tg.wizardfirstrule-第4章

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　The　two　of　them　advanced　quickly　across　the　cliff　trail。　They　were　so　clearly　in　the　open；　with　no　chance　to　hide；　that　anyone　could　spot　them　easily；　but　across　the　cliff　the　trail　would　begin　to　head　down　into　the　Hartland　Woods　and　then　into　town。　Even　if　the　men　did　figure　out　their　mistake　and　follow；　Richard　and　the　woman　had　a　safe　lead。
　
　As　it　neared　the　far　side　of　the　cliff　face；　the　path　started　to　broaden　from　its　treacherous；　narrow　width　to　a　space　wide　enough　for　two　to　walk　side　by　side。　Richard　trailed　his　right　hand　along　the　rock　wall　for　reassurance　while　looking　over　the　side　to　the　boulder　fields　several　hundred　feet　below。　He　turned　and　checked　behind。　Still　clear。
　
　As　he　turned　back；　she　froze　in　midstride；　the　folds　of　her　dress　swirling　around　her　legs。
　
　In　the　trail　ahead；　that　only　a　moment　earlier　had　been　empty；　stood　two　of　the　men。　Richard　was　bigger　than　most　men；　these　men　were　much　bigger　than　him。　Their　dark　green　hooded　cloaks　shaded　their　faces　but　couldn't　conceal　their　heavily　muscled　bulk。　Richard's　mind　raced；　trying　to　conceive　of　how　the　men　could　have　gotten　ahead　of　them。
　
　Richard　and　the　woman　spun；　prepared　to　run。　From　the　rock　above；　two　ropes　dropped　down。　The　other　two　men　plummeted　to　the　path；　landing　on　their　feet　with　heavy　thuds；　blocking　any　retreat。　They　were　as　big　as　the　first　two。　Buckles　and　leather　straps　beneath　their　cloaks　held　an　arsenal　of　weapons　that　glinted　in　the　sunlight。
　
　Richard　wheeled　back　to　the　first　two。　They　calmly　pushed　their　hoods　back。　Each　had　thick　blond　hair　and　a　thick　neck；　their　faces　were　rugged；　handsome。
　
　〃You　may　pass；　boy。　Our　business　is　with　the　girl。〃　The　man's　voice　was　deep；　almost　friendly。　Nonetheless；　the　threat　was　as　sharp　as　a　blade。　He　removed　his　leather　gloves　and　tucked　them　in　his　belt　as　he　spoke；　not　bothering　to　look　at　Richard。　He　obviously　didn't　consider　Richard　an　obstacle。　He　appeared　to　be　the　one　in　charge；　as　the　other　three　waited　silently　while　he　spoke。
　
　Richard　had　never　been　in　a　situation　like　this　before。　He　never　allowed　himself　to　lose　his　temper；　and　could　usually　turn　scowls　to　smiles　with　his　easy　manner。　If　talk　didn't　work；　he　was　quick　enough　and　strong　enough　to　stop　threats　before　anyone　was　hurt；　and　if　need　be　he　would　simply　walk　away。　He　knew　these　men　weren't　interested　in　talking；　and　they　clearly　weren't　afraid　of　him。　He　wished　he　could　walk　away　now。
　
　Richard　glanced　to　her　green　eyes　and　saw　the　visage　of　a　proud　woman　beseeching　his　help。
　
　He　leaned　closer；　and　kept　his　voice　low；　but　firm。　〃I　won't　leave　you。〃　Relief　washed　over　her　face。
　
　She　gave　a　slight　nod　as　she　settled　her　hand　lightly　on　his　forearm。　〃Keep　between　them；　don't　let　them　all　e　at　me　at　once；〃　she　whispered。　〃And　be　sure　you　aren't　touching　me　when　they　e。〃　Her　hand　tightened　on　his　arm　and　her　eyes　held　his；　waiting　for　confirmation　that　he　understood　her　instructions。　He　nodded　his　agreement。　〃May　the　good　spirits　be　with　us；〃　she　said。　She　let　her　hands　drop　to　her　sides；　turning　to　the　two　behind　them；　her　face　dead　calm；　devoid　of　emotion。
