tg.wizardfirstrule-第176章

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ing　for　him。　A　cold　feeling　ran　through　his　gut；　it　was　a　long　way　off。　He　had　misjudged　how　far　he　was　from　it；　it　was　a　lot　farther　than　he　had　thought。　He　had　no　time　to　waste。　When　the　sun　was　at　its　zenith；　the　boxes　could　be　opened。
　
　As　he　turned；　movement　caught　his　eye。　The　horse　let　out　a　terrified　neigh。　Howls　split　the　morning　silence。　Heart　hounds。
　
　Richard　drew　his　sword　as　they　poured　over　the　rock。　Before　he　could　start　for　the　horse；　the　hounds　took　it　down。　In　a　dead　run；　more　came　for　him。　Frozen　in　shock　for　only　an　instant；　he　leapt　up　onto　the　rock　he　had　slept　under。　The　hounds；　teeth　snapping；　bounded　up　the　rock　toward　him。　He　cut　down　the　first　wave；　then　retreated　farther　up　the　rock　as　more　hounds　came　for　him。　Richard　swung　the　sword；　cutting　through　them　as　they　advanced；　snarling　and　howling。
　
　It　was　like　a　sea　of　tan　fur；　ing　for　him　in　waves。　Frantically；　he　slashed　and　stabbed　at　them；　trying　to　back　away　at　the　same　time。　Hounds　came　over　the　rock　behind。　He　jumped　to　the　side　as　the　two　groups　crashed　together；　tearing　at　each　other　for　the　chance　to　be　the　first　to　get　at　his　heart。
　
　Richard　climbed　higher；　fighting　the　beasts　back；　killing　any　that　got　close　enough。　It　was　a　futile　effort；　he　knew；　there　were　more　than　he　would　be　able　to　hold　back。　He　released　himself　into　the　anger　of　the　sword's　magic；　fighting　with　fury　as　he　advanced　into　their　ranks。　He　couldn't　fail　Kahlan；　not　now。　The　air　seemed　filled　with　yellow　teeth；　all　ing　for　him。　Blood　from　the　killing　was　everywhere。　The　world　turned　to　red。
　
　And　then　it　turned　to　flame。
　
　Fire　erupted　all　about。　Hounds　howled　in　mortal　pain。　The　dragon　roared　in　anger。　Scarlet's　shadow　swept　over　him。　Richard's　sword　cut　through　the　hounds　that　came　close　enough。　The　air　smelled　of　blood　and　burning　fur。
　
　Scarlet's　claw　gripped　him　around　the　middle；　lifting　him　away　from　the　leaping；　snapping　beasts。　Richard　panted　in　exhaustion　from　the　fierce　fight　as　the　dragon　flew　to　a　clearing　on　another　mountain。　She　set　him　gently　on　the　ground　and　landed。
　
　Richard；　nearly　in　tears；　threw　his　arms　against　her　red　scales；　stroking　them；　and　laid　his　head　against　her　〃Thank　you；　my　friend。　You　have　saved　my　life。　You　have　saved　many　lives。　You　are　a　dragon　of　honor。〃
　
　〃I　made　a　bargain；　that　is　all。〃　She　snorted　a　puff　of　smoke。　〃Besides；　someone　has　to　help　you；　you　can't　seem　to　stay　out　of　trouble　on　your　own。〃
　
　Richard　smiled。　〃You　are　the　most　beautiful　beast　I　have　ever　seen。〃　Still　panting　as　he　tried　to　catch　his　breath；　he　pointed　to　the　plateau。　〃Scarlet；　I　need　to　get　to　the　People's　Palace。　Will　you　take　me？　Please？〃
　
　〃You　didn't　find　your　friends？　Your　brother？〃
　
　He　swallowed　the　lump　in　his　throat。　〃My　brother　has　betrayed　me。　Betrayed　me；　and　everyone；　to　Darken　Rahl。　I　wish　people　had　half　the　honor　of　dragons。〃
　
