tg.stone of tears-第122章

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　That　is　a　warning；'　Sister　Verna　said。　'A　warning　to　the　spirits　of　their　enemies。　The　bell　is　also　a　call　to　the　warriors　present。　Those　are　these　men　here　in　the　square。　The　spirits　have　been　warned；　and　the　warriors　called。　If　she　rings　that　bell　again；　we　die。'　Sister　Verna　glanced　to　his　even　expression。　This　is　a　sacrifice　ritual；　to　appease　spirits。'
　
　She　watched　men　e　and　take　hold　of　the　reins　of　their　horses。　The　circle　of　women　in　black　stood　and　began　to　dance　and　twirl　to　the　haunting　music。　When　Sister　Verna　glanced　at　him　again；　Richard；　with　deliberate　care；　checked　that　his　sword　was　loose　in　its　scabbard。　She　sighed　and　then　dismounted。　When　she　cleared　her　throat　in　annoyance；　he　finally　dismounted；　too。
　
　Sister　Verna　drew　her　light　cloak　tight　around　herself　as　she　spoke　to　him　while　watching　the　women　in　black　dance　and　spin　around　the　pole　and　the　woman　in　the　center。
　
　The　Majendie　live　in　a　crescent　around　a　land　of　swampy　forest　in　which　live　their　enemy。　The　people　who　live　in　the　heart　of　that　forbidding　land　are　a　wild；　savage　lot；　and　will　not　allow　any　of　us　through　their　land；　much　less　guide　us。　Even　if　we　could　avoid　them；　we　would　bee　lost　within　an　hour；　and　never　find　our　way　out。　The　only　way　for　us　to　reach　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets；　which　lies　beyond　these　savages；　is　to　go　around　them；　along　the　crescent　of　land　belonging　to　the　Majendie。　Our　destination　lies　between　the　cusps　of　the　crescent　belonging　to　the　Majendie；　and　beyond　the　savages　in　the　center。'
　
　She　glanced　over；　to　make　sure　he　was　at　least　listening；　before　she　went　on。　The　Majendie　are　at　constant　war　with　the　savages　who　live　in　that　swampy　forest。　In　order　to　be　permitted　through　Majendie　land；　we　must　prove　we　are　allied　with　them　and　their　spirits；　and　not　their　enemy。
　
　Those　skulls　we　saw　are　the　skulls　of　this　enemy；　who　were　sacrificed　to　the　Majendie　spirits。　In　order　for　us　to　be　permitted　to　pass；　we　must　help　them　in　this　sacrifice。　The　Majendie　believe　that　men　with　the　gift；　like　all　men；　carry　the　seed　of　life　and　soul；　endowed　by　the　spirits。　More；　they　believe　that　one　with　the　gift　has　a　special；　direct　link　with　the　spirits。　A　sacrifice　made　with　the　aid　of　a　young　man　with　the　gift　confers　the　sanctifying　grace　of　their　spirits　upon　all　their　people。　They　believe　it　breathes　life；　divine　life；　on　their　people。
　
　The　Majendie　require　this　participation　when　we　bring　young　boys　through　for　the　first　time；　believing　it　links　their　spirits　to　those　of　the　Majendie。　This　ceremony　also　insures　that　the　people　with　whom　they　are　at　war　will　hate　wizards；　because　they　help　the　Majendie；　and　will　never　cooperate　with　them。　This；　the　Majendie　believe；　denies　their　enemy　a　divine　channel　to　the　spirit　world。'
　
　The　men　in　the　square　all　drew　their　short　swords。　Laying　the　swords　on　the　ground　with　their　points　toward　the　woman　in　the　center；　they　knelt　with　shiny　heads　bowed。
　
　The　woman　who　rang　the　bell；　the　one　in　the　center；　is　the　leader　of　these　people。　The　Queen　Mother。　She　is　the　one　who　is　bound　to　the　female　spirits。　She　represents　the　spirits　of　fertility　in　this　world。　She　is　the　embodiment　of　the　receptacle　of　the　divine　seed　from　the　spirit　world。'
　
　The　dancing　women　in　black　formed　into　a　line　and　started　off　the　platform　in　the　direction　of　Richard　and　the　Sister。
　
　The　Queen　Mother　is　sending　her　representatives　to　take　you　to　the　sacrificial　offering。'　Sister　Verna　glanced　up　at　him；　then　fussed　with　the　corner　of　her　cloak。　'We　are　fortunate。　This　means　they　have　one　to　be　sacrificed。　If　we　came　here　and　they　didn't；　we　would　have　to　wait　until　one　of　their　enemy　was　captured。　Sometimes　that　can　take　weeks；　even　months。'
