tg.stone of tears-第236章

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　CHAPTER　71
　
　Kahlan　strolled　back　into　the　inn。　She　stood　in　the　shadows　at　the　end　of　the　hall　leading　into　the　dining　room。　She　still　felt　the　glow；　the　warmth；　the　mind…numbing　joy　and　fulfillment。　Everyone　looked　up　when　they　heard　her　footsteps。
　
　Zedd　shot　to　his　feet。　‘Kahlan！　Bags；　girl；　where　have　you　been　all　night！　It’s　just　turning　to　dawn！　You’ve　been　missing　since　dusk！　We’ve　been　searching　the　town　all　night　for　you！　Where　did　you　go？’
　
　She　turned　and　held　her　hand　out。　‘To　the　little　garden；　out　back。’
　
　Zedd　stormed　across　the　room。　‘You　were　not　in　the　garden！’
　
　She　smiled　dreamily。　‘Well；　that　was　where　I　went；　but　I　left　that　place。　I　went　to　be　with　Richard。　Zedd；　he　escaped　from　the　Sisters。　He　is　in　Aydindril。’
　
　Zedd　slowed　to　a　stop。　‘Kahlan；　I　know　you　have　had　a　hard　time　of　it；　but　you　have　simply　had　a　vision　of　something　you　wished。’
　
　‘No　Zedd。　I　prayed　to　the　good　spirits。　She　came　and　took　me　to　Richard。　To　be　with　him　in　a　place　between　the　worlds。’
　
　‘Kahlan；　that　is　simply　not　。。。’
　
　Kahlan　stepped　out　of　the　shadows；　into　the　firelight。　Zedd’s　eyes　went　wide。
　
　‘What　。。。　what　happened　to　your　hair？’　the　wizard　whispered。　‘It’s　long　again。’
　
　Kahlan　grinned。　‘Richard　made　it　right。　He　has　the　gift；　you　know。’　She　held　out　the　Agiel　hanging　from　her　neck。　‘He　gave　me　this。　He　said　he　doesn’t　need　it　anymore。’
　
　‘But　。。。　there　has　to　be　some　other　explanation。　。。。’
　
　‘He　gave　me　a　message　to　give　to　you。　He　said　to　thank　you　for　not　closing　the　opened　box　of　Orden。　He　said　he　was　glad　his　grandfather　was　wise　enough　not　to　violate　the　Wizard’s　Second　Rule。’
　
　‘His　grandfather　。。。’　Tears　ran　down　his　wrinkled　face。　‘You　saw　him！　You　really　saw　him！　Richard　is　safe！’
　
　She　threw　her　arms　around　him。　‘Yes；　Zedd。　Everything　is　going　to　be　all　right；　now。　He　restored　the　Stone　of　Tears　to　where　it　belongs；　and　closed　the　box　of　Orden。　He　called　it　the　gateway。　He　said　it　takes　both　Additive　and　Subtractive　Magic　to　do　it　or　it　would　have　destroyed　all　life。’
　
　He　gripped　her　shoulders　and　held　her　out。　‘Richard　has　Subtractive　Magic？　Impossible。’
　
　‘He　had　a　beard；　and　made　it　vanish。　He　said　to　remind　you　of　the　lesson　you　gave　him；　that　only　Subtractive　could　do　that。’
　
　‘Wonder　of　wonders。’　His　sharp　features　came　closer。　‘You’re　all　in　a　lather；　girl。’　He　put　a　sticklike　hand　to　her　forehead。　‘You　don’t　have　a　fever。　Why　are　you　sweating？’
　
　‘It　was　。。。　hot；　in　that　other　world。　Quite　hot。’
　
　He　peered　at　her　hair。　‘You　hair　is　all　tangled。　What　kind　of　wizard　would　grow　hair　back　all　tangled？　I　would　have　grown　it　back　straight。　That　boy　has　a　lot　to　learn。　He　didn’t　do　it　right。’
　
　Kahlan’s　eyes　went　out　of　focus。　‘Believe　me；　he　did　it　right。’
　
　He　turned　his　head；　appraising　her　with　one　eye。　‘What　were　you　doing　all　night？　You’ve　been　gone　the　whole　night。　What　have　you　two　been　doing？’
　
