tg.stone of tears- 第30部分

　
　She　smiled。　‘We　will　just　tell　these　three　you　don’t　have　the　gift；　send　them　on　their　way；　and　then　I’m　going　to　give　you　a　serious　kiss。’
　
　The　sky　was　darkening　into　a　deep　blue　when　they　reached　the　spirit　house。　Three　strong　horses　were　tethered　a　short　distance　away。　Their　saddles　were　different　from　any　she　had　seen　before；　with　high　pommels　and　cantles。　As　they　paused　in　front　of　the　door；　the　air　was　cold　enough　to　show　their　breath。　Richard　and　Kahlan　gave　each　other　a　smile　and　a　squeeze　of　the　hand。　Richard　checked　that　the　sword　was　clear　in　its　scabbard。　He　took　a　deep　breath　and　pulled　open　the　door。　Kahlan　wore　her　Confessor’s　face；　as　her　mother　had　taught　her。
　
　The　inside　of　the　spirit　house　was　lit　by　a　small　fire　and　two　torches　in　brackets；　one　to　each　side　of　the　fireplace。　Their　packs　still　sat　to　the　side。　The　air　smelled　of　pitch　and　the　balsam…scented　sticks　that　were　always　burned　in　the　spirit　house　to　make　the　ancestors’　spirits　wele。　Torchlight　flickered　on　the　skulls　of　ancestors　sitting　on　a　single　shelf。　The　dirt　floor　was　dry；　since　Richard　had　used　the　spirit　house　to　teach　the　Mud　People　to　make　roofs　that　didn’t　leak。
　
　The　three　women　stood　straight　and　tall　in　the　center　of　the　single…roomed；　windowless　building。　Their　brown；　heavy　wool　cloaks　hung　almost　to　the　ground。　The　hoods　were　up；　partly　shadowing　their　faces。　They　wore　long；　divided　riding　skirts　of　different；　dark；　muted　colors；　and　simple　white　blouses。
　
　They　pushed　back　their　hoods。　The　one　in　the　middle；　a　few　inches　taller　than　the　other　two；　but　not　as　tall　as　Kahlan；　had　brown　hair　with　some　curl　and　body　to　it。　The　one　to　her　right　had　straight；　black；　shoulder　length　hair；　and　the　other’s　was　curly；　short；　and　dark；　with　streaks　of　gray。　Each　had　her　hands　clasped　at　ease　in　front　of　her。
　
　It　was　the　only　thing　at　ease　about　them。　Their　mature　faces　wore　looks　that　reminded　Kahlan　of　the　headmistress　of　the　maidservants　back　in　Aydindril。　It　was　a　countenance　of　authority　they　appeared　to　have　held　so　long　that　it　had　worn　permanent　creases。　Kahlan　took　a　second　glance　at　their　hands　to　see　if　they　were　empty；　they　looked　like　they　should　be　carrying　switches。　Their　eyes　watched；　as　if　ready　to　silence　any　impudence。
　
　The　woman　in　the　middle　spoke。　‘You　two　are　Richard’s　parents？’　Her　voice　wasn’t　quite　as　harsh　as　Kahlan　expected；　but　still　carried　a　clear　tone　of　authority。
　
　Richard　glowered　at　them；　looking　as　if　just　his　look　might　push　the　three　back　a　pace。　He　waited　until　the　glare　caused　them　to　blink；　before　he　spoke。　‘No。　I　am　Richard。　My　parents　are　dead。　My　mother　since　I　was　young；　and　my　father　since　the　end　of　summer。’
　
　The　three　exchanged　sidelong　glances。
　
　Kahlan　saw　the　anger　in　his　eyes。　He　was　bleeding　magic　from　the　sword　without　even　drawing　it。　She　could　tell　the　sword　was　only　a　blink　away　from　ing　out。　She　could　see　by　the　look　in　his　eyes　that　he　would　not　hesitate　if　these　women　did　anything　wrong。
