tg.stone of tears-第104章

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　Richard　dug　his　heels　in　and　scooted　around　the　fire。　'Were　you　trying　to　decide　whether　or　not　you　were　going　to　help　me？'
　
　'Of　course　not。　This　is　made　from　powerful　magic；　constructed　magic；　to　smother　the　venom　injected　into　you　by　the　conjured　creatures。　Too　soon；　and　the　cure　would　kill　you。　Too　late；　the　bites　would　kill　you。　It　must　be　the　right　kind　of　magic；　at　the　right　time。　I　was　simply　waiting　for　the　proper　time。'
　
　Richard　wanted　to　argue　with　her；　but　instead　said；　'Thank　you　for　helping　me。'　She　frowned　at　him　before　leaning　over　his　bites。　'Sister；　how　was　I　making　things　worse？'
　
　'You　were　being　reckless。　Using　magic　is　dangerous；　not　only　to　others；　but　to　the　one　who　calls　it　forth　as　well。'
　
　Richard　winced　as　she　drew　the　edge　across　one　of　the　bites；　first　one　way；　then　the　other；　cutting　an　X　on　it。　The　sting　made　his　eyes　water。
　
　'How　can　it　be　dangerous　to　me？'
　
　She　concentrated　as　she　leaned　over　his　leg；　whispering　an　incantation　while　stroking　the　knife　across　his　swollen　flesh。　He　tried　not　to　jump　when　she　cut　the　next　bite。　She　was　only　making　light　cuts；　but　they　stung　fiercely。
　
　'It　is　like　starting　a　fire　in　the　center　of　a　tinder　dry　wood。　You　find　yourself　in　the　center　of　the　fire；　in　the　center　of　what　you　have　started。　What　you　did　was　foolish　and　dangerous。'
　
　'Sister　Verna；　I　was　trying　to　stay　alive。'
　
　She　jabbed　a　finger　at　one　of　the　painful　bites。　'And　look　what　happened！　If　I　don't　heal　you；　you'll　die。'　She　finished　with　his　legs　and　turned　her　attention　to　his　arm。　'When　we　were　being　attacked　by　those　beasts；　you　thought　to　save　us；　but　everything　you　did　only　increased　the　danger。'
　
　When　she　finished；　she　held　the　knife　blade　over　the　fire。　A　thin　stream　of　white　flame　roared　up　from　the　steel；　consuming　the　remaining　paste。　She　held　the　blade　to　the　fire　until　the　paste；　and　the　white　flame；　were　gone。
　
　'If　I　hadn't　acted；　Sister；　we　would　be　dead。'
　
　She　shook　the　hot　blade　at　him。　'I　did　not　say　you　were　wrong　to　act！　I　said　you　acted　in　the　wrong　way！　You　used　the　wrong　kind　of　magic！'
　
　'I　used　the　only　thing　I　had！　The　sword！'
　
　She　pitched　the　knife。　With　a　thunk；　it　stuck　solidly　in　a　piece　of　firewood。　'Acting　without　knowing　the　consequences　of　the　magic　you　call　forth　is　perilous　behavior！'
　
　'Well；　nothing　you　were　doing　was　helping！'
　
　Sister　Verna　rocked　back　on　her　heels；　stared　at　him　for　a　moment；　and　then　turned　to　busy　herself　with　replacing　the　bottles　in　the　green　bag。
　
　'I'm　sorry；　Sister。　I　didn't　really　mean　that。　It　didn't　e　out　the　way　I　intended。　I　only　meant　that　you　weren't　able　to　sense　the　way；　and　I　knew　if　we　stayed；　we　would　be　killed。'
　
　The　bottles　clinked　together　as　she　moved　them　around　in　the　bag。　She　seemed　to　be　having　difficulty　getting　them　packed　the　way　she　wanted。　'Richard；　you　think　that　controlling　the　gift；　using　magic；　is　what　you　are　to　learn　with　us。　。　That　is　the　easy　part。　Knowing　what　kind　of　magic　to　use；　how　much　to　use；　when　to　use　it；　and　the　consequences　of　using　it；　that　is　the　hard　part。　That　is　the　meaning　of　everything。　How；　how　much；　when；　and　what　if　…　just　like　the　magic　I　have　put　on　your　bites。'
　
　She　fixed　him　with　a　deadly　serious　expression。　'Without　that　knowledge；　you　are　a　blind　man　swinging　an　axe　in　a　crowd　of　children。　You　have　no　idea　of　the　danger　you　invoke　when　you　use　magic。　We　try　to　give　you　sight；　and　some　sense；　before　you　swing　that　axe。'
　
　Richard　picked　at　a　clump　of　grass　at　his　feet。　'I　never　thought　about　it　that　way。'
　
