tg.stone of tears-第119章

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　After　a　time；　Richard　realized　that　the　sound　of　their　hooves　was　changing。　It　wasn’t　as　sharp；　it　had　grown　softer。
　
　‘Richard！　We’re　out　of　the　valley！’
　
　He　looked　back　over　his　shoulder　to　see　the　wisp　of　dark　storm　clouds　boiling　at　the　edge　of　the　horizon。　The　golden　sun　hung　low　in　the　sky　over　the　grassy；　undulating　ground　beneath　them。　Their　horses　slowed　to　a　canter。
　
　‘Are　you　sure？　Are　you　sure　we’re　away　from　it？’
　
　She　nodded。　‘This　is　the　Old　World。　I　know　this　place。’
　
　‘But　it　could　still　be　an　illusion；　to　give　us　confidence；　and　trap　us　before　we’re　clear。’
　
　‘Must　you　always　question　what　I　tell　you？　I　can　feel　it　with　my　Han。　This　is　no　illusion。　We　are　safely　out　of　the　valley　and　away　from　its　magic。　It　cannot　reach　us　now。’
　
　Richard　wondered　briefly　if　she　could　still　be　an　illusion。　But　he；　too；　sensed　that　the　danger　was　no　longer　there。　He　leaned　forward　and　gave　Bonnie’s　warm　neck　a　big　hug。
　
　The　immense　hills　they　were　entering　were　barren　of　trees；　covered　with　clumps　of　grass　and　wildflowers；　the　low　places　sprinkled　throughout　with　sandy…colored　rocks。　The　sun　shined　warmly；　but　it　no　longer　scorched　the　land。　Richard　laughed　into　the　wind　at　his　face。
　
　He　grinned　at　Sister　Verna；　but　she　wasn’t　smiling。　Her　brow　was　creased　with　a　scowl　as　she　scanned　the　sweep　of　hills　before　them。
　
　‘Wipe　that　grin　off　your　face；’　she　snapped。
　
　‘I’m　just　happy　we　made　it。　I’m　happy　you’re　alive；　Sister。’
　
　‘If　you　had　any　idea　how　angry　I　am　with　you　right　now；　Richard；　you　would　not　be　quite　so　pleased　I　am　still　with　you。　Take　this　advice　seriously：　you　would　be　doing　yourself　a　great　favor；　right　now；　if　you　kept　that　tongue　of　yours　still。’
　
　He　could　only　shake　his　head。
　
　
　CHAPTER　33
　
　‘You　must　cut　off　my　arm。’
　
　Zedd　drew　the　sleeve　of　the　sky　blue；　satin　robe　down　her　arm；　covering　the　wound　that　wouldn’t　heal；　and　the　faint　green　glow　of　her　flesh。
　
　‘I’m　not　cutting　off　your　arm；　Adie。　How　many　times　do　I　have　to　tell　you？’
　
　He　set　the　cut…glass　lamp　back　on　a　side　table　inlaid　with　silver　worked　in　floral　patterns；　next　to　the　tray　of　brown　bread　and　half…eaten　lamb　stew；　and　strolled　across　the　carpets　to　draw　the　heavy；　embroidered　curtains　back　a　bit　with　a　thin　finger。　He　peered；　without　seeing；　out　the　frost…laced　window；　at　the　dark　street。　The　glow　from　the　fire　in　the　outer　room　cast　a　warm；　dim　light　through　the　open　double　doors。　The　rooms　were　fairly　quiet；　considering　the　size　of　the　crowd　down　in　the　dining　room。
　
　The　Ram’s　Horn　did　a　bustling　business　despite　it　being　the　dead　of　winter；　or　perhaps　because　of　it。　The　open　road　was　no　place　to　sleep　in　this　cold　and　snow；　and　trade　couldn’t　stop　simply　because　of　the　season。　Merchants；　drivers；　and　travelers　of　every　sort　filled　this　inn；　as　well　as　all　the　others　in　Penverro。
　
　He　and　Adie　had　been　lucky　to　find　lodging。　Or　perhaps　the　innkeeper　had　been　the　lucky　one；　lucky　that　someone　would　e　along　who　was　willing　to　pay　the　outrageous　price　he　asked　for　his　finest　rooms。
