tg.wizardfirstrule-第69章

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；　out　of　fear；　but　they　had　made　it　clear　that　they　handled　their　own　affairs；　and　did　not　want　outside　involvement。　They　were　not　a　people　who　would　respond　to　threats。
　
　〃The　Mud　People　hold　a　gathering；　called　a　council　of　seers。　I　have　never　been　allowed　to　attend；　maybe　because　I　am　an　outsider；　maybe　because　I　am　a　woman。　This　group　divines　the　answers　to　questions　that　affect　the　village。　They　will　not　hold　a　gathering　at　sword　point；　if　they　are　to　help　us；　they　must　do　so　willingly。　You　must　win　them　over。〃　He　gazed　intently　into　her　eyes。　〃With　your　help；　we　can　do　it。　We　must。〃
　
　She　nodded；　and　turned　to　the　path　once　more。　Clouds　hung　low　and　thick　above　the　grassland；　seeming　to　boil　slowly　as　they　rolled　along　in　an　endless　procession。　Out　on　the　plains；　there　seemed　to　be　much　more　sky　than　there　was　anywhere　else。　It　was　an　overpowering　presence；　dwarfing　the　unchanging；　flat　land。
　
　Rains　had　swollen　the　streams　until　the　churning；　muddy　water　pounded　and　frothed　with　a　roar　at　the　bottoms　of　the　crossing　logs　that　were　used　as　bridges。　Kahlan　could　feel　the　power　of　the　water　making　the　logs　shudder　under　her　boots。　She　stepped　carefully；　as　the　logs　were　slippery；　and　there　was　no　hand　rope　to　aid　her　crossing。　Richard　offered　her　his　hand；　to　steady　her；　and　she　was　glad　for　the　excuse　to　take　it。　She　found　herself　looking　forward　to　the　stream　crossings；　to　being　able　to　take　his　hand。　But　as　deeply　as　it　hurt；　she　couldn't　allow　herself　to　encourage　his　feelings　for　her。　She　wished　so　much　she　could　just　be　a　woman；　like　any　other。　But　she　wasn't。　She　was　a　Confessor。　Still；　sometimes　for　brief　moments；　she　could　forget；　and　pretend。
　
　She　wished　Richard　would　walk　next　to　her；　but　he　instead　stayed　behind；　scanning　the　countryside；　watching　out　for　her。　He　was　in　a　strange　land；　taking　nothing　for　granted；　seeing　threat　in　everything。　In　Westland；　she　had　felt　the　same　way；　so　she　understood　the　feeling。　He　was　putting　his　life　at　great　peril　against　Rahl；　against　things　he　had　never　encountered　before；　and　was　right　to　be　wary。　The　wary　died　quick　enough　in　the　Midlands；　the　unwary　faster　still。
　
　After　crossing　another　stream　and　plunging　back　into　the　wet　grass；　eight　men　sprang　up　suddenly　in　front　of　them。　Kahlan　and　Richard　came　to　an　abrupt　halt。　The　men　were　wearing　animal　skins　over　most　of　their　bodies。　Sticky　mud　that　didn't　wash　away　in　the　rain　was　smeared　over　the　rest　of　their　skin　and　faces；　and　their　hair　smoothed　down　with　it。　Clumps　of　grass　were　tied　to　their　arms　and　to　the　skins；　and　stuffed　under　headbands；　making　them　invisible　when　they　had　been　squatted　down。　They　stood　silently　in　front　of　the　two　of　them。　All　wore　grim　expressions。　Kahlan　recognized　several　of　the　men；　it　was　a　hunting　party　of　Mud　People。
　
　The　eldest；　a　fit；　wiry　man　she　knew　as　Savidlin；　approached　her。　The　others　waited；　spears　and　bows　relaxed　but　ready。　Kahlan　could　feel　Richard's　presence　close　behind　her。　Without　turning；　she　whispered　for　him…　to　stay　calm　and　do　as　she　did。　Savidlin　stopped　in　front　of　her。
