tg.wizardfirstrule-第177章

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　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　truth　no　longer。　A　smile　spread　on　his　face。
　
　He　stood。　He　believed　with　all　his　heart。　Excited；　he　turned；　stepping　among　the　people　chanting　the　devotion　on　their　knees。
　
　The　two　Mord…Sith　rose。　They　stood　grim…faced；　shoulder　to　shoulder；　blocking　his　way。　He　jerked　to　a　halt。　The　one　with　blond　hair　and　blue　eyes　brought　her　Agiel　up　to　a　menacing　posture；　waving　it　in　front　of　him。
　
　〃No　one　is　allowed　to　miss　a　devotion。　No　one。〃
　
　Richard　returned　the　threatening　glare。　〃I　am　the　Seeker。〃　He　lifted　Denna's　Agiel　in　his　fist。　〃Mate　to　Denna。　I　am　the　one　who　killed　her。　Killed　her　with　the　magic　by　which　she　held　me。　I　have　said　my　last　devotion　to　Father　Rahl。　The　next　move　you　make　will　determine　if　you　live　or　die。　Choose。〃
　
　An　eyebrow　lifted　over　a　cold　blue　eye。　The　two　Mord…Sith　glanced　at　each　other；　then　stepped　aside。　Richard　marched　off　to　the　Garden　of　Life；　to　Darken　Rahl
　
　…＋
　
　Zedd　warily　scanned　the　edges　as　they　ascended　the　road　up　the　side　of　the　plateau；　the　surroundings　brightening　the　higher　they　went。　The　three　of　them　emerged　from　the　fog　into　midmorning　sunlight。　Ahead；　a　drawbridge　began　lowering；　the　catch　on　the　gears　clattering　as　the　span　lowered　across　a　chasm。　Chase　loosened　the　short　sword　in　the　scabbard　over　his　shoulder　when　the　lowering　bridge　revealed　a　couple　of　dozen　soldiers　waiting　on　the　other　side。　Not　one　of　the　soldiers　brought　a　weapon　to　hand；　nor　did　they　move　to　block　the　way；　but　stood　at　ease　to　the　side；　seemingly　disinterested　in　the　three。
　
　Kahlan　gave　them　no　notice　as　she　strode　past。　Chase　did。　He　looked　like　a　man　about　to　preside　over　a　slaughter。　The　guards　nodded　and　smiled　politely。
　
　The　boundary　warden　leaned　a　little　closer　to　Zedd；　but　kept　his　eyes　on　the　well…armed　soldiers。　〃I　don't　like　this。　It's　too　easy。〃
　
　Zedd　smiled。　〃If　Darken　Rahl　is　to　kill　us；　he　must　first　let　us　get　to　where　we　are　to　be　killed。〃
　
　Chase　frowned　over　at　the　wizard。　〃That　doesn't　make　me　feel　any　better。〃
　
　Zedd　put　his　hand　on　Chase's　shoulder。　〃No　loss　of　honor；　my　friend。　Go　home；　before　the　door　closes　behind　us　forever。〃
　
　Chase　stiffened。　〃Not　until　it　is　done。〃
　
　Zedd　nodded　and　walked　a　little　faster　to　stay　close　to　Kahlan。　When　they　gained　the　top　of　the　plateau；　they　were　confronted　by　a　huge　wall　stretching　off　to　either　side。　The　battlements　at　the　top　were　alive　with　men。　Kahlan　didn't　pause；　but　marched　toward　the　gate。　Straining　with　the　weight；　two　guards　pushed　the　immense　doors　back　as　she　approached。　She　didn't　lose　a　step　as　she　went　through　the　opening　in　the　wall。
　
　Chase　glared　at　the　captain　of　the　guards。　〃You　let　anyone　in？〃
　
　The　captain　gave　a　surprised　stare。　〃She　is　expected。　By　Master　Rahl。〃　Chase　grunted　and　followed　after。　〃So　much　for　our　sneaking　up　on　him。〃
　
　〃One　does　not　sneak　up　on　a　wizard　of　Rahl's　talents。〃
　
