tg.stone of tears-第173章

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　He　didn't　slow　at　the　outer　gate；　but　simply　gave　a　nod　to　the　wink　the　guards　gave　him。　The　guards　at　the　rampart　were　considerably　more　reticent；　stammering　and　holding　out　a　hand　to　halt　him。　He　shook　the　hand；　pretending　that　he　thought　that　was　what　was　meant　by　it。　They　finally　sighed　and　resumed　their　post　as　he　marched　away；　his　mris…with　cape　billowing　open。
　
　At　the　end　of　the　rampart　was　a　small　colonnade；　and　at　the　end　of　that；　winding　stairs　that　led　down　to　the　Prophet's　quarters。　The　guards　at　the　door　he　wanted　were　the　two　he　had　had　trouble　winning　over　at　first；　and　the　first　to　receive　his　gift　of　female　pany。　They　stiffened　when　they　saw　him。
　
　Richard　casually　made　for　the　door　between　them。　'Walsh；　Bollesdun；　how　you　doing？'
　
　They　crossed　their　pikes　over　the　door。　'Richard；　what　are　you　doing　down　here？　The　roses　grow　up　top。'
　
　'Look；　Walsh；　I　have　to　go　see　the　Prophet。'
　
　'Richard；　don't　put　us　in　this　spot。　You　know　we　can't　let　you　in。　The　Sisters　would　skin　us　alive。'
　
　Richard　shrugged。　'I　won't　tell　them　you　let　me　in。　I'll　say　I　tricked　you。　If　anyone　finds　out；　which　they　won't；　just　tell　them　I　snuck　by；　and　you　didn't　know　until　I　was　on　my　way　out。　I'll　back　your　story。'
　
　'Richard；　you're　really　。。。'
　
　'Have　I　ever　done　anything　to　cause　trouble？　Have　I　ever　done　anything　but　help　all　you　men？　I　buy　you　drinks；　I　loan　you　money　when　you　need　it；　I　let　you　have　free　access　to　the　girls；　and　it　never　costs　you　a　copper。　Have　I　ever　asked　for　anything　in　return？'
　
　Richard　had　his　hand　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword。　One　way；　or　another；　he　was　going　through　that　door。
　
　Walsh　pushed　a　stone　chip　with　his　boot。　With　a　heavy　sigh；　first　one；　and　then　the　other；　pulled　their　pikes　up。　'Bollesdun；　go　make　your　rounds。　I'm　going　to　the　privy　for　a　sit。'
　
　Richard　took　his　hand　from　his　sword　and　gave　the　man　a　pat　on　the　shoulder。　'Thanks；　Walsh。　I　appreciate　it。'
　
　Halfway　down　the　inner　hall；　Richard　felt　layers　of　resistance；　shields；　like　the　ones　that　were　outside　the　Prelate's　door；　but　they　only　slowed　him　a　bit。　The　room　inside　was　as　spacious　as　his　own；　but　perhaps　more　elegantly　appointed。　One　wall　held　large　tapestries；　and　another　expansive　bookshelves。　Most　of　the　books；　though；　seemed　to　be　scattered　about　the　room；　on　chairs　and　couches　and　covering　the　blue…and…yellow　carpets　on　the　floor。
　
　Richard　could　see　the　back　of　a　man　in　the　chair　beside　the　cold　hearth。
　
　'You　must　tell　me　how　you　do　that；'　the　man　said　in　a　deep；　powerful　voice。　'I　would　be　most　interested　in　learning　the　trick。'
　
　'Do　what？'　Richard　asked。
　
　'Walk　through　shields　as　if　they　weren't　there。　Burns　the　flesh　right　off　me　if　I　try。'
　
　'If　I　ever　figure　it　out　myself；　I'll　let　you　know。　My　name　is　Richard。　If　you're　not　busy；　I　would　like　to　speak　with　you。'
　
　'Busy！'　The　man's　shoulders　shook　with　his　hearty　laugh。　When　he　stood；　Richard　was　a　little　surprised　at　how　big　he　was。　His　long　white　hair　had　made　Richard　think　he　might　be　old　and　shriveled。　Old；　he　was；　shriveled　he　was　not。　He　looked　strong　and　full　of　vitality。　His　smile　was　weling　and　threatening　at　the　same　time。　He　wore　a　Rada'Han；　the　same　as　Richard。
　
　'My　name　is　Nathan；　Richard。　I've　been　looking　forward　to　meeting　you。　I　didn't　expect　you　would　find　your　way　in　alone。'
　
　'I　wanted　to　e　alone　so　we　could　talk　freely。'
　
　'And　do　you　know　that　I　am　a　prophet？'
　
　'I　didn't　e　here　to　learn　to　bake　bread。'
　
　Nathan's　smile　widened；　but　he　didn't　laugh。　His　brows　pulled　together　like　a　hawk's。　His　voice　took　on　a　hiss。　'Would　you　like　me　to　tell　you　of　your　death；　Richard？　How　you　are　to　die？'
