tg.wizardfirstrule-第24章

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　Richard　finished　his　meal　and　pushed　the　bowl　away　with　his　thumbs；　at　the　same　time　meeting　Zedd's　eyes。　His　friend's　humor　was　gone；　but　otherwise　he　showed　nothing　of　what　he　was　thinking。　He　simply　waited。　It　was　Richard's　turn　now；　and　once　he　began　there　could　be　no　going　back。
　
　〃Zedd；　my　friend；　we　need　your　help　to　stop　Darken　Rahl。　〃
　
　〃I　know。　You　want　me　to　find　the　wizard　for　you。〃
　
　〃No；　that　won't　be　necessary。　I　have　already　found　him。〃　Richard　felt　Kahlan's　questioning　eyes　on　him；　but　he　continued　to　fix　his　gaze　on　Zedd。　〃You　are　the　great　wizard。〃
　
　Kahlan　began　to　rise　from　the　bench。　Without　taking　his　eyes　from　Zedd；　Richard　'reached　under　the　table　and　clutched　her　forearm；　forcing　her　to　sit　back　down。　Still　Zedd　showed　no　emotion。　His　voice　came　even　and　soft。
　
　〃And　what　makes　you　think　this；　Richard？〃
　
　Richard　took　a　deep　breath；　letting　it　out　slowly　as　he　put　his　hands　on　the　table；　intertwining　his　fingers。　He　watched　his　hands　as　he　spoke。　〃When　Kahlan　first　told　me　about　the　history　of　the　three　lands；　she　said　the　council　had　taken　actions　that　made　the　death　of　the　wizard's　wife　and　daughter　at　the　hands　of　a　quad　stand　for　nothing；　and　as　punishment　the　wizard　did　the　worst　thing　possible　to　them：　he　left　them　to　suffer　the　consequences　of　their　own　actions。
　
　〃That　sounded　like　the　very　thing　you　would　do；　but　I　couldn't　be　sure　then；　I　had　to　find　a　way　to　know。　When　you　first　saw　Kahlan；　and　were　angry　that　she　had　e　here　from　the　Midlands；　I　told　you　she　had　been　attacked　by　a　quad。　I　watched　your　eyes。　They　told　me　I　was　right。　Only　someone　who　had　suffered　a　loss　like　yours　would　have　had　that　look　in　his　eyes。　And；　you　changed　your　attitude　toward　her　after　I　told　you
　
　pletely。　Only　someone　who　had　known　the　terror　personally　would　have　that　kind　of　empathy。　But　still　I　didn't　trust　my　instinct。　I　waited。〃
　
　He　looked　up　at　Zedd　and　held　the　other's　gaze　while　he　spoke。　〃Your　biggest　mistake　was　when　you　told　Kahlan　she　was　safe　here。　You　would　not　lie；　especially　about　something　like　that。　And　you　know　what　a　quad　is。　How　could　an　old　man　make　it　safe　here；　against　a　quad；　without　magic？　He　couldn't；　but　one　old　wizard　could。　The　next　quad　is　nowhere　to　be　found；　you　said　so　yourself；　they　ran　into　some　trouble。　I　think　they　ran　into　some　wizard　trouble。　You　were　as　good　as　your　word。　You　always　are。〃
　
　Richard's　voice　turned　gentler。　〃I　have　always　known；　in　a　thousand　little　ways；　that　you　were　more　than　you　claimed　to　be；　that　you　were　a　special　person。　I　have　always　been　honored　to　have　you　as　my　friend。　And　I　know　that　as　my　friend；　you　would　do　anything；　anything　you　must；　to　help　me　if　my　life　were　in　danger；　just　as　I　would　do　anything　for　you。　I　trust　you　with　my　life；　and　it　is　now　in　your　hands。〃　Richard　hated　closing　the　trap　in　this　fashion；　but　all　their　lives　were　at　risk。　There　could　be　no　games。
　
