tg.stone of tears-第208章

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　Jedidiah’s　eyebrows　went　up　in　mock　wonder。　‘Well；　how　brave　of　the　country　boy。’
　
　‘You’ve　never　killed　a　mriswith；’　Warren　spoke　up。
　
　Jedidiah　slowly　turned　a　withering　glare　on　Warren。　Warren　shrank　away。　‘What　are　you　doing　above　ground；　Mole？’　He　turned　back　to　Pasha。　‘And　did　you　see　him　kill　it？　I　would　wager　he　was　alone　when　he　claimed　to　have　killed　it。　He　probably　found　a　mriswith　that　had　died　of　old　age；　stabbed　it　with　his　sword；　and　then　bragged　to　you；　to　try　to　impress　you。’　He　redirected　a　smirk　to　Richard。　‘Isn’t　that　about　the　way　it　happened；　country　boy？’
　
　Richard　grinned。　‘You’ve　caught　me　cold。　You　have　it　right。’
　
　‘As　I　thought。’　He　twitched　a　small　smile　to　Pasha。　‘e　to　me　later；　child；　and　I’ll　show　you　some　real　magic。　A　man’s　magic。’
　
　Jedidiah　strode　away　imperiously　and　disappeared　around　a　corner。　Pasha　put　her　fists　to　her　hips。
　
　‘Why　did　you　say　that！　Why　did　you　let　him　think　that！’
　
　‘I　did　it　for　you；’　Richard　said。　‘I　thought　you　wanted　me　to　stop　causing　trouble　and　act　a　gentleman。’
　
　She　folded　her　arms　in　a　huff。　‘Well；　I　do。’
　
　Richard　turned　to　Warren；　still　shrunk　back　against　the　marble　newel　post。　‘If　he　does　anything　to　you；　Warren；　I　want　you　to　e　tell　me。　It’s　me　that’s　the　thorn　in　his　pants。　If　he　takes　it　out　on　you；　you　e　tell　me。’
　
　Warren　brightened。　‘Really？　Thank　you；　Richard。　But　I　don’t　think　he　would　bother　with　me。　And　I’ll　be　seeing　you　down　in　the　vaults；　when　you　have　the　time。’　He　cast　a　shy　smile　at　Pasha。　‘Good　night；　Pasha。　So　nice　to　see　you　again。　You　look　lovely　tonight。　Good　night。’
　
　She　smiled。　‘Good　night；　Warren。’　She　watched　him　scurry　off　down　the　hall。　‘What　a　strange　young　man。　I　almost　couldn’t　remember　his　real　name。　Everyone　calls　him　the　Mole。　He　almost　never　es　up　from　the　vaults　under　the　palace。’
　
　She　glanced　sideways　to　Richard。　‘Well；　you’ve　made　a　friend　tonight　who　can　be　of　no　help　to　you；　and　an　enemy　who　can　harm　you。　You　stay　away　from　Jedidiah。　He’s　an　experienced　wizard；　close　to　being　released。　Until　you　learn　to　defend　yourself　with　your　Han；　he　can　hurt　you。　He　can　kill　you。’
　
　‘I　thought　we　were　one　big　happy　family。’
　
　There　is　a　pecking　order　among　wizards。　Wizards　with　the　strongest　power　vie　for　dominance。　It　sometimes　gets　very　dangerous。　Jedidiah　is　the　pride　of　the　palace；　and　does　not　take　well　to　the　idea　that　another　may　challenge　his　supremacy。’
　
　‘I’m　hardly　a　challenge　to　the　power　of　a　wizard。’
　
　Pasha　lifted　an　eyebrow。　‘Jedidiah　never　killed　a　mriswith；　and　everyone　knows　that。’
　
　Feeling　decidedly　unfortable　in　the　red　coat　Pasha　had　selected；　Richard　tried　to　enjoy　the　lentil　porridge　they　had　prepared　especially　for　him。　Pasha　wore　a　stunning　dark　green　dress　that　did　more　to　reveal　her　figure　than　cover　it。　Richard　thought　it　revealed　more　of　her　breasts　than　was　prudent。　The　young　men　there　as　guests　of　Sisters　or　their　novices　did　little　eating；　and　a　lot　of　watching。　None　missed　a　move　Pasha　made。
　
　Many　of　the　young　men　in　collars　came　by　and　introduced　themselves　to　Richard；　saying　they　wanted　to　get　to　know　him　better。　They　promised　to　show　him　the　city　and　some　of　its　more　interesting　sights。　Pasha’s　face　reddened　at　the　last。
　
　Richard　asked　if　they　knew　where　the　guards　went　for　ale；　and　they　promised　to　take　him　there　whenever　he　wished。
　
　Sisters　of　every　age；　shape；　and　size　came　to　greet　him。　They　all　acted　as　if　the　events　of　the　night　before　had　never　taken　place。　When　Richard　asked　Pasha　why；　she　said　all　the　Sisters　understood　the　difficulty　a　young　man　had　in　making　the　adjustment　of　ing　to　the　palace。　She　said　they　were　accustomed　to　such　outbursts　of　emotion；　and　didn’t　take　them　to　heart。　Richard　kept　to　himself　the　thought　that　this　time　they　should。
　
