tg.wizardfirstrule-第170章

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couldn't　wait　any　longer；　and　was　going　himself　to　help。　The　foot　soldiers　couldn't　keep　up　the　pace　needed　to　reach　the　People's　Palace　in　time；　so　Michael　had　taken　his　personal　guard　and　ridden　on　ahead；　leaving　the　rest　to　catch　up　when　they　could。
　
　Fifty　men；　even　Michael's　personal　guard；　tough　as　they　were；　were　still　not　many　if　they　ran　into　a　good…size　force　of　Rahl's　men。　Richard　guessed　that　Michael　was　putting　his　heart　above　his　head。
　
　Richard　didn't　catch　them　until　well　after　dark。　They　had　ridden　hard；　and　stopped　late。　They　had　gotten　farther　ahead　of　him　than　he　had　expected；　and　it　was　well　past　dinner　when　he　finally　reached　their　camp。　The　horses　had　been　tended　to　and　picketed　for　the　night。　Some　men　were　already　in　their　bedrolls。　Guards　were　posted；　and　hard　to　spot　in　the　dark；　but　Richard　knew　where　to　expect　them；　as　he　looked　down　from　a　hilltop；　watching　the　camp's　small　fires。
　
　It　was　a　dark　night。　Clouds　hid　the　moon。　He　worked　his　way　carefully　down　the　hill；　creeping　silently　between　the　guards。　Richard　was　in　his　element。　It　was　easy　for　him；　he　knew　where　they　were；　and　they　weren't　expecting　him　to　be　gliding　through　their　midst。　He　watched　them　watching；　and　ducked　down　when　they　looked　his　way。　Once　inside　the　ring　of　guards；　he　made　his　way　to　the　camp。　Michael　had　made　it　easy　for　him；　his　tent　was　set　off；　away　from　the　men。　If　he　had　put　his　tent　among　his　men；　it　would　have　been　more　difficult。　Still；　there　were　guards　around　the　tent。　Richard　studied　them　for　a　while；　analyzing　the　weak　points；　until　he　found　the　place　where　he　would　pass　between　them：　in　the　shadow　of　the　tent；　the　shadow　cast　by　the　fires。　The　guards　stayed　to　the　light　because　they　couldn't　see　anything　in　the　shadow。
　
　Richard　stalked　through　the　blackness；　to　the　tent；　and　squatted　down；　making　himself　still；　silent；　low　to　the　ground。　He　listened　for　a　long　time　to　determine　if　anyone　was　in　the　tent　with　Michael。　He　heard　papers　being　shuffled；　and　there　was　a　lamp　burning；　but　he　heard　no　one　else　inside。　Carefully；　he　made　a　tiny　cut　with　his　knife；　just　enough　to　see　through。　He　saw　Michael's　left　side　to　him　as　he　sat　at　a　small；　collapsible　field　table；　looking　over　papers。　His　head　of　unruly　hair　was　cradled　in　one　hand。　The　papers　didn't　seem　to　have　lines　of　words　on　them；　and　from　what　Richard　could　see；　they　were　large。　Probably　maps。
　
　He　had　to　get　inside；　stand　tall；　drop　to　one　knee；　and　do　his　salute；　before　Michael　had　a　chance　to　raise　an　alarm。　Just　inside；　below　him；　was　a　cot。　That　was　what　he　needed　to　hide　his　entry。　Holding　the　rope　taut　so　the　canvas　wouldn't　jerk　back　suddenly；　Richard　cut　the　tie　down　in　about　the　center　of　where　the　cot　sat；　then　lifted　the　edge　of　the　canvas　a　little　and　rolled　carefully　underneath　it；　behind　the　cot。
　
　When　Michael　turned　to　a　sound；　Richard　rose　up　in　front　of　the　little　table；　in　front　of　his　brother。　Richard　had　a　smile　on　his　face　at　seeing　his　older　brother　again。　Michael's　head　snapped　to　him。　The　color　left　his　soft　cheeks。　He　leapt　to　his　feet。　Richard　was　just　about　to　do　his　salute　when　Michael　spoke。
