tg.stone of tears-第66章

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　was　a　burned　handprint　…　the　Keeper’s　mark。　The　blackened　skin　was　cracked　and　bleeding。　His　life；　his　soul；　was　bleeding　away。
　
　She　fell　on　him；　clutched　at　him；　as　she　wept　and　shook　uncontrollably。
　
　Kahlan　gripped　her　fingers　into　a　fist　in　his　hair　and　pressed　her　face　against　his　cold　cheek。　‘Please；　Richard；’　she　cried　in　choking　sobs；　‘please　don’t　leave　me。　I　would　do　anything　for　you。　I　would　die　in　your　place。　Don’t　die。　Don’t　leave　me。　Please；　Richard。　Don’t　die。’
　
　She　crouched　against　him；　her　world　ending。　Dying。　She　could　think　of　nothing　to　do；　other　than　cry　that　she　loved　him。　He　was　dying；　and　she　could　do　nothing　to　stop　it。　She　could　feel　his　breathing　slow。
　
　She　willed　herself　to　die　with　him；　but　death　wouldn’t　e。　She　lost　all　sense　of　time。　She　didn’t　know　if　she　had　been　there　a　few　minutes；　or　a　few　hours。　She　didn’t　know　what　was　real　anymore。　It　all　felt　like　a　nightmare。　With　trembling　fingers；　she　stroked　his　face。　His　skin　was　dead　cold。
　
　‘You　would　be　Kahlan。’
　
　She　spun　around；　sitting　up；　at　the　sound　of　the　woman’s　voice　ing　from　behind　her。　The　door　to　the　spirit　house　was　closed　again。　In　the　darkness；　a　white；　spiritlike　glow　towered　over　her。　It　appeared　to　be　a　spirit；　a　woman；　her　hands　clasped　in　front　of　her。　She　watched　with　a　pleasant　smile。　Her　hair；　as　best　as　Kahlan　could　make　of　it；　was　plaited　in　a　single　braid。
　
　‘Who　are　you？’
　
　The　figure　sank　down　to　sit　in　front　of　her。　The　spirit　had　no　clothes　Kahlan　could　make　out；　but　didn’t　appear　to　be　naked　either。　The　woman　looked　at　Richard。　A　glaze　of　both　longing　and　anguish　came　over　her　fair　features。　The　spirit　turned　to　Kahlan。
　
　‘I　am　Denna。’
　
　The　shock　of　the　name；　and　her　proximity　to　Richard；　brought　Kahlan’s　fist　up　in　a　jerk。　Lightning　screamed　to　be　released。　Before　Kahlan　could　let　it　go；　Denna　spoke　again。
　
　‘He　is　dying。　He　needs　us。　Both　of　us。’
　
　Kahlan　hesitated。　‘You　can　help　him？’
　
　‘We　both　can；　maybe。　If　you　love　him　enough。’
　
　Kahlan’s　hopes　flared。　‘I　would　do　anything。　Anything。’
　
　Denna　nodded。　‘I　hope　so。’
　
　Denna　looked　back　to　Richard　and　tenderly　stroked　his　chest。　Kahlan　was　a　blink　away　from　releasing　the　power。　She　didn’t　know　if　Denna　was　trying　to　hurt　him；　or　help　him。　She　hoped　against　hope。　This　was　her　only　chance　to　save　Richard。　Richard　took　a　deep　breath。　Kahlan’s　heart　leapt。
　
　Denna　withdrew　her　hand　and　smiled。　‘He　is　still　with　you。’
　
　Kahlan　lowered　her　fist　a　little；　and　wiped　tears　from　her　cheek　with　the　fingers　of　her　other　hand。　She　didn’t　like　the　look　of　longing　Denna　had　as　she　watched　Richard。　Not　one　bit。　‘How　did　you　get　here？　Richard　couldn’t　have　called　you；　you　are　not　his　ancestor。’
　
　Denna　turned；　her　small；　dreamy　smile　fading。　‘It　would　be　impossible　to　relate　it　to　you　accurately；　but　perhaps　I　could　explain　it　enough　that　it　would　help　you　to　understand。　I　was　in　a　place　of　darkness　and　peace。　It　was　disturbed　as　Darken　Rahl　passed　through。　His　passing　through　is　something　that　is　not　supposed　to　happen。　As　he　neared；　I　sensed　that　Richard　had　somehow　called　him；　and　enabled　him　to　pass　from　where　he　was；　held　by　a　veil；　and　to　e　here。
　
　‘I　know　Darken　Rahl　all　too　well；　so　I　followed　him。　I　would　never　have　been　able　to　pass　through　my　own　veil；　but　by　latching　on　to　him；　I　was　able　to　e　through；　too；　to　follow　in　his　wake。　I　came　because　I　knew　what　Darken　Rahl　would　do　to　Richard。　I　don’t　know　how　to　explain　it　better。’
　
　Kahlan　nodded。　She　wasn’t　seeing　a　spirit；　she　was　seeing　a　woman　who　had　taken　Richard　as　her　mate。　The　power　boiled　angrily　inside　her。　She　struggled　to　put　it　down；　telling　herself　that　this　was　to　save　Richard。　She　didn’t　know　any　other　way；　she　had　to　let　Denna　help；　if　she　could。　Kahlan　had　said　she　would　do　anything；　and　she　meant　it。　Even　if　it　was　not　to　try　to　kill　someone　who　was　already　dead。　Someone　she　wanted　to　kill　a　thousand　times　and　then　another　thousand。
　
