tg.wizardfirstrule-第52章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ord　of　Truth；　ready　for　the　violence　necessary　to　stop　them；　knowing　that　nothing　short　of　blood　would　suffice。　Then　he　saw　Kahlan　next　to　him；　talking　to　the　mob；　stopping　them；　holding　them　with　her　words；　running　her　tongue　across　her　lip；　giving　meaning　without　speaking。　She　was　taking　the　fire　from　them；　disarming　the　depraved　without　touching　them；　doing　what　the　sword　could　not。　He　began　to　understand　what　Adie　meant。。
　
　Kahlan's　hand　swept　up　sharply　and　snatched　Adie's　wrist；　pulling　the　hand　away　from　Richard。　There　was　a　dangerous　look　in　her　eyes；　one　that　wasn't　lost　on　Adie。
　
　〃I　am　sworn　to　protect　the　life　of　the　Seeker。　I　do　not　know　what　you　are　doing。　You　will　forgive　me　if　I　overreact；　I　mean　no　disrespect；　but　I　could　not　forgive　myself　if　I　failed　in　my　task。　There　is　much　at　risk。〃
　
　Adie　looked　down　at　the　hand　around　her　wrist。　〃I　understand；　child。　Forgive　me　for　thoughtlessly　giving　you　cause　for　alarm。〃
　
　Kahlan　held　the　wrist　a　moment　longer　to　make　her　point；　then　released　it。　Adie　laid　the　hand　over　her　other　on　the　top　of　the　crutch。　She　looked　back　to　Richard。
　
　〃Teeth　and　tongue　work　together。　Same　with　the　magic。　You　mand　the　magic　of　the　sword；　the　magic　of　the　teeth。　But　that　gives　you　magic　of　the　tongue　also。　The　magic　of　the　tongue　works　because　you　back　it　with　the　sword。〃　She　turned　her　head　slowly　to　Kahlan。　〃You　have　both；　child。　Teeth　and　tongue。　You　use　them　together；　one　backing　the　other。〃
　
　〃And　what　is　a　wizard's　magic？〃　Richard　asked。
　
　Adie　looked　at　him；　considering　the　question。　〃There　be　many　kind　of　magic；　teeth　and　tongue　be　only　two。　Wizards　know　them　all；　save　those　of　the　underworld。　Wizards　use　most　of　what　they　know。〃　She　looked　down　at　Zedd。　〃He。　be　a　very　dangerous　man。〃
　
　〃He　has　never　shown　me　anything　but　kindness　and　understanding。　He　is　a　gentle　man。〃
　
　〃True。　But　he　also　be　a　dangerous　one；〃　Adie　repeated。
　
　Richard　let　it　drop。　〃And　Darken　Rahl？　Do　you　know　of　him；　what　kind　he　can　use？〃
　
　Adie's　eyes　narrowed。　〃Oh；　yes；〃　she　hissed。　〃I　know　of　him。　He　can　use　all　the　magic　a　wizard　does；　and　the　magic　a　wizard　cannot。　Darken　Rahl　can　use　the　underworld。〃
　
　Icy　bumps　rippled　up　Richard's　arms。　He　wanted　to　ask　what　kind　of　magic　Adie　had；　but　decided　better　of　it。　She　turned　once　more　to　Kahlan。
　
　〃Be　warned；　child；　you　have　the　true　power　of　the　tongue。　You　have　never　seen　it。　It　will　be　a　terrible　doing　if　you　ever　let　it　loose。〃
　
　〃I　don't　know　what　you　are　talking　about；〃　Kahlan　said；　her　eyebrows　in　a　frown。
　
　〃True；〃　Adie　nodded。　〃True。〃　She　reached　out　and　gently　placed　her　hand　on　Kahlan's　shoulder；　working　her　fingers；　bringing　her　closer。　〃Your　mother　died　before　you　became　a　woman；　before　you　were　of　the　age　when　she　could　teach　you　of　it。〃
　
　Kahlan　swallowed　hard。　〃What　can　you　teach　me　of　it？〃
　
