tg.stone of tears-第181章

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ppened　to　it？’
　
　‘What　happened　to　it？　I　killed　it；　that’s　what　happened　to　it。　What　sort　of　thing　is　a　mriswith？’
　
　Her　big　brown　eyes　came　to　his。　‘What　do　you　mean；　you　killed　it？　You　can’t　kill　a　mriswith。　No　one　has　ever　killed　a　mriswith。’
　
　Her　face　was　a　picture　of　consternation。
　
　‘Well；　someone　has　killed　one　now。’
　
　‘You　killed　it　at　night；　didn’t　you。’
　
　‘Yes。’　Richard　frowned。　‘How　do　you　know　that？’
　
　‘Mriswith　are　rarely　seen　outside　Hagen　Woods；　but　there　have　been　reports　over　the　last　few　thousand　years。　Reports　given　by　people　who　somehow　managed　to　live　long　enough　to　tell　what　they　saw。　The　mriswith　always　take　on　the　color　of　what　is　around　them。　In　one　report；　one　rose　up　in　the　tidal　flats；　and　was　the　color　of　mud。　One　time　in　the　sand　dunes；　it　was　the　color　of　the　sand。　One　report　noted　that　in　the　light　of　a　golden　sunset；　the　mriswith　was　golden。　When　they　kill　at　night；　they’re　never　seen；　because　they　are　black；　like　the　night。　We　think　they　have　the　ability；　maybe　the　magic；　to　assume　the　color　of　their　surroundings。　Since　this　one　is　black；　I　guessed　that　you　killed　it　at　night。’
　
　Richard　took　her　arm；　gently　pulling　her　away。　She　seemed　transfixed　by　the　creature。　He　could　feel　her　trembling　under　his　hand。
　
　‘Pasha；　what　are　they？’
　
　‘Things　that　live　in　the　Hagen　Woods。　I　don’t　know　what　they　are。　I’ve　heard　it　said　that　in　the　war　that　separated　the　New　World　from　the　Old；　the　wizards　created　armies　of　the　mriswith。　Some　people　believe　the　mriswith　are　sent　by　the　Nameless　One。
　
　‘But　the　Hagen　Woods　are　their　home。　And　the　home　of　other　things。　They　are　why　no　one　lives　out　in　the　country　on　this　side　of　the　river。　Sometimes；　they　e　out　of　the　woods；　and　hunt　people。　They　never　devour　their　kills；　they　seem　simply　to　kill　for　the　sake　of　killing。　Mriswith　disembowel　their　victims。　Some　live　long　enough　to　tell　what　got　them；　that　is　how　we　know　as　much　as　we　know。’
　
　‘How　long　have　the　Hagen　Woods；　the　creatures；　been　here？’
　
　‘As　far　as　I　know；　at　least　as　long　as　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets；　nearly　three　thousand　years。’
　
　She　took　a　fistful　of　his　shirt。　‘In　all　that　time；　no　one；　not　once；　has　ever　killed　a　mriswith。　Every　victim　said　that　they　never　saw　it　until　after　it　slashed　them　open。　Some　of　those　victims　have　been　Sisters；　and　wizards；　and　not　even　their　Han　warned　them。　They　said　they　were　blind　to　its　ing；　as　if　they　were　born　without　the　gift。　How　is　it　you　were　able　to　kill　a　mriswith？’
　
　Richard　remembered　seeing　it　ing　in　his　mind。　He　took　her　hand　from　his　shirt。　‘Maybe　I　was　just　lucky。
　
　Someone　was　bound　to　get　one　sooner　or　later。　Maybe　this　one　was　just　a　half…wit。’
　
　‘Richard；　please；　e　away　with　me。　This　is　not　the　way　to　have　a　test　of　wills　with　the　palace。　This　could　get　you　killed。’
　
