tg.stone of tears-第56章

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　They　ignored　him。　‘You　will　listen。　I；　Sister　of　the　Light；　Elizabeth　Myric；　give　the　second　reason　for　the　Rada’Han；　give　the　second　chance　to　be　helped。　The　first　of　the　three　reasons　for　the　Rada’Han　is　to　control　the　headaches　and　open　your　mind　so　you　may　be　taught　to　use　the　gift。　You　have　refused　the　first　chance　to　be　helped。　I　bring　the　second　reason　and　offer。’
　
　She　watched　his　eyes　as　if　to　be　sure　she　had　his　full　attention。　The　second　reason　for　the　Rada’Han　is　so　that　we　can　control　you。’
　
　Richard　glared　at　her。　‘Control　me？　What　does　that　mean；　to　control　me？’
　
　‘It　means　what　it　says。’
　
　‘I’m　not　putting　a　collar　around　my　neck　so　you　can　‘control’　me。’　He　leaned　a　little　closer。　‘Or　for　any　other　reason。’
　
　Sister　Elizabeth　held　the　collar　up。　As　you　were　told　before；　it　is　more　difficult　for　you　to　accept　the　second　offer。　Please　believe　us；　you　are　in　great　danger。　Your　time　is　running　out。　Please　Richard；　accept　the　second　offer　now；　on　the　second　of　the　three　reason　and　offers。　It　will　only　be　much　more　difficult　to　accept　on　the　third　of　the　three　reasons。’
　
　There　was　something　in　his　eyes　Kahlan　had　seen　only　once　before　…　the　last　time　the　collar　was　held　out　to　him。　Something　alien；　something　frightening。　It　sent　a　chill　through　her。　Goose　bumps　rose　on　her　arms。　The　anger　left　his　voice。
　
　‘I　told　you　before；’　he　whispered。　‘I　will　not　wear　a　collar。　For　anyone。　For　any　reason。　If　you　want　to　teach　me　to　use　the　gift；　to　control　it；　we　can　talk　about　it。　There　are　things　going　on　you　know　nothing　about：　important　things；　dangerous　things。　I　have　responsibilities　as　the　Seeker。　I　am　not　a　child　like　you　are　used　to　dealing　with。　I　am　an　adult。　We　can　talk　about　it。’
　
　Sister　Elizabeth　stared　at　him　with　fierce　intensity。　Richard　retreated　a　half　step。　His　eyes　closed；　and　he　shook　slightly。　At　last；　he　straightened。　His　eyes　came　open　as　he　took　a　deep　breath。　He　returned　the　Sister’s　stare。　Something　had　happened；　and　Kahlan　had　no　idea　what　it　was。
　
　The　strength　in　Sister　Elizabeth’s　eyes　waned。　Her　hands　lowered　the　collar。　Her　voice　came　in　a　fearful　whisper。　‘Will　you　accept　the　offer　and　the　Rada’Han？’
　
　Richard　stood　staring　at　her。　The　power　was　back　in　his　voice。　‘I　refuse。’
　
　Sister　Elizabeth　went　pale　as　she　stared　back　for　a　moment　before　turning　to　the　woman　behind　her。　‘Forgive　me；　Sister；　I　have　failed。’　She　put　the　Rada’Han　in　Sister　Verna’s　outstretched　hand。　Her　voice　came　in　a　whisper。　‘It　is　upon　you　now。’
　
　Sister　Verna　kissed　her　on　each　cheek。　The　Light　forgives　you；　Sister。’
　
　Sister　Elizabeth　turned　back　to　Richard；　her　face　gone　slack。　‘May　the　Light　cradle　you　always　with　gentle　hands。　May　you　someday　find　the　way。’
　