　Chase　grabbed　Zedd's　arm。　〃Wizard！　Rahl　is　a　wizard？〃
　
　Zedd　frowned　at　him。　〃Of　course。　How　do　you　suppose　he　is　able　to　mand　magic　the　way　he　does？　He　is　descended　from　a　long　line　of；　wizards。〃
　
　Chase　seemed　annoyed。　〃I　thought　wizards　were　only　supposed　to　help　people；　not　rule　them。〃
　
　Zedd　let　out　a　deep　breath。　〃Before　some　of　us　decided　to　no　longer　interfere　with　the　affairs　of　man；　wizards　used　to　rule。　There　was　a　rift…the　wizard　wars；　as　they　were　known。　A　few　on　their　side　survived；　and　continued　to　follow　the　old　ways；　continued　to　take　power　for　themselves；　continued　to　rule　people。　Darken　Rahl　is　a　direct　descendant　of　that　line…the　house　of　Rahl。　He　was　born　with　the　gift；　not　all　are。　But　he　uses　it　only　for　himself；　he　is　a　person　who　does　not　bear　the　burden　of　conscience。〃
　
　Chase　fell　silent　as　they　ascended　a　hillside　of　steps；　passing　into　the　shade　between　fluted　columns；　and　through　an　opening　surrounded　by　carved　stone　vines　and　leaves。　They　entered　the　halls。　Chase's　head　swiveled　about；　astonished　by　the　size；　the　beauty；　the　sheer　overwhelming　volume　of　polished　stone　about　them。　Kahlan　walked　down　the　center　of　the　vast　hall；　seeing　none　of　it；　the　folds　of　her　dress　flowing　fluidly　behind　her；　the　soft　sound　of　her　boots　on　the　stone　whispering　into　the　cavernous　distance。
　
　People　dressed　in　white　robes　strolled　the　halls。　A　few　sat　on　marble　benches；　and　others　knelt　at　squares　with　a　stone　and　bell；　meditating。　All　wore　the　same　perpetual　smile　of　the　divinely　deluded；　the　peaceful　countenance　of　those　self…assured　in　their　fantasy　of　certainty　and　understanding。　Truth　was　only　a　shifting　fog　to　them；　to　be　burned　off　by　the　light　of　their　convoluted　reasoning。　Followers；　disciples；　of　Darken　Rahl；　one　and　all。　Most　paid　the　three　no　attention；　giving　them　no　more　than　a　vacant　nod。
　
　Zedd　caught　a　glimpse　of　two　Mord…Sith；　proud　in　their　red　leather；　sauntering　up　a　side　hall　toward　them。　When　they　saw　Kahlan；　saw　the　twin　red　lightning　bolts　of　the　Con　Dar　painted　across　her　face；　the　two　blanched；　reversed　course；　and　quickly　vanished。
　
　The　route　they　followed　took　them　to　an　intersection　of　enormous　halls；　built　in　the　pattern　of　a　wheel。　Stained…glass　windows　that　formed　the　hub　high　overhead　let　in　sunlight　that　streamed　in　colored　shafts　through　the　cavernous　central　area。
　
　Kahlan　stopped　and　turned　her　green　eyes　to　the　wizard。　〃Which　way？〃
　
　Zedd　pointed　down　a　hall　to　the　right。　Kahlan　started　off　without　hesitation。
　
　〃How　do　you　know　where　we're　going？〃　Chase　asked。
　
　〃Two　ways。　First；　the　People's　Palace　is　built　on　a　pattern　I　recognize；　the　pattern　of　a　magic　spell。　The　entire　palace　is　one　giant　spell　drawn　on　the　face　of　the　ground。　It's　a　power　spell；　meant　to　protect　Darken　Rahl；　keep　him　safe　here；　amplify　his　power。　It's　a　spell　drawn　to　protect　him　from　other　wizards。　I　have　very　little　power　here。　I　am　next　to　helpless。　The　core　of　it　is　a　place　called　the　Garden　of　Life。　Darken　Rahl　will　be　there。〃
　
　Chase　gave　a　troubled　look。　〃What's　the　second。〃
