tg.wizardfirstrule-第157章

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ey　were　starting　to　leave；　Constance　stopped　them。
　
　〃You　look　surprisingly　well　today；　Sister　Derma。〃
　
　Denna　looked　at　her　without　emotion。　Richard　was　furious　at　Constance　for　talking　to　Master　Rahl　about　Denna；　for　getting　her　punished；　and　had　to　concentrate　on　Derma's　braid。
　
　Constance　turned　to　Richard。　〃Well。　I　hear　you　are　to　be　granted　an　audience　with　Master　Rahl　today。　If　you　are　still　alive　afterward；　you　will　be　seeing　more　of　me。　Alone。　I　want　a　piece　of　you；　as　it　were；　when　he's　finished　with　you。〃
　
　He　spoke　before　he　thought。　〃The　year　they　chose　you；　Mistress　Constance；　must　have　been　a　year　of　desperate　need；　otherwise；　one　of　such　limited　intelligence　would　never　have　been　selected　to　be　Mord…Sith。　Only　the　most　ignorant　would　put　their　own　petty　ambitions　above　the　value　of　a　friend。　Especially　a　friend　who　has　sacrificed　much　for　you。　You　are　not　worthy　to　kiss　Mistress　Derma's　Agiel。〃　Richard　smiled　smoothly；　confidently；　as　she　stood　startled。　〃You　had　better　hope　Master　Rahl　kills　me；　Mistress　Constance；　because　if　he　doesn't；　then　the　next　time　I　see　you；　I'm　going　to　kill　you　for　what　you've　done　to　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　Constance　stared　in　shock；　then　suddenly　drove　her　Agiel　toward　him。　Denna's　longer　arm　came　up。　She　slammed　her　own　Agiel　against　Constance's　throat；　holding　her　back。　Constance's　eyes　bulged　in　surprise。　She　coughed　blood；　and　dropped　to　her　knees；　clutching　her　hands　to　her　throat。
　
　Denna　stared　down　at　her　a　moment　before　starting　off　without　a　word。　Richard　followed；　attached　by　the　chain。　He　sped　up　to　walk　beside　her。
　
　Denna　kept　her　eyes　ahead；　showing　no　emotion。　〃Just　try　and　guess　how　many　hours　that　has　earned　you。〃
　
　Richard　smiled。　〃Mistress　Denna；　if　there　is　a　Mord…Sith　who　could　raise　a　scream　from　a　dead　man；　it　would　be　you。〃
　
　〃And　if　Master　Rahl　doesn't　kill　you；　how　many　hours？〃
　
　〃Mistress　Denna；　there　are　not　enough　hours　in　a　lifetime。　to　dim　my　pleasure　at　what　I　have　done。〃
　
　She　smiled　a　little；　but　didn't　look　over。　〃I'm　glad；　then；　that　it　was　worth　it　for　you。〃　She　gave　him　a　sidelong　glance。　〃I　still　don't　understand　you。　As　you　said；　we　can　be　no　more；　no　less；　than　who　we　are。　I　regret　I　can　be　no　more　than　I　am；　and　I　fear　you　can　be　no　less。　Were　we　not　warriors　fighting　on　opposite　sides　in　this　war；　I　would　keep　you　as　a　mate　for　life；　and　work　to　see　you　die　of　old　age。〃
　
　Richard　was　warmed　by　her　gentle　tone。　〃I　would　try　my　best　to　live　a　long　life　for　you；　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　They　walked　on　through　the　halls；　past　the　devotion　squares；　past　the　statues；　past　the　people。　She　took　him　upstairs；　through　vast　rooms　of　exquisite　decorations。　She　stopped　in　front　of　a　pair　of　doors　covered　in　carvings　of　rolling　hills　and　forests；　all　sheathed　in　gold。
　
　Denna　turned　to　him。　〃Are　you　prepared　to　die　this　day；　my　love？〃
　
　〃The　day　is　not　over　yet；　Mistress　Denna。〃
　