　Kahlan　could　feel　her　ears　heat。　She　was　glad　she　had　long　hair　again。　‘Well；　I　don’t　know。　What　do　you　and　Adie　do　when　you　are　alone　together　all　night？’
　
　Zedd　straightened。　‘Well　。。。’　He　cleared　his　throat。　‘Well；　we　。。。’　He　lifted　his　chin　and　pointed　a　finger　skyward。　‘We　talk。　That’s　what　we　do；　we　talk。’
　
　Kahlan　shrugged。　That’s　what　we　did；　too。　Just　like　you　and　Adie　do　all　night。　We　talked。’
　
　A　sly　grin　stole　onto　his　face。　He　hugged　her　tightly　in　his　thin　arms；　patting　her　back。　‘I’m　so　happy　for　you；　dear　one。’
　
　Zedd　took　her　hands　in　his　and　danced　around　the　room。　Ahern　smiled　and　pulled　out　a　little　flute；　playing　a　bouncy　tune。　‘My　grandson　is　a　wizard！　My　grandson　will　be　a　great　wizard！　Just　like　his　grandfather！’
　
　The　celebration　went　on　for　a　few　minutes；　with　everyone　joining　in　the　laughing。　They　all　clapped　in　time　with　the　tune　as　Zedd　danced　with　her　around　the　room。
　
　Kahlan　saw　one　person　not　joining　in。　Adie　sat　in　a　rocking　chair　in　the　corner。　She　had　a　small；　sad　smile　on　her　face　as　she　turned　her　ear　to　follow　them。
　
　She　went　to　the　old　woman　and　knelt　before　her。　Kahlan　took　up　her　frail　hands。
　
　‘I　be　happy　for　you；　child；’　Adie　said。
　
　Adie；’　Kahlan　said　in　a　soft　voice；　‘the　spirits　sent　a　message　for　you。’
　
　She　shook　her　head　regretfully。　‘I　be　sorry；　child；　but　it　would　mean　nothing　to　me。　I　not　remember　being　this　woman　Adie。’
　
　‘I　promised　to　deliver　the　message。　It’s　important　to　one　beyond　that　you　have　it。　Will　you　hear　the　message？’
　
　Tell　me　then；　though　I　be　sorry　I　won’t　know　its　meaning。’
　
　‘It’s　a　message　from　one　named　Pell。’
　
　The　room　was　silent　behind　her。　Adie’s　rocking　came　to　a　halt。　She　straightened　the　littlest　bit。　Her　eyes　filled　with　tears。
　
　Adie’s　hands　tightened　around　Kahlan’s。　‘From　Pell？　A　message　from　my　Pell？’
　
　‘Yes；　Adie。　He　wants　you　to　know　that　he　loves　you；　and　that　he　is　in　a　place　of　peace。　He　said　to　tell　you　that　he　knows　you　never　betrayed　him。　He　knows　how　much　you　love　him；　and　he　is　sorry　you　have　had　to　suffer。　He　said　to　tell　you　to　be　at　peace；　knowing　all　is　well　between　your　spirits。’
　
　Adie　turned　her　ear　away　and　looked　at　Kahlan　with　her　white　eyes。　Tears　rolled　down　her　cheeks。
　
　‘My　Pell　knows　I　did　not　betray　him？’
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　‘Yes；　Adie。　He　knows；　and　loves　you　as　always。’
　
　Adie　pulled　Kahlan　into　her　arms　as　she　wept。　Thank　you　Kahlan。　You　could　never　know　how　much　this　means　to　me。　You　have　given　me　back　everything。　You　have　given　me　back　the　meaning　of　life。’
　
　‘I　know　how　much　it　means；　Adie。’
　
　Adie　stroked　the　back　of　Kahlan’s　head　as　she　held　her　close。　‘Yes；　child；　perhaps　you　do。’
　
　Jebra　and　Chandalen　cooked　breakfast　while　the　rest　of　them　talked　and　planned。　Though　it　would　be　a　grisly　job　clearing　Ebinissia　of　all　the　bodies；　at　least　it　was　still　winter；　and　not　the　task　it　would　be　in　spring。　From　Ebinissia；　they　would　pull　the　Midlands　back　together。
　
