tg.wizardfirstrule-第182章

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　Chase's　big　fist　grabbed　Michael　by　the　hair。　Michael　screamed　out；　falling　to　his　knees；　giving　the　loser's　salute。
　
　〃Richard！　Please；　I'm　your　brother！　Don't　do　this！　Don't　let　him　kill　me！　I'm　sorry；　forgive　me。　I　was　wrong。　Please；　Richard；　forgive　me。〃
　
　Richard　stared　down　at　his　brother；　who　was　on　his　knees　before　him；　his　hands　together；　imploring。　Richard　held　out　the　Agiel　in　his　fist；；　feeling　the　pain　it　gave　him；　tolerating　it；　remembering　it；　the　visions　flashing　through　his　mind。　〃Darken　Rahl　told　you　what　he　was　going　to　do　to　me。　You　knew。　You　knew　what　was　going　to　happen　to　me；　and　you　were　indifferent　because　it　brought　you　personal　gain。　Michael；　I　forgive　everything　you　have　done　against　me。〃
　
　Michael　sagged　in　relief。　The　Seeker　stiffened。　〃But　I　cannot　forgive　what　you　have　done　against　others。　Others　have　forfeited　their　lives　because　of　the　things　you　have　done。　It　is　for　those　crimes　that　you　are　to　be　executed；　not　the　ones　against　me。〃
　
　Michael　screamed　and　cried　as　Chase　dragged　him　away。　Richard　watched　in　pain；　shaking；　as　his　brother　was　taken　to　his　execution。
　
　Zedd　placed　his　hand　over　Richard's　on　the　Agiel。　〃Let　it　go；　Richard。〃
　
　Richard's　thoughts　masked　the　pain　it　was　giving　him。　He　looked　to　Zedd；　standing　before　him　with　his　bony；　leathery　hand　over　his；　saw　things　in　his　friend's　eyes　he　had　never　seen　before；　a　shared　understanding　of　the　pain。　He　released　the　Agiel。
　
　Kahlan's　eyes　went　to　it　as　it　fell　against　his　chest。　〃Richard；　do　you　have　to　keep　that？〃
　
　〃For　now；　I　do。　It　was　a　promise　I　made　to　one　who　I　killed。　One　who　helped　teach　me　how　much　I　love　you。　Darken　Rahl　thought　this　would　defeat　me。　Instead；　it　taught　me　how　to　defeat　him。　If　I　discard　it　now；　I　would　be　denying　what　is　inside　me；　what　1　am。〃
　
　Kahlan　put　her　hand　on　his　arm。　〃Right　now；　I　don't　understand；　but　someday；　I　hope　I　will。〃
　
　Richard　looked　around　the　Garden　of　Life；　thinking　about　Darken　Rahl's　death；　and　about　his　father's　death。　He　had　seen　justice　done。　He　grieved　a　moment　when　his　memories　touched　his　father。　But　then　the　pain　lifted　as　he　realized　that　he　had　pleted　the　task　his　father　had　given　him。　Richard　had　remembered　every　word　of　the　secret　book　perfectly。　His　duty　was　done。　His　father　could　rest　in　peace。
　
　Zedd　straightened　his　robes　with　a　huff。　〃Bags！　A　place　this　big　must　have　something　to　eat；　don't　you　suppose？〃
　
　Richard　grinned；　putting　an　arm　around　each　of　them　as　he　led　them　out　of　the　Garden　of　Life。　He　took　them　to　a　dining　hall　he　remembered。　People　sat　at　tables　as　if　nothing　had　changed。　The　three　of　them　found　a　table　in　the　corner。　Servers　brought　plates　of　rice；　vegetables；　brown　bread；　cheese　and　bowls　of　steaming　spice　soup。　The　surprised　but　smiling　servers　kept　bringing　more　as　Zedd　resolutely　emptied　the　plates　of　food。
　
　Richard　tried　the　cheese；　and　to　his　surprise　found　it　had　a　sickening　flavor。　He　threw　it　back　on　the　table　as　he　made　a　sour　face。
