tg.stone of tears-第20章

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。　By　that　time　they　were　pretty　happy。　And　drunk。　They　were　laughing　and　singing。　I　thought　it　was　tremendously　interesting。　I　had　never　seen　anything　like　it。
　
　They　finally　saw　me　watching　them；　and　called　me　over。　I　didn't　really　want　to　go；　but　they　were　wizards；　and　I　knew　them　pretty　well；　so　I　wasn't　afraid　and　I　went　over　to　them。　One　set　me　up　on　his　knee　and　asked　if　I　wanted　to　sing　with　them。　I　told　them　that　I　didn't　know　the　song　they　were　singing。　They　looked　at　each　other　and　then　said　they　would　teach　me。　So　we　sat　there　for　a　long　time　and　they　taught　me　the　song。'
　
　'So；　do　you　remember　it？'
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　'I've　never　forgotten　that　song。'　She　rearranged　herself　a　little　and　then　sang　it　for　him。
　
　The　screelings　are　loose　and　the　Keeper　may　win。
　His　assassins　have　e　to　rip　off　your　skin。
　Golden　eyes　will　see　you　if　you　try　to　run。
　The　screelings　will　get　you　and　laugh　like　it's　fun。
　
　Walk　away　slow　or　they'll　tear　you　apart；
　and　laugh　all　day　long　as　they　rip　out　your　heart。
　Golden　eyes　will　see　you　if　you　try　to　stand　still。
　The　screelings　will　get　you；　for　the　Keeper　they　kill。
　
　Hack　'em　up；　chop　'em　up；　cut　'em　to　bits；
　or　else　they　will　get　you　while　laughing　in　fits。
　If　the　screelings　don't　get　you　the　Keeper　will　try；
　to　reach　out　and　touch　you；　your　skin　he　will　fry。
　
　Your　mind　he　will　flail；　your　soul　he　will　take。
　You'll　sleep　with　the　dead；　for　life　you'll　forsake。
　You'll　die　with　the　Keeper　till　the　end　of　time。
　He　hates　that　you　live；　your　life　is　the　crime。
　
　The　screelings　might　get　you；　it　says　so　in　text。
　If　screelings　don't　get　you　the　Keeper　is　next；
　lest　he　who's　born　true　can　fight　for　life's　bond。
　And　that　one　is　marked；　he's　the　pebble　in　the　pond。
　
　Richard　stared　at　her　when　she　finished。　'Pretty　gruesome　song　to　teach　a　child。'　Finally；　he　resumed　chewing　the　leaves。
　
　Kahlan　nodded　with　a　sigh。　That　night；　I　had　terrible　nightmares。　My　mother　came　into　my　room　and　sat　on　my　bed。　She　hugged　me　and　asked　what　I　was　having　nightmares　about。　I　sang　her　the　song　the　wizards　had　taught　me。　She　climbed　into　my　bed　and　stayed　with　me　that　night。
　
　The　next　day　she　went　to　see　the　wizards。　I　never　knew　what　she　did　or　said　to　them；　but　for　the　next　few　months；　whenever　they　saw　her　ing　they　turned　and　hurried　off　the　other　way。　And　for　a　good　long　time　they　avoided　me　like　death　itself。'
　
　Richard　took　another　leaf　from　the　little　bag　and　put　it　in　his　mouth。　The　screelings　are　sent　by　the　Keeper？　The　Keeper　of　the　underworld？'
　
　That's　what　the　song　says。　It　must　be　true。　How　could　anything　of　this　world　take　that　many　arrows　and　just　laugh？'
　
　Richard　thought　in　silence　a　moment。　'What　is　'the　pebble　in　the　pond'？'
　
　Kahlan　shrugged。　'I've　never　heard　of　it　before　or　since。'
　
　'What　about　the　blue　lightning？　How　did　you　do　that？'
　
　'It's　something　to　do　with　the　Con　Dar。　I　did　it　before　when　it　came　over　me　the　first　time。'　She　took　a　deep　breath　at　the　memory。　'When　I　thought　you　were　dead。　I'd　never　felt　the　Con　Dar　before；　but　now　I　feel　it　there　all　the　time；　just　as　I　can　always　feel　the　Confessor's　magic。　The　two　are　somehow　connected。　I　must　have　awakened　it。　I　think　it's　what　Adie　warned　me　about　that　time　we　were　with　her。　But　Richard；　I　don't　know　how　I　did　it。'
　
　Richard　smiled。　'You　never　fail　to　amaze　me。　If　I　just　found　out　I　could　call　down　lightning；　I　don't　think　I　would　be　sitting　there　so　calmly。'
　
　'Well；　you　just　remember　what　I　can　do；'　she　warned；　'if　some　pretty　girl　ever　bats　her　lashes　at　you。'
　
　He　took　her　hand。　There　are　no　other　pretty　girls。'
　