　
　〃Be　on　your　way；　boy。〃　The　leader's　voice　was　harder。　His　fierce　blue　eyes　glared。　He　gritted　his　teeth。　〃Last　time　offered。〃　。　j'
　
　Richard　swallowed　hard。
　
　He　tried　to　sound　sure　of　himself。　〃We　will　both　be　passing。〃　He　heart　felt　as　if　it　were　ing　up　into　his　throat。
　
　〃Not　this　day；〃　the　leader　said　with　finality。　He　pulled　free　a　wicked…looking　curved　knife。
　
　The　man　to　his　side　pulled　a　short　sword　clear　of　the　scabbard　。　strapped　across　his　back。　With　a　depraved　grin；　he　drew　it　across　the　inside　of　his　muscled　forearm；　staining　the　blade　red。　From　behind；　Richard　could　hear　the　ring　of　steel　being　drawn。　He　was　paralyzed　with　fear。　This　was　all　happening　too　fast。　They　had　no　chance。　None。
　
　For　a　brief　moment　no　one　moved。　Richard　flinched　when　the　four　gave　the　howling　battle　cries　of　men　prepared　to　die　in　mortal　bat。　They　charged　in　a　frightening　rush。　The　one　with　the　short　sword　swung　it　high；　ing　at　Richard。　He　could　hear　one　of　the　men　behind　him　grab　the　woman　as　the　man　with　the　sword　raced　toward　him。
　
　And　then；　just　before　the　man　reached　him；　there　was　a　hard　impact　to　the　air；　like　a　clap　of　thunder　with　no　sound。　The　violence　of　it　made　every　joint　in　his　body　cry　out　in　sharp　pain。　Dust　lifted　around　them；　spreading　outward　in　a　ring。
　
　The　man　with　the　sword　felt　the　pain　of　it；　too；　and　for　an　instant　his　attention　was　diverted　past　Richard；　to　the　woman。　As　he　came　crashing　forward；　Richard　fell　back　against　the　wall　and　with　both　feet　hit　the　man　square　in　the　chest　as　hard　as　he　could。　It　knocked　him　clear　of　the　path；　into　midair。　The　man's　eyes　went　wide　in　surprise　as　he　dropped　backward　to　the　rocks　below；　the　sword　still　held　over　his　head　in　both　hands。
　
　To　Richard's　shock；　he　saw　one　of　the　other　two　men　from　behind　him　falling　through　space；　too；　his　chest　ripped　and　bloody。　Before　Richard　could　give　it　a　thought；　the　leader　with　the　curved　knife　charged　past；　intent　on　the　woman。　He　hammered　the　heel　of　his　free　hand　into　the　center　of　Richard's　chest。　The　jolt　knocked　the　wind　out　of　him　and　flung　him　hard　against　the　wall；　smacking　his　head　against　the　rock。　As　he　fought　to　remain　conscious；　his　only　thought　was　that　he　had　to　stop　the　man　from　getting　to　her。
　
　Summoning　strength　he　didn't　know　he。　had；　Richard　snatched　the　leader　by　his　husky　wrist　and　spun　him　around。　The　knife　came　around　in　an　arc　toward　him。　The　blade　flashed　in　the　sunlight。　There　was　a　savage　hunger　in　the　man's　blue　eyes。　Richard　had　never　been　so　afraid　in　his　life。
　
　In　that　instant　he　knew　he　was　about　to　die。
　
　Seemingly　from　out　of　nowhere；　the　last　man；　with　a　short　sword　covered　in　gore；　smashed　into　the　leader；　driving　his　sword　through　the　other's　gut；　slamming　the　wind　out　of　him。　The　collision　was　so　fierce　it　carried　both　over　the　side　of　the　cliff。　All　the　way　down　the　last　man　howled　in　a　cry　of　rage　that　ended　only　when　they　met　the　boulders　below。