　
　〃What's　the　matter？〃　Zedd　asked。
　
　〃That　has　to　be　the　worst…tasting　cheese　I've　ever　eaten！〃
　
　Zedd　sniffed　it　and　took　a　bite。　〃Nothing　wrong　with　the　cheese；　my　boy。〃
　
　〃Fine；　then　you　eat　it。〃
　
　Zedd　was　only　too　happy　to　ply。　Richard　and　Kahlan　ate　spice　soup　and　brown　bread；　and　smiled　as　they　watched　their　old　friend　eat。　Zedd　had　his　fill　at　last；　and　they　resumed　their　journey　out　of　the　People's　Palace。
　
　As　they　strode　through　the　halls；　the　bells　tolled　in　a　single；　long　peal；　calling　people　to　the　devotion。　Kahlan　watched　with　a　frown　as　everyone　gathered　at　the　squares；　bowing　to　the　center；　chanting。　Since　Richard　had　changed　the　words　in　his　devotion；　he　no　longer　felt　the　pull；　the　nervous　need　to　join　the　people。　They　passed　a　number　of　squares　as　they　continued。　on；　each　filled　with　people　chanting。　Richard　wondered　if　he　should　do　something　about　it；　stop　them　somehow；　but　decided　at　last　he　had　already　done　the　most　important　part。
　
　The　three　emerged　from　the　cavernous　halls　out　into　the　winter　sunlight。　The　hillside　of　steps　cascaded　down　before　them；　to　the　huge　expanse　of　courtyard。　The　three　paused　at　the　brink。　Richard　gasped　when　he　saw　the　numbers　gathered　there。
　
　Spread　out　before　them　were　thousands　of　men；　standing　tall　in　rank　upon　rank。　At　the　head；　at　the　base　of　the　steps；　stood　Michael’s　personal　guard；　formerly　known　as　the　Home　Guard；　before　Michael　took　that　name　from　them。　Their　mail；　shields；　and　yellow　banners　shone　brightly　in　the　sun。　Behind　them；　nearly　a　thousand　men　of　the　Westland　army。　Behind　them；　many　more　of　the　D'Haran　forces。　Chase　stood　before　them　all；　his　arms　folded；　looking　up　the　steps。　Next　to　him；　planted　in　the　ground；　was　a　pole　with　Michael's　head　atop　it。　Richard　stood；　stunned　by　the　silence。　If　a　man　in　the　back；　a　half　mile　away；　had　coughed；　he　would　have　heard　it。
　
　Zedd's　hand　on　his　back　started　him　down　the　steps。　It　felt　a　little　too　much　like　a　push。　Kahlan　took　his　arm；　giving　it　a　squeeze；　and　held　herself　tall　as　they　descended　the　series　of　steps　and　expansive　landings。　Chase　watched　Richard's　eyes　as　he　came。　Richard　saw　Rachel　beside　him；　clutching　one　arm　around　his　leg；　holding　Sara　in　the　other　hand。　Sharing　the　grip　with　the　doll　was　Siddin's　hand。　Siddin　saw　Kahlan　and　broke　from　the　hand；　running　to　meet　her。　Kahlan　laughed　and　scooped　him　up　in　her　arms。　He　grinned　at　Richard　and　jabbered　something　Richard　didn't　understand；　before　throwing　his　arms　around　Kahlan's　neck。　After　she　hugged　him　and　whispered　to　him；　she　put　him　down；　holding　his　hand　tightly。
　
　The　captain　of　the　Home　Guard　stepped　forward。　〃The　Home　Guard　stands　ready　to　swear　loyalty　to　you；　Richard。〃
　
　The　mander　of　the　Westland　army　stepped　up　next　to　the　captain。　〃As　does　the　Westland　army。〃
　
　A　D'Haran　officer　came　forward。　〃As　do　the　D'Haran　forces。〃
　
　Richard　stared　numbly　at　them；　blinking。　He　felt　the　anger　heat　in　him。
　
　〃No　one's　swearing　loyalty　to　anyone；　least　of　all　me！　I'm　a　woods　guide。　Nothing　more。　Get　that　through　your　heads　right　now。　A　woods　guide！〃
