tg.stone of tears-第236部分

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　‘Richard；　when　I　touched　you　yesterday；　when　I　touched　your　Rada’Han；　and　felt　something　of　your　Han；　I　felt　some　of　your　feelings。　I　know　you　hurt　inside。　It　made　me　hurt　just　to　feel　a　little　of　it。’
　
　Her　hand　came　up　to　the　side　of　his　neck；　as　if　to　fort　him。　‘I　don’t　know　of　many　things　that　can　cause　that　much　hurt。　Richard；　I’m　not　asking　to　take　her　place。’
　
　Richard’s　eyes　closed　as　his　head　sank　down　on　her　shoulder。　He　swallowed　back　the　pain。　She　ran　her　fingers　through　his　hair　and　held　his　head　to　her。
　
　After　a　time；　he　found　his　voice。　‘Maybe　it　wouldn’t　hurt　me　to　occasionally　wear　one　of　those　outfits。’
　
　She　pushed　away　a　little；　looking　up　through　her　tears。　‘Maybe　just　to　the　dining　room；　with　the　Sisters？’
　
　He　shrugged。　‘That　would　be　a　good　use　of　them；　I　guess。　You　pick　one　you　would　like　me　to　wear。　I　don’t　know　anything　about　fancy　clothes。’　He　managed　a　small　smile。　‘I’m　just　a　woods　guide。’
　
　Her　face　brightened。　‘You　would　look　handsome　in　the　red　coat。’
　
　Richard　winced。　‘The　red　one？　Does　it　have　to　be　the　red　one？’
　
　She　ran　her　finger　down　the　Agiel　hanging　from　his　neck。　‘No；　it　doesn’t　have　to　be　that　one。　I　just　thought　it　would　look　good　on　your　broad　shoulders。’
　
　Richard　sighed。　‘I　will　feel　foolish　in　any。　It　might　as　well　be　the　red。’
　
　‘You　will　not　look　foolish；　you　will　look　handsome。’　Pasha　grinned。　‘You’ll　see。　All　the　women　will　be　batting　their　lashes　at　you。’　She　lifted　the　Agiel。　‘Richard；　what　is　this？’
　
　‘Just　sort　of　a　good…luck　charm。　You　ready　to　go　back？　I　think　you　need　to　get　started　teaching　me。　The　sooner　you　start；　the　sooner　I　get　this　collar　off。　Then　we’ll　both　be　happy；　you　will　be　a　Sister；　and　I　will　be　free。’
　
　He　put　his　arm　around　her　shoulders　and　she　put　hers　around　his　waist　as　they　walked　back　for　Bonnie。
　
　
　CHAPTER　53
　
　On　the　bridge　to　Halsband　Island；　in　a　pool　of　light　under　a　lamp；　a　crowd　of　boys　and　young　men　mobbed　them。　Many　were　dressed　in　fine　clothes；　some　wore　robes；　and　each　had　a　Rada’Han　around　his　neck。　They　all　excitedly　asked　questions　at　the　same　time；　wanting　to　know　if　it　was　true　that　Richard　had　killed　a　mriswith；　and　what　it　looked　like。　They　wanted　to　tell　Richard　their　names；　and　clamored　for　him　to　draw　his　sword　and　show　them　how　he　had　vanquished　the　legendary　monster。
　
　Pasha　spoke　to　the　most　persistent　boy　at　her　hip。　‘Yes；　Kipp；　it’s　true　that　Richard　killed　a　mriswith。　Sister　Maren　is　studying　it　now；　and　if　she　deems　it　appropriate；　she　will　tell　you　of　its　nature。　But　I　can　tell　you　true　that　it　is　a　fearsome…looking　beast。　Now；　off　with　you　all。　It’s　nearly　dinnertime。’
　
　Despite　their　disappointment　that　no　more　information　was　forthing；　they　were　excited　by　what　they　had　heard。　They　ran　off　in　a　bunch　to　tell　others。
　
　After　leaving　Bonnie　at　the　stables；　Richard　walked　with　Pasha　down　halls　and　through　vast　chambers；　trying　to　memorize　the　layout。　She　pointed　out　the　boys’　dining　halls；　and　the　dining　hall　where　the　Sisters　and　some　of　the　older　young　men　ate。　She　also　took　him　past　the　kitchens；　where　the　aromas　of　cooking　wafted　through　the　surrounding　corridors。
　
　Pasha　pointed　through　a　lattice…covered　archway　to　a　graceful　stone　wall　running　under　the　spreading　branches　of　trees。　The　wall　was　veiled　in　places　by　vines。　Large　white　flowers　dotted　the　green。
　
　‘That’s　the　Prelate’s　offices；　and　quarters；’　Pasha　said。
　
