tg.wizardfirstrule-第64章

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illed　the　guard　beast；　and　stole　the　book。　My　book。　He　took　a　tooth　from　the　beast　as　a　trophy。　A　very　stupid　thing　to　do；　as　the　beast　was　sent　by　magic；　my　magic〃…he　lifted　an　eyebrow…〃and　I　can　find　my　magic。〃
　
　Rahl　licked　his　fingers；　stroking　them　over　his　lips；　staring　off　absently。　〃After　I　put　the　boxes　of　Orden　in　play；　I　went　to　get　the　book。　That's　when　I　found　it　had　been　stolen。　It　took　time；　but　I　found　the　man　who　stole　it。　Unfortunately；　he　no　longer　had　the　book；　and　would　not　tell　me　where　it　was。〃　Rahl　smiled　up　at　Demmin。　〃I　made　him　suffer　for　not　helping　me。〃　Demmin　smiled　back。　〃But　I　did　learn　that　he　had　given　the　tooth　to　his　son。〃
　
　〃So　that　is　how　you　know　the　Cypher　boy　has　the　book。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Richard　Cypher　has　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　And　he　also　wears　the　tooth。　That's　how　I　hooked　the　tracer　cloud　to　him；　by　hooking　it　to　the　tooth　his　father　gave　him；　the　tooth　with　my　magic。　I　would　have　recovered　the　book　before　now；　but　I　have　had　many　matters　to　attend　to。　I　only　hooked　the　cloud　to　him　to　help　me　keep　track　of　him　in　the　meantime。　It　was　a　mere　convenience。　But　the　matter　is　as　good　as　settled；　I　can　get　the　book　at　any　time　of　my　choosing。　The　cloud　is　of　little　importance。　I　can　find　him　by　the　tooth。〃
　
　Rahl　picked　up　the　bowl　of　gruel；　handing　it　to　Demmin。　〃Taste　this；　see　if　it　is　cool　enough。〃　He　arched　an　eyebrow。　〃I　wouldn't　want　to　hurt　the　boy。〃
　
　Demmin　sniffed　the　bowl；　his　nose　turning　up　in　distaste。　He　handed　it　to　one　of　the　guards；　who　took　it　without　objection　and　put　a　spoon　of　gruel　to　his　lips。　He　gave　a　nod。
　
　〃Cypher　could　lose　the　tooth；　or　simply　throw　it　away。　Then　you　would　not　be　able　to　find　him；　or　the　book。〃　Demmin　gave　a　submissive　bow　of　his　head　as　he　spoke。　〃Please　forgive　me　for　saying　so；　Master　Rahl　but　it　would　seem　to　rite　you　leave　a　lot　to　chance。〃
　
　〃Sometimes；　Demmin；　I　leave　things　to　fate；　but　never　to　chance。　I　have　other　ways　of　finding　Richard　Cypher。〃
　
　Demmin　took　a　deep　breath；　relaxing　as　he　thought　about　Rahl's　words。　〃I　can　see　now　why　you　haven't　been　worried。　I　didn't　know　all　this。〃
　
　Rahl　frowned　up　at　his　loyal　mander。　〃We　have　scarcely　stroked　the　fur　of　what　you　do　not　know；　Demmin。　That　is　why　you　serve　me；　and　not　me　you。〃　His　expression　softened。　〃You　have　been　a　good　friend；　Demmin；　since　we　were　boys；　so　I　will　ease　your　mind　on　this　subject。　I　have　many　pressing　matters　that　require　my　time；　matters　of　magic　that　cannot　wait。　Like　this。〃　His　arm　went　out；　indicating　the　boy。　〃I　know　where　the　book　is；　and　I　know　my　own　talents。　I　can　get　the　book　at　a　time　of　my　convenience。　For　now；　I　look　upon　it　as　if　Richard　Cypher　is　simply　keeping　it　safe　for　me。〃　Rahl　leaned　closer。　〃Satisfied？〃
　
　Demmin　diverted　his　eyes　to　the　ground：　〃Yes；　Master　Rahl。〃　He　looked　back　up。　〃Please　know　that　I　only　bring　my　concerns　to　you　because　I　want　success　for　you。　You　are　rightfully　the　master　of　all　the　lands。　We　all　need　you　to　guide　us。　I　wish　only　to　be　part　of　delivering　you　victory。　I　fear　nothing　but　that　I　should　fail　you。〃
