tg.stone of tears-第173章

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　Sister　Verna’s　face　was　by　now　bright　red。　‘Richard！　What　do　you　think　。。。！’
　
　Richard　shoved　her　back。　‘Be　quiet。’
　
　Bow　and　arrows　in　hand；　he　leapt　up　onto　his　saddle。　The　mumbling　fell　silent。
　
　Richard　directed　himself　to　the　Queen　Mother。　‘I　have　spoken　with　the　spirits！’
　
　The　back　of　the　Queen　Mother’s　hand　started　sliding　up　the　pole；　toward　the　bell’s　rope。　That　was　all　the　sign　he　needed。　She　had　been　offered　a　chance。　The　irrevocable　mitment　had　been　made。
　
　He　loosed　the　magic　within　himself。
　
　In　one　swift　motion；　Richard　nocked　an　arrow。　He　drew　string　to　cheek。　He　called　the　target。　The　arrow　was　away。
　
　The　air　hissed　with　the　sound　of　the　arrow’s　flight。　The　crowd　gasped。　Before　the　arrow　reached　the　target；　while　the　air　still　sizzled　with　its　sound；　Richard　had　the　second　arrow　nocked　and　on　target。
　
　With　a　twanging　thunk；　the　first　arrow　made　a　solid　hit；　dead…on　where　he　intended　it。　The　Queen　Mother　let　out　a　clipped　cry　of　surprise　and　pain。　Penetrating　the　space　between　the　two　bones　in　her　wrist；　the　arrow　pinned　her　arm　to　the　pole；　preventing　her　hand　from　reaching　the　bell’s　rope。　Her　other　hand　started　over　toward　the　rope。
　
　The　second　arrow　sat　rock　solid　in　the　invisible　notch　in　the　air；　on　target；　waiting。　‘Move　toward　the　bell；　and　the　next　arrow　goes　through　your　right　eye！’
　
　The　gaggle　of　women　in　black　fell　to　their　knees；　wailing。　The　Queen　Mother　became　still。　Blood　trickled　down　her　arm。
　
　Inside；　storms　of　anger　thundered　through　him。　Outside；　he　was　stone。　‘You　will　hear　what　the　spirits　have　manded！’
　
　Slowly；　the　Queen　Mother　let　her　free　hand　drop　to　her　side。　‘Speak　their　words；　then。’
　
　Richard　still　held　the　bowstring　to　his　cheek；　and　had　no　intention　of　letting　it　relax。　Though　the　arrow　was　aimed　at　one；　his　ire　was　directed　at　all。
　
　Magic　burned　through　him　at　full　fury。　The　force　of　rage　pounded　through　his　veins。　In　the　past；　it　had　always　been　focused　on　an　enemy；　someone　specific。　This　was　different。　It　was　open…ended　rage；　rage　at　all　those　present；　at　everyone　involved　in　human　sacrifice。　This　was　nonspecific　wrath。
　
　That　made　it　worse。　It　drew　more　magic。
　
　Richard　didn’t　know　if　it　was　the　all…enpassing　threat　that　drew　more　magic；　or　if　it　was　because　of　all　the　practicing　he　had　done　with　Sister　Verna；　enabling　him　to　focus；　but　whatever　the　reason；　he　was　calling　forth　more　magic　from　the　sword　than　he　ever　had　before；　more　than　he　had　known　was　there。　The　magic　seethed　with　frightening　power。　The　very　air　vibrated　with　it。
　
　The　men　about　stepped　back。　The　wailing　women　fell　into　a　hush。　The　Queen　Mother’s　face　was　white　against　the　black　of　her　dress。　A　thousand　people　stood　in　silent　terror　of　one。
　
　‘The　spirits　wish　no　more　sacrifices！　It　does　not　prove　your　devotion　to　them；　only　that　you　can　kill！　From　now　on；　you　must　show　your　respect　of　the　spirits　by　showing　respect　for　the　lives　of　the　Baka　Ban　Mana。　If　you　do　not；　the　spirits　will　vent　their　wrath　by　destroying　you！　Take　their　threat　to　heart；　or　they　will　bring　starvation　and　death　to　the　Majendie！’
　
　He　spoke　to　the　men　as　they　pressed　forward。　‘If　any　of　you　makes　a　move　against　me　or　these　two　women；　the　Queen　Mother　dies。’　They　all　glanced　to　one　another；　seeking　courage。　‘You　may　think　to　kill　me；’　he　told　them；　the　target　not　wavering　in　the　slightest；　‘but　you　cannot　before　the　Queen　Mother　dies。　You　saw　the　shot　I　made。　My　hand　is　guided　by　magic。　I　do　not　miss。’
　
　The　men　backed　away。
　
　‘Let　him　be！’　the　Queen　Mother　called　out。　‘Hear　what　he　has　to　say！’
　
　‘I　have　told　you　what　the　spirits　have　said！　You　will　obey！’
　
　She　was　silent　a　moment。　‘We　will　consult　the　spirits　ourselves。’
　
　‘You　would　insult　them？　You　would　be　admitting　you　do　not　heed　their　words；　but　your　own　worldly　wishes！’
　
　‘But　we　must　。。。’
　
　‘I’m　not　here　to　bargain　on　their　behalf！　The　spirits　have　ordered　I　give　the　sacrificial　knife　to　this　woman；　so　she　may　carry　it　back　to　her　people；　to　show　them　that　the　Majendie　will　no　longer　hunt　them。
