tg.stone of tears-第160章

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　'Just　calm　down；　and　I'll　explain。'
　
　'Then　explain；　before　I　give　you　a　thrashing　with　my　cane。'
　
　'It　isn't　worth　it；'　Ahern　mumbled　to　himself。　'How　did　I　ever　get　into　this？　Gold；　that's　how；'　he　answered　himself。
　
　Ahern　pushed　into　the　coach；　sitting　next　to　Ruben。　He　pulled　the　door　closed　against　the　flying　snow。
　
　'Well；　just　invite　yourself　right　in；'　Ruben　said。
　
　Ahern　cleared　his　throat。　All　right；　now；　you　two　listen　to　me。　You　both　were　sick。　You　had　me　take　you　to　see　three　women。'　He　leaned　closer　to　Ruben　and　scowled。　Three　sorceresses。'
　
　'Sorceresses！'　Ruben　yelped。　'No　wonder　we　don't　know　who　we　are！　You　took　us　to　witches　and　had　a　spell　put　on　us！'
　
　Ahern　put　a　calming　hand　on　him。　'Be　quiet　and　listen。　You　are　a　wizard。'　Ruben　gawked　at　Ahern。　Ahern　turned　to　Elda。　And　you　are　a　sorceress。'
　
　Ruben　waved　his　arms　around　with　a　flourish。　'No　I'm　not；'　he　snapped；　at　last；　'or　you'd　be　changed　to　a　toad。'
　
　Ahern　shook　his　head　with　a　grumble。　'Your　power　is　gone。'
　
　'Well；'　Ruben　asked　as　he　straightened　his　back；　'was　I　a　talented　wizard？'
　
　'You　were　good　enough　to　put　those　cursed　fingers　of　yours　to　the　side　of　my　thick　head　and　put　it　in　my　mind　to　help　you。　You　said　wizards　had　to　use　people　sometimes；　to　do　what　must　be　done。　The　burden　of　a　wizard　you　called　it。　You　said　helping　you　was　something　I　would　have　done　anyway；　that　you　were　only　calling　on　the　'goodness'　within　me　to　hurry　my　thinking　along。　Anyway；　that；　and　more　gold　than　I've　ever　seen；　convinced　me　to　do　something　I　ought　to　know　better　than　to　get　tangled　in。　I　surely　don't　like　anything　to　do　with　wizards　and　magic。'
　
　'And　I　be　a　sorceress？'　Elda　asked。　'A　blind　sorceress？'
　
　'Well；　no；　ma'am。　You　were　blind；　but　you　could　use　your　gift　to　see　…　see　better　than　I　can　see　with　my　eyes。'
　
　'Then　why　be　I　blind；　now？'
　
　'Both　of　you　were　sick。　Sick　with　some　kind　of　evil　magic。　The　three　sorceresses　agreed　to　help　you；　but　in　order　to　cure　you；　they　had　to　。。。　well；　they　had　to　give　you　both　something　that　would　make　your　magic；　your　gift；　go　away。　You　made　me　wait　outside；　so　I　don't　know　what　they　did。　I　just　know　what　you　told　me　before　you　went　back　in　for　the　last　time　to　have　it　done。'
　
　Ruben　leaned　in。　'You're　making　this　up。'
　
　Ahern　ignored　him　and　went　on。　'The　sickness　you　two　had　was　feeding　on　your　good　magic。　I　don't　know　the　way　magic　works；　and　the　spirits　know　I　don't　want　to　know；　I　only　know　what　you　told　me；　the　way　you　explained　it　to　me；　when　you　came　out　and　convinced　me　to　help　you。　You　said　that　in　order　to　help　you；　the　three　sorceresses　had　to　give　you　something　to　make　your　magic　go　away。　Only　in　that　way　could　you　two　heal。　The　evil　magic　wouldn't　wither　and　die；　and　your　wounds　heal；　as　long　as　it　had　the　good　magic　to　latch　on　to；　to　feed　on。'
　
　'So　now　we　have　no　magic？'
　
　'Well；　I　don't　know　how　it　all　works；　but　as　I　understand　it；　you　can't　really　get　rid　of　your　magic。　What　the　three　women　did　was　make　you　forget　everything　about　yourselves；　so　you　wouldn't　know　you　had　any　magic；　so　the　evil　magic　wouldn't　know；　either；　that　it　was　there。　So　that's　why　neither　of　you　knows　who　you　are；　or　how　to　use　magic。　That's　why　Elda　is　blind。'
　
　Ruben　squinted。　'Why　would　the　sorceresses　agree　to　help　us？'
　
　'Mostly　because　of　Elda。　They　said　she　was　a　legend　among　the　sorceresses　of　Nicobarese。　Something　about　what　she　did　when　she　was　younger　and　used　to　live　here。'
　
　Ruben　stared　at　the　big　man。　'It　has　to　be　true。'　He　turned　to　Elda。　'It　has　to　be　true。　No　one　could　invent　such　an　absurd　story。　What　do　you　think？'
　
