tg.wizardfirstrule-第180章

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　glow。　He　turned；　smiling。　The　light　about　him　moved　with　him　as　he　moved。　He　lifted　slightly　into　the　air；　enough　to　take　the　weight　from　his　feet；　and　floated　to　the　center　of　the　sorcerer's　sand；　his　arms　extended；　the　light　beginning　to　swirl　slowly　around　him。　He　faced　toward　Richard。
　
　〃Thank　you；　my　son；　for　ing　back；　for　helping　Father　Rahl。　You　will　be　rewarded　for　helping　me；　as　I　promised。　You　have　delivered　to　me　that　which　is　mine。　I　can　feel　it。　It's　marvelous。　I　can　feel　the　power。〃
　
　Richard　stood　without　emotion；　watching。　Zedd　sank　to　the　ground　again。　What　had　Richard　done？　How　could　he？　How　could　he　give　Rahl　the　magic　of　Orden？　Allow　him　to　rule　the　world？　He　had　been　touched　by　a　Confessor；　that　was　how；　it　wasn't　his　fault；　he　had　no　control。　It　was　over。　Zedd　forgave　him。
　
　Had　he　the　power；　Zedd　would　have　made　Wizard's　Life　Fire；　and　put　his　life　into　it。　But　he　had　no　power　here；　no　power　in　the　face　of　Master　Rahl。　He　felt　very　tired；　very　old。　He　knew　he　would　not　get　the　chance　to　get　much　older。　Darken　Rahl　would　see　to　that。　But　it　was　not　himself　he　grieved　for…it　was　everyone　else。
　
　Bathed　in　the　golden　light；　Darken　Rahl　slowly　rose　a　few　feet　off　the　ground；　above　the　white　sorcerer's　sand；　a　satisfied　grin　on　his　face；　his　blue　eyes　sparkling。　His　head　rolled　back　in　rapture；　his　eyes　closing；　his　blond　hair　hanging　away。　Sparkles　of　light　rotated　about　him。
　
　The　white　sand　turned　a　golden　color；　continued　turning　darker；　to　a　burnt　brown。　The　light　around　Rahl　darkened　to　amber。　His　head　came　down；　his　eyes　ing　open；　his　smile　fading。
　
　The　sorcerer's　sand　crisped　to　black。　The　ground　trembled。
　
　A　smile　spread　on　Richard's　face。　He　went　and　retrieved　the　Sword　of　Truth；　the　anger　of　the　sword's　magic　flooding　into　his　gray　eyes。　Zedd　came　to　his　feet。　The　light　around　Darken　Rahl　turned　an　ugly　brown。　His　blue　eyes　went　wide。
　
　A　wailing　roar　came　from　the　ground。　The　black　sand　under　Rahl's　feet　split　open。　Violet　light　shot　up；　engulfing　him。　He　twisted　in　it；　screaming　out。
　
　Richard；　his　chest　heaving；　stood　transfixed；　watching。
　
　The　invisible　prison　around　Zedd　shattered。　Chase's　hand　abruptly　pleted　its　journey　to　his　sword；　yanking　it　free　as　he　flew　toward　Kahlan。　The　two　guards　released　her　arms　and　met　him　halfway。
　
　Michale's　face　paled。　He　stared　in　shock　as　Chase　cut　down　one　of　the　men。　Kahlan　drove　her　elbow　into　Michael's　gut　and　grabbed　the　knife；　twisting　it　from　his　hand。　Disarmed；　Michael　scanned　about　with　quick　jerks　of　his　head；　his　eyes　wild；　and　raced　off　down　a　path　between　the　trees。
　
　Chase　and　the　second　guard　tumbled　to　the　ground；　both　grunting　with　lethal　intent　as　they　rolled　over　each　other　trying　to　gain　advantage。　The　guard　cried　out。　Chase　came　to　his　feet。　The　other　didn't。　He　gave　a　glance　at　Darken　Rahl；　and　ran　off　down　the　path　Michael　had　taken。　Zedd　saw　a　glimpse　of　Kahlan's　dress　as　she　disappeared　in　another　direction。
　
