tg.stone of tears-第252章

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Sisters；　too；　were　diligently　searching　every　building　and　covered　corridor。　The　Sisters　would　have　to　somehow　deal　with　those　six。　He　certainly　had　no　idea　how　to　contain　their　power。
　
　When　he　heard　the　door　in　the　front　room；　he　assumed　it　would　be　Sister　Verna。　They　had　to　get　going。　When　he　turned　and　looked；　he　had　no　time　to　react。
　
　Pasha　was　storming　through　the　room　toward　him。　She　threw　her　hands　up。　The　doors　blew　off　their　hinges　and　over　the　balcony　railing；　falling　the　thirty　feet　to　the　stone…paved　courtyard　below。
　
　The　impact　of　the　solid　wall　of　air　threw　him　back。　Only　the　railing　prevented　him　from　being　thrown　over　with　the　splintered　doors。　The　wind　had　been　knocked　from　his　lungs；　and　a　sharp　pain　in　his　side　prevented　him　from　taking　another　breath。
　
　As　he　staggered　away　from　the　edge　of　the　balcony；　another　blow　threw　him　back　once　again；　this　time　hammering　his　head　against　the　stone　railing。　He　saw　a　shocking　spray　of　blood　hit　the　stone　before　the　slate　floor　collected　him。
　
　Pasha　was　screaming　in　a　rage。　At　first；　her　words　were　nothing　but　an　incoherent　buzz　in　his　mind。　He　pushed　himself　up　with　his　hands。　Blood　was　running　from　his　head。　A　pool　of　it　spread　beneath　him。　Reeling；　he　toppled　to　his　side。
　
　He　managed　to　sit　up　and　flop　back　against　the　railing。　‘Pasha；　what　。。。’
　
　‘Keep　your　filthy　mouth　shut！　I　won’t　hear　any　of　it！’
　
　She　was　standing　in　the　doorway；　fists　at　her　sides。　One　fist　held　a　dacra。　Tears　streamed　down　her　cheeks。
　
　‘You’re　the　Keeper’s　spawn！　You’re　an　obscene　disciple　of　the　Keeper！　You　do　nothing　but　hurt　good　people！’
　
　Richard　put　his　hands　to　his　head。　They　came　away　covered　with　blood。　He　was　so　dizzy　he　had　to　fight　the　urge　to　be　sick。
　
　‘What　are　you　talking　about？’　he　managed　to　mumble。
　
　‘Sister　Ulicia　told　me！　She　told　me　you　serve　the　Keeper！　She　told　me　how　you　killed　Sister　Liliana！’
　
　‘Pasha；　Sister　Ulicia　is　a　Sister　of　the　Dark　。。。’
　
　‘She　told　me　you　would　say　that！　She　told　me　how　you　used　your　vile　magic　to　kill　Sister　Finella　and　the　Prelate！　That’s　why　you　were　always　wanting　to　go　to　the　Prelate’s　office！　So　you　could　kill　our　leader　in　the　Light！　You　are　filth！’
　
　The　world　swam　before　his　eyes。　He　saw　two　of　her；　moving　around　and　around　each　other。　‘Pasha　。。。　that’s　not　true。’
　
　‘Only　the　Keeper’s　tricks　saved　you　yesterday。　You　gave　someone　else　the　coat　I　loved；　to　humiliate　me！　Sister　Ulicia　told　me　how　the　Keeper　whispers　in　your　ear！
　
　‘I　should　have　killed　you　when　I　saw　you　on　the　bridge；　then　none　of　this　would　have　happened。　But　I　foolishly　thought　I　could　save　you　from　the　Keeper’s　clutches！　Those　Sisters；　and　the　Prelate；　would　be　alive　now　had　I　finished　the　job。　I　failed　the　Creator　when　you　tricked　me　into　killing　Perry；　but　that　will　not　save　you　again。　Your　vile　underworld　tricks　will　not　save　you　again！’
　
　‘Pasha；　please；　just　listen　to　me。　You’re　being　lied　to。　Please　listen。　The　Prelate　isn’t　dead。　I　can　take　you　to　her。’
　
　‘You　wish　to　kill　me；　too！　That’s　all　you　ever　talk　of　…killing！　You　profane　us　all！　And　to　think　I　could　have　ever　thought　I　loved　you！’
　
　She　raised　the　dacra　and；　with　a　scream；　ran　for　him。　Richard　somehow　managed　to　pull　the　sword；　woozily　wondering　which　image　of　her　to　try　to　stop。　The　anger；　the　magic；　of　the　sword　brought　strength　to　his　arms。　He　brought　the　sword　up　as　she　dove　for　him；　dacra　first。　The　two　images　of　her　converged。
　
　The　sword　never　touched　her。　With　a　shriek；　she　was　propelled　over　the　railing　above　him。　She　screamed　all　the　way　down。　Richard’s　eyes　winced　shut　when　he　heard　her　scream　terminate　as　she　hit　the　stone。
　
　Richard　opened　his　eyes　to　see　a　stunned　Warren　standing　in　the　doorway。　He　remembered　Jedidiah’s　fall　on　the　stairs。
　
　‘Oh；　dear　spirits；　no；’　Richard　whispered。
　
　He　levered　himself　to　his　feet　and　took　a　quick　glance　over　the　edge。　People　rushed　from　different　directions　toward　the　body。　Warren　was　shuffling　woodenly　toward　the　railing。　Richard　stopped　him　halfway　there。
