tg.stone of tears-第44章

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　He　regarded　Richard　with　one　yellow　eye。　‘Mistress　not　in　the　Reach。’　He　turned；　stretching　up　on　his　toes　to　look　over　the　grass；　and　pointed　a　long；　thick　finger　back　toward　the　Mud　People’s　village。　‘Mistress　waits　for　you　there。　Where　those　people　live　together。’　He　glared　back　at　Richard。　‘She　said　if　you　don’t　e；　she　will　kill　them；　and　Samuel　can　cook　them　in　a　stew。’　His　grin　returned。
　
　Richard　gritted　his　teeth。　‘If　she　has　hurt　anyone　。。。’
　
　‘She　said　she　will　not　hurt　them　。。。　if　you　e　to　her。’
　
　‘What　does　she　want？’
　
　‘You。’
　
　‘What　does　she　want　with　me？’
　
　‘Mistress　not　tell　Samuel。　Tells　me　only　to　get　you。’
　
　Kahlan　had　relaxed　half　the　tension　on　the　bowstring。　‘Richard；　Shota　said　she　would　kill　you　if　she　ever　saw　you　again。’
　
　He　kept　his　eyes　on　Samuel　as　he　spoke。　‘No。　She　said　she　would　kill　me　if　I　ever　went　back　to　Agaden　Reach。　She’s　not　in　the　Reach。’
　
　‘But　。。。’
　
　‘If　I　don’t　go；　she　said　she　will　kill　people。　Do　you　doubt　her？’
　
　‘No　。。。　but　she　still　might　kill　you。’
　
　He　grunted　and　then　smiled。　‘Kill　me？　I　don’t　think　so。　She　likes　me。　I　saved　her　life。　Indirectly　at　least。’
　
　Kahlan　bristled。　Shota　had　once　tried　to　bewitch　him；　and　she　didn’t　like　that　one　bit。　Other　than　the　Sisters　of　the　Light；　the　witch　woman　was　just　about　the　last　person　Kahlan　ever　wanted　to　see　again。　‘I　don’t　like　it。’
　
　Richard　stole　a　quick　glance　at　her。　‘If　you　have　a　better　idea；　put　words　to　it。’
　
　Kahlan　let　out　an　angry　breath。　‘I　guess　we　have　no　choice。　But　you　just　keep　her　hands　off　you。’
　
　Richard　gave　her　a　startled　look；　then　turned　to　the　witch　woman’s　panion。　‘You　take　the　lead；　Samuel；　and　don’t　forget　who’s　carrying　the　sword。　And　remember　what　I　told　you　the　last　time。　I　might　still　have　some　Samuel　stew　if　you　try　doing　anything　to　harm　us。’
　
　Samuel　eyed　the　blade　a　moment。　Without　another　word　he　turned　and　started　off；　glancing　over　his　shoulder　to　make　sure　they　followed。　Richard　kept　the　sword　out；　slung　his　bow　over　his　shoulder；　and　put　himself　between　Kahlan　and　Samuel。　The　anger　of　the　sword’s　magic　blazed　in　his　eyes。　Samuel　loped　through　the　grass　ahead　of　them；　turning　back　occasionally　to　hiss　at　them。
　
　Kahlan　stayed　close　on　Richard’s　heels。　‘She’d　better　not　put　snakes　on　me　again。　No　snakes！’　she　said　emphatically。　‘And　I　mean　it。’
　
　‘As　if　we　have　a　choice；’　Richard　muttered。
　
　It　was　near　dark　by　the　time　they　reached　the　village。　They　came　in　from　the　east；　and　noticed　immediately　that　the　entire　population　of　the　village　was　clustered　at　the　south　end　of　the　mon　field；　shielded　by　armed　hunters　standing　shoulder　to　shoulder。　Kahlan　knew　the　Mud　People　were　deathly　afraid　of　the　witch　woman。　They　wouldn’t　even　speak　her　name　aloud。
　
　For　that　matter；　everyone　she　ever　knew　was　deathly　afraid　of　the　witch　woman　…　including　her。　Shota　would　have　killed　her　the　last　time　if　Richard　hadn’t　used　a　wish　Shota　had　granted　him；　to　save　her。　She　didn’t　think　Shota　would　be　granting　Richard　any　more　wishes。
　
　Samuel　led　them　through　the　narrow　passageways；　toward　the　spirit　house；　walking　as　if　he　had　lived　here　all　his　life。　He　gurgled　his　odd　laugh　as　he　bounded　along；　giving　them　an　occasional　glance。　He　grinned　with　bloodless　lips；　as　if　he　knew　something　they　didn’t。　When　his　grin　showed　too　many　teeth　and　Richard　prodded　him　with　the　sword；　Samuel　growled　and　hissed；　his　yellow　eyes　glowing　in　the　fading　light。
　
　Samuel　laid　his　long…fingered　hand　on　the　latch　to　the　spirit　house。　‘Pretty　lady　waits　here。　With　me。　Mistress　wants　only　Seeker。’
　
　‘Richard；　I’m　going　in　too；’　Kahlan　said　firmly。
　
　He　gave　her　a　sidelong　glance　and　then　looked　at　Samuel。　‘Open　the　door。’
　
　One　powerful　arm　drew　the　door　back；　as　shining　yellow　eyes　glowered　at　him。　Richard　held　his　sword　out；　indicating　that　he　wanted　her　to　go　in。　The　door　squeaked　closed　behind　them；　with　a　sour…faced　Samuel　on　the　other　side。
　
