tg.wizardfirstrule-第168章

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　a　Mord…Sith。　He　would　have　to　help　Rahl。
　
　Richard　lay　back　down；　too　sick　at　his　choices　to　finish　his　meal。　He　put　his　head　against　his　pack；　pulling　the　cloak　around　himself；　and　thought　about　Kahlan。　He　was　asleep　in　moments。
　
　The　next　day；　Scarlet　took　him　into　D'Hara；　over　where　she　said　the　boundary　used　to　be；　searching　the　roads　and　trails。　Thin；　high　clouds　filtered　the　sunlight。　Richard　hoped　his　friends　wouldn't　be　this　close　to　Darken　Rahl；　but　if　Zedd　had　sought　the　night　stone　before　Rahl　had　destroyed　it；　and　knew　he　had　been　at　the　People's　Palace；　they　would　be　heading　there。　The　dragon　swept　low　over　people　they　saw；　giving　them　a　fright；　but　they　weren't　the　ones　he　sought。
　
　Near　midday；　Richard　saw　them。　Zedd；　Chase；　and　Kahlan　were　riding　horses　on　a　trail　near　the　main　road。　He　yelled　at　Scarlet　to　take　them　down。　The　dragon　rolled　into　a　banking　turn；　diving　toward　the　ground；　a　streak　of　red。　The　three　riders　saw　them　ing；　stopped；　and　dismounted。
　
　Scarlet　spread　her　crimson　wings；　stopping　their　descent；　and　set　them　in　a　clearing　next　to　the　trail。　Richard　jumped　off；　running　as　he　hit　the　ground。　The　three　stood　holding　the　reins　to　their　horses。　Chase　held　a　mace　in　his　other　hand。　Seeing　Kahlan　overwhelmed　Richard　with　elation。　Every　memory　of　her　was　suddenly　true　to　life　in　front　of　him　They　stood　still　as　he　ran　toward　them；　down　a　short；　steep　decline　in　the　trail。　Richard　watched　the　ground　so　he　wouldn't　trip　over　roots。
　
　When　he　looked　up；　wizard's　fire　was　wailing　toward　him。　He　froze　in　surprise。　What　was　Zedd　doing？　The　ball　of　liquid　fire　was　bigger　than　any　he　had　seen　before。　It　illuminated　the　trees　all　around　with　its　blue　and　yellow　flame；　shrieking　as　it　advanced。　Richard　watched；　wide…eyed；　as　it　came；　tumbling；　twisting；　expanding。
　
　With　the　fright　of　what　was　about　to　happen；　Richard's　hand　went　to　the　hilt；　feeling　the　word　Truth　press　into　the　flesh　of　his　palm。　With　a　strong　pull；　he　drew　the　sword；　sending　metallic　ringing　into　the　air。　Released；　the　magic　raced　instantly　through　him。　The　fire　was　almost　there。　As　he　had　done　when　he　had　been　with　Shota；　he　held　the　sword　up；　gripping　the　hilt　in　one　hand；　the　point　in　the　other；　arms　locked；　holding　it　before　him　as　a　shield。　Wrath　took　him；　at　the　thought　of　Zedd　betraying　them。　It　couldn't　be　Zedd。
　
　The　impact　drove　him　back　a　step。　Heat　and　fire　was　all　around　him。　The　anger　of　the　wizard's　fire　exploded；　scattering　back　into　the　air　from　where　it　came；　and　then　it　was　gone。
　
　〃Zedd！　What　are　you　doing？　Are　you　crazy！　It's　me；　Richard！〃　He　advanced；　angry。　Angry　that　Zedd　would　do　this；　angry　from　the　magic　of　the　sword。　The　heat　of　his　rage　pounded　through　his　veins。
　
　Zedd；　in　his　simple　robes；　looking　as　thin　and　frail　as　ever；　stood　his　ground。　Chase；　bristling　weapons；　looking　as　dangerous　as　ever；　stood　his。　Zedd　took　Kahlan's　arm　in　his　sticklike　hand　and　pulled　her　protectively　behind　himself。　Chase　started　forward；　the　look　in　his　eyes　as　dark　as　his　clothes。
