tg.stone of tears-第183章

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ges　and　striations　of　glowing　rays。　But　he　knew　they　were　deadly。
　
　Du　Chaillu　put　an　affectionate　hand　to　his　arm。　'My　husband　makes　me　proud　this　day。　He　returns　our　land　to　us；　as　the　old　words　have　foretold。'
　
　'I've　explained　it　to　you　a　dozen　times；　Du　Chaillu；　I　am　not　your　husband。　You　have　simply　misinterpreted　the　old　words。　It　only　means　we　must　do　this　together。　And　we　haven't　done　it　yet。　I　wish　you　would　have　e　with　me　without　bringing　everyone　else。　I　don't　even　know　if　this　will　work。　We　could　be　killed。'
　
　She　patted　his　arm　reassuringly。　The　Caharin　has　e。　He　can　do　anything。　He　will　return　our　land。'　She　left　him　to　his　thoughts　and　started　back　to　the　camp。　'All　our　people　should　be　with　us。　It　is　their　right。'　She　stopped　and　turned　back。　'Will　we　be　leaving　soon；　Caharin？'
　
　'Soon；'　Richard　said　absently。
　
　She　started　off　again。　'I　will　be　with　our　people　when　you　are　ready　for　me。'
　
　The　entire　Baka　Ban　Mana　nation　was　camped　behind　them。　Thousands　upon　thousands　of　tents　were　spread　out　over　the　hills；　like　mushrooms　after　a　month　of　rain。　He　hadn't　been　able　to　talk　them　out　of　ing；　to　convince　them　to　wait；　so　they　were　all　here；　with　him。
　
　Richard　sighed。　What　difference　did　it　make？　If　he　was　wrong；　and　this　failed；　he　had　no　reason　to　worry　about　all　the　Baka　Ban　Mana　being　disappointed　in　him。　He　would　be　dead。
　
　Warren　and　Sister　Verna　quietly　came　up　behind。
　
　'Richard；'　Warren　said；　'can　we　talk　to　you？'
　
　Richard　continued　to　stare　out　at　the　storms。　'Of　course；　Warren。'　He　cast　a　glance　back。　'What's　on　your　mind？'
　
　Warren　pushed　his　hands　up　the　opposite　sleeves　of　his　robes。　Richard　thought　it　made　him　look　very　wizardlike　when　he　did　that。　Warren　was　going　to　someday　end　up　being　Richard's　idea　of　what　a　wizard　ought　to　be：　wise；　passionate；　and　charged　with　knowledge　Richard　could　only　wonder　at。　If　they　didn't　all　die；　that　was。
　
　'Well；　Sister　Verna　and　I　were　talking。　About　what　happens　after　you　get　through　the　valley。　Richard；　I　know　what　you　want　to　do；　but　we　have　run　out　of　time。　There　never　was　enough　time　to　begin　with。　Tomorrow　is　winter　solstice。　It　can't　be　done。'
　
　'Just　because　you　don't　know　how　to　do　something；　that　does　not　mean　it　can't　be　done。'
　
　'I　don't　understand。'
　
　Richard　smiled　at　them。　'You　will。　You　will　understand　in　a　few　hours。'
　
　Warren　looked　away　toward　the　valley。　He　idly　scratched　his　nose。　'If　you　say　so；　Richard。'
　
　Sister　Verna　said　nothing。　Richard　was　still　trying　to　get　used　to　her　not　arguing　with　him　whenever　he　said　something　oblique。　He　wasn't　sure　she　didn't　want　to。
　
　'Warren；　about　the　prophecy；　the　one　about　the　gateway　and　the　winter　solstice。　Are　you　sure　it's　about　this　winter　solstice？'　Warren　nodded。　'And　if　there　were　an　agent；　with　an　open　box　of　Orden；　and　the　skrin　bone；　are　those　the　only　elements　needed　to　open　the　gateway；　to　tear　the　veil？'
　
　A　hot　breeze　ruffled　Warren's　hair。　'Yes　。。。　but　you　told　me　Darken　Rahl　is　dead。　There　is　no　agent。'
　
　It　sounded　more　like　a　worried　question　than　a　statement。
　
　'Must　the　agent　be　alive？'　Sister　Verna　asked。
　
　Warren　shifted　his　weight　to　the　other　foot。　'Well；　not　in　principle；　I　guess。　If　he　were　somehow　called　back　into　this　world；　but　I　don't　see　how　that　could　be　done；　but　if　it　were　done；　that　would　be　all　that　was　needed。'
　
　Richard　sighed　in　frustration。　'And　then　this　spirit　agent　could　do　the　things　the　living　agent　would　have　done？'
　
　Suspicion　crept　onto　Warren's　face。　'Well；　yes　and　no。　It　would　require　another　element。　A　spirit　cannot　perform　the　physical　requirements　necessary　to　plete　the　covenant。　He　would　need　a　coadjutor。'