　'I　think　as　you。　I　think　he　be　telling　us　the　truth。'
　
　'Good；'　Ahern　said。　'Now　es　the　part　you　aren't　going　to　like。'
　
　'What　about　our　magic？　When　does　it　e　back？　When　do　we　remember　who　we　are？'
　
　Ahern　raked　his　meaty　fingers　through　his　shaggy；　gray　hair。　'That's　the　part　you　aren't　going　to　like。　The　three　women　said　they　doubt　you　two　will　ever　get　it　back。　You　may　never　remember。　You　may　never　get　your　magic　back。'
　
　The　silence　echoed　in　the　coach。　Ruben　finally　spoke。　'Why　would　we　agree　to　such　a　thing？'
　
　Ahern　picked　at　his　fingers。　'Because　you　had　no　choice。　You　were　both　sick。　Mighty　sick；　Elda　more　than　you。　She　would　have　been　dead　by　now；　and　you　within　another　day　or　two；　at　most。　You　had　no　choice。　It　was　the　only　way。'
　
　Ruben　folded　his　hands　over　the　silver　head　of　his　cane。　'Well；　if　that　is　so；　then　we　had　to。　If　we　never　remember；　we　will　just　learn　to　be　Ruben；　and　Elda；　and　start　our　lives　over。'
　
　Ahern　shook　his　head。　'There's　a　problem　about　that。　You　told　me　that　the　three　women　said　that　if　the　evil　magic　finally　left　you；　then　you　might　be　able　to　get　your　memory；　and　your　magic；　back。　You　told　me　that　it　was　imperative　that　you　get　it　back。　You　said　that　there　was　great　trouble　in　the　world　that　you　had　to　help　with。　You　said　that　it　was　a　matter　of　grave　importance　to　every　person　alive。　You　said　you　had　something　you　must　do。'
　
　'What　trouble？　What　is　it　I　must　do？'
　
　'You　didn't　tell　me。　You　said　I　wouldn't　understand。'
　
　'Well；　how　do　we　get　our　memories；　our　magic；　back？'　Ahern　glanced　to　each。　'It　may　not　e　back。　The　three　women　didn't　know　if　it　ever　would；　but　if　it　is　to　e　back；　it　will　only　e　back　with　a　shock。　A　great　emotional　jolt；　or　shock。'
　
　'An　emotional　shock？　Like　what？'
　
　'Like　maybe　anger。　Maybe　if　you　are　angry　enough。'
　
　Ruben　frowned。　'So　。。。　what？　You　are　to　slap　me；　to　make　me　angry？'
　
　'No。　You　said　that　you　didn't　know　how；　but　something　like　that　wouldn't　work。　You　said　it　required　a　great　emotional　shock；　but　you　didn't　know　what　it　could　be；　or　how　to　bring　it　about。　You　also　said　that　if　something　did　bring　on　the　anger；　it　would　be　violent；　and　terrible；　because　of　the　magic。　You　said　you　had　no　choice；　though；　because　you　would　die　if　you　didn't　do　this。'
　
　Ruben　and　Elda　sat　in　silence　and　thought　while　Ahern　watched　them。　'So；　where　are　you　taking　us？　Why　are　we　in　this　coach？'
　
　'Aydindril。'
　
　'Aydindril？　Never　heard　of　it。　Where　is　it？　How　far？'
　
　'Aydindril　is　the　home　of　the　Confessors；　clear　on　the　other　side　of　the　Rang'Shada　Mountains。　It's　a　long　journey：　weeks；　maybe　a　month。　It　will　be　close　to　winter　solstice；　the　longest　night　of　the　year；　before　we　get　there。'
　
　'Seems　a　long　way　to　go；'　Ruben　said。　'Why　did　I　want　you　to　take　us　there？'
　
　'You　said　you　had　to　go　to　the　Wizard's　Keep。　You　said　that　it　takes　magic　to　get　in；　but　you　don't　have　any　magic；　now；　so　you　told　me　how　to　get　you　in。　Seems　you　were　a　troublesome　child；　and　had　a　secret　way　to　sneak　in　and　out　of　the　Keep　without　triggering　the　magic。'　Ruben　drew　his　finger　and　thumb　down　his　smooth　jaw。　'And　you　say　I　told　you　it　was　urgent？'
　
　Ahern　gave　a　grim　nod。
　
　'Then　we'd　best　be　on　our　way。'
　
　
　Just　as　she　had　been　smiling　to　people　all　evening；　Kahlan　smiled　to　the　woman　in　an　elaborate　dark　blue　gown　before　her。　The　woman　was　relating　how　concerned　everyone　had　been　for　the　Mother　Confessor。　Her　insincerity　was　as　transparent　as　the　hypocrisy　from　everyone　else。　Kahlan　had　spent　her　whole　life　listening　to　duplicitous　people　try　to　mask　their　avaricious　nature　with　words　of　altruism　and　amity。　It　sickened　her。
　