　
　〃Strength　to　Confessor　Kahlan；〃　he　said。
　
　〃Strength　to　Savidlin　and　the　Mud　People；　〃　she　answered　in　their　language。
　
　Savidlin　slapped　her　across　the　face；　hard。　She　slapped　him　back　just　as　hard。　Instantly　Kahlan　heard　the　ringing　sound　of　Richard's　sword　being　pulled　free。　She　spun　on　her　heels。
　
　〃No；　Richard！〃　He　had　the　sword　up；　ready　to　strike。　〃No！〃　She　grabbed　his　wrists。　〃I　told　you　to　stay　calm　and　do　as　I　do。〃
　
　His　eyes　flicked　from　Savidlin's　to　hers。　They　were　filled　with　unleashed　anger；　the　magic　that　was　ready　to　kill。　The　muscles　in　his　jaw　flexed　as　he　clenched　his　teeth。　〃And　if　they　slit　your　throat；　would　you　have　me　let　them　slit　mine　as　well？〃
　
　〃That　is　the　way　they　greet　people。　It　is　meant　to　show　respect　for　another's　strength。〃
　
　He　frowned；　hesitating。
　
　〃I'm　sorry　I　did　not　warn　you。　Richard；　put　the　sword　away。〃
　
　His　eyes　went　from　hers　to　Savidlin；　and　then　back　to　hers　again；　before　he　yielded　and　angrily　thrust　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。　Relieved；　she　turned　back　to　the　Mud　People　as　Richard　stepped　up　protectively　next　to　her。　Savidlin　and　the　others　had　been　watching　calmly。　They　didn't　understand　the　words；　but　they　seemed　to　grasp　the　meaning　of　what　had　happened。　Savidlin　looked　away　from　Richard；　to　Kahlan。　He　spoke　in　his　dialect。
　
　〃Who　is　this　man　with　the　temper？〃
　
　〃His　name　is　Richard。　He　is　the　Seeker　of　Truth。　〃
　
　Whispers　broke　out　among　the　other　members　of　the　hunting　party。　Savidlin's　eyes　sought　Richard's。
　
　〃Strength　to　Richard；　the　Seeker。　〃
　
　Kahlan　told　him　what　Savidlin　had　said。　There　was　still　a　hot　look　on　his　face。
　
　Savidlin　stepped　up　and　hit　Richard；　not　with　an　open　hand　as　he　had　hit　her；　but　with　his　fist。　Immediately　Richard　unleashed　a　powerful　blow　of　his　own　that　knocked　Savidlin　from　his　feet　and　sent　him　sprawling　on　his　back。　He　lay　dazed　on　the　ground　with　his　limbs　strewn　awkwardly　out。　Fists　tightened　on　weapons。　Richard　straightened；　giving　the　men　a　dangerous　look　that　kept　them　rooted　firmly　in　place。
　
　Savidlin　propped　himself　up　on　one　hand；　rubbing　his　jaw　with　the　other。　A　grin　spread　across　his　face。　〃None　has　ever　shown　such　respect　for　my　strength！　This　is　a　wise　man。〃
　
　The　other　men　broke　out　in　laughter。　Kahlan　held　her　hand　over　her　mouth；　trying　to　hide　her　own。　The　tension　evaporated。
　
　〃What　did　he　say？〃　Richard　demanded。
　
　〃He　said　you　have　great　respect　for　him；　that　you　are　wise。　I　think　you　have　made　a　friend。〃
　
　Savidlin　held　his　hand　out　for　Richard　to　help　him　up。　Warily；　Richard　plied。　Once　on　his　feet；　Savidlin　slapped　Richard　on　the　back；　putting　an　arm　around　his　big　shoulders。
　
　〃I　am　truly　glad　you　recognize　my　strength；　but　I　hope　you　do　not　e　to　respect　me　any　more。　〃　The　men　laughed。　〃Among　the　Mud　People；　you　shall　be　known　as　‘Richard　With　The　Temper。'　〃
　
　Kahlan　tried　to　hold　back　her　laughter　while　she　translated。　The　men　were　still　snickering。　Savidlin　turned　to　them。