　
　〃Richard　。　。　。　how　did　you　。　。　。　What　are　you　doing　here？　It's　。　。　。　so　。　。　。　good　to　see　you　again。　We　have　all　been　so　。　。　。　worried。〃
　
　Richard's　smile　withered。
　
　When　the　enemy　web　was　put　on　him；　Rahl　had　said　those　who　honored　Rahl　would　see　Richard　for　who　he　was。
　
　Michael　saw　him　for　who　he　was。
　
　Michael　was　the　one　who　had　betrayed　him。　Michael　was　the　one　who　allowed　him　to　be　captured　and　tortured　by　a　Mord…Sith。　Michael　was　the　one　who　would　give　Kahlan　and　Zedd　over　to　Darken　Rahl。　Michael　was　the　one　who　would　give　everyone　over　to　Darken　Rahl。　His　insides　turned　to　ice。。
　
　Richard　could　manage　no　more　than　a　whisper。　〃Where　is　the　box？〃
　
　〃Ah　。　。　。　you　look　hungry；　Richard。　Let　me　have　some　dinner　brought　in　for　you。　We'll　have　a　talk。　It's　been　so　long。〃
　
　Richard　kept　his　hand　away　from　the　sword；　for　fear　he　would　use　it。　He　sternly　reminded　himself　that　he　was　the　Seeker；　and　that　was　all　that　mattered　right　now。　He　was　not　Richard；　he　was　the　Seeker。　He　had　a　job　to　do。　He　could　not　allow　himself　to　be　Richard。　He　could　not　allow　himself　to　be　Michael's　brother。　There　were　more　important　things　right　now。　Much　more　important。
　
　〃Where　is　the　box？〃
　
　Michael's　eyes　darted　about。　〃The　box　。　。　。　well　。　。　。　Zedd　told　me　about　it　。。。。　He　was　going　to　give　it　to　me　。　。　。　but　then　he　said　something　about　finding　you　in　D'Hara　by　a　stone　of　some　sort；　and　the　three　of　them　went　off　after　you。　I　told　them　I　wanted　to　e　too；　to　save　my　brother；　but　I　had　to　get　the　men　together；　and　prepare；　so　they　started　ahead　of　me。　Zedd　kept　the　box。　He　has　it。〃
　
　Richard　now　knew；　Darken　Rahl　had　the　third　box。　Darken　Rahl　had　spoken　the　truth。
　
　The　Seeker　suppressed　his　emotions　and　made　a　quick　assessment　of　the　situation。　The　only　thing　that　mattered　now　was　getting　to　Kahlan。　If　he　lost　his　head　now；　she　would　be　the　one　to　suffer；　she　would　be　the　one　at　the　end　of　an　Agiel。　He　found　himself　concentrating　on　a　mental　image　of　Denna's　braid。　He　let　himself　do　it。　Whatever　worked；　he　told　himself。　He　couldn't　kill　Michael；　couldn't　risk　being　captured　by　all　those　men　outside。　He　couldn't　even　let　Michael　know　what　he　knew；　that　would　acplish　nothing；　and　risk　others。
　
　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　forced　a　smile。　〃Well；　as　long　as　the　box　is　safe。　That's　what　counts。〃
　
　Some　of　the　color　returned　to　Michael's　face；　bringing　with　it　a　smile。　〃Richard　are　you　all　right？　You　look　。　。　。　different。　You　look　like　you　have　been　through　。　。　。　a　lot。〃
　
　〃More　than　you　could　ever　know；　Michael。〃　He　sat　down　on　the　cot。　Michael　returned　cautiously　to　his　chair。　Dressed　in　his　baggy　white　trousers　and　shirt；　a　gold　belt　at　his　waist；　he　looked　like　a　disciple　of　Darken　Rahl。　Richard　noticed　the　maps　his　brother　had　been　looking　at。　Maps　of　Westland。　Maps　of　Westland；　for　Darken　Rahl。　〃I　was　in　D'Hara；　just　as　Zedd　told　you；　but　I　escaped。　We　have　to　get　away　from　D'Hara。　As　far　away　as　possible。　I　must　go　get　the　others；　before　they　go　there　looking　for　me。　You　can　take　your　men　back　now；　take　the　army　back　and　protect　Westland。　Thank　you；　Michael；　for　ing　to　help　me。〃
