tg.wizardfirstrule-第167章

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eath；　reaching　for　the　egg。　Richard　whacked　off　a　wing。　It　spun；　howling；　toward　the　ground。　No　more　came。
　
　Scarlet　carried　him　high　into　the　air；　up　and　away　from　Fire　Spring。　Hanging　in　her　claw；　he　felt　like　a　meal　being　taken　back　to　the　young。　Her　grip　was　hurting　his　ribs　a　little；　but　he　didn't　plain。　He　didn't　want　her　to　loosen　her　hold　on　him；　it　was　a　long　way　down。
　
　They　flew　for　hours。　Richard　managed　to　rearrange　himself　and　get　a　little　more　fortable　in　her　talons　as　he　watched　the　hills　and　trees　pass　below。　He　saw　streams　and　fields；　even　a　few　small　towns。　The　hills　grew；　being　rocky；　as　if　the　stone　were　sprouting　from　the　landscape。　Jagged　rock　cliffs　and　peaks　rose　up　before　them。　Stroking　the　air　smoothly；　Scarlet　lifted　them　higher；　over　rock　Richard　thought　would　scrape　his　feet。　She　took　them　into　a　desolate　land；　barren　of　life。　Brown　and　gray　stone　looked　to　have　been　haphazardly　stacked　up　by　a　giant；　like　coins　on　a　table；　into　thin　columns；　some　singular；　others　clumped　in　bunches；　still　more　having　toppled。
　
　Beyond　and　above　the　columns　of　rock　stood　massive；　craggy　stone　cliffs；　riddled　with　splits　and　cracks；　shelves　and　projections。　A　few　clouds　drifted　past　the　face　of　the　cliffs。　Scarlet　banked　toward　a　wall　of　rock。　It　seemed　to　Richard　that　they　would　run　smack　into　it；　but　before　they　did；　she　brought　them　up　short　with　a　fluttering　of　her　huge　wings；　setting　him　on　a　ledge　before　landing　herself。
　
　At　the　back　of　the　ledge　was　an　opening　into　the　rock。　Scarlet　squeezed　her　bulk　through。　In　the　back；　in　the　cool　darkness；　was　a　nest　of　rock；　where　she　placed　the　egg；　then　breathed　fire　over　it。　Richard　watched　as　she　stroked　the　egg　with　a　claw；　turning　it　gently；　inspecting　it；　cooing　to　it。　She　played　fire　gently　over　the　egg；　turning　her　head；　listening；　watching。
　
　〃Is　it　all　right？〃　Richard　asked　quietly。
　
　Her　head　turned　to　him；　a　dreamy　look　in　her　yellow　eyes。　〃Yes。　It　is　well。〃
　
　Richard　nodded。　〃I'm　glad；　Scarlet。　I　really　am。〃
　
　He　started　toward　her　as　she　lay　down　next　to　the　egg。　Her　head　came　up　in　warning。
　
　He　halted。　〃I　just　want　my　pack。　It's　hanging　on　a　spike；　on　your　shoulder。〃　〃Sorry。　Go　ahead。〃
　
　Richard　retrieved　the　pack　and　went　to　the　side；　against　the　wall；　a　little　closer　to　the　light。　He　glanced　over　the　ledge。　It　looked　to　be　thousands　of　feet　down。　Richard　fervently　hoped　Scarlet　was　a　dragon　of　her　word。　He　sat　down　and　pulled　out　a　fresh　pair　of　pants。
　
　He　found　something　else；　too：　the；　jar　from　Denna's　room。　Inside　was　some　of　the　aum。　cream　he　had　made　when　Rahl　had　hurt　her。　She　must　have　taken　what　was　left　over　and　put　it　in　his　pack。　Looking　down　at　the　Agiel；　he　smiled　sadly　at　the　memory　of　her。　How　could　he　care　about　someone　who　had　done　those　things　to　him？　He　had　forgiven　her；　that　was　how；　forgiven　her　with　the　white　magic。
　
　The　aum　cream　felt　wonderful。　He　let　out　a　little　moan。　It　cooled　the　burning　of　his　wounds；　soothed　the　pain。　Richard　said　a　silent　thank…you　to　Denna　for　putting　it　in　his　pack。　He　took　off　the　shredded　remnants　of　his　pants。
