tg.stone of tears-第9章

按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！


ahlan；　you　said　her　name　was。。。　take　him　from　everyone　he　loves。　Lock　him　away。’
　
　‘Richard　was　captured　by　a　Mord…Sith；　and　tortured　by　her。　Perhaps　that　is　what　you　saw；’　Zedd　offered。
　
　Jebra　shook　her　head　vehemently。　‘It　wasn’t　what　was：　it　was　what　will　be。　And　not　the　pain　of　a　Mord…Sith。　Different。　I　am　sure　of　it。’
　
　Zedd　nodded　in　thought。　‘What　else？’
　
　‘I　saw　him　in　an　hourglass。　He　was　on　his　knees　in　the　bottom　half；　crying　in　anguish；　the　sand　falling　all　around　him；　but　not　a　grain　touching　him。　The　gravestones　of　all　those　he　loved　were　in　the　top　half；　where　he　couldn’t　reach　them　against　the　fall　of　the　sand。
　
　‘I　saw　a　knife　at　his　heart；　a　killing　knife；　held　in　his　own　shaking　hands。　Before　I　could　see　what　would　happen；　another　vision　came　…　they　are　not　always　in　order　of　events。　He　was　in　his　fine　red　coat；　the　one　with　gold　buttons　and　brocade　trim。　He　was　facedown　。。。　a　knife　in　his　back。　He　was　dead；　but　at　the　same　time；　he　wasn’t。　His　own　hands　reached　down　to　roll　him　over；　but　before　I　saw　his　dead　face；　another　vision　came。
　
　‘It　was　the　worst。　The　strongest。’　The　tears　welled　up　again；　and　she　began　to　sob　softly。　Zedd　squeezed　her　shoulder　to　encourage　her　to　go　on。　‘I　saw　his　flesh　burning。’　She　wiped　at　the　tears　and　rocked　back　and　forth　a　little　as　she　cried。　‘He　was　screaming。　I　could　even　smell　the　burning　skin。　Then；　whatever　was　burning　him　…　I　couldn’t　tell　what　it　was　…　when　it　pulled　back；　he　was　unconscious；　and　there　was　a　mark　upon　him。　A　mark　burned　into　him。’
　
　Zedd　worked　his　tongue　in　his　mouth；　trying　to　wet　it。　‘Could　you　see　what　the　mark　was？’
　
　‘No；　not　what　it　looked　like。　But　I　knew　what　it　was　as　surely　as　I　know　the　sun　when　I　see　it。　It　was　the　mark　of　the　dead；　a　mark　of　the　Keeper　of　the　underworld。　The　Keeper　had　marked　him　to　be　his　own。’
　
　Zedd　worked　to　steady　his　breathing；　his　trembling　hands。　‘Were　there　more　visions？’
　
　‘Yes；　but　not　as　strong　and　I　didn’t　understand　them。　They　rushed　by　so　fast　I　couldn’t　grasp　their　form；　only　their　pain。　Then　he　was　gone。
　
　‘While　the　Mord…Sith　were　turned；　watching　him　go；　I　ran　back　to　my　room　and　locked　myself　in。　I　lay　on　the　bed　for　hours；　crying　uncontrollably　with　the　hurt　of　what　I　had　seen。　The　Lady　Ordith　banged　at　my　door；　wanting　me；　but　I　called　to　her　that　I　was　sick　and　she　finally　went　away　in　a　huff。　I　cried　until　my　insides　were　jelly。　I　saw　virtue　in　that　man；　and　I　wept　in　fear　of　the　evil　I　saw　snatching　for　him。
　
　‘Though　the　visions　were　all　different；　they　were　the　same。　They　all　had　the　same　feel：　danger。　Danger　presses　in　around　that　man　as　tightly　as　water　presses　around　a　fish。’　She　regained　some　of　her　posure　as　Zedd　sat　silently　watching　her。　That　is　why　I　will　not　work　for　him。　The　good　spirits　protect　me；　I　don’t　want　anything　to　do　with　the　danger　around　that　man。　With　the　underworld。’
　
　‘Maybe　you　could　help　him；　with　your　talent；　help　him　to　avoid　the　danger。　That　is　what　I　was　hoping　anyway；’　Zedd　said　in　a　quiet　voice。
　
　Jebra　dabbed　her　cheeks　dry　with　the　back　of　her　sleeve。　‘Not　for　all　the　duke’s　gold　and　power　would　I　want　to　be　in　Lord　Rahl’s　wake。　I　am　no　coward；　but　I　am　no　heroine　in　a　song；　and　no　fool　either。　I　did　not　wish　my　guts　put　back　to　have　them　ripped　out　again；　and　this　time　my　soul　with　them。’
　
　Zedd　quietly　watched　her　sniffling　herself　back　under　control；　putting　the　frightening　visions　away。　She　took　a　deep　breath　and　sighed。　Her　blue　eyes　finally　looked　to　his。
　
　‘Richard　is　my　grandson；’　he　said　simply。
　
　Her　eyes　winced　shut。　‘Oh；　good　spirits　forgive　me。’　Her　hand　covered　her　mouth　for　a　long　moment；　then　her　eyes　came　open；　her　eyebrows　wrinkled　together　in　horror。　‘Zedd　。。。　I’m　so　sorry　for　telling　you　what　I　saw。　Forgive　me。　Had　I　known；　I　never　would　have　told　you。’　Her　hands　trembled。　‘Forgive　me。　Oh　please；　forgive　me。’
　