　
　‘That　is　not　possible；’　the　taller　one　in　the　center　said。　‘You　are　。。。　old。’
　
　‘Not　as　old　as　you；’　Richard　snapped。
　
　Their　cheeks　colored。　The　woman’s　eyes　flashed　an　angry　scowl；　but　she　quickly　softened　it。　‘We　did　not　mean　to　say　you　are　old；　we　meant　to　say　you　are　older　than　we　expected。　I　am　Sister　Verna　Sauventreen。’
　
　The　black…haired　woman　to　her　right　spoke。　‘I　am　Sister　Grace　Rendall。’
　
　‘I　am　Sister　Elizabeth　Myric；’　the　third　said。
　
　Sister　Verna　turned　her　stern　expression　on　Kahlan。　‘And　who　would　you　be；　child。’
　
　Kahlan　didn’t　know　if　it　was　Richard’s　attitude　causing　it；　but　she　felt　her　blood　heating；　too。　She　gritted　her　teeth。　‘I　am　not　your　‘child。’　I　am　the　Mother　Confessor。’　Kahlan’s　tone　could　carry　authority；　too；　when　she　wished　it　to。
　
　It　was　almost　imperceptible；　but　the　three　flinched。　Together；　they　bowed　their　heads　slightly。
　
　‘Forgive　us；　Mother　Confessor。’
　
　The　air　of　threat　in　the　spirit　house　was　still　palpable。　Kahlan　realized　her　hands　were　fists。　It　came　to　her　that　she　felt　this　way　because　they　were　a　threat　to　Richard。　She　decided　it　was　time　to　act　like　the　Mother　Confessor。
　
　‘Where　are　you　three　from？’　she　asked　in　an　icy　voice。
　
　‘We　are　from　。。。　far　away。’
　
　Kahlan’s　glare　was　beginning　to　match　Richard’s。　‘In　the　Midlands；　a　bow　to　the　Mother　Confessor　is　done　on　at　least　one　knee。’　It　was　a　custom　she　almost　never　had　any　interest　in　enforcing；　but　she　felt　the　need　now。
　
　The　three　leaned　back　as　one；　standing　straighter。　Their　indignant　frowns　deepened。
　
　It　was　enough　to　bring　out　the　sword。
　
　The　distinctive　ringing　of　steel　hung　in　the　air。　Richard　said　nothing；　he　simply　stood　holding　the　sword　in　both　hands。　Kahlan　could　see　his　muscles　straining　to　be　released。　The　Sword　of　Truth’s　magic　danced　dangerously　in　his　eyes。　She　was　glad　his　glower　wasn’t　directed　at　her；　it　was　frightening。　The　three　didn’t　appear　to　be　as　frightened　by　it　as　she　would　have　expected；　but　they　turned　to　her；　and　together；　went　to　one　knee；　bowing　their　heads　again。
　
　‘Forgive　us；　Mother　Confessor；’　Sister　Grace　said。　‘We　are　not　familiar　with　your　customs。　We　meant　no　offense。’　They　kept　their　heads　down。
　
　Kahlan　waited　the　appropriate　period；　and　then　added　a　few　long　seconds。　‘Rise；　my　children。’
　
　When　they　came　to　their　feet　they　clasped　their　hands　in　front　again。
　
　Sister　Verna　took　a　deep；　impatient　breath。　‘We　are　not　here　to　frighten　you；　Richard。　We　are　here　to　help　you。　Put　the　sword　away。’　The　last　held　a　harsh　hint　of　mand　to　it。
　
　Richard　didn’t　move。　‘I　was　told　you　said　you　came　for　me；　whatever　that　means；　and　that　I　must　not　run。　I　haven’t　been　running。　I　am　the　Seeker。　I　will　decide　when　to　put　away　the　sword。’
　
　The　Se　。。。’　Sister　Elizabeth　almost　shouted。　‘You　are　the　Seeker？’
　
　The　three　exchanged　looks　again。
　
　‘State　your　business；’　Richard　said。　‘Now。’
　
　Sister　Grace　took　an　impatient　breath　this　time。　‘Richard；　we　are　not　here　to　harm　you。　Are　you　that　afraid　of　three　women？’