　
　But　the　price　of　the　rooms　did　not　concern　Zedd；　producing　the　required　price　in　gold　was　no　problem　for　a　wizard　of　the　First　Order。　He　had　real　problems；　though。　The　gash　where　the　skrin　had　cut　Adie　with　its　claw　wasn’t　healing。　In　fact；　it　was　getting　worse。　And　it　would　do　no　good　trying　to　use　more　magic　to　cure　the　wound；　magic　was　the　trouble。
　
　‘Listen　to　me；　old　man。’　Adie　levered　herself　up　in　the　bed；　onto　one　elbow。　‘It　be　the　only　way　to　stop　it。　You　have　tried；　and　I　do　not　fault　your　efforts。　But　if　we　don’t　stop　it；　I　will　die。　What　be　one　arm；　pared　to　my　life？　If　you　do　not　have　the　courage；　then　give　me　a　knife。　I　can　do　the　work　myself。’
　
　He　scowled　over　his　shoulder。　‘Of　that；　dear　lady；　I　have　no　doubt。　But　it　would　do　no　good；　I’m　afraid。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？’　she　asked　in　a　low　rasp。
　
　He　plucked　a　cold　chunk　of　lamb　from　the　gold…rimmed　bowl　and　popped　it　in　his　mouth　before　he　hiked　his　lavish　robes　up　a　bit　and　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　bed。　He　took　up　her　good　hand　as　he　chewed。　It　seemed　thin　and　frail；　but　he　knew　her　to　be　more　the　stuff　of　iron。
　
　‘Adie；　do　you　know　anyone　with　knowledge　of　this　sort　of　taint？’
　
　She　ignored　his　question。　‘Why　do　you　say　it　will　do　no　good？’
　
　Zedd　patted　her　hand。　‘Answer　the　question。　Do　you　know　anyone　who　would　know　anything　about　this？’
　
　‘I　would　have　to　think　on　it　some；　but　I　do　not　think　there　be　anyone　still　alive　who　would　have　such　knowledge。　You　be　a　wizard；　who　would　know　better　than　you？　Wizards　be　healers。’　She　took　back　her　hand。　‘And　what　do　you　mean　cutting　off　the　arm　would　do　no　good？’　She　was　silent　a　moment；　and　then　her　eyes　widened。　‘You　mean　it　be　too　late　。。。？’
　
　Zedd　stood　and　turned　away　from　her。　He　put　a　hand　on　his　bony　hip　as　he　considered　the　options。　There　was　not　much　to　consider。
　
　‘Think　on　it；　Adie；　and　do　so　with　haste。　This　is　beyond　my　knowledge；　and　it　is　serious。’
　
　He　heard　the　bed　squeak　as　Adie　sank　back　down　onto　the　pillows。　She　released　a　tired　sigh。
　
　‘Then　I　be　dead。　At　least　my　spirit　will　be　with　my　Pell；　at　last。　You　must　go　on　now。　Do　not　waste　any　more　time。　I　have　already　slowed　you　too　much；　been　in　this　bed　too　many　days。　You　must　get　to　Aydindril。　Please；　Zedd；　don’t　let　me　be　responsible　for　what　will　happen　if　you　don’t　get　to　Aydindril。　Go　help　Richard；　and　leave　me　to　my　end。’
　
　Adie；　please　do　as　I　ask；　and　think。　Who　would　be　able　to　help　us？’
　
　Too　late；　he　realized　he　had　just　made　a　mistake。　He　winced　and　waited　for　what　he　knew　what　was　ing。
　
　He　heard　the　bedsprings　squeak　again。　‘Us？’
　
　‘I　simply　mean　。。。’
　
　She　snatched　the　sleeve　of　his　fine　robes　and　spun　him　around。　Her　brow　was　set　in　a　serious　scowl。　She　gave　a　firm　tug；　forcing　him　to　sit　on　the　bed　next　to　her。　Her　eyes　seemed　more　pink　than　white　in　the　lamplight；　yet　he　could　see　the　dim　haze　of　green　in　them。
　
