tg.stone of tears-第24部分

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an　adventure。’
　
　Without　smiling　or　answering；　he　turned　and　watched　the　two　e。　The　hunters　stopped　in　front　of　her　at　the　edge　of　the　platform。　They　planted　the　butts　of　their　spears　firmly　in　the　ground；　leaning　on　them　with　both　hands。　They　both　assessed　her　with　slightly　narrowed　eyes　and　small；　tight　smiles　that　weren’t　entirely　unfriendly。　The　one　closest　pushed　his　bow　a　little　farther　up　on　his　shoulder　and　then　extended　an　open　hand　to　her；　palm　up。
　
　She　looked　down　at　the　hand。　She　knew　what　it　meant　…an　open　hand　offered　without　a　weapon　in　it。　She　glanced　up　at　him　in　confusion。　‘Does　Chandalen　approve　of　this？’
　
　‘We　are　Chandalen’s　men。　Not　his　children。’　He　kept　the　hand　out。
　
　Kahlan　looked　at　it　a　moment　and　then　stroked　her　palm　over　his。　His　smile　widened　a　little　and　he　gave　her　a　gentle　slap。
　
　‘Strength　to　Confessor　Kahlan。　I　am　Prindin。　This　is　my　brother；　Tossidin。’
　
　She　gave　Prindin　a　slap　and　wished　him　strength。　Tossidin　held　his　palm　open　to　her。　She　stroked　it　with　hers。　He　gave　her　a　slap　and　added　his　wish　of　strength。　He　had　a　handsome　smile　that　matched　his　brother’s。　Surprised　by　his　friendliness；　she　returned　his　slap　and　greeting。　Kahlan　glanced　to　Richard。　The　brothers　noticed　the　look；　and　in　response　both　gave　Richard　a　slap　and　greeting。
　
　‘We　wanted　to　tell　you　that　you　spoke　with　strength　and　honor　today；’　Prindin　said。　‘Chandalen　is　a　hard　man；　and　a　hard　man　to　get　to　know；　but　he　is　not　a　bad　man。　He　cares　deeply　for　our　people　and　wants　only　to　protect　them　from　harm。　That　is　what　we　do　…protect　our　people。’
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　‘　Richard　and　I　are　Mud　People；　too。’　The　brothers　smiled。　‘The　elders　have　proclaimed　it　for　all　to　know。　We　will　protect　you　both；　the　same　as　any　other　of　our　people。’
　
　‘Will　Chandalen？’
　
　Both　grinned；　but　neither　answered。　They　pulled　their　spears　up；　readying　to　leave。
　
　‘Tell　them　I　said　they　have　fine　bows；’　Richard　said。　She　glanced　sideways　to　see　him　watching　the　two。　She　told　his　words　to　Prindin。
　
　They　smiled　as　they　nodded。　‘We　are　very　good　with　them。’
　
　Richard’s　expressionless　gaze　stayed　on　the　two　brothers。　‘Tell　them　I　think　their　arrows　look　to　be　well　made。　Ask　if　I　may　see　one。’
　
　Kahlan　frowned　at　him　before　translating　for　the　hunters。　The　brothers　beamed　with　pride。　Prindin　pulled　an　arrow　from　his　quiver　and　handed　it　to　Richard。　Kahlan　noticed　that　the　elders　were　all　quiet。　Richard　rolled　the　arrow　in　his　fingers。　Betraying　no　emotion；　he　looked　at　the　nock　and　then　turned　it　around　and　looked　at　the　flat；　metal　point。　He　handed　the　arrow　back。　‘Very　fine　work。’　As　Prindin　replaced　the　arrow　in　his　quiver；　Kahlan　told　him　what　Richard　had　said。　He　slid　a　hand　partway　up　his　spear　and　leaned　a　little　of　his　weight　on　it。　‘If　you　know　how　to　shoot　a　bow；　we　would　invite　you　to　e　with　us　tomorrow。’　Before　she　could　translate；　Savidlin　spoke　to　her。　‘Richard　told　me　before；　when　you　were　here　last；　that　he　had　to　leave　his　bow　behind　in　Westland；　and　that　he　missed　it　As　a　surprise；　I　made　him　one；　for　when　you　both　came　back。　It　is　a　gift　to　him　for　teaching　me　how　to　make　roofs　that　do　not　leak。　It　is　at　my　home。　I　was　going　to　give　it　to　him　tomorrow。　Tell　him；　and　tell　him　that　if　he　agrees；　I　would　like　to　take　some　of　my　hunters　and　go　with　him　tomorrow’　He　smiled。　‘We　will　see　if　he　is　as　good　a　shot　as　our　hunters。’
　
　The　brothers　grinned　and　nodded　their　enthusiasm。　They　looked　to　be　confident　of　the　results　of　the　contest。　Kahlan　told　Richard　what　Savidlin　had　said。