　
　〃You　look　funny　without　your　pants。〃
　
　Richard　spun　around。　Scarlet　was　watching　him。
　
　〃Those　are　not　reassuring　words　for　a　man　to　hear　from　a　female；　even　if　the　female　is　a　dragon。〃　Turning　his　back　to　her；　he　pulled　on　his　fresh　pants。
　
　〃You　are　injured。　From　the　gars？〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head。　〃In　the　cave。〃　His　voice　was　quiet　with　the　haunting　fear　of　the　memory。　He　sat　down；　leaning　against　the　wall；　watching　his　boots。　〃I　had　to　go　through　a　small　hole　in　the　rock。　It　was　the　only　way。　I　became　stuck。〃　He　looked　up　at　the　big　yellow　eyes。　〃Since　I　left　my　home　to　stop　Darken　Rahl；　I've　been　frightened　often。　But　when　I　was　stuck　in　that　hole；　in　the　dark；　the　rock　pressing　against　me　so　tight　I　couldn't　breathe　。　。　。　well；　that　was　one　of　the　worst　times。　While　I　was　stuck　there；　something　grabbed　my　leg；　dug　into　the　flesh　with　sharp　little　claws。　It　did　this　to　me　as　I　tried　to　get　away。〃
　
　Scarlet　watched　him　in　silence　a　long　time；　one　claw　over　the　egg。　〃Thank　you；　Richard　Cypher；　for　doing　as　you　said　you　would。　For　getting　my　egg　back。　You　are　brave；　even　if　you　are　not　a　dragon。　I　never　believed　a　man　would　risk　himself　so；　for　a　dragon。〃　〃I　did　it　for　more　than　your　egg。　I　did　it　because　I　had　to；　to　get　help　finding　my　friends。〃
　
　Scarlet　shook　her　head。　〃Honest；　too。　I　think　maybe　you　would　have　done　it　anyway。　I　am　sorry　you　were　injured；　and　that　you　had　to　be　frightened　so；　to　help　me。　Men　try　to　kill　dragons。　You…may　be　the　first　who　has　ever　helped　one。　For　any　reason。　I　had　my　doubts。〃
　
　〃Well；　it's　a　good　thing　you　showed　up　when　you　did。　Those　gars　almost　had　me。　By　the　way；　I　thought　I　told　you　to　stay　put。　What　were　you　doing　ing　after　me？〃
　
　〃I'm　embarrassed　to　admit；　I　thought　you　were　trying　to　escape。　I　was　ing　for　a　closer　look；　when　I　heard　the　uproar。　I　will　make　it　up　to　you。　I　will　help　you　find　your　friends；　as　I　promised。〃
　
　Richard　grinned。　〃Thanks；　Scarlet。　But　what　about　the　egg？　Can　you　leave　it　alone？　Maybe　Rahl　will　steal　it　again。〃
　
　〃Not　from　here；　he　won't。　I　searched　a　long　time　for　this　place　after　he　stole　my　egg；　so　if　I　ever　got　it　back；　I　would　have　a　safe　place　for　it。　He　will　not　be　able　to　reach　it　here。　As　for　leaving　it；　that　is　not　a　problem。　When　dragons　hunt　for　food；　they　simply　heat　the　rock　with　their　flame；　to　keep　the　egg　warm　in　their　absence。〃
　
　〃Scarlet；　time　is　short。　When　can　we　start？〃
　
　〃Right　now。〃　
　
　CHAPTER　46
　IT　was　w　FRUSTRATING　day。　Scarlet　flew　low　over　thick　woods　as　they　both　scanned　the　roads　and　trails。　Richard　was　discouraged　that　they　had　seen　no　sign　of　his　friends。　He　was　so　exhausted　that　he　could　hardy　hold　on　to　Scarlet's　spikes　as　she　flew　him　over　the　land；　searching；　but　he　didn't　want　to　rest；　he　had　to　find　Zedd　and　Kahlan。　On　top　of　being　tired；　he　had　a　terrific　headache　from　concentrating　his　eyesight　so。　He　forgot　his　fatigue；　his　lack　of　sleep；　every　time　they　spotted　people　on　the　ground；　only　to　have　to　tell　Scarlet　each　time　that　it　wasn't　his　friends。
