tg.wizardfirstrule-第136章

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　The　captain's　eyes　looked　less　sure。　〃Well　。。。　I　was　ordered　。　。　。　I'm　not　。　。　。〃
　
　〃Open　the　gates　right　now！〃　Zedd　bellowed；　fists　at　his　side。　〃And　get　a　proper　escort　here　this　instant！〃
　
　The　captain　almost　jumped　out　of　his　armor。　He　yelled　orders　and　men　started　running　at　his　direction。　The　gates　swung　inward。　Horses　thundered　up　from　behind　and　came　around　the　little　pany；　forming　a　rank　in　front　of　Kahlan　with　their　banners　at　the　lead。　More　horsemen　formed　up　behind。　Foot　soldiers　came　at　a　run；　falling　in　beside　her；　but　not　too　close。
　
　Richard　was　seeing　her　world　for　the　first　time；　the　loneliness　of　it。　What　had　his　heart　gotten　him　into？　With　cold　pain；　he　understood　her　need　for　a　friend。
　
　〃You　call　this　a　proper　escort？〃　Zedd　roared。　〃Well；　it　will　have　to　do。〃　He　turned　to　Kahlan　and　bowed　deeply。　〃My　apologies；　Mother　Confessor；　for　this　man's　insolence；　and　his　feeble　effort　at　an　escort。〃
　
　Her　eyes　went　to　Zedd　and　she　gave　a　slight　bow　of　the　head。
　
　Though　he　knew　he　had　no　right；　the　shape　of　her　in　that　dress　was　making　Richard　sweat。
　
　As　best　they　could；　the　men　in　the　ranks　kept　a　wary　eye　to　Kahlan；　waiting；　and　when　she　started　forward　they　stepped　in　with　her。　Dust　rose　around　the　horses　as　they　started　through　the　gates。
　
　Zedd　fell　in　next　to　Richard　as　the　procession　started　moving；　leaning　toward　the　captain　as　he　passed。　〃Count　your　blessings　the　Mother　Confessor　doesn't　know　your　name；　Captain！〃　he　snapped。
　
　Richard　saw　the　captain　sag　with　relief　when　they　moved　well　past　him。　Richard　smiled　to　himself。　He　had　wanted　to　give　them　a　worry；　but　he　had　no　idea　it　would　be　so　effective　a　worry。
　
　There　was　as　much　order　to　the　city　inside　the　walls　as　there　was　disorder　outside　its　gates。　Shops　with　their　wares　displayed　in　windows　lined　the　paved　streets　radiating　out　from　the　fortress　castle。　The　streets　lacked　the　dust　and　smells　of　those　outside。　There　were　inns　that　looked　to　be　finer　than　any　Richard　had　ever　seen　before；　much　less　stayed　in。　Some　had　doormen　standing　at　attention　in　red　uniforms　and　white　gloves。　Elaborately　carved　signs　hung　above　the　doors：　The　Silver　Garden　Inn；　The　Collins　Inn；　The　White　Stallion；　and　The　Carriage　House。
　
　Men　in　fine；　richly　colored　coats；　escorting　ladies　in　elaborate　dresses；　went　about　their　business　with　calm　grace。　One　thing　that　wasn't　different　about　the　people　inside　the　walls　was　that　they；　too；　bowed　deeply　when　they　saw　the　Mother　Confessor　approaching。　As　the　sound　of　the　horses'　hooves　on　the　stone；　and　armor　clanking；　drew　their　attention；　and　they　saw　Kahlan；　they　backed　away　and　bowed；　although　not　as　quickly。　There　was　no　snap　in　their　deference；　no　sincerity　in　their　submission。　There　was　a　wisp　of　contempt　in　their　eyes。　Kahlan　ignored　them。　The　people　inside　the　walls　also　noticed　the　sword　more　than　those　outside　had　noticed　it。　Richard　saw　the　men's　eyes　glide　over　it　as　he　passed；　saw　the　women's　cheeks　color　with　disdain
　