　
　Richard　stood　stunned；　staring　over　the　edge。　Reluctantly　he　turned　to　the　woman；　afraid　to　look；　terrified　he　would　see　her　gashed　open　and　lifeless。　Instead；　she　was　sitting　on　the　ground；　leaning　against　the　cliff　wall；　looking　drained　but　unhurt。　Her　face　had　a　faraway　look。　It　was　all　over　so　fast　he　couldn't　understand　what　had　happened　or　how。　Richard　and　the　woman　were　alone　in　the　sudden　silence。
　
　He　slumped　down　beside　her　on　rock　warm　from　the　sun。　He　had　a　powerful　headache　from　having　his　head　whacked　on　the　wall。　Richard　could　see　she　was　all　right；　so　he　didn't　ask。　He　felt　too　overwhelmed　to　talk　and　could　sense　the　same　in　her。　She　noticed　blood　on　the　back　of　her　hand　and　wiped　it　off　on　the　wall；　adding　it　to　the　red　splatters　already　there。　Richard　thought　he　might　throw　up。
　
　He　couldn't　believe　they　were　alive。　It　didn't　seem　possible。　What　was　the　thunder　without　sound？　And　the　pain　he　felt　when　it　had　happened？　He　had　never　felt　anything　like　it　before。　He　shuddered　recalling　it。　Whatever　it　was；　she　had　something　to　do　with　it；　and　it　had　saved　his　life。　Something　unearthly　had　occurred；　and　he　wasn't　at　all　sure　he　wanted　to　know　what　it　was。
　
　She　leaned　her　head　back　against　the　rock；　rolling　it　to　the　side；　toward　him。　〃I　don't　even　know　your　name。　I　wanted　to　ask　before；　but　I　was　afraid　to　talk。〃　She　vaguely　indicated　the　dropoff。　〃I　was　so　frightened　of　them　。。。。　I　didn't　want　them　to　find　us。〃
　
　He　thought　maybe　she　was　about　to　cry　and　looked　over　at　her。　She　wasn't；　but　he　felt　that　he　might。　He　nodded　his　understanding　of　what　she　said　about　the　men。
　
　〃My　name　is　Richard　Cypher。〃
　
　Her　green　eyes　studied　his　as　he　looked　at　her。　The　light　breeze　carried　wisps　of　hair　across　her　face。
　
　She　smiled。　〃There　are　not　many　who　would　have　stood　with　me。〃　He　found　her　voice　as　attractive　as　the　rest　of　her。　It　matched　the　spark　of　intelligence　in　her　eyes。　It　almost　took　his　breath　away。　〃You　are　a　very　rare　person；　Richard　Cypher。〃
　
　To　his　intense　displeasure　Richard　felt　his　face　flush。　She　looked　away；　pulling　the　strands　of　hair　off　her　face；　and　pretended　not　to　notice　his　blushing。
　
　〃I　am　。　。　。〃　She　sounded　as　if　she　was　going　to　say　something　she　then　thought　better　of。　She　turned　back　to　him。　〃I　am　Kahlan。　My　family　name　is　Amnell。〃
　
　He　looked　into　her　eyes　a　long　moment。　〃You　too　are　a　very　rare　person；　Kahlan　Amnell。　There　are　not　many　who　would　have　stood　as　you　did。〃
　
　She　did　not　blush；　but　smiled　again。　It　was　an　odd　sort　of　smile；　a　special　smile；　not　showing　any　teeth。　Her　lips　were　pressed　together；　as　one　would　do　when　taking　another　into　one's　confidence。　Her　eyes　sparkled。　It　was　a　smile　of　sharing。
　
　Richard　reached　behind；　felt　the　painful　lump　on　the　back　of　his　head；　and　checked　his　fingers　for　blood。　There　was　none；　though　he　thought　that　by　all　rights　there　should　have　been。　He　looked　back　at　her；　again　wondering　what　had　happened；　wondering　what　she　had　done；　and　how　she　had　done　it。　There　was　that　thunder　with　no　sound；　and　he　had　knocked　one　of　th