tg.stone of tears-第53章

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　‘No　。。。　That　must　be　frightening　for　them　…　to　have　the　power　awakened　without　guidance　from　us。’
　
　‘Indeed。　And　fear　can　make　them　troublesome；　as　I　have　said。　I　have　even　seen　an　old　report　of　one　who　refused　the　collar　on　the　first　offer。’
　
　Pasha’s　fingers　covered　her　mouth　as　she　gasped。　She　took　them　away。　‘But。。。　that　means。。。　one　of　the　Sisters　。。。’
　
　She　nodded　solemnly。　‘It　is　a　price　we　are　all　prepared　to　pay。　We　bear　a　heavy　responsibility。’
　
　‘But　why　wouldn’t　the　parents　make　him　accept　the　offer？’
　
　She　leaned　closer；　lowering　her　voice。　Tn　the　report　I　saw；　the　one　with　the　gift　was　grown。　A　man。’
　
　Pasha　stared　in　wide…eyed　disbelief。　A　man　。。。？’　she　whispered。　‘If　a　boy　can　be　difficult　to　control　。。。　what　of　a　grown　man？’
　
　She　gave　the　novice　an　even　look。　‘We　are　here　to　serve　in　the　Creator’s　work。　You　can　never　tell　what　the　Creator　has　in　His　plan；　why　you　are　given　what　you　have。　A　novice　in　charge　of　a　new　one　must　use　whatever　the　Creator　has　given　her。　The　collar　is　not　always　enough。　You　can　never　tell　what　you　might　need　to　do。　The　rules　don’t　always　work。
　
　‘Do　you　still　want　to　be　a　Sister　of　the　Light？　Even　knowing　you　may　be　given　a　new　one　who　could　be　more　difficult　than　any　other　novice　has　ever　been　given？’
　
　‘Oh；　yes！　Yes；　Sister！　If　the　new　one　is　difficult；　I　know　it　is　a　test　from　the　Creator　himself；　to　see　if　I　am　truly　worthy。　I　will　not　fail。　I　will　do　whatever　must　be　done。　I　will　use　everything　I　have　learned；　everything　the　Creator　has　given　me。　I　will　be　on　guard　that　he　may　be　from　a　strange　land；　or　have　strange　customs；　and　be　afraid；　or　troublesome；　or　difficult。　And　that　I　may　have　to　make　my　own　rules　to　succeed。’　She　hesitated。　‘And　if　you　are　so　kind　as　to　mean　what　you　said　about　helping　me；　then　I　know　I　will　have　your　wisdom　backing　me；　and　I　will　not　fail。’
　
　She　nodded　with　a　smile。　‘I　have　given　my　word。　It　holds；　no　matter　the　difficulty。’　She　frowned　in　thought。　‘Perhaps；　it　could　be　that　you　are　graced　with　your　looks　so　a　new　one　might　see　the　beauty　of　the　Creator　through　you；　through　his　work。　Perhaps；　this　is　how　you　are　to　show　a　new　one　the　way。’
　
　‘It　would　be　an　honor；　in　any　way；　to　show　a　new　one　the　light　of　the　Creator’s　hand。’
　
　‘You　are　right　in　that；　my　dear。’　She　straightened；　clasping　her　hands。　‘Now。　I　want　you　to　go　to　the　mistress　of　the　novices；　and　tell　her　that　you　have　too　much　free　time；　and　that　starting　tomorrow；　you　need　to　be　assigned　some　chores。　Tell　her　you　have　been　spending　too　much　of　your　time　looking　out　windows。’
　
　Pasha　bowed　her　head　and　curtsied　again。　‘Yes；　Sister；’　she　said　meekly。
　
　She　smiled　when　the　novice　looked　up。　‘I　too；　have　heard　that　three　of　the　Sisters　are　searching　for　one　with　the　gift。　I　think　it　will　be　a　while　before　they　return　with　him；　if　at　all；　but　when　they　return；　and　if　they　bring　him；　I　will　remind　the　Prelate　that　you　are　next　in　line；　and　are　ready　for　the　task。’
　
　‘Oh；　thank　you；　Sister！　Thank　you！’
　
　‘You　are　a　fine　young　woman；　Pasha。　The　Creator　has　truly　shown　the　beauty　of　his　work　in　you。’
　
　Thank　you；　Sister；’　she　said　without　blushing。
　
　Thank　the　Creator。’
　
　‘I　will；　Sister。　Sister？　Before　the　new　one　is　brought　in；　could　you　teach　me　more　about　what　the　Creator　has　intended　for　me？　Help　me　to　understand？’
　
　‘If　you　wish。’
　
　‘Oh；　I　do。　I　really　do。’
　
　She　patted　Pasha’s　cheek。　‘Of　course；　my　dear。　Of　course。’　She　stood　up　straight。　‘Now；　off　to　the　mistress　of　the　novices　with　you。　I　won’t　have　soon…to…be…Sisters　with　nothing　better　to　do　than　stare　out　windows。’
　
　‘Yes；　Sister。’　Pasha　curtsied　with　a　smile　and　rushed　off　down　the　hall。　She　stopped　and　turned。　‘Sister　。。。　I　am　afraid　I　don’t　know　your　name。’
　
　‘Go！’
　
　Pasha　flinched。　‘Yes；　Sister。’
　
　She　watched　the　swell　of　Pasha’s　hips　sway　as　she　walked　quickly　off　down　the　hall；　kicking　the　rolled　edges　of　carpets　back　down　as　she　went。　The　girl　had　exquisite　ankles。
　
