tg.stone of tears- 第177部分

　
　She　nodded　weakly　as　she　strode　slowly　across　the　room。　Her　voice　regained　its　control。　‘What　are　your　preferences；　for　food？　Your　special　requirements？’
　
　‘I　don’t　eat　meat。’
　
　She　stopped　in　her　tracks。　‘That’s　one　I’ve　never　heard　before。’
　
　‘And；　I　guess　I　don’t　like　cheese　anymore；　either。’
　
　She　considered　a　moment；　and　then　walked　on。　‘I　will　tell　the　cooks　your　special　requirements。’
　
　A　plan　was　forming　in　his　head；　and　she　wasn’t　part　of　it。　He　needed　to　get　rid　of　her。
　
　Pasha　went　to　a　tall；　pickled…pine　wardrobe。　It　was　filled　with　fine　clothes。　There　were　trousers　of　a　smooth　weave；　at　least　a　dozen　shirts；　mostly　white；　some　with　ruffles；　and　coats　of　every　color。
　
　‘These　are　yours；’　she　said。
　
　‘If　everyone　was　surprised　I　was　grown；　why　are　they　a　size　of　a　grown　man？’
　
　She　inspected　the　various　items；　feeling　the　fabric；　taking　some　out　and　holding　them　up　for　a　better　look。　‘Someone　must　have　known。　Verna　must　have　told　them。’
　
　‘Sister　Verna。’
　
　She　put　a　black　coat　back。　‘I’m　sorry；　Richard；　but　it　is　just　Verna；　now。’　She　pulled　out　a　white　shirt。　‘Do　you　like　this？’
　
　‘No。　I　would　look　foolish　wearing　fancy　things　like　that。’
　
　She　smiled　coquettishly。　‘I　think　you　would　look　very　handsome　in　it。　But　if　it　doesn’t　please　you；　there　are　coins　on　the　table　over　there。　I’ll　show　you　some　shops　in　the　city；　and　you　may　purchase　whatever　you　like　better。’
　
　Richard　glanced　to　the　marble…topped　table。　There　was　a　silver　bowl　of　silver　coins；　and　next　to　it；　a　gold　bowl　heaped　full　with　gold　coins。　If　he　worked　his　whole　life　as　a　guide；　he　would　never　earn　even　half　that　much　gold。
　
　‘It’s　not　mine。’
　
　‘Of　course　it　is。　You’re　a　guest　of　the　palace；　and　the　palace　provides　whatever　our　guests　require。　If　you　use　that　up；　it　will　be　replaced。’　She　pulled　out　a　red　coat　with　gold　brocade　on　the　shoulders　and　cuffs。　Her　eyes　brightened。　‘Richard；　this　would　look　simply　grand　on　you。’
　
　‘Even　if　you　cover　a　collar　with　precious　gems；　it’s　still　a　collar。’
　
　This　has　nothing　to　do　with　your　Rada’Han。　What　you’re　wearing　is　disgusting。　You　look　like　some　savage　from　the　woods。’　She　held　the　red　coat　open。　‘Here；　try　this　on。’
　
　He　snatched　the　coat　from　her　hands　and　threw　it　on　the　bed。　Gripping　her　by　the　arm；　he　marched　her　to　the　door　in　the　front　room。
　
　‘Richard！　Stop　it！　What　are　you　doing！’
　
　He　pulled　the　door　open。　‘I’m　tired；　it’s　been　a　long　day。　Good　night；　Pasha。’
　
　‘Richard；　I’m　only　trying　to　help　you　look　better。　You　look　uncivilized　in　that　outfit。　You　look　like　some　huge　beast。’
　
　He　went　calm　as　he　took　in　her　blue　dress；　blue　the　color　of　Kahlan’s　wedding　dress。
　
　‘That　color　does　not　bee　you；’　he　said。　‘Does　not　bee　you　at　all。’
　
　She　stood　in　the　hall；　staring　at　him　with　big　brown　eyes。　He　kicked　the　door　shut。
　