　She　slipped　her　arms　around　his　neck；　kissing　him　tenderly。　She　pulled　her　face　away　a　few　inches；　stroked　the　back　of　his　head。　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard；　that　I　do　these　things　to　you；　but　I　have　been　trained　to　do　them；　and　can　do　nothing　less；　I　live　only　to　hurt　you。　Know　that　it　is　not　by　choice；　but　by　training。　I　can　be　no　more　than　what　I　am：　Mord…Sith。　If　you　are　to　die　this　day；　my　love；　then　make　me　proud；　and　die　well。〃
　
　He　was　mate　to　a　madwoman；　he　thought　sadly。　And　one　not　of　her　own　making。
　
　She　pushed　the　doors　open　and　entered　a　grand　garden。　Richard　would　have　been　impressed；　had　his　mind　not　been　on　other　things。　They　went　down　a　path　between　flowers　and　shrubs；　past　short；　vine　covered　stone　walls；　and　small　trees；　to　an　expanse　of　lawn。　A　glass　roof　let　in　the　light；　keeping　the　plants　healthy　and　in　flower。
　
　In　the　distance　were　two　identically　huge　men。　Their　folded　arms　tad　metal　bands　with　sharp　projections　just　above　their　elbows‘　Guards　of　some　sort；　Richard　thought。　To　their　side　stood　another　man。　Imposing　muscles　flexed　on　his　smooth　chest。　His　short…cropped　blond　hair　stood　up　in　spikes；　with　a　single　black　streak　running　through　it。
　
　Near　the　center　of　the　lawn；　near　a　circle　of　white　sand；　in　a　warm　shaft　of　late…afternoon　sunlight；　stood　a　man　with　his　back　to　them。　The　sunlight　made　his　white　robes　and　shoulder…length　blond　hair　glow。　Sparks　of　the　sunlight　glinted　off　the　gold　belt　and　curved　dagger　at　his　waist。
　
　As　Richard　and　Denna　approached　him；　Denna　dropped　to　her　knees；　putting　her　forehead　to　the　ground。　Richard　had　been　instructed　and　did　the　same　as　he　pushed　his　sword　out　of　the　way。
　
　Together；　they　chanted。　〃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。〃
　
　They　chanted　only　once；　then　waited；　Richard　trembling　slightly。　He　remembered　that　he　was　never　to　get　near　Master　Rahl；　to　stay　away　from　him；　but　couldn't　remember　who　told　him　so；　only　that　it　was　important。　He　had　to　concentrate　on　Denna's　braid；　to　control　the　anger　at　what　Master　Rahl　had　done　to　her。
　
　〃Rise；　my　children。〃
　
　Richard　stood　with　his　shoulder　close　against　Mistress　Denna　while　intense　blue　eyes　studied　him。　That　the　Master's　face　looked　kind；　intelligent；　pleasant；　did　not　calm　Richard's　churning　fears；　and　the　thoughts　that　boiled　just　below　the　surface　of　his　mind。　The　blue　eyes　glided　to　Denna。
　
　〃You　look　surprisingly　well　this　morning；　my　pet。〃
　
　〃Mistress　Denna　is　as　good　at　taking　pain　as　giving　it；　Master　Rahl；〃　Richard　heard　himself　say。
　
　The　blue　eyes　returned　to　his。　The　calmness；　the　peace；　in　Rahl's　face　made　Richard　quiver。　〃My　pet　has　told　me　you　are　nothing　but　trouble。　I　am　pleased　to　see　she　has　not　lied　to　me。　But　not　pleased　to　find　it　true。〃　He　clasped　his　hands　in　a　relaxed　manner。　〃Well；　no　matter。　How　good　to　meet　you　at　last；　Richard　Cypher。〃
　
　Denna　drove　the　Agiel　into　his　back　with　a　sharp　jab　to　remind　him　of　what　it　was　he　was　supposed　to　say。　〃It　is　my　honor　to　be　here；　Master　Rahl。　I　live　only　to　serve。　I　am　humbled　in　your　presence。〃
　