　In　the　center　of　the　room　sat　a　tall；　elegant　throne。　Torchlight　danced　and　flared　on　the　carved；　gold…leaf　vines；　snakes；　cats；　and　other　beasts　that　covered　every　inch　of　the　stately　structure。　A　canopy　draped　with　heavy　red　brocade　and　trimmed　with　gold　tassels　jutted　out　overhead。　The　throne　itself　sat　atop　three　square；　white　marble　platforms　that　served　as　steps。　The　whole　thing　was　massive　and　imposing。　Tufted　red　velvet　covered　the　seat；　the　back；　and　the　tops　of　the　arms。　Kahlan　couldn’t　imagine　how　it　could　have　possibly　fit　through　the　door。　Or　how　many　men　it　must　have　taken　to　carry　it。
　
　Shota　sat　regally；　her　impassive　almond　eyes　watching　Richard。　She　reclined　slightly；　against　the　red　velvet；　one　leg　crossed　over　the　other；　her　arms　resting　on　the　chair’s　high；　wide…spaced　arms；　with　hands　draped　haughtily　over　gold　gargoyles。　The　gargoyles　licked　her　wrists　while　she　clicked　one　long；　lacquered　fingernail　against　a　thumbnail。　Luxuriant　auburn　hair　cascaded　over　her　shoulders。
　
　Shota　redirected　her　ageless　eyes　to　Kahlan。　The　long；　rock…solid　gaze　felt　as　if　it　paralyzed　her；　penetrated　her。　A　red；　white；　and　black　banded　snake　slumped　down；　hanging　from　the　canopy。　It　flicked　its　tongue　at　Kahlan；　hissing；　and　then　dropped　into　Shota’s　lap；　coiling　up　like　a　contented　cat。
　
　It　was　a　message　to　say　that　she　had　not　been　invited；　and　was　now　warned　of　what　would　happen　if　Shota　became　displeased。　Kahlan　swallowed；　trying　not　to　let　it　show。　After　what　seemed　an　eternity；　and　after　the　witch　woman　seemed　satisfied　that　the　message　was　understood；　she　turned　her　unblinking　eyes　back　to　Richard。
　
　‘Put　your　sword　away；　Richard。’　Shota’s　voice　was　like　smooth　velvet　rubbed　the　right　way。　Kahlan　didn’t　think　it　was　fair　that　anyone　that　beautiful　should　also　be　graced　with　a　voice　that　could　melt　butter；　or　a　man’s　heart。
　
　‘From　the　impression　you　left　when　we　parted；　I　fear　you　might　try　to　kill　me。’　His　voice；　also；　was　annoyingly　smooth。
　
　‘If　I　decide　to　kill　you；　my　dear　boy；　and　I　may；　your　sword　will　not　help　you。’　Richard　suddenly　yelped　and　dropped　the　sword　as　if　it　was　a　hot　coal。　He　stared　down　at　the　sword　as　he　forted　his　hand。　‘Now；　put　it　away。’　That　time　the　quality　of　her　voice　was　more　of　velvet　rubbed　the　wrong　way。
　
　From　under　his　eyebrows；　Richard　looked　up　at　Shota　on　her　throne；　before　bending　to　retrieve　his　sword　and　slide　it　back　into　its　scabbard。
　
　A　self…satisfied　smile　spread　across　Shota’s　full　lips。　She　lifted　the　snake　from　her　lap　and　set　it　aside。　Shota　watched　Richard　a　moment　longer　and　then　stood；　leaning　forward　enough　in　the　process　to　offer　her　breasts　the　opportunity　to　fall　out　of　her　wispy；　low…cut；　variegated　gray　dress。　How　they　managed　not　to；　Kahlan　didn’t　know。　A　little　stoppered　bottle　tumbled　from　its　snug　place　between　her　breasts　and　swung　on　a　fine　silver　chain。
　
　Kahlan’s　face　heated　as　Shota　gracefully　descended　the　three　platforms；　never　taking　her　eyes　from　Richard。　The　loose　points　of　the　dress　floated　gently；　as　if　in　a　light　breeze。　But　there　was　no　breeze　inside　the　spirit　house。
　
　That　fabric；　Kahlan　decided；　was　definitely　too　thin　for　a　dress。　She　wondered　what　she　would　look　like　in　it；　and　blushed　at　the　mental　image。
　
　Once　standing　on　the　ground；　Shota　turned　and　pulled　the　stopper　from　the　little　bottle。　The　entire　throne　wavered；　like　something　seen　through　heat　waves。　Abruptly　it　turned　to　gray　smoke　and　swirled　in　a　circle；　diminishing　all　the　time　in　size；　and　sucked　itself　into　a　fine　line　that　went　into　the　little　bottle。　Shota　replaced　the　stopper；　tucked　the　bottle　back　between　her　breasts；　and　with　a　finger；　pushed　it　so　far　down　it　could　no　longer　be　seen。　Kahlan　took　a　deep；　noisy　breath。
　
　Shota’s　gaze　glided　from　Richard’s　eyes　and　took　in　his　open　shirt　with　what　might　have　been　amusement。　Or　satisfaction。　Richard’s　face　reddened。
　
　Shota’s　smile　widened。　‘How　delightfully　indecent。’　She　ran　one　of　her　long；　red　nails　all　the　way　down　his　chest　to　his　navel；　and　then　she　gently　patted　his　stomach。　‘Button　yo