　
　'You　mean　the　spirit　could　not　perform　certain　of　the　tasks　needed；　so　he　would　need　hands　that　would　work　in　this　world。'
　
　'Yes。　With　a　helper；　a　spirit　could　do　what　was　needed。　But　how　could　an　agent　be　called　back　into　this　world？　I　don't　see　how　that　could　be　acplished。'
　
　Sister　Verna　glanced　away。　'You　had　better　tell　him。'
　
　Richard　pulled　his　shirt　up　and　showed　Warren　the　scar。　'Darken　Rahl　burned　me　with　his　hand；　when　I　unintentionally　called　him　back　into　this　world。　He　said　he　was　here　to　tear　the　veil。'
　
　Warren's　eyes　opened　wide。　His　worried　gaze　darted　to　the　Sister；　and　then　back　to　Richard。　'If　Darken　Rahl　is　an　agent；　as　you　said；　and　he　has　someone　to　help　him；　then　we　are　only　one　element　away　from　destruction　…　the　skrin　bone。　We　need　to　know。'
　
　Richard　pushed　the　mriswith　cape　back　over　his　shoulder。　'Sister　Verna；　would　you　help　me？'
　
　'What　is　it　you　would　like　me　to　do？'
　
　The　first　time　you　told　me　how　to　try　to　touch　my　Han；　I　decided　to　concentrate　on　a　mental　image　of　my　sword。　But　that　time；　the　first　time；　I　used　a　background　to　put　it　against。　It　was　something　from　the　book　of　magic　I　told　you　about。　The　Book　of　Counted　Shadows。
　
　'When　I　tried　to　touch　my　Han；　with　the　sword　on　that　background；　something　happened。　I　was　somehow　in　D'Hara；　in　the　People's　Palace；　where　the　boxes　are。　I　saw　Darken　Rahl。　He　saw　me；　too；　and　spoke　to　me。　He　told　me　he　was　waiting　for　me。'
　
　Sister　Verna's　eyebrows　lifted。　'Did　this　ever　happen　again？'
　
　'No。　It　frightened　the　wits　out　of　me。　I　never　used　that　background　again。　I　think　if　I　use　that　background　now；　I　may　be　able　to　see　what　is　happening　there。'
　
　She　folded　her　hands　together　before　herself。　'I've　never　heard　of　such　a　thing。　But　it　may　have　something　to　do　with　the　Magic　of　Orden。　It　would　not　be　the　first　thing　about　you　that　astonished　me。　It　could　be　real；　or　just　a　fear；　like　a　dream。'
　
　'I　need　to　try。　Would　you　sit　with　me？　I'm　afraid　of　not　being　able　to　pull　back。'
　
　'Of　course；　Richard。'　She　sat　down　on　the　ground　and　held　up　a　hand。　'e。　I　will　be　with　you。'
　
　Richard　pulled　the　mriswith　cape　around　himself　as　he　sat　down；　folding　his　legs。　'This　thing　hides　my　Han；　maybe　it　will　work　to　keep　Darken　Rahl　from　seeing　me　this　time。'
　
　Richard　relaxed　himself　as　he　held　hands　with　Sister　'Verna。　He　concentrated　on　the　mental　image　of　the　sword　against　the　black　square　with　a　white　border；　as　he　had　done　the　first　time。　As　he　concentrated；　seeking　the　calm　center；　something　began　to　happen。
　
　The　sword；　the　black　square；　and　the　white　border　all　began　to　shimmer　as　if　seen　through　heat　waves；　the　same　as　the　first　time。　The　solid　form　of　the　sword　softened；　being　transparent；　and　then　vanished。　The　background　dissolved。　Once　again；　Richard　was　looking　into　the　Garden　of　Life；　at　the　People's　Palace。
　
　He　searched　the　filmy　image；　seeing　white　bones　where　before　he　had　seen　burned　bodies。　He　remembered　them　lying　over　the　short　walls；　in　bushes；　and　sprawled　on　the　grass。　They　were　much　as　he　remembered；　only　now　they　were　mostly　exposed　bones。
　
　Richard　saw　the　white；　glowing　figure　of　Darken　Rahl；　but　he　was　not　standing　before　the　stone　altar；　before　the　three　boxes　of　Orden。　He　was　near　the　circle　that　had　held　white　sand。　The　sand　had　not　been　there　the　last　time　he　had　seen　this　vision。
　
　A　woman　in　a　long；　brown　skirt　and　white　blouse　knelt　at　Darken　Rahl's　feet；　bent　over　the　circle　of　sand。　Richard　willed　himself　closer。　She　was　drawing　lines　in　the　sparkling　sorcerer's　sand。　Richard　remembered　some　of　the　symbols　she　was　drawing；　Darken　Rahl　had　drawn　them　before　when　he　had　opened　the　box。
　