　A　small　smile　came　to　Rahl's　lips。　〃Yes；　I　am　sure　you　are。〃　He　studied　Richard's　face　for　an　unfortable　moment。　〃I　have　some　questions。　You　are　going　to　give　me　the　answers。〃
　
　Richard　felt　himself　shaking　slightly。　〃Yes；　Master　Rahl。〃
　
　〃Kneel；〃　he　said　softly。
　
　Richard　went　to　his　knees　with　the　aid　of　the　Agiel　on　his　shoulder。　Denna　stepped　behind　and　put　a　boot　to　each　side　of　him。　She　pressed　her　thighs　against　his　shoulders；　bracing　against　them　for　leverage　as　she　held　his　hair　in　her　fist。　She　pulled　his　head　back　a　little；　making　him　look　up　into　the　Master's　blue　eyes。　Richard　swallowed　in　terror。
　
　Darken　Rahl　looked　down　without　emotion。　〃You　have　seen　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　before？〃
　
　Something　powerful　in　the　back　of　his　mind　told　Richard　he　shouldn't　answer。　When　he　said　nothing；　Denna　tightened　her　grip　on　his　hair；　and　pushed　the　Agiel　against　the　base　of　his　skull。
　
　There　was　a　stunning　explosion　of　pain　in　his　head。　Denna's　grip　on　his　hair　was　all　that　kept　him　upright。　It　was　as　if　she　had　pressed　the　pain　of　an　entire　training　session　into　that　one　touch。　He　couldn't　move；　breathe；　or　even　cry　out。　He　was　beyond　being　in　pain；　the　shock　took　everything　from　him；　and　in　its　place　left　an　all…consuming　agony　of　fire　and　ice。　She　took　away　the　Agiel。　He　didn't　know　where　he　was；　who　he　was；　or　who　was　holding　him；　only　that　this　was　more　pain　than　he　had　ever　known　before；　and　that　there　was　a　man　in　front　of　him；　dressed　in　a　white　robe。
　
　Blue　eyes　looked　down　at　him。　〃You　have　seen　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows　before？〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　he　heard　himself　say。
　
　〃Where　is　it　now？〃
　
　Richard　hesitated。　He　didn't　know　how　to　answer；　he　didn't　know　what　the　voice　wanted。　The　pain　exploded　in　his　head　again。　When　it　stopped；　he　felt　tears　running　down　his　cheeks。
　
　〃Where　is　it　now？〃　the　voice　repeated。
　
　〃Please；　don't　hurt　me　anymore；〃　he　cried。　〃I　don't　understand　the　question。〃
　
　〃What　is　there　not　to　understand？　Simply　tell　me　where　the　book　is　now。〃
　
　〃The　book；　or　the　knowledge　of　the　book？〃　Richard　asked　fearfully。
　
　The　blue　eyes　frowned。　〃The　book。〃
　
　〃I　burned　it　in　a　fire。　Years　ago。〃
　
　Richard　thought　the　eyes　were　going　to　tear　him　apart。　〃And　where　is　the　knowledge？〃
　
　Richard　hesitated　too　long。　When　he　was　aware　again；　Denna　yanked　his　head　up　to　look　into　the　blue　eyes　again。　Richard　had　never　felt　so　alone；　so　helpless；　so　afraid。
　
　〃Where　is　the　knowledge　that　was　in　the　book？〃
　
　〃In　my　head。　Before　I　burned　the　book；　I　learned　the　words；　the　knowledge。〃
　
　The　man　stood　staring；　unmoving。　Richard　cried　softly。
　
　〃Recite　the　words　of　the　book。〃
　
　　Richard　desperately　didn't　want　the　Agiel　in　the　back　of　his　head　again。　He　shook　with　the　fear　of　it。　〃Verification　of　the　truth　of　the　words　of　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows；　if　spoken　by　another；　rather　than　read　by　the　one　who　mands　the　boxes；　can　only　be　insured　by　the　use　of　a　Confessor　。。。。〃　Confessor。
　
　Kahlan