　
　Richard　flopped　down　on　the　couch　and　plunked　his　feet　up　on　a　table。　He　returned　the　hawklike　glare　and　threatening　smile　in　kind。　'Sure。　I'd　love　to　hear　all　about　it。　And　then　when　you're　done；　I　will　tell　you　how　you　are　to　die。'
　
　Nathan　lifted　an　eyebrow。　'And　are　you　a　prophet？'
　
　'Enough　of　one　to　tell　you　how　you　are　to　die。'
　
　The　frown　turned　curious。　'Really。　Tell　me　then。'
　
　Richard　took　a　pear　from　a　bowl　on　the　table；　polished　it　on　his　pant　leg；　and　took　a　bite。　He　spoke　as　he　chewed。　'You　are　going　to　die　right　here；　in　these　rooms；　of　old　age；　without　ever　seeing　the　outside　world　again。'
　
　The　creases　in　Nathan's　face　deepened　as　his　expression　sagged。　'Seems　you　are　a　prophet；　my　boy。'
　
　'Unless　you　help　me。　Maybe　if　you　help　me；　I'll　be　able　to　e　back　here　and　help　you　get　out；　too。'
　
　'And　what　is　it　you　want？'
　
　'I　want　this　collar　off。'
　
　A　sly　grin　spread　on　Nathan's　face。　'Seems　we　share　a　mon　interest；　Richard。'
　
　'But　the　Sisters　say　I　will　die　without　it。'
　
　The　sly　grin　widened。　They　demand　truthfulness　from　others；　but　rarely　inconvenience　themselves　with　it。　The　Sisters　have　their　own　agenda；　Richard。　There　is　more　than　one　path　through　the　woods。'
　
　'The　Sisters　say　I　must　learn　to　use　my　Han；　in　order　to　get　it　off。　They　don't　seem　to　be　helping　much　in　that。'
　
　'It　would　be　easier　to　teach　a　stump　to　sing　than　for　a　mere　Sister　to　teach　you　to　use　your　Han。　You　have　Subtractive　Magic。　They　can't　help　you。'
　
　'Can　you　help　me；　Nathan？'
　
　'Perhaps。'　Nathan　sat　down　in　his　chair；　leaning　forward　intently。　'Tell　me；　Richard；　have　you　ever　read　The　Adventures　of　Bonnie　Day？'
　
　'Read　it？　It's　my　favorite　book。　I　read　it　until　my　eyes　nearly　wore　the　words　off　the　pages。　I'd　love　to　meet　the　person　who　wrote　it；　and　tell　him　how　much　I　liked　the　book。'
　
　A　broad；　childlike　grin　stole　onto　Nathan's　face。　'You　just　have；　my　boy。　You　just　have。'
　
　Richard　came　forward　from　the　back　of　the　couch。　'You！　You　wrote　The　Adventures　of　Bonnie　Day？'
　
　Nathan　quoted　a　few　passages；　to　prove　his　intimate　knowledge。　'I　gave　the　book　to　your　father；　to　give　to　you　when　you　were　old　enough　to　read。　You　were　just　born；　at　the　time。'
　
　'You　were　there　with　the　Prelate？　She　didn't　tell　me　that。'
　
　'I　doubt　the　truth　occurred　to　her。　You　see；　Ann　doesn't　have　the　power　to　get　into　the　Wizard's　Keep　in　Aydindril。　I　helped　George　get　in；　so　he　could　get　the　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。　They　have　some　very　interesting　books　of　prophecy　there。'
　
　Richard　stared　in　astonishment。　'Seems　we　are　old　acquaintances；　then。'
　
　'More　than　acquaintances；　Richard　Rahl。'　Nathan　gave　him　a　meaningful　look。　'My　name　is　Nathan　Rahl。'
　
　Richard's　mouth　dropped　open。　'You　are　my　。。。　great…great…something…or…other？'
　
　Too　many　'greats'　to　count。　I　am　nearly　a　thousand　years　old；　my　boy。'　He　waggled　a　finger　in　the　air。　'I　have　had　an　interest　in　you　for　a　long　time。　You　are　in　the　prophecies。
　
　'I　wrote　The　Adventures　of　Bonnie　Day　for　some　of　those　who　had　potential。　It　is　a　book　of　prophecy；　of　sorts。　A　primer　of　prophecy；　one　you　would　be　able　to　understand；　so　it　would　help　you。　It　did　help　you；　didn't　it？'
　
　'More　than　once；'　Richard　said；　still　having　trouble　keeping　his　jaw　up。
　
　'Good。　I'm　pleased　then。　We　gave　the　book　to　a　few；　special　boys。　You　are　the　only　one　still　alive。　The　rest　died　in　'inexplicable'　accidents。'
　
　Richard　finished　the　pear　while　he　thought。　He　definitely　didn't　like　the　part　about　Subtractive　Magic。　'So　can　you　help　me　with　using　my　power？'
　
　Think；　Richard。　The　Sisters　have　not　given　you　pain　with　the　collar；　have　they。'
　
　'No。　But　they　will。'
