tg.wizardfirstrule-第137章

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equested　a　Confessor。〃
　
　〃Nonetheless；　I　am　here。〃　Kahlan's　voice　could　have　frozen　water。
　
　〃Yes；　well；　this　is　。　。。　grand。　Simply　。。。　grand。〃　Her　face　brightened。　〃We　will　have　a　banquet。　Yes；　a　banquet。　I　will　send　out　runners　with　invitations　immediately。　Everyone　will　e。　I'm　sure　they　will　be　most　pleased　to　dine　with　the　Mother　Confessor。　This　is　quite　an　honor。〃　She　turned；　indicating　the　men　in　the　red…and…yellow　pantaloons。　〃These　are　my　barristers。〃　The　men　all　bowed　deeply　again　at　the　introduction。　〃I　don't　remember　all　their　names。〃　She　held　her　hand　out　to　two　men　in　gold　robes。　〃And　this　is　Silas　Tannic；　and　Brandin　Gadding；　the　chief　advisors　to　the　crown。〃　The　two　gave　a　nod。　〃And　my　minister　of　finance；　Lord　Rondel；　my　star　guide；　Lady　Kyley。〃　Richard　didn't　see　a　silver…robed　wizard　among　the　Queen's　entourage。　The　Queen　waved　her　hand　at　a　shabbily　dressed　man　in　the　back。　〃And　James；　my　court　artist。〃
　
　From　the　corner　of　his　eye；　Richard　saw　Zedd　stiffen。　James　kept　his　lecherous　eyes　on　Kahlan　as　he　gave　a　shallow　bow。　He　was　missing　his　right　hand　at　the　wrist。　The　oily　smile　he　gave　her　made　Richard　reach　for　his　sword　instinctively　before　he　realized　what　he　was　doing。　Without　looking　over；　Zedd's　hand　grabbed　his　wrist　and　took　the　hand　away　from　the　sword。　Richard　glanced　around　at　the　other　people　to　see　if　anyone　had　noticed。　No　one　had。　They　were　all　watching　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　Kahlan　turned　to　the　two　of　them。　〃Zeddicus　Zorander；　cloud　reader；　trusted　advisor　to　the　Mother　Confessor。〃　Zedd　bowed　dramatically。　〃And　Richard　Cypher；　the　Seeker；　protector　to　the　Mother　Confessor。〃　Richard　imitated　Zedd's　bow。
　
　The　Queen　looked　at　him；　lifting　an　eyebrow　with　a　sour　look。　〃Pretty　pathetic　protection　for　a　Mother　Confessor。〃
　
　Richard　made　no　change　in　his　expression。　Kahlan　remained　unruffled。　〃It　is　the　sword　that　cuts；　the　man　is　unimportant。　His　brain　may　be　small；　but　his　arms　are　not。　He　tends　to　use　the　sword　too　often；　though。〃
　
　The　Queen　didn't　seem　to　believe　her。　Behind　the　royal　party；　a　small　girl　came　gliding　down　the　stairs。　She　wore　a　pink　satin　dress　and　jewelry　that　was　too　large　for　her。　She　strode　up　beside　the　Queen；　flipping　her　long　hair　back　over　her　shoulder。　She　did　not　bow。
　
　〃My　daughter；　the　Princess　Violet。　Violet；　dear；　this　is　the　Mother　Confessor。〃
　
　Princess　Violet　scowled　up　at　Kahlan。　〃Your　hair　is　too　long。　Perhaps　we　should　cut　it　for　you。〃
　
　Richard　detected　the　slightest　smile　of　satisfaction　on　the　Queen's　face。　He　decided　it　was　time　to　elevate　her　level　of　worry
　
　The　Sword　of　Truth　came　out；　sending　its　distinctive　ring　around　the　huge　room；　the　stone　amplifying　the　sound。　With　the　sword　point　an　inch　from　Princess　Violet's　nose；　he　let　the　anger　of　it　rage　through　him；　to　make　his　words　more　dramatic。
　
　〃Bow　to　the　Mother　Confessor；〃　he　hissed；　〃or　die。〃
　