　Kahlan　told　them　that　Richard　would　try　to　meet　up　with　them　in　the　Galean　Crown　city；　and　that　he　said　that　then　he　might　need　to　take　Zedd　back　to　Westland；　to　see　about　the　Sisters　of　the　Dark。　But　for　now；　they　were　safely　out　to　sea。
　
　After　a　good　meal；　filled　with　joy　and　happy　conversation　that　had　been　missing　for　so　long；　they　started　packing　up　their　things。　Chandalen；　with　an　uneasy　expression；　pulled　Kahlan　aside。
　
　‘Mother　Confessor；　I　wish　to　ask　you　something。　I　would　not　ask　you；　except　I　know　no　one　else　to　ask。’
　
　‘What　is　it；　Chandalen？’
　
　‘How　do　you　say　‘breasts’　in　your　tongue？’
　
　‘What？’
　
　‘What　is　the　word　for　breasts？　I　wish　to　tell　Jebra　that　she　has　fine　breasts。’
　
　Kahlan　rolled　her　shoulder　self…consciously。　‘Chandalen；　I’m　sorry；　but　I　meant　to　have　a　talk　with　you　about　that。　I　guess　with　everything　that　happened；　I　never　got　around　to　it。’
　
　‘So　talk　now。　I　wish　to　tell　Jebra　how　much　I　like　her　fine　breasts。’
　
　‘Chandalen；　with　the　Mud　People；　that　is　a　proper　thing　to　say　to　a　woman。　It’s　a　pliment。　But　in　other　places；　it　is　not　taken　as　a　pliment；　but　as　improper。　Very　improper；　until　two　people　know　each　other。’
　
　‘I　know　her　well。’
　
　‘Not　well　enough。　Will　you　trust　me　in　this？　If　you　really　like　her；　then　you　must　not　tell　her　this；　or　she　will　not　like　you。’
　
　‘But；　women　here　do　not　like　to　hear　the　truth？’
　
　‘It’s　not　that　simple。　Would　you　tell　a　woman　in　your　village　you　would　like　to　see　her　with　the　mud　washed　from　her　hair；　even　though　it　is　the　truth？’
　
　He　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘I　see　what　you　mean。’
　
　‘Do　you　like　other　things　about　her？’
　
　He　nodded　enthusiastically。　‘Yes。　I　like　everything　about　her。’
　
　‘Then　tell　her　you　like　her　smile；　or　her　hair；　or　her　eyes。’
　
　‘How　do　I　know　which　is　the　proper　thing　to　pliment？’
　
　Kahlan　sighed。　‘　Well；　for　now；　just　stick　to　anything　that　isn’t　covered　by　clothes；　and　you　will　be　safe。’
　
　He　nodded　thoughtfully。　‘　You　are　wise；　Mother　Confessor。　I　am　glad　you　have　Richard　back　as　your　mate；　or　you　would　surely　have　chosen　Chandalen。’
　
　Kahlan　laughed　and　gave　him　a　hug。　He　returned　it　warmly。
　
　Outside；　she　saw　to　the　men：　Captain　Ryan；　Lieutenant　Hobson；　Brin　and　Peter；　and　others　she　knew。　They　were　infected　by　her　smile　and　good　cheer。
　
　In　the　stables　she　checked　on　Nick。　Chandalen　had　stolen　him　back　when　they　fled　Aydindril。　The　big　warhorse　neighed　softly　at　her　approach。
　
　Kahlan　rubbed　his　gray　nose　as　he　nudged　his　head　against　her。　‘How　you　doing；　Nick？’　He　nickered。　‘How　would　you　like　to　carry　the　queen　of　Galea　to　the　palace　in　Ebinissia？’
　
　Nick　tossed　his　head　enthusiastically；　anxious　to　be　out　of　the　stables　and　off　into　the　brightening　day。
　
　Water　dripped　from　melting　icicles　at　the　edge　of　the　stable　roof。　Kahlan　looked　out　over　the　hills。　It　was　going　to　be　a　rare；　warm　day　in　the　winter。　But　soon　it　would　be　spring。
　
　
　Mistress　Sanderholt　was　surprised　when　Richard　took　another　bowl　of　soup　and　chun