　
　Richard　was　surprised；　and　seemed　to　be　moved　by　what　Savidlin　had　done。　‘The　Mud　People　make　some　of　the　finest　fbows　I　have　ever　seen。　I　am　honored；　Savidlin。　That　is　was　poison；　the　result　of　an　evil　magic。　They　didn’t　know　that　in　Westland；　where　Richard　was　from；　you　could　eat　red　things　like　apples。　They　had　seen　him　eat　an　apple　once　before；　when　he　had　tricked　them　into　not　making　him　take　a　wife　from　their　village　by　convincing　them　that　his　eating　it　might　make　his　seed　poisonous　to　his　bride；　but　they　sweated　as　they　watched　the　two　of　them　doing　it　again。
　
　‘What　are　you　doing？’　Kahlan　asked　him。
　
　‘Just　eat　your　apple　and　then　translate　for　me。’
　
　When　they　finished；　Richard　stood；　motioning　her　up　next　to　him。　‘Honored　elders；　I　have　returned　from　stopping　the　threat　against　our　people。　Now　that　it　is　over；　I　would　like　to　ask　your　permission　for　something。　I　hope　you　find　me　worthy。　I　would　like　to　ask　your　permission　to　have　a　Mud　Woman　as　my　wife。　As　you　can　see；　I　have　taught　Kahlan　to　eat　these　things　as　I　do。　She　will　not　be　harmed　by　it；　or　by　me；　and　in　the　same　way；　though　she　is　a　Confessor；　I　will　not　be　harmed　by　her。　We　would　like　to　be　together；　and　we　would　like　to　be　wedded　by　our　people。’
　
　Kahlan　could　hardly　get　the　last　of　the　words　out　past　the　tightness　in　her　throat；　and　she　could　hardly　keep　from　throwing　her　arms　around　him。　She　could　feel　her　eyes　burning　and　filling　with　tears；　and　had　to　clear　her　throat　to　finish　the　words。　She　put　her　arm　around　Richard’s　waist　to　steady　herself。
　
　The　elders　suddenly　beamed　with　surprise。　The　Bird　Man　wore　a　wide　grin。　‘I　think　you　are　finally　learning　to　be　Mud　People；’　he　said。　‘Nothing　could　please　us　more　than　for　you　two　to　be　wed。’
　
　Richard　didn’t　wait　for　the　translation；　but　gave　her　a　kiss　that　took　her　breath　away。　The　elders　and　their　wives　applauded。
　
　It　was　all　the　more　special　to　her　that　they　would　be　wedded　before　the　Mud　People。　Kahlan　felt　at　home　here　When　they　had　e　before；　seeking　help　in　their　struggle　to　stop　Rahl；　Richard　had　shown　the　Mud　People　how　to　make　roofs　that　didn’t　leak。　They　had　made　friends；　had　fought　battles　together；　with　lives　saved；　and　lost。　In　the　process；　the　two　of　them　had　bonded　with　these　people。　In　honor　of　their　sacrifices；　the　Bird　Man　had　proclaimed　them　Mud　People。
　
　The　Bird　Man　stood　and　gave　Kahlan　a　fatherly　hug　that　felt　as　if　he　were　saying　that　he　understood　everything　she　had　been　through　and　was　happy　she　had　at　last　found　happiness。　She　shed　a　few　tears　against　his　shoulder　as　he　held　her　in　his　strong　arms。　Their　adventure；　a　long　ordeal；　had　taken　her　from　the　depths　of　pain　and　despair　to　the　heights　of　joy。　The　fight　had　ended　only　yesterday。　It　didn’t　seem　possible　it　could　be　over　at　last。
　
　As　they　went　on　with　the　feast；　Kahlan　wished　more　than　ever　that　it　could　end　soon　so　she　could　be　alone　with　Richard。　He　had　been　held　prisoner　for　over　a　month；　and　had　only　rejoined　her　the　day　before。　She　hadn’t　even　really　had　a　chance　to　talk　with　him。　Or　hug　him　nearly　enough。
　
　Children　danced　and　played　around　the　small　fire　while　the　adults　gathered　around　torches；　eating　and　talking　and　laughing。　Weselan　scooted　down　next　to　her；　hugged　her；　and　said　she　would　make　her　a　proper　wedding　dress。　Savidlin　kissed　her　cheek　and　slapped　Richard’s　back。　She　found　it　difficult　to　look　away　from　Richard’s　gray　eyes。　She　didn’t　want　to。　Ever。
　
　The　hunters　who　had　been　out　on　the　plain　the　day　the　Bird　Man　had　tried　to　teach　Richard　how　to