tg.stone of tears-第23章

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le　of　his　color　came　back；　she　made　him　put　his　head　back　and　open　his　mouth。　She　twisted　a　clove　of　something　over　his　mouth；　dripping　the　juice　in。　He　made　a　face。　Nissel　smiled　at　that　without　ment。
　
　She　turned　to　Kahlan。　'I　think　these　things　will　help　him。　Tell　him　to　keep　chewing　the　leaves。　e　get　me　if　he　needs　me。'
　
　'Nissel；　is　he　going　to　get　better　soon？　Shouldn't　he　be　getting　better？'
　
　The　stooped　old　woman　glanced　down　at　Richard。　'Spirit　has　a　mind　of　its　own。　It　doesn't　always　listen。　I　think　his　does　not　want　to　listen。'　She　suddenly　brightened　at　seeing　the　stricken　look　on　Kahlan's　face。　'Don't　worry；　child。　I　can　make　even　the　spirit　listen。'
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　Nissel　gave　her　a　warm　smile　and　a　pat　on　the　arm　before　she　went　on　her　way。
　
　Richard　looked　up　at　Kahlan　and　Savidlin。　'Did　you　tell　him？　Did　you　tell　him　I'm　sorry　about　ruining　all　his　arrows？'
　
　Kahlan　smiled　a　little　to　Savidlin。　'He　is　worried　about　ruining　so　many　arrows。'
　
　Savidlin　grunted。　'It　is　my　own　fault。　I　made　your　bow　too　good。'　Richard　managed　a　laugh。　'Weselan　is　off　making　bread。　I　must　go　see　to　some　things。　Rest　well。　We　will　be　back　when　it　is　time　to　eat。　We　will　eat　together。　It　smells　like　my　wife　has　made　some　good　stew。'
　
　
　After　Savidlin　left；　Kahlan　sat　on　the　floor；　tight　against　him。
　
　'Richard；　what　happened　today？　Savidlin　told　me　how　you　shot　arrows　today。　You　haven't　always　been　that　good；　have　you？'
　
　He　wiped　sweat　off　his　brow　with　the　back　of　his　hand。　'No。　I've　split　arrows　before；　but　not　more　than　a　half　dozen　in　one　day。'
　
　'You've　shot　that　many　in　one　day　before？'
　
　He　nodded。　'On　a　good　day；　when　I　can　feel　the　target。　But　today　was　different。'
　
　'How？'
　
　'Well；　we　went　out　on　the　plain；　and　my　head　was　really　starting　to　hurt。　The　men　set　up　targets　of　bundled　grass。　I　didn't　think　I　would　even　be　able　to　hit　a　target；　because　my　head　hurt　so　much。　But　I　didn't　want　to　disappoint　Savidlin；　so　I　tried　anyway。　When　I　shoot；　I　call　the　target　to　me。'
　
　'What　do　you　mean；　you　call　the　target　to　you？'
　
　Richard　shrugged。　'I　don't　know。　I　used　to　think　everyone　did　it　when　they　shot。　But　Zedd　told　me　they　don't。　I　look　at　the　target；　and　just　sort　of　pull　it　to　me。　When　I'm　doing　it　right；　it　blocks　out　everything　else。　It's　only　me　and　the　target；　as　if　it　es　closer。　Somehow；　I　know　exactly　how　the　arrow　must　be　held　to　hit　the　target。　When　I'm　doing　it　right；　I　can　feel　that　the　arrow　is　in　the　right　place　before　I　release　the　bowstring。
　
　'When　I　learned　that　I　always　hit　the　target　when　I　had　that　certain　feeling；　I　quit　shooting　arrows。　I　would　just　aim；　trying　to　bring　on　the　correct　feel。　I　knew　when　I　had　it　I　wouldn't　miss；　so　I　didn't　bother　shooting。　I　would　nock　another　arrow　and　try　for　the　feel　again。　Over　time；　I　learned　to　do　it　more　often。'
　
　'How　was　it　different　today？'
　
　'Well；　like　I　said；　my　head　really　hurt。　I　watched　some　of　the　other　men　shoot。　They　were　very　good。　Savidlin　started　slapping　me　on　the　back；　so　I　knew　it　was　my　turn。　I　figured　I　might　as　well　get　it　over。　My　head　felt　as　if　it　was　going　to　split　open。　I　drew　the　bow；　and　called　the　target　to　me。'
　
　Richard　ran　his　fingers　through　his　hair。　'I　don't　know　how　to　explain　it。　I　called　the　target；　and　instantly；　my　headache　was　gone。　No　pain　at　all。　The　target　came　to　me　as　it　never　had　before。　It　felt　like　there　was　a　notch　in　the　air　where　I　needed　only　to　lay　the　arrow。　I　have　never　felt　it　so　strongly　before。　It　was　as　if　the　target　was　huge。　I　knew　it　would　be　impossible　to　miss。
　