　
　Darken　Rahl　put　his　arm　around　Demmin's　big　shoulders；　looking　up　at　the　pockmarked　face；　the　streak　of　black　hair　through　the　blond。　〃That　I　had　more　like　you；　my　friend。〃　He　took　his　arm　away　and　picked　up　the　bowl。　〃Go　now　and　tell　Queen　Milena　of　our　alliance。　Don't　forget　to　summon　the　dragon。〃　His　hint　of　a　smile　came　back。　〃And　don't　let　your　little　diversions　make　you　late　in　returning。〃
　
　Demmin　bowed　his　head。　〃Thank　you；　Master　Rahl；　for　the　honor　of　serving　you。〃　the　big　man　left　through　a　backdoor　as　Rahl　went　out　the　one　into　the　garden。　The　guards　stayed　in　the　small；　hot；　forge　room。
　
　Picking　up　the　feeding　horn；　Rahl　went　over　to　the　boy。　The　feeding　horn　was　a　long　brass　tube；　small　at　the　mouthpiece；　large　at　the　other　end。　The　big　end　was　held　up　to　shoulder　height　by　two　legs；　so　the　gruel　would　slide　down。　Rahl　set　it　down　so　the　mouthpiece　was　in　front　of　Carl
　
　〃What's　this　thing？〃　Carl　asked；　squinting　up　at　it。　〃A　horn？〃　〃Yes；　that's　right。　Very　good；　Carl。　It's　a　feeding　horn。　It's　a　part　of　the　ceremony　you　will　be　in。　The　other　young　men　who　have　helped　the　people　in　the　past　have　thought　it　a　most　fun　way　to　eat。　You　put　your　mouth　over　the　end　there；　and　I　serve　you　by　pouring　the　food　in　the　top。〃
　
　Carl　was　skeptical。　〃Really？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃　Rahl　smiled　reassuringly。　〃And　guess　what；　I　got　you　a　fresh　blueberry　pie；　still　warm　out　of　the　oven。〃
　
　Carl's　eyes　lit　up。　〃Great！〃　He　eagerly　put　his　mouth　over　the　end　of　the　horn。
　
　Rahl　passed　his　hand　in　a　circle　over　the　bowl　three　times　to　change　the　taste；　then　looked　down　at　Carl。　〃I　had　to　mash　it　up　so　it　will　go　through　the　feeding　horn；　I　hope　that's　all　right。〃
　
　〃I　always　mash　it　up　with　my　fork；〃　Carl　said　with　a　grin；　then　put　his　mouth　back　over　the　horn。
　
　Rahl　poured　a　little　gruel　into　the　end　of　the　horn。　When　it　reached　Carl's　mouth；　he　ate　it　eagerly。
　
　〃It's　great！　The　best　I　ever　had！〃
　
　〃I'm　so　pleased；〃　Rahl　said　with　a　shy　smile。　〃It's　my　own　recipe。　I　feared　it　wouldn't　be　as　good　as　your　mother's。〃
　
　〃It's　better。　Can　I　have　more？〃
　
　〃Of　course；　my　son。　With　Father　Rahl；　there　is　always　more。〃　
　
　CHAPTER　21
　WEARILY；　RICHARD　SEARCHED　THE　ground　where　the　trail　resumed　at　the　end　of　the　slide；　his　hopes　fading。　Dark　clouds　scudded　low　overhead；　occasionally　bringing　a　few　fat　drops　of　cold　rain　to　splatter　on　the　back　of　his　head　as　he　hunted。　It　had　occurred　to　him　that　maybe　Kahlan　had　made　it　through　the　Narrows；　that　she　had　only　bee　separated　for　him；　and　had　continued　on。　She　was　wearing　the　bone　Adie　had　given　her；　and　it　should　have　kept　her　safe。　She　should　have　been　able　to　make　it　through。　But　he　was　wearing　the　tooth；　and　Adie　had　said　he　couldn't　be　seen　either；　yet　the　shadows　had　e　from　them　anyway。　It　seemed　odd；　the　shadows　hadn't　moved　until　it　was　dark；　at　the　split　rock。　Why　didn't　they　e　for　them　before？
　