　‘Can　you　help　him？　Can　you　save　him？’
　
　‘The　Keeper’s　mark　has　been　placed　upon　him。　The　mark　will　take　the　holder　to　the　Keeper。　If　another’s　hand　is　placed　over　the　mark；　it　will　transfer　to　them；　and　take　them　instead；　in　his　place。　Richard　will　not　then　be　pulled　to　the　Keeper。　He　will　live。’
　
　Kahlan　knew　in　that　instant　what　she　must　do。　Without　hesitation；　she　leaned　over　Richard；　stretching　her　hand　out。　Then　I　will　take　the　mark。　I　will　go　in　his　place　so　that　he　will　live。’　She　spread　her　fingers　to　match　the　black　mark。　Her　hand　was　only　a　scant　inch　above　it。
　
　‘Kahlan；　don’t　do　that。’
　
　She　looked　over　her　shoulder。　‘Why？　If　it　will　save　him；　then　I　am　willing　to　go　in　his　place。’
　
　‘I　know　you　are；　but　it　is　not　that　simple。　We　must　talk　first。　It　will　not　be　easy；　for　either　of　us。　It　will　hurt　both　of　us　to　really　help　him。’
　
　Kahlan　reluctantly　sat　back　down　and　nodded。　She　would　have　agreed　to　anything；　paid　any　price；　even　talking　to　this　。。。　woman。　She　put　a　hand　protectively　on　Richard　as　she　sat　facing　Denna。　‘How　do　you　know　who　I　am？’
　
　Denna　grinned；　almost　laughed。　To　know　Richard　is　to　know　who　Kahlan　is。’
　
　‘He　told　you　about　me？’
　
　Denna’s　smile　faded。　‘In　a　way。　I　heard　your　name　countless　times。　When　I　hurt　him　until　he　was　delirious；　he　cried　your　name。　Never　another。　Not　his　mother’s；　nor　his　father’s。　Only　yours。　I　hurt　him　until　he　didn’t　know　his　own　name；　but　he　always　knew　yours。　I　knew　he　would　find　a　way　to　be　with　you　despite　your　Confessor’s　power。’　A　little　of　her　smile　came　back。　‘I　think　Richard　could　find　a　way　to　make　the　sun　rise　at　midnight。’
　
　‘Why　are　you　telling　me　this？’
　
　‘Because　I　am　going　to　ask　you　to　help　him；　and　I　want　you　to　understand　exactly　how　much　you　will　be　hurting　him　before　you　agree　to　it。　You　must　understand　what　it　is　you　will　have　to　do　in　order　to　save　him。　I　won’t　trick　you　into　doing　it。　It　must　be　with　your　full　knowledge。　Only　in　that　way　will　you　know　how　to　save　him。　If　you　don’t　understand；　you　could　fail。
　
　‘He　is　in　danger　from　more　than　this　mark。　He　is　sick　with　a　madness；　madness　I　put　there。　It　will　kill　him　as　surely　as　will　the　Keeper’s　mark。’
　
　‘Richard　is　probably　the　most　sane　person　I　know。　He　has　no　madness。　It　is　the　mark　we　must　remove。’
　
　‘He　is　marked　in　other　ways：　he　has　the　gift。　I　knew　from　the　moment　he　came　to　kill　me。　I　can　see　it　in　him　now；　the　aura　of　it。　I　know　it　is　killing　him；　and　I　know　his　time　is　very　short。　I　don’t　know　how　long；　only　that　there　is　not　much　time　left。　We　can’t　save　him　from　the　Keeper　just　to　have　him　die　anyway　from　the　gift。’
　
　Kahlan　nodded　as　she　wiped　her　nose　on　the　back　of　her　hand。　The　Sisters　of　the　Light　say　they　can　save　him。　They　say　he　must　put　a　collar　on　to　save　himself。　Richard　will　not　put　it　on。　He　told　me　what　you　did　to　him；　why　he　won’t　wear　a　collar。　But　Richard　is　not　crazy。　He　will　see　in　the　end　what　must　be　done；　and　do　it。　That　is　the　way　he　is。　He　will　see　the　truth。’
　
　Denna　shook　her　head。　‘What　he　told　you　does　not　scratch　the　surface　of　it。　You　cannot　imagine　what　he　has　not　told　you。　I　know　his　madness。　He　will　not　tell　you　the　rest　of　it。　I　must。’
　
　Kahlan’s　anger　boiled。　‘I　don’t　think　it　would　be　wise　for　you　to　tell　me。　If　he　doesn’t　want　to　tell　me；　then　I　don’t　think　I　should　know　it。’
　
　‘You　must。　You　must　understand　him　if　you　are　to　help　him。　In　some　ways；　I　understand　him　better　than　you。　I　have　taken　him　to　the　edge　of　madness；　and　beyond。　I　have　seen　him　in　a　wasteland　of　insanity。
　
　‘I　have　stood　over　him　and　held　him　there。’
　
　Kahlan　glared。　She　recognized　the　look　in　Denna’s　eyes　when　she　looked　at　Richard。　She　didn’t　trust　her。　‘You　love　him。’
　
　Denna　stared　at　her。　‘He　loves　you。　I　used　that　love　to　hurt　him。　I　took　him　to　the　brink　of　death　and　held　him　there；　on　the　cusp。　Others　would　bring　a　man　to　the　edge　faster；　but　they　couldn’t　hold　him　there。　They　always　went　one　step　too　far；　too　quickly；　and　killed　them；　ending　it　before　they　could　extract　the　most　exquisite　pain；　i