tg.wizardfirstrule-第152章

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　〃Yes；　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　She　hooked　his　chain　to　her　belt　and　led　him　once　more　through　the　halls　to　a　square；　open　to　the；　sky；　with　pillars　supporting　arches　on　all　four　sides。　The　center　of　the　square；　under　the　open　sky；　was　white　sand；　raked　in　concentric　lines　around　a　dark；　pitted　rock。　On　the　top　of　the　rock　was　a　bell…the　one　he　had　heard　before。　On　the　tile　floor　among　the　columns　were　people　on　their　knees；　bent　forward；　with　their　foreheads　touching　the　tile。
　
　The　people　chanted　in　unison。　〃Master　Rahl　guide　us。　Master　Rahl　teach　us。　Master　Rahl　protect　us。　In　your　light　we　thrive。　In　your　mercy　we　are　sheltered。　In　your　wisdom　we　are　humbled。　We　live　only　to　serve。　Our　lives　are　yours。〃
　
　Over　and　over　they　chanted　the　same　thing。　Denna　snapped　her　fingers；　pointing　at　the　floor。　Richard　kneeled　down；　imitating　the　others。　Denna　kneeled　next　to　him；　putting　her　forehead　to　the　tiles。　She　started　chanting　in　unison　with　the　others；　but　stopped　when　she　_　heard　he　wasn't。
　
　〃That's　two　hours。〃　She　frowned　darkly　at　him。　〃If　I　have　to　remind　you　again；　it's　six。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　He　began　chanting　along。　He　had　to　concentrate　on　a　vision　of　Denna's　braid　to　be　able　to　say　the　words　without　bringing　on　the　pain　of　the　magic。　He　wasn't　sure　how　long　the　chanting　lasted；　but　he　thought　it　was　about　two　hours。　His　back　hurt　from　bending　with　his　head　to　the　floor。　The　words　never　varied。　After　a　time　they　melted　into　the　sound　of　gibberish；　feeling　like　mush　in　his　mouth。
　
　The　bell　rang　twice；　and　the　people　rose　to　their　feet；　going　off　in　different　directions。　Denna　rose。　Richard　stayed；　where　he　was；　unsure　of　what　to　do。　He　knew　he　might　get　in　trouble　for　staying　where　he　was；　but　knew　if　he　got　up　and　wasn't　supposed　to；　the　punishment　would　be　much　worse。　He　heard　footsteps　ing　toward　them；　but　didn't　look　up。
　
　A　woman's　husky　voice　spoke。　〃Sister　Denna；　how　good　to　see　you've　returned。　D'Hara　has　been　lonely　without　you。〃
　
　D'Hara！　Through　the　fog　of　his　training；　the　word　ignited　his　thoughts。　Instantly；　he　brought　to　mind　the　vision　of　Denna's　braid；　protecting　him。
　
　〃Sister　Constance。　It's　good　to　be　home；　and　see　your　face　again。〃
　
　Richard　recognized　the　ring　of　sincerity　in　Denna's　voice。　The　Agiel　touched　the　back　of　his　neck；　taking　his　breath　away。　It　felt　as　if　a　rope　were　tightening　around　his　throat。　By　the　way　it　was　held；　he　knew　it　wasn't　Denna's。
　
　〃And　what　have　we　here？〃　Constance　asked。
　
　She　took　the　Agiel　away。　Coughing　in　pain；　Richard　gasped　for　air。　He　came　to　his　feet　when　Denna　told　him　to　do　so；　wishing　he　could　hide　behind　her。　Constance　was　a　good　head　shorter　than　Denna；　her　stout　figure　dressed　in　a　leather　outfit　like　Denna's；　only　brown。　Her　dull　brown　hair　was　done　in　a　braid；　too；　but　didn't　have　the　fullness　of　Denna's。　The　look　on　her　face　made　it　seem　she　had　just　eaten　something　she　didn't　like。
　
