tg.wizardfirstrule-第31章

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no　longer　a　prisoner　to　your　fears。　Be　cautioned；　though。　As　important　as　it　is　to　be　able　to　use　your　rage；　it　is　equally　important　to　be　able　to　restrain　it。　You　have　always　had　that　ability。　Don't　let　yourself　lose　it　now。　You　must　be　wise　enough　to　know　which　path　to　choose。　Sometimes　letting　out　the　anger　is　an　even　more　grievous　mistake　than　holding　it　in。〃
　
　Richard　nodded　solemnly。　He　thought　about　the　way　it　felt　to　hold　the　sword　when　he　was　in　the　rage；　the　way　he　felt　its　power；　the　liberating　sensation　of　giving　himself　over　to　the　primal　urge；　from　within　himself；　and　from　the　sword。
　
　〃The　sword　had　magic；〃　he　said　guardedly。　〃I　felt　it。〃
　
　〃It　does。　But　Richard；　magic　is　only　a　tool；　like　any　other。　When　you　use　a　whetstone　to　sharpen　a　knife；　you　are　simply　making　the　knife　work　better　for　its　intended　purpose。　Same　way　with　the　magic。　It's　just　a　honing　of　the　intent。〃　Zedd's　eyes　were　clear　and　sharp。　〃Some　people　are　more　terrified　to　die　by　magic；　than；　say；　by　a　blade；　as　if　somehow　one　is　less　dead　if　killed　by　a　blow　or　cut　than　if　killed　by　the　unseen。　But　listen　well。　Dead　is　dead。　The　feat　of　the　magic；　though；　can　be　a　powerful　weapon。　Keep　that　in　mind。〃
　
　Richard　nodded。　The　late…afternoon　sun　warmed　his　face　and　
　
　out　of　the　corner　of　his　eye　he　could　see　the　cloud：　Rahl　would　be　watching　it；　too。　Richard　remembered　the　man　from　the　quad；　on　Blunt　Cliff；　how　he　had　pulled　his　sword　across　his　arm；　drawing　blood　before　he　attacked。　He　remembered　the　look　in　the　man's　eyes。　He　hadn't　understood　it　at　the　time；　he　understood　it　now。　Richard　hungered　for　the　fight。
　
　The　leaves　of　the　nearby　trees　；　fluttered　in　the　light　autumn　wind；　glimmering　with　their　first　touches　of　gold　and　red。　Winter　was　ing；　the　first　day　of　winter　would　soon　be　here。　He　thought　about　how　he　would　get　them　across　the　boundary。　They　had　to　get　one　of　the　boxes　of　Orden；　and　when　they　found　it；　they　would　find　Rahl。
　
　〃Zedd；　no　more　games。　I　am　Seeker　now；　no　more　tests。　True？〃
　
　〃True　as　toasted　toads。〃
　
　〃Then　we　are　wasting　our　time。　I　am　sure　Rahl　is　not　wasting　his。〃　He　turned　to　Kahlan。　〃I　hold　you　to　your　pledge　to　be　my　guide　when　we　reach　the　Midlands。〃
　
　She　smiled　at　his　impatience　and　nodded。　Richard　turned　to　Zedd。
　
　〃Show　me　how　the　magic　works；　wizard。〃　
　
　CHAPTER　10
　ZEDD'S　IMPISH　SMILE　SPREAD　across　his　face。　He　handed　Richard　the　baldric。　The　finely　tooled　leather　was　old　and　supple。　The　gold　and　silver　buckle　matched　the　scabbard。　It　was　adjusted　too　small；　its　last　user　having　been　smaller　than　Richard。　Zedd　helped　readjust　it　as　Richard　strapped　it　across　his　right　shoulder；　and　fit　the　Sword　of　Truth　to　it。
　
　Zedd　led　them　to　the　edge　of…the　grass；　amid　long　shadows　stretching　from　the　nearby　trees；　to　where　two　small　rock　maples　grew；　one　as　thick　as　Richard's　wrist；　the　other　as　thin　as　Kahlan's。
　
　He　turned　to　Richard。　〃Draw　the　sword。〃　The　unique　ringing；　metallic　sound　filled　the　late…afternoon　air　as　the　sword　came　free。　Zedd　leaned　closer。　〃Now；　I　will　show　you　the　most　important　thing　about　the　sword；　but　to　do　so　I　need　you　to　briefly　abdicate　your　post　as　Seeker；　and　allow　me　to　name　Kahlan　Seeker。〃
　
　Kahlan　gave　Zedd　a　suspicious　glare。　〃I　don't　want　to　be　Seeker。〃　〃Just　for　the　purpose　of　demonstration；　dear　one。〃　He　motioned　for　Richard　to　give　her　the　sword。　She　hesitated　before　taking　it　in　both　hands。　The　weight　was　unfortable；　and　she　allowed　the　point　to　lower　until　it　rested　on　the　grassy　ground。　Zedd　waved　his　hands　over　her　head　with　a　flourish。　〃Kahlan　Amnell；　I　name　you　Seeker。〃　She　continued　to　give　him　the　same　suspicious　stare。　Zedd　put　his　finger　under　her　chin；　tilting　her　head　up。　His　eyes　had　a　fierce　intensity。　He　put　his　face　close　to　hers；　speaking　in　a　low　voice。
　
