tg.stone of tears-第197章

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　Mistress　Bernadette　smiled　as　she　bowed　her　head。　‘Yes；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　As　the　rest　of　the　servants　rushed　off；　Kahlan　leaned　toward　Mistress　Bernadette。　‘I　remember　when　you　would　have　added　a　swat　on　my　behind　for　having　to　remind　me　of　things。’
　
　Mistress　Bernadette’s　smile　returned。　‘I　think　you　are　too　smart；　now；　for　that；　Mother　Confessor。’　She　rubbed　an　invisible　spot　from　the　back　of　her　hand。　‘Mother　Confessor　。。。　did　you　bring　any　of　the　other　Confessors　home　with　you？　Will　any　of　the　others　be　returning；　soon？’
　
　Kahlan’s　features　slid　into　her　Confessor’s　face；　as　her　mother　had　taught　her。　‘I’m　sorry；　Bernadette；　I　thought　you　knew。　They　are　all　dead。　I　am　the　last　living　Confessor。’
　
　Mistress　Bernadette’s　eyes　filled　with　tears　as　she　whispered　a　prayer。　‘May　the　good　spirits　be　with　them　always。’
　
　‘Why　should　they　mence　now；’　Kahlan　said　tersely。　They　didn’t　bother　to　be　with　Dennee　the　day　the　quad　caught　her。’
　
　The　fireplaces　in　her　rooms　were　all　blazing；　as　she　had　known　they　would　be；　and　would　have　been　every　day　she　had　been　away；　month　after　month。　The　fires　in　the　Mother　Confessor’s　rooms　would　never　be　allowed　to　go　out　in　the　winter；　in　case　she　returned。　There　was　a　silver　tray　on　a　table；　with　a　fresh　loaf　of　bread；　a　pot　of　tea；　and　a　steaming　bowl　of　spice　soup。　Mistress　Sanderholt　knew　spice　soup　was　her　favorite。
　
　Spice　soup　reminded　Kahlan　of　Richard；　now。　She　remembered　making　it　for　him；　and　he　for　her。
　
　After　dropping　her　pack　and　bow　to　the　floor；　Kahlan　crossed　the　plush　carpets　and　went　into　the　next　room。　She　stood；　idly　rubbing　her　fingers　on　one　of　the　great；　polished　posts　at　the　foot　of　her　bed；　staring；　remembering　that　she　was　supposed　to　be　here　with　Richard。　The　day　they　arrived　in　Aydindril　they　were　to　already　have　been　wed。　She　had　promised　him　this　big　bed。
　
　Kahlan　remembered　the　joy　in　her　heart　the　day　they　talked　about　being　wed　and　ing　to　Aydindril　as　husband　and　wife。　She　felt　a　tear　roll　down　her　cheek。　She　gasped　a　deep　breath　against　the　hot　pain　that　burned　through　her　chest；　and　wiped　the　tear　away　with　her　fingertips。
　
　Kahlan　went　to　the　glassed　doors；　opening　them　out　onto　the　expansive　balcony。　She　put　her　trembling　fingers　to　the　broad；　icy　railing　and　stood　in　the　cold　air；　looking　up　the　mountainside　to　the　Wizard’s　Keep；　its　dark　stone　walls　standing　out　in　the　last　golden　rays　of　the　sunset。
　
　‘Where　are　you；　Zedd？’　she　whispered。　‘I　need　you。’
　
　
　He　came　awake　with　a　gasp　as　he　slid　and　thumped　his　head。　He　sat　up；　blinking。　An　old　woman　with　straight；　black　and　white；　jaw…length　hair　was　sitting　opposite　him；　cowering　in　a　corner。　The　two　of　them　were　inside　a　coach。　It　rolled　abruptly；　sliding　him　across　to　the　other　side。　The　woman　was　staring　in　his　direction。　He　blinked　in　surprise　at　her。　Her　eyes　were　pletely　white。
　
　‘Who　are　you？’　he　asked。
　