　
　The　dragon　went　low；　skimming　the　tops　of　pine　trees　at　the　edge　of　a　field。　She　let　out　a　piercing　scream　that　made　Richard　jump　and　banked　into　a　steep　turn　that　made　him　dizzy。　A　buck　broke　into　a　run　across　the　field；　flushed　from　cover　by　the　dragon's　roar。　Building　speed　in　a　quick　dive；　she　swooped　into　the　field。　Without　effort；　Scarlet　snatched　the　deer　from　the　tall　brown　grass；　snapping　its　neck　in　the　process。　Richard　felt　intimidated　by　how　easy　it　was　for　her　to　take　the　prey。
　
　Scarlet　pulled　higher　into　the　air；　into　the　golden　light　of　the　setting　sun；　among　the　puffy　clouds。　Richard　felt　as　if　his　heart　were　sinking　with　the　sun。　He　knew　Scarlet　was　heading　back　to　her　egg。　He　wanted　to　tell　her　to　search　some　more；　while　there　was　still　light；　but　he　knew　she　had　to　get　back　to　her　nest；　her　egg。
　
　In　near　darkness；　Scarlet　landed　on　the　ledge　of　rock；　waiting　for　him　to　climb　down　over　her　red　scales　before　she　hurried　to　her　egg。　Richard　went　to　one　side　and　curled　up　in　his　cloak；　shivering　with　the　cold。
　
　After　she　checked　her　egg；　cooed　to　it；　and　warmed　it　with　fire；　she　turned　to　see　about　the　buck。　She　paused　to　say　to　Richard。　〃You　don't　look　like　you　could　eat　much。　I　guess　I　could　let　you　have　some。〃
　
　〃Will　you　cook　it　for　me？　I　don't　eat　raw　meat。〃
　
　She　said　she　would；　so　he　cut　himself　a　chunk；　stuck　it　on　the　end　of　his　sword；　and；　holding　it　up；　turned　his　head　from　the　heat　while　she　blew　a　thin　stream　of　flame　over　it。　Richard　returned　to　the　side；　eating　his　meal；　trying　not　to　watch　as　the　dragon　tore　the　buck　apart　with　fang　and　claw；　tossing　great　chunks　in　the　air　and　swallowing　with　hardly　a　chew。
　
　〃If　we　don't　find　your　friends；　what　will　you　do？〃
　
　Richard　swallowed。　〃We　had　better　find　them；　that's　all。〃
　
　〃The　first　day　of　winter　is　four　days　from　tomorrow。〃
　
　With　a　finger　and　thumb；　he　pulled　off　a　small　strip　of　meat。　〃I　know。〃
　
　〃For　a　dragon；　it　is　better　to　die　than　be　ruled。〃
　
　Richard　looked　up　at　her　as　she　swished　her　tail。　〃If　choosing　for　yourself；　maybe；　but　what　of　others？　You　chose　to　be　ruled；　to　save　your　egg；　to　give　it　a　chance　at　life。〃
　
　Scarlet　grunted　without　answering　and　turned　once　more　to　her　egg；　stroking　her　talons　over　it。
　
　Richard　knew　that　if　he　couldn't　find　the　last　box　and　stop　Rahl；　he　would　have　to　save　everyone　else's　life；　he　would　have　to　spare　Kahlan　the　torture　of　a　Mord…Sith　…　he　would　have　to　agree　to　help　Darken　Rahl　open　the　right　box。　Then　Kahlan　could　live　the　kind　of　life　a；　Confessor；　was　used　to。
　
　It　was　a　desperately　depressing　thought…that　he　could　help　Darken　Rahl　gain　unchallenged　power　over　everyone。　But　what　choice　did　he　have？　Maybe　what　Shota　said　was　right。　Maybe　Zedd　and　Kahlan　would　try　to　kill　him。　Maybe　he　should　be　killed　for　even　thinking　of　helping　Darken　Rahl。　If　he　had　to　choose；　though；　he　would　not　let　Kahlan　be　hurt　by　a　Mord…Sith。　He　would　have　to　help　Rahl。
　
　Richard　lay　back　down；　too　sick　at　his　choices　to　f