　
　‘Even　one　woman　is　cause　enough　for　fear。　I　have　learned　that　lesson　the　hard　way。　I　no　longer　harbor　foolish　inhibitions　about　killing　women。　Last　time　offered：　state　your　business；　or　this　conversation　is　ended。’
　
　She　glanced　to　the　Agiel　around　his　neck。　‘Yes；　we　can　see　you　have　learned　some　lessons。’　Her　face　softened　a　little。　‘Richard；　you　need　our　help。　We　have　e　because　you　have　the　gift。’
　
　Richard　looked　at　each　of　them　before　he　again　spoke。　‘You　have　been　seriously　misinformed。　I　don’t　have　the　gift　nor　do　I　want　anything　to　do　with　it。’
　
　He　slid　the　sword　back　into　its　scabbard。　‘I’m　sorry　you　have　e　a　long　way　for　nothing。’　He　took　Kahlan’s　arm。　‘The　Mud　People　don’t　like　outsiders。　Their　weapons　are　tipped　with　poison；　and　they　are　not　shy　about　using　them。　I　will　tell　them　to　grant　you　safe　passage　out　of　their　land。　I　advise　you　not　to　test　their　restraint。’
　
　Richard　led　Kahlan　by　the　arm　toward　the　door。　She　could　feel　the　rage　radiating　from　him；　could　see　the　anger　in　his　eyes；　and　something　else；　too：　his　headache。　She　could　see　the　pain　he　suffered。
　
　The　headaches　will　kill　you；’　Sister　Grace　said　quietly。
　
　Richard　froze　in　his　tracks；　his　chest　heaving　as　he　stared　ahead　at　nothing。　‘I’ve　had　headaches　all　my　life。　I’m　used　to　them。’
　
　‘Not　like　these；’　Sister　Grace　pressed。　‘We　can　see　it　in　your　eyes。　We　recognize　the　headaches　of　the　gift。　It’s　our　job。’
　
　There　is　a　healer　here　who　is　taking　care　of　them。　She　is　very　good。　She　has　already　helped　me；　and　I　am　confident　she　will　soon　cure　me　of　them。’
　
　‘She　can’t。　No　one　can　but　us。　If　you　don’t　let　us　help　you；　the　headaches　will　kill　you。　That　is　why　we’re　here；　to　help　you；　not　to　bring　you　to　harm。’
　
　Richard’s　hand　stretched　for　the　latch。　‘You　needn’t　concern　yourselves　about　me。　I’m　not　cursed　with　the　gift。　Everything　is　under　control。　Safe　journey　to　you；　ladies。’
　
　Kahlan　gently　put　her　hand　on　his　arm；　preventing　him　from　reaching　the　latch。　‘Richard；’　she　whispered。　‘Maybe　we　should　at　least　listen　to　them。　What　harm　can　there　be　in　listening　to　them？　Perhaps　you　could　learn　something　useful　to　help　the　headaches。’
　
　‘I　don’t　have　the　gift！　I　don’t　want　anything　to　do　with　magic！　Magic　has　caused　me　nothing　but　trouble；　nothing　but　pain。　I　don’t　have　the　gift　and　I　don’t　want　it。’　He　reached　for　the　latch　again。
　
　‘And　I　suppose　you　are　going　to　tell　us　that　your　eating　habits　haven’t　changed；　all　of　a　sudden；’　Sister　Grace　said。　‘I　would　say　in　just　the　last　few　days。’
　
　Richard　froze　again。　‘Everyone　has　changes　in　mood　about　what　they　want　to　eat。’
　
　‘Has　anyone　watched　you　sleep？’
　
　‘What？’
　
　‘If　anyone　has　watched　you　sleep；　they　will　have　noticed　that　you　now　sleep　with　your　eyes　open。’
　
　Kahlan　felt　a　cold　wave　of　goose　bumps。　Everything　was　starting　to　connect。　Wizards　all　had　odd；　specific　eating　habits；　and　they　all　slept　with　their　eyes　open；　sometimes；　even　those　wi