tg.stone of tears-第38部分

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　‘I　asked　him　who　they　were；　but　he　wouldn’t　tell　me　anything　about　them。　He　said　it　was　best　not　to　even　mention　their　name　aloud。　He　begged　me　not　to　ask　him　any　more　on　the　subject。　I　still　remember　how　much　the　look　on　his　face　scared　me。’
　
　‘Do　you　know　where　they’re　from？’
　
　‘I’ve　been　almost　everywhere　in　the　Midlands。　I’ve　never　heard　of　them　being　seen　anywhere。　And　I’ve　asked。’
　
　Richard　let　go　of　her　and　put　a　fist　on　his　hip。　With　his　other　hand；　he　squeezed　his　lower　lip　to　a　point　as　he　thought。　Finally　he　folded　his　arms　and　turned　around。　The　gift。　So　we’re　back　to　the　gift。　I　thought　we　were　done　with　this　nonsense。　I　don’t　have　the　gift！’
　
　She　knitted　her　fingers　together。　‘Richard　please；　let’s　just　get　away。　If　a　wizard　was　afraid　of　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　。。。　Let’s　just　get　away　from　here。’
　
　‘And　what　if　they　follow？　What　if　they　catch　up　with　us　when　the　headache　has　me　flat　on　my　back；　when　I’m　defenseless？’
　
　‘Richard；　I　don’t　know　anything　about　them。　But　if　a　wizard　is　that　afraid　of　them　。。。　What　if　we　are　defenseless　right　now？’
　
　‘I　am　the　Seeker。　I　am　not　defenseless。　But　I　might　be　later。　Better　to　meet　them　on　my　terms　than　theirs。　And　I’m　tired　of　hearing　about　the　gift！　I　don’t　have　it　and　I’m　going　to　put　an　end　to　this　nonsense　right　now。’
　
　She　took　a　deep　breath　and　nodded。　‘All　right。　I　guess　the　Seeker　and　the　Mother　Confessor　are　not　without　defenses。’
　
　He　gave　her　a　stern　look。　‘You’re　not　ing。’
　
　‘Do　you　have　a　rope？’
　
　Richard　frowned。　‘No。　Why？’
　
　She　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘You　will　have　a　hard　time　stopping　me　if　you　don’t　have　a　rope　to　tie　me　up。’
　
　‘Kahlan；　I’m　not　letting　you　。。。’
　
　‘And　I’m　not　giving　you　a　chance　to　have　a　look　at　a　woman　you　might　fancy　more　than　me；　without　being　there　to　give　her　a　whack。’
　
　He　watched　her　with　an　exasperated　expression；　and　then　leaned　forward　and　kissed　her。　‘All　right。　But　let’s　not　have　an　‘adventure’？’
　
　She　smiled。　‘We　will　just　tell　these　three　you　don’t　have　the　gift；　send　them　on　their　way；　and　then　I’m　going　to　give　you　a　serious　kiss。’
　
　The　sky　was　darkening　into　a　deep　blue　when　they　reached　the　spirit　house。　Three　strong　horses　were　tethered　a　short　distance　away。　Their　saddles　were　different　from　any　she　had　seen　before；　with　high　pommels　and　cantles。　As　they　paused　in　front　of　the　door；　the　air　was　cold　enough　to　show　their　breath。　Richard　and　Kahlan　gave　each　other　a　smile　and　a　squeeze　of　the　hand。　Richard　checked　that　the　sword　was　clear　in　its　scabbard。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　pulled　open　the　door。　Kahlan　wore　her　Confessor’s　face；　as　her　mother　had　taught　her。
　
　The　inside　of　the　spirit　house　was　lit　by　a　small　fire　and　two　torches　in　brackets；　one　to　each　side　of　the　fireplace。　Their　packs　still　sat　to　the　side。　The　air　smelled　of　pitch　and　the　balsam…scented　sticks　that　were　always　burned　in　the　spirit　house　to　make　the　ancestors’　spirits　wele。　Torchlight　flickered　on　the　skulls　of　ancestors　sitting　on　a　single　shelf。　The　dirt　floor　was　dry；　since　Richard　had　used　the　spirit　house　to　teach　the　Mud　People　to　make　roofs　that　didn’t　leak。
　
　The　three　women　stood　straight　and　tall　in　the　center　of　the　single…roomed；　windowless　building。　Their　brown；　heavy　wool　cloaks　hung　almost　to　the　ground。　The　hoods　were　up；　partly　shadowing　their　faces。　They　wore　long；　divided　riding　skirts　of　different；　dark；　muted　colors；　and　simple　white　blouses。
　
