tg.stone of tears-第194章

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　have　nothing　to　live　for。’
　
　‘That’s　not　true；　Richard；’　she　said　in　a　quiet　tone。　‘You’re　a　young　man；　and　you　have　much　to　live　for。　You　have　a　long　life　ahead　of　you。　And　though　you　may　have　named　yourself　the　bringer　of　death；　I　have　seen　you　do　nothing　but　strive　to　stop　the　killing。　Sometimes　you　will　not　listen；　and　make　matters　worse；　but　it’s　through　ignorance；　not　malice。’
　
　‘Since　you　abhor　lies；　Sister；　I’m　sure　you　wouldn’t　want　me　to　pretend　to　feel　other　than　I　do。’
　
　She　sighed　as　they　went　through　a　huge　gate　in　the　thick；　outer　bailey　wall；　the　horses’　hooves　echoing　inside　the　long；　arched　opening。　Beyond；　the　road　meandered　among　low；　spreading　trees。　Windows　in　the　buildings　rising　up　all　around　were　aglow　with　soft　yellow　light。　Many　of　the　buildings　were　connected　by　covered　colonnades；　or　enclosed　halls　with　arched　openings　covered　over　with　latticework。　Benches　dotted　the　far　side　of　the　courtyard；　against　a　wall　with　a　frieze　carved　with　figures　on　horses。
　
　Through　archways　with　white…painted　gates；　they　came　to　the　stables。　Horses　browsed　in　a　field　beyond。　Boys　dressed　in　neat　livery；　with　black　vests　over　tan　shirts；　came　to　hold　the　horses　as　he　and　the　Sister　dismounted。　Richard　gave　Bonnie’s　neck　a　scratch　and　then　started　taking　down　his　belongings。
　
　Sister　Verna　brushed　out　the　wrinkles　in　her　divided　riding　skirt　and　straightened　her　light　cloak。　She　fussed　at　her　curly　hair。　‘No　need　for　that；　Richard。　Someone　will　bring　your　things。’
　
　‘No　one　touches　my　things　but　me；’　he　said。
　
　She　sighed　and　shook　her　head；　and　then　told　the　boy　to　have　her　things　brought　in。　He　bowed　to　her；　and　then　hooked　a　lead　line　on　Jessup。　He　gave　a　sharp　snap　on　the　line。　Jessup　balked。
　
　The　boy　brought　a　whip　around　on　the　Jessup’s　rump。　‘Move；　you　dumb　beast！’
　
　Jessup　bellowed　as　he　tried　to　yank　his　head　away。
　
　The　next　thing　Richard　knew；　the　boy　was　flying　across　the　walkway。　He　slammed　up　against　a　flimsy　wooden　wall　and　landed　on　his　seat；　as　a　glowering　Sister　Verna　loomed　over　him。
　
　‘Don’t　you　dare　whip　that　horse！　What’s　the　matter　with　you？　How　would　you　like　it　if　I　did　that　to　you？’　In　shock；　the　boy　shook　his　head。　‘If　I　ever　hear　of　you　whipping　a　horse　again；　you　will　be　without　a　job；　after　I　whip　your　skinny　bottom。’
　
　The　wide…eyed　lad　gave　a　quick　nod　and　apology。　Sister　Verna　glared　a　moment　longer　and　then　turned；　whistling　for　her　horse。　When　Jessup　trotted　up；　she　scratched　him　under　his　chin；　forting　and　calming　him。　She　led　him　inside　to　a　stall　and　saw　that　he　had　water　and　hay。　Richard　made　sure　she　didn’t　see　his　smile。
　
　As　they　walked　across　the　courtyard；　she　said；　‘Just　remember；　Richard；　there　isn’t　a　Sister　here；　or　even　a　novice；　who；　while　at　the　same　time　as　she　was　yawning；　couldn’t　throw　you　across　a　room　like　that　with　her　Han。’
　
　Inside　a　wood…paneled　hall　with　long　yellow　and　blue　carpets　running　under　ornate　side　tables；　three　women　waited。　They　became　all　atwitter　at　the　sight　of　Sister　Verna。　Sister　Verna　was　a　head　shorter　than　he；　and　none　of　these　three　women　were　as　tall　as　she。　They　smoothed　their　full；　pastel　skirts；　and　tugged　at　the　white　bodices。
　
　‘Sister　Verna！’　one　cried　out　as　the　three　rushed　up。　‘Oh；　dear　Sister　Verna；　it’s　so　good　to　see　you　at　last。’
　
　A　tear　or　two　ran　down　their　rosy　faces。　Their　smiles　looked　about　to　burst　their　cheeks。　Each　looked　a　good　deal　younger　than　Sister　Verna。　She　surveyed　the　big；　wet　eyes。
　
　Sister　Verna　tenderly　stroked　the　sniffling　face　before　her。　‘Sister　Phoebe。’　She　touched　another’s　hand。　‘And　Sister　Amelia；　and　Sister　Janet。　It’s　so　good　to　see　you　again。　It　has　been　a　long　time　indeed。’
　
　The　three　giggled　with　excitement；　at　last　posing　themselves。　Sister　Phoebe’s　round　face　looked　about；　past　Richard。
　
　‘Where　is　he？　Why　haven’t　you　brought　him　in　with　you？’
　
　Sister　Verna　lifted　her　hand　toward　Richard。　This　is　he。　Richard；　these　are　friends　of　mine。　Sisters　Phoebe；　Amelia；　and　Janet。’
　
