tg.stone of tears-第6章

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　Kelley　glanced　down　at　the　woman　Zedd　had　a　forting　hand　to；　to　the　rip　across　her　abdomen；　and　back　up　to　his　eyes。　‘Of　course；　Wizard　Zorander。　You　look　to　be　very　tired。　If　you　would　e　to　me　later；　I　will　fix　you　a　stenadine　tea。’　The　small　smile　touched　the　corners　of　her　mouth　again。
　
　Zedd　couldn’t　keep　a　grin　from　his　own　face。　Besides　restoring　alertness；　stenadine　tea　was　also　used　to　give　lovers　stamina。　By　the　glint　in　her　eye；　he　judged　her　to　be　a　fine　brewer　of　stenadine　tea。
　
　He　gave　Kelley　a　wink。　‘Perhaps　I　will。’　Any　other　time　he　might　have　given　it　serious　consideration　…　Kelley　was　a　handsome　woman　…　but　right　now　that　was　just　about　the　farthest　thing　from　his　mind。
　
　‘Lady　Ordith；　what　is　your　body　servant’s　name？’
　
　‘Jebra　Bevinvier。　And　a　worthless　girl　she　is；　too。　Lazy　and　impudent。’
　
　‘Well；　you　will　not　be　burdened　with　her　inadequate　service　any　longer。　She　is　going　to　need　a　long　time　to　recover；　and　you　are　shortly　going　to　be　leaving　the　palace。’
　
　‘Leaving？　What　do　you　mean　leaving？’　She　put　her　nose　in　the　air。　‘I　have　no　intention　of　leaving。’
　
　The　palace　is　no　longer　safe　for　a　lady　of　your　importance。　You　will　have　to　leave　for　your　own　protection。　As　you　said　yourself；　the　guards　are　asleep　half　the　time。　You　will　have　to　be　on　your　way。’
　
　‘Well；　I　simply　have　no　intention　of。。。’
　
　‘Kelley’　…　he　gave　her　a　firm　look　…　‘please　help　Lady　Ordith　to　a　place　where　you　can　tend　to　her。’
　
　Kelley　was　dragging　the　Lady　Ordith　off　like　a　load　of　wash　before　she　had　a　chance　to　cause　any　more　trouble。　Zedd　turned　a　warm　smile　to　Jebra　and　brushed　some　of　her　short；　sandy　hair　back　off　her　face。　She　held　one　arm　across　her　grievous　wound。　Zedd　had　managed　to　halt　most　of　the　bleeding；　but　that　wasn’t　going　to　save　her；　what　was　outside　had　to　be　put　back　in　its　place　inside。
　
　‘Thank　you；　sir。　I’m　feeling　much　better　now。　If　you　could　help　me　to　my　feet；　I　will　be　out　of　your　way。’
　
　‘Lie　still；　child；’　he　said　softly。　‘We　must　talk。’
　
　With　a　hard　glance；　he　moved　onlookers　back。　Soldiers　of　the　First　File　had　only　to　see　that　one　brief　look　and　they　were　already　pushing　people　away。
　
　Her　lip　trembled　as　her　breast　rose　and　fell　more　rapidly。　She　managed　a　little　nod。　‘I’m　going　to　die；　aren’t　I？’
　
　‘I　won’t　lie　to　you；　child。　Your　wound　is　at　the　limit　of　my　talents　were　I　well　rested。　You　don’t　have　the　time　for　me　to　rest。　If　I　don’t　do　something；　you　will　die。　If　I　try；　I　might　hasten　the　end。’
　
　‘How　long？’
　
　‘If　I　do　nothing；　maybe　hours。　Maybe　the　night。　I　could　ease　the　pain　enough　to　at　least　make　the　last　of　it　tolerable。’
　
　She　closed　her　eyes　as　tears　seeped　from　the　corners。　‘I　never　thought　I　cared　to　live。’
　
　‘Because　of　the　Seer’s　Stone　you　wear？’
　
　Her　eyes　snapped　open。　‘You　know？　You　recognize　the　Stone？　You　know　what　I　am？’
　
　‘I　do。　The　time　is　long　past　when　people　knew　a　Seer　by　the　Stone；　but　I　am　old。　I　have　seen　such　before。　That　is　why　you　didn’t　want　me　to　help　you？　You　fear　what　the　touch　might　do　to　me？’
