tg.stone of tears-第91章

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ut　he　could　not　find；　while　she　watched　him；　or　wrote　in　her　little　book；　or　touched　her　own　Han。　He　had　not　visualized　the　sword　on　a　black　square　with　a　white　border　since　the　first　night。　He　had　no　desire　to　chance　revisiting　that　nightmare。
　
　‘I　am　beginning　to　think　I’m　not　able　to　touch　my　Han。　I’m　trying　my　best；　but　it　just　isn’t　working。’
　
　She　drew　the　book　close　to　her　face　in　the　moonlight　and　resumed　writing。　‘I　have　told　you　before；　Richard；　it　is　something　that　takes　time。　You　have　not　yet　begun　to　have　had　enough　practice。　Do　not　be　discouraged。　It　es　when　it　es。’
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　I’m　telling　you；　someone　is　ing。’
　
　She　kept　writing。　‘And　if　you　are　not　able　to　touch　your　Han；　Richard；　how　would　you　know　this？　Hmm？’
　
　‘I　don’t　know。’　He　raked　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　‘I’ve　spent　a　lot　of　time　alone　in　the　woods。　Sometimes　I　can　just　feel　when　someone　is　near。　Don’t　you　ever　know　when　someone　is　near？　Haven’t　you　ever　felt　someone’s　eyes　on　you？’
　
　‘Only　with　the　aid　of　my　Han；’　she　said　as　she　wrote。
　
　He　watched　as　firelight　flickered　across　her　dispassionate　face。　‘Sister　Verna；　you　said　we　were　in　dangerous　lands。　I’m　telling　you；　someone　is　ing。’
　
　She　leafed　back　through　the　book；　squinting　as　she　read　in　the　dim　light。　‘And　how　long　have　you　known　this；　Richard？’
　
　‘I　told　you　as　soon　as　I　had　the　feeling；　just　a　moment　ago。’
　
　She　lowered　the　book　to　her　lap　and　looked　up。　‘But　you　say　you　did　not　touch　your　Han？　You　felt　nothing　within　yourself？　You　felt　no　power？　Saw　no　light？　Did　not　sense　the　Creator？’　Her　eyes　narrowed。　‘You　had　better　not　be　lying　to　me；　Richard。　You　had　better　never　lie　to　me　about　touching　your　Han。’
　
　‘Sister　Verna；　you’re　not　listening！　Someone　is　ing！’
　
　She　closed　the　book。　‘Richard；　I　have　known　since　you　began　your　practice　that　someone　approaches。’
　
　He　stared　at　her　in　surprise。　Then　why　are　we　just　sitting　here？’
　
　‘We　are　not　just　sitting　here。　You　are　practicing　reaching　your　Han；　and　I’m　tending　to　my　business。’
　
　‘Why　haven’t　you　said　anything？　You　told　me　this　land　is　dangerous。’
　
　Sister　Verna　sighed　and　began　tucking　her　book　back　behind　her　wide　belt。　‘Because　they　were　still　some　distance　off。　There　was　nothing　else　for　us　to　do　but　to　continue。　You　need　the　practice。　You　must　keep　trying　until　you　are　able　to　touch　your　Han。’　She　shook　her　head　with　resignation。　‘But　I　suppose　you　are　too　agitated　now　to　continue。　They　are　still　ten　or　fifteen　minutes　away；　we　may　as　well　begin　packing　our　things。’
　
　‘Why　now？　Why　didn’t　we　leave　as　soon　as　you　sensed　them？’
　
　‘Because　we　had　been　spotted。　Once　we　have　been　discovered；　there　is　no　way　to　escape　these　people。　This　is　their　land；　we　would　not　be　able　to　outrun　them。　It’s　probably　a　sentinel　who　has　found　us。’
　
　‘Then　why　do　you　want　to　pack　to　leave　now？’
　