　They　pushed　back　their　hoods。　The　one　in　the　middle；　a　few　inches　taller　than　the　other　two；　but　not　as　tall　as　Kahlan；　had　brown　hair　with　some　curl　and　body　to　it。　The　one　to　her　right　had　straight；　black；　shoulder　length　hair；　and　the　other’s　was　curly；　short；　and　dark；　with　streaks　of　gray。　Each　had　her　hands　clasped　at　ease　in　front　of　her。
　
　It　was　the　only　thing　at　ease　about　them。　Their　mature　faces　wore　looks　that　reminded　Kahlan　of　the　headmistress　of　the　maidservants　back　in　Aydindril。　It　was　a　countenance　of　authority　they　appeared　to　have　held　so　long　that　it　had　worn　permanent　creases。　Kahlan　took　a　second　glance　at　their　hands　to　see　if　they　were　empty；　they　looked　like　they　should　be　carrying　switches。　Their　eyes　watched；　as　if　ready　to　silence　any　impudence。
　
　The　woman　in　the　middle　spoke。　‘You　two　are　Richard’s　parents？’　Her　voice　wasn’t　quite　as　harsh　as　Kahlan　expected；　but　still　carried　a　clear　tone　of　authority。
　
　Richard　glowered　at　them；　looking　as　if　just　his　look　might　push　the　three　back　a　pace。　He　waited　until　the　glare　caused　them　to　blink；　before　he　spoke。　‘No。　I　am　Richard。　My　parents　are　dead。　My　mother　since　I　was　young；　and　my　father　since　the　end　of　summer。’
　
　The　three　exchanged　sidelong　glances。
　
　Kahlan　saw　the　anger　in　his　eyes。　He　was　bleeding　magic　from　the　sword　without　even　drawing　it。　She　could　tell　the　sword　was　only　a　blink　away　from　ing　out。　She　could　see　by　the　look　in　his　eyes　that　he　would　not　hesitate　if　these　women　did　anything　wrong。
　
　‘That　is　not　possible；’　the　taller　one　in　the　center　said。　‘You　are　。。。　old。’
　
　‘Not　as　old　as　you；’　Richard　snapped。
　
　Their　cheeks　colored。　The　woman’s　eyes　flashed　an　angry　scowl；　but　she　quickly　softened　it。　‘We　did　not　mean　to　say　you　are　old；　we　meant　to　say　you　are　older　than　we　expected。　I　am　Sister　Verna　Sauventreen。’
　
　The　black…haired　woman　to　her　right　spoke。　‘I　am　Sister　Grace　Rendall。’
　
　‘I　am　Sister　Elizabeth　Myric；’　the　third　said。
　
　Sister　Verna　turned　her　stern　expression　on　Kahlan。　‘And　who　would　you　be；　child。’
　
　Kahlan　didn’t　know　if　it　was　Richard’s　attitude　causing　it；　but　she　felt　her　blood　heating；　too。　She　gritted　her　teeth。　‘I　am　not　your　‘child。’　I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。’　Kahlan’s　tone　could　carry　authority；　too；　when　she　wished　it　to。
　
　It　was　almost　imperceptible；　but　the　three　flinched。　Together；　they　bowed　their　heads　slightly。
　
　‘Forgive　us；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　The　air　of　threat　in　the　spirit　house　was　still　palpable。　Kahlan　realized　her　hands　were　fists。　It　came　to　her　that　she　felt　this　way　because　they　were　a　threat　to　Richard。　She　decided　it　was　time　to　act　like　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　‘Where　are　you　three　from？’　she　asked　in　an　icy　voice。
　
　‘We　are　from　。。。　far　away。’
　
　Kahlan’s　glare　was　beginning　to　match　Richard’s。　‘In　the　Midlands；　a　bow　to　the　Mother　Confessor　is　done　on　at　least　one　knee。’　It　was　a　custom　she　almost　never　had　any　interest　in　enforcing；　but　she　felt　the　need　now。
　
　The　three　leaned　back　as　one；　standing　straighter。　Their　indignant　frowns　deepened。
　
　It　was　enough　to　bring　out　the　sword。
　
　The　distinctive　ringing　of　steel　hung　in　the　air。　Richard　said　nothing；　he　simply　stood　holding　the　sword　in　both　hands。　Kahlan　could　see　his　muscles　straining　to　be　released。　The　Sword　of　Truth’s　magic　danced　dangerously　in　his　eyes。　She　was　glad　his　glower　wasn’t　directed　at　her；　it　was　frightening。　The　three　didn’t　appear　to　be　as　frightened　by　it　as　she　would　have　expected；　but　they　turned　to　her；　and　together；　went　to　one　knee；　bowing　their　head