　
　〃Maybe　you　men　would　like　to　greet　my　big　friend；　and　have　him。　show　you　his　respect　for　your　strength。　〃
　
　They　all　held　their　hands　out　in　front　of　themselves　and　shook　their　heads　vigorously。
　
　〃No；　〃　one　of　them　said　between　fits　of　laughter；　〃he　has　already　shown　you　enough　respect　for　all　of　us。〃
　
　He　turned　back　to　Kahlan。　〃As　always；　Confessor　Kahlan　is　wele　among　the　Mud　People。　〃　Without　looking　over；　he　gave　a　nod　of　his　head；　indicating　Richard。　〃Is　he　your　mate？〃
　
　〃No！　〃
　
　Savidlin　tensed。　〃Then　you　have　e　here　to　choose　one　of　our　men？〃
　
　〃No；　〃　she　said；　her　voice　regaining　its　calmness。
　
　Savidlin　looked　greatly　relieved。　〃The　Confessor　chooses　dangerous　traveling　panions。　〃　〃Not　dangerous　to　me；　only　to　those　who　would　think　to　harm　me。　〃
　
　Savidlin　smiled　and　nodded；　then　looked　Kahlan　up　and　down。
　
　〃You　wear　odd　things。　Different　from　before。〃
　
　〃Underneath；　I　am　the　same　as　before；〃　Kahlan　said　as　she　leaned　a　little　closer　to　make　her　point。　〃That　is　what　you　need　to　know。〃
　
　Savidlin　backed　away　a　little　from　her　intense　expression　and　gave　a　nod。　His　eyes　narrowed。　〃And　why　are　you　here？〃
　
　〃So　that　we　might　help　each　other。　There　is　a　man　who　would　rule　your　people。　The　Seeker　and　I　would　have　you　rule　yourselves。　We　came　seeking　your　people's　strength　and　wisdom　to　aid　us　in　our　fight。〃
　
　〃Father　Rahl；〃　Savidlin　announced　knowingly。
　
　〃You　know　of　him？〃
　
　Savidlin　nodded。　〃A　man　came。　He　called　himself'　a　missionary；　said　he　wanted　to　teach　us　of　the　goodness　of　one　called　Father　Rahl。　He　talked　to　our　people　for　three　days；　until　we　became　tired　of　him。　〃
　
　It　was　Kahlan's　turn　to　stiffen；　she　glanced　to　the　other　men；　who　had　started　smiling　at　the　mention　of　the　missionary。　She　looked　back　to　the　elder's　mud　streaked　face。　〃And　what　happened　to　him　after　the　three　days？〃
　
　〃He　was　a　good　man。　〃　Savidlin　smiled　meaningfully。
　
　Kahlan　straightened　herself。　Richard　leaned　closer　to　her。
　
　〃What　are　they　saying？〃
　
　〃They　want　to　know　why　we　are　here。　They　said　they　have　heard　of　Darken　Rahl。〃
　
　〃Tell　them　I　want　to　talk　to　their　people；　that　I　need　them　to　call　a　gathering。〃
　
　She　looked　up　at　him　from　under　her　eyebrows。　〃I　am　getting　to　that。　Adie　was　right；　you　are　not　a　patient　person。〃
　
　Richard　smiled。　〃No；　she　was　wrong。　I　am　very　patient；　but　I　am　not　very　tolerant。　There　is　a　difference。〃
　
　Kahlan　smiled　at　Savidlin　as　she　spoke　to　Richard。　〃Well；　please　do　not　bee　intolerant　just　now；　or　show　them　any　more　respect　for　the　moment。　I　know　what　I　am　doing；　and　it　is　going　well。　Let　me　do　it　my　way；　all　right？〃
　
　He　agreed；　folding　his　arms　in　frustration。　She　turned　once　more　to　the　elder。　He　peered　at　her　sharply　and　asked　something　that　surprised　her。
　
　〃Did　Richard　With　The　Temper　bring　us　the　rains？〃
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　〃Well；　I　guess　you　could　say　that。　〃　She　was　confused　by　the　question　and　didn't　know　what　to　say；　so　told　him　the　truth。　〃The　clouds　follow　him。　〃
　
　The　elder　studied　her　face　intent