　Richard　watched　her　hand　moving　slowly；　carefully；　as　she　drew　the　lines　of　spells。　Her　right　hand；　he　noticed；　was　missing　the　little　finger。
　
　In　the　center　of　the　circle；　in　the　center　of　the　sorcerer's　sand；　sat　a　round　object。　Richard　went　closer。　It　was　carved　all　over　with　beasts；　just　as　the　Prelate　had　described。
　
　Richard　wanted　to　scream　with　rage。
　
　Just　then；　Darken　Rahl　lifted　his　face；　and　looked　right　into　Richard's　eyes。　A　smile　slowly　spread　on　his　lips。
　
　Richard　didn't　know　if　Darken　Rahl　was　really　looking　at　him　or　not；　but　he　didn't　wait　to　find　out。　With　desperate　effort；　he　forced　the　image　of　the　sword　back　into　his　mind；　like　slamming　a　door；　at　the　same　time　banishing　the　black…and…white　background。
　
　With　a　gasp；　Richard　forced　his　eyes　open。　His　chest　heaved。
　
　Sister　Verna's　eyes　came　open；　too。　'Richard；　are　you　all　right？　You've　been　at　it　an　hour。　I　felt　you　trying　to　pull　back；　so　I　pulled　with　you。　What　happened？　What　did　you　see？'
　
　'An　hour？'　Richard　was　still　trying　to　catch　his　breath。　'I　saw　Darken　Rahl；　and　the　skrin　bone。　He　had　a　woman　there；　helping　him　draw　spells　in　the　sorcerer's　sand。'
　
　Warren　leaned　over　Richard's　shoulder。　'Maybe　it　was　just　a　vision　of　a　fear。　It　may　not　have　been　real。'
　
　'Warren　could　be　right；'　Sister　Verna　said。　She　drew　her　lower　lip　through　her　teeth　as　she　thought。　'What　did　the　woman　look　like？'
　
　'Wavy；　shoulder…length　brown　hair；　maybe　about　your　size。　She　was　bent　over；　drawing　in　the　sand；　so　I　couldn't　see　her　eyes。'　Richard　pressed　his　fingers　to　his　forehead　as　he　thought。　'Her　hand。　She　was　missing　the　little　finger　on　her　right　hand。'
　
　Warren　groaned。　Sister　Verna's　eyes　slid　closed。
　
　'What？　What's　the　matter？'
　
　'Sister　Odette；'　she　said。　That's　Sister　Odette。'
　
　Warren　nodded　confirmation。　'She　has　been　gone　for　close　to　six　months。　I　thought　she　went　to　get　a　boy。'
　
　'Curse　the　spirits；'　Richard　said　under　his　breath。　He　sprang　to　his　feet。　'Warren；　run　and　get　Du　Chaillu。　Tell　her　we　must　leave　right　now。'
　
　He　ground　his　teeth　in　frustration。　He　had　thought　he　had　all　the　time　he　needed。　Well；　he　still　had　enough　time；　if　he　hurried。
　
　
　Du　Chaillu　seemed　in　a　trance　as　Richard　pulled　her　forward　by　the　hand。　With　the　Sword　of　Truth　in　his　other　hand；　Richard　was　in　a　world　of　his　own；　too。　His　thundering　rage　was　a　match　for　the　angry　black　clouds。　The　spells　of　magic　circled　them　like　a　pack　of　dogs　around　a　porcupine；　angry　and　insistent；　but　holding　their　distance　as　they　searched　for　an　opening。
　
　Wisps　of　light　emerged　from　the　darkness　and　whirled　around　them；　spiraling　down　to　vanish　into　an　aura　that　surrounded　Du　Chaillu。　She　seemed　to　be　absorbing　the　magic；　as　Sister　Verna　told　him　she　had　done　before。　Together；　they　were　the　pleted　link　Warren　had　told　him　the　old　books　said　would　contain　the　power　and　bring　the　towers　down。
　
　Through　the　waves　of　heat　and　the　boiling　mist；　Richard　saw　the　first　tower。　He　pulled　Du　Chaillu　onward；　toward　the　glistening　black　wall　that　disappeared　into　the　darkness　overhead。　Dust　and　dirt　lifted　around　them　as　they　rushed　toward　the　arched　opening　in　the　wall。　Spells　snatched　at　them；　but　their　light　was　sucked　to　Du　Chaillu。
　
　Richard　acted　without　thought；　not　knowing　what　drove　him　onward；　and　not　trying　to　stop　it。　If　he　was　to　succeed；　if　he　was　to　save　Kahlan；　he　had　to　let　those　things　within　himself　guide　him。　He　had　to　hope　that　if　he　truly　had　the　gift；　it　would　react　on　instinct；　as　Nathan　had　told　him；　and　do　what　was　needed。
　
　Du　Chaillu　seemed　not　to　notice　the　sparkling　black　sand　they　stood　on　in　the　center　of　the　tower。　She　seemed　lost　in　a　private　spell　of　her　own；　in　the　power　passed　down　to　he