　〃Nothing。　I　am　sorry；　but　I　have　no　understanding　of　its　workings。　It　be　something　only　your　mother　can　teach；　when　you　reached　the　age　of　woman。　Since　your　mother　did　not　show　you；　the　teaching　be　lost。　But　the　。power　be　still　there。　Be　warned。　Just　because　you　were　not　taught　its　use　does　not　mean　it　cannot　e　out。〃
　
　〃Did　you　know　my　mother？〃　Kahlan　asked　in　a　painful　whisper。
　
　Adie's　face　softened　as　she　looked　at　Kahlan。　She　nodded　slowly。　〃I　remember　your　family　name。　And　I　remember　her　green　eyes；　they　not　be　easy　to　forget。　You　have　her　eyes。　When　she　carried　you；　I　knew　her。〃
　
　A　tear　rolled　down　Kahlan's　cheek；　and　her　voice　came　in　the　same　painful　whisper。　〃My　mother　wore　a　necklace；　with　a　small　bone　on　it。　She　gave　it　to　me　when　I　was　a　child。　I　wore　it　always；　until　。　。　。　until；　Dennee；　the　girl　I　called　my　sister　。　。　。　when　she　died；　I　buried　it　with　her。　She　had　always　been　fond　of　it。　You　gave　that　necklace　to　my　mother；　didn't　you？〃
　
　Adie　closed　her　eyes　and　nodded。　〃Yes　child。　I　gave　it　to　her　to　protect　her　unborn　daughter；　to　keep　her　child　safe；　that　she　might　grow　to　be　strong；　like　her　mother。　I　can　see　that　she　has。〃
　
　Kahlan　slipped　her　arms　around　the　old　woman。　〃Thank　you；　Adie；〃　she　said　tearfully；　〃for　helping　my　mother。〃　Adie　held　the　crutch　With　one　hand；　and　with　the　other　rubbed　Kahlan's　back　in　genuine　sympathy。　After　a　few　moments　Kahlan　separated　from　the　old　woman　and　wiped　the　tears　from　her　eyes
　
　Richard　saw　his　opening；　and　went　for　it　with　single…minded　determination。
　
　〃Adie；〃　he　said　in　a　soft　voice；　〃you　helped　Kahlan　before　she　was　born。　Help　her　now。　Her　life　and　the　lives　of　a　great　many　others　are　at　stake。　Darken　Rahl　hunts　her；　hunts　me。　We　need　the　help　of　these　two　men。　Please　help　them。　Help　Kahlan。〃
　
　Adie　gave　him　her　small　smile。　She　nodded　her　head　a　little　to　herself。　〃The　wizard　chooses　his　Seekers　well。　Fortunately　for　you；　patience　be　not　a　prerequisite　for　the　post。　Be　at　ease；　I　would　not　have　had　you　bring　them　in　if　I　did　not　intend　to　help　them。〃
　
　〃Well；　perhaps　you　cannot　see；〃　he　pressed；　〃but　Zedd　especially　is　in　bad　shape。　His　breathing　is　hardly　there　at　all。〃
　
　Adie's　white　eyes　regarded　him　with　strained　tolerance。　〃Tell　me；〃　she　said　in　her　dry　rasp；　〃do　you　know　Kahlan's　secret；　the　one　she　keeps　from　you？〃
　
　Richard　said　nothing　and　tried　to　show　no　emotion。　Adie　turned　to　Kahlan。
　
　〃Tell　me；　child；　do　you　know　the　secret　he　keeps　from　you？〃　Kahlan　said　nothing。　Adie　looked　back　to　Richard。　〃Does　the　wizard　know　of　the　secret　you　keep　from　him？　No。　Do　you　know　the　secret　the　wizard　keeps　from　you？　No。　Three　blind　people。　Hmm？　Seems　I　be　able　to　see　better　than　you。〃
　
　Richard　wondered　what　secret　Zedd　was　keeping　from　him。　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃And　which　of　these　secrets　do　you　know；　Adie？〃
　
　She　pointed　a　thin　finger　at　Kahlan。　〃Hers　only。〃
　
　Richard　was　relieved；　but　tried　to　let　his　face　show　nothing。　He　had　been　on　the　verge　of　panic。　〃Everyone　has　secrets；　my　friend；　and　has　a　right　to　keep　them　when　there　is　need。〃
　
　Her　smile　widened。　〃That　be　true；　Richard　Cypher。〃
　
　〃Now；　what　about　these　two？〃
　
　〃Do　you　know　how　to　heal　them？〃　she　asked。
　