　‘I’m　not　testing　anyone’s　will；　I’m　taking　responsibility　for　my　actions。　It’s　my　fault　Sister　Verna　was　demoted；　I’ve　got　to　set　it　straight。　I’m　taking　a　stand　for　what’s　right。　If　I　don’t　do　that；　then　I　am　nothing。’
　
　‘Richard；　if　the　sun　sets　on　you　in　the　Hagen　Woods　…’
　
　‘You　are　wasting　precious　time；　Pasha。’
　
　
　CHAPTER　52
　
　It　was　late　afternoon　when　he　heard　them　ing。　He　heard　the　sound　of　only　one　horse；　and　Pasha’s　voice　calling　out　the　direction。　At　last　they　broke　into　the　clearing。
　
　Richard　sheathed　his　sword。　‘Bonnie！’　He　gave　the　horse’s　neck　a　scratch。　‘How　you　doing；　girl？’
　
　Bonnie　nuzzled　his　chest。　Richard　pushed　his　fingers　in　the　side　of　her　mouth　and　felt　the　bit　while　Sister　Maren　frowned　at　him。
　
　‘I’m　glad　to　see　you　use　a　snaffle　bit；　Sister。’
　
　‘The　stableboys　said　they　couldn’t　find　the　spade　bits。’　She　glared　down　at　him　suspiciously。　‘Seems　they　vanished。　Mysteriously。’
　
　‘That　so？’　Richard　shrugged。　‘Can’t　say　I’m　sorry。’
　
　Pasha　was　panting　with　the　effort　of　having　kept　up　with　the　Sister　on　her　horse。　Her　white　blouse　was　soaked　with　sweat。　She　fussed　hopelessly　with　the　matted；　tangled　mess　of　her　hair。　The　Sister　must　have　made　Pasha　walk；　as　punishment。　Sister　Maren；　in　her　plain　brown　dress　buttoned　to　her　neck；　looked　cool　and　fortable　atop　the　horse。
　
　‘So；　Richard；’　Sister　Maren　said；　as　she　dismounted；　‘I　am　here；　as　you　requested。　What　is　it　you　want？’
　
　She　knew　very　well　what　he　wanted；　but　Richard　decided　to　restate　it　in　a　pleasant　tone。　‘It’s　quite　simple。　Sister　Verna　is　to　be　restored　to　Sister。　At　once。　And　you　are　also　to　return　her　dacra　to　her。’
　
　She　gestured　dismissively。　‘And　here　I　thought　you　would　want　something　unreasonable。　This　is　simple。　It　is　done。　Verna　is　returned　to　Sister。　It　makes　no　difference　to　me。’
　
　‘And　when　she　asks　why；　I　don’t　want　you　to　tell　her　about　this　business　with　me。　Just　say　you　reconsidered；　or　something；　and　decided　to　reinstate　her。　If　you　want；　you　can　tell　her　you　prayed　for　guidance　from　your　Creator；　and　it　came　to　you　that　she　should　remain　a　Sister。’
　
　She　brushed　some　of　her　fine；　sandy　hair　back　from　her　face。　That　would　suit　me。　Are　you　satisfied？　Is　everything　to　your　liking？’
　
　‘That　would　end　it；　and　keep　our　truce。’
　
　‘Good。　Now　that　the　trifling　matters　are　dispensed　with；　show　me　this　dead　bear。　Pasha　has　half　the　palace　in　an　uproar　with　some　babble　about　you　killing　a　mriswith。’　Pasha　furiously　studied　the　ground　as　Sister　Maren　directed　a　scolding　frown　in　her　direction。　The　foolish　child　never　sets　her　slippered　foot　on　anything　that　hasn’t　been　swept；　scrubbed；　or　polished。　The　only　time　she　sticks　her　head　out…of…doors　is　go　see　the　latest　bolt　of　lace　to　e　to　Tanimura。　She　wouldn’t　know　a　rabbit　from　an　ox；　and　she　certainly　wouldn’t　know　a　。。。　What　is　that　smell？’
　
　‘Bear　guts；’　Richard　said。
　
　He　held　out　his　arm；　showing　her　the　way。　Pasha　deferentially　stepped　aside。　Sister　Maren　straightened　her　dress　at　her　hips　and　marched　toward　the　trees。　Pasha　peeked　up　at　him；　and　when　they　heard　Sister　Maren　gasp；　her　head　came　the　rest　of　the　way　up　and　she　smiled。