　
　‘No；　Warren；　don’t　look。’
　
　Tears　welled　up　in　Warren’s　eyes。　Richard　put　his　arms　around　his　friend。　Why　did　you　do　that；　he　thought；　I　could　have　done　it。　I　was　going　to　do　it。　You　didn’t　have　to。
　
　Over　Warren’s　shoulder；　Richard　saw　Sister　Verna　standing　in　the　room。
　
　‘She　killed　Perry；’　Warren　said。　‘I　heard　her　admit　it。　She　was　going　to　kill　you。’
　
　I　could　have　done　it；　Richard　thought；　you　didn’t　need　to。　But　instead　he　said；　‘Thank　you；　Warren。　You　saved　my　life。’
　
　‘She　was　going　to　kill　you；’　he　cried　against　Richard’s　shoulder。　‘Why　would　she　do　that？’
　
　Sister　Verna　put　a　forting　hand　to　Warren’s　back。　‘She　was　lied　to　by　the　Sisters　of　the　Dark。　The　Keeper　filled　her　mind　with　lies。　She　heard　the　whispers　of　the　darkness。　The　Keeper　can　make　even　the　good　listen　to　his　whispers。　You　did　a　brave　thing；　Warren。’
　
　‘Then　why　do　I　feel　so　ashamed？　I　loved　her；　and　I　killed　her。’
　
　Richard　simply　held　him　as　he　wept。
　
　Sister　Verna　pulled　them　back　into　the　room。　She　made　Richard　bend　over　as　she　examined　his　head。　Blood　was　dripping　all　over　the　floor。
　
　‘This　must　be　tended　to。　I　can’t　fix　this　much　damage。’
　
　‘I　can；’　Warren　said。　‘I’m　fair　at　healing。　Let　me　do　it。’
　
　When　Warren　had　finished；　Sister　Verna　made　Richard　hold　his　head　over　the　basin　while　she　poured　the　ewer　of　water　over　him；　washing　off　the　blood。　Warren　sat　on　the　edge　of　a　chair；　his　head　in　his　hands。　Richard　thought　that　he　was　going　to　need　the　basin。
　
　Warren’s　head　came　up　when　the　Sister　finished。　‘I　figured　out　the　rule　you　told　me　about。　People　will　believe　a　lie　because　they　want　to　believe　it’s　true；　or　because　they　are　afraid　it　is。　Just　like　Pasha　believed　a　lie。　Am　I　right？’
　
　Richard　smiled。　‘You　are；　Warren。’
　
　Warren　managed　a　weak　smile。　‘Sister　Verna；　can　you　take　this　collar　off　me？’
　
　Sister　Verna　hesitated。　‘You　would　have　to　pass　the　test　of　pain；　Warren。’
　
　‘Sister；’　Richard　said。　‘What　do　you　think　he　just　did？’
　
　‘What　do　you　mean？’
　
　The　young　wizards　sent　back　through　the　valley　are　able　to　pass　because　they　don’t　have　sufficient　power　to　draw　the　spells　to　them；　they　are　not　full　wizards。　Zedd　told　me　that　wizards　have　to　pass　a　test　of　pain。
　
　‘Over　the　millennia；　the　Sisters　have　convoluted　that　into　making　them　endure　physical　pain。　I　think　they’re　wrong。　I　think　the　test　Warren　just　passed　is　more　pain　than　the　Sisters　could　ever　give。　Am　I　right；　Warren？’
　
　He　nodded；　his　face　going　white　again。　‘Nothing　they　ever　did　hurt　like　this。’
　
　‘Sister；　remember　when　I　told　you　how　I　turned　the　blade　white；　and　killed　that　woman　by　loving　her？　Maybe　that；　too；　was　a　form　of　the　test　of　pain。　I　know　how　much　that　hurt。’
　
　She　spread　her　hands　in　dismay。　‘Do　you　really　think　that　one　with　the　gift　must　kill　someone　they　love　to　pass　the　test？　Richard；　that　can’t　be。’
　
　‘No；　Sister；　they　don’t　have　to　kill　someone　they　love。　But　they　must　prove　they　can　make　the　right　decision。　They　must　prove　they　have　what　it　takes　to　choose　the　greater　good。　Would　one　with　the　gift　be　a　good　servant　to　this　Creator　of　yours；　to　the　hope　of　life；　if　they　could　act　only　for　selfish　needs？
　
　‘Giving　someone　pain；　as　the　Sisters　do；　doesn’t　prove　anything　except　that　the　victim　does　not　die。　Wouldn’t　serving　the　light　of　life；　and　loving　life；　require　that　the　person　prove　instead　that　of　their　own　free　will　they　would　choose　right；　choose　that　light　of　life　and　love　for　all　people？’
　
　‘Dear　Creator；’　she　whispered；　‘have　we　had　it　wrong　all　this　time？’　Her　hand　covered　her　mouth　a　moment。　‘And　we　thought　we　were　bringing　the　Creator’s　Light　to　these　boys。’
　
　Sister　Verna’s　back　straightened　with　resolve。　She　stood　before　Warren；　putting　her　hands　to　the　sides　of　his　Rada’Han。　As　she　stood　with　her　eyes　closed；　her　hands　to　the　collar；　there　was　a　humming　vibration　in　the　air。　After　a　moment；　silence　settled　over　the　room；　and　then　Richard　he