　Grown　into　a　man。
　
　She　collected　her　thoughts　and　started　off　again；　down　the　halls　and　stairs。　As　she　descended；　the　wooden　stairs　changed　to　stone。　The　heat　lessened；　although　not　the　stuffiness；　or　the　smell　of　the　tide　flats。　The　warm　glow　of　lamps　was　replaced　by　the　flickering　shadows　of　widely　spaced　torches。　The　cowering　palace　staff　diminished　in　number　until　she　saw　no　one。　She　continued　down　to　the　lowest　floors；　below　dusty　storerooms；　down　below　the　servants’　quarters　and　workshops。　The　torches　became　more　widely　spaced　until　there　were　no　more。　She　ignited　a　ball　of　flame　in　her　palm；　and　held　it　up　to　see　by　as　she　continued　on。
　
　When　she　reached　the　proper　door；　she　sent　the　flame　into　a　cold　torch　set　in　a　bracket　next　to　the　doorway。　The　stonewalled　room　was　small；　an　abandoned　cellar　of　some　sort；　empty　except　for　moldy　straw　on　the　floor；　a　lit　torch；　and　the　two　wizards。　The　smell　was　unpleasant：　burning　pitch　and　damp　mold。
　
　At　her　entrance；　the　two　stood；　swaying　slightly。　Both　wore　the　plain　robes　befitting　their　high　rank。　Each　had　a　stupid　half　grin　on　his　face。　They　weren’t　cocky；　she　realized；　they　had　been　drinking。　Probably　celebrating　their　last　night　in　the　Palace　of　the　Prophets。　Their　last　night　with　the　Sisters　of　the　Light。　Their　last　night　wearing　the　Rada’Han。
　
　The　two　men　had　been　friends　since　they　had　been　brought　to　the　palace　as　boys；　almost　at　the　same　time。　Sam　Weber　was　a　plain　man　of　average　height；　with　curly；　light　brown　hair　and　a　clean…shaven　jaw　that　seemed　too　big　for　the　rest　of　his　soft　face。　Neville　Ranson　was　slightly　taller；　with　straight　black　hair　cut　short　and　smoothed　neatly　down。　He　wore　a　short；　well…kept　beard　that　was　just　beginning　to　show　flecks　of　gray。　His　eyes　were　almost　as　dark　as　his　hair。　His　features　seemed　all　the　more　sharply　formed；　standing　next　to　his　soft　friend。
　
　She　had　always　thought　he　had　grown　into　a　handsome　man。　She　had　known　him　since　he　had　e　to　the　palace　as　a　small　boy。　She　had　been　a　novice　then；　and　he　had　been　the　one　assigned　to　her；　put　in　her　care；　her　final　test　before　being　a　Sister　of　the　Light。　That　had　been　a　long　time　ago。
　
　Wizard　Ranson　swept　his　arm　across　his　middle　and　gave　a　dramatic；　although　wobbly；　bow。　He　came　back　up　with　a　widening　grin。　His　grin　always　made　his　face　look　boyish；　despite　his　years　and　the　beginnings　of　gray。
　
　‘A　good　evening　to　you；　Sister　。。。’
　
　Hard　as　she　could；　she　backhanded　him　across　the　face　with　her　rod。　She　could　feel　his　cheekbone　break。　He　fell　back　to　the　floor　with　a　cry。
　
　‘I　have　told　you　before；’　she　hissed　through　gritted　teeth；　‘never　to　use　my　name　when　we　are　alone。　Being　drunk　does　not　excuse　the　order。’
　
　Wizard　Weber　stood　stone　still；　his　eyes　wide；　his　face　white；　his　grin　gone。　Ranson　rolled　over　on　the　ground　with　his　hands　to　his　face；　leaving　blood　on　the　straw。
　
　The　color　came　back　to　Weber’s　face　in　a　red　rush。　‘How　dare　you　do　this？　We　have　passed　all　the　tests！　We　are　wizards！’
　
　She　sent　a　cord　of　power　into　the　Rada’Han。　The　impact　threw　him　back　against　the　wall；　where　the　collar　stuck　to　the　stone　like　a　nail　to　a　magnet。　‘Passed　the　tests！’　she　screamed。　‘Passed　the　tests！　You　have　not　passed　my　tests！’　She　twisted　on　the　pain　until　Weber　was　choking　in　agony。　‘Is　this　how　you　address　a　Sister！　Is　this　the　way　you　show　respect！’
　
　She　snipped　off　the　cord　and　he　fell　to　the　floor；　grunting　when　he　hit。　He　pushed　himself　up　on　his　knees　with　an　effort。
　
　‘Forgive　me；　Sister；’　he　said　in　a　pained；　hoarse　voice。　‘I　beg　you　forgive　our　disrespect。’　His　eyes　rose　cautiously　to　meet　her　glare。　‘It　was　only　the　drink　speaking。　Forgive　us？　Please？’
　
　With　her　fists　on　her　hips；　she　stood　watching　him。　She　pointed　with　the　rod　at　the　one　rolling　and　moaning　on　the　floor。　‘Heal　him。　I　don’t　have　time　for　this　nonsense。　I　have　e　to　give　you　both　your　test；　not　to　watch　him　whine　and　plain　about　a　little　slap。’
　
　Weber　bent　to　his　friend；　rolling　him　gently　over　on　his　back。　‘Neville；　it’s