　
　Richard　gazed　out　over　the　sea　of　heads。　All　eyes　were　on　him。　He　glanced　over　to　Michael's　gory　head　stuck　on　the　pole。　He　closed　his　eyes　a　moment；　then　turned　to　some　men　of　the　Home　Guard；　and　pointed　to　the　head。
　
　〃Bury　that　thing　with　the　rest　of　him。〃　No　one　moved。　〃Right　now！〃
　
　They　jumped　and　made　for　the　head。　Richard　returned　his　gaze　to　the　D'Haran　officer　standing　before　him。　Everyone　waited。
　
　〃Send　word：　all　hostilities　are　ended。　The　war　is　ended。　See　to　it　that　all　forces　are　recalled　to　their　homelands；　all　armies　of　occupation　are　withdrawn。　I　expect　every　man　who　has　mitted　crimes　against　defenseless　people；　whether　he　be　foot　soldier　or　general；　to　be　put　on　trial；　and　if　found　guilty；　punished　according　to　the　law。　The　D'Haran　forces　are；　to　help　get　food　to　the　people　who　would　otherwise　starve　over　the　winter。　Fire　is　no　longer　outlawed。　If　any　forces　you　encounter　don't　follow　these　orders；　you　will　have　to　deal　with　them。〃　Richard　pointed　to　the　mander　of　the　Westland　army。　〃Take　your　forces　and　help　him。　Together；　you　will　be　too　strong　to　ignore。〃　The　two　officers　stared。　Richard　leaned　closer。　〃It　won't　get　done　if　you　don't　get　to　it。〃
　
　Both　men　put　a　fist　over　their　hearts　in　salute；　giving　a　bow。
　
　The　D'Haran　officer's　eyes　came　up　to　Richard's。　His　fist　was　still　over　his　heart。　〃By　your　mand；　Master　Rahl。〃
　
　Richard　stared　in　surprise；　then　dismissed　it。　The　man；　he　decided；　must　just　be　used　to　saying　〃Master　Rahl。〃
　
　Richard　noticed　a　guard　to　the　side。　He　recognized　the　man。　He　was　the　captain　of　the　guards　at　the　gate　when　Richard　had　left　the　People's　Palace　before。　The　one　who　had　offered　him　a　horse　and　warned　him　about　the　dragon。　Richard　motioned　him　to　e　forward。　The　man　came　and　stood　stiffly　at　attention；　looking　a　little　worried。
　
　〃I　have　a　job　for　you。〃　The　man　waited　in　silence。　〃I　think　you　would　be　good　at　getting　it　done。　I　want　you　to　collect　all　the　Mord…Sith。　Every　last　one。〃　〃Yes；　sir。〃　He　looked　a　little　pale。　〃They　will　all　be　executed　before　sunset〃
　
　〃No！　I　don't　want　them　executed！〃
　
　The　man　blinked　in　confusion。　〃What　am　I　to　do　with　them？〃
　
　〃You　are　to　destroy　their　Agiels。　Every　last　one。　I　don't　ever　want　to　see　an　Agiel　again。〃　He　held　up　the　one　at　his　neck。　〃Except　this　one。　Then　you　are　to　find　them　new　clothes。　Burn　every　stitch　of　Mord…Sith　clothes。　They　are　to　be　treated　with　kindness；　and　respect。〃
　
　The　man's　eyes　went　wide。　〃Kindness；〃　he　whispered；　〃and　respect？〃
　
　〃That's　what　I　said。　They　are　to　be　given　jobs　helping　people；　they　are　to　be　taught　to　treat　people　in　the　same　way　they　are　treated：　with　kindness　and　respect。　I　don't　know　how　you　are　to　do　that；　you'll　just　have　to　figure　it　out　yourself。　You　look　like　a　bright　fellow。　All　right？〃
　
　He　frowned。　〃And　what　if　they　refuse　to　change？〃
　
　Richard　glared　at　the　man。　〃Tell　them　that　if　they　choose　to　stay　on　the　same　path；　instead　of　taking　another；　then　they　will　find　the　Seeker　with　the　white　sword　at　the　end　of　the　road。〃
　
　The　gu