they　had　carpets；　and　weren't　cold　like　the　stone　steps　she　was　supposed　to　use　when　she　was　on　errands。　The　hall　was　open　in　the　middle；　where　the　grand　stairs　came　down　to　a　big　room　with　black　and　white　marble　squares　on　the　floor。　They　were　very　cold　under　her　feet。
　
　She　was　trying　to　think　of　a　way　she　could　get　a　big　loaf　of　bread　without　stealing　it；　when　she　saw　Princess　Violet　ing　across　the　room　to　the　grand　stairs。　The　royal　seamstress　and　two　of　her　helpers　were　following　behind；　carrying　bolts　of　pretty；　pink　cloth。　Rachel　looked　quick　for　a　place　to　hide；　but　the　Princess　had　already　seen　her。
　
　〃Oh　good；　Rachel；〃　the　Princess　said。　〃e　here。〃
　
　Rachel　went　and　curtsied。　〃Yes；　Princess　Violet？〃
　
　〃What　are　you　doing？〃
　
　〃I　was　doing　my　errands。　I　was　just　going　to　the　kitchen　now。〃
　
　〃Well　。　。　。　don't　bother。〃
　
　〃But　Princess　Violet；　I　have　to！〃
　
　The　Princess　frowned。　〃Why？　I　just　said　you　didn't。〃
　
　Rachel　bit　her　lip；　the　Princess's　frown　scared　her。　She　tried　to　think　of　how　Giller　would　answer。　〃Well；　if　you　don't　want　me　to；　I　won't；〃　she　said。　〃But　your　lunch　was　simply　dreadful；　and　I　would　hate　to　see　you　eating　another　dreadful　meal。　You　must　be　starving　for　something　good。　But　if　you　don't　want　me　to　go　tell　them；　I　won't。〃
　
　The　Princess　thought　this　over　a　minute。　〃On　second　thought；　go　ahead；　it　was　dreadful。　Just　be　sure　to　tell　them　how　angry　I　am；　too！〃
　
　〃Yes；　Princess　Violet。〃　She　curtsied。　She　turned　and　started　to　leave。
　
　〃I'm　going　for　a　fitting。〃　Rachel　turned　back　to　her。　〃Then　I　want　to　go　to