　There　were　no　tracks。　Nothing　had　been　through　the　Narrows　for　a　long　time。　Fatigue　and　despair　enveloped　him　again　as　fits　of　icy　wind　flapped　his　forest　cloak　around　him；　seeming　to　urge　him　on；　away　from　the　Narrows。　All　hope　gone；　he　turned　once　more　to　the　path；　toward　the　Midlands。
　
　He　had　taken　only　a　few　steps　when　a　thought　brought　him　to　a　sudden　halt
　
　If　Kahlan　had　bee　separated　from　him；　if　she　thought　the　underworld　had　taken　him；　if　she　thought　she　had　lost　him　and　was　alone；　would　she　have　continued　on；　to　the　Midlands？　Alone？
　
　No。
　
　He　turned　to　the　Narrows。　No。　She　would　have　gone　back。　Back　to　the　wizard。
　
　It　would　be　no　use　for　her　to　go　to　the　Midlands　alone。　She　needed　help；　that's　why　she　had　e　to　Westland　in　the　first　place。　Without　the　Seeker；　the　only　help　was　the　wizard。
　
　Richard　dared　not　put　too　much　faith　in　the　thought；　but　it　wasn't　that　far　back　to　the　place　where　he　had　fought　the　shadows；　where　he　had　lost　her。　He　couldn't　go　on　without　checking；　without　knowing　for　sure。　Fatigue　forgotten；　he　plunged　back　into　the　Narrows。
　
　Green　light　weled　his　return。　Following　his　tracks　back；　in　a　short　time　he　found　the　place　where　he　had　fought　the　shadows。　His　footprints　wandered　all　about　in　the　mud　of　the　slide；　telling　the　tale　of　his　battle。　He　was　surprised　at　how　much　ground　he　had　covered　in　the　fight。　He　didn't　remember　all　the　circling；　the　back　and　forth。　But　then　he　didn't　remember　much　of　the　fight；　until　the　last　part。
　
　With　a　jolt　of　recognition；　he　saw　what　he　was　looking　for。　The　tracks　of　the　two　of　them；　together；　then　hers；　alone。　His　heart　pounded　as　he　followed　them；　hoping　so　hard　it　hurt；　that　they　wouldn't　lead　into　the　wall。　Squatting；　he　inspected　them；　touched　them。　Her　tracks　wandered　about　a　while；　seemingly　confused；　and　then　they　stopped；　and　turned。　Where　their　pair　of　tracks　led　in　from　the　other　way；　one　set　of　tracks　lead　back。
　
　Kahlan's。
　
　Richard　stood　in　a　rush；　his　breathing　rapid；　his　pulse　racing。　The　green　light　glowed　irritatingly　about　him。　He　wondered　how　far　she　could　have　gone。　It　had　taken　them　most　of　the　night　to　laboriously　cross　the　Narrows。　But　they　hadn't　known　where　the　trail　was。　He　looked　down　at　the　footprints　in　the　mud。　He　did　now。
　
　He　would　have　to　go　fast；　he　couldn't　be　timid　in　following　the　way　back。　A　memory　of　something　Zedd　had　told　him　when　the　old　man　had　given　him　the　sword　came　into　his　mind。　The　strength　of　rage；　the　wizard　had　said；　gives　you　the　heedless　drive　to　prevail。
　
　The　clear　metallic　ringing　filled　the　dim　morning　air　as　the　Seeker　drew　his　sword。　Anger　flooded　through　him。　Without　a　second　thought；　Richard　dashed　down　the　trail；　following　the　tracks。　The　pressure　of　the　wall　buffeted　him　as　he　jogged　through　the　cool　mist。　When　the　tracks　turned；　switching　back　and　forth；　he　didn't　slow；　but　set　his　feet　to　one　side　or　the　other　to　throw　his　weight　the　other　way　down　the　path。
　
　Keeping　a　steady；　sustainable　pace；　he　was　able　to　traverse　the　span　of　the　Narrows　before　midmorning。　Twice；　he　had　e　across　a　shadow　floating　in　place　on　the　path。　They　didn't　move　or　seem　to　be　aware　of　him。