　She　regarded　him　as　if　he　were　hopelessly　thick。　‘Because　we　can’t　spend　the　night　here　after　we　kill　them。’
　
　Richard　leapt　to　his　feet。　‘Kill　them！　You　don’t　even　know　who　is　ing；　and　already　you　plan　to　kill　them？’
　
　Sister　Verna　stood；　drawing　herself　up　straight；　and　peered　into　his　eyes。　‘Richard；　I　have　done　my　best　to　prevent　this。　Have　we　seen　anyone　else　before　now？　No。　Even　though　these　people　cover　this　land　like　a　swarm　of　angry　ants；　we　have　seen　no　one。　I　have　led　us　between　anyone　I　could　sense　with　my　Han；　in　an　effort　to　avoid　contact。　I　have　done　my　best　to　avoid　trouble。　Sometimes；　even　when　you　do　your　best；　trouble　cannot　be　avoided。　I　do　not　want　to　kill　these　people；　but　they　are　intent　on　killing　us。’
　
　That　certainly　explained　why　they　had　been　traveling　such　a　peculiar　route。　Although　they　had　been　heading　steadily　southeast　for　weeks；　they　had　done　so　in　an　odd　fashion。　Without　ever　explaining；　she　had　directed　them　first　one　way；　then　another；　occasionally　backtracking；　but　always；　relentlessly；　southeast。
　
　The　barren　land　had　bee　progressively　rockier　and　more　desolate。　He　had　not　bothered　asking　about　their　route　because　he　didn’t　think　she　would　tell　him；　and　because　he　didn’t　care。　Wherever　they　went；　he　was　still　a　prisoner。
　
　Richard　scratched　his　new　beard　as　he　started　kicking　dirt　over　the　fire。　It　was　a　warm　night；　as　most　had　been　lately。　He　wondered　what　had　happened　to　winter。　‘We　don’t　even　know　who　they　are　yet。　You　can’t　just　go　killing　anyone　that　shows　up。’
　
　‘Richard。’　She　clasped　her　hands　together。　‘Not　all　the　Sisters　who　try　to　return　are　successful。　Many　are　killed　trying　to　cross　these　lands。　In　every　case；　there　were　three　Sisters。　I　am　but　one。　Not　good　odds。’
　
　The　horses　nickered　and　began　moving　about；　tossing　their　heads　and　pawing　their　hooves。　Richard　strapped　the　baldric　over　his　shoulder。　He　checked　that　the　sword　was　clear　in　its　scabbard。
　
　‘You　were　wrong；　Sister；　not　to　try　to　get　away　as　soon　as　you　knew。　If　you　have　to　fight；　it　should　be　because　there　is　no　other　way。　You　didn’t　even　try。’
　
　Hands　still　clasped　together；　she　watched　him。　Her　voice　was　soft　but　firm。　These　people　are　intent　upon　killing　us；　Richard。　Both　of　us。　If　we　had　tried　to　run；　this　one　would　have　alerted　the　others；　and　brought　hundreds；　thousands；　to　bring　us　down。　I　have　not　run　so　as　to　embolden　this　one　into　trying　to　take　us　himself；　so　we　can　end　the　threat。’
　
　‘I’m　not　killing　people　for　you；　Sister　Verna。’
　
　As　they　glared　at　each　other；　he　heard　a　scream：　a　woman’s　scream。　He　stared　out　into　the　night；　trying　to　see　into　the　shadows　of　the　rocky　spires；　trying　to　see　where　the　scream　came　from。　He　couldn’t　see　anyone；　but　the　screams　and　cries　were　ing　closer。
　
　Richard　kicked　dirt　over　the　last　of　the　flames　and　sprinted　to　the　horses；　calming　them　with　reassuring　words　and　gentle　strokes。　He　didn’t　care　what　she　said；　he　wasn’t　killing　people　on　her　word。　The　woman　was　crazy　not　to　want　to　try　to　escape。
　