　‘Who　be　you？’　she　asked　right　back。
　
　‘I　asked　first。’
　
　‘I　。。。’　She　drew　her　cloak　around　her　fine；　green　dress。　‘I　don’t　know　who　I　be。　Who　be　you？’
　
　He　held　a　finger　skyward。　‘I’m　。。。　I’m　。。。’　He　let　out　a　thin　sigh。　‘I’m　afraid　I　don’t　know　who　I　am；　either。　Don’t　I　look　like　anyone　you　recognize？’
　
　She　pulled　her　cloak　a　little　tighter。　‘I　do　not　know。　I　be　blind。　I　cannot　see　what　you　look　like。’
　
　‘Blind？　Oh。　Well；　I’m　sorry。’
　
　He　rubbed　his　head　where　he　had　hit　it　on　the　side　of　the　coach。　Looking　down；　he　saw　that　he　was　wearing　fine　clothes；　a　maroon　robe　with　black　sleeves　that　had　three　rows　of　silver　brocade　around　them。　Well；　he　thought；　at　least　I　must　be　wealthy。
　
　He　picked　a　black　cane　off　the　floor；　giving　its　fine　silver…work　a　look。　He　turned　and　thumped　it　against　the　roof；　in　the　direction　of　where　the　driver　must　be　sitting；　up　top。　The　old　woman　jumped　with　a　fright。
　
　‘What　be　that　noise！’
　
　‘Oh；　sorry。　I　was　trying　to　get　the　driver’s　attention。’
　
　The　driver　must　have　heard。　The　coach　slid　to　a　stop；　and　then　rocked　as　someone　climbed　down。　When　the　door　drew　open　and　he　saw　the　size　of　the　man　in　a　longcoat　sticking　his　windburned　face　in；　he　clutched　his　cane　and　slid　back。
　
　‘Who　are　you？’　he　asked；　brandishing　the　cane。
　
　‘Me？　I’m　just　a　big　fool；’　the　big　man　growled。　His　deeply　creased　face　softened　into　a　little　smile。　‘Name’s　Ahern。’
　
　‘Well；　Ahern；　what　are　you　doing　with　us？　Have　you　kidnapped　us？　Are　we　being　held　for　ransom？’
　
　Ahern　chuckled。　‘More　like　the　other　way　around；　I’d　say。’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？　How　long　have　we　been　asleep？　And　who　are　we？’
　
　Ahern　looked　to　the　sky。　‘Dear　spirits；　how　do　I　get　myself　into　these　things？’　He　let　out　a　sigh。　‘You’ve　both　been　asleep　since　late　yesterday。　You’ve　slept　last　night；　and　all　day　today。　Your　name　is　Ruben。　Ruben　Rybnik。’
　
　‘Ruben？’　He　harrumphed。　‘Ruben。　Well；　that’s　a　fine　name。’
　
　And　who　be　I？’　the　woman　asked。
　
　‘You　are　Elda　Rybnik。’
　
　‘Her　name　is　Rybnik；　too？’　Ruben　asked。　Are　we　related？’
　
　Ahern　hesitated。　‘Yes　and　no。　You　two　are　husband　and　wife。　Sort　of。’
　
　Ruben　leaned　toward　the　big　man。　‘I　think　that　needs　explaining。’
　
　Ahern　gave　a　sigh；　and　a　nod。　‘Your　name’s　Ruben；　and　hers　is　Elda。　But　that’s　not　your　real　names。　You　told　me　that　for　now；　it　would　be　best　if　I　not　tell　you　your　real　names。’
　
　‘You　have　kidnapped　us！　You’ve　knocked　us　on　the　head　and　spirited　us　away！’
　
　‘Just　calm　down；　and　I’ll　explain。’
　
　‘Then　explain；　before　I　give　you　a　thrashing　with　my　cane。’
　
　‘It　isn’t　worth　it；’　Ahern　mumbled　to　himself。　‘How　did　I　ever　get　into　this？　Gold；　that’s　how；’　he　answered　himself。
　
　Ahern　pushed　into　the　coach；　sitting　next　to　Ruben。　He　pulled　the　door　closed　against　the　flying　snow。
　
　‘Well；　just　invite　yourself　right　in；’　Ruben　said。
　
　Ahern　cleared　his　throat。　All　right；　now；　you　two　listen　to　me。　You　both　were　sick。　You　had　me　take　you　to　see　three　women。’　He　leaned　closer　to　Ruben　and　scowled。　Three　sorceresses。’