　
　‘The　spirits　will　warn　you　of　their　anger　by　taking　the　seed　you　plant；　and　only　when　you　send　representatives　to　the　Baka　Ban　Mana　and　tell　them　you　agree　to　the　wishes　of　the　spirits　will　you　be　able　to　plant　your　crops。　If　you　do　not　follow　the　spirits’　wishes；　you　will　all　starve　to　death！
　
　‘We　are　leaving　now。　I　will　have　your　word　that　we　will　be　granted　safe　leave　of　your　land；　or　you　will　die　right　now。’
　
　‘We　must　consider　。。。’
　
　‘I　grant　you　until　the　count　of　three　to　give　me　your　decision！　One；　two；　three！’　The　Queen　Mother　gasped。　The　women　in　black　gasped。　The　crowd　gasped。　‘What　have　you　decided！’
　
　The　Queen　Mother　held　her　free　hand　up；　imploring　he　hold　his　arrow。　‘You　may　go！　You　have　the　word　of　the　Queen　Mother　that　you　may　leave　our　land　unharmed！’
　
　‘A　wise　decision。’
　
　Her　hand　closed　into　a　fist；　one　finger　pointing　toward　them。　‘But　this　is　a　violation　of　our　agreement　with　the　wise…women。　The　accord　is　at　an　end。　You　must　leave　our　land　at　once。　You　are　banished。’
　
　‘So　be　it；’　Richard　said。　‘But　keep　to　your　word；　or　you　will　reap　the　grim　rewards　of　any　imprudent　action。’
　
　He　released　the　tension　from　the　bow。　Standing　in　his　stirrups；　he　pulled　the　sacred　knife　from　his　belt　and　held　it　up　high　for　all　to　see。
　
　‘This　woman　will　take　this　back　to　her　people；　and　tell　them　of　the　words　of　the　spirits。　As　to　their　part；　the　Baka　Ban　Mana　may　no　longer　make　war　on　the　Majendie。　You　may　no　longer　make　war　on　them。　You　will　be　two　peoples　at　peace！　Neither　may　harm　the　other！　Heed　the　words　of　the　spirits；　or　bear　the　consequences！’
　
　His　voice　dropped　to　a　fierce　whisper；　yet　the　wrath　of　the　magic　carried　the　words　to　the　farthest　corners　of　the　square；　and　in　the　stillness；　every　ear　could　hear　them。　‘Heed　my　orders；　or　suffer　what　I　will　bring　upon　you。　I　will　lay　waste　to　you。’
　
　Magic　lay　over　the　square　like　fog　in　a　valley；　ethereal　yet　real；　a　palpable　manifestation　of　his　outrage　that　touched　everyone　present；　and　all　trembled　at　that　touch。　Richard　leapt　off　his　horse。　The　men　shrank　back　a　few　more　steps。　Sister　Verna　was　speechless　with　rage。　He　had　never　seen　her　in　such　a　state。　She　stood；　as　if　paralyzed；　with　her　fists　out　before　her。
　
　Richard　leveled　his　glare；　and　his　wrath；　on　her。　‘Get　on　your　horse；　Sister。　We’re　leaving。’
　
　Her　jaw　looked　ready　to　shatter　under　the　pressure　of　how　tightly　it　was　clenched。　‘You　are　mad！　We　will　not　。。。’
　
　Richard　thrust　a　finger　toward　her。　‘If　you　wish　to　argue　with　someone；　Sister；　you　may　stay　and　argue　with　these　people。　I’m　sure　they　will　oblige　you。　I’m　going　to　the　palace　fto　get　this　collar　off。　If　you　want　to　go　with　me；　then　get　on　your　horse。’
　
　‘There　is　no　way！　We　cannot　now　travel　the　horn　of　the　Majendie　land！　We　are　banished！’
　
　Richard　lifted　his　thumb　to　Du　Chaillu。　‘She　will　guide　us　to　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets；　through　the　Baka　Ban　Mana’s　land。’
　
　Du　Chaillu　folded　her　arms　and　gave　the　Sister　a　self…satisfied　smile。
　
　Sister　Verna　looked　from　her　to　Richard。　‘You　truly　are　mad。　We　cannot　。。。’
　
　Richard　gritted　his　teeth　with　a　growl；　the　sword’s　anger　still　at　full　fury。　‘If　you　wish　to　go　with　me　to　the　palace；　get　on　your　horse！　I’m　leaving！’
　
　Du　Chaillu　watched　as　Richard　stuck　the　green…handled　knife　behind　her　buckskin　belt。　‘I　have　charged　you　with　a　responsibility。　You　will　live　up　to　it。　Now；　get　up　on　that　horse。’
　
　Du　Chaillu　unfolded　her　arms　in　sudden　worry；　looking　to　the　horse　and　back　to　him。　She　folded　her　arms　again　and　put　her　nose　in　the　air。　‘I　will　not　ride　on　that　beast。　It　stinks。’
　
　‘So　do　you！’　Richard　roared。　‘Now　get　up　on　that　horse！’
　
　She　flinched　back。　Eyes　wide　in　fright　at　his　glare；　she　swallowed；　gulping　air。　‘Now　I　know　what　a　Seeker　is。’
　
　She　scrambled　awkwardly　up　onto　Geraldine。　The　sister　was　already　atop　Jessup。　Richard　vaulted　up　onto　Bonnie。
　
　With　a　last；　warning　look　at　the　me