tg.stone of tears-第33部分

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　Terrible。　But　I　have　the　leaves；　they　help　a　little。　I　think　I’ll　be　all　right。　Savidlin　is　looking　forward　to　this。　I　don’t　want　to　disappoint　him。’
　
　She　rubbed　her　hand　on　his　shoulder。　‘Should　I　e　with　you？’
　
　Richard　kissed　her　forehead。　‘I　don’t　think　I’ll　need　anyone　to　translate　to　tell　me　how　badly　I’m　being　beaten。　And　I　don’t　think　I　want　to　give　Chandalen’s　men　any　excuse　to　humiliate　me　any　worse　than　they　are　already　going　to。’
　
　‘Zedd　told　me　you　were　pretty　good。　In　fact；　he　told　me　you　were　better　than　good。’
　
　Richard　stole　a　look　at　Savidlin；　who　was　stringing　his　own　bow。　‘It’s　been　a　long　time　since　I’ve　shot　a　bow。　Zedd　was　just　trying　to　stir　up　trouble；　I’ll　bet。’
　
　He　stole　a　kiss　while　Savidlin　was　finishing　and　then　went　out　the　door　with　him。　Kahlan　leaned　against　the　doorframe；　still　feeling　the　print　of　his　lips　on　hers　as　she　watched　him　walking　away。
　
　Showing　no　emotion；　Chandalen　stared　up　from　sighting　down　one　of　his　arrows。　Prindin　and　Tossidin　flashed　sly　smiles。　They　were　looking　forward　to　this。　Richard　glanced　around；　meeting　the　eyes　of　all　the　men　as　he　walked　past。　They　fell　in　behind　him。　He　was　a　good　head　taller　than　any　of　them。　They　looked　like　a　bunch　of　children　following　an　adult。　But　these　children　had　poison　arrows；　and　some　of　them　didn’t　hold　any　favor　for　Richard。　Suddenly　she　didn’t　like　this。
　
　Weselan　stood　next　to　her；　watching　the　men　go。　‘Savidlin　said　he　will　watch　Richard’s　back。　Don’t　be　concerned；　Chandalen　would　not　do　anything　foolish。’
　
　‘I　worry　about　what　Chandalen　considers　foolish。’
　
　Weselan　wiped　her　hands　on　a　cloth；　turning　back　to　keep　a　watchful　eye　on　Siddin。　Siddin　wanted　to　go　out；　and　was　sitting；　poking　a　finger　along　the　ground；　looking　dejected　because　his　mother　said　she　wanted　him　to　stay　inside。　Weselan　stood　over　him　a　long　moment　watching。　He　looked　up；　his　chin　resting　in　one　palm。　She　gave　him　a　gentle　snap　with　the　cloth。
　
　‘Go　outside　and　play。’　Weselan　sighed　as　he　tore　through　the　door　with　a　squeal　of　glee。　She　shook　her　head　to　herself。　‘The　young　don’t　know　how　dear　life　is。　Or　how　fragile。’
　
　‘Maybe　that　is　why　we　all　wish　we　were　young　again。’
　
　Weselan　nodded。　‘Maybe　so。’　A　handsome　smile　came　to　her　tanned　face。　Her　dark　eyes　sparkled。　‘What　color　would　you　like　to　wear　when　you　wed　your　man？’
　
　With　both　hands；　Kahlan　pulled　her　long　hair　back　over　her　shoulders　and　thought　a　minute。　A　smile　welled　up　from　within。　‘Richard　favors　blue。’
　
　Weselan　twined　her　fingers　together。　‘Oh；　that　would　be　just　right；　then。　I　have　just　the　thing。　I　have　been　saving　it　for　something　special。’
　
　She　went　into　her　small　bedroom　and　came　back　with　a　bundle。　Sitting　on　the　bench　next　to　Kahlan；　she　carefully　unfolded　it　in　her　lap。　The　cloth　was　finely　woven；　a　rich　blue　with　a　print　of　lighter　blue　flowers　dappled　across　it。　Kahlan　thought　it　would　make　a　gorgeous　dress。
　
　She　tested　the　weave　between　her　finger　and　thumb。　‘It’s　beautiful。　Where　did　you　get　it？’
　
　‘I　traded　for　it。’　She　flicked　her　hand　over　her　head。　‘With　people　from　the　north。　They　like　the　bowls　I　make。　I　traded　with　them　for　it。’
　
　Kahlan　knew　fine　cloth　when　she　saw　it。　Weselan　would　have　had　to　make　many　bowls　for　this　cloth。　‘I　wouldn’t　feel　right　using　it；　Weselan。　You　worked　hard　for　this。　It　is　yours。’
　