　
　‘Sorceresses！’　Ruben　yelped。　‘No　wonder　we　don’t　know　who　we　are！　You　took　us　to　witches　and　had　a　spell　put　on　us！’
　
　Ahern　put　a　calming　hand　on　him。　‘Be　quiet　and　listen。　You　are　a　wizard。’　Ruben　gawked　at　Ahern。　Ahern　turned　to　Elda。　And　you　are　a　sorceress。’
　
　Ruben　waved　his　arms　around　with　a　flourish。　‘No　I’m　not；’　he　snapped；　at　last；　‘or　you’d　be　changed　to　a　toad。’
　
　Ahern　shook　his　head　with　a　grumble。　‘Your　power　is　gone。’
　
　‘Well；’　Ruben　asked　as　he　straightened　his　back；　‘was　I　a　talented　wizard？’
　
　‘You　were　good　enough　to　put　those　cursed　fingers　of　yours　to　the　side　of　my　thick　head　and　put　it　in　my　mind　to　help　you。　You　said　wizards　had　to　use　people　sometimes；　to　do　what　must　be　done。　The　burden　of　a　wizard　you　called　it。　You　said　helping　you　was　something　I　would　have　done　anyway；　that　you　were　only　calling　on　the　‘goodness’　within　me　to　hurry　my　thinking　along。　Anyway；　that；　and　more　gold　than　I’ve　ever　seen；　convinced　me　to　do　something　I　ought　to　know　better　than　to　get　tangled　in。　I　surely　don’t　like　anything　to　do　with　wizards　and　magic。’
　
　‘And　I　be　a　sorceress？’　Elda　asked。　‘A　blind　sorceress？’
　
　‘Well；　no；　ma’am。　You　were　blind；　but　you　could　use　your　gift　to　see　…　see　better　than　I　can　see　with　my　eyes。’
　
　‘Then　why　be　I　blind；　now？’
　
　‘Both　of　you　were　sick。　Sick　with　some　kind　of　evil　magic。　The　three　sorceresses　agreed　to　help　you；　but　in　order　to　cure　you；　they　had　to　。。。　well；　they　had　to　give　you　both　something　that　would　make　your　magic；　your　gift；　go　away。　You　made　me　wait　outside；　so　I　don’t　know　what　they　did。　I　just　know　what　you　told　me　before　you　went　back　in　for　the　last　time　to　have　it　done。’
　
　Ruben　leaned　in。　‘You’re　making　this　up。’
　
　Ahern　ignored　him　and　went　on。　‘The　sickness　you　two　had　was　feeding　on　your　good　magic。　I　don’t　know　the　way　magic　works；　and　the　spirits　know　I　don’t　want　to　know；　I　only　know　what　you　told　me；　the　way　you　explained　it　to　me；　when　you　came　out　and　convinced　me　to　help　you。　You　said　that　in　order　to　help　you；　the　three　sorceresses　had　to　give　you　something　to　make　your　magic　go　away。　Only　in　that　way　could　you　two　heal。　The　evil　magic　wouldn’t　wither　and　die；　and　your　wounds　heal；　as　long　as　it　had　the　good　magic　to　latch　on　to；　to　feed　on。’
　
　‘So　now　we　have　no　magic？’
　
　‘Well；　I　don’t　know　how　it　all　works；　but　as　I　understand　it；　you　can’t　really　get　rid　of　your　magic。　What　the　three　women　did　was　make　you　forget　everything　about　yourselves；　so　you　wouldn’t　know　you　had　any　magic；　so　the　evil　magic　wouldn’t　know；　either；　that　it　was　there。　So　that’s　why　neither　of　you　knows　who　you　are；　or　how　to　use　magic。　That’s　why　Elda　is　blind。’
　
　Ruben　squinted。　‘Why　would　the　sorceresses　agree　to　help　us？’
　
　‘Mostly　because　of　Elda。　They　said　she　was　a　legend　among　the　sorceresses　of　Nicobarese。　Something　about　what　she　did　when　she　was　younger　and　used　to　live　here。’
　
　Ruben　stared　at　the　big　man。　‘It　has　to　be　true。’