tg.stone of tears-第222部分

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e　all　atwitter　at　the　sight　of　Sister　Verna。　Sister　Verna　was　a　head　shorter　than　he；　and　none　of　these　three　women　were　as　tall　as　she。　They　smoothed　their　full；　pastel　skirts；　and　tugged　at　the　white　bodices。
　
　‘Sister　Verna！’　one　cried　out　as　the　three　rushed　up。　‘Oh；　dear　Sister　Verna；　it’s　so　good　to　see　you　at　last。’
　
　A　tear　or　two　ran　down　their　rosy　faces。　Their　smiles　looked　about　to　burst　their　cheeks。　Each　looked　a　good　deal　younger　than　Sister　Verna。　She　surveyed　the　big；　wet　eyes。
　
　Sister　Verna　tenderly　stroked　the　sniffling　face　before　her。　‘Sister　Phoebe。’　She　touched　another’s　hand。　‘And　Sister　Amelia；　and　Sister　Janet。　It’s　so　good　to　see　you　again。　It　has　been　a　long　time　indeed。’
　
　The　three　giggled　with　excitement；　at　last　posing　themselves。　Sister　Phoebe’s　round　face　looked　about；　past　Richard。
　
　‘Where　is　he？　Why　haven’t　you　brought　him　in　with　you？’
　
　Sister　Verna　lifted　her　hand　toward　Richard。　This　is　he。　Richard；　these　are　friends　of　mine。　Sisters　Phoebe；　Amelia；　and　Janet。’
　
　The　smiles　transformed　into　astonished　looks。　They　blinked　as　they　took　in　his　size　and　age。　They　stared　in　open　amazement　before　finally　sputtering　over　each　other’s　words　about　how　glad　they　were　to　meet　him。　They　tore　their　eyes　from　him　at　last　and　returned　their　attention　to　Sister　Verna。
　
　‘Better　than　half　the　palace　is　waiting　to　greet　you　both；’　Sister　Phoebe　said。　‘Everyone　has　been　so　excited　since　we　received　word　that　you　would　arrive　today。’
　
　Sister　Amelia　smoothed　back　her　fine；　light　brown　hair；　flipping　back　the　ends　that　barely　brushed　her　shoulders。　‘No　other　has　been　brought　in　since　you　left　for　Richard。　All　those　years；　and　no　other。　Everyone　is　so　eager　to　meet　him。　I　guess　they　are　in　for　a　‘big’　surprise；’　she　said　as　she　blushed；　glancing　sideways　at　him。　‘Some　of　the　younger　Sisters；　especially。　A　pleasant　surprise；　I　would　say。　My；　but　he　is　big。’
　
　Richard　remembered　a　time；　when　he　was　little；　when　he　had　been　imprisoned　in　his　house　by　a　pouring　rain。　His　mother　had　some　women　friends　visiting　to　help　in　the　making　of　a　quilt；　and　to　pass　the　time　in　conversation。　As　they　sat　and　sewed　while　he　played　on　the　floor；　they　discussed　him　as　if　he　weren’t　there；　talking　about　how　he　was　growing；　and　his　mother　had　told　how　much　he　ate；　and　how　good　he　was　at　reading。　In　similar　disfort；　now；　Richard　shifted　his　pack　up　higher　on　his　shoulder。
　
　Sister　Phoebe　turned　to　him　and　just　beamed。　She　reached　out　and　touched　his　arm。　‘Listen　to　us　go　on！　We　shouldn’t　talk　about　you　like　you　weren’t　here。　Wele；　Richard。　Wele　to　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。’
　
　Richard　silently　watched　the　three　Sisters　blinking　up　at　him。　Sister　Amelia　giggled；　and　said　to　Sister　Verna；　‘He　doesn’t　talk　much；　does　he。’
　
　‘He　talks　enough；’　Sister　Verna　said。　Under　her　breath；　she　added；　Thank　the　Creator　he　is　quiet　for　now。’
　
　‘Well；’　Sister　Phoebe　said；　in　a　bright　voice。　‘Shall　we　go？’
　
　Sister　Verna　frowned　at　her。　‘Sister　Phoebe；　who　are　the　troops　I　saw；　the　ones　in　the　strange　uniforms？’
　
　Sister　Phoebe’s　brow　wrinkled　in　thought　a　moment；　then　her　eyebrows　lifted。　‘Oh；　those　troops。’　She　dismissed　it　with　a　wave。　The　government　was　overthrown；　a　few　years　back。　I　guess　it　must　have　been　while　you　were　away。　The　Old　World　has　a　new　government；　again。　We　have　an　emperor；　now；　instead　of　all　those　kings。’　She　looked　to　Sister　Janet。　‘What　is　it　they　call　themselves？’
　