　Zedd　acted　bored。　Kahlan　waited　calmly。　No　one　else　had　eyes　as　wide　as　the　Princess　as　she　stared　at　the　sword　point。　She　dropped　to　her　knees　and　bowed　her　head。　Standing　back　up；　her　eyes　went　to　him；　as　if　asking　if　the　bow　was　all　right。
　
　〃Be　careful　how　you　use　that　tongue；〃　Richard　sneered。　〃The　next　time　I　will　separate　it　from　you。〃
　
　She　nodded　and　walked　around　her　mother；　standing　on　the　far　side　of　her。　Richard　sheathed　his　sword；　turned；　bowed　deeply　to　Kahlan；　who　didn't　look　at　him；　and　returned　to　his　station　behind　her。
　
　The　demonstration　had　the　desired　effect　on　the　Queen；　her　voice　being　a　bright　singsong。　〃Yes；　well；　as　I　was　saying；　it　is　grand　having　you　here。　We　are　all　simply　delighted。　Let　us　show　you　to　our　finest　room。　You　must　be　tired　from　your　journey。　Perhaps　you　would　like　to　rest　before　dinner；　and　then　after　dinner　we　can　all　have　a　nice　long　。　。　。
　
　〃I　am　not　here　to　eat。〃　Kahlan　cut　her　off。　〃I　am　here　to　inspect　your　dungeon。〃
　
　〃Dungeon？〃　She　made　a　face。　〃It's　filthy　down　there。　Are　you　sure　you　wouldn't　rather　。
　
　Kahlan　started　walking。　〃I　know　the　way。〃　Richard　and　Zedd　fell　in　behind　her。　She　stopped；　and　turned　back　to　the　Queen。　〃You　will　wait　here〃…her　voice　was　like　ice…〃until　I　am　finished。〃　As　the　Queen　began　bowing　her　assent；　Kahlan　strode　off　with　a　swish　of　her　dress　as　she　turned　on　her　heels。
　
　If　Richard　hadn't　known　her　as　well　as　he　did；　the　entire　encounter　would　have　scared　the　breath　out　of　him。　In　fact；　he　wasn't　sure　it　hadn't。
　
　Kahlan　led　them　downstairs　and　through　rooms　that　became　less　and　less　grandiose　the　deeper　they　went　into　the　castle。　Richard　was　amazed　at　the　size　of　the　place。
　
　〃I　was　hoping　Giller　would　have　been　there；〃　Kahlan　said。　〃Then　we　wouldn't　need　to　do　this。〃
　
　〃Me　too；〃　Zedd　grumbled。　〃You　just　make　a　quick　inspection；　ask　if　anyone　wants　to　give　a　confession；　and　when　they　say　no；　we　go　back　up　and　ask　to　see　Giller。〃　He　gave　her　a　smile。　〃You've　handled　it　well　so　far；　dear　one。〃　She　returned　the　smile　to　the　two　of　them。　〃And　Richard；〃　he　cautioned；　〃you　keep　away　from　that　artist；　James。〃
　
　〃Why？　He　might　draw　a　bad　likeness　of　me？〃
　
　〃Wipe　that　grin　off　your　face。　You　stay　away　from　him　because　he　might　draw　a　spell　around　you。〃
　
　〃A　spell？　Why　would　you　need　an　artist　to　put　a　spell　on　someone？〃
　
　〃Because　there　are　many　different　languages　in　the　Midlands；　though　the　main　one　is　the　same　as　is　spoken　in　Westland。　To　be　spelled；　you　have　to　be　able　to　understand　it。　If　you　can't　speak　their　language；　you　can't　put　a　spell　on　them。　But　everyone　can　understand　a　drawing。　He　can　draw　a　spell　on　almost　anyone；　not　Kahlan　or　me；　but　he　can　on　you。　Stay　away　from　him。〃
　
　Their　footsteps　echoed　as　the　three　quickly　descended　stone　steps。　The　walls；　far　belowground；　leaked　water　and　were　covered　in　places　with　slime。　；
　
　Kahlan　indicated　a　heavy　door　to　the　side。　〃Through　here。〃
　
　Richard　pulled　it　open　by　the　iron　ring；　the　strap　hinges　creaking。。　Torchlight　lit　the　way　down　a　narrow　stone　corridor　with　a　ceiling　he　had　to　stoop　to　avoid　hitting　with　his　head。　Straw　covered　the　wet　floor；　and　smelled　of　decay。　Near　the　end　she　slowed　to　a　walk　and　approached　an　iron　door　with　a　grille　in　it。　Eyes　peered　out　at　them　when　she　stopped。