　Denna　gave　his　stomach　an　easy　slap　with　the　back　of　her　hand。　〃My　new　mate。〃
　
　〃Mate。〃　Constance　spat　the　word　out　as　if　it　tasted　bitter。　〃I　swear；　Denna；　I'll　never　understand　how　you　can　bear　to　take　a　mate。　The　thought　of　it　gives　me　a　stomach　ache。　So；　the　Seeker；　I　see　by　his　sword。　Quite　a　catch；　anyway。　It　must　have　been　difficult。〃
　
　Denna　smiled　smugly。　〃He　only　killed　two　of　my　men；　before　he　turned　his　magic　on　me。〃　The　look　of　shock　on　Constance's　face　made　Denna　laugh。　〃He's　from　Westland。〃
　
　Constance's　eyebrows　went　up。　〃No！〃　She　peered　into　Richard's　eyes。　〃Is　he　broken？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　Denna　said；　sighing。　〃But　he　still　gives　me　reason　to　smile。　It's　only　the　morning　devotion；　and　already　he's　earned　two　hours。〃
　
　A　grin　spread　on　Constance's　face。　〃Mind　if　I　e　along？〃
　
　Denna　gave　her　a　warm　smile。　〃You　know　that　anything　that　is　mine；　is　yours　also；　Constance。　In　fact；　you　will　be　my　second。〃
　
　Constance　seem　pleased；　and　proud。　Richard　had　to　furiously　think　of　Denna's　braid　as　the　edges　of　the　anger　burned　to　get　away　from　him。
　
　Denna　leaned　closer　to　her　friend。　〃In　fact；　for　you　only；　if　you　wish　to　borrow　him　for　a　night；　I　would　not　object。〃　Constance　stiffened　with　displeasure。　Denna　laughed。　〃Never　try；　never　know。〃
　
　Constance　scowled。　〃。‘I　will　have　my　pleasure　from　his　flesh　in　other　ways。　I'll　go　change　into　the　red；　and　meet　you　there。〃
　
　〃No　。　。　。　the　brown　is　fine；　for　now。〃　Constance　studied　her　face。　〃That's　not　like　you；　Denna。〃
　
　〃I　have　my　reasons。　Besides；　Master　Rahl　himself　sent　me　for　this　one。〃　　‘
　
　〃Master　Rahl　himself。　As　you　wish；　then。　After　all；　he　is　yours　to　do　with　as　you　will。〃
　
　The　training　room　was　a　simple　square　with　walls　and　floor　of　gray　granite　and　a　beamed　ceiling。　On　the　way　in；　Constance　tripped　him。　He　landed　on　his　face。　Before　he　could　stop　it；　the　anger　gripped　him。　She　stood　over　him；　pleased　with　herself；　watching　him　struggle　to　regain　control。
　
　Denna　attached　a　device　to　him　that　held　his　wrists　and　elbows　tightly　together　behind　his　back。　It　was　hooked　to　a　rope　that　ran　through　a　pulley　in　the　ceiling；　and　was　tied　off　at　the　wall。　She　hoisted　him　up　until　he　had　to　stand　on　his　toes　before　she　tied　the　rope　off　at　the　wall。　The　pain　in　his　shoulders　was　excruciating；　making　it　hard　to　breathe；　and　she　hadn't　even　touched　the　Agiel　to　him　yet。　He　was　helpless；　off　balance；　and　in　agony　before　she　even　started。　His　mood　sank。
　
　Denna　sat　in　a　chair　against　the　wall；　telling　Constance　to　enjoy　herself。　When　Denna　had　trained　him；　she　often　had　a　smile　on　her　face。　Constance　never　smiled　once。　She　went　about　her　work　like　an　ox　at　a　plow；　strands　of　hair　ing　loose；　and　in　no　time　her　face　was　covered　with　a　sheen　of　sweat。　She　never　varied　the　touch　of　her　Agiel。　It　was　always　the　same；　always　hard；　harsh；　angry。　Richard　didn't　have　to　anticipate；　there　was　no　pause。　She　worked　with　rhythmic　timing；　never　giving　him　a　rest。　But　she　didn't　draw　blood。　Denna　had　a　constant　smile　on　her　face　as　she　sat　with　the　chair　leaned　against　the　wall。　At　last　Constance　stopped；　Richard　panting；　groaning。
