tg.wizardfirstrule-第115章

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　〃What　kind　of　person　would　try　to　make　me　think　she　was　my　dead　mother？〃　he　asked　bitterly。
　
　Shota　looked　genuinely　hurt。　〃Do　you　not　love　your　mother？〃
　
　〃Of　course。〃
　
　〃What　greater　gift　could　anyone　give；　than　the　return　of　a　passed　loved　one？　Did　it　not　give　you　joy　to　see　your　mother　again？　Did　I　ask　for　anything　in　return？　Did　I　demand　payment？　For　a　moment；　I　gave　you　something　beautiful；　pure；　a　living　memory　of　your　love　for　your　mother；　and　hers　for　you；　at　a　cost　to　myself　you　could　never　fathom；　and　you　see　this；　too；　as　evil？　And　in　payment；　you　would　think　to　take　my　head　off　with　your　sword？〃
　
　Richard　swallowed　hard；　but　didn't　answer。　He　looked　away　from　her　eyes；　feeling　suddenly；　unexpectedly；　ashamed。
　
　〃Is　your　mind　that　poisoned　by　the　words　of　others？　Their　fears？　All　I　ask　is　to　be　judged　by　my　deeds；　to　be　seen　for　who　I　am；　not　what　others　say　of　me。　Richard；　don't　be　a　soldier　in　this　silent　army　of　fools。〃
　
　Richard　stood　speechless　at　hearing　the　words　of　his　own　beliefs　ing　back　at　him。
　
　〃Look　around；〃　Shota　said；　sweeping　her　hand　through　the　air。　〃Is　this　a　place　of　ugliness？　Evil？〃
　
　〃It's　the　most　beautiful　place　I've　ever　seen；〃　Richard　admitted　in　a　soft　voice。　〃But　that　doesn't　prove　anything；　and　what　about　the　place　up　there？〃　He　pointed　with　his　chin；　toward　the　dark　wood　above
　
　She　took　a　brief　glance。　〃Think　of　it　as　my　moat。〃　Shota　smiled　proudly。　〃It　keeps　away　fools　who　would　harm　me。〃
　
　Richard　saved　the　hardest　question　for　last。　〃And　what　of　him？〃　He　glanced　toward　the　shadows；　where　Samuel　sat；　watching；　with　glowing　yellow　eyes。
　
　She　held　Richard's　gaze　as　she　spoke；　her　voice　heavy　with　regret。　〃Samuel；　e　here。〃
　
　The　disgusting　creature　skittered　across　the　grass；　to　his　mistress's　side；　pushing　against　her；　making　an　odd；　throaty　gurgle。　Samuel's　eyes　locked　on　the　sword；　and　stayed　there。　Her　hand　reached　down；　stroking　his　gray　head　affectionately。　Shota　gave　Richard　a　warm；　brave　smile。
　
　〃I　guess　a　formal　introduction　is　in　order。　Richard；　may　I　introduce　Samuel；　your　predecessor。　The　former　Seeker。〃
　
　Richard　looked　down；　wide…eyed；　speechless；　to　the　panion。
　
　〃My　sword！　Gimme！〃　Samuel　started　to　reach　out。　Shota　spoke　his　name　in　caution　without　taking　her　gaze　from　Richard；　and　the　little　creature　instantly　withdrew　his　arms；　nuzzling　back　against　her　hip。　〃My　sword；〃　he　plained　to　himself　in　a　low　voice。
　
　〃Why　does　he　look　like　that？〃　Richard　asked　cautiously；　afraid　of　the　answer。
　
　〃You　really　don't　know；　do　you？〃　Shota　lifted　an　eyebrow　as　she　studied　his　face。　Her　sad　smile　returned。　〃The　magic。　Did　the　wizard　not　warn　you？〃
　
　Richard　shook　his　head　slowly；　unable　to　form　words。　His　tongue　stuck　to　the　roof　of　his　mouth。
　
　〃Well；　I　suggest　you　have　a　talk　with　him。〃
　
　He　forced　himself　to　speak；　but　barely。　〃You　mean；　the　magic　will　do　this　to　me？〃
　
　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard；　I　can't　answer　that。〃　She　gave　a　heavy　sigh。　〃One　of　my　talents　is　that　I　have　vision　for　the　flow　of　time；　the　way　events　flow　into　the　future。　But　this　is　a　type　of　magic；　wizard's　magic；　that　I　cannot　see；　I　am　blind　to　it。　I　can't　see　how　it　flows　forward。
　
　〃Samuel　was　the　last　Seeker。　He　came　here　many　years　back；　desperate　for　help。　But　I　could　do　nothing　for　him；　other　than　take　pity　on　him。　Then　the　old　wizard　came；　suddenly；　one　day；　and　took　the　sword。〃　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　meaningfully。　〃It　was　a　very　unpleasant　experience…for　both　of　us。　I'm　afraid　I　must　admit　I　do　not　think　kindly　of　the　old　wizard。〃　Her　face　softened　again。　〃To　this　day；　Samuel　thinks　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　as　his。　But　I　know　better。　The　wizards；　for　all　ages；　are　the　caretakers　of　the　sword；　and　therein　its　magic；　and　only　assign　it　to　mere　Seekers　for　a　time。〃
　
　Richard　remembered　Zedd　telling　him　that　while　the　last　pretend　Seeker　was　distracted　by　a　witch　woman；　he　had　gone　and　taken　the　sword　back。　This　was　the　Seeker；　this　was　the　witch　woman。　Kahlan　was　wrong。　There　was　at　least　one　wizard　who　would　dare　to　go　into　Agaden　Reach。