　Richard　stood　with　his　fists　on　his　hips　as　he　watched　her　eyes。　She　lifted　her　chin。　As　Sister　Grace　had　done；　she　brought　her　arm　up　and　with　a　flick　of　her　wrist　brought　the　silver…handled　knife　to　her　hand。　Richard　continued　to　watch　her　as　she　flipped　it　around　toward　herself。　Kahlan　watched；　holding　her　breath；　spellbound；　as　the　woman　prepared　to　kill　herself。　The　silence　seemed　thick。　For　a　heartbeat；　everyone　was　stone　still。
　
　The　instant　the　knife　began　to　move；　Richard　did　too。　His　speed　was　shocking。　Before　Sister　Elizabeth　realized　what　had　happened；　Richard　had　her　by　her　wrist。　His　other　hand　came　up　and　began　prying　the　odd　knife　from　her　fingers　as　she　struggled　to　keep　ahold　of　it。　She　was　no　match　for　his　strength。
　
　‘I　told　you　my　rule。　You　are　not　allowed　to　kill　yourself　today。’
　
　Her　face　twisted　with　futile　effort。　‘Please！　Let　go　…’
　
　Her　body　flinched。　Her　head　jerked　back。　There　was　a　flash　of　light　that　seemed　to　e　from　within　her；　from　within　her　eyes。　Sister　Elizabeth　crumpled　forward　to　the　ground；　Sister　Verna　pulling　her　own　knife　from　the　woman’s　back　as　she　fell。
　
　Sister　Verna’s　gaze　rose　from　the　dead　woman　to　Richard。　‘You　must　bury　her　body　yourself。　If　you　let　another　do　it　for　you；　you　will　have　nightmares　for　the　rest　of　your　life；　nightmares　caused　by　magic。　There　is　no　cure　for　them。’
　
　‘You　killed　her！　You　murdered　her！　What’s　the　matter　with　you！　How　could　you　kill　her！’
　
　She　tucked　her　knife　up　her　sleeve　as　she　glared　at　him。　She　reached　out；　snatched　the　silver　knife　from　his　hand；　and　slipped　it　in　her　cloak。
　
　‘You　killed　her；’　Sister　Verna　whispered。
　
　‘Your　hands　have　the　blood　on　them！’
　
　‘So　does　the　executioner’s　axe；　but　it　doesn’t　wield　itself。’
　
　Richard　lunged　for　her　throat。　She　didn’t　move；　she　simply　continued　to　stare　at　him。　His　hands　stopped　before　reaching　her。　Richard　shook；　straining　against　an　invisible　barrier　as　she　watched　him。
　
　In　that　instant；　Kahlan　knew　what　the　Sisters　were。
　
　Richard　relaxed　the　pressure　of　pushing　against　the　barrier。　He　pulled　his　hands　back　a　little。　He　visibly　relaxed。
　
　Gently；　his　face　gone　calm；　he　reached　one　hand　toward　Sister　Verna。　His　fingers　clutched　around　her　throat。　Her　eyes　went　wide　with　shock。
　
　‘Richard；’　she　whispered　angrily；　‘take　your　hand　from　me。’
　
　‘As　you　have　said；　this　is　no　game。　Why　did　you　kill　her？’
　
　His　weight　came　off　his　feet。　Richard　floated　a　few　inches　into　the　air。　He　tightened　his　grip　on　her　throat。　When　he　didn’t　release　her；　fire　ignited　all　around　them；　roaring　to　life；　a　whorl　of　flame　closing　around　him。
　
　‘I　said；　take　your　hand　from　me。’
　
　In　a　moment　more；　the　fire　would　consume　Richard。　Before　she　realized　what　she　was　doing；　Kahlan　had　her　fist　out　toward　the　Sister。　Blue　light　crackled　all　around　her　wrist　and　hand。　Little　threads　of　blue　lightning　escaped　from　the　sides　as　she　struggled　to　restrain　herself　from　releasing　the　bolt　of　power。　Wisps　of　blue　fire　sizzled　forth；　throughout　the　spirit　house；　up　the　walls；　across　the　ceiling　and　floor；　everywhere　except　where　the　other　two　stood。　She　shook　with　the　strain　of　holding　back　the　power。
　
　‘Stop　it！’　The　threads　of　blue　lightning　sucked　the　fire　into　them。　‘There　will　be　no　more　killing　today。’　The　blue　light　extinguished。