　The　truth　is　the　truth。　I　am　not　one　who　would　shut　a　door　in　your　face　for　seeing　it。　Jebra；　I　am　a　wizard；　I　already　know　of　the　danger　he　is　in。　That　is　why　I　asked　you　to　help。　The　veil　to　the　underworld　is　torn。　That　thing　that　ripped　you　open　escaped　into　the　world　of　the　living　through　the　tear。　If　the　veil　tears　enough；　the　Keeper　will　escape。　Richard　has　done　things　that　the　prophecies　say　mark　him　as　maybe　the　only　one　able　to　close　the　tear。’
　
　He　lifted　the　purse　of　gold　and　slowly　settled　it　in　her　lap；　her　eyes　following　it　down。　He　withdrew　his　empty　hand。　Her　gaze　stayed　on　the　purse　as　if　it　were　a　beast　that　might　bite。
　
　‘Would　it　be　very　dangerous？’　she　asked　at　last　in　a　weak　voice。
　
　Zedd　smiled　when　her　eyes　came　up。　‘No　more　dangerous　than　going　for　an　afternoon　stroll　in　a　fortress　palace。’
　
　With　a　reflex　jerk；　her　hand　clutched　her　abdomen　where　the　wound　had　been。　Her　eyes　rose　to　look　off　down　the　wide；　resplendent　halls；　as　if　seeking　escape；　or　maybe　fearing　an　attack。　Without　looking　to　him　she　spoke。
　
　‘My　grandmother　was　a　Seer；　and　my　only　guide。　She　told　me　once　that　the　visions　would　bring　me　a　lifetime　of　hurt；　and　there　was　nothing　I　would　ever　be　able　to　do　to　stop　them。　She　said　that　if　ever　I　was　presented　with　the　opportunity　to　use　the　visions　for　good；　to　take　the　chance；　and　it　would　make　up　for　some　of　the　burden。　That　was　the　day　she　put　her　Stone　in　my　hand。’
　
　Jebra　lifted　the　purse　and　set　it　back　in　Zedd’s　lap。　‘I　will　not　do　it　for　all　the　gold　in　D’Hara。　But　I　will　do　it　for　you。’
　
　Zedd　smiled　and　patted　her　cheek。　‘Thank　you；　child。’　He　put　the　gold　back　in　her　lap；　the　coins　making　a　muffled　clink。　‘You　will　be　needing　this。　You　will　have　expenses。　What　is　left　is　yours。　That　is　the　way　I　wish　it。’
　
　She　nodded　resignedly。　‘What　must　I　do？’
　
　‘Well；　first　we　must　both　get　a　good　night’s　sleep。　You　will　need　to　rest　for　a　few　days　to　regain　your　strength。　And　then　you　have　some　traveling　to　do；　Lady　Bevinvier。’　He　smiled　at　the　way　one　of　her　eyebrows　lifted。　‘We　are　both　very　tired　right　now。　Tomorrow　after　I　have　rested；　I　must　be　off　on　important　business。　Before　I　leave；　I　will　e　to　you　and　we　will　talk　more　of　this。　But　starting　right　now；　I　would　ask　you　not　to　wear　the　Stone　where　it　can　be　seen。　No　good　can　e　of　declaring　your　talent　to　eyes　in　the　shadows。’
　
　‘So　my　new　employer　shall　use　me　covertly　too？　Not　the　most　honorable　of　things。’
　
　‘The　ones　who　would　recognize　you　now　are　not　vying　for　gold。　They　serve　the　Keeper。　They　want　much　more　than　gold。　If　they　discover　you；　you　will　wish　I　had　not　saved　you　today。’
　
　She　winced　before　finally　nodding。
　
　
　CHAPTER　4
　
　Zedd　stood　with　the　aid　of　a　hand　to　his　knee。　He　helped　Jebra　up。　As　he　expected；　she　was　unable　to　stand　without　leaning　heavily　on　him。　She　apologized　for　the　burden。　He　made　her　smile　by　telling　her　he　would　use　any　excuse　to　have　his　arm　around　the　waist　of　a　pretty　maiden。
　
　People　were　starting　to　go　back　to　their　business；　engaged　in　hushed　conversation　as　their　eyes　darted　about　the　suddenly　not　so　safe　palace。　Those　hurt　had　been　helped　away；　and　the　dead　carried　off。　Maidservants　in　heavy　skirts　worked　tearfully　at　the　task　of　cleaning　up　the　blood；　sloshing　mops　in　buckets　of　reddening　water。　Soldiers　of　the　First　File　were　spread　out　everywhere。　Zedd　motioned　to　mander　Trimack　across　the　hall。
　
　‘Anyway；　I　shall　be　glad　to　be　away　from　this　place；’　Jebra　said。　‘I　have　seen　auras　here　that　make　me　sweat　in　my　sleep。’
　
　As　the　officer　started　toward　them；　Zedd　asked；　‘Do　you　see　anything　of　this　man　ing　toward　us？’
　
　She　studied　him　a　moment　as　he　strode　toward　them；　checking　the　placement　of　his　men。　‘A　faint　aura。　Duty。’　She　frowned　as　she　stared。　‘It　has　always　been　a　burden　for　him。　He　is　daring　to　hope　that　maybe　he　will　now　find　pride　in　it。　Does　that　help　you　any？’
　
　Zedd　smiled　a　little。　‘Yes　it　does。　Any　visions？’
　
　‘No。　Just　the　faint　aura。’
　
　The　wizard　nodded　in　thought；　then　brightened。　‘By　the　way；　why　has　a　woman　as　lovely　as　you　not　found　herself　a　husband？’
　
　She　gave　him　a　sidelong　glance。　‘Th