tg.stone of tears-第251章

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d　found　the　hilt　of　his　sword。　He　sluggishly　worked　at　drawing　it。　He　lurched　back　as　he　battled　to　bring　the　magic　forth。
　
　As　the　rage　flooded　into　his　foggy　brain；　Jedidiah　pulled　his　hands　out。　He　had　a　dacra。　His　arm　lifted；　the　silver　knife　in　his　fist。　Richard　wondered　what　he　should　do；　and　if　this　was　real。　Maybe　he　would　wake　and　find　it　only　a　dream。
　
　At　the　apex　of　his　swing；　light　seemed　to　e　from　within　Jedidiah’s　eyes。　Slowly　at　first；　and　then　with　gathering　speed；　Jedidiah　toppled　forward；　slamming　face…first　to　the　stone　floor。
　
　A　ripple　of　heart…stopping　darkness　swept　though　the　corridor。
　
　When　the　torchlight　returned；　Sister　Verna　was　standing　behind　where　Jedidiah　had　stood。　She　had　a　dacra　in　her　hand。　Richard　collapsed　to　his　knees；　still　trying　to　gather　his　wits。
　
　Sister　Verna　rushed　forward；　putting　her　hands　to　the　sides　of　his　head。　Alertness　jolted　into　his　mind。　As　he　came　to　his　feet；　he　glanced　down　at　the　body；　seeing　a　small；　round　hole　in　the　back。
　
　‘I　thought　I　had　better　go　talk　to　some　of　the　Sisters；’　she　explained。　‘I　realized　that　the　more　people　who　know　about　the　Sisters　of　the　Dark；　the　better。’
　
　‘He　was　the　one；　wasn’t　he？　He　was　the　one　you　loved。’
　
　She　slipped　the　dacra　back　up　her　sleeve。　‘He　wasn’t　the　Jedidiah　I　knew。　The　Jedidiah　I　knew　was　a　good　man。’
　
　‘I’m　sorry；　Sister　Verna。’
　
　She　nodded　absently。　‘You　go　talk　to　the　guards。　I’ll　talk　to　the　Sisters。　Meet　me　back　in　Nathan’s　room　when　you’re　through。　I　think　it　best　if　we　catch　a　few　hours’　sleep　there；　instead　of　our　rooms。’
　
　‘I　think　you’re　right。　We　can　get　our　things　when　it’s　light；　and　then　be　off。’
　
　
　When　he　heard　Nathan　e　into　the　room；　Richard　sat　up　in　the　chair　and　rubbed　his　eyes。　Sister　Verna　rose　more　quickly　from　the　couch。　Richard　blinked；　trying　to　banish　the　haze　of　sleep。
　
　They　both　had　been　up　late。　The　whole　palace　was　in　an　uproar。　What　had　happened　in　the　Prelate’s　office　was　proof　enough　of　the　mythical　Sisters　of　the　Dark。　Doubters　had　only　to　take　one　look　at　the　smooth…edged　voids　that　lined　up　through　a　dozen　walls；　or　the　cleanly　sliced　trees　and　stone；　to　know　that　nothing　short　of　Subtractive　Magic　had　been　used。
　
　Richard　had　sent　the　guards　out　to　look　discreetly　for　the　six　Sisters：　Sister　Ulicia　and　his　five　teachers。　The　Sisters　were　searching；　too。　He　had　also　gone　to　talk　to　Warren；　to　tell　him　what　had　happened。
　
　Richard　stretched　his　legs　as　he　stood。　‘How　is　she？　Is　she　going　to　recover？’
　
　Nathan　looked　haggard。　‘She’s　resting　more　fortably；　but　it’s　too　soon　to　tell。　When　she　has　rested；　I　will　be　able　to　do　more。’
　
　Thank　you；　Nathan。　I　know　Ann　could　be　in　no　better　hands　than　yours。’
　
　He　added　a　grunt　to　his　sour　expression。　‘You’re　asking　me　to　heal　my　jailer。’
　
　‘Ann　will　appreciate　it。　Perhaps　she　will　rethink　your　being　held。　If　she　doesn’t；　I’ll　e　back　and　see　what　I　can　do。’
　
　‘e　back？　Going　somewhere；　my　boy？’
　
　‘Yes；　Nathan；　and　I　need　your　help。’
　
　‘If　I　help　you；　you　might　get　it　in　your　obstinate　head　to　go　off　and　destroy　the　world。’
　
　And　do　the　prophecies　say　you　were　sent　to　stop　me？’
　
　Nathan　let　out　a　tired　sigh。　‘What　is　it　you　want？’
　
　‘How　can　I　get　through　the　barrier？　My　collar　stops　me。’
　
　‘What　makes　you　think　I　would　know？’
　
　Richard　took　an　angry　stride　toward　the　towering　old　wizard。　‘Nathan；　don’t　play　games　with　me。　I’m　in　no　mood　and　this　is　too　important。　You’ve　been　through。　You　went　with　Ann　to　get　the　book　from　the　Wizard’s　Keep　in　Aydin…dril。　Remember？’
　
　He　smoothed　his　sleeves　down。　‘It’s　a　simple　matter　of　shielding　the　Rada’Han。　Ann　helped　me　through；　Sister　Verna　can　do　the　same　for　you。　I’ll　tell　her　how。’
　
　And　what　of　the　Valley　of　the　Lost？　Can　I　get　back　through　that？’
　