　
　Zedd　hesitated。　〃The　boxes。　Their　covers　are　removed。　I　can　sense　them。　They；　too；　are　in　the　Garden　of　Life。〃　Something　was　wrong。　He　knew　what　it　was　to　sense　one　of　the　boxes；　and　two　should　be　twice　as　strong。　But　the　feeling　wasn't；　it　was　three　times　as　strong。
　
　The　wizard　directed　the　Mother　Confessor　down　the　proper　halls　as　they　came　to　them；　and　up　the　proper　stairways　as　they　appeared。　Each　hall；　each　different　level；　had　stone　of　unique　color　or　type。　In　some　places　the　columns　stood　several　levels　high。　Balconies　between　them　looked　down　on　the　hall。　Stairways　were　all　marble；　each　of　a　different　color。　They　passed　huge　statues；　standing　like　stone　sentinels　at　the　walls　to　each　side。　The　three　walked　for　several　hours；　working　their　way　higher　into　the　center　of　the　People's　Palace。　It　was　impossible　to　go　in　a　straight　course；　there　was　none。
　
　At　last　they　came　to　closed　doors；　carved　in　a　country　scene；　clad　in　gold。　Kahlan　stopped　and　looked　to　the　wizard。
　
　〃This　is　the　place；　dear　one。　The　Garden　of　Life。　The　boxes　are　in　here。　Darken　Rahl　will　be；　too。〃　She　gave　him　a　deep　stare。　〃Thank　you；　Zedd；　and　you；　too；　Chase。〃
　
　Kahlan　turned　to　the　door；　but　Zedd　put　his　hand　gently　on　her　shoulder　and　turned　her　back　around。　〃Darken　Rahl　has　only　two　boxes。　He　will　be　dead　soon。　Without　your　help。〃
　
　Her　eyes　were　cold　fire　in　the　heart　of　the　sharp；　red　lightning　bolts　drawn　on　her　resolute　face。　〃Then　I　have　no　time　to　waste。〃
　
　She　pushed　the　doors　open；　and　strode　into　the　Garden　of　Life
　
　CHAPTER　49
　　THE　FRAGRANCE　OF　FLOWERS　engulfed　them　as　they　stepped　into　the　Garden　of　Life。　Zedd　knew　immediately　that　something　was　wrong。　There　was　no　doubt；　all　three　boxes　were　in　the　room。　He　had　been　wrong。　Rahl　did　have　all　three。　He　sensed　something　else；　too；　something　out　of　place；　but　with　his　power　diminished；　he　couldn't　put　his　trust　in　the　feeling。　With　Chase　at　his　heels；　Zedd　stayed　close　behind　Kahlan　as　she　walked　along　the　path；　among　the　trees；　past　the　vine…covered　walls　and　colorful　flowers。　They　came　to　grass。　Kahlan　stopped。
　
　Across　the　lawn　was　a　circle　of　white　sand。　Sorcerer's　sand。　In　his　whole　life；　Zedd　had　never　seen　so　much　of　it　in　one　place；　never　seen　more　than　a　pouchful。　This　much　was　worth　ten　kingdoms。　Tiny　flecks　of　prismatic　light　reflected　up　at　him。　With　rising　trepidation；　Zedd　wondered　what　Rah　l　needed　with　that　much　sorcerer's　sand；　what　tie　did　with　it。　He　found　it　hard　to　take　his　eyes　from　the　lure　of　it。
　
　Beyond　the　sorcerer's　sand　sat　a　sacrificial　altar。　There；　on　the　stone　altar；　were　the　three　boxes　of　Orden。　Zedd's　heart　felt　as　if　it　skipped　a　beat；　to　see；　for　sure；　that　all　three　were　
　
　there　together。　Each　had　its　cover　removed。　Each　was　black　as　midnight。
　
　In　front　of　the　boxes；　with　his　back　to　them；　stood　Darken　Rahl。　Zedd　raged　at　seeing　the　one　who　had　harmed　Richard。　The　sunlight　ing　straight　down　from　the　glass　roof　lit　the　white　robes　and　long　blond　hair；　making