　
　'Fighting　the　last　war；　Richard。　What　did　Bonnie　Day　tell　the　Warwick　troops　guarding　the　moors？　That　the　enemy　would　not　e　the　same　way　as　they　had　before。　That　they　were　foolishly　wasting　their　energy　trying　to　fight　the　last　war。'　Nathan　lifted　an　eyebrow。　'You　seem　to　have　missed　the　lesson。　Just　because　something　happened　to　you　before；　that　does　not　mean　it　will　happen　again。　Think　ahead；　Richard；　not　behind。'
　
　Richard　hesitated。　'I　。。。　had　a　vision　in　one　of　the　towers。　A　vision　that　Sister　Verna　used　the　collar　to　hurt　me。'
　
　'And　it　brought　the　anger　forth。'
　
　Richard　nodded。　'I　called　the　magic　and　killed　her。'
　
　Nathan　gave　a　small；　disappointed　shake　of　his　head。　The　vision　was　your　own　mind　trying　to　tell　you　something；　trying　to　show　you　that　you　could　defend　yourself　if　they　did　that；　that　you　could　defeat　them。　It　was　your　gift　and　your　mind　working　together；　trying　to　help　you。　You　were　too　busy　fighting　the　last　war　to　heed　the　message。'
　
　Chagrined；　Richard　kept　his　mouth　shut。　He　had　worried　about　them　hurting　him；　to　the　exclusion　of　everything　else。　He　had　ignored　the　true　meaning　of　what　Kahlan　had　done；　because　he　had　been　so　afraid　of　the　past　ing　to　life　again。　Think　of　the　solution；　not　the　problem；　that　was　what　Zedd　had　taught　him。　He　had　been　blinded　to　the　future　by　the　past。
　
　'I　see　what　you　mean；　Nathan；'　he　admitted。　'What　did　you　mean　about　the　Sisters　not　giving　me　pain　with　the　collar？'
　
　'Ann　knows　you　are　a　war　wizard；　I　told　her　before　you　were　born。　I　told　her　near　to　five　hundred　years　ago。　She　would　have　given　orders　to　the　Sisters。　Giving　pain　to　a　war　wizard　is　like　kicking　a　badger　on　his　rump。'
　
　'You　mean　that　pain　is　somehow　the　secret　to　my　power？'
　
　'No。　The　result　of　pain。　Anger。'　He　gestured　to　the　sword　at　Richard's　hip。　'You　use　the　sword　in　that　way。　Anger　calls　forth　the　magic。　Actually；　you　call　the　magic；　it　brings　you　anger；　and　so　the　magic　works。　Would　you　like　me　to　show　you　how　to　touch　your　Han？'
　
　Richard　scooted　forward。　'Yes。　I　never　thought　I　would　say　that；　but　yes。　I　need　to　be　able　to　get　out　of　here。'
　
　'Hold　up　your　palm。　Good。'　He　seemed　to　pull　an　aura　of　authority　around　himself。　'Now；　lose　yourself　in　my　eyes。'
　
　Richard　stared　into　the　hooded；　deep；　dark；　azure　eyes。　The　gaze　drew　him　in。　Richard　felt　as　if　he　were　falling　up　into　the　clear；　blue　sky。　His　breath　came　in　ragged　pulls；　not　of　his　own　will。　He　felt　Nathan's　manding　words　more　than　heard　them。
　
　'Call　forth　the　anger；　Richard。　Call　forth　the　rage。　Call　forth　the　hate　and　fury。'　Richard　felt　it；　just　as　when　he　drew　the　sword；　as　he　felt　his　breath　being　drawn　for　him；　he　felt　the　anger　being　drawn。　'Now；　feel　the　heat　of　that　rage。　Feel　the　flames　of　it。　Good。　Now　focus　those　feelings　in　the　palm　of　your　hand。'
　
　Richard　funneled　the　rage　of　the　magic　to　his　hand；　directed　its　flow；　feeling　its　force。　His　teeth　gritted　with　the　power　of　it。
　
　'Look　in　your　hand；　Richard。　See　it　there。　See　what　you　are　feeling。'
　
　Richard's　eyes　moved　slowly　to　his　hand。　A　ball　of　blue　and　yellow　fire　tumbled　slowly　above　his　outstretched　palm。　He　could　feel　the　energy　flowing　from　himself；　into　the　fire。　He　increased　the　flow　of　rage；　and　the　angry　ball　of　flame　grew。
　
　'Now；　cast　the　rage；　the　hate；　the　anger；　the　fire；　at　the　hearth。'
　
　Richard　threw　his　hand　out。　The　slowly　tumbling　sphere　of　flame　stayed　with　his　hand。　He　looked　to　the　hearth；　focusing　the　rage　outward；　casting　it　away　from　himself。
　
　The　liquid　light　howled　as　it　streaked　to　the　hearth；　exploding　there　with　a　crack；　like　lightning。
　
　Nathan　smiled　with　pride。　That　is　how　it's　done；　my　boy。　I　doubt　the　Sisters　could　teach　you　that　in　a　hundred