　
　When　Sister　Maren　stepped　backward　to　them；　her　face　white　as　bed　sheets；　Pasha　resumed　her　study　of　the　ground。
　
　Sister　Maren’s　trembling　fingers　lifted　Pasha’s　chin。　‘You　have　spoken　the　truth；’　she　whispered。　‘Forgive　me；　child。’
　
　Pasha　curtsied。　‘Of　course；　Sister　Maren。　Thank　you　for　taking　the　time　to　witness　my　report。’
　
　Sister　Maren’s　haughty　attitude　had　vanished；　to　be　replaced　by　sincere　concern。　She　turned　to　Richard。　‘How　did　this　creature　die？’　Richard　lifted　the　sword　clear　of　its　scabbard　a　half　foot　and　then　slid　it　home。　Then　what　Pasha　said　is　true？　You　killed　it？’
　
　Richard　shrugged。　‘I　spend　quite　a　lot　of　my　time　out…of…doors。　I　knew　it　was　no　rabbit。’
　
　Sister　Maren　returned　to　the　creature；　mumbling　to　herself。　‘I　must　study　it。　This　is　an　unprecedented　opportunity。’
　
　Pasha　looked　to　Richard　and　wrinkled　her　nose　in　disgust　as　the　Sister　ran　her　finger　over　the　lipless　slit　of　a　mouth；　touched　the　ear　holes；　and　ran　her　hand　across　the　glossy　black　skin。　She　tugged　at　the　hide　clothes；　pulling　them　this　way　and　that　as　she　inspected　them。
　
　She　rose　to　her　feet；　peering　down　at　the　entrails。　Finally；　she　turned　to　Richard。
　
　‘Where　is　the　cape？　Pasha　said　it　had　a　cape。’
　
　When　the　mriswith　had　lunged；　and　he　had　sliced　it　in　two；　the　cape　had　been　billowed　open　and　so　it　was　undamaged。　While　Richard　had　been　waiting　for　Pasha　to　return　with　the　Sister；　he　had　accidentally　learned　the　astonishing　thing　the　cape　could　do。　After　that；　he　had　washed　it　clean　of　blood；　hung　it　over　branches　to　dry；　and　then　stuffed　it　away　in　his　pack。　He　had　no　intention　of　giving　that　cape　away。
　
　‘It’s　mine。　It　is　a　prize　of　battle。　I’m　keeping　it。’
　
　She　looked　perplexed。　‘But；　the　knives　。。。　don’t　men　fancy　things　like　that　as　prizes　of　battle？　Why　would　you　want　a　cape　instead　of　the　knives？’
　
　Richard　tapped　the　hilt。　‘I　have　my　sword。　Why　would　I　want　knives　that　have　proven　inferior　to　my　sword？　I’ve　always　wanted　a　long　black　cape；　and　it’s　a　fine　one；　so　I’m　keeping　it。’
　
　The　furrows　of　her　scowl　stole　back　onto　her　face。　‘Is　this　another　condition　of　your　truce？’
　
　‘If　need　be。’
　
　The　furrows　softened。　She　sighed。　‘I　guess　it　doesn’t　matter。　It　is　the　creature　that　is　important；　not　its　cape。’　She　turned　back　to　the　reeking　corpse。　‘I　must　study　this。’
　
　While　she　bent　back　to　the　mriswith；　Richard　hooked　his　bow；　quiver　of　arrows；　and　pack　to　the　front　of　the　saddle。　He　put　his　foot　in　the　stirrup　and　sprang　up　onto　Bonnie。
　
　‘Don’t　stay　after　the　sun　goes　down；　Sister　Maren。’
　
　She　glanced　over　her　shoulder。　‘My　horse。　You　can’t　have　my　horse。’
　
　Richard　smiled　apologetically。　‘I　twisted　my　ankle　fighting　the　mriswith。　I’m　sure　you　wouldn’t　want　the　palace’s　newest　pupil　limping　all　the　way　home；　now；　would　you？　I　might　fall　and　crack　my　skull。’
　
　‘But　。。。’
　
　Richard　reached　down　and　gripped　Pasha’s　arm。　She　gasped　in　surprise　as　he　yanked　her　up；　sitting　her