　Scarlet　gave　a　grumble；　vibrating　the　scales　on　her　throat。　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard　Cypher。　Climb　on。　I　will　take　you。〃
　
　The　dragon　made　slow；　steady　strokes　of　her　wings；　lifting　him　above　the　sea　of　clouds　that　covered　the　Azrith　Plains；　carrying　him　to　the　last　place　in　the　world　he　would　wish　to　go；　had　he　a　choice。　The　journey；　which　would　have　taken　him　a　good　part　of　the　day　on　a　horse；　took　less　than　an　hour　on　the　dragon。　She　folded　her　wings　back；　diving　toward　the　plateau。　The　wind　tore　at　his　clothes　as　she　plunged　downward。　From　the　air；　Richard　could　see　how　big　the　People's　Palace　really　was。　It　was　hard　to　believe　it　had　been　made　by　men；　it　seemed　beyond　even　a　dream。　It　was　like　the　biggest　of　cities；　all　melted　together　into　one　plex。
　
　Scarlet　flew　once　around　the　plateau；　past　towers；　walls；　and　roofs。　They　flashed　past　in　endless　variety；　making　him　dizzy。　She　lifted　over　the　outer　wall；　and　swooped　down　into　a　vast　courtyard；　fluttering　her　wings　to　stop　their　descent。　There　were　no　guards；　no　people；　to　be　seen。
　
　Richard　slid　down　her　red　scales；　landing　on　his　feet　with　a　thump。　She　swept　her　head　about；　then　tilted　it　down；　gazing　at　him。　Her　ears　swiveled　forward。
　
　〃Are　you　sure　you　want　me　to　leave　you　here？〃　Richard　nodded；　casting　his　eyes　to　the　ground。　Scarlet　snorted。　〃Then　the　six　days　are　at　an　end。　Our　bargain　is　at　an　end。　The　next　time
　
　I　see　you；　you　will　be　fair　game。〃
　
　Richard　smiled　up　at　her。　〃Fair　enough；　my　friend。　But　you'll　not　get　the　chance。　Today；　I　am　going　to　die。〃
　
　Scarlet　watched　him　with　one　yellow　eye。　〃Try　not　to　let　that　happen；　Richard　Cypher。　I　would　still　like　to　eat　you。〃
　
　Richard's　smile　widened　as　he　rubbed　a　glossy　scale。　〃Take　care　of　your　little　dragon；　when　it　hatches。　I　wish　I　had　had　a　chance　to　see　it。　It　will　be　beautiful　too；　I　know。　I　realize　you　hate　flying　men　about；　because　it's　against　your　will；　but　thanks　for　letting　me　know　the　joy　of　flying。　I　considered　it　a　privilege。〃
　
　She　nodded。　〃I　like　flying　too。〃　She　let　out　a　puff　of　smoke。　〃You　are　a　rare　man；　Richard　Cypher。　I　have　never　seen　one　the　match　of　you：〃
　
　〃I　am　the　Seeker。　The　last　Seeker。〃
　
　She　gave　another　nod　of　her　big　head。　〃Take　care；　Seeker。　You　have　the　gift。　Use　it。　Use　everything　you　have　to　fight。　Don't　give　in。　Don't　let　him　rule　you。　If　you　are　to　die；　die　fighting　with　everything　you　have；　everything　you　know。　That　is　the　way　of　a　dragon。〃
　
　〃If　it　were　only　that　easy。〃　Richard　looked　up　at　the　red　dragon。　〃Scarlet；　before　the　boundary　came　down；　did　you　carry　Darken　Rahl　into　Westland？〃
　
　She　gave　a　nod。　〃A　number　of　times。〃
　
　〃Where　did　you　take　him？〃
　
　〃To　a　house；　bigger　than　the　other　houses。　It　was　made　of　white　stone；　with　slate　roofs。　One　time；　I　took　him　to　another。　A　simple　house。　He　killed　a　man　there。　I　heard　the　screams。　And　once　to　another　simple　house。〃
　
　Michael's　house。　And　his　father's。　And　his　own。
　