　Zedd　put　his　hands　on　the　table　and　leaned　forward。　〃I　have　never　before　been　this　proud　of　you；　Richard。〃　His　eyes　told　that　he　meant　it。　〃You　got　it　all　right。〃　He　stood　and　came　around　the　table。　When　Richard　stood；　they　hugged。　〃I　have　also　never　been　this　sad　for　you。〃　Zedd　held　Richard　in　a　tight　embrace　for　a　moment　longer。　〃Sit。　I　will　be　right　back。　I　have　something　for　you。　Both　of　you　sit　and　wait　a　moment。〃
　
　Zedd　cleared　the　table；　then；　holding　the　plates　in　the　crook　of　his　arm；　he　strode　to　the　house。　Kahlan　looked　worried　as　she　watched　him　go。　Richard　had　thought　that　she　would　be　happy　to　have　found　the　wizard；　but　now　she　looked　more　frightened　than　anything　else。　Things　were　going　differently　from　what　he　had　expected。
　
　When　Zedd　reappeared；　he　was　carrying　something　long。　Kahlan　came　to　her　feet。　Richard　realized　Zedd's　fist　clutched　the　scabbard　of　a　sword。　Kahlan　put　herself　in　front　of　him　before　he　reached　the　table；　grabbing　fistfuls　of　his　robes。
　
　〃Don't　do　this；　Zedd。〃　Her　voice　was　desperate。
　
　〃It　is　not　my　choice。〃
　
　〃Zedd；　please　no；　choose　someone　else；　not　Richard　。　。　。　。〃
　
　Zedd　cut　her　off。　〃Kahlan！　I　warned　you　about　this。　I　told　you；　he　picks　himself。　If　I　choose　someone　other　than　the　true　one；　we　all　die。　If　you　have　a　better　way　。　。　。　put　words　to　it！〃
　
　He　swept　her　aside；　came　to　the　side　of　the　table　opposite　Richard；　and　slammed　the　sword　down　in　front　of　him。　Richard　jumped。　He　looked　from　the　sword　up　into　Zedd's　fierce　eyes　as　the　other　leaned　over　the　table。
　
　〃This　belongs　to　you；〃　the　wizard　said。　Kahlan　turned　her　back　to　them。
　
　Richard's　gaze　fell　upon　the　sword。　The　silver　scabbard　gleamed　with　gold　flourishes　that　embellished　it　in　sweeps　and　waves。　Steel　crossguards　swept　out　and　down　aggressively。　Finely　twisted　silver　wire　covered　the　grip；　and　interwoven　along　the　side　of　the　braided　silver；　gold　wire　formed　the　word　Truth。　This；　Richard　thought；　was　the　sword　of　a　king。　It　was　the　finest　weapon　he　had　ever　seen。
　
　Slowly；　he　rose　to　his　feet。　Zedd　picked　up　the　scabbard　by　the　point　and　held　the　hilt　of　the　sword　to　Richard。　〃Draw　it。〃
　
　As　if　in　a　trance；　Richard　closed　his　fingers　around　the　hilt　and　pulled　the　sword　free；　the　blade　making　a　ringing；　metallic　sound　that　hung　in　the　air。　Richard　had　never　heard　a　sword　make　a　sound　quite　like　it。　His　hand　closed　tightly　around　the　grip；　and　in　his　palm　and　on　his　fingers　opposite　he　could　feel　the　bumps　of　the　gold　wire　that　spelled　out　the　word　Truth　on　each　side　of　the　hilt　pressing　almost　painfully　into　his　flesh。　Inexplicably；　it　felt　precisely　correct。　The　weight　fit　him　exactly。　He　felt　as　if　a　part　of　him　was　now　plete。
　
　From　deep　within；　he　felt　his　anger　stir；　brought　to　life；　searching　direction。　He　was　suddenly　aware　of　the　tooth　against　his　chest。
　
