tg.stone of tears-第54章

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　Weber　bent　to　his　friend；　rolling　him　gently　over　on　his　back。　‘Neville；　it’s　all　right。　I’ll　help　you。　Lie　still。’
　
　He　took　the　man’s　shaking　hands　away　and　replaced　them　with　his　own。　He　began　talking　and　healing。　She　waited　impatiently　with　her　arms　folded。　It　didn’t　take　long；　Weber　was　talented　at　healing。　Weber　helped　his　friend　sit　up　and；　with　a　handful　of　straw；　wiped　the　blood　from　the　healed　wound。
　
　Ranson　pushed　himself　to　his　feet。　His　eyes　flashed　anger；　but　he　kept　any　speck　of　it　out　of　his　voice。　‘Forgive　me；　Sister。　What　is　it　you　want？’
　
　Weber　came　up　beside　him。　‘Please；　Sister；　we　have　done　everything　the　Sisters　have　asked。　We　are　finished。’
　
　‘Finished？　Finished？　I　don’t　think　so。　Have　you　forgotten　our　talks？　Have　you　forgotten　what　I　told　you？　Did　you　think　I　would　forget？　Simply　let　the　two　of　you　dance　out　of　here？　Free　as　birds？　No　man　walks　out　of　here　without　seeing　me　or　one　of　mine。　There　is　the　matter　of　an　oath。’
　
　The　two　glanced　at　each　other；　retreating　a　half　step。
　
　‘If　you　will　just　let　us　go；’　Weber　offered；　‘we　will　give　you　our　oath。’
　
　She　watched　them　a　moment；　her　voice　ing　quietly　at　last。　‘My　oath？　It　is　not　an　oath　to　me；　boys。　It　is　an　oath　to　the　Keeper。　You　know　that。’　They　both　paled　a　little。　‘And　the　oath　es　only　after　one　of　you　has　passed　the　test。　Only　one　of　you　has　to　give　the　oath。’
　
　‘One　of　us？’　Ranson　asked。　He　swallowed。　‘Only　one　of　us　has　to　give　the　oath；　Sister？　Why　only　one　of　us？’
　
　‘Because；’　she　whispered；　‘the　other　will　have　no　need　to　give　an　oath。　He　is　going　to　die。’
　
　They　both　gasped　and　moved　closer　together。
　
　‘What　is　this　test？’　Weber　asked。
　
　Take　off　your　robes；　and　we　will　begin。’
　
　They　glanced　at　each　other。　Ranson　lifted　his　hand　a　little。　‘Our　robes；　Sister？　Now？　Here？’
　
　She　looked　to　each。　‘Don’t　be　bashful；　boys。　I　have　seen　you　both　swim　naked　in　the　lake　since　you　were　only　this　big。’　She　held　her　hand　out　just　below　her　waist。
　
　‘But　that　was　when　we　were　boys；’　Weber　plained。　‘Not　since　we　have　grown　into　men。’
　
　She　glowered　at　them。　‘Don’t　make　me　have　to　tell　you　again。　The　next　time；　I　will　burn　them　off　you。’
　
　They　both　flinched　and　began　pulling　their　robes　over　their　heads。　She　made　a　deliberate　point　of　looking　each　up　and　down；　just　to　show　them　her　displeasure　with　their　argument。　Each　man’s　face　turned　red　in　the　torchlight。
　
　With　a　flick　of　her　wrist；　she　brought　her　knife　to　her　hand。　‘Up　against　the　wall。　Both　of　you。’
　
　When　they　didn’t　move　quickly　enough；　she　used　the　collars　to　slam　them　against　the　wall。　With　a　thin　stream　of　power　to　each　Rada’Han；　she　immobilized　them　against　the　stone。　They　were　flattened　against　the　wall　and　helpless　to　lift　a　finger。
　
　‘Please；　Sister；’　Ranson　whispered；　‘don’t　kill　us。　We’ll　do　anything。　Anything。’
　
　Her　cold　gaze　settled　on　his　dark　eyes。　‘Yes；　you　will。　One　of　you　anyway。　But　we　haven’t　gotten　to　the　oath　yet。　Now　still　your　tongue　or　I　will　do　it　for　you。’
　
　As　the　two　were　held　helpless；　she　moved　to　Weber　first。　Putting　the　knife　tip　against　his　upper　chest；　she　drew　it　slowly　down；　carefully　cutting　through　the　skin　and　no　more。　Sweat　poured　from　Weber’s　face　as　he　gritted　his　teeth。　His　jowls　shook。　After　she　had　made　a　cut；　about　a　forearm　long；　she　went　back　to　where　she　had　begun　and　made　another　next　to　it；　so　the　two　cuts　were　about　a　finger’s　width　apart。　Small；　high…pitched　sounds　escaped　from　the　man’s　throat　as　she　drew　the　knife　along。　The　ends　of　the　lines　drew　together　to　a　point。　Small　trickles　of　blood　ran　down　his　chest。　She　worked　the　knifepoint　under　the　top；　between　the　cuts；　separating　the　skin　from　him　until　there　was　a　generous　flap　of　it　hanging　down。
　
　She　moved　over　to　Ranson　and　made　the　same　twin　cuts；　with　a　flap　of　skin　hanging　away　at　the　top。　Tears　ran　down　his　face　with　the　sweat；　but　he　said　nothing。　He　knew　better。　When　finished；　she　straightened　and　inspected　her　work。　They　looked　the　same。　Good。　She　tucked　the　knife　back　up　her　sleeve。
