tg.wizardfirstrule-第74章

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　Rahl　glanced　up　at　the　windows；　at　the　last　tinge　of　fading　sunlight　turning　the　wisps　of　clouds　a　beautiful　deep　reddish　purple；　frosted　with　tips　of　gold。　Tonight。　Tonight；　at　long　last；　would　be　the　night　he　returned　to　the　underworld。
　
　For　most　of　long　days　and　nights　he　had　kept　the　boy　awake　with　the　special　gruel；　allowing　him　to　sleep　for　only　brief　spells；　kept　him　awake　to　hammer　away　at　him　until　his　mind　was　empty；　and　could　be　molded。　He　had　talked　to　the　boy　endlessly；　convincing　him　how　others　had　used　him；　abused　him；　and　lied　to　him。　Sometimes　he　had　left　the　boy　to　think　over　what　he　had　been　told；　and　used　the　excuse　to　visit　his　father's　tomb　and　read　the　sacred　inscriptions　again；　or　to　snatch　some　rest。
　
　And　then；　last　night；　he　had　taken　that　girl　to　his　bed；　to　get　some　relaxation；　a　small；　momentary　diversion。　An　interlude　of　gentleness　to　feel　another's　soft　flesh　against　his；　to　relieve　his　pent…up　excitement。　She　should　have　been　honored；　especially　after　he　had　been　so　tender　with　her；　so　charming。　She　had　been　anxious　enough　to　be　with　him。
　
　But　what　did　she　do？　She　laughed。　When　she　saw　the　scars；　she　laughed。
　
　As　he　thought　of　it　now　Rahl　had　to　strain　to　control　his　rage；　strain　to　show　the　boy　a　smile；　strain　to　hide　his　impatience　to　get　on　with　it。　He　thought　of　what　he　had　done　to　the　girl；　the　exhilaration　of　his　violence　unleashed；　her　ripping　screams。　The　smile　came　more　easily　to　his　lips。　She　would　laugh　at　him　no　more。
　
　〃What's　the　big　grin　for？〃　Carl　asked。
　
　Rahl　looked　down　at　the　boy's　big　brown　eyes。　〃I　was　just　thinking　about　how　proud　1　am　of　you。〃　His　smile　widened　as　he　remembered　the　way　her　hot　sticky　blood　pumped　and　spurted　as　she　screamed。　Where　was　her　haughty　laughter　then？
　
　〃Me？〃　Carl　asked；　smiling　shyly。
　
　Rahl's　blond　head　nodded。　〃Yes；　Carl；　you。　Not　many　young　men　of　your　age　would　be　intelligent　enough　to　see　the　world　as　it　really　is。　To　see　beyond　their　own　lives　to　the　wider　dangers　and　wonders　all　about。　To　see　how　hard　I　work　to　bring　safety　and　peace　to　the　people。〃　He　shook　his　head　sadly。　〃Sometimes　it　hurts　my　heart　to　see　the　very　ones　for　whom　I　struggle　so　hard　turn　their　backs　to　me；　reject　my　tireless　efforts；　or　worse　yet；　join　with　the　enemies　of　the　people。
　
　〃I　have　not　wanted　to　burden　you　with　worry　for　me；　but　right　now；　as　I　speak　with　you；　there　are　evil　people　who　plot　to　conquer　us；　to　crush　us。　They　have　brought　down　the　boundary　that　protected　D'Hara；　and　now　the　second　boundary　too。　I　fear　they　plot　an　invasion。　I　have　tried　to　warn　the　people　of　the　danger　from　Westland；　to　get　them　to　do　something　to　protect　themselves；　but　they　are　poor　and　simple　people；　they　look　to　me　for　protection。〃　Carl's　eyes　widened。　〃Father　Rahl；　are　you　in　danger？〃
　
　Rahl　brushed　the　matter　away　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　〃It's　not　me　I　fear　for；　it's　the　people。　If　I　were　to　die；　who　would　protect　them？〃
　