　He　waited　a　few　minutes；　and　then　checked　the　hall。　There　was　no　sign　of　her。　He　went　to　his　pack；　beside　the　fireplace；　and　started　taking　things　out。　He　wouldn’t　need　everything。　No　need　carrying　all　his　extra　clothes。
　
　As　he　was　stretching　the　string　to　the　bow；　there　was　a　soft　rap　at　the　door。　He　crept　across　the　carpets；　listening。　Maybe　she　would　go　away　if　he　didn’t　answer　it。　He　didn’t　need　her　hanging　around；　telling　him　what　to　wear。　He　had　important　things　to　do。
　
　The　soft　knock　came　again。　Maybe　it　wasn’t　Pasha。　Richard　pulled　his　knife。　He　yanked　the　door　open。
　
　‘Sister　Verna。’
　
　‘I　just　saw　Pasha；　running　down　the　hall　in　tears。　I’m　surprised　at　you；　Richard。’　She　lifted　an　eyebrow　to　him。　‘I　didn’t　think　it　would　take　you　that　long。　I’ve　been　hiding　around　a　corner；　afraid　I　would　be　caught　while　I　waited。’　A　shawl　capped　her　curly　hair　and　spread　down　over　her　shoulders。　‘Did　you　have　to　make　her　cry？’
　
　‘She　is　fortunate　I　didn’t　make　her　bleed。’
　
　She　lifted　the　shawl　from　her　head　and　settled　it　around　her　shoulders。　A　small　smile　touched　her　lips。　‘May　I　e　in？’　He　held　out　his　arm　in　invitation。　And　it　is　simply　Verna；’　she　said　as　she　stepped　through　the　threshold。　‘I　am　not　a　Sister。’
　
　He　slipped　the　knife　back　into　its　sheath。　‘I’m　sorry；　but　I　don’t　think　I　could　bring　myself　to　call　you　anything　else。　To　me；　you　are　Sister　Verna。’
　
　‘It　is　not　proper　to　address　me　as　Sister。’　She　looked　around　the　room　as’lie　closed　the　door。　‘How　are　the　acmodations？’
　
　‘They　would　not　embarrass　a　king。　Sister　Verna；　I　know　you　won’t　believe　me；　but　I’m　really　sorry　about　what　happened。　I　didn’t　mean　to　bring　my　troubles　down　on　you。’
　
　A　broad　grin　spread　on　her　face。　‘You　have　been　a　constant　trouble　to　me；　Richard；　but；　for　once；　this　trouble　was　not　caused　by　you。　Another　brought　this　trouble　upon　me。’
　
　‘Sister；　I　know　I　caused　you　to　be　broken　to　a　novice。　I　didn’t　intend　that。　But　the　part　about　you　being　sent　to　work　in　the　stables；　that　was　your　own　doing。’
　
　Things　are　not　always　as　they　seem；　Richard。’　There　was　a　twinkle　in　her　eye。　‘I　hate　scrubbing　pots。　When　I　was　a　novice；　when　I　was　young；　I　hated　that　more　than　anything　else。　I’m　not　happy　in　a　kitchen；　and　less　so　with　my　hands　in　scalding　water。
　
　‘I　like　horses　much　better。　They　don’t　talk　back；　or　argue　with　me。　I　like　being　around　horses。　More　so；　since　you　destroyed　the　bits　and　I　became　friends　with　Jessup。　Sister　Maren　thought　she　held　the　reins；　as　it　were；　but　she　was　doing　what　I　wished。’
　
　Richard　smiled　with　one　side　of　his　mouth。　‘You　are　a　very　devious　woman；　Sister　Verna。　I’m　proud　of　you。　But　I’m　still　sorry　you　are　put　back　to　novice　because　of　me。’
　
　She　shrugged。　‘I　am　here　to　serve　the　Creator。　It　matters　not　how。　And　this　is　not　your　doing；　the　Prelate’s　orders　are　what　caused　me　to　be　broken　to　a　novice。’
　
　‘You　mean　the　orders　she　wrote　in　the　book？　She　forbade　you　from　using　your　power　on　me；　didn’t　she？’
　
　‘How　do　you　know　that？’
　