　‘Us？’　she　repeated。　This　time　it　came　out　in　a　growling　rasp。　And　you　plain　about　the　small　secrets　a　sorceress　would　choose　to　keep　to　herself！　Out　with　it；　or　I　will　make　you　sorry　you　dragged　me　along　with　you。’
　
　Zedd　gave　a　tired　sigh。　It　was　just　as　well；　he　couldn’t　keep　it　from　her　much　longer　anyway。　He　drew　the　dark　sleeve　of　his　robe　up　his　arm。
　
　The　flesh　of　his　upper　arm；　in　the　same　place　where　her　arm　had　been　cut；　was　blotched　with　cloudy　black　circles　about　the　size　of　gold　coins；　and　had　the　same　faint　green　glow　as　her　arm。　She　stared　at　it　without　reaction。
　
　‘Wizards　use　the　magic　of　empathy　to　cure　people。　We　take　the　pain　and　the　essence　of　the　discordance；　the　sickness　or　injury；　into　ourselves。　We　have　passed　the　test　of　pain；　so　in　this；　as　in　other　things；　we　are　able　to　endure　what　we　take　from　another。　We　use　the　gift　to　sustain　us；　and　to　give　strength　to　the　person；　allowing　the　magic　to　cure　what　is　out　of　order。　The　harmony　within　us　corrects　the　disharmony。　Sickness　and　injury　is　an　aberration；　and　the　magic　restores　the　flows　of　power　in　a　person　to　what　it　is　intended　to　be。’　He　stroked　her　hand。　‘Within　limits；　of　course。　We　are　not　the　hand　of　Creation。　But　from　it；　we　have　the　gift　to　use　when　it　is　appropriate。’
　
　‘But　。。。　why　be　your　arm　like　mine？’
　
　‘The　actual　transfer　of　the　sickness　or　injury　is　blocked。　Only　the　pain　and　disharmony　of　it　is　taken　on；　so　we　may　pass　strength；　healing；　and　wellness　to　the　one　we　are　helping。’　He　took　hold　of　the　silver　brocade　at　the　cuff　and　drew　the　sleeve　back　down　his　arm。　‘Somehow；　the　taint　of　the　skrin　passed　through　that　barrier。’
　
　Concern　creased　her　features。　‘Then　we　must　both　lose　our　arms。’
　
　Zedd　worked　his　tongue　to　wet　it。　‘No。　I’m　afraid　that　wouldn’t　help。　When　I　try　to　cure　someone；　I　can　sense　where　the　injury　or　sickness；　the　disharmony；　lies。’　He　stood　again；　turning　his　back　to　her。　Though　the　wound　is　on　your　arm；　the　taint　of　the　skrin’s　magic　is　evident　throughout　your　body。’　His　voice　dropped　to　a　whisper。　‘It　is　also　throughout　me；　now。’
　
　Zedd　could　hear　the　muffled　laughter　from　down　in　the　dining　room。　Merry　music　seemed　to　ooze　up　through　the　elegant；　richly　colored　carpets。　A　bard　was　singing　a　bawdy　tale　about　a　princess　masquerading　as　a　serving　wench。　Her　father　and　king　had　pledged　her　to　a　prince　she　loathed。　After　having　exposed　the　suitor　as　a　scoundrel　and　greedy　opportunist；　she　found　that；　despite　having　to　endure　her　bottom　being　pinched；　she　preferred　the　occupation　of　serving　wench　to　that　of　princess；　and　went　on　to　live　a　life　of　singing　and　dancing。　The　crowd　roared　their　approval；　thumping　their　mugs　in　time　with　the　tune。
　
　Adie’s　voice　came　softly　from　behind　him。　‘We　be　in　a　great　deal　of　trouble；　old　man。’
　
　He　nodded　absently。　‘Indeed。’
　
　‘I　be　sorry；　Zedd。　Forgive　me　for　what　I　have　brought　upon　us。’
　
　He　dismissed　her　regrets　with　a　wave　of　his　hand。　‘What’s　done　is　done。　It’s　not　your　fault；　dear　lady。　If　anything；　it’s　mine；　for　not　thinking　before　I　used　magic　on　th