　Women's　hair　was　still　short；　but　occasionally　there　was　some　that　touched　the　shoulders。　None　longer。　That；　too；　made　Kahlan　stand　out　all　the　more；　the　way　her　hair　cascaded　off　her　shoulders　and　partway　down　her　back。　There　was　no　woman　with　hair　that　even　approached　it。　Richard　was　glad　he　hadn't　cut　it　for　her。
　
　One　of　the　horsemen　was　given　orders；　and　he　broke　rank　in　a　dead　run　toward　the　castle　to　announce　the　arrival　of　the　Mother　Confessor。　As　she　proceeded；　Kahlan　wore　the　calm　expression　that　showed　nothing；　an　expression　he　was　used　to　seeing　on　her。　He　now　realized　what　it　was。　It　was　the　expression　worn　by　a　Confessor。
　
　Before　they　reached　the　castle　gates；　trumpets　announced　the　arrival　of　the　Mother　Confessor。　The　tops　of　the　walls　were　alive　with　soldiers：　lancers；　bowmen；　and　swordsmen。　All　stood　in　ranks；　bowed　as　one　when　Kahlan　was　close　enough；　and　stayed。　bowed　until　she　passed　through　the　iron　gates　that　stood　open　for　her。　Inside　the　gates；　soldiers　standing　at　attention　lined　each　side　of　the　road；　and　bowed　in　unison　as　she　passed。
　
　Some　of　the　terraces　held　stone　urns　that　marched　off　to　either　Side；　some　of　them　still　holding　greenery；　or。　flowers　that　must　have　been　brought　out　daily　from　greenhouses。　Broad　flat　areas　displayed　hedges　trimmed　in　intricate　patterns；　even　mazes。　Closer　to　the　castle　walls；　hedges　were　larger；　cut　to　mimic　objects；　or　animals。　They　extended　off　to　the　sides　as　far　as　the　eye　could　see。
　
　The　walls　of　the　castle　soared　into　the　air　above　them。　The　plicated　stonework　left　Richard　awestruck。　He　had　never　been　this　close　to　anything　man…made　that　was　this　huge。　Shota's　palace　was　big；　but　not　this　big；　and　he　had　never　gotten　close　to　it。　Towers　and　turrets；　walls　and　ramps；　balconies　and　niches；　all　rose　high　into　the　air　above　them。　He　marveled　at　what　Kahlan　had　told　him；　that　this　was　an　insignificant　kingdom；　and　wondered　at　what　the　castles　in　the　more　important　lands　must　be　like。
　
　The　horsemen　had　left　them　at　the　rampart；　and　as　they　were　swallowed　into　the　castle　the　foot　soldiers；　six　abreast　with　room　for　another　six　to　each　side；　marched　through　the　enormous　pair　of　brass…clad　doors　and　fanned　out　to　the　sides；　leaving　the　three　to　walk　on…Kahlan　in　the　lead。
　
　The　room　was　immense。　A　gleaming　sea　of　black　and　white　marble　tiles　swept　away　ahead　of　them。　Polished　stone　columns；　so　large　it　would　take　ten　people　holding　hands　to　reach　around　each；　and　fluted　with　spiraling；　carved　roping；　rose　in　a　line　to　both　sides　of　the　room；　supporting　row　upon　row　of　arches　at　the　edge　of　the　ribbed；　vaulted　center　ceiling。　Richard　felt　as　little　as　a　bug。
　
　Huge　tapestries　depicting　heroic　scenes　of　vast　battles　hung　on　the　side　walls。　He　had　seen　tapestries　before；　his　brother　had　two。　Richard　rather　favored　them；　and　had　always　thought　they　were　a　grand　extravagance。　But　Michael's　tapestries　were　to　these　as　a　stick　drawing　in　the　dirt　was　to　a　fine　oil　painting。　Richard　hadn't　even　known　such　majestic　things　as　these　existed。
　