　〃Die？〃　Carl's　eyes　filled　with　tears。　〃Oh；　Father　Rahl！　We　need　you！　Please　don't　let　them　get　you！　Please　let　me　fight　at　your　side。　I　want　to　help　protect　you。　I　couldn't　stand　the　thought　of　you　getting　hurt。〃
　
　Rahl's　breathing　quickened；　his　heart　raced。　The　time　was　near。　It　would　not　be　long　now。　He　smiled　warmly　at　Carl　as　he　remembered　the　girl's　hoarse　screams。　〃I　could　not　stand　the　thought　of　you　being　in　danger　for　me。　Carl；　I　have　e　to　know　you　these　last　days；　you　are　more　to　me　than　simply　a　young　man　who　was　chosen　to　help　me　with　the　ceremony；　you　have　bee　my　friend。　I　have　shared　my　deepest　concerns　with　you；　my　hopes；　my　dreams。　I　don't　do　that　with　many。　It's　enough　to　know　you　care。〃
　
　Tears　in　his　eyes；　Carl　looked　up　at　the　Master。　〃Father　Rahl；〃　he　whispered；　〃I'd　do　anything　for　you。　Please　let　me　stay？　After　the　ceremony；　let　me　stay　and　be　with　you？　I'll　do　anything　you　need；　I　promise；　if　I　could　just　stay　with　you。〃
　
　〃Carl；　that's　so　like　you；　so　kind。　But　you　have　a　life；　parents；　friends。　And　Tinker；　don't　forget　your　dog。　Soon　you　will　be　wanting　to　go　back　to　all　that。〃
　
　Carl　slowly　shook　his　head　while　his　eyes　stayed　on　Rahl。　〃No　I　won't。　I　only　want　to　be　with　you。　Father　Rahl；　I　love　you。　I'd　do　anything　for　you。〃
　
　Rahl　considered　the　boy's　words；　a　serious　look　on　his　face。　〃It　would　be　dangerous　for　you　to　stay　with　me。〃　Rahl　could　feel　his　heart　pounding。
　
　〃I　don't　care。　I　want　to　serve　you；　I　don't　care　if　I　might　get　killed。　I　only　want　to　help　you。　I　don't　want　to　do　anything　else　but　help　you　in　your　fight　with　those　enemies。　Father　Rahl；　if　I　got　killed　helping　you；　it　would　be　worth　it。　Please；　let　me　stay；　I'll　do　whatever　you　ask。　Forever。〃
　
　To　help　control　his　rapid　breathing；　Rahl　took　a　deep　breath；　and　let　it　out　slowly。　His　face　was　grave。　〃Are　you　sure　of　what　you　are　saying；　Carl？　Are　you　sure　you　really　mean　it？　I　mean；　are　you　really　sure　you　would　give　your　life　for　me？〃　〃I　swear。　I'd　die　to　help　you。　My　life　is　yours；　if　you'll　have　it。〃
　
　Rahl　leaned　back　a　little；　put　his　hands　on　his　knees；　and　nodded　slowly；　his　blue　eyes　riveted　on　the　boy。
　
　〃Yes；　Carl。　I　will　have　it。〃
　
　Carl　didn't　smile；　but　shook　slightly　with　the　excitement　of　acceptance；　his　face　set　in　determination。　〃When　can　we　do　the　ceremony？　I　want　to　help　you　and　the　people。〃
　
　〃Soon；〃　Rahl　said；　his　eyes　getting　wide　and　his　speech　slow。　〃Tonight；　after　I　have　fed　you。　Are　you　ready　to　begin？〃
　
　〃Yes。〃
　
　Rahl　rose；　feeling　the　surge　of　blood　through　his　veins；　he　strained　to　control　the　flush　of　arousal。　It　was　dark　outside。　The　torches　gave　off　a　flickering　light　that　danced　in　his　blue　eyes；　gleamed　on　his　long　blond　hair；　and　made　his　white　robes　seem　to　glow。　Before　going　to　the　forge　room；　he　placed　the　feeding　horn　near　Carl's　mouth。
　
　Inside　the　dark　room；　his　guards　waited；　their　massive　arms　folded　across　their　chests。　Sweat　rolling　from　their　skin　left　little　trails　in　the　light　covering　of　soot。　A　crucible　sat　in　the　fire　of　the　forge；　an　acrid　smell　rising　from　the　dross。
　
