tg.wizardfirstrule-第124章

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　〃Tava　root；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃Don't　you　like　it？〃
　
　Zed　grunted。　〃Didn't　say　I　didn't　like　it。　Just　wanted　to　know　what　it　was；　that's　all。〃　He　looked　up　from　his　plate。　〃Adie　told　me　she　gave　you　a　night　stone。　That's　how　I　found　you；　by　the　night　stone。〃　He　shook　his　fork　at　Richard。　〃I　hope　you　are　being　careful　with　that　thing。　Don't　take　it　out　unless　there　is　great　need。　Exceptionally　great　need。　Night　stones　are　extremely　dangerous。　Adie　should　have　warned　you。　And　I　told　her　so！〃　He　stabbed　a　tava　root　with　his　fork。　〃It　would　be　best　to　be　rid　of　it。〃
　
　Richard　pushed　at　a　piece　of　meat。　〃We　know。〃
　
　Richard's　mind；　was　awash　with　questions　he　wanted　to　ask；　he　didn't　know　where　to　start。　Zedd　beat　him　to　it；　asking　first
　
　〃Have　you　two　been　doing　as　I　said？　Have　you　been　staying　out　of　trouble？　What　have　you　been　doing？〃
　
　〃Well；〃　Richard　said；　taking　a　deep　breath；　〃we　spent　a　good　deal　of　time　with　the　Mud　People。〃
　
　〃The　Mud　People？〃　Zedd　mulled　this　over。　〃Good；〃　he　proclaimed　at　last；　holding　a　forkful　of　meat　in　the　air。　〃You　can't　get　in　much　trouble　with　the　Mud　People。〃　He　took　the　meat　off　the　fork　with　his　teeth　and　dipped　it　back　in　his　plate　for　more　stew　and　a　bite　of　dried　biscuit。　He　spoke　and　chewed　at　the　same　time。　〃So；　you　two　had　a　nice　stay　with　the　Mud　People。〃　He　noticed　that　they　weren't　saying　anything；　and　his　eyes　went　from　one　to　the　other。　〃You　can't　get　in　much　trouble　with　the　Mud　People。〃　It　sounded　like　an　order。
　
　Richard　glanced　over　at　Kahlan。　She　dipped　her　biscuit　in　the　stew。　〃I　killed　one　of　the　elders；〃　she　said；　putting　the　biscuit　in　her　mouth　without　looking　up。
　
　Zedd　dropped　his　fork；　then　caught　it　in　midair　just　before　it　hit　the　ground。　〃What！〃　　…
　
　〃It　was　self…defense；〃　Richard　protested　to　her。　〃He　was　trying　to　kill　you。〃
　
　〃What？〃　Zedd　stood　with　his　plate；　then　sat　back　down。　〃Bags！　Why　would　an　elder　dare　to　try　to　kill　a　。　。　。〃　He　snapped　his　mouth　shut；　with　a　glance　to　Richard。
　
　〃Confessor；〃　Richard　finished　for　him。　His　mood　withered。
　
　Zedd　looked　from　one　bowed　head　to　the　other。　〃So。　You　finally　told　him。〃
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　〃A　few　days　ago。〃
　
　〃Just　a　few　days　ago。〃　Zedd　grunted　an　acknowledgment；　then　ate　more　stew　in　silence；　eyeing　them　suspiciously　from　time　to　time。　〃Why　would　an　elder　dare　to　try　to　kill　a　Confessor？〃
　
　〃Well；〃　Richard　said；　〃that　was　when　we　found　out　what　a　night　stone　could　do。　Just　before　they　named　us　as　Mud　People。〃
　
　〃They　named　you　Mud　People？　Why？〃　Zedd's　eyes　widened。　〃You　took　a　wife！〃
　
　〃Well　。　。_。　no。〃　Richard　pulled　the　leather　thong　out　of　his　shirt　and　showed　Zedd　the　Bird　Man's　whistle。　〃They　settled　for　giving　me　this。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　a　cursory　glance　to　the　whistle。　〃Why　would　they　agree　to　you　not　。　。　。　And　why　would　they　name　you　Mud　People？〃
　
　〃Because　we　asked　them。　We　had　to。　It　was　the　only　way　to　get　them　to　call　a　gathering　for　us。〃
　
　〃What！　They　called　a　gathering　for　you？〃
　