　The　smiles　transformed　into　astonished　looks。　They　blinked　as　they　took　in　his　size　and　age。　They　stared　in　open　amazement　before　finally　sputtering　over　each　other’s　words　about　how　glad　they　were　to　meet　him。　They　tore　their　eyes　from　him　at　last　and　returned　their　attention　to　Sister　Verna。
　
　‘Better　than　half　the　palace　is　waiting　to　greet　you　both；’　Sister　Phoebe　said。　‘Everyone　has　been　so　excited　since　we　received　word　that　you　would　arrive　today。’
　
　Sister　Amelia　smoothed　back　her　fine；　light　brown　hair；　flipping　back　the　ends　that　barely　brushed　her　shoulders。　‘No　other　has　been　brought　in　since　you　left　for　Richard。　All　those　years；　and　no　other。　Everyone　is　so　eager　to　meet　him。　I　guess　they　are　in　for　a　‘big’　surprise；’　she　said　as　she　blushed；　glancing　sideways　at　him。　‘Some　of　the　younger　Sisters；　especially。　A　pleasant　surprise；　I　would　say。　My；　but　he　is　big。’
　
　Richard　remembered　a　time；　when　he　was　little；　when　he　had　been　imprisoned　in　his　house　by　a　pouring　rain。　His　mother　had　some　women　friends　visiting　to　help　in　the　making　of　a　quilt；　and　to　pass　the　time　in　conversation。　As　they　sat　and　sewed　while　he　played　on　the　floor；　they　discussed　him　as　if　he　weren’t　there；　talking　about　how　he　was　growing；　and　his　mother　had　told　how　much　he　ate；　and　how　good　he　was　at　reading。　In　similar　disfort；　now；　Richard　shifted　his　pack　up　higher　on　his　shoulder。
　
　Sister　Phoebe　turned　to　him　and　just　beamed。　She　reached　out　and　touched　his　arm。　‘Listen　to　us　go　on！　We　shouldn’t　talk　about　you　like　you　weren’t　here。　Wele；　Richard。　Wele　to　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。’
　
　Richard　silently　watched　the　three　Sisters　blinking　up　at　him。　Sister　Amelia　giggled；　and　said　to　Sister　Verna；　‘He　doesn’t　talk　much；　does　he。’
　
　‘He　talks　enough；’　Sister　Verna　said。　Under　her　breath；　she　added；　Thank　the　Creator　he　is　quiet　for　now。’
　
　‘Well；’　Sister　Phoebe　said；　in　a　bright　voice。　‘Shall　we　go？’
　
　Sister　Verna　frowned　at　her。　‘Sister　Phoebe；　who　are　the　troops　I　saw；　the　ones　in　the　strange　uniforms？’
　
　Sister　Phoebe’s　brow　wrinkled　in　thought　a　moment；　then　her　eyebrows　lifted。　‘Oh；　those　troops。’　She　dismissed　it　with　a　wave。　The　government　was　overthrown；　a　few　years　back。　I　guess　it　must　have　been　while　you　were　away。　The　Old　World　has　a　new　government；　again。　We　have　an　emperor；　now；　instead　of　all　those　kings。’　She　looked　to　Sister　Janet。　‘What　is　it　they　call　themselves？’
　
　Her　brow　creased　in　thought；　Sister　Janet’s　eyes　turned　toward　the　ceiling。　‘Oh；　yes；’　she　said　in　a　demure　voice。　The　Imperial　Order。　And　you　are　quite　right；　Sister　Phoebe；　they　have　an　emperor。’　She　nodded。　‘Yes；　the　Imperial　Order；　led　by　an　emperor。’
　
　Sister　Phoebe　shook　her　head　in　wonder。　‘Such　foolishness。　Governments　e；　and　governments　go；　but　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　always　remains。　The　Creator’s　hand　shelters　us。　Shall　we　go　greet　the　others？’
　
　Following　behind　the　three；　they　passed　through　warmly　decorated　passageways　and　halls。　As　far　as　Richard　was　concerned；　he　was　in　hostile　territory。　Threat　always　caused　the　magic　of　the　Sword　of　Truth　to　try　to　seep　into　him；　to　protect　him。　He　let　in　a　trickle；　keeping　the　anger　on　a　slow　burn。　Sister　Verna　glanced　sideways　occasionally；　as　if　measuring　the　growth　of　his　glower。
　
　At　last；　they　went　through　a　pair　of　thick　walnut　doors　that　opened　into　a　vast　chamber。　They　had　to　pass　under　a　low　ceiling　and　between　white　columns　with　gold　capitals；　before　entering　under　a　huge；　vaulted　dome　painted　with　immense　scenes　of　people　in　robes　surrounding　a　glowing　figure。　Two　levels　of　balconies　with；　ornate　stone　railings　ringed　the　circular　room。　Stained…glass　windows　lit　the　top　balcony　from　behind。　The　floor　of　the　room　was　made　up　of　small；　light　and　dark　wood　squares　laid　out　in　a　zigzag　pattern。　The　hum　of　well　over　a　hundred　voices　echoed　around　the　chamber。
　
　Women　stood　in　bunches　around　the　floor　and　more　lined　the　balconies。　Scattered　among　the　women　on　the　second　level　were　some　men　and　boys。　The　women；　all　Sisters　of　the　Light；