　As　his　rage　rose；　he　felt　an　awakening　power　rushing　into　him　from　the　sword：　the　twin　to　his　own　anger。　His　own　feelings　had　always　seemed　independent；　whole。　This　was　like　having　an　image　in　a　mirror　e　to　life。　It　was　a　terrifying　specter。　His　anger　fed　on　the　force　from　the　sword；　and　in　return；　the　wrath　from　the　sword　fed　on　his　anger。　Together　the　twin　storms　spiraled　through　him。　He　felt　like　a　helpless　bystander；　being　dragged　along。　It　was　a　frightening　and　at　the　same　time　seductive　sensation　that　bordered　on　violation。　Fearful　perceptions　of　his　own　anger　twisted　with　tantalizing　promise。　The　bewitching　emotions　rushed　headlong　through　him；　seizing　his　anger；　soaring　with　it。　Richard　struggled　to　control　the　rage。　He　was　on　the　brink　of　panic。　On　the　brink　of　abandon。
　
　Zeddicus　Zu'l　Zorander　threw　his　head　back　and　spread　his　arms。　To　the　sky；　he　called　out；　〃Fair　warning　to　those　living　and　those　dead！　The　Seeker　is　named！〃
　
　Thunder　from　the　blue　sky　shook　the　ground　and　rolled　off　toward　the　boundary。
　
　Kahlan　fell　to　her　knees　in　front　of　Richard；　head　bowed；　hands　held　behind　her　back。　〃I　pledge　my　life　in　the　defense　of　the　Seeker。〃
　
　Zedd　knelt　beside　her；　his　head　bowed。　〃I　pledge　my　life　in　the　defense　of　the　Seeker。〃　'
　
　Richard　stood　gripping　the　Sword　of　Truth　in　his　hand；　eyes　wide　in　breathless　bewilderment。
　
　〃Zedd；〃　he　whispered；　〃what　in　the　name　of　everything　good　is　a　Seeker？〃　
　
　CHAPTER　9
　WITH　THE　AID　OF　a　hand　to　his　knee；　Zedd　rose　to　his　feet；　rearranged　his　robes　around　his　bony　body；　and　held　his　hand　out　to　Kahlan；　who　was　staring　at　the　ground。　Noticing　the　hand；　she　took　it；　ing　to　her　feet　as　well。　Her　face　bore　a　distressed　expression。　Zedd　considered　her　for　a　moment；　and　she　nodded　that　she　was　all　right。
　
　Zedd　turned　to　Richard。　〃What　is　a　Seeker？　A　wise　first　question　in　your　new　capacity；　but　not　one　swiftly　answered。〃
　
　Richard　gazed　down　at　the　gleaming　sword　in　his　hand；　not　at　all　sure　he　wanted　anything　to　do　with　it。　He　slid　it　back　into　its　scabbard；　glad　to　be　free　of　the　feelings　it　invoked；　and　held　it　in　both　hands　before　him。　〃Zedd；　I've　never　seen　this　before。　Where　have　you　kept　it？〃
　
　Zedd　smiled　proudly。　〃In　the　cabinet；　in　the　house。〃
　
　Richard　eyed　him　skeptically。　〃There's　nothing　in　the　cabinet　but　dishes　and　pans　and　your　powders。〃
　
　〃Not　that　cabinet；〃　he　said；　lowering　his　voice　as　if　to　thwart　anyone　who　might　be　listening；　〃in　my　wizard's　cabinet！〃　Richard　straightened　with　a　frown。　〃I've　never　seen　any　other　cabinet。〃
　
　〃Bags；　Richard！　You're　not　supposed　to　see　it！　It's　a　wizard's　cabinet；　it's　invisible！〃
　
　Richard　felt　more　than　a　little　stupid。　〃And　how　long　have　you　had　this？〃
　
　〃Oh；　I　don't　know；　maybe　a　dozen　years　or　so。〃　Zedd　swept　his　slender　hand　in　the　air　as　if　trying　to　brush　the　question　away。
　
　〃And　how　did　you　e　to　have　it？〃
　
　Zedd's　tone　hardened。　〃The　naming　of　the　Seeker　is　a　wizard's　task。　The　High　Council　wrongly　took　it　upon　itself　to　name　the　person。　They　didn't　care　anything　about　finding　the　right　person。　They　gave　the　post　to　whoever　suited　them　at　the　time。　Or　whoever　offered　the　most。　The　sword　belongs　to　the　Seeker　as　long　as　he　is　alive；　or　as　long　as　he　chooses　to　be　Seeker。　In　between；　while　a　new　Seeker　is　sought；　the　Sword　of　Truth　belongs　to　the　wizards。　Or　more　precisely；　it　belongs　to　me；　as