tg.wizardfirstrule-第22章

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my　solitude。　I　apologize　for　my　reaction　and　for　making　you　feel　unwele。　I　hope　I　have　made　it　up　to　you。　I　am　one　who　has　respect　for　the　Confessors；　perhaps　more　than　you　will　ever　know。　You　are　a　good　woman；　and　you　are　wele　in　my　house。〃
　
　Kahlan　looked　into　his　eyes　a　long　moment。　〃Thank　you；　Zeddicus　Zu'1　Zorander。〃
　
　Zedd's　expression　turned　more　dangerous　than　hers　had　when　they　had　first　met。　She　stood　frozen　with　his　finger　still　under　her　chin；　afraid　to　move；　her　eyes　wide。
　
　〃Know　this；　though；　Mother　Confessor。〃　His　voice　was　only　one　step　above　a　whisper；　and　deadly。　〃This。　boy　has　been　my　friend　a　good　long　time。　If　you　touch　him　with　your　power；　or　if　you　choose　him；　you　will　answer　to　me。　And　you　would　not　like　that。　Do　you　understand？〃
　
　She　swallowed　hard　and　managed　to　give　a　weak　nod。　〃Yes。〃
　
　〃Good。〃　The　danger　left　his　face；　leaving　calm　again　in　its　place。　He　removed　his　finger　from　under　her　chin；　and　began　to　turn　to　Richard。
　
　Kahlan　let　her　breath　out　and；　not　willing　to　be　intimidated；　grabbed　his　arm；　turning　him　back　to　her。　〃Zedd；　I　would　not　do　that　to　him；　not　because　of　what　you　said；　but　because　I　care　for　him。　I　want　you　to　understand　that。〃
　
　They　faced　off　a　long　while；　each　measuring　the　other。　Zedd's　impish　smile　returned；　as　disarming　as　ever。
　
　〃If　offered　a　choice；　dear　one；　that　is　the　way　I　would　prefer　it。〃
　
　She　relaxed；　satisfied　at　having　made　her　point；　and　gave　him　a　quick　hug　that　was　returned　earnestly。
　
　〃There　is　one　thing　you　have　left　unspoken。　You　have　not　asked　for　my　help　in　finding　the　wizard。〃
　
　〃No；　and　for　now　I　won't。　Richard　fears　what　I　would　do　if　you　were　to　say　no。　I　promised　I　would　not　ask　until　he　has　a　chance　to　ask　you　first。　I　gave　him　my　word。〃
　
　Zedd　put　a　bony　finger　to　his　chin。　〃How　interesting。〃　He　laid　his　hand　on　her　shoulder　conspiratorially；　and　changed　the　subject。　〃You　know；　dear　one；　you　might　make　a　good　Seeker　yourself。〃
　
　〃Me？　A　woman　can　be　Seeker？〃
　
　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃Of　course。　Some　of　the　best　Seekers　have　been　women。〃
　
　〃I　already　have　an　impossible　job。〃　She　frowned。　〃I　don't　need　two。〃
　
　Zedd　chuckled；　his　eyes　sparkling。　〃Perhaps　you　are　right。　Now；　it's　very　late；　dear　one。　Go　to　my　bed　in　the　next　room　and　get　yourself　some　needed　sleep。　I　will　sit　with　Richard。〃
　
　〃No！〃　She　shook　her　head　and　plopped　down　in　the　chair。　〃I　don't　want　to　leave　him　for　now。〃
　
　Zedd　shrugged。　〃As　you　wish。〃　He　walked　behind　her　and　patted　her　shoulder　reassuringly。　〃As　you　wish：〃　He　gently　reached　up　and　put　a　middle　finger　to　each　of　her　temples；　rubbing　in　little　circles。　She　moaned　softly　as　her　eyes　closed。　〃Sleep；　dear　one；〃　he　whispered；　〃sleep。〃　She　folded　her　arms　down　onto　the　edge　of　the　bed；　and　her　head　sank　onto　her　arms。　She　was　deeply　asleep。　After　he　put　a　blanket　over　her；　Zedd　went　to　the　front　room　and　pulled　open　the　door；　looking　out　into　the　night。
　