　〃When　I　left　the　Midlands　with　this　sword；　Darken　Rahl　used　his　magic　to　place　the　larger　of　these　two　trees　here；　to　mark　me；　to　be　able　to　e　for　me　at　a　time　of　his　choosing。　So　he　could　kill　me。　The　same　Darken　Rahl　who　had　Dennee　killed。〃　Her　countenance　became　darker。　〃The　same　Darken　Rahl　who　hunts　you；　to　kill　you　like　he　killed　your　sister。〃　Hate　flared　in　her　eyes。　Her　teeth　clenched；　making　the　muscles　in　her　strong　jaw　line　stand　out。　The　Sword　of　Truth　rose　from　the　ground。　Zedd　stepped　behind　her。　〃This　tree　is　his。　You　must　stop　him。〃
　
　The　blade　flashed　through　the　autumn　air　with　speed　and　power　Richard　could　scarcely　believe。　The　arc　of　its　sweep　went　through　the　larger　tree　with　a　loud　crack；　like　a　thousand　twigs　snapping　at　once。　Splinters　flew　everywhere。　The　tree　seemed　to　hang　in　the　air　a　moment；　then　dropped　down　next　to　the　ragged　stump　before　toppling　over　with　a　crash。　Richard　knew　it　would　have　taken　him　at　least　ten　blows　with　a　good　axe　to　have　felled　the　maple。
　
　Zedd　slipped　the　sword　from　Kahlan's　hands　as　she　sank　to　her　knees　and　rocked　back　on　her　heels；　putting　her　hands　over　her　face　with　a　moan。　Instantly；　Richard　crouched　at　her　side；　steadying　her。
　
　〃Kahlan；　what's　wrong？〃
　
　〃I'm　all　right。〃　She　laid　a　hand　on　his　shoulder　as　he　helped　her　to　her　feet。　Her　face　was　pale　as　she　forced　a　small　smile。　〃But　I　resign　my　post　as　Seeker。〃
　
　Richard　spun　to　the　wizard。　〃Zedd；　what　is　this　nonsense？　Darken　Rahl　didn't　put　that　tree　there。　I've　seen　you　water　and　care　for　those　two　trees。　If　you　held　a　knife　to　my　throat；　I'd　say　you　planted　them　there　as　a　memorial　to　your　wife　and　daughter。〃
　
　Zedd　gave　only　a　small　smile。　〃Very　good；　Richard。　Here　is　your　sword。　You　are　Seeker　again。　Now；　my　boy；　you　cut　down　the　little　tree；　and　then　I　will　explain。〃
　
　Annoyed；　Richard　took　the　sword　in　both　hands；　feeling　the　anger　surge　through　him。　He　gave　a　mighty　swing　at　the　remaining　tree。　The　tip　of　the　blade　whistled　as　it　sliced　through　the　air。　Just　before　the　blade　hit　the　tree；　it　simply　stopped；　as　if　the　very　air　about　it　had　bee　too　thick　to　allow　it　to　pass。
　
　Richard　stepped　back　in　surprise。　He　looked　at　the　sword；　and　then　tried　again。　Same　thing。　The　tree　was　untouched。　He　glared　over　at　Zedd；　who　stood　with　his　arms　folded　and　a　smirk　on　his　face。
　
　Richard　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。　〃All　right；　what's　going　on。〃
　
　Zedd　lifted　his　eyebrows　with　an　innocent　expression。　〃Did　you　see　how　easily　Kahlan　cut　through　the　bigger　tree？〃　Richard　frowned。　Zedd　smiled。　〃It　could　just　as　well　have　been　iron。　The　blade　would　have　cut　through　it　the　same。　But　you　are　stronger　than　she；　and　you　couldn't　even　scratch　the　smaller　tree。〃
　
　〃Yes；　Zedd；　I　noticed。〃
　
　Zedd's　brows　wrinkled　in　mock　bewilderment。　〃And　why　do　you　think　that　is？〃
　
　Richard's　irritation　melted。　This　was　the　way　Zedd　often　taught　lessons；　by　making　him　e　up　with　the　answer　on　his　own。　〃I　would　say　it　has　something　to　do　with　intent。　She　thought　the　tree　was　evil；　I　didn't。〃
　
　Zedd　held　up　a　bony　finger。　〃Very　good；　my　boy！〃
　
　Kahlan　knitted　her　fingers　together。　〃Zedd；　I　don't　understand　I　destroyed　the　tree；　but　it　wasn't　evil。　It　was　innocent。〃
　
　〃That；　dear　one；　is　the　point　of　the　demonstration。　Reality　isn't　relevant。　Perception　is　everything。　If　you　think　it　is　the　enemy；　you　can　destroy　it；　whether　true　or　not。　The　magic　interprets　only　your　perception。　It　won't　allow　you　to　harm　someone　you　think　innocent；　but　it　will　destroy　whoever　you　perceive　to　be　the　enemy；　within　limits。　Only　what　you　believe；　and　not　the　truth　of　your　thoughts；　is　the　determining　factor。〃
　
　a　Richard　was　a　little　overwhelmed。　〃That　leaves　no　room　for　error。　But　what　if　you　aren't　sure？〃
　
　Zedd　lifted　an　eyebrow。　〃You　had　better　be　sure；　my　boy；　or　you　ate　liable　to　find　yourself　in　a　lot　of　trouble。　The　magic　could　read　things　in　your　mind　you　are　not　even　aware　of。　It　could　go　either　way。　You　could　kill　a　friend；　or　fail　to　kill　a　foe。〃
　
　Richard　drummed　his　fingers　on　the　hilt　of　the　sword；　thinking。　He　watched　the　setting　sun　offer　small　golden　flashes　through　the　trees　to　the　west。　Overhead；　the　snakelike　cloud　had　taken　on　a　reddish　cast　on　one　side；　deepening　into　darker　purple　on　the　other。　It　didn't　really　matter；　he　decided。　He　knew　who　he　wa