　'Perhaps；　if　anything；　I　should　be　angry　with　myself　for　being　foolish。　I　didn't　think　there　was　anything　powerful　enough　to　tempt　me　into　a　trap。　I　was　wrong。　Thank　you；　Richard；　for　saving　me。'
　
　He　wrapped　a　long　stalk　of　grass　around　his　finger。　'I　was　so　relieved　to　find　you　。。。　I　thought　you　were　dead。　I'm　glad　you're　not。'
　
　She　had　pulled　all　the　little　bottles　out　of　the　bag　and　set　them　on　the　ground。　'I　could　have　been　lost　in　that　spell　for　all　time。　I　should　have　been。'
　
　'What　do　you　mean？'
　
　There　seemed　to　him　to　be　more　bottles　than　would　fit　into　the　bag；　but　then；　he　had　seen　them　all　e　out。　'We　have　tried　to　rescue　Sisters　before。　We　have　seen　some；　and　their　charges；　lost　in　those　enchantment　spells。　I　saw　one；　the　first　time　I　went　through。　We　have　never　been　able　to　get　them　out。　Sisters　have　died　trying。'　She　started　replacing　the　bottles。　'You　used　magic。'
　
　'I　used　the　sword。　The　sword　has　magic；　you　know。'
　
　'No。　You　didn't　use　the　sword's　magic。　You　used　your　Han；　even　though　you　didn't　realize　it。　Using　your　Han　through　desire；　without　wisdom；　is　the　most　dangerous　thing　you　can　do。'
　
　'Sister；　I　think　it　was　just　the　sword's　magic。'
　
　'When　you　called　to　me；　I　heard　you。　We　have　tried　to　call　to　others；　and　they　have　never　heard　us。　Not　once。'
　
　'You　just　didn't　know　how。　You　couldn't　hear　me　either；　until　I　stepped　through　some　sort　of　sparkling　wall　around　you。　Then　you　could　hear　me。　You　just　have　to　step　through　that　wall　first。'
　
　She　pushed　bottles　to　each　side　to　make　more　room　as　she　spoke　softly。　'We　know　that；　Richard。　We　have　tried　every　sort　of　magic；　and　have　never　been　able　to　pass　through　or　break　the　wall　of　one　of　these　spells；　or　been　able　to　get　the　attention　of　one　captured　by　it。　No　one　has　ever　been　brought　out　of　an　enchantment　spell　before。'　She　replaced　the　last　bottle　and　finally　turned　to　face　him。　'Thank　you；　Richard。'
　
　He　shrugged　as　he　pulled　the　grass　off　his　finger。　'Well；　it　was　the　least　I　could　do　to　make　up　for　what　I　did。'
　
　'For　what　you　did？'
　
　Richard　occupied　himself　with　carefully　rolling　his　pants　back　down。　'Well；　before　I　saved　you；　I　kind　of　killed　you。'
　
　She　leaned　closer。　'You　did　what？'
　
　'You　were　hurting　me。　With　your　magic。　With　the　collar。'
　
　Tm　sorry；　Richard。　I　was　in　the　spell　and　didn't　realize　what　I　was　doing。　I　didn't　intend　to　hurt　you。'
　
　He　shook　his　head。　'Not　then。　Before。　In　the　white　tower。'
　
　She　leaned　even　closer　and　gritted　her　teeth。　'You　went　into　a　tower？　Are　you　mad？　I　told　you　what　those　towers　are！　How　could　you　be　so　。。。'
　
　'Sister。　I　had　no　choice。'
　
　'We　have　already　discussed　choice。　I　told　you　how　dangerous　those　towers　are。　I　told　you　to　stay　away　from　them！'
　
　'Look；　there　was　lightning　all　around。　It　was　trying　to　strike　me。　I　。。。　well；　I　didn't　know　what　else　to　do。　So　I　dove　through　an　archway；　into　the　tower；　for　protection。'
　
　'Can't　you　follow　the　simplest　instructions？　Must　you　always　act　a　child？'
　
　Richard　looked　up　from　under　his　eyebrows。　'Those　were　your　exact　words。　You　came　into　the　tower。　I　was　sure　it　was　you。　You　were　angry　with　me；　much　as　you　are　now；　and　you　used　those　exact　words。'
　
　He　gritted　his　teeth　as　he　put　a　finger　to　the　collar　at　his　neck。　'You　used　this。　You　used　it　to　throw　me　against　the　wall；　and　pin　me　there　with　it。　Can　this　collar　do　that；　Sister？'
　
　She　sat　much　quieter。　'Yes。　We　don't　have　the　power　of　a　wizard；　the　male　Han。　The　collar　amplifies　our　power；　so　we　may　be　stronger　than　the　one　wearing　it。　So　we　can　teach　them。'
　
　His　voice　was　deep　with　anger。　'Then　you　used　it　to　give　me　pain；　like　the　pain　you　did　for　real；　when　you　were　in　the　spell。　Only　it　was　stronger；　and　went　on　and　on。　Can　the　collar　do　that；　too；　Sister？'
　