　
　‘One　of　you　two　is　going　to　have　the　Rada’Han　taken　off　tomorrow；　and　be　free　to　go。　As　far　as　the　Sisters　of　the　Light　are　concerned；　anyway。　Not　as　far　as　I；　or　more　importantly；　the　Keeper；　are　concerned。　It　will　be　the　beginning　of　your　service　to　him。　If　you　serve　well；　you　will　be　rewarded　when　he　is　free　of　the　veil。　If　you　fail　in　your　tasks　。。。　well；　you　wouldn’t　want　to　know　what　would　happen　to　you　if　you　should　fail　him。’
　
　‘Sister；’　Ranson　asked　in　a　shaky　voice；　‘why　only　one　of　us？　We　could　both　give　the　oath。　We　could　both　serve。’
　
　Weber’s　sudden　glare　shifted　to　his　friend。　He　didn’t　like　being　spoken　for。　He　always　had　been　obstinate。
　
　‘The　oath　is　a　blood　oath。　One　of　you　will　have　to　pass　my　test　to　earn　the　privilege　of　taking　it。　The　other　is　going　to　lose　the　gift　tonight；　lose　his　magic。　Do　you　know　how　a　wizard　loses　the　gift？’
　
　They　both　shook　their　heads。
　
　‘When　they　are　skinned；　the　magic　bleeds　from　them。’　She　said　it　as　if　she　were　discussing　peeling　a　pear。　‘Bleeds　away　until　it’s　all　gone。’
　
　Weber　stared　at　her；　his　face　gone　white。　Ranson　closed　his　dark　eyes　and　shook。
　
　At　the　same　time；　she　wrapped　the　flap　of　skin　on　each　man　around　her　first　fingers。　‘I’m　going　to　ask　for　a　volunteer。　This　is　just　a　little　demonstration　of　what　is　in　store　for　the　one　who　volunteers。　I　don’t　want　either　of　you　to　think　dying　is　going　to　be　the　easy　way　out。’　She　gave　them　a　warm　smile。　‘You　have　my　permission　to　scream；　boys。　I　believe　this　is　going　to　hurt。’
　
　She　yanked　the　strips　of　skin　off　their　chests。　She　waited　patiently　for　the　screams　to　stop；　and　even　a　little　while　longer　while　they　sobbed。　It　was　always　good　to　let　a　lesson　sink　in。
　
　‘Please；　Sister；　we　serve　the　Creator；　as　the　Sisters　have　taught　us；’　Weber　cried。　‘We　serve　the　Creator；　not　the　Keeper。’
　
　She　regarded　him　coolly。　‘Since　you　are　so　loyal　to　the　Creator；　Sam；　I　will　give　you　first　choice。　Do　you　want　to　be　the　one　to　live；　or　to　die　tonight？’
　
　‘Why　him？’　Ranson　demanded。　‘Why　does　he　get　to　choose　first？’
　
　‘Keep　your　tongue　still；　Neville。　You　will　speak　when　spoken　to。’　She　slid　her　gaze　back　to　Weber。　She　lifted　his　chin　with　a　finger。　‘Well；　Sam？　Who　dies；　you　or　your　best　friend？’　She　folded　her　arms　across　her　breasts。
　
　He　looked　up　at　her　with　hollow　eyes。　His　skin　was　ashen。　He　didn’t　look　over　at　his　friend。　His　voice　came　in　a　flat　whisper。
　
　‘Me。　Kill　me。　Let　Neville　live。　I　won’t　give　an　oath　to　the　Keeper。　I　would　rather　die。’
　
　She　looked　back　into　his　empty　eyes　a　moment　and　then　turned　to　Ranson。　‘And　what　have　you　to　say；　Neville？　Who　lives？　Who　dies？　You；　or　your　best　friend　in　the　world。　Who　gives　the　Keeper　their　oath？’
　
　He　glanced　to　Weber；　who　didn’t　look　back。　He　licked　his　lips。　His　dark　eyes　came　back　to　her。
　
　‘You　heard　him。　He　chooses　to　die。　If　he　wants　to　die；　let　him。　I　choose　to　live。　I　will　give　the　Keeper　my　oath。’
　
　‘Your　soul。’
　
　He　nodded　slowly；　his　eyes　flashing　fierce　determination。　‘My　soul。’
　
　‘Well　then’　…　she　smiled　…　‘it　seems　you　two　friends　have　e　to　an　agreement。　Everyone　is　happy。　So　be　it。　I　am　pleased；　Neville；　that　it　is　to　be　you　with　us。　You　have　made　me　proud。’
　
　‘Do　I　have　to　be　here？’　Ranson　asked。　‘Do　I　have　to　see　it？’
　
　‘See　it？’　She　raised　an　eyebrow。　‘You　have　to　do　it。’
　
　He　swallowed；　but　the　hard　look　stayed　in　his　eyes。　She　had　always　known　it　would　be　him。　Oh；　not　that　there　hadn’t　been　doubts；　but　she　had　known。　She　had　taught　him　well。　She　had　spent　a　great　deal　of　time　on　him；　bending　him　to　her　way。
　
　‘May　I　be　granted　one　request？’　Weber　whispered。　‘May　I　have　the　collar　off　before　I　die？’
　
　‘So　that　you　may　make　Wizard’s　Life　Fire　and　take　your　own　life　before　we　have　a　chance　to　take　it　from　you？　Do　you　think　I　am　stupid？　A　stupid；　soft　woman？’　She　shook　her　head。　‘Denied。’
　
　She　released　both　Rada’Han　from　the　wall。　Weber　sank　to　his　kn