　She　probably　wanted　a　fight；　just　to　see　what　he　would　do。　She　was　always　watching　him　as　if　he　were　a　bug　in　a　box。　She　questioned　him　every　time　he　practiced　trying　to　touch　his　Han。　Whatever　the　Han　was；　he　hadn’t　been　able　to　sense　it；　much　less　touch　it　or　call　it　forth。　Just　as　well；　as　far　as　he　was　concerned。
　
　Richard　was　starting　toward　the　saddlebags；　to　gather　the　rest　of　their　things；　when　a　woman　came　running　out　of　the　night。　Cloak　flying　behind；　and　crying　in　terror；　she　ran　headlong　into　their　camp。　She　let　out　a　wail　and　dashed　desperately　for　him。
　
　‘Please！’　she　cried　out。　‘Please　help　me！　Please　don’t　let　them　get　me！’
　
　Her　loose　hair　streamed　behind　as　she　ran。　The　naked　fear　on　her　face　ran　a　shiver　up　Richard’s　spine。　She　stumbled　as　she　reached　him。　Richard　caught　her　frail　form　in　his　arms。　Her　dirty　face　was　streaked　with　sweat　and　tears。
　
　‘Please；　sir；’　she　sobbed；　looking　up　at　him　with　dark　eyes；　‘please　don’t　let　them　get　me。　You　don’t　know　what　those　men　will　do　to　me。’
　
　Richard’s　mind　filled　with　the　fright　of　remembering　Kahlan　being　pursued　by　the　quads。　He　remembered　how　terrified　she　had　been　of　those　men；　and　how　she　had　spoken　almost　the　same　words：　You　don’t　know　what　those　men　will　do　to　me。
　
　‘No　one　is　going　to　get　you。　You　are　safe　now。’
　
　The　woman’s　arms　came　out　from　under　her　cloak；　slipping　around　him。　Her　dark　eyes　stayed　on　his　as　he　held　her　weight。
　
　She　opened　her　mouth　as　if　to　speak；　but　instead　gave　a　little　grunt　and　jerked。　Light　seemed　to　flash　from　within　her　eyes。　She　went　slack　and　heavy　in　his　arms。
　
　Richard　looked　up　into　Sister　Verna’s　unwavering　gaze　as　she　yanked　the　silver　knife　from　the　woman’s　back。　Richard　felt　himself　letting　the　dead　weight　slip　to　the　ground。　The　woman　slumped　fluidly　and　rolled　onto　her　back。
　
　The　night　air　rang　with　the　sound　of　steel　as　Richard　drew　the　sword。
　
　‘What’s　the　matter　with　you？’　he　hissed。　‘You　have　just　murdered　this　woman。’
　
　Sister　Verna　returned　his　glare　in　kind。　‘I　thought　you　said　you　held　no　foolish　prohibitions　against　killing　women。’
　
　The　wrath　of　the　sword’s　magic　pounded　through　him；　raging　to　be　set　free。　‘You　are　mad。’　He　was　rushing　toward　a　lethal　precipice。　The　sword’s　point　rose　in　anger。
　
　‘Before　you　would　think　to　kill　me；’　Sister　Verna　said　in　a　measured　tone；　‘you　had　better　make　sure　you　are　not　making　a　mistake。’　Richard　didn’t　answer。　He　was　incapable　of　speaking　through　the　fury。　‘Look　in　her　hand；　Richard。’
　
　He　looked　down　at　the　lifeless　body。　Her　hands　were　covered　by　her　heavy　woolen　cloak。　Using　the　sword；　he　flicked　the　cloak　back　off　her　arm　to　reveal　a　knife　still　gripped　in　her　dead　fist。　The　point　had　a　dark　stain　on　it。
　
　‘Did　she　scratch　you　with　the　knife？’
　
　Richard’s　chest　still　heaved　with　anger。　‘No。　Why？’
　
　‘Her　knife　is　coated　with　poison。　All　it　would　take　is　a　scratch。’
　
　‘What　makes　you　think　it　was　meant　for　me！　She　was　probably　hoping　to　defend　herself　from　the　men　who　are　chasing　her！’
　
　‘There　are　no　men　chasing　her。　She　is　a　sentry。　You　are　always　tell