　‘I　figured　it　out。　You　were　often　angry　enough　to　spit　fire　at　me；　but　you　never　used　your　power　to　stop　me。　I　don’t　think　that　would　have　happened　unless　you　were　under　orders　to　watch　but　not　to　interfere。　After　all；　if　the　Ra…da’Han　is　used　to　control；　why　else　would　you　not　use　that　control？’
　
　She　shook　her　head　to　herself。　‘You　are　a　very　devious　person　yourself；　Richard。　How　long　have　you　known？’
　
　‘Since　I　read　the　book　in　the　tower。　Why　are　you　here；　Sister？’
　
　‘I　wanted　to　see　if　you　were　all　right。　Starting　tomorrow；　I　won’t　get　the　chance　again。　At　least　not　for　a　very　long　time　…　not　until　I’m　raised　to　Sister　of　the　Light　again。　First…rank　novices　aren’t　allowed　to　have　anything　to　do　with　young　wizards。　The　penalty　is　quite　severe。’
　
　‘Your　first　day　as　a　novice；　and　already　you’re　breaking　the　rules。　You　shouldn’t　be　here。　You’ll　be　up　to　your　elbows　in　scalding　water　and　dirty　pots　if　they　catch　you。’
　
　She　shrugged。　‘Some　things　are　more　important　than　rules。’
　
　Richard　frowned　at　the　distant　look　in　her　eyes。　‘Why　don’t　you　sit？’
　
　‘I　don’t　have　time。　I　only　came　to　keep　a　promise。’　She　pulled　something　from　a　pocket。　And　to　bring　you　this。’
　
　She　lifted　his　hand　and　placed　something　in　it；　then　closed　his　fingers　around　it。
　
　‘When　Richard　opened　his　fingers　and　looked；　his　knees　almost　buckled。
　
　‘It　was　the　lock　of　Kahlan’s　hair　he　had　thrown　away。
　
　Sister　Verna　clasped　her　hands　together。　The　first　night；　the　first　night　we　were　together；　I　found　that。’
　
　Without　looking　up；　he　whispered；　‘What　do　you　mean；　you　found　it？’
　
　She　leaned　back　and　looked　up　at　the　ceiling。　After　you　fell　asleep；　after　you　decided　not　to　kill　me；　I　went　for　a　walk；　and　I　found　it。’
　
　His　eyes　slid　closed。　‘I　can’t　take　this；’　he　managed　to　make　himself　say。　‘I　have　set　her　free。’
　
　‘Kahlan　made　a　great　sacrifice　to　save　your　life。　I　promised　her　that　I　would　not　let　you　forget　that　she　loves　you。’
　
　Richard’s　strength　had　vanished。　The　muscles　in　his　legs　quivered。　His　hand　shook。
　
　‘I　can’t　take　this。　She　sent　me　away。　I　have　set　her　free。’
　
　Sister　Verna　spoke　softly。　‘She　loves　you；　Richard。　Please；　as　a　favor　to　me；　take　it。　I　have　violated　the　rules　to　bring　this　to　you。　I　made　a　promise　to　Kahlan　to　make　sure　you　know　she　loves　you。　I　was　reminded　again　today　what　a　rare　thing　real　love　is。’
　
　Richard　felt　as　if　the　whole　weight　of　the　palace　had　fallen　down　on　him。
　
　All　right；　Sister。　As　a　favor　to　you。　But　I　know　she　doesn’t　want　me。　If　you　love　someone；　you　don’t　ask　them　to　put　a　collar　around　their　neck；　you　don’t　send　them　away。　She　wishes　to　be　free。　I　love　her；　and　so　I　have　set　her　free。’
　
　‘Someday；　Richard；　I　hope　you　will　realize　how　much　she　has　sacrificed；　and　the　truth　of　her　love。　Love　is　a　precious　thing；　and　should　not　be　forgotten。　I　don’t　know　what　your　life　holds　in　store；　but　someday　you　will　find　love　again。
　
　‘But；　I　think　you　need　a　friend　more　than　anything　else　right　now。　I’m　sincere　in　my　offer；　Richard。’
　
　‘Wi