　Eyes　wide；　Rahl　addressed　his　guards。　〃Is　Demmin　back？〃
　
　〃For　several　days；　Master。〃
　
　〃Tell　him　to　e　and　wait；〃　Rahl　said；　unable　to　manage　more　than　a　whisper。　〃And　then　I　would　like　you　two　to　leave　me　alone　for　now。〃
　
　They　bowed　and　left　through　the　back　door。　Rahl　swept　his　hand　over　the　crucible；　and　the　smell　changed　to　an　appetizing　aroma。　His　eyes　closed　as　he　offered　silent　prayers　to　the　spirit　of　his　father。　His　breathing　was　a　shallow　pant。　In　the　fervor　of　his　emotions　he　was　unable　to　control　it。　He　licked　his　shaking　fingertips　and　rubbed　them　on　his　lips。
　
　Affixing　wooden　handles　to　the　crucible　so　as　to　lift　it　without　burning　himself；　he　used　the　magic　to　make　its　weight　easy　to　maneuver；　and　went　back　through　the　door　with　it。　The　torches　lit　the　area　around　the　boy；　the　white　sand　with　the　symbols　traced　in　it；　the　ring　of　grass；　the　altar　set　on　the　wedge　of　white　stone。　Torchlight　reflected　off　the　polished　stone　block　that　held　the　iron　bowl　with　the　Shinga　on　its　lid
　
　Rahl's　blue　eyes　took　it　all　in　as　he　approached　the　boy。　He　stopped　in　front　of　him；　by　the　mouth　of　the　feeding　horn。　There　was　a　glaze　in　his　eyes　as　he　looked　down　to　Carl's　upturned　face。
　
　〃Are　you　sure　about　this；　Carl？〃　he　asked　hoarsely。　〃Can　I　trust　you　with　my　life？〃
　
　〃I　swear　my　loyalty　to　you；　Father　Rahl。　Forever。〃
　
　Rahl's　eyes　closed　as　he　drew　a　sharp　breath。　Sweat　beaded　on　his　face；　stuck　his　robes　to　his　skin。　He　could　feel　waves　of　heat　rolling　off　the　crucible。　He　added　the　heat　of　his　magic　to　the　vessel；　to　keep　its　contents　boiling。
　
　Softly；　he　began　chanting　the　sacred　incantations　in　the　ancient　language。　Charms　and　spells　whispered　their　haunting　sounds　in　the　air。　Rahl's　back　arched　as　he　felt　power　surging　through　his　body；　taking　him　with　hot　promise。　He　shook　as　he　chanted；　offering　up　his　words　to　the　spirit　of　the　boy。
　
　His　eyes　opened　partway；　the　visage　of　wanton　passion　burning　in　them。　His　breathing　was　ragged；　his　hands　trembled　slightly。　He　gazed　down　at　the　boy。
　
　〃Carl；〃　he　said　in　a　husky　whisper；　〃I　love　you。〃
　
　〃I　love　you；　Father　Rahl。〃
　
　Rahl's　eyes　slid　closed。　〃Put　your　mouth　over　the　horn；　my　boy；　and　hold　tight。〃
　
　While　Carl　did　as　he　was　told；　Rahl　chanted　the　last　charm；　his　heart　pounding。　The　torches　hissed　and　spit　while　they　burned；　the　sound　intertwining　with　that　of　the　spell。
　
　And　then　he　poured　the　contents　of　the　crucible　into　the　horn。
　
　Carl's　eyes　snapped　wide；　and　he　both　inhaled　and　swallowed　involuntarily　when　the　molten　lead　hit　him；　searing　into　his　body。
　
　Darken　Rahl　shuddered　with　excitement。　He　let　the　empty　crucible　slip　from　his　hands　to　the　ground。
　
　The　Master　went　on　to　the　next　set　of　incantations；　the　sending　of　the　boy's　spirit　to　the　underworld。　He　said　the　words；　every　word　in　the　proper　order；　opening　the　way　to　the　underworld；　opening　the　void；　opening　the　dark　emptiness。
　
　As　his　hands　extended　upward；　dark　forms　swirled　around　him。　Howls　filled　the　night　air　with　the　terror　of　their　calls。　Darken　Rahl　went　to　the　cold　stone　altar；　knelt　in