　
　〃Chase；〃　Zedd　cautioned　in　a　low　voice；　〃don't　be　a　fool。　Stay　where　you　are。〃
　
　Richard　looked　from　one　grim　face　to　another。　〃What's　the　matter　with　you　three？　What　are　you　doing　here？　I　told　you　not　to　e　after　me！　Darken　Rahl　has　sent　men　to　capture　you。　You　must　turn　back。〃
　
　Zedd；　his　white　hair　in　its　usual　disarray；　turned　a　little　to　Kahlan；　but　kept　his　eyes　on　Richard。　〃Do　you　know　what　he's　saying？〃
　
　Kahlan　shook　her　head；　pulling　some　of　her　long　hair　back。　〃No。　I　think　it's　high　D'Haran；　I　don't　speak　high　D'Haran。〃
　
　〃High　D'Haran？　What　are　you　talking　about？　What　are　。　。　。〃
　
　With　a　cold　wave　of　understanding；　he　remembered。　It　was　the　enemy　web　Darken　Rahl　had　put　on　him。　They　didn't　recognize　him。　They　thought　he　was　their　worst　enemy。　They　thought　he　was　Darken　Rahl。
　
　Another　thought　came　to　him。　Bumps　ran　up　his　arms　to　the　back　of　his　neck。　Zedd；　at　least；　thought　he　was　Darken　Rahl；　and　had　used　wizard's　fire　against　him。　Zedd　wasn't　the　traitor。　That　left　only　Kahlan。　Could　it　be　she　saw　him　for　who　he　really　was？
　
　Choked　with　fear　at　the　thought；　he　advanced　toward　her　as　his　stare　locked　on　her　green　eyes；　Kahlan's　back　stiffened；　her　hands　at　her　sides；　her　head　held　up。　Richard　recognized　the　stance；　it　was　one　of　warning。　Serious　warning。　He　knew　what　her　touch　would　do　to　him。　He　remembered　Shota's　warning　that　he　might　beat　Zedd；　but　that　Kahlan　would　not　fail。
　
　Zedd　tried　to　stay　between　them。　Richard　hardly　noticed　him　as　he　pushed　the　old　man　out　of　the　way。　Zedd　came　up　behind　him　and　put　his　thin　fingers　on　the　back　of　Richard's　neck。　They　gave　a　pain　something　like　the　Agiel　had　given。　Fire　burned　through　the　nerves　of　his　arms；　and　all　the　way　down　his　legs。　Before　all　the　time　spent　at　the　mercy　of　Denna；　the　wizard's　fingers　would　have　paralyzed　him　with　pain。　But　Denna　had　spent　a　long　time　training　him；　forcing　him　to　tolerate　pain；　to　deal　with　this　much　and　more。　Zedd　was　a　match　for　what　Denna　had　been　able　to　do；　but　Richard　pulled　resolve　from　deep　within　himself；　and　put　the　pain　from　his　mind；　letting　the　anger　of　the　sword　take　its　place。　He　gave　Zedd　a　look　of　warning。　The　wizard　didn't　back　off。　Richard　gave　him　another　shove。　He　pushed　harder　than　he　intended　to；　and　Zedd　tumbled　to　the　ground。　Kahlan　stood　frozen　in　front　of　him。
　
　〃Who　do　you　see　me　as？〃　the　Seeker　whispered。　〃Darken　Rahl；　or　Richard？〃
　
　She　trembled　slightly；　seemingly　unable　to　move。　Richard's　eye　was　caught　by　something；　his　view　flicked　down　for　an　instant；　and　he　saw　that　he　had　the　sword　point　at　her　throat；　at　the　hollow　of　her　neck。　He　hadn't　been　aware　of　putting　it　there；　it　was　as　if　the　magic　had　taken　it　there　of　its　own　accord。　But　he　knew　that　wasn't　true。　He　had　put　it　there。　That　was　why　she　was　trembling。　A　drop　of　blood　grew　against　her　skin；　under　the　sword's　point。　If　she　was　the　traitor；　he　had　to　kill　her。
　
　The　blade　had　turned　white。　So　had　Kahlan's　face。
　
　〃Who　do　you　see？〃　he　whispered　again。　'
　
　〃What　have　you　done　to　Richard？〃　Her　whisper　was　ragged　with　rage。　〃If　you　have　harmed　him；　I　swear　I　will　kill　you。〃