　
　〃Maybe；　it's　because　he　wasn't　a　real　Seeker；〃　Richard　managed；　trying　to　reassure　himself。　His　tongue　still　felt　thick。
　
　Her　face　was　set　in　a　frown　of　true　concern。　〃Maybe。　I　just　don't　know。〃
　
　〃That　must　be　it；〃　he　whispered。　〃It　has　to　be。　Zedd　would　have　warned　me　otherwise。　He's　my　friend。〃
　
　She　gave　him　a　grave　expression。　〃Richard；　there　are　more　important　things　at　stake　than　friendship。　Zedd　knows　this；　and　so　do　you；　after　all；　you　chose　these　things　over　his　life　when　you　had　to。〃
　
　Richard　looked　up　at　Zedd。　How　he　wanted　to　talk　to　him。　He　needed　him　so　badly　right　now。　Could　that　be　true；　could　he　have　chosen　the　box　over　Zedd's　life　that　easily；　without　a　second　thought？　〃Shota；　you　promised　to　let　him　go。〃
　
　Shota's　eyes　studied　his　face　a　moment。　〃I'm　sorry；　Richard。〃　She　waved　her　hand　through　the　air　in　the　direction　of　Zedd。　Zedd　wavered；　and　then　disappeared。　〃That　was　only　a　little　deception。　A　demonstration。　It　wasn't　really　the　old　wizard。〃
　
　Richard　thought　he　should　feel　angry；　but　he　didn't。　He　felt　just　a　little　hurt　at　the　deception；　yet　sad　that　Zedd　wasn't　here；　with　him。　Then　a　wave　of　icy　dread　washed　through　him；　raising　bumps　on　his　arms　again。
　
　〃Is　that　really　Kahlan？　Or　have　you　already　killed　her；　and　presented　me　with　her　image；　another　trick？　Another　demonstration？〃
　
　Shota's　breast　rose　and　fell　as　she　took　a　deep　breath。　〃I'm　afraid；〃　she　sighed；　〃that　she　is　real　enough。　And　therein　lies　the　problem。〃
　
　Shota　put　her　arm　through　his；　taking　him　to　stand　in　front　of　Kahlan。　Samuel　followed　and　stood　by　them。　His　arms　were　so　long　that　as　he　stood　erect；　his　yellow　eyes　moving　warily　back　and　forth　between　them；　he　casually　drew　lines　and　circles　in　the　dirt　of　the　road　with　his　fingers。
　
　Shota　regarded　Kahlan　for　a　moment；　seemingly　lost　in　thought；　as　if　pondering　a　dilemma。　Richard　just　wanted　the　snakes　off　her。　Despite　the　witch　woman's　words　of　help　and　friendship；　Kahlan　was　still　terrified；　and　it　wasn't　the　snakes。　It　was　Shota　that　her　eyes　followed；　the　way　the　eyes　of　an　animal　in　a　trap　follow　the　trapper；　not　the　trap。
　
　〃Richard；〃　Shota　asked；　while　she　held　Kahlan's　stare；　〃would　you　be　able　to　kill　her　if　you　had　to？　If　she　was　a　threat　to　your　success；　would　you　have　the　courage　to　kill　her？　If　it　meant　the　lives　of　everyone　else？　The　truth；　now。〃
　
　Despite　the　disarming　tone　of　Shota's　voice；　her　words　went　through　him　like　an　ice　dagger。　Richard　met　Kahlan's　widening　eyes；　then　looked　to　the　woman　beside　him。　〃She　is　my　guide。　I　need　her；〃　he　said　simply；　offhandedly。
　
　Big　almond　eyes　stared　back　at　him。　〃That；　Seeker；　is　not　the　question　I　asked。〃
　
　Richard　didn't　say　anything；　he　tried　to　betray　nothing　with　his　face。
　
　Shota　gave　a　smile　of　regret。　〃As　I　thought。　And　that　is　why　you　made　a　mistake　with　your　wish。〃
　
　〃I　made　no　mistake；〃　Richard　protested。　〃If　I　hadn't　used　it　as　I　did；　you　would　have　killed　her！〃
　
　〃Yes；〃　Shota　nodded　grimly；　〃I　would　have。　The　image　of　Zedd　was　a　test。　You　passed　the　test；　and　as　a　reward；　I　gave　you　a　wish；　not　that　you　might　have　something　you　want；　but　that　I　might　do　an　onerous　deed　for　you；　because　you　lack　the　required　courage。　That　was　your　second　test。　That　test；　dear　boy；　you　failed。　I　must　honor　your　wish。　That　is　your　mistake；　you　should　have　let　me　kill　her　for　you。〃
　
　〃You're　mad！　First　you　try　to　tell　me　how　you're　not　evil；　how　I　should　judge　you　by　your　actions；　and　now　you　prove　your　true　self　by　telling　me　how　I　made　a　mistake　by　not　allowing　you　to　kill　Kahlan！　And　for　what！　Some　perceived　threat？　She　has　done　nothing　to　threaten　you；　nor　would　she。　She　wishes　only　to　stop　Darken　Rahl；　same　as　me。　Same　as　you！〃
　
　Shota　listened　patiently　until　he　finished。　The　timeless　look　passed　across　her　eyes　again。　〃Were　you　not　listening　when　I　said　not　all　acts　are　as　they　seem？　That　some　are　meant　to　save　you？　Once　again　you　judge　too　quickly；　without　knowing　all　the　facts。〃
　
　〃Kahlan　is　my　friend。　That　is　the　only　fact　that　matters。〃
　
　Shota