　Nathan；　his　eyes　suddenly　intent　with　a　dark　look；　shook　his　head。　‘You　have　called　too　much　power　to　yourself。　The　collar　has　helped　it　grow。　You’ll　also　call　the　spells。　Sister　Verna　can’t　pass　again；　she　has　been　through　twice　already。　Additionally；　she　has　too　much　power　now。　With　passing　twice；　and　taking　the　gift　of　the　other　two　Sisters；　she　is　locked　here。’
　
　Then　how　did　you　ever　get　through　three　times？　You’re　from　D’Hara；　that’s　once。　You　went　to　the　New　World　again　with　Ann；　and　came　back。　That　makes　three　times。　How　did　you　do　it；　if　it　can’t　be　done？’
　
　A　sly　smile　came　to　his　lips。　‘I　did　not　go　through　the　valley　three　times。　Only　once。’　He　held　up　a　hand　to　silence　Richard’s　arguments。　‘Ann　and　I　didn’t　go　through　the　valley。　We　went　around　the　obstacle。　We　sailed　around　the　ambit　of　the　spells；　far　out　to　sea；　landing　finally　in　the　southernmost　reaches　of　Westland。　It’s　a　long　journey；　and　not　easily　done；　but　we　made　the　crossing。　Not　many　do。’
　
　‘By　sea！’　Richard　glanced　back　to　Sister　Verna。　‘I　don’t　have　that　kind　of　time。　Winter　solstice　is　not　even　a　week　away。　I　have　to　go　through　the　valley。’
　
　‘Richard；’　Sister　Verna　said　in　a　soft　voice；　‘I　can　understand　how　you　feel；　but　it　will　take　almost　that　much　time　just　to　reach　the　Valley　of　the　Lost。　Even　if　you　find　a　way　through；　there　is　no　time　to　get　where　you　want　to　go。’
　
　Richard　controlled　his　rage。　‘I　am　inexperienced　at　being　a　wizard。　I　cannot　count　on　my　gift。　For　that　matter；　I　don’t　care　if　I　ever　learn　to　use　it。
　
　‘But　I　am　also　the　Seeker。　In　that；　Sister　Verna；　I　am　not　so　inexperienced。　Nothing　is　going　to　stop　me。　Nothing。　I’ve　made　a　promise　to　Kahlan　that　if　I　must　go　to　the　underworld　and　battle　the　Keeper　himself；　in　order　to　protect　her；　I　will　do　it。’
　
　Nathan’s　expression　darkened。　‘I　have　warned　you；　Richard。　If　that　prophecy　is　not　allowed　to　take　place；　the　Keeper　will　have　us　all。　You　must　not　try　to　stop　it。　You　have　the　power　to　hand　the　world　of　the　living　to　the　Keeper。’
　
　‘It’s　just　a　meaningless　riddle；’　Richard　growled　in　frustration；　though　he　knew　better。
　
　Nathan’s　scowl　was　the　scowl　of　a　Rahl；　the　scowl　Richard　had　inherited。　‘Richard；　death　is　intrinsic　to　life。　The　Creator　brought　it　to　be；　too。　If　you　make　the　wrong　choice；　all　the　living　will　pay　the　price　of　your　pertinaciousness。
　
　‘And　Richard；　don’t　forget　what　I　told　you　about　the　Stone　of　Tears。　If　you　misuse　it　to　banish　a　soul　to　the　depths　of　the　underworld；　you　will　destroy　the　balance　between　everything。’
　
　‘Stone　of　Tears？’　Sister　Verna　said　in　a　suspicious　tone。　‘What　would　Richard　have　to　do　with　the　Stone　of　Tears？’
　
　Richard　turned　back　to　Sister　Verna。　‘We’re　running　out　of　time。　I’m　going　to　my　room　to　get　my　things。　We　need　to　be　on　our　way。’
　
　‘Richard；’　Nathan　said；　‘Ann　has　put　her　faith　in　you。　She　let　you　have　the　love　of　your　family；　so　that　perhaps　you　will　better　understand　the　true　meaning　of　life。　Please　consider　that　when　the　time　for　choice　is　upon　you。’
　
　Richard　looked　up　at　Nathan　for　a　long　moment。　Thank　you　for　your　help；　Nathan；　but　I　won’t　let　the　one　I　love　die　for　a　riddle　in　an　old　book。　I　hope　to　see　you　again。　There　is　much　for　us　to　talk　about。’
　
　
　Richard　dumped　the　bowl　full　of　gold　coins　into　the　bottom　of　his　pack　before　stuffing　the　rest　of　his　things　in。　He　reasoned　that　if　it　helped　him　save　Kahlan；　then　it　was　the　least　the　palace　could　do；　after　all　they　had　done　to　him。
　
　The　gold　had　been　a　kindness　that　lulled　the　rest　of　the　young　men　at　the　palace　into　laziness。　It　harmed　their　humanity；　as　Nathan　had　said。　Maybe　that　was　why　Jedidiah　turned　to　promises　from　the　Keeper。
　
　Richard　doubted　that　any　of　the　young　wizards；　except　Warren；　had　done　a　day’s　work　since　they　had　e　here　and　had　ready　access　to　unlimited　gold；　but　no　knowledge　of　its　value。　Just　one　more　way　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets　destroyed　lives。　He　wondered　how　many　children　of　young　wizards　that　gold　had　spawned。
　
　Richard　went　out　onto　the　balcony　to　take　stock　before　he　left。　Guards　were　patrolling　the　grounds。　Sisters；　too；　were　diligently　searching　every　building　and　covered　corridor。　The　Sisters　would　have