　
　He　remembered　the　way　she　had　kissed　him。　It　was　not　the　kiss　of　a　traitor；　it　was　a　kiss　of　love。　He　realized　there　was　no　way　he　could　kill　her；　even　if　his　fear　was　true。　But　he　knew　now　it　wasn't。　With　tears　in　his　eyes；　he　slid　the　sword　into　its　scabbard。
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Kahlan。　May　the　good　spirits　forgive　me　for　what　I　almost　did。　I　know　you　can't　understand　me；　but　I'm　sorry。　Darken　Rahl　is　using　the　Wizard's　First　Rule　on　me；　trying　to　turn　us　against　one　another。　He　is　trying　to　make　me　believe　a　lie；　and　I　almost　did。　I　know　you　and　Zedd　would　never　betray　me。　Forgive　me　for　thinking　it。〃
　
　〃What　do　you　want？〃　Zedd　asked。　〃We　can't　understand　you。〃
　
　〃Zedd　。　。　。〃　He　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair　in　frustration。　〃How　can　I　make　you　understand？〃　He　grabbed　the　wizard's　robes　in　his　fists。　〃Zedd；　where's　the　box？　I　have　to　have　the　box　before　Rahl　finds　it！　We　can't　let　him　get　it！〃
　
　Zedd　frowned。　Richard　knew　this　was　doing　no　good；　none　of　them　could　understand　him。　He　went　to　the　horses　and　started　searching　through　the　packs。
　
　〃Look　all　you　want；　you'll　never　find　it；〃　the　wizard　smiled。　〃We　don't　have　the　box。　You　are　going　to　die　in　four　days。〃
　
　Richard　sensed　something　move　behind　him。　He　spun　around；　Chase　had　the　mace　raised。　A　stream　of　fire　shot　past；　between　them。　Scarlet　kept　the　fire　up　until　Chase　stepped　back。
　
　〃Some　friends　you　have；〃　the　dragon　grumbled。
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　put　a　wizard's　web　on　me。　They　don't　recognize　me。〃
　
　〃Well；　if　you　stay　with　them　much　longer；　they　are　going　to　kill　you。〃
　
　Richard　…realized　that　they　wouldn't　have　the　box。　Not　if　they　were　ing　to　D'Hara　to　save　him。　They　wouldn't　have　risked　taking　the　box　to　Rahl。　The　three　of　them　silently　watched　him　and　the　dragon。
　
　　〃Scarlet；　say　something　to　them；　see　if　they　can　understand　you。〃
　
　The　dragon's　head　swept　closer　to　the　three。　〃This　is　not　Darken　Rahl；　but　your　friend；　hidden　by　a　wizard's　web。　Can　any　of　you　understand　me？〃
　
　The　three　stood　mute。　Aggravated；　Richard　stepped　closer　to　Zedd。
　
　〃Zedd；　please　try　to　understand　me。　Don't　seek　the　night　stone。　If　you　do；　Rahl　will　trap　you　in　the　underworld。　Try　to　understand！〃
　
　None　of　the　three　grasped　a　word　he　was　saying。　He　had　to　get　the　box　first；　then　he　would　e　back　and　protect　them　from　the　men　Rahl　had　sent。　Reluctantly；　he　climbed　back　up　onto　Scarlet。　She　kept　a　wary　eye　to　the　three；　puffing　a　little　smoke　and　flame　in　warning。　Richard　wanted　desperately　to　stay　with　Kahlan；　but　he　couldn't…he　had　to　get　the　box　first。
　
　〃bet's　get　out　of　here。　We　have　to　go　find　my　brother。〃
　
　With　a　roar　of　flame；　warning　the　three　to　stay　back；　Scarlet　took　to　the　air。　Richard　held　her　spikes　tight。　Her　red；　scaled　neck　stretched　out　as　she　climbed　into　the　sky　among　the　drifting　white　clouds；　weaving　between　them。　He　watched　his　three　friends　watching　back　until　he　could　see　them　no　more。　He　felt　desperately　helpless。　He　wished　he　could　have　s