　〃No。　If　I　did；　I　obviously　would　have　already　done　so。〃
　
　〃Your　impatience　is　to　be　forgiven；　it　be　only　right　for　you　to　fear　for　the　lives　of　your　friends。　I　bear　you　no　ill　will　for　your　concern。　But　be　at　ease；　they　have　been　receiving　help　from　the　moment　you　brought　them　in。〃
　
　Richard　gave　her　a　confused　look。　〃Really？〃　She　nodded。　〃They　be　struck　down　by　underworld　beasts。　It　will　take　time　for　them　to　wake；　days。　How　many　I　cannot　say。　But　they　be　dry。　Lack　of　water　will　be　the　death　of　them；　therefore　they　must　be　brought　awake　enough　to　drink；　or　they　will　die。　The　wizard　breathes　slow　not　because　he　be　worse；　but　because　that　be　the　way　wizards　save　strength　in　time　of　trouble　they　go　into　a　deeper　sleep。　I　must　bring　them　both　awake　to　drink。　You　will　not　be　able　to　talk　to　them；　they　will　not　know　you；　so　be　not　afraid　when　you　see　it。　Go　to　the　corner；　bring　the　water　bucket。〃
　
　Richard　retrieved　the　water　and　then　helped　Adie　lower　herself　to　sit　cross…legged　at　the　heads　of　Zedd　and　Chase。　She　pulled　Kahlan　down　next　to　her。　She　asked　Richard　to　bring　a　bone　implement　from　the　shelf。
　
　Part　of　it　looked　very　much　like　a　human　thighbone。　The　entire　object　had　a　dark　brown　patina；　and　looked　to　be　ancient。　Down　the　shaft　of　the　bone　were　carved　symbols　Richard　didn't　recognize。　At　one　end　were　two　skull　tops；　one　to　each　side　of　the　ball。　They　had　been　cut　smoothly　into　half　spheres；　and　covered　with　dried　skin　of　some　kind。　In　the　center　of　each　skin　was　a　knot　that　looked　like　a　navel。　Spaced　evenly　around　each　skin；　where　it　stretched　across　the　skull　edge；　were　tufts　of　coarse　black　hair　tied　on　with　beaded　thread　that　matched　that　around　the　neck　of　Adie's　robe。　The　skull　tops　looked　like　they　could　be　human。　Something　inside　rattled。
　
　Richard　handed　it　respectfully　to　Adie。　〃What　makes　the　rattle？〃
　
　Without　looking　up；　she　said；　〃Dried　eyes。〃　　‘
　
　Adie　shook　the　bone　rattle　gently　from　side　to　side　over　the　heads　of　Zedd　and　Chase　while　mumbling　a　chant　in　the　strange　language　in　which　she　had　spoken　to　Kahlan。　The　rattle　made　a　hollow；　wooden　sound。　Kahlan　sat　cross…legged　next　to　her；　head　bowed。　Richard　stood　back　and　watched。
　
　After　ten　or　fifteen　minutes；　Adie　motioned　with　her　hand　for　him　to　e　closer。　Zedd　suddenly　sat　up　and　opened　his　eyes。　Richard　realized　she　wanted　him　to　give　him　water。　She　continued　to　chant　as　he　dipped　the　ladle　in　and　held　it　up　to　Zedd's　mouth。　He　drank　thirstily。　Richard　was　thrilled　to　see　the　old　man　sit　up　and　open　his　eyes；　even　if　he　couldn't　talk；　even　if　he　didn't　know　where　he　was。　Zedd　drank　half　a　bucket　of　water。　When　finished；　he　lay　back　down　and　closed　his　eyes。　Chase　was　next；　and　he　drank　the　other　half　of　the　water。
　
　Adie　handed　Richard　the　bone　rattle　and　asked　him　to　return　it　to　the　shelf。　Next　she　had　him　bring　the　bone　pile　from　the　corner　and　stack　half　over　Zedd's　body；　half　over　Chase's；　directing　him　on　how　to　place　each　bone；　to　some　alignment　that　only　she　could　see　or　understand。　Finally　she　had　him　stack　rib　bones　in　a　wagon…whe