　
　Zedd　leaned　around　her。　〃The　Mother　Confessor；　here　to　see　the　prisoners；〃　he　growled。　〃Open　the　door。〃
　
　Richard　could　hear　the　echo　of　a　key　turning　in　the　lock。　A　squat　man　in　a　filthy　uniform　pulled　the　door　inward。　An　axe　hung　from　his　belt　next　to　the　keys。　He　bowed　to　Kahlan；　but　looked　to　be　annoyed　by　it。　Without　a　word；　he　led　them　through　the　little　room　just　inside　the　door；　where　he　had　been　sitting　at　a　table；　eating；　and　down　another　dark　hall　to　another　iron　door。　He　pounded　on　it　with　his　fist。　The　two　guards　inside　bowed　in　surprise。　The　three　guards　took　torches　from　iron　stanchions　and　led　them　down　a　short　hall　and　through　a　third　iron　door　that　they　all　had　to　duck　through。
　
　Flickering　torchlight　pierced　the　darkness。　Behind　cross…　hatched；　flat　iron　bars　to　each　side；　men　pushed　themselves　back　into　the　corners；　shielding　their　eyes　with　their　hands　from　the　sudden　light。　Kahlan　spoke　Zedd's　name　quietly；　indicating　that　she　wanted　something。　He　seemed　to　understand；　and　took　a　torch　from　one　of　the　guards　and　held　it　up　in　front　of　Kahlan　so　all　the　men　in　the　cells　could　see　her。
　
　There　were　gasps　from　the　darkness　when　they　recognized　who　she　was。
　
　Kahlan　addressed　one　of　the　guards。　〃How　many　of　these　men　are　sentenced　to　die？〃
　
　He　stroked　his　round；　unshaven　jaw。　〃Why；　all　of　them。〃
　
　〃All　of　them；〃　she　repeated。
　
　He　nodded。　〃Crimes　against　the　Crown。〃
　
　She　pulled　her　gaze　away　from　him　after　a　moment；　turning　to　the　prisoners。　〃Have　all　you　men　mitted　capital　offenses？〃
　
　After　a　moment　of　silence；　a　hollow…faced　man　came　and　gripped　the　bars。　He　spat　at　her。　Kahlan　swept　her　hand　back　to　stop　Richard　before　he　had　a　chance　to　move。
　
　〃e　to　do　the　Queen's　dirty　work；　Confessor？　I　spit　on　you　and　your　filthy　queen。〃
　
　〃I　do　not　e　here　on　behalf　of　the　Queen。　I　e　here　on　behalf　of　the　truth。〃
　
　〃The　truth！　The　truth　is　none　of　us　has　done　a　thing！　Except　maybe　speaking　up　against　the　new　laws。　And　since　when　is　speaking　up　against　your　family　starving；　or　freezing　to　death；　a　capital　crime？　The　Queen's　tax　collectors　came　and　took　most　of　my　crops；　they　barely　left　enough　to　feed　my　family。　When　I　sold　the　precious　little　I　could　spare；　they　said　I　was　overcharging　people。　The　prices　of　everything　are　going　wild。　I'm　doing　nothing　more　than　trying　to　survive。　Yet　I　am　to　be　beheaded　for　price　gouging。　These　men　in　here　with　me　are　all　innocent　farmers；　or　tradesmen；　or　merchants。　We　are　all　to　die　for　trying　to　earn　a　living　from　our　work。〃
　
　Kahlan　looked　to　the　men　in　the　corner。　〃Do　any　of　you　wish　to　make　a　confession　to　prove　your　innocence？〃
　
　There　were　hushed　whispers。　A　gaunt　man　in　the　darkness　stood　and　came　forward。　His　frightened　eyes　looked　out　at　them　from　the　gloom。　〃I　do。　I　have　done　nothing；　yet　I　am　to　be　beheaded；　my　wife　and　children　left　to　fend　for　themselves。　I　will　give　a　confession。〃　He　pushed　his　arm　through