　〃Yes。　That　was　just　before　Darken　Rahl　came。〃
　
　〃What！〃　Zedd　yelled　again；　jumping　to　his　feet。　〃Darken　Rahl　was　there！　I。　told　you；　stay　away　from　him！〃
　
　Richard　looked　up。　〃We　didn't　exactly　invite　him。〃
　
　〃He　killed　a　lot　of　them；〃　Kahlan　said　in　a　quiet　voice；　still　looking　down　at　her　plate；　chewing　slowly。
　
　Zedd　stared　at　the　top　of　her　head；　then　slowly　sank　back　down。　〃I'm　…sorry；〃　he　said　softly。　〃So；　what　did　the　ancestors'　spirits　tell　you？〃
　
　Richard　gave　a　shrug。　〃That　we　had　to　go　to　see　a　witch　woman。〃
　
　〃Witch　woman！〃　Zedd's　eyes　narrowed。　〃What　witch　woman？　Where？〃
　
　〃Shota。　In　Agaden　Reach。〃
　
　Zedd　winced；　almost　dropping　his　plate；　the　air　making　a　sound　going　through　his　bared；　gritted　teeth　as　he　drew　a　sharp　breath。　〃Shota！〃　He　looked　around　as　if　someone　might　hear。　He　lowered　his　voice；　directing　a　harsh　whisper　to　Kahlan　as　he　leaned　closer　to　her。　〃Bags！　What　would　possess　you　to　guide　him　into　Agaden　Reach！　You　are　sworn　to　protect　him！〃
　
　〃Believe　me；〃　she　said；　looking　him　in　the　eye；　〃I　did　not　want　to　do　it。〃
　
　〃We　had　to；〃　Richard　said；　ing　to　her　defense。
　
　Zedd　cast　an　eye　to　him。　〃Why？〃
　
　〃To　find　out　where　the　box　is。　And　we　did；　too；　Shota　told　us。〃
　
　〃Shota　told　you；〃　Zedd　mocked；　scowling　at　him。　〃And　what　else　did　she　tell　you？　Shota　tells　you　nothing　you　want　to　know　without　telling　you　something　you　don't。〃
　
　Kahlan　gave　Richard　a　sidelong　glance。　He　didn't　return　it。　〃Nothing。　She　told　us　nothing　else。〃　He　held　Zedd's　eyes　without　backing　down。　〃She　told　us　that　Queen　Milena；　in　Tamarang；　has　the　last　box　of　Orden。　She　told　us　because　her　life　too　depends　on　this。〃　Richard　held　Zedd's　glare。　He　doubted　that　his　old　friend　believed　him；　but　he　didn't　want　to　tell　him　what　Shota　had　said。　How　could　he　tell　Zedd　that　one；　or　two；　of　them　might　end　up　being　traitors？　That　Zedd　would　use　wizard's　fire　against　him；　that　Kahlan　would　touch　him　with　her　power？　He　feared　that　maybe　it　would　be　justified；　after　all；　he　was　the　one　who　knew　about　the　book。　They　didn't。
　
　〃Zedd；〃　he　said　softly；　〃you　told　me　you　wanted　me　to　get　us　to　the　Midlands；　and　that　you　had　a　plan　once　we　were　here。　You　were　struck　down　by　that　underworld　beast；　you　were　unconscious；　we　didn't　know　when；　or　if；　you　would　wake。　I　didn't　know　what　to　do；　I　didn't　know　what　your　plan　was。　Winter　is　ing。　We　have　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。〃
　
　His　voice　turned　harder　as　he　went　on。　〃I　have　been　doing　the　best　I　could　without　you。　I've　lost　track　of　the　number　of　times　we　have　nearly　been。　killed。　All　I　knew　to　do　was　try　to　find　the　box。　Kahlan　helped　me；　and　we　found　out　where　it　is。　It　has　cost　us　both　dearly。　If　you　don't　like　what　I　have　done；　then　take　your　cursed　Sword　of　Truth　back；　I　am　near　to　being　fed　up　with　it！　With　everything！〃
　
　He　threw　his　plate　on　the　ground；　walking　off　a　ways　into　the　dark；　standing　with　his　back　to　them；　a　lump　growing　in　his　throat。　The　dark　trees　in　front　of　him　became　watery。　It　surprised　him　the　way　the　anger　had　reached　up　and　taken　him。　He　had　wanted　to　see　Zedd　so　badly；　and　now　that　he　was　here；　he　was　angry　with　him。　He　let　the　ire　rage；　waiting　for　it　to　die　of　its　own　accord。