　The　fingers　of　her　other　hand　bed　through　his　hair。　'Is　there　anything　I　can　do　for　you？'
　
　'Yes；'　he　whispered。　'Lie　down　next　to　me。　I　want　you　close。　I'm　afraid　of　never　waking；　and　I　want　to　be　close　to　you。'
　
　'You　will　wake；'　she　promised　cheerfully。
　
　She　took　out　another　blanket　and　pulled　it　over　the　two　of　them。　She　cuddled　close；　her　head　on　his　shoulder　and　an　arm　over　his　chest；　and　tried　not　to　worry　about　what　he　had　said。
　
　
　CHAPTER　8
　
　When　she　woke；　her　back　was　against　the　warmth　of　him。　Light　was　seeping　in　around　the　edges　of　the　door。　She　sat　up；　rubbed　the　sleep　from　her　eyes；　and　looked　down　at　Richard。
　
　He　lay　on　his　back；　staring　up　at　the　ceiling；　taking　slow；　shallow　breaths。　She　smiled　at　the　familiar　pleasure　of　his　face。　He　was　so　handsome　it　made　her　ache。
　
　Suddenly　she　realized　with　a　jolt　what　it　was　about　him　that　looked　so　familiar　to　her。　Richard　looked　like　Darken　Rahl。　Not　the　same　kind　of　impossible　perfection　…　the　flawlessly　smooth；　uninterrupted　sweep　of　features　that　were　too　exactly　right；　like　some　precisely　perfect　statue　…　but　more　rugged；　rougher；　more　real。
　
　Before　they'd　defeated　Rahl；　when　Shota；　the　witch　woman；　had　appeared　to　them　as　Richard's　mother；　Kahlan　had　seen　her　looks　in　Richard's　nose　and　mouth。　It　was　as　if　Richard　had　Darken　Rahl's　face　with　some　of　his　mother's　features　making　it　better　than　Rahl's　cruel　perfection。　Rahl's　hair　was　fine；　straight；　and　blond；　while　Richard's　was　coarser　and　darker。　And　Richard's　eyes　were　gray　instead　of　Rahl's　blue；　but　they　both　possessed　the　same　penetrating　intensity　…　the　same　kind　of　raptor's　gaze　that　seemed　as　if　it　could　cut　steel。
　
　Though　she　didn't　know　how　it　could　be　possible；　she　knew　Richard　had　Rahl　blood。　But　Darken　Rahl　was　from　D'Hara；　and　Richard　from　Westland；　that　was　about　as　far　apart　as　you　could　get。　It　must　be；　she　finally　decided；　a　connection　in　the　distant　past。
　
　Richard　was　still　staring　at　the　ceiling。　She　put　her　hand　on　his　shoulder；　giving　it　a　squeeze。　'How　is　your　head？'
　
　Richard　jumped　hard。　He　looked　around　and　blinked　at　her。　He　rubbed　his　eyes。　'What？　。。。　I　was　asleep。　What　did　you　say？'
　
　Kahlan　frowned。　'You　weren't　asleep。'
　
　'Yes　I　was。　Sound　asleep。'
　
　Kahlan　felt　a　flutter　of　apprehension。　'Your　eyes　were　wide　open。　I　was　watching　you。'　She　left　unsaid　that　as　far　as　she　knew；　only　wizards　slept　with　their　eyes　open。
　
　'Really？'　He　looked　around。　'Where　are　those　leaves？'
　
　'Here。　Does　it　still　hurt　bad？'
　
　'Yes。'　He　sat　up。　'But　it's　been　worse。'　He　put　some　of　the　leaves　in　his　mouth　and　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　'At　least　I　can　talk。'　He　smiled　at　her。　'And　I　can　smile　without　my　face　feeling　like　it's　going　to　break。'
　
　'Maybe　you　shouldn't　go　shoot　arrows　today　if　you　don't　feel　well　enough。'
　
　'Savidlin　said　I　couldn't　back　out。　I'm　not　going　to　let　him　down。　Besides；　I　really　want　to　see　this　bow　he　made　for　me。　It's　been　。。。　well；　I　don't　even　remember　how　long　it's　been　since　I　shot　a　bow。'
　
　After　he　chewed　some　of　Nissel's　leaves　for　a　while；　they　folded　up　the　blankets　and　went　looking　for　Savidlin。　They　found　him　at　his　home；　listening　to　Siddin　telling　stories　of　what　it　was　like　to　ride　a　dragon。　Savidlin　liked　listening　to　stories。　Even　though　it　was　a　little　boy　telling　them；　he　listened　with　the　same　interest　he　would　accord　a　hunter　returning　from　a　journey。　Kahlan　noted　with　pride　that　the　little　boy　was　giving　a　remarkably　accurate　rendition；　without　fanciful　embellishment。
　
　Siddin　wanted　to　know　if　he　could　have　a　dragon　for　a　pet。　Savidlin　told　him　the　red　dragon　was　not　a　pet；　but　a　friend　to　their　people。　He　told　him　to　find　a　red　chicken；　and　he　could　have　that。