　Weselan　held　up　the　corners　of　the　blue　fabric；　giving　it　a　critical　appraisal。　‘Nonsense。　You　two　e　here　and　teach　our　people　how　to　make　roofs　that　don’t　leak。　You　save　Siddin　from　those　shadow　things；　and　in　the　process　rid　us　of　an　old　fool　and　make　it　so　Savidlin　can　be　one　of　the　six　elders。　He　has　never　been　so　happy。　When　Siddin　is　carried　off；　you　find　him　and　bring　him　back　to　us。　You　destroy　the　man　who　would　have　enslaved　us。　You　two　are　guardians　to　our　people。　What　is　a　piece　of　cloth？
　
　‘I　will　be　proud　the　Mother　Confessor　of　all　the　Midlands　is　wedded　in　a　dress　I　make。　Me；　just　a　simple　woman。　For　you；　my　friend；　from　all　those　faraway　places；　with　all　those　grand　things　that　I　cannot　even　imagine。　You　would　not　be　taking　something　from　me。　You　would　be　giving　me　something。’
　
　Kahlan’s　eyes　filled　with　tears。　Her　lower　lip　trembled。　‘You　can’t　know　the　joy　you　have　given　me；　Weselan。　To　be　a　Confessor　is　to　be　feared。　My　whole　life；　people　have　feared　and　shunned　me。　No　one　has　ever　treated　me　as　just　a　woman；　talked　to　me　as　a　woman。　Only　as　a　Confessor。　No　one　before　Richard　ever　saw　me　as　a　person。　No　woman　before　you　ever　weled　me　into　her　home。　No　woman　has　ever　let　me　hold　her　child。’　She　wiped　away　some　of　the　tears。　‘It　will　be　the　most　beautiful　dress　I　have　ever　worn；　the　most　treasured　dress　I　will　ever　have。　I　will　wear　it；　proud　that　a　friend　made　it　for　me。’
　
　Weselan　gave　her　a　sidelong　look。　‘　When　your　man　sees　you　in　this　dress；　he　will　make　you　a　child　of　your　own。’
　
　Kahlan　laughed　and　cried　and　hugged　her。　She　had　never　dared　to　dream　that　all　these　things　could　happen　in　her　life；　that　she　could　ever　be　treated　as　anything　but　a　Confessor。
　
　Kahlan　and　Weselan　spent　the　better　part　of　the　morning　starting　the　dress。　Weselan　seemed　as　excited　about　making　the　dress　as　Kahlan　was　about　wearing　it。　The　seamstresses　back　in　Aydindril　had　nothing　over　Weselan　with　her　fine　bone　needles。　They　settled　on　a　simple　design　fashioned　something　like　a　kirtle。
　
　They　had　a　light　lunch　of　tava　bread　and　chicken　broth。　Weselan　said　she　would　work　on　the　dress　later；　and　asked　what　Kahlan　wanted　to　do　in　the　afternoon。　Kahlan　said　she　really　would　like　to　cook　something。
　
　Kahlan　never　ate　meat　when　she　was　here　before　on　official　business　because　she　knew　the　Mud　People　ate　human　flesh；　ate　their　enemies　to　gain　their　knowledge。　To　avoid　offending　them；　she　had　always　used　the　excuse　that　she　didn’t　eat　meat。　The　night　before；　Richard　had　reacted　strangely　to　eating　meat；　so　Kahlan　didn’t　say　anything　to　change　the　menu　when　Weselan　suggested　a　vegetable　stew。
　
　The　two　of　them　cut　up　tava；　some　other　rust…colored　roots　Kahlan　didn’t　recognize；　peppers；　beans；　some　nutty　kuru；　and　then　added　greens　and　dried　mushrooms　into　the　big　iron　kettle　hanging　over　the　little　fire　in　the　corner　cooking　hearth。　Weselan　pushed　a　few　sticks　of　hardwood　into　the　fire　as　she　told　Kahlan　the　men　probably　wouldn’t　be　back　until　dark。　She　suggested　they　go　to　the　mon　area　with　the　other　women　and　bake　some　tava　bread　in　the　ovens。
　
　‘I　would　like　that；’　Kahlan　said。
　
　‘We　will　talk　about　the　wedding　with　them。　Talk　of　weddings　always　makes　for　good　conversation。’　She　smiled。　‘Especially　when　there　are　no　men　around。’
　
　Kahlan　was　happy　to　find　that　the　young　women　talked　to　her　now。　In　the　past　they　had　always　been　too　shy。　The　older　women　wanted　to　talk　about　the　marriage。　The　younger　women　wanted　to　talk　about　faraway　places。　They　wanted　to　know　if　it　was　really　true　that　men　followed　her　orders；　that　they　did　as　she　said。
　
　Their　eyes　were　wide　as　Kahlan　told　them　about　the　Central　Council　and　how　she　protected　the　interests