　
　Richard　said　nothing。
　
　She　turned　her　back　to　the　approaching　women　in　black　and　faced　him。　'You　will　be　taken　to　a　place　where　the　prisoner　is　held。　There　you　will　be　offered　the　chance　to　give　your　blessing。　Not　giving　your　blessing　means　you　wish　to　precede　the　prisoner　in　sacrifice。　If　you　don't　give　your　blessing；　it　will　only　insure　that　you　die；　too。
　
　'You　give　your　blessing　by　kissing　the　sacred　knife　they　will　offer　you。　You　don't　have　to　kill　the　person　with　your　own　hand。　You　have　only　to　kiss　the　knife　to　give　your　blessing；　to　give　the　spirits'　blessings；　and　they　will　do　the　killing。　But　you　must　watch　them　do　it；　so　the　spirits　will　see　the　sacrifice　through　your　eyes。'　She　glanced　over　her　shoulder　at　the　approaching　women　in　black。　'The　beliefs　of　these　people　are　obscene。'
　
　She　sighed　in　resignation　and　turned　to　face　him　again。　Richard　folded　his　arms　and　glared　at　her。
　
　'I　know　you　don't　like　this；　Richard；　but　it　has　kept　peace　for　three　thousand　years　between　us　and　the　Majendie。　Though　it　sounds　a　paradox；　it　saves　lives；　more　lives　than　it　costs。　The　savages　who　are　their　enemy　make　war　not　only　on　them；　but　also　on　us。　The　palace；　and　the　civilized　people　of　the　Old　World；　are　sporadically　subjected　to　their　raids　and　fierce　attacks。'
　
　Small　wonder；　Richard　thought；　but　he　said　nothing。
　
　Sister　Verna　stepped　aside　to　stand　at　his　shoulder　as　the　women　in　black　formed　into　a　dark　knot　before　the　two　of　them。　All　were　older；　perhaps　the　age　of　grandmothers。　They　were　all　portly；　and　their　black　outfits　covered　their　hair　and　everything　else　except　their　wrinkled　hands　and　faces。
　
　With　gnarled　fingers；　one　drew　the　coarse　black　fabric　tight　at　her　chin。　She　bowed　her　head　to　Sister　Verna。　'Wele；　wisewoman。　Our　sentries　have　told　us　of　your　approach　for　nearly　a　day　now。　We　are　pleased　to　have　you　among　us；　for　it　is　the　time　of　the　planting　sacrifice。　Though　we　had　not　expected　your　presence；　it　will　be　a　great　homage　to　the　spirits　to　have　the　blessing　in　the　sacrifice。'
　
　The　old　woman；　who　only　came　up　to　the　height　of　his　breastbone；　looked　Richard　up　and　down；　then　she　spoke　again　to　Sister　Verna。
　
　'This　is　a　magic　man？　He　is　not　a　boy。'
　
　'We　have　never　before　brought　one　so　old　to　the　palace　of　the　wisewomen；'　Sister　Verna　said。　'But　he　is　a　magic　man；　the　same　as　the　others。'
　
　The　old　woman　in　black　looked　into　Richard's　eyes　as　he　watched　her　without　expression。　'He　is　too　old　to　give　the　blessing。'
　
　Sister　Verna　tensed。　'He　is　still　a　magic　man。'
　
　The　woman　nodded　to　the　Sister。　'But　he　is　too　old　to　have　others　perform　the　sacrifice　for　him。　He　must　do　it　himself。　He　must　give　our　sacrifice　to　the　spirits　by　his　own　hand。'　She　gestured　for　a　woman　behind　to　e　forward。　'Lead　him　to　where　the　offering　waits。'
　
　With　a　bob　of　her　head；　the　woman　came　forward　and　indicated　he　was　to　follow。　Sister　Verna　tugged　on　his　shirtsleeve。　Richard　could　feel　the　heat　of　magic　radiating　from　her　fingers；　up　his　arms；　terminating　in　an　unfortable　tingling　sensation　at　his　neck　under　the　Rada'Han。
　
　'Richard；'　she　whispered；　'don't　you　dare　swing　the　axe　this　time。　You　know　not　what　you　will　bring　to　ruin。'
　
　Richard　met　her　eyes　before　turning　away　without　a　word。
　
　The　round　old　woman　led　him　off　down　a　muddy　street；　past　old　men　sitting　in　doorways；　watching；　and　then　turned　them　down　a　narrow　alley。　At　the　end　she　stooped　through　a　low　doorway。　Richard　had　to　bend　nearly　in　half　to　follow。
　