　'After　a　while；　just　for　variation；　instead　of　splitting　the　arrows　already　there；　I　would　just　shave　off　the　red　outside　feather。　When　I　did　that；　the　men　thought　I　had　missed　splitting　the　arrow　already　there。　They　had　no　idea　I　was　doing　something　more　difficult。'
　
　'And　your　headache　was　pletely　gone？'　He　nodded。　'Do　you　have　any　idea　why　all　this　was　happening？'
　
　Richard　pulled　his　knees　up　and　rested　his　forearms　on　them。　He　looked　away　from　her　face。　'I'm　afraid　I　do。　It　was　magic。'
　
　'Magic？'　Kahlan　whispered。　'What　do　you　mean？'
　
　His　eyes　came　back　to　her。　'Kahlan；　I　don't　know　what　your　magic　feels　like　inside　you；　but　I　have　felt　magic。　Every　time　I　draw　the　Sword　of　Truth；　magic　flows　into　me；　bees　part　of　me。　I　know　what　that　magic　feels　like。　I've　felt　it　often　enough；　and　in　different　ways；　depending　on　how　I　use　it。　But　because　I　have　joined　with　the　sword；　I　can　sense　the　magic　from　it；　even　as　it　sits　in　its　scabbard　on　my　hip。　Now　I　can　call　forth　its　magic　without　even　having　to　draw　the　sword。　I　can　sense　it；　like　a　dog　at　my　heel；　ready　to　jump　for　me。
　
　'Today；　when　I　drew　the　bow　and　called　the　target；　I　also　called　something　else：　magic。
　
　'When　Zedd　touched　me　before；　to　heal　me；　and　when　you　touched　me　when　you　were　in　the　Con　Dar；　I　felt　the　magic。　This　was　something　like　that。　I　knew　it　was　magic。　It　felt　different　from　yours　and　Zedd's；　but　I　recognized　the　texture　of　magic。　I　could　feel　the　life　of　it；　like　a　second　breath。　Alive。'　Richard　put　a　fist　in　the　center　of　his　chest。　'I　could　feel　it　ing　from　inside　me；　building　until　I　released　it　to　call　the　target。'
　
　Kahlan　recognized　in　herself　the　feelings　he　was　describing。　'Maybe　it　has　something　to　do　with　the　sword。'
　
　He　shook　his　head。　'I　don't　know。　I　suppose　it　could　be。　But　I　couldn't　control　it。　After　a　while；　it　simply　went　away；　like　a　candle　blown　out　in　the　wind。　It　felt　like　suddenly　being　in　darkness；　as　if　I　was　suddenly　blind。　And　the　headache　came　back。
　
　'I　couldn't　hit　the　target；　and　I　couldn't　call　it　to　me；　so　I　just　let　the　others　shoot。　The　magic　would　e　and　go。　I　could　never　tell　when　it　was　going　to　happen。　Then　when　the　men　started　eating　meat；　I　felt　sick；　and　had　to　go　away　from　them。　I　shot　while　they　ate；　and　sometimes　I　could　summon　the　magic　and　the　headache　would　go　away。'
　
　'What　about　when　you　caught　the　arrow　out　of　the　air？'
　
　He　cast　her　a　sidelong　glance。　'Savidlin　told　you　about　that；　did　he？'　She　nodded。　Richard　let　out　a　deep　breath。　'That　was　the　strangest　of　all。　I　don't　know　how　to　explain　it。　Somehow；　I　made　the　air　thicker。'
　
　She　leaned　closer；　studying　his　face。　'Made　the　air　thicker？'
　
　He　nodded　again。　'I　knew　I　had　to　slow　the　arrow　down；　and　the　only　thing　I　could　think　of　was　that　if　the　air　was　thick；　like　it　was　those　times　with　the　sword；　when　the　air　got　thick　and　stopped　the　sword；　then　maybe　I　had　a　chance。　Otherwise；　I　was　going　to　die。　It　just　all　came　into　my　head　at　once；　the　idea；　and　the　doing。　Instantly。
　
　'I　have　no　clue　as　to　what　I　did。　I　just　had　the　thought　and　I　saw　my　hand　snatch　the　arrow　out　of　the　air。'
　
　He　fell　silent。　Kahlan　rubbed　her　thumb　on　the　side　of　her　boot　heel。　She　didn't　know　what　to　say。　Fear　was　nibbling　at　the　fringes　of　her　mind。　She　flicked　her　eyes　up　for　a　glance　at　him。　He　was　staring　off　into　space。
　
　'Richard；'　she　whispered；　'I　love　you。'
　
　His　answer　was　a　long　moment　in　ing。　'I　love　you　too。'　He　turned　to　her。　'Kahlan；　I'm　afraid。'
　
　'Of　what？'
　
　'Something　is　going　on。　A　screeling　shows　up；　I　have　these　headaches；　you　call　down　lightning；　I　do　what　I　did　today。　The　only　thing　I　can　think　to　do　is　to　go　to　Aydindril　and　find　Zedd。　All　these　things　have　something　to　do　with　magic。'
　