　〃Cat！　e　here；　I　want　you。〃　The　cat　came　running　in　and　rubbed　himself　against　Zedd's　legs；　swishing　his　tail　up。　Zedd　bent　down　and　scratched　him　behind　the　ears。　〃Go　in　and　sleep　on　the　young　woman's　lap。　Keep　her　warm。〃　The　cat　padded　off　to　the　bedroom　as　the　old　man　stepped　out　into　the　cold　night　air。
　
　…＋
　
　The　wind　whipped　Zedd's　robes　as　he　walked　the　narrow　path　through　the　tall　grass。　The　clouds　were　thin；　illuminated　by　the　moon；　which　gave　enough　light　to　see　by；　even　though　he　didn't　need　it；　he　had　walked　the　same　route　thousands　of　times。
　
　〃Nothing　is　ever　easy；〃　he　muttered　as　he　went。
　
　Near　a　stand　of　trees　he　stopped；　listening。　Slowly；　he　turned　about；　peering　into　the　shadows；　watching　the　branches　bend　and　sway　in　the　breeze；　testing　the　air　with　his　nose。　He　searched　for　an　alien　movement。
　
　A　fly　bit　his　neck。　He　swatted　it　angrily；　picked　the　offender　off　his　neck；　and　glared　at　it。　〃Blood　fly。　Bags。　I　thought　as　much；〃　he　plained。
　
　From　the　brush　near　by；　something　came　toward　him　in　a　terrible　rush。　Wings　and　fur　and　teeth　came　charging。　Hands　on　his　hips；　Zedd　waited。　Just　before　it　was　on　him；　he　held　up　his　hand；　bringing　the　short…tailed　gar　to　a　lurching　halt。　It　was　half　again　as　tall　as　he；　full　grown；　and　twice　as　fierce　as　a　long…tailed　gar。　The　beast　growled　and　blinked；　its　great　muscles　flexing　as　it　fought　against　the　force　that　kept　it　from　reaching　out　and　grabbing　the　old　man。　It　was　furious　that　it　had　not　yet　killed　him。
　
　Zedd　reached　up　and　with　a　crooked　finger　beckoned　it　to　lean　closer。　The　gar；　panting　in　rage；　bent　toward　him。　Zedd　jammed　his　finger　hard　under　its　chin。
　
　〃What　is　your　name？〃　he　hissed。　The　beast　grunted　twice　and　made　a　sound　from　deep　in　its　throat。　Zedd　gave　a　nod。　〃I　will　remember　it。　Tell　me；　do　you　wish　to　live；　or　to　die？〃　The　gar　struggled　to　back　away；　but　was　unable　to。　〃Good。　Then　you　will　do　exactly　as　I　say。　Somewhere　between　here　and　D'Hara；　a　quad　es　this　way。　Hunt　them　and　kill　them。　When　you　have　done　so；　go　back　to　D'Hara；　to　where　you　came　from。　Do　these　things　and　I　will　let　you　live；　but　I　will　remember　your　name；　and　if　you　fail　to　kill　the　quad；　or　ever　e　back　after　your　task　is　done；　I　will　kill　you　and　feed　you　to　your　flies。　Do　you　agree　to　my　terms？〃　The　gar　grunted　an　acknowledgment。　〃Good。　Then　be　gone。〃　Zedd　removed　his　finger　from　under　the　gar's　chin。
　
　Scrambling　to　get　away；　the　beast　flapped　its　wings　frantically；　beating　down　the　grass　as　it　stumbled　along。　At　last　the　gar　was　airborne。　Zedd　watched　it　as　it　circled；　searching　for　the　quad。　As　the　hunt　moved　steadily　east；　the　circles　seemed　to　get　smaller　until　the　old　man　could　no　longer　see　the　beast。　Only　then　did　he　continue　on　to　the　top　of　the　hill。
　