　With　the　pain　of　hearing　it；　Richard　looked　down　at　his　feet；　nodding。　〃Thanks；　Scarlet。〃　He　fought　back　the　lump　in　his　throat；　and　looked　back　up。　〃If　Darken　Rahl　ever　tries　to　rule　you　again；　I　hope　your　little　dragon　will　be　safe；　and　you　will　be　able　to　fight　to　the　death。　You　are　too　noble　to　be　ruled。〃
　
　Scarlet　gave　a　dragon's　grin　and　lifted　into　the　air。　Richard　watched　as　she　circled　overhead；　looking　down　at　him。　Her　head　turned　to　the　west　and　the　rest　of　her　followed。　Richard　watched　a　few　minutes　as　she　became　smaller　in　the　distance。　He　turned　to　the　palace。
　
　Richard　eyed　the　guards　at　an　entrance；　prepared　for　a　fight；　but　they　only　gave　a　polite　nod。　A　guest　returning。　The　vast　halls　swallowed　him。
　
　He　knew　the　general　direction　of　the　garden　room　where　Rahl　kept　the　boxes；　and　headed　that　way。　For　a　long　time；　he　didn't　recognize　the　halls；　but　after　a　time；　some　of　them　started　looking　familiar。　He　recognized　the　arches　and　columns；　the　devotion　squares。　He　passed　the　hall　where　Denna's　quarters　were。　He　didn't　look　down　it　as　he　walked　past　the　intersection。
　
　His　mind　was　in　a　daze；　overpowered　by　the　decision　he　had　made。　He　was　overwhelmed　by　the　very　idea　of　being　the　one　who　would　deliver　the　power　of　Orden　to　Darken　Rahl。　He　knew　he　would　be　saving　Kahlan　from　a　worse　fate；　and　many　others　from　death；　but　he　still　felt　like　a　traitor。　He　wished　it　could　be　anyone　but　him　who　would　help　Rahl。　But　no　one　else　could。　Only　he　had　the　answers　Rahl　needed。
　
　He　stopped　at　a　devotion　square　with　a　pool　and　watched　the　fish　gliding　through　the　water　as　he　stared　at　the　ripples。　Fight　with　everything　he　knew；　Scarlet　had　said。　What　would　that　gain　him？　What　would　that　gain　anyone？　The　same　in　the　end；　or　worse。　He　could　gamble　with　his　own　life；　but　not　with　everyone　else's。　Not　with　Kahlan's。　He　was　here　to　help　Darken　Rahl；　and　that　was　what　he　had　to　do。　His　mind　was　made　up。
　
　The　bell　for　devotion　tolled。　Richard　watched　people　gather　around　and　bow　down　as　they　began　chanting。　Two　Mord…Sith　dressed　in　red　leather　approached　and　eyed　him　standing　there
　
　This　was　no　time　for　trouble。　He　went　to　his　knees；　touched　his　forehead　to　the　tile；　and　began　chanting　the　devotion。　Since　he　had　already　decided；　there　was　no　reason　to　think；　and　he　let　his　mind　go　empty。
　
　〃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。　〃
　
　He　chanted　over　and　over；　letting　himself　go；　letting　his　worry　go。　His　mind　calmed　as　he　sought　the　peace　within　and　joined　with　it。
　
　A　thought　caught　the　words　in　his　throat。
　
　If　he　was　going　to　give　a　devotion；…　it　was　going　to　be　one　that　meant　something　to　him。　He　changed　the　words。
　
　〃Kahlan　guide　me。　Kahlan　teach。　me。　Kahlan　protect　me。　In　your　light　I　thrive。　In　your　mercy　I　am　sheltered。　In　your　wisdom　I　am　humbled。　I　live　only　to　love　you。　My　life　is　yours。〃
　
　The　shock　of　realization　made　sit　bolt　upright　on　his　heels；　his　eyes　wide。
　
　He　knew　what　he　must　do。
　
　Zedd　had　told　him；　told　him　that　most　of　the。　things　people　believed　were　wrong。　Wizard's　First　Rule。　He　had　been　the　fool　long　enough；　listened　to　others　enough。　He　avoided　the　t