　She　didn't　think　he　was　necessarily　wrong；　but　put　some　other　answers　to　them　anyway。　'Me　calling　down　the　lightning　has　to　do　with　my　magic。　Not　you。　Though　I　don't　know　how　I　did　it；　I　did　it　to　protect　you。　The　screeling；　I　think；　is　from　the　underworld。　That　has　nothing　to　do　with　us。　It　is　just　something　evil。　The　magic　with　you　today　。。。　well；　that　could　have　something　to　do　with　the　magic　from　the　sword。　I　just　don't　know。'
　
　And　the　headaches？'
　
　'I　don't　know；'　she　admitted　at　last。
　
　'Kahlan；　the　headaches　might　kill　me。　I　don't　know　how　I　know　that；　but　I　know　it's　true。　It's　not　just　a　simple　headache。　It's　something　else。　I　don't　know　what。'
　
　'Richard；　please　don't　say　that。　You're　scaring　me。'
　
　'Scares　me；　too。　One　reason　I　was　angry　at　Chandalen　was　because　I　fear　he　may　be　right　about　me。　About　me　bringing　trouble。'
　
　'Maybe　we　should　start　thinking　about　getting　out　of　here。　Getting　to　Zedd。'
　
　And　what　about　the　headaches？　Much　of　the　time；　I　can't　even　stand。　I　can't　stop　every　ten　paces　to　shoot　an　arrow。'
　
　She　swallowed　past　the　lump　in　her　throat。　'Maybe　Nissel　can　find　an　answer。'
　
　He　shook　his　head。　'She　can　help　only　a　little；　and　only　for　a　time。　Soon；　I　don't　think　she　is　going　to　be　able　to　do　anything。　I'm　afraid　I　might　die。'
　
　Kahlan　started　crying。　Richard　leaned　back　against　the　wall；　put　his　arm　around　her　shoulders；　and　pulled　her　against　him。　He　started　to　say　something　else；　but　she　put　her　fingers　over　his　lips。　She　pressed　her　face　against　him　as　she　cried；　clutching　at　his　shirt。　It　seemed　as　if　everything　was　slowly　starting　to　unravel。　He　held　her　and　let　her　cry。
　
　Kahlan　began　to　realize　she　was　being　selfish。　It　was　him　these　things　were　happening　to。　He　was　the　one　in　pain；　in　danger。　She　should　be　forting　him；　not　the　other　way　around。
　
　'Richard　Cypher；　if　you　think　this　is　going　to　get　you　out　of　marrying　me；　you　had　better　think　again。'
　
　'Kahlan；　I'm　not　。。。　I　swear　。。。'
　
　She　smiled　and　gently　touched　his　cheek　as　she　kissed　him。　'I　know。　Richard；　we've　solved　problems　a　lot　bigger　than　this　one。　We　will　figure　it　out。　I　promise。　We　have　to；　Weselan　has　already　started　my　dress。'
　
　Richard　put　some　of　Nissel's　leaves　in　his　mouth。　'Really？　I　bet　you　are　going　to　look　beautiful　in　it。'
　
　'Well；　if　you　want　to　find　out；　you　are　just　going　to　have　to　marry　me。'
　
　'Yes；　ma'am。'
　
　Savidlin；　Weselan；　and　Siddin　returned　a　short　time　later。　Richard　had　closed　his　eyes　and　rested　as　he　chewed　the　leaves；　and　he　said　his　head　felt　a　little　better。　Siddin　was　excited。　He　was　a　local　celebrity；　having　ridden　on　a　dragon。　He　had　spent　the　better　part　of　the　day　telling　other　children　what　it　had　been　like。　Now　he　wanted　to　sit　in　Kahlan's　lap　and　tell　her　about　how　he　had　been　the　center　of　attention。
　
　She　listened　with　a　smile　while　they　all　ate　stew　and　tava　bread。　Like　her；　Richard　didn't　want　any　cheese。　Savidlin　offered　him　a　piece　of　smoked　meat。　Richard　politely　declined。
　
　As　they　were　finishing　their　meal；　a　grim…faced　Bird　Man；　ringed　by　men　with　spears；　showed　up　at　the　door。　Everyone　set　their　bowls　down　and　stood。　Kahlan　didn't　like　the　look　on　his　face。
　
　Richard　stepped　forward。　'What　is　it？　What's　happened？'
　
　The　Bird　Man　took　in　everyone　with　a　sweep　of　his　eyes。　'Three　women；　strangers；　have　e　on　horses。'
　
　Kahlan　wondered　why　three　women　would　bring　men　with　spears　around　the　Bird　Man。　'What　do　they　want？'
　
　'They　are　difficult　to　understand。　They　speak　only　a　little　of　our　language。　I　believe　they　want　Richard。　They　seemed　to　say　they　want　Richard　and　they　want　to　see　his　parents。'
　
　'My　parents！　Are　you　sure？'
　
　'I　think　that　is　what　they　were　trying　to　say。　They　said　for　you　not　to　try　to　run　an