　Standing　next　to　his　cloud　rock；　Zedd　pointed　down　at　it　and　began　turning　his　bony　finger　in　a　circle　as　if　stirring　a　stew。　The　massive　rock　grated　against　the　ground　as　it　tried　to　revolve　with　the　movement　of　Zedd's　finger。　The　rock　shuddered；　trying　to　rotate　its　own　weight。　Popping　and　snapping；　it　fractured；　sending　hairline　cracks　shooting　across　its　surface。　Its　trembling　bulk　struggled　against　the　force　being　applied。　The　granular　structure　of　the　stone　began　to　soften。　Unable　to　maintain　its　state　any　longer；　the　texture　of　the　rock　liquefied　enough　to　allow　its　mass　to　rotate　with　the　movement　of　the　finger　above　it。　Gradually　the　speed　of　Zedd's　stirring　increased　until　light　erupted　from　the　rotating　liquid　rock。
　
　The　light　built　in　intensity　with　the　speed　of　Zedd's　hand。　As　colors　and　sparkles　of　light　spun；　shadows　and　forms　came　into　the　center　of　the　light　and　vanished　as　the　fog　of　brightness　increased。　Light　threatened　to　ignite　the　air　about　him。　A　dull　roar；　like　the　sound　of　wind　rushing　through　a　fissure；　came　forth。　The　smells　of　autumn　changed　to　winter　clarity；　then　spring's　new　plowed　ground；　summer's　flowers；　and　back　to　autumn　again。　Clean；　pure　illumination　chased　the　colors　and　sparkles　away。
　
　The　rock　abruptly　solidified　and　Zedd　stepped　atop　it；　into　the　light。　The　brightness　faded　to　a　faint　glow　that　swirled　like　smoke。　Before　him　stood　two　apparitions；　mere　shadows　of　form。　Where　sharpness　should　have　been；　their　shapes　softened　like　a　dim　memory；　yet　they　were　still　recognizable；　and　the　sight　of　them　brought　a　quickness　to　Zedd's　heart。
　
　His　mother's　voice　came　hollow　and　distant。　〃What　troubles　you；　son？　Why　have　you　called　us　after　so　many　years？〃　Her　arms　stretched　out　to　him。
　
　Zedd's　arms　reached　out；　but　could　not　touch　her。　〃I　am　troubled　by　what　the　Mother　Confessor　tells　me。〃
　
　〃She　speaks　the　truth。〃
　
　He　closed　his　eyes　and　nodded　as　his　arms　lowered　with　hers。　〃It's　true；　then；　all　my　students；　save　Giller；　are　dead。〃
　
　〃You　are　the　only　one　left　to　protect　the　Mother　Confessor。〃　She　drifted　closer。　〃You　must　appoint　the　Seeker。〃
　
　〃The　High　Council　sowed　these　seeds；〃　he　protested；　frowning。　〃Now　you　want　me　to　help？　They　turned　my　advice　away。　Let　them　live　and　die　by　their　own　greed。〃
　
　Zedd's　father　floated　closer。　〃My　son；　why　were　you　angry　with　your　students？〃
　
　Zedd　scowled。　〃Because　they　put　themselves　before　their　duty　to　help　their　people。〃
　
　〃I　see。　And　how　is　this　different　from　what　you　do　now？〃　The　echo　of　his　voice　hung　in　the　air。
　
　Zedd's　fists　tightened。　〃My　help　was　offered；　but　turned　away。〃
　
　〃And　when　has　it　not　been　so；　that　there　would　be　those　who　were　blind；　or　foolish；　or　greedy？　Would　you　let　them　have　their　way　over　you　so　easily？　Would　you　let　them　so　simply　prevent　you　from　helping　those　who　would　be　helped？　Your　abandonment　of　the　people　may　have　a　reason　that　seems　just　to　you；　unlike　the　actions　of　your　students；　but　the　results　are　the　same。　In　the　end　they　saw　their　mistake；　and　did　the　right　things；　the　things　you　taught　them。　Learn　from　your　students；　son。〃
　
　〃Zeddicus；〃　his　mother　said；　〃would　you　let　Richard　die　too；　and　all　the　other　innocents？　Appoint　the　Seeker。〃
　
　〃He's　too　young。〃
　
　She　shook　her　head　with　a　gentle　smile。　〃He　will　not　get　the　chance　to　grow　older。〃
　
　〃He　has　not　passed　my　final　test。〃
　
　〃Darken　Rahl　hunts　Richard。　The　cloud　that