　She　pulled　a　clump　of　grass　to　her　side　and　began　cleaning　her　hands　with　it；　avoiding　his　glare。　'Yes。　But　that　was　a　vision；　Richard。　I　wasn't　really　doing　it。'
　
　'I　told　you　to　stop　hurting　me　or　I　would　put　a　stop　to　it。　You　wouldn't　stop；　so　I　called　the　sword's　magic　and　broke　the　bond　of　the　power　holding　me。　You　were　furious。　You　said　that　I　had　made　my　last　mistake。　You　said　you　were　going　to　kill　me　for　fighting　you。　You　were　going　to　kill　me；　Sister。'
　
　'I'm　sorry；　Richard；'　she　whispered　as　she　looked　up；　'that　you　had　to　suffer　that。'　Her　voice　regained　some　of　its　strength。　'So；　what　did　you　do　to　me　。。。　to　the　vision　of　me？'　He　leaned　over　and　touched　the　edge　of　his　first　finger　to　the　side　of　her　shoulder。　'I　cut　you　in　half　with　the　sword。　Right　here。'
　
　Her　hands　stopped；　she　was　stone　still。　Some　of　the　color　had　left　her　face。　Finally；　she　regained　her　posure。
　
　Richard　picked　at　the　clump　of　grass　by　his　foot　again。　'I　didn't　want　to　do　it；　but　I　was　positive　you　were　going　to　kill　me。'
　
　She　tossed　the　grass　aside。　'I'm　sure　you　were；　Richard。　But　that　was　only　a　vision。　If　it　were　real；　it　wouldn't　have　turned　out　that　way。　You　would　not　have　been　able　to　do　what　you　did。'
　
　'Who　are　you　trying　to　convince；　Sister？　Me；　or　yourself？'
　
　She　met　his　glare。　The　things　you　saw　were　not　as　they　are　in　the　real　world。　They　were　simply　illusions。'
　
　Richard　let　it　drop。　He　turned　the　stick　with　the　rabbit　to　cook　the　other　side；　and　slid　the　iron　plate　with　the　bannock　to　the　side　of　the　fire　to　let　it　cool。
　
　'Anyway；　when　I　saw　you　again；　I　didn't　know　if　you　were　a　vision；　or　real；　but　I　truly　hoped　you　were　alive。　I　didn't　want　to　kill　you。'　He　looked　up　and　smiled。　'Besides；　I　promised　you　that　you　would　get　through　the　Valley　of　the　Lost。'
　
　She　nodded。　'Yes；　you　did。　More　desire　than　wisdom　indeed。'
　
　'Sister；　I　was　only　doing　what　I　could　think　of　to　survive。　To　help　you　survive；　too。'
　
　She　sighed　and　shook　her　head。　'Richard；　I　know　you're　trying　to　do　your　best；　but　you　must　understand　that　what　you　think　is　best　is　not　necessarily　right。　You're　calling　your　Han　without　knowing　what　you're　doing；　or　even　realizing　you're　doing　it。　In　so　doing；　you　tempt　danger　you　can't　fathom。'
　
　'How　was　I　using　my　Han？'
　
　'Wizards　make　promises　that　their　Han　strives　to　keep。　You　promised　me　you　would　help　me　through　the　valley　…save　me。　But　in　so　doing；　you　have　invoked　prophecy。'
　
　Richard　frowned。　'I've　given　no　prophecy。'
　
　'Not　only　given　it；　but　used　your　Han　without　realizing　it；　used　prophecy　without　knowing　its　form；　to　do　something　in　the　past　to　aid　you　in　the　future。'
　
　'What　are　you　talking　about？'
　
　'You　destroyed　the　horses'　bits。'
　
　'I　told　you　at　the　time　why　I　did　that。　They're　cruel。'
　
　She　shook　her　head。　That's　what　I'm　talking　about。　You　think　you　did　it　for　one　reason；　but　it　served　another　purpose。　Your　conscious　mind　is　simply　seeking　to　rationalize　what　your　Han　is　doing。　When　we　were　running　from　the　valley；　I　didn't　believe　in　what　you　were　doing；　and　I　tried　to　turn　my　horse。　Because　he　didn't　have　a　bit；　I　was　unable　to。'
　
　'So　what？'
　
　She　leaned　closer。　'Destroying　the　bits　in　the　past　satisfied　a　need　of　a　promise　in　the　future。　That　was　using　prophecy。　You're　swinging　the　axe　blindly。'
　
　Richard　gave　her　a　skeptical　expression。　'That's　a　stretch；　Sister。　Even　for　you。'
　
　'I　know　how　the　gift　works；　Richard。'
　
　Richard　thought　about　it；　and　finally　decided　he　didn't　believe　her；　but　decided；　too；　that　he　didn't　want　to　argue　with　her　about　it。　There　were　other　things　he　wanted　to　know。
　
　'Is　your　little　book　full？　I　haven't　seen　you　writing　in　it。'
　
　'I　sent　a　message　yesterday；