　
　She　nodded　weakly。　‘But　I　find　I　suddenly　care　to　live。’
　
　Zedd　patted　her　shoulder。　That　is　what　I　wanted　to　know；　child。　Worry　not　about　me。　I　am　a　wizard　of　the　First　Order；　not　some　novice。’
　
　‘First　Order？’　she　whispered；　wide…eyed。　‘I　did　not　know　one　was　left。　Please；　sir；　do　not　risk　yourself　on　the　likes　of　me。’
　
　Zedd　smiled。　‘Not　much　of　a　risk；　only　a　little　pain。　And　my　name　is　Zedd。’
　
　She　thought　a　moment；　then　her　free　hand　clutched　his　arm。　‘Zedd　。。。　if　I　am　to　have　a　choice　。。。　I　choose　to　try　for　life。’
　
　Zedd　smiled　a　little　and　stroked　her　cold；　sweaty　forehead。　Then　I　promise　to　give　you　my　most　earnest　effort。’　She　nodded　as　she　gripped　his　arm；　gripped　her　only　chance。　‘Is　there　anything　you　can　do；　Jebra；　to　hold　aside　the　pain　of　the　visions？’
　
　She　bit　her　lower　lip　and　shook　her　head　as　tears　sprang　anew。　‘I’m　sorry；’　she　whispered；　barely　audible。　‘Perhaps　you　shouldn’t　。。。’
　
　‘Hush；　child；’　he　forted。
　
　Zedd　took　a　deep　breath　and　laid　a　hand　over　the　arm　that　held　her　guts　back。　He　put　the　palm　of　his　other　hand　gently　over　her　eyes。　This　was　not　something　he　could　fix　from　the　outside。　Tt　had　to　be　repaired　from　within；　with　her　own　mind’s　aid。　It　could　kill　her。　And　him。
　
　He　braced　himself　and　released　the　barrier　in　his　mind。　The　impact　of　pain　took　the　wind　from　his　lungs。　He　didn’t　dare　to　spare　the　energy　to　draw　a　breath。　He　gritted　his　teeth　and　fought　it　with　muscles　hardened　to　stone　with　the　strain。　And　he　hadn’t　even　touched　the　pain　of　the　wound　yet。　He　had　to　deal　with　the　pain　of　her　visions；　get　past　them；　before　he　could　cope　with　that　problem。
　
　Agony　sucked　his　mind　into　a　river　of　blackness。　Specters　of　her　visions　swirled　past。　He　could　only　guess　at　their　meaning；　but　the　pain　of　their　reality　was　all　too　vivid。　Tears　flooded　from　his　tightly　closed　eyes；　his　whole　body　shook　as　he　struggled　to　fight　through　the　torrent　of　anguish。　He　knew　he　couldn’t　allow　himself　to　be　pulled　along　with　it；　or　he　would　be　lost；　consumed。
　
　The　emotions　of　her　visions　buffeted　him　as　he　was　swept　deeper　into　her　mind。　Dark　thoughts　just　beyond　the　surface　of　perception　clawed　at　his　will；　trying　to　drag　him　into　the　depths　of　hopeless　abandon。　His　own　painful　memories　washed　to　the　surface　of　his　consciousness　to　join　with　Jebra’s　lifetime　of　sorrow　in　a　convergence　of　terrible　agony　and　madness。　Only　his　experience　and　resolve　kept　his　sanity；　his　free　will；　from　being　pulled　into　the　bottomless　waters　of　bitterness　and　grief。
　
　At　last；　he　broke　through　to　the　calm；　white　light　at　the　center　of　her　being。　Zedd　reveled　in　the　paratively　mild　pain　of　her　life…threatening　wound。　Reality　could　seldom　match　the　imagination；　and　in　the　imagination；　the　pain　was　real。
　
　All　around　the　calm　center；　the　cold　darkness　of　eternal　night　encroached　on　the　waning　warmth　and　light　of　her　life。　impatient　to　shroud　forever　Jebra’s　spirit。　Zedd　pulled　back　that　shroud；　to　let　the　light　of　his　gift　warm　her　spirit　with　life　and　vitality。　The　shadows　receded　before　the　power　of　his　Additive　Magic。