　Kahlan　wished　that　just　once；　one　of　these　people　she　lived　and　worked　with　would　have　the　honesty　to　admit　how　strongly　they　hated　her　and　how　it　infuriated　them　that　she　wouldn't　allow　them　to　rape　the　Midlands　and　its　people　for　their　own　benefit。　She　admonished　herself　that　they　were　not　all　like　that。
　
　Kahlan　idly　wondered；　as　she　half　listened；　what　this　dignified　wife　of　an　ambassador　would　think　if　instead　of　seeing　the　Mother　Confessor　standing　before　her　in　a　sparkling　white　dress；　wearing　a　choker　of　jewels　worth　half　her　kingdom；　she　were　to　see　her　on　a　horse；　naked；　painted　white　and　drenched　in　blood；　as　she　hacked　with　a　sword　at　the　faces　of　men　trying　to　kill　her。　Kahlan　decided　the　woman　would　probably　faint。
　
　When　the　woman　finally　paused　for　a　breath；　Kahlan　thanked　her　for　her　concern；　and　moved　away。　It　was　getting　late　and　she　was　tired。　She　had　an　early　appointment　with　the　council。　Seeing　herself　as　she　passed　a　mirror；　Kahlan　felt　as　if　she　had　been　dreaming　for　a　very　long　time；　and　had　awakened；　the　same　as　she　was　before；　the　Mother　Confessor；　in　her　white　Confessor's　dress；　at　the　Confessors'　Palace　in　Aydindril。
　
　But　she　wasn't　the　same　as　the　last　time　she　had　been　here。　She　felt　a　hundred　years　older。　She　smiled；　at　least　the　bath　had　been　wonderful。　She　couldn't　remember　finding　a　bath　so　luxurious。　She　had　almost　forgotten　what　it　was　like　to　be　clean。
　
　Near　the　doorway；　another　finely　dressed　lady　approached。　A　twitch　of　a　frown　touched　Kahlan's　brow。　The　woman's　sandy　hair　seemed　too　short　…　out　of　character　with　the　other　women's　hair；　which　brushed　their　shoulders。　But　her　dress　certainly　was　in　character；　it　was　a　costly　looking　black　gown；　letting　her　shoulders；　and　the　sparkling　emerald　necklace；　show。
　
　The　woman　blocked　the　doorway　just　before　Kahlan　stepped　through。　She　dropped　a　hurried　curtsy；　her　blue　eyes　darting　about　as　she　came　up。
　
　'Mother　Confessor；　I　must　speak　to　you。　It's　urgent。'
　
　'I'm　sorry；　but　I'm　afraid　I　don't　remember　you。'
　
　The　woman's　blue　eyes　never　looked　up；　they　were　constantly　checking　the　other　people。　'You　don't　know　me。　We　have　a　friend　in　mon。　。。。'
　
　When　the　woman　caught　sight　of　a　sour…faced；　older　woman　looking　in　their　direction；　she　put　her　back　to　the　woman。
　
　'Mother　Confessor；　did　you　e　to　Aydindril　alone；　or　did　you　bring　someone　with　you？'
　
　'I　have　a　friend；　Chandalen；　who　came　with　me；　but　he　is　in　the　woods　to　the　south　for　the　night。　Why？'
　
　'That　is　not　the　name　I　was　hoping　to　hear。'　She　looked　up　into　Kahlan's　eyes。　'You　must。。。'
　
　Her　words　trailed　off。　Her　intense　blue　eyes　slowly　opened　wider。　She　stood　as　if　turned　to　stone。
　
　'What　is　it？'　Kahlan　asked。
　
　The　woman　seemed　to　be　seeing　specters。　'You　。。。　you　。。。'
　
　The　color　had　drained　from　her　in　a　sickening　rush。　The　woman　staggered　back　a　step。　The　sudden　whiteness　of　her　shoulders　against　the　black　fabric　of　her　gown　made　her　look　like　a　spirit　in　a　dress。　Her　jaw　trembled　as　she　tried　without　success　to　bring　words　forth。　Her　face　was　a　mask　of　terror。
　
　Her　blue　eyes　rolled　back　into　her　head。　Too　late；　Kahlan　reached　out　for　her。　The　woman　crumpled　into　a　heap　on　the　floor。
　
　People　nearby　gasped。　Kahlan；　along　with　others；　bent　to　the　woman。　Men　and　women　crowded　around；　murmuring　to　each　other　about　too　much　wine。
　
　The　sour…faced　woman　elbowed　her　way　through　to　the　front。　'Jebra！　I　thought　it　was　Jebra！'
　
　Kahlan　looked　up。　'You　know　this　woman？　And　who　are　you？'
　
　The　woman　abruptly　realized　who　she　was　speaking　to。　She　flashed　a　sudden　smile　and　curtsied　awkwardly。　'I　am　the　Lady　Ordith　Condatith　de　Dackidvich；　Mother　Confessor。　I'm　so　pleased　to　meet　you；　at　last。　I've　been　wanting　to　talk　。。。'
　
　Kahlan　cut　her　off。　'Who　is　this　wo