　Zedd　stood　as　Richard　did；　spellbound；　their　stares　riveted　to　Darken　Rahl　as　he　struggled；　trapped　in　the　grip　of　the　magic　of　Orden。　Violet　light　and　dark　shadows　held　him　tight　in　the　air　above　the　black　hole。
　
　〃Richard！〃　Rahl　shrieked。　〃What　have　you　done！〃
　
　The　Seeker　stepped　closer　to　the　circle　of　black　sand。　〃Why；　only　what　you　wanted；　Master　Rahl；〃　he　said　innocently。　〃I　have　told　you　what　you　wanted　to　hear。〃
　
　〃But　it　was　the　truth！　You　told　the　words　true！〃
　
　Richard　nodded。　〃Yes；　I　did。　I　just　didn't　tell　you　all　of　them。　I　left　out　most　of。　the　paragraph　at　the　end。　Be　cautioned。　The　effect　of　the　boxes　is　fluid。　It　shifts　with　the　intent。　To　be　Master　of　all；　so　you　may　help　others；　shift　one　box　to　the　right。　To　be　Master　of　all；　so　all　will　do　your　bidding；　shift　one　box　to　the　left。　Rule　as　you　have　chosen。　Your　information　was　correct；　the　box　with　two　shadows　was　the　one　that　would　kill　you。〃
　
　〃But　you　had　to　do　as　I　said！　You　were　touched　by　a　Confessor's　power！〃
　
　Richard　Smiled。　〃Was　I？　Wizard's　First　Rule。　It's　the　first　rule　because　it's　the　most　important。　You　should　have　guarded　better　against　it。　That's　the　price　of　arrogance。　I　accept　my　vulnerability；　you　don't。
　
　〃I　didn't　like　the　choices　you　gave　me。　I　couldn't　win　by　your　rules；　so　I　made　some　new　ones。　The　book　said　you　had　to　confirm　the　truth　with　the　use　of　a　Confessor。　You　only　thought　you　had　done　that。　Wizard's　First　Rule。　You　believed　because　you　wanted　to。　I　have　beaten　you。〃
　
　〃It　can't　be！　It's　not　possible！　How　could　you　have　known　how　to　do　this！〃
　
　〃You　taught　me：　nothing；　including　magic；　is　one…dimensional。　Look　at　the　whole；　you　said；　nothing　that　exists　has　only　one　side。　Look。　at　the　whole。〃　Richard　shook　his　head　slowly。　〃You　should　never　have　taught　me　something　you　didn't　want　me　to　know。　Once　you　teach　me　something；　it's　mine　to　use。　Thank　you；　Father　Rahl；　for　teaching　me　the　most　important　thing　I　will　ever　learn…how　to　love　Kahlan。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl's　face　distorted　in　pain。　He　laughed　and　screamed。
　
　Richard　looked　around。　〃Where's　Kahlan？〃
　
　Zedd　pointed　a　long　finger。　〃I　saw　her　leave　that　way。〃　Richard　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard　as　he　turned　his　eyes　to　the　figure　held　in　the　shadows　and　light。　〃Good…bye；　Father　Rahl。　I　trust　you　will　die　without　my　watching　it。〃
　
　〃Richard！〃　Rahl　shrieked　as　he　watched　the　Seeker　stride　away。　〃Richard！〃
　
　'Zedd　stood　alone　with　Darken　Rahl。　He　watched　as　transparent　fingers　of　smoke　entwined　around　the　white　robes；　pinning　Rahl's　arms　to　his　sides。　Zedd　stepped　closer；　the　blue　eyes　ing　to　the　old　wizard。
　
　〃Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander；　you　have　won　this　much　of　it；　but　maybe　not　all　of　it。〃
　
　〃Arrogant　to　the　end？〃
　
　Rahl　smiled。　〃Tell　me　who　he　is。〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃The　Seeker。〃
　
　Rahl　laughed；　struggling　in　pain。　The　blue…eyed　gaze；　came　back　to　Zedd。　〃He　is　your　son；　isn't　he？　I　have　at　least　been　defeated　by　wizard　blood。　You　are　his　father。〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head　slowly；　a　wistful　smile　ing　to　his　lips。　〃He　is　my　grandson。〃
　