　
　Weselan　was　cooking　a　pot　of　some　sort　of　porridge　with　eggs　mixed　in。　She　asked　Richard　and　Kahlan　to　join　them　and　passed　each　a　bowl　as　they　sat　on　a　skin　on　the　floor。　She　gave　them　flat　tava　bread　to　fold　and　use　as　a　scoop　for　the　porridge。
　
　Richard　had　her　ask　Savidlin　if　he　had　a　drill　of　any　kind。　Savidlin　leaned　way　back；　and　with　a　finger　and　thumb　pulled　a　thin　rod　from　a　pouch　beneath　a　bench。　He　handed　the　rod　to　Richard；　who　had　the　dragon's　tooth　out。　Richard　turned　the　rod　around　with　a　puzzled　look；　put　it　at　the　base　of　the　tooth；　and　twisted　it　experimentally。
　
　Savidlin　laughed。　'You　want　a　hole　in　that？'　Richard　nodded。　Savidlin　held　out　his　hand。　'Give　it　to　me。　I　will　show　you　how　it　is　done。'
　
　Savidlin　used　his　knifepoint　to　start　a　small　hole　and　then　held　the　tooth　between　his　feet　as　he　sat　on　the　floor。　He　placed　a　few　grains　of　sand　in　the　hole；　followed　by　the　rod。　He　spat　in　his　palms　and　then　spun　the　rod　back　and　forth　rapidly　between　his　hands；　stopping　occasionally　to　drop　a　few　more　grains　of　sand　down　the　hole　and　wipe　a　little　spittle　into　the　opening。　In　a　little　while；　he　had　drilled　all　the　way　through　the　tooth。　He　used　his　knife　to　clean　the　burrs　from　where　the　drill　went　through　the　other　side　of　the　tooth；　and　then　held　it　up；　grinning；　showing　off　the　hole。　Richard　laughed　and　thanked　him　as　he　strung　a　leather　thong　to　the　tooth。　He　hung　it　around　his　neck　with　the　Bird　Man's　whistle　and　the　Mord…Sith's　Agiel。
　
　He　was　getting　quite　a　collection。　Some　of　it　she　didn't　like。
　
　Wiping　out　his　porridge　bowl　with　a　piece　of　tava　bread；　Savidlin　asked；　'Is　your　head　better？'
　
　'It's　better；　but　still　hurts　something　fierce。　Nissel's　leaves　help。　I'm　embarrassed　I　had　to　be　carried　back　last　night。'
　
　Savidlin　laughed。　'One　time；　I　had　a　bad　hurt；　here。'　He　pointed　at　a　round　scar　in　his　side。　'I　was　carried　home　by　women。'　He　leaned　closer　and　lifted　an　eyebrow。　'Women！'　Weselan　cast　a　disapproving　eye　toward　him。　He　made　a　point　of　not　noticing。　'When　my　men　found　out　I　was　carried　home　by　women；　they　had　a　good　laugh　over　it。'　He　put　the　last　of　the　tava　bread　in　his　mouth　and　chewed　for　a　few　minutes。　'Then　I　told　them　which　women　carried　me　home；　and　they　stopped　laughing　and　wanted　to　know　how　to　get　a　hurt　like　mine　so　they　too　could　be　carried　home　by　those　women。'
　
　'Savidlin！'　Weselan　scolded　in　a　scandalized　tone。　She　turned　to　them。　'If　he　didn't　already　have　a　hurt；　I　would　have　given　him　one。　A　good　one。'
　
　'So　how　did　you　get　this　hurt？'　Richard　asked。
　
　Savidlin　shrugged。　'Like　I　told　my　men：　it　was　easy。　You　just　stand　there　like　a　surprised　rabbit　while　a　trespasser　puts　a　spear　through　you。'
　
　'And　why　didn't　he　finish　you？'
　
　'Because　I　put　a　few　ten…step　arrows　in　him。'　He　pointed　at　his　throat。　'Here。'
　
　'What's　a　ten…step　arrow？'
　
　Savidlin　reached　to　the　side　and　pulled　a　barbed；　fine…pointed　arrow　from　his　quiver。　'One　of　these。　See　the　dark　stain？　Poison。　Ten…step　poison。　When　it　sticks　you；　you　get　only　ten　steps；　and　then　you　are　dead。'　He　laughed。　'My　men　decided　to　think　of　a　different　way　to　get　those　women　to　carry　them。'
　
　Weselan　leaned　over　and　stuffed　the　rest　of　her　tava　bread　in　her　husband's　mouth。　She　turned　to　Kahlan。　'Men　enjoy　telling　the　most　awful　stories。'　She　broke　into　a　shy　smile。　'But　I　worried　for　him　until　he　was　well。　I　knew　he　was　well　when　he　came　to　me　and　made　Siddin。　Then　I　did　not　worry　anymore。'
　
　Kahlan　realized　she　had　translated　before　she　had　paid　attention　to　the　meaning　of　the　words。　She　felt　her　ears　burn。　Instead　of　looking　at　Richard；　she　paid　close　attention　to　eating　her　porridge。　She　was　glad　her　hair　covered　her　ears；　at　least。