　
　The　strength　of　that　magic；　its　exigency　for　the　well…being　of　life；　drew　the　exposed　organs　back　to　where　the　Creator　intended　them。　Zedd　didn’t　yet　dare　to　spare　anything　to　block　her　suffering。　Jebra’s　back　arched。　She　wailed　in　pain。　He；　too；　felt　her　pain。　His　own　abdomen　flamed　with　the　same　agony　she　felt。　He　shook　with　the　searing　sharpness　of　it。
　
　When　the　hardest；　that　which　was　beyond　his　prehension；　was　finished；　he　at　last　spared　a　portion　of　the　magic　to　block　her　pain。　Jebra　sagged　against　the　floor　with　a　moan　of　relief。　He　felt　the　relief　in　his　own　body。
　
　Directing　the　flow　of　magic；　Zedd　finished　the　healing。　He　used　his　power　to　pull　her　wound　together；　letting　tissue　knit　to　tissue；　flesh　to　flesh；　layer　upon　layer；　up　to　the　surface　of　skin；　joining　as　if　it　had　never　been　parted。
　
　Finished　at　last；　Zedd　had　only　to　escape　her　mind。　That　was　as　dangerous　as　entering；　and　his　strength　was　nearly　gone；　he　had　given　it　over　to　her。　Rather　than　wasting　any　more　time　worrying　about　it；　he　released　himself　into　the　flow　of　agony。
　
　Nearly　an　hour　after　he　had　begun；　he　found　himself　on　his　knees；　hunched　over；　weeping　uncontrollably。　Jebra　was　sitting　up；　with　her　arms　around　him；　holding　his　head　to　her　shoulder。　As　soon　as　he　was　aware　that　he　was　back；　he　managed　to　bring　himself　under　control　and　straighten。　He　glanced　around　the　hall。　Everyone　had　been　pushed　back　a　goodly　distance；　beyond　earshot。　None　had　any　interest　in　being　near　a　wizard　when　he　was　wielding　magic　that　left　people　screaming　as　Jebra　had　done。
　
　‘There；’　he　said；　at　last；　with　a　modicum　of　restored　dignity；　‘that　wasn’t　so　bad。　I　believe　all　is　well　now。’
　
　Jebra　laughed　a　quiet；　shaky　laugh　and　hugged　him　tight。　‘I　was　taught　a　wizard　couldn’t　heal　a　Seer。’
　
　Zedd　managed　to　get　a　bony　finger　in　the　air。　‘No　ordinary　wizard　can；　my　dear。　But　I　am　Zeddicus　Zu’l　Zorander；　wizard　of　the　First　Order。’
　
　Jebra　wiped　a　tear　from　her　cheek。　‘I　have　nothing　of　value　to　repay　you　with；　except　this。’　She　unhooked　the　gold　chain　that　ran　through　her　hair　and　brought　it　down；　putting　it　in　his　hand。　‘Please；　accept　this　humble　offering。’
　
　Zedd　looked　down　at　the　chain　with　the　blue　stone。　That　is　very　kind　of　you；　Jebra　Bevinvier。　I’m　touched。’　Zedd　felt　a　pang　of　guilt　for　having　planted　the　impulse　in　her　mind。　‘It’s　a　fine　chain；　and　I　will　accept　it　in　humble　gratitude。’　He　used　a　thread…thin　stream　of　power　to　separate　the　stone　from　its　mounting。　He　handed　the　Stone　back；　he　only　needed　the　chain。　‘But　the　chain　is　payment　enough。　Keep　your　Stone；　it’s　yours　by　right。’
　
　She　closed　her　fingers　around　the　Stone　with　a　nod　and　gave　him　a　kiss　on　the　cheek。　He　accepted　the　peck　with　a　smile。
　
　‘And　now；　my　dear；　you　will　need　to　rest。　I　have　used　a　good　deal　of　your　strength　to　put　things　right。　Maybe　a　few　days　of　bed　rest；　and　yo