　Her　brow　creased　in　thought；　Sister　Janet’s　eyes　turned　toward　the　ceiling。　‘Oh；　yes；’　she　said　in　a　demure　voice。　The　Imperial　Order。　And　you　are　quite　right；　Sister　Phoebe；　they　have　an　emperor。’　She　nodded。　‘Yes；　the　Imperial　Order；　led　by　an　emperor。’
　
　Sister　Phoebe　shook　her　head　in　wonder。　‘Such　foolishness。　Governments　e；　and　governments　go；　but　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　always　remains。　The　Creator’s　hand　shelters　us。　Shall　we　go　greet　the　others？’
　
　Following　behind　the　three；　they　passed　through　warmly　decorated　passageways　and　halls。　As　far　as　Richard　was　concerned；　he　was　in　hostile　territory。　Threat　always　caused　the　magic　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　to　try　to　seep　into　him；　to　protect　him。　He　let　in　a　trickle；　keeping　the　anger　on　a　slow　burn。　Sister　Verna　glanced　sideways　occasionally；　as　if　measuring　the　growth　of　his　glower。
　
　At　last；　they　went　through　a　pair　of　thick　walnut　doors　that　opened　into　a　vast　chamber。　They　had　to　pass　under　a　low　ceiling　and　between　white　columns　with　gold　capitals；　before　entering　under　a　huge；　vaulted　dome　painted　with　immense　scenes　of　people　in　robes　surrounding　a　glowing　figure。　Two　levels　of　balconies　with；　ornate　stone　railings　ringed　the　circular　room。　Stained…glass　windows　lit　the　top　balcony　from　behind。　The　floor　of　the　room　was　made　up　of　small；　light　and　dark　wood　squares　laid　out　in　a　zigzag　pattern。　The　hum　of　well　over　a　hundred　voices　echoed　around　the　chamber。
　
　Women　stood　in　bunches　around　the　floor　and　more　lined　the　balconies。　Scattered　among　the　women　on　the　second　level　were　some　men　and　boys。　The　women；　all　Sisters　of　the　Light；　he　presumed；　were　dressed　in　finery。　There　seemed　to　be　no　pattern；　their　dresses　were　of　every　color；　with　designs　ranging　from　conservative　to　revealing。　The　boys　and　men　were　dressed　in　everything　from　plain　robes　to　coats　as　elaborate　as　Richard　imagined　any　lord　or　prince　would　wear。
　
　The　buzz　of　talking　died　out　as　everyone　began　turning　to　the　new　arrivals。　As　the　room　fell　to　silence；　applause　started；　swelling　into　a　roar。
　
　Sister　Phoebe　took　a　few　steps　toward　the　center　of　the　room；　raising　her　hand；　calling　for　silence。　The　applause　died　out　in　spurts。
　
　‘Sisters；’　Sister　Phoebe　said；　her　voice　trembling　with　excitement；　‘please　wele　Sister　Verna　home。’　The　applause　roared　again　and；　after　a　few　moments；　the　hand　brought　it　to　silence　once　more。　‘And　may　I　present　our　newest　student；　our　newest　child　of　the　Creator；　our　newest　charge。’　She　turned；　holding　her　hand　out；　wiggling　her　fingers；　indicating　she　wanted　Richard　to　step　forward。　He　took　three　strides　to　her；　Sister　Verna　going　with　him。
　
　Sister　Phoebe　leaned　close　and　whispered。　‘Richard　。。。？　Do　you　have　any　more　to　your　name？’
　
　Richard　hesitated　a　moment。　‘Cypher。’
　
　She　turned　back　to　the　crowd。　‘Please　wele　Richard　Cypher　to　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。’
　
　The　clapping　started　again。　Richard　glowered　as　every　face　watched　him。　Women　near　pressed　closer；　to　get　a　better　look　at　him。　There　were　women　of　all　ages　and　descriptions　in　the　crowd；　ranging　from　some　who　looked　old　enough　to　be　kindly　grandmothers　to　some　hardly　old　enough　to　be　called　women；　with　those　of　every　age　in　between。　They　ranged　from　plump　to　skinny；　with　hair　as　different　as　their　dress；　with　every　color　from　blonde　to　black。　Their　eyes；　too；　were　of　every　color。
　
　He　noticed　one　woman　who　stood　near　him。　She　had　a　warm　smile　on　her　reed…thin　lips；　and　strange；　pale　blue　eyes　with　violet　flecks　through　them。　She　was　looking　at　him　as　if　he　were　an　old；　dear　friend；　whom　she　loved；　and　hadn’t　seen　in　years。　She　was