　‘Will　she　be　at　dinner　tonight？’
　
　Pasha　giggled　softly。　‘No；　of　course　not。　The　Prelate　doesn’t　have　time　to　have　dinner　with　us。’
　
　Richard　turned　out　of　the　hall　and　down　a　walkway　toward　a　gate　in　the　wall。
　
　‘Richard！　What　are　you　doing？　Where　are　you　going？’
　
　‘I　want　to　meet　the　Prelate。’
　
　‘You　can’t　simply　go　visit　her！’
　
　‘Why？’
　
　She　hurried　along　beside　him。　‘Well；　she’s　a　busy　woman。　She　can’t　be　bothered。　They　won’t　let　you　see　her。　The　guards　won’t　even　let　us　through　the　gate。’
　
　He　shrugged。　‘It　won’t　hurt　to　ask；　will　it？　Then；　afterwards；　you　can　pick　an　outfit　for　me；　and　we’ll　go　to　have　dinner　with　the　Sisters。　All　right？’
　
　The　offer　to　let　her　pick　his　outfit　gave　her　pause。　Pasha　stuttered　that　she　supposed　it　wouldn’t　hurt　just　to　ask　and　struggled　to　keep　up　as　he　marched　toward　the　guard。　The　guard　stepped　before　the　iron　gate；　spread　his　feet；　and　hooked　his　thumbs　on　his　weapons　belt　as　Richard　strode　right　up　to　him。
　
　Richard　put　a　hand　to　the　man’s　shoulder。　‘I’m　so　sorry。　Forgive　me。　Please？　I　didn’t　get　you　in　any　trouble；　did　I？　I　hope　not。　She　hasn’t　e　out　to　yell　at　you；　yet；　I　hope。’
　
　The　man　frowned　in　confusion　as　Richard　leaned　closer。　‘Look　。。。　what’s　your　name？’
　
　‘Swordsman　Andellmere。　Kevin　Andellmere。’
　
　‘Look；　Kevin；　she　said　she　would　send　the　guard　at　the　west　gate　to　get　me　if　I　was　even　one　minute　late。　She　probably　forgot　to　send　you　out。　It　isn’t　your　fault。　I　promise　I　won’t　mention　your　name。　I　hope　you’re　not　angry　with　me。’
　
　Richard　put　his　back　to　Pasha　and　leaned　even　closer　to　the　guard。　‘You　understand。’　He　rolled　his　eyes　meaningfully　toward　Pasha　and　then　gave　the　man　a　wink。　Kevin　glanced　to　Pasha　as　she　fussed　with　her　tangled　mat　of　hair。　‘Eh？　You　understand；　I’m　sure。　Look；　Kevin；　say　you’ll　let　me　buy　you　an　ale。　Will　you？　I　better　get　in　there　before　I　get　you　in　trouble；　but　before　I　go；　promise　me　you’ll　let　me　buy　you　an　ale；　to　make　it　up　to　you？’
　
　‘Well；　I　suppose　I　could　let　you　buy　me　an　ale。　。。。’
　
　Richard　clapped　Kevin　on　the　shoulder。　‘There’s　a　good　man。’
　
　Pasha　was　right　on　Richard’s　heels　as　he　stormed　past　the　guard　and　through　the　gate。　He　turned　and　gave　Kevin　a　wave　and　a　smile。
　
　Pasha　leaned　close。　‘How　did　you　do　that？　No　one　gets　through　the　Prelate’s　guards。’
　
　Richard　held　the　door　into　the　building　open　for　her。　‘I　just　gave　him　too　much　to　think　about；　and　a　worry　he　feared　might　be　true。’
　
　When　an　answer　came　to　her　knock；　they　stepped　into　a　dimly　lit　room　with　two　desks；　and　two　Sisters。
　
　Pasha　curtsied。　‘Sisters。　I　am　novice　Pasha　Maes；　and　this　is　our　new　student；　Richard　Cypher。　He　was　wondering　if　he　might　meet　the　Prelate。’
　
　Both　Sisters　glowered　at　her。　The　one　on　the　right　spoke。　‘The　Prelate　is　busy。　Dismissed；　novice。’
　
　A　little　pale；　Pasha　curtsied　again。　Thank　you　for　your　time；　Sisters。’
　
　Richard　gave　a　little　bow。　‘Yes；　thank　you；　Sisters。　Please　give　the　Prelate　my　kindest　regards。’
　
　‘I　told　you　she　wouldn’t　see　us；’　Pasha　said　on　the　way　out。
　
　Richard　hiked　his　pack　up　higher　on　his　shoulder。　‘Well；　we　gave　it　our　best　try。　Thanks　for　indulging　me。’
　
　He　had　known　that　Pasha　had　been　right；　that　the　Prelate　wouldn’t　see　them；　but　he　had　seen　what　he　had　e　to　see。　He　had　only　been　interested　in　knowing　the　layout　of　the　building　and　grounds　for　future　reference。
　
　Richard　hadn’t　changed　his　mind　about　his　captivity；　but　he　had　decided　to　try　a　different　approach　for　a　while。　He　would　bide　his　time；　and　see　what　the