　Some　of　the　Sisters　smiled　and　said　they　hoped　they　would　be　given　the　opportunity　to　work　with　him；　and　a　few　scowled　and　promised　they　would　be　seeing　him；　and　promised　not　to　be　tolerant　of　anything　less　than　his　best　efforts。　Richard　smiled　and　said　he　would　give　them　nothing　less　than　his　best。　He　wondered　to　himself　what　he　was　mitting　to。
　
　Near　the　end　of　the　meal；　two　attractive　young　women；　one　in　a　satiny　pink　dress；　the　other　in　yellow；　rushed　in；　stopping　at　various　tables；　speaking　in　whispers　to　other　young　women。　They　at　last　came　to　the　corner　where　Richard　and　Pasha　sat。
　
　One　bent　close　to　Pasha。　‘Have　you　heard？’　Pasha　stared　with　a　blank　look。　‘Jedidiah　fell　down　a　flight　of　stairs。’　Her　eyes　sparkled　with　the　telling　of　the　gossip。　She　leaned　closer　with　the　titillation　of　what　she　had　to　tell　next。　‘Broke　his　leg。’
　
　Pasha　gasped。　‘No！　When？　We　just　saw　him　a　while　ago。’
　
　The　woman　giggled　and　nodded。　‘Yes；　it’s　true。　It　just　happened；　not　but　a　few　minutes　ago。　The　healers　are　with　him　now。　No　need　for　concern；　he’ll　be　back　to　good　by　morning。’
　
　‘How　did　it　happen？’
　
　The　woman　shrugged。　‘Just　clumsy。　Tripped　on　the　carpet　and　tumbled　down。’　She　lowered　her　voice。　‘He　was　so　furious　he　flamed　the　carpet　to　ash。’
　
　‘Wizard’s　fire！’　Pasha　whispered　incredulously。　‘In　the　palace？　Such　a　high　crime　。。。’
　
　‘No；　no；　not　wizard’s　fire；　of　course　not；　silly　girl。　Even　Jedidiah　is　not　that　brazen。　Just　simple　fire。　But　it　was　one　of　the　oldest　carpets　in　the　palace。　The　Sisters　are　not　pleased　at　his　display　of　temper。　They　ordered　the　bone；　and　the　pain；　not　be　mended　until　morning；　as　punishment。’
　
　Their　gossip　finally　expended；　the　two　young　women’s　eyes　and　smiles　settled　on　Richard。　Pasha　introduced　them　as　two　friends　of　hers；　Celia　and　Dulcy；　two　novices　with　charges　of　their　own。　Richard　was　polite；　plimenting　them　on　their　pretty　dresses；　and　the　way　their　hair　was　curled。　Their　smiles　widened。
　
　Taking　his　arm　when　they　finally　left；　Pasha　thanked　him。
　
　‘For　what？’
　
　‘I’ve　never　been　permitted　to　eat　with　the　Sisters；　or　with　the　novices　who　have　a　young　man　to　train。　This　is　the　first　time　I’ve　ever　been　to　dinner　just　like　I　was　a　Sister。　You　were　pleasant　and　considerate　of　everyone；　I　was　so　proud　to　have　you　with　me。　And；　you　look　very　handsome　in　those　clothes。’
　
　‘In　that　dress；　I　would　imagine　you　could　easily　get　someone　better　bred　than　me　as　a　dinner　panion。’　Richard　pulled　open　the　fancy　shirt　collar。　‘I’ve　never　worn　a　shirt　this　ruffled；　or　white。　Nor　a　coat　this　red。　I　think　I　look　foolish。’
　
　A　self…satisfied　smile　spread　on　Pasha’s　face。　‘I　can　promise　you　that　Celia　and　Dulcy　do　not　think　you　look　foolish。　I’m　surprised　you　couldn’t　see　them　glowing　green。　I　thought　maybe　they　might　decide　to　sit　right　down　on　your　lap。’
　
　Richard　thought　that　if　Celia　and　Dulcy　liked　the　red　coat　so　much；　they　could　have　it；　but　he　kept　the　thought　to　himself。　‘Why　doesn’t　an　important　wizard　like　Jedidiah　wear　fancy　clothes？’
　
　‘Only　beginning　wizards　wear　clothes　like　this；　and　are　permitted　to　go　into　the　city。　At　certain　milestones　in　a　wizard’s　advancement；　they　change　to　a　particular　form　of　dress。　The　further　a　wizard　progress；　the　more　modest　his　dress。　That’s　why　Jedidiah　wears　simple　tan　robes；　because　he　has　nearly　reached　the　end　of　his　training。’
　
　‘What’s　the　purpose　of　such　an　odd　rule？’
　
　To　teach　humility。　Those　with　the　nicest　clothes；　the　most　freedom；　and　unlimited　money；　are　those　with　the　least　power。　No　one　respects　them　for　these　things。　It’s　meant　to　teach　the　young　men　that　mastery　es　from　within；　not　from　external　trappings。’
　
　Then；　wearing　these　things　is　a　demotion　for　me。　I　was　already　wearing　humble　clothes。’
　
　‘You　are　not　yet　entitled　to　wear　humble　robes。　You　may　wear　your　own　clothes　occasionally；　if　you　wish。　If　they　were　simple　robes；　though；　it　would　not　be　allowed。
　
　The　people　in　the　city　know　a　wizard’s　abilities　and　power　by　his　dress。　No　wizard　who　wears　simple　robes　is　permitted　to　go　into　the　city。’　She　smiled。　‘Someday；　when　you　have　advanced　enough；　you　will　be　permitted　to　wear　the　robes　of　a　wizard。’
　
　‘I　don’t　like　robes。