　Zedd　leaned　a　little　closer　to　him　and　whispered。　〃Put　your　eyes　back　in　your　head；　and　shut　your　mouth。〃
　
　Chagrined；　Richard　snapped　his　mouth　closed　and　put　his　eyes　to　the　front。　He　leaned　close　to　Zedd；　and　asked　in　a　low　whisper；　〃Is　this　the　kind　of　place　she　is　used　to？〃
　
　〃No。　The　Mother　Confessor　is　used　to　much　better　than　this。〃
　
　Overwhelmed；　Richard　straightened　himself。
　
　Ahead　lay　a　grand　stairway。　By　Richard's　estimation；　his　entire　house　would　fit；　with　room　to　spare；　on　its　central　landing。　Carved　marble　railings　swooped　down　each　side。　Between　themselves　and　the　stairs　waited　a　knot　of　people。
　
　At　their　front　stood　Queen　Milena；　an　amply　fed　woman　in　layered　silks　of　garish　colors。　She　wore　a　cape　trimmed　in　rare　spotted　fox。　Her　hair　was　as　long　as　Kahlan's。　At　first；　Richard　couldn't　figure　out　what　she　was　holding；　but　when　he　heard　the　yapping；　he　realized　it　was　a　small　dog。
　
　As　they　approached；　everyone　but　the　Queen　dropped　to　a　knee　in　a　deep　bow。　When　they　stopped；　Richard　stared　openly；　he　had　never　seen　a　queen　before。　Zedd　gave　him　a　sideways　kick。　He　dropped　to　one　knee　and；　following　Zedd's　example；　bowed　his　head。　The　only　two　who　did　not　kneel　or　bow　were　Kahlan　and　the　Queen。　No　sooner　was　he　down　than　everyone　was　back　up；　with　him　ing　to　his　feet　last。　Richard　guessed　that　the　two　women　must　not　have　to　bow　to　each　other
　
　The　Queen　stared　at　Kahlan；　who；　with　her　head　held　high；　didn't　break　her　calm　countenance　and　didn't　even　look　at　the　Queen。　No　one　spoke　a　word。
　
　Kahlan　lifted　her　hand　a　little；　only　about　a　foot　away　from　her　body；　with　her　arm　held　unbending；　her　hand　held　limply　in　place。　The　Queen's　expression　turned　darker。　Kahlan's　didn't　change。　Richard　figured　that　if　anyone　had　blinked；　he　would　have　heard　it。　The　Queen　turned　slightly　to　the　side　and　handed　the　little　dog　to　a　man　in　a　bright　green；　sleeved　doublet　and　black　tights　with　red…and…yellow　striped　pantaloons。　There　was　a　whole　gaggle　of　men　behind　the　Queen　dressed　in　similar　fashion。　The　dog　growled　viciously　and　bit　the　man's　hand；　he　did　his　best　not　to　notice。
　
　The　Queen　lowered　herself　to　both　knees　in　front　of　Kahlan。　A　young　man　in　plain　black　clothes　immediately　came　to　the　Queen's　side；　holding　a　tray　out　in　front　of　himself。　He　bowed；　head　bent　impossibly　low；　holding　the　tray　out　to　the　Queen。　She　took　a　small　towel　from　the　tray；　dipped　it　in　a　silver　bowl　of　water；　and　used　it　to　wipe　her　lips。　She　returned　the　towel　to　the　tray。　。。
　
　The　Queen　took　the　Mother　Confessor's　hand　lightly　in　her　own；　and　kissed　it　with　her　freshly　cleaned　lips。
　
　〃Fidelity　sworn　to　the　Confessors；　on　my　crown；　on　my　land；　on　my　life。〃
　
　Richard　had　heard　few　people　lie　as　smoothly。
　
　Kahlan　at　last　moved　her　eyes。　She　looked　down　at　the　Queen's　bowed　head。　〃Rise；　my　child。〃
　
　More　than　a　queen；　indeed；　Richard　thought。　He　remembered　teaching　Kahlan　to　make　a　snare；　to　read　tracks；　to　dig　roots；　and　felt　himself　turning　crimson。
　
　Queen　Milena　laboriously　pushed　herself　to　her　feet。　Her　lips　smiled。　Her　eyes　didn't。　〃We　have　not　reque