　Inside；　carpets　of　intricate　designs　but　dull　colors　covered　the　floor。　There　was　no　furniture　except　several　low；　leather…covered　chests　holding　oil　lamps。　Four　men　with　shaved　heads　squatted；　rather　than　sat；　on　the　rugs；　two　to　each　side　of　a　passageway　hung　with　a　heavy　tapestry　instead　of　a　door。　Short　spears　with　sharp；　leaf…shaped　iron　heads　rested　across　their　knees。　The　unexpectedly　high　ceiling　held　a　cloud　of　pipe　smoke。
　
　The　men　stood　and　bowed　to　the　old　woman。　She　bobbed　her　head　to　them　and；　as　she　did　so；　drew　Richard　forward。
　
　'This　is　the　magic　man。　Since　he　is　the　age　of　a　man；　the　Queen　Mother　directs　that　the　spirits　take　the　sacrifice　through　his　hands。'
　
　They　all　nodded　and　gave　grim　agreement　that　it　was　a　wise　decision；　and　prayed　she　would　tell　the　Queen　Mother　that　it　would　be　done　as　directed。　The　woman　in　black　bid　them　fair　fortune　in　the　task。　She　closed　the　rough　spruce　door　behind　herself　after　stooping　through　the　low　opening。　；　When　she　was　gone；　the　men　broke　into　grins。　They　all　slapped　Richard　on　the　back；　as　if　taking　him　into　their　confidence。　The　back　of　one　man's　shaved　neck　wrinkled　in　rows　of　furrows　as　he　turned　to　glance　at　the　tapestry…covered　passageway。　He　put　an　arm　around　Richard's　shoulder；　giving　it　a　squeeze　with　powerful　fingers。
　
　'You　are　fortunate　indeed；　lad。　You'll　like　what　we　have　for　you。'　His　sly　smile　revealed　a　missing；　bottom　tooth。　'e　with　us。　You'll　like　this；　lad。　We　can　promise　you；　you　will。'　He　gave　a　hardy　chuckle。　Today　you'll　be　a　man；　if　you're　not　one　yet。'　The　other　three　laughed　with　him。
　
　The　three　pushed　the　tapestry　aside；　taking　one　of　the　lamps　with　them。　The　last　man　patted　Richard's　back；　ushering　him　through。　They　all　chuckled　with　anticipation。
　
　The　next　room　was　much　the　same　as　the　first；　minus　the　pipe　smoke。　They　led　on　through　a　sequence　of　rooms；　each　bare　of　decoration　except　for　a　few　carpets　scattered　about。　The　men　finally　squatted　beside　a　last　covered　passageway；　planted　the　butts　of　their　spears；　and　with　a　hand　on　them　for　support　leaned　toward　him。　They　all　shared　the　same　cunning　smiles。
　
　'Careful　now；　lad。　Don't　be　too　anxious。　Keep　your　head　about　yourself；　and　you'll　have　yourself　a　time　with　this　savage。'
　
　They　chuckled　again　with　the　private　joke　as　they　pushed　the　hanging　aside　and　went　through。　Inside；　the　small；　square　room　had　a　bare　dirt　floor。　The　ceiling　was　at　least　three　stories　high。　A　window　near　the　top　of　one　wall　cast　the　small　room　in　dim　light。　The　place　smelled　of　the　chamber　pot　off　to　the　side。
　
　Crouched　to　the　far　left　was　a　naked　woman。　She　tried　to　push　herself　farther　into　the　corner　when　she　saw　the　men。　Arms　around　her　knees；　she　pulled　them　tight　to　herself。
　
　She　was　covered　with　dirty　marks　and　smears；　cuts　and　bruises。　Her　mass　of　long；　tangled；　black　hair　frizzed　out；　framing　her　filthy　face。　Her　dark　eyes　narrowed　with　loathing　as　she　watched　the　four　men。　By　their　leering　smiles；　she　had　cause　to　know　them。
　
　Around　her　neck　was　a　thick　iron　collar　connected　by　heavy　chain　to　a　massive　pin　in　the　wall。
　
　The　men　spread　out　around　the　room；　squatted；　and　leaned　their　backs　against　the　walls。　Their　fists　held　their　spears　upright　between　their　knees。　Richard　imitated　them；　squatting　and　leaning　against　the　wall　to　the　woman's　right。
　
　'I　wish　to　speak　with　the　spirits；'　Richard　said。　The　four　men　blinked　at　him。　'I　must　ask　them　how　they　wish　it　done。'
　
　There　is　only　one　way　to　do　it；'　the　man　with　the　missing　tooth　said。　'You　must　cut　off　her　head。　Now　that　the　iron　collar　is　around　her　neck；　it's　the　only　way　to　get　her　out。　Her　head　must　be　separated　from　her　body。'
　
　'Even　so；　it　must　be　done　in　the　manner　the　spirits　wish。　I　must　talk　with　them。　I　must　know　exactly　how　to　do　this　。。。　to　please　them。'
　
　They　all　considered　this。　The　man　with　the　missing　tooth　pushed　his　cheek　out　with　his　tongue