　〃You　lie！　Why　put　a　web　around　him；　hide　his　father's　identity；　if　it　is　not　you！〃
　
　〃I　put　a　web　around　him　because　I　did　not　want　him　to　know　who　the　blue…eyed　bastard　was　who　raped　his　mother　and　gave　him　life。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl's　eyes　widened。　〃Your　daughter　was　killed。　My　father　told　me　so。〃
　
　〃A　little　trick；　to　keep　her　safe。〃　Zedd's　expression　darkened。　〃Though　you　didn't　know　who　she　was；　you　hurt　her。　Without　intending　it；　you　also　gave　her　happiness。　You　gave　her　Richard。〃
　
　〃I　am　his　father？〃　Rahl　whispered。
　
　〃When　you　raped　my　daughter；　I　knew　I　couldn't　harm　you；　and　my　first　thought　was　to　fort　her；　protect　her；　so　I　took　her　to　Westland。　She　met　a　young　man；　a　man　widowed　with　a　baby　son。；　George　Cypher　was　a　good；　kind　man；　I　was　proud　to　have　him　as　my　daughter's　husband。　George　loved　Richard　as　his　own；　but　he　knew　the　truth；　except　about　me；　who　I　was；　that　was　hidden　by　the　web。
　
　〃I　could　have　hated　Richard　for　his　father's　crimes；　but　chose　instead　to　love　him　for　himself。　He　turned　out　to　be　quite　a　man；　don't　you　think？　You　have　been　defeated　by　the　heir　you　wanted。　An　heir　born　with　the　gift。　That　is　rare。　Richard　is　the　true　Seeker。　From　the　Rahl　blood；　he　has　the　rage　of　the　anger；　the　capacity　for　violence。　But　it's　balanced　with　Zorander　blood；　the　capacity　for　love；　understanding；　and　forgiveness。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　shimmered　in　the　shadows　of　the　magic　or　Orden。　He　twisted　in　pain　as　he　became　transparent　as　smoke。　〃To　think；　the　Zorander　and　Rahl　bloodlines；　joined　in　one。　Yet　he　is　still　my　heir。　In　a　way；〃　he　managed；　〃I　have　won。〃
　
　Zedd　shook　his　head。　〃You　have　lost；。　in　more　ways　than　one。〃
　
　Vapor；　smoke；　shadows；　and　light　spun　in　a　roar。　The　ground　shook　violently。　The　sorcerer's　sand；　now　black　as　pitch；　was　sucked　into　the　vortex。　The　whole　of　it　rotated　over　the　abyss；　the　sounds　of　the　world　of　life　and　the　underworld　mixing　in　a　terrible　howl。
　
　Darken　Rahl's　voice　came　hollow；　empty；　dead。　〃Read　the　prophecies；　old　man。　Things　may　not　yet　be　as　final　as　you　think。　I　am　an　agent。〃
　
　A　point　of　blinding　light　ignited　in　the　center　of　the　spinning　mass。　Zedd　shielded　his　eyes。　Beams　of　white…hot　light　shot　upward；　through　the　windows　overhead；　into　the　sky；　and　downward；　into　the　blackness　of　the　abyss。　There　was　a　piercing　shriek。　The　air　shimmered　with　the　heat；　light；　and　sound。　A　flash　lit　everything　around　to　white；　and　then　there　was　silence。
　
　Cautiously；　Zedd　took　his　hands　from　his　eyes。　It　was　gone。　The　whole　of　it　was　gone。　Winter　sunlight　warmed　the　ground　where　only　moments　before　the　black　abyss　had　been。　The　sorcerer's　sand　was　gone。　The　bare　circle　of　earth　it　had　covered　was　whole。　The　rupture　between　worlds　healed。　At　least　Zedd　hoped　it　was。
　
　The　wizard　felt　his　power　seeping　back　into　his　bones。　The　ones　who　had　drawn　the　spell　against　him　were　gone。　The　effect　of　the　spell　was　gone。
　
　He　stood　before　the　altar；　spread　his　arms　into　the　sunlight；　and　closed　his　eyes。
　
　〃I　recall　the　webs。　I　am　who　I　was　before：　Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander；　Wizard　of　the　First