　
　Zedd　and　Kahlan　exchanged　a　look。　〃Yes；〃　he　said　softly　to　her；　〃I　can　see　that　you　have　indeed　told　him。〃　He　set　his　plate　on　the　ground；　stood；　and　gave　her　a　pat　on　the　shoulder。　〃I'm　sorry；　dear　one。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　move　when　he　felt　Zedd's　hand　on　his　shoulder。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　my　boy。　I　guess　you　have　been　having　a　hard　time　of　it。〃
　
　Richard　nodded　as　he　stared　into　the　darkness。　〃I　killed　a　man　with　the　sword。　With　the　magic。〃
　
　Zedd　waited　a　short　while　before　he　spoke。　〃Well；　I　know　you；　I'm　sure　you　had　to。〃　〃No；〃　Richard　said　in　a　painful　whisper。　〃I　didn't　have　to。　I　thought　I　was　protecting　Kahlan；　protecting　her　life。　I　didn't　know　she　was　a　Confessor；　that　she　needed　no　protection。　But　I　surely　wanted　to。　And　I　surely　enjoyed　it。〃
　
　〃You　only　thought　you　did。　That　was　the　magic。〃
　
　〃I'm　not　so　sure。　I'm　not　sure　what　is　being　of　me。〃
　
　〃Richard；　forgive　me　for　sounding　as　if　I　were　angry　with　you。　It　is　myself　I'm　angry　with。　You　have　done　well；　it　is　I　who　have　failed。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　mean？〃
　
　Zedd　patted　his　shoulder。　〃e　and　sit。　I　will　tell　you　both　what　has　happened。〃
　
　They　walked　back　to　the　fire；　Kahlan　watching　them　together；　looking　lonely。　Richard　sat　next　to　her　again　and　gave　her　a　small　smile；　which　she　returned。
　
　Zedd　picked　up　his　plate；　gave　it　a　hard　look；　and　set　it　back　down。　〃I'm　afraid　we're　in　a　lot　of　trouble；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice。
　
　A　sarcastic　remark　immediately　sprang　to　Richard's　mind；　but　he　stifled　it　and　asked　instead；　〃Why；　what's　happened？　What　of　your　plan？〃
　
　〃My　plan。〃　Zedd　gave　a　wry　smile；　drew　his　knees　up；　and　pulled　his　robes　over　his　legs；　making　a　little　tent　over　them。　〃My　plan　was　to　stop　Rahl　without　having　to　deal　with　him；　and　without　you　two　having　to　get　in　danger's　way。　My　plan　was　for　you　two　to　stay　out　of　trouble　while　I　dealt　with　this。　It　would　seem　as　if　your　own　plans　may　be　our　only　way　now。　I　have　not　told　you　all　there　is　to　know　of　the　boxes　of　Orden；　because　it　was　not　for　you　to　know。　It　was　none　of　your　business；　it　was　only。　for　me　to　know。〃　He　looked　at　each　of　them；　anger　flashing　in　his　eyes　for　an　instant　before　it　faded。　〃But　I　guess　it　doesn't　matter　now。〃
　
　〃What　was　not　for　us　to　know？〃　Kahlan　asked　with　a　frown；　her　own　anger　flashing　a　little。　Apparently；　she　didn't　like　it　any　more　than　Richard　did　that　they　were　in　danger　without　knowing　it　all。
　
　〃Well；　you　see；〃　Zedd　said；　〃the　three　boxes　work　just　as　I　said；　each　with　their　own　purpose；　but　you　have　to　know　which　to　open。　That　is　the　part　I　know。　It's　all　in　a　book；　called　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　The　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　is　an　instruction　book　for　the　boxes。　I'm　its　keeper。〃
　
　Richard　went　rigid。　The　tooth　felt　as　if　it　would　jump　right　off　his　chest。　He　couldn't　move　a　muscle；　could　hardly　breathe。
　
　　〃You　know　which　box　is　which？〃　Kahlan　asked。　〃You　know　which　he　must　open？〃
　
　〃No。　I'm　th