　
　Silence　again　filled　the　room　as　Sister　Verna　stared　at　Kahlan。　A　hard　edge　of　anger　stole　into　her　eyes。　Richard　settled　to　the　ground　and　took　his　hand　from　the　woman’s　throat。
　
　‘I　wouldn’t　have　harmed　him。　I　only　meant　to　frighten　him　into　releasing　me。’　She　turned　her　glare　to　Richard。　‘Who　taught　you　to　break　a　web？’
　
　‘No　one　taught　me。　I　taught　myself。　Why　did　you　kill　Sister　Elizabeth！’
　
　‘You　taught　yourself；’　she　mocked。　‘I　told　you。　This　is　no　game。　It　must　go　by　the　rules。’　Her　voice　lost　its　edge。　‘I　have　known　her　for　many　years。　If　you　had　ever　turned　that　sword　of　yours　white；　you　would　understand　what　it　took　for　me　to　do　as　I　did。’
　
　Richard　didn’t　tell　her　he　had　turned　the　sword　white。　‘You　would　expect　me　to　put　myself　in　your　hands；　after　what　you　have　done？’
　
　‘Your　time　is　running　out；　Richard。　After　what　I　have　seen　today；　I　would　be　surprised　if　the　headaches　don’t　soon　kill　you。　I　don’t　know　why　it　is　that　the　pain　hasn’t　already　put　you　down。　Whatever　is　protecting　you　won’t　last　much　longer。　I　know　you　don’t　like　to　see　anyone　die。　Neither　do　we；　but　please　believe　that　what　is　done　is　done　for　you；　to　save　you。’
　
　She　turned　to　Kahlan。　‘Be　very　careful　with　that　power　of　yours；　Mother　Confessor。　I　doubt　you　have　the　slightest　idea　how　dangerous　it　is。’　Sister　Verna　pulled　her　hood　up　as　her　brown　eyes　turned　to　Richard。　‘You　have　been　offered　the　first　and　second　of　three　chances；　and　refused。　I　will　return。’　She　leaned　a　little　closer。　‘You　only　have　one　chance　left。　If　you　refuse　it；　you　will　die。　Think　on　it　carefully；　Richard。’
　
　After　the　door　closed　behind　Sister　Verna；　Richard　squatted　next　to　the　dead　Sister。　‘She　was　doing　something　to　me。　Magic。　I　could　feel　it。’
　
　‘What　did　it　feel　like？’
　
　Richard　shook　his　head　a　little。　‘The　first　time　they　were　here；　I　thought　I　felt　something　pulling　me　to　accept　their　offer；　but　I　was　so　afraid　of　the　collar；　I　paid　it　no　attention。　This　time；　it　was　much　stronger。　It　was　magic。　The　magic　was　trying　to　force　me　to　say　yes；　to　accept　the　offer　from　the　Sisters。　I　just　thought　about　the　collar　until　the　force　left　and　I　was　able　to　say　no。’
　
　He　looked　up　at　her。　‘You　have　any　idea　what’s　going　on？　What　she　was　doing；　and　what　Sister　Verna　did；　with　the　fire；　and　the　rest　of　it？’
　
　Kahlan’s　hand　still　tingled　from　the　blue　lightening。　‘Yes。　The　Sisters　are　sorceresses。’
　
　Richard　rose　smoothly　to　his　feet。　‘Sorceresses。’　He　watched　her　eyes　for　a　long　moment。　‘Why　would　they　kill　themselves　when　I　said　no？’
　
　‘I　think　it　is　to　pass　their　power　on　to　the　next　Sister；　to　make　her　stronger　for　when　they　try　again。’
　
　He　looked　down　at　the　body。　‘Why　would　I　be　so　important；　that　they　would　kill　themselves　to　get　me？’
　
　‘Maybe　it　is　as　they　say。　To　help　you。’
　
　He　glanced　at　her　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye。　‘They　don’t　want　one　man；　a　stranger；　to　die；　yet　two　of　them　have　already　died　tryi