　
　〃He　can　take　it　well。　I　haven't　had　a　workout　like　this　in　quite　a　time。　All　the　pets　I've　gotten　lately　fold　at　the　first　touch。〃
　
　The　chair　came　down　on　its　front　legs　with　a　clunk。　〃Maybe　I　can　help；　Sister　Constance。　Let　me　show　you　where　he　doesn't　like　it。〃
　
　Derma　came　up　behind　him　and　paused；　making　him　flinch　in　expectation　of　what　didn't　e。　Just　as　he　breathed　out；　the　Agiel　drove　into　a　tender　spot　on　the　right　side。　He　cried　out　as　she　held　the　pressure　against　him。　He　couldn't　hold　his　weight；　and　the　rope　pulled　his　shoulders　so　hard　he　thought　his　arms　would　e　out　of　their　sockets。　With　a　sneer；　Denna　held　the　Agiel　to　him　until　he　started　crying。
　
　〃Please；　Mistress　Denna；〃　he　sobbed。　〃Please。〃
　
　She　withdrew　the　Agiel。　〃See？〃
　
　Constance　shook　her　head。　〃I　wish　I　had　your　talent；　Denna。〃
　
　〃Here　is　another　place。〃　She　made　him　scream。　〃And　here；　and　here　too。〃　She　came　around　and　smiled　to　him。　〃You　don't　mind　if　I　show　Constance　all　your　special　little　places；　do　you？〃
　
　〃Please；　Mistress　Denna；　don't。　It　hurts　too　much。〃　。
　
　〃There；　you　see？　He　doesn't　mind　at　all。〃
　
　She　went　back　to　her　chair　as　tears　ran　down　his　face。　Constance　never　smiled；　she　simply　went　to　work；　and　also　had　him　begging　breathlessly。　But　the　way　she　never　varied　the　pressure；　never　letting　up；　was　worse　than　Denna。　She　never　gave　him　a　moment　to　rest。　Richard　learned　to　fear　her　touch　more　than　he　feared　Denna's。　Denna　had　an　odd　passion　at　times。　Constance　never　did。　When　it　was　beyond　a　certain　point；　Denna　would　tell　her　to　stop；　wait　a　moment；　and　guide　her　so　as　not　to　cripple　him。　Constance　plied　with　her　wishes　and　let　Denna　direct　the　way　she　wanted　him　hurt。
　
　〃You　don't　have　to　stay；　Denna；　if　you　have　things　to　do。　I　won't　mind。〃
　
　Fear　and　panic　raced　through　his　mind。　He　didn't　want　to　be　left　alone　with　Constance。　He　knew　that　Constance　wanted　to　do　things　to　him　that　Denna　didn't　want　done。　He　didn't　know　what　they　were；　but　he　feared　them。
　
　〃Another　time；　I　will　leave　you　alone　with　him　。。。　to　do　things　your　way；　but　today；　I　will　stay。〃
　
　Richard　made　sure　he　showed　no　sign　that　he　was　relieved。　Constance　went　back　to　work。
　
　After　a　while　longer；　when　she　was　behind　him；　Constance　grabbed　a　fistful　of　his　hair　and　yanked　his　head　back；　hard。　Richard　knew　very　well　what　it　meant　to　have　his　head　pulled　back　in　this　manner。　He　remembered　the　pain　of　what　she　was　about　to　do。　The　pain　of　having　the　Agiel　in　his　ear。　He　shook　uncontrollably；　couldn't　breathe　with　the　fear　of　it。
　
　Denna　came　out　of　her　chair。　〃Don't　do　that；　Constance。〃
　
　Constance　gritted　her　teeth　as　she　looked　at　him；　pulling　his　head　back　harder。　〃Why　not？　Surely　you've　done　it？〃
　
　〃Yes；　I　just　don't　want　you　to；　that's　all。　Master　Rahl　hasn't　talked　to　him　yet。　I　don't　want　to　take　any　chances。〃
　
　A　grin　came　to　Constance's　face。　〃Denna；　let's　do　it　together；　at　the　same　time。　You　and　me。　Like　we　used　to。〃
　
　〃I　told　you；　Master　Rahl　wants　to　talk　to　him。〃
　
　〃After　that？〃　Denna　smiled。　〃It