　
　His　brother's　smile　widened。　〃You're　my　brother。　What　else　was　I　going　to　do？〃
　
　With　the　pain　of　betrayal　burning　hotly　in　him；　Richard　forced　a　warm　smile。　In　some　ways；　this　was　worse　than　if　the　traitor　had　been　Kahlan。　He　had　grown　up　with　Michael；　they　were　brothers；　and　had　shared　a　good　portion　of　their　lives。　He　had　always　admired　Michael；　always　supported　him；　given　him　his　unconditional　love。　He　remembered　bragging　to　other　boys　about　his　older　brother。
　
　〃Michael；　I　need　a　horse。　I　must　be　on　my　way。　Right　now。〃
　
　〃We'll　all　go　with　you。　Me　and　my　men。〃　His　grin　widened。　〃Now　that　we're　back　together；　I　don't　want　to　lose　sight　of　you　again。〃
　
　Richard　jumped　to　his　feet。　〃No！〃　He　calmed　his　voice。　〃You　know　me；　I'm　used　to　being　alone　in　the　woods。　It's　what　I　do　best。　You　would　only　slow　me　down。　I　don't　have　the　time　now。〃
　
　Michael　stood；　his　eyes　shifting　to　the　tent's　opening。　〃I'll　not　hear　of　it。　We　are　。　。　。〃
　
　〃No。　You　are　First　Councilor　of　Westland。　That　is　your　first　responsibility；　not　watching　after　your　little　brother。　Please；　Michael；　take　the　army　back　to　Westland。　I'll　be　fine。〃
　
　Michael　rubbed　his　chin。　〃Well；　I　guess　you're　right。　We　were　only　going　to　D'Hara　to　help　you；　of　course；　and　now　that　you're　safe　。　。　。　〃
　
　〃Thank　you　for　ing　to　help　me；　Michael。　I'll　get　my　own　horse。　You　go　back　to　your　work。〃
　
　Richard　felt　like　the　biggest　fool　that　had　ever　lived。　He　should　have　known。　He　should　have　figured　it　out　a　long　time　ago。　He　remembered　the　speech　Michael　had　given　about　fire　being　the　enemy　of　the　people。　He　should　have　known　from　that；　if　nothing　else。　Kahlan　had　tried　to　warn　him　that　first　night。　Her　suspicions　that　Michael　was　on　Rahl's　side　were　correct。　If　only　he　had　listened　to　his　head　instead　of　his　heart。
　
　Wizard's　First　Rule：　people　are　stupid；　they　believe　what　they　want　to　believe。　He　had　been　the　stupidest　of　them　all。　He　was　too　angry　with　himself　to　be　angry　with　Michael。
　
　His　refusal　to　see　the　truth　was　going　to　cost　him　everything。　He　had　no　choices　left　him　now。　He　deserved　to　die。
　
　With　wet　eyes　held　on　Michael；　Richard　slowly　dropped　to　one　knee；　and　gave　the　loser's　salute。
　
　Michael　put　his　hands　on　his　hips　and　smiled　down。　〃You　remember。　That　was　a　long　time　ago；　little　brother。〃
　
　Richard　rose。　〃Not　so　long　ago。　Some　things　never　change；　I　always　loved　you。　Good…bye；　Michael。〃
　
　Richard　gave　momentary　thought；　again；　to　killing　his　brother。　He　knew　he　would　have　to　do　it　with　the　anger　of　the　sword；　he　would　never　be　able　to　bring　himself　to　forgive　Michael　and　make　the　blade　white。　For　himself；　maybe；　but　for　what　he　had　done　to　Kahlan；　and　Zedd；　never。　Killing　Michael　wasn't　as　important　as　helping　Kahlan；　he　couldn't　take　the　risk　just　to　soothe　